Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:19
سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ · Meccan · Verse 19 of 96
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ
Translation
that causes no headache or intoxication;
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'From which they get no headache, nor are they intoxicated.' Ibn Ashur and al-Saadi note the crucial detail: the pleasure of Paradise carries no aftermath, 'la yusadda'una 'anha wa la yunzifun', no hangover, no clouding of the mind, no morning-after cost. Pure delight without the bill. Ask yourself: every intense pleasure I chase here comes with a tax, the crash after the high, the regret after the indulgence, the cost that follows the thrill. I have learned to expect the hangover as the price of the joy. This verse describes joy with no hangover attached, no downside, no cost extracted later. It quietly exposes how many of my pleasures are actually loans against a future ache. What if the only pleasures with no hidden bill are the ones He keeps?
Grounded in classical tafsir: Ibn Ashur, al-Saadi, al-Biqa'i.
Wording
This beautiful verse from Surah Al-Waqi'ah describes a specific aspect of the delights awaiting the inhabitants of Paradise. As young, immortal servants (wil-dān mukhalladūn) circulate among the blessed, offering cups of a flowing, pure drink, Allah reassures us about its extraordinary qualities. The focus of this verse is on what this heavenly drink *will not* do to those who partake of it.
No Headaches
The verse begins, "لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا" (La yusadda'ūna 'anhā). The word "يُصَدَّعُونَ" (yusadda'ūna) comes from the root for "sada'," which means headache. This immediately brings to mind the common after-effect of worldly alcoholic drinks. Unlike the wine of this world, which often leaves drinkers with headaches and discomfort, the wine of Paradise is entirely free from such unpleasantness.
The tiny word "عَنْهَا" ('anhā), meaning "from it" or "about it," carries a deeper significance here, as noted by Imam al-Razi and Ibn Ashur. Normally, to express a cause, we might expect the preposition "min" (من). However, "عن" ('an) is used to highlight the *intrinsic purity* of the drink itself. It's not just that the people are strong enough not to get a headache; rather, the wine *itself* is inherently free from causing any such ailment. It’s a direct praise of the heavenly wine's flawless nature, untainted by any defect.
No Intoxication
Following this, the verse states, "وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ" (wa lā yunzafūn). The word "يُنزِفُونَ" (yunzafūn) refers to losing one's mind, becoming intoxicated, or being drained of one's senses. Again, this directly contrasts with worldly wine, which is known for impairing judgment and leading to a loss of awareness. In Paradise, this precious drink, though delightful, will never cloud the minds of its partakers.
Imam al-Razi points out the subtle yet profound order of these two negations: "no headaches" before "no intoxication." A headache is a lesser discomfort compared to the complete loss of senses that comes with intoxication. By first negating the minor unpleasantness, and then the major one, the verse highlights a beautiful escalation in the description of perfection. It assures the believers that the wine of Paradise is not only free from minor side effects but utterly pure, never leading to any form of mental impairment. This complete absence of negative consequences underscores Allah's boundless generosity and the absolute perfection of the rewards He has prepared.
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 56:19 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 56:19 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.