“Reclining on green cushions and beautiful fine carpets”.
This entire section about paradise began with the statement that they were granted two gardens because they feared standing before their Rabb and now it ends with them reclining back relaxed.
مُتَّكِئِينَ (Muttaki’eena)
From the verb اِتَّكَأَ (Ittaka’a): to lean, support one’s weight, or recline upon something. Another variation is تَوَكَّأَ (Tawakka’a), mentioned concerning Musa (as):
الَ هِيَ عَصَايَ أَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِي وَلِيَ فِيهَا مَآرِبُ أُخْرَىٰ “He said: “It is my staff; I lean upon it (أَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَيْهَا), and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses” (18).
LeanSupport one’s weightRecline
رَفْرَفٍ (Rafraf)
Fine fabric or material used for items spread out on a bed or couch—cushions, pillows, quilts, drapes, and mattress covers. It can also imply a shiny, shimmering quality from the root رَفَّ (Raffa): to shimmer or glitter.
Green cushionsSpread textilesShimmer • Glitter
عَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ (‘Abqariy Hisaan)
‘Abqariy originally denotes what is extraordinary, marvellous, or surpassing in quality. It has been used for garments and carpets with dyes and decorative patterns, thick rugs, and textiles of rich, extravagant materials (e.g., brocade or velvet). It extends to things exceptionally beautiful or unparalleled—such as jewels—and even to a person complete and unrivalled in qualities.
Classical Tafsir explained وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ as splendid furnishings of Paradise—brocade (دِيبَاج), decorated carpets, thick rugs, or wondrously fine textiles—indicating extraordinary craftsmanship and luxury.
‘Abqariy by itself does not indicate beauty; the adjective حِسَانٍ (Hisaan) makes this exceptional thing beautiful. Thus, وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ suggests not only the unprecedented nature of what one reclines upon, but also its unrivalled beauty.
Nuance:عَبْقَر (Abqar) was a name Arabs gave to the mysterious land of the Jinn—hence anything wondrous, exceptional, and unheard of was described as ‘Abqariy. The term carries mystery and novelty, making it harder to visualise than earlier items in the Surah.
عَبْقَرِيٍّ is singular while its adjective حِسَانٍ is plural—suggesting each item will have multiple varieties or aspects of beauty.
Singular + Plural pairingVariegated beauties
Arc of reassurance
The paradise description begins with those who feared standing before their Rabb and concludes with them reclining back relaxed—the language of ease in مُتَّكِئِينَ, the lush spread of رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ, and the exceptional, beautifully crafted عَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ completing the arc.
Furnishings highlighted
Green cushionsBeautiful fine carpetsDecorative dyes & patternsBrocadeVelvetThick, splendid rugs
These terms point to furnishings that are extraordinary in quality, craft, and beauty—unique and unrivalled.