Rivers of milk

Maqrur asked his guide, "How many rooms are there in this palace?"

 

The guide answered, "Thirty."

 

Maqrur said laughing, "Why are there so many rooms and how can I live in all these rooms alone?"

 

The guide said, "Allah (Exalted and Glorified be He) says, But those who fear Allah and keep their duty to their Lord (Allah), for them are built lofty rooms; one above another under which rivers flow (i.e. Paradise).

 

Maqrur said, "I may lose my way in all these rooms and even more I may feel afraid to live alone in them."

 

The guide said, "You will not lose your way and you will not be afraid for you will not live alone in this palace."

 

Maqrur said, "But I am alone as you see."

 

The guide said, "You have not seen the Houris. However, if after you see them you still feel the same, all you have to do is to order the one responsible for the architecture to make the palace three or two rooms only and he will fulfill your wish in seconds.

 

Now what do you want to see?"

 

Maqrur said, "I would like to see the rivers of milk, honey and wine. Tell me, do they taste the same as they were in the worldly life?"

 

The guide said, "Let us go there so you may try them yourself."

 

They walked towards the running rivers and there Maqrur looked at the milk flowing in his land. It was so white and the honey was like gold. The wine reflected so many colors that it was difficult to identify its true color.

 

Maqrur wanted to dip his finger into the river to taste the milk but one of the immortal boys immediately filled a glass from the river and served it to him.

 

Maqrur drank the milk and felt that he had never ever tasted anything that sweet before. He asked the guide about this and the guide told him that in life the milk used to come from between the places of excretions and blood but in the Afterlife it is the direct product of Allah's Hands.

 

Maqrur stood for a long time in front of the three rivers, then his guide told him that there was someone waiting for him in the palace and so he must not let him wait for long.