Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:18
سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ · Meccan · Verse 18 of 96
بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ
Translation
with glasses, flagons, and cups of a pure drink
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'With goblets, pitchers, and a cup from a flowing spring.' Ibn Ashur and al-Saadi note the drink is from 'ma'in', a pure, ever-flowing spring, not a stagnant store; living water, endlessly renewed at the source. Ask yourself: the pleasures I chase here are drawn from finite stores, a fixed supply that depletes with use, so I must keep refilling, hoarding, worrying it will run out. This verse pictures delight drawn from a flowing source that never empties. It names the difference between a pleasure I have to ration and a joy fed by an inexhaustible spring. Am I anxiously guarding shallow, drying reservoirs of happiness, when the reward held out is a joy poured continuously from a source that cannot run dry?
Grounded in classical tafsir: Ibn Ashur, al-Saadi, al-Biqa'i.
Wording
This beautiful verse invites us to picture the exquisite service awaiting the 'Foremost' (the *Sābiqūn*, mentioned in earlier verses of Surah Al-Waqi'ah), those who rushed to Allah's pleasure in this life. Allah Himself describes this scene, painting a vivid image of youths, forever young, serving the dwellers of Paradise. As we ponder the specific words, we find incredible precision and depth.
The Special Vessels
The verse mentions three types of containers: بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ (bi 'akwābin wa 'abārīqa wa ka'sin). Scholars like al-Razi and al-Jalalayn explain the subtle differences. *Akwāb* (أَكْوَابٍ) are cups without handles or spouts, simple and elegant. *Abārīq* (أَبَارِيقَ) are pitchers with handles and spouts, designed for pouring. Both of these are mentioned in their plural forms, indicating a generous abundance of these fine serving vessels.
However, the third word, *ka's* (كَأْسٍ), is used in the singular. This isn't a grammatical oversight; it's a profound linguistic choice. Al-Razi points out that *ka's* specifically refers to a cup *filled with wine*. When it's empty, it's just a cup. The singular form here emphasizes the *drink itself*, rather than the container. It implies a single, perfect type of wine, consistently served, rather than many varieties that would necessitate a plural "cups of wine." Ibn Ashur adds that using the singular also avoids the slight heaviness of the plural word *ku'ūs* (كؤوس) in Arabic, further enhancing the flow and beauty of the verse. This careful selection of singular versus plural subtly highlights the perfection and consistent nature of the heavenly drink.
The Flowing Drink
The verse concludes with مِّن مَّعِينٍ (min ma'īn), meaning "from a flowing source." Al-Razi and Ibn Ashur clarify that *ma'īn* here refers to the wine itself, not water, as *ka's* is typically used for wine. The word *ma'īn* emphasizes that this wine flows like rivers, continuously and without interruption, unlike the limited and often hard-won beverages of this world. This detail paints a picture of boundless, effortless abundance, where the most cherished drinks are not scarce but ever-present, gushing from springs.
Through these precise word choices, Allah emphasizes the unmatched perfection and effortless bounty of Paradise. The meticulous description of the vessels and the flowing drink invites us to reflect on the divine generosity and the exquisite attention to every detail for those who strive in His path. It is an invitation to yearn for a place where every desire is met with grace and perfection, flowing continuously like a spring.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:18 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:18 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.