Those Who Turn the Qur’an’s Vineyards into Lewdness 🔍

🔍 Those Who Turn the Qur’an’s Vineyards into Lewdness: Semantic Abuse and Moral Degeneration in Surah an-Naba 78:33”

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The Allegory of Paradise: Vines, Grains, and Inner Maturity in the Qur'an

The Qur’an, when describing the salvation promised to those with taqwā (God-consciousness), uses examples drawn from nature, human relationships, and inner fulfillment. Verses 31–34 of Surah an-Naba present a beautiful example of this narrative style:

> “Indeed, for the God-conscious is [a place of] salvation,” (an-Naba 78:31)

“Gardens and vineyards,” (78:32)

“And shaped, ripened, and equal grains,” (78:33)

“And full cups.” (78:34)

This portrayal of Paradise is constructed with three interwoven symbols: vineyards, ripened, ready-to-eat grains, and overflowing cups.

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1. Vineyards: A Symbol of Sustained Mercy and Divine Grace

In Arab culture, vineyards symbolized effortless blessing and ongoing abundance. In the Qur’an, gardens and vineyards are often used as metaphors for the material beauty of Paradise. However, here they are not the ultimate goal in themselves, but allegories for the continuity of divine mercy and the beautification of life.

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2. “Kawāʿib Etrāban”: Ripened and Harmonious Grains Ready to Be Eaten

This verse has often been mistranslated in many interpretations with sexual connotations such as “full-breasted, youthful companions,” which disrupts the coherence of the passage. Yet the word “kawāʿib” in Arabic signifies “that which has become rounded, shaped, or matured.” When viewed alongside Qur’anic references to “habb” (grain) or fruit, this expression clearly fits the description of grains that have matured and are ready to be eaten.

Thus, the sequence of verses logically conveys this:

There are vineyards,

Within them are ripened, shaped, ready-to-eat equal grains,

And from these grains come overflowing cups of drink.

The word “etrāban” (equals, peers) emphasizes harmony, balance, equality, and possibly even justice. It can signify not only the perfection of the fruit, but also the spiritual parity of those who partake in this divine realm.

To reduce this metaphor to "young women" not only interrupts the natural flow of the text but also undermines the holistic narrative style of the Qur’an. Given that the surrounding verses are clearly discussing vineyards and drink, inserting a sexualized interpretation is both textually and contextually flawed.

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3. Full Cups: A Symbol of Spiritual Fulfillment

The final verse speaks of overflowing cups. In the Qur’an, the beverages of Paradise are never intoxicating, but rather purifying and fulfilling to the soul:

> “They will be given a cup [of drink] whose mixture is of Kāfūr.” (al-Insan 76:21)

These drinks symbolize knowledge, inner peace, purified souls, and the tasting of truth—not mere physical indulgence.

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Conclusion: The Qur’anic Depiction of Paradise Is Rooted in Aesthetic Harmony and Inner Maturity

The passage in an-Naba 31–34 is built upon metaphors not of sexuality, but of:

Gardens and vineyards,

Ripened, ready-to-eat grains,

Cups filled with drink made from those grains.

These form a cohesive and symbolic whole. Translating “kawāʿib etrāban” as “full-breasted maidens” not only destroys this aesthetic and meaningful structure but also disrespects the subtlety of the Qur’an’s metaphorical language.

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