God has given the perfect bounties to the dwellers of Paradise, things that will serve them well. The wine bearers will be circulating among the dwellers of Paradise and they will serve them the wine of Paradise.

Their over and covert beauty will attract the dwellers of Paradise so much that they will become oblivious of everything else like sadness and hardships. All the hardships that they could have suffered from God will be erased.

They have been mentioned in the various verses of the Qura’n and they have been praised in manner that every reader will be impressed. The Qura’n has used various des c r i p tions as it has done for other bounties. The word “Ghilmaan” has been mentioned in verse 24 of Surah Tur:

“And they will be served by youth as handsome as well guarded pearls.”

The word “Yatufuu” tells us that they will always be around the dwellers of Paradise.

“Lulu-um-Maknoon” means the pearl in the oyster, clear and beautiful. It has an extra ordinary radiance when it is extracted from it. The youth of Paradise will like the same as if they are pearls just extracted from the oysters.

 It is true that there is no need for servers in Paradise because the dwellers will get whatever they want automatically but the presence of these serving youth is an added honor.

Though the verse does not state clearly why they will hang around but in other verses that we will mention later it seems that their duty is to serve the people with all the dibbles they desire.

The word “Lahum” tells us that there will be fixed servants for each person in Paradise. Since paradise is not the place for sadness so the servants too will feel happy in serving them.

The notable point is that many commentators have quoted a hadith of the Messenger which says:

“Once he was asked: “If the servants will be like newly extracted pearls from oysters then what the guest of Paradise would be like?”

The Messenger answered: “By Him who controls my life the prominence of those being served on the server is like that of the moon over the stars.”(1)

We would like to remind that the word “Ghilman” is the plural of “Ghulaam” and it means young men and not servants who serve.

It is also known that the young men are fast, strong and exuberant in their work. Qura’n at once place calls them ‘Wildaan” or young men. In verses 17 and 18 of Surah Waqiah the Book says:

“And they will be served by immortal boys with cups and jugs and a beaker of wine.”

The word “Wildaan” is the plural of “Waleed” and means young children and here it means young boys. Some people have said that these will be young boys or the sons of believers who will serve their parents but this does not seem true (3) because if they too are believers then they will be served and not serve themselves.

His entry will be debarred if he is not a believer.

The word “Mukhulla-diin” describes their ever lasting freshness.

Another verse describes it better. Verse 19 of Surah Insaan says:

“And around them will be boys with eternal youth to serve them. If you see them you will think of scattered pearls.’

This also tells us that “Wildaan” means “Ghilmaan” who were first referred to as freshly extracted pearls from oysters and here they are called “Lu’lu am mansoora”

Many commentators have said that these are the sons of the polytheists or those believers who did not do good deeds. God will not punish these boys because of their parents but will enter them into Paradise as serfs. They will serve the believers and will be happy doing so.

But this seems implausible because of what we have said earlier and the tradition quoted about it is unconfirmed.

They are mentioned in yet another instance. Verse 45 of Surah Saffat says:

“Around them will be passed a container of pure wine.”

A similar meaning is conveyed by verse 15 of Surah Dahr that says:

“Amongst them will be passed around vessels of silver and goblets of crystal.”

Verse 71 of Surah Zukhruf says:

“To them will be passed around dishes and goblets of Gold”

The word “Sihaaf” is the plural of “Sahfah”. According to Zamakhshiri (in Misbahol Lughat) it means a bid square utensil and its real meaning is to be spread out evenly and so it seems to be a large serving dish.

“Akwab” is the plural of “Kob” which means a utensil used for drinking which does not have a handle and is sometimes called Qalah.

The notable point is that according to some commentators “Sihaaf” denotes innumerability and “Akwab” has limitations so the first is more. This is more so that the dishes for serving food are larger and more than the cups used for drinks for they have more variety. (4)

The linguistic purity and eloquence of Qura’n demands that it should keep these finer points in view (Reflect)

Though the last verses have not given the details of these servers but we can discern them from the previous ones for they tell us who they are and what their attributes are.

1. See Tafsir Majmaul Bayan, Ruhul Jinan, Ruhul Bayan, Qartabi and Tafsir Kashaf.

2. Many linguists have explained it to be the boys who have just attained puberty. See Maqayis-ol-Loghat, Mafuradat and Lisan-ol-Arab.

3. Tafsir Kabeer vol.29 page 149 has declared it far fetched.

4. Tafsir Ruhul Ma’ani vol.25 page 90