Surah Al-Ghashiyah 88:15
سُورَةُ الغَاشِيَةِ · Meccan · Verse 15 of 26
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌۭ
Translation
cushions set in rows,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse, "وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ" (And cushions arranged in rows), draws us into a glimpse of the luxurious comforts awaiting the believers in Paradise. Following descriptions of elevated couches and cups ready for use, Allah paints a picture of effortless ease and abundance, inviting us to imagine a state of perfect rest.
What the Words Show
The word نَمَارِقُ (nāmāriq) is the plural of *numruqah*, meaning a cushion or pillow. It's not just any seating; as scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur confirm, it refers specifically to the soft, supportive objects one leans on, whether sitting upright or reclining. This choice of word immediately brings to mind comfort and relaxation. The plural form itself, *nāmāriq*, hints at not just one or two, but many cushions, implying an environment where comfort is pervasive and readily available.
The word مَصْفُوفَةٌ (masfoofah) means "arranged in rows." This detail is crucial. It comes from the root *ṣaffa*, meaning to line up or arrange. Al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur explain this to mean that the cushions are placed "some next to others," in an orderly fashion. This isn't a haphazard scattering; it suggests a thoughtful arrangement, creating an inviting atmosphere where, as al-Razi describes, "wherever one wants to sit, they sit on one and lean on another."
A Deeper Sense of Comfort
The specific wording here reveals Allah's profound message of boundless generosity and a perfected experience. The "arranged in rows" aspect of the cushions suggests readiness and accessibility. There's no searching, no effort required; the comfort is perfectly prepared and waiting. This arrangement ensures that believers will find ease and support wherever they choose to relax within Paradise.
Ibn Ashur highlights how these descriptions of couches, cups, cushions, and carpets collectively portray the ultimate "lavish living" (تَرَفِ العَيْشِ). This detailed imagery of physical comforts in Paradise stands in clear contrast to the preceding verses that describe the harshness of Hell. The precise words chosen for these furnishings – *nāmāriq* for soft support, *masfoofah* for ordered readiness – serve to underline the complete and utter bliss that awaits those whose striving in this world (لِسَعْيِها راضِيَةٌ - their striving being satisfying) earned Allah's pleasure. It assures the believer that every conceivable aspect of rest and luxury will be not just present, but perfectly presented.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), 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-Ghashiyah 88:15 is discussed in 3 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-Ghashiyah 88:15 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.