"And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening." (Maryam, 62) Will there be two meals in Paradise?

"And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening." (Maryam, 62) Will there be two meals in Paradise?

Dear Brother / Sister,

"They will not there hear any vain discourse, but only salutations of peace: and they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening." (Maryam, 62)

What is meant by the statement "And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening" is that the food and drinks they wish are ready at two time periods that are as long as morning and evening. For, there is no morning and evening in reality in Paradise; there is no day or night there. The phrase "as long as" is regarded in the verse. (This interpretation was reported from Ibn Abbas and Ibn Jurayj.)

Some tafsir scholars say this sentence means "their sustenance is not stopped ". As a matter of fact, Allah Almighty stated the following in another verse: «It is neither stopped nor prevented by anybody.» It is like the following statement: «I mention your name in the morning and evening »; that is, I always mention your name.

Zubayr bin Bakkar reports from Ismail bin Abi Uways, who reports from Anas Ibn Malik: He said «Muslims have two meals a day» and read that verse. Then, he said, «Allah Almighty determined suhur as a meal so that Muslims will be strong enough to worship.»

Hakim at-Tirmidhi reports from Aban's hadith in his book called «Nawadiru'l Usul». He reports from Hasan and Abi Kilaba:

Somebody asked: «O Messenger of Allah! Are there night and day in Paradise? »

Hz. Prophet said, «What made you ask this question?» The man said:

«O Messenger of Allah! Allah Almighty states in the Quran: 'And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening.' I thought night is between evening and morning. Therefore, I asked you.»

Hz. Prophet answered: «There is no night there. There is only luminous light there. Morning comes after evening and evening comes after morning. The most valuable presents are sent to them by Allah during the times of prayer. Those prayers are performed in the world. The angels greet them.»

The hadith above explains the meaning of the verse:

Scholars said: «There are no nights and days in Paradise. The people of Paradise are in eternal luminous light. The night is distinguished from the day by the curtains being drawn and doors being closed. The length of the day is understood when the curtains are and doors are opened.» This was reported from hadiths scholars by Abu'l Faraj'il-Jawzi and Mahdawi. (Qurtubi, Ahkam'ul-Kur'an, Vol: 11, p: 127, ff.)

(see Ali Arslan, Büyük Kur’an Tefsiri, Arslan Publications: 11/139-147.)

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