Sustenance in the Hereafter

One of the greatest manifestations of Allah ﷻ’s mercy and nurturing is the eternal sustenance He provides in the Hereafter. Unlike the temporary sustenance of this world, which is often coupled with hardship and struggle, the sustenance in Jannah (Paradise) is perfect, limitless, and never-ending. Allah ﷻ not only provides for His servants in this world but has prepared unimaginable provisions for the believers in the Hereafter.

1. The Concept of Eternal Sustenance in Jannah

The sustenance of the Hereafter is unlike anything we have experienced in this world. It is pure, perfect, never-ending, and completely free from harm or deficiency.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَنَهَرٍۢ ۝ فِى مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرٍۢ

“Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and rivers, in a seat of honour near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.” (Al-Qamar 54: 54-55)

This verse highlights that the righteous will enjoy gardens, rivers, and a seat of honour near Allah, where their every need will be taken care of.

2. The Types of Sustenance in Jannah

The sustenance in Jannah includes:

1. a) Food and Drink Without Limits

يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِصِحَافٍ مِّن ذَهَبٍۢ وَأَكْوَابٍۢ ۖ وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ ٱلْأَعْيُنُ وَأَنتُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

“They will be served with trays of gold and cups, and therein is whatever the souls desire and delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.” (Az-Zukhruf 43: 71)

# Interesting Fact:

In this world, eating and drinking come with physical limitations (hunger, thirst, digestion), but in Jannah, people will eat purely for pleasure without need or harm!

1. b) Fruits of Paradise

وَفَـٰكِهَةٍۢ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ ۝ وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ

“And fruit of whatever they select, and the meat of fowl from whatever they desire.” (Al-Waqi’ah 56: 20-21)

# Interesting Fact:

The fruits in Jannah will resemble those of the world but will be far superior in taste and quality.

وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍۢ رِّزْقًۭا ۙ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَأُتُوا۟ بِهِۦ مُتَشَـٰبِهًۭا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌۭ مُّطَهَّرَةٌۭ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

“And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are provided with a fruit therefrom, they will say, ‘This is what we were provided with before.’ But it is given to them in resemblance. And they will have purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.” (Al-Baqarah 2: 25)

Though the fruits look familiar, their taste will be completely different each time they are eaten!

1. c) Rivers of Delight

مَّثَلُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى وُعِدَ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَآ أَنْهَـٰرٌۭ مِّن مَّآءٍ غَيْرِ ءَاسِنٍۢ وَأَنْهَـٰرٌۭ مِّن لَّبَنٍۢ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُۥ وَأَنْهَـٰرٌۭ مِّنْ خَمْرٍۢ لَّذَّةٍۢ لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ وَأَنْهَـٰرٌۭ مِّنْ عَسَلٍۢ مُّصَفًّۭى ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ

“The description of Paradise which the righteous are promised is that in it are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey; in it, they will have all kinds of fruits and forgiveness from their Lord.” (Muhammad 47: 15)

# Interesting Fact:

Unlike worldly rivers, these rivers never run dry and flow by Allah’s command, without the need for gravity!

3. How is the Sustenance of Jannah Different from the World?

4. How to Attain this Sustenance?

Allah promises eternal sustenance to those who:

• Believe in Him and His messengers
• Perform righteous deeds
• Stay away from sins
• Repent and seek forgiveness

The Prophet ﷺ said:

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَا لَا عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ، وَلَا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ، وَلَا خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ

“In Paradise, there are things that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever imagined.” (Bukhari, 3244; Muslim, 2824)

Allah’s Perfect Nurturing in the Hereafter

Allah’s eternal nurturing is evident in the limitless and perfect sustenance of Jannah. Unlike the difficulties of this world, Jannah offers complete fulfilment, joy, and contentment without any hardship.