Invoking the Qur鈥檃nic verses that describe paradise聽(jannah)聽as a garden, Professor Nanji likened experiencing a garden to a 鈥榮piritual balm鈥 for the soul. At another level, gardens are also rich with esoteric symbolism not just because of the Qur鈥檃nic references but also because of the way a garden organizes space to appeal to both the outer and inner dimensions of a person. In this way, the exoteric and esoteric are brought into harmony, consistent with a basic Islamic conception of not dichotomising between the spiritual and material 鈥 whether in terms of space or human life more generally.
The BBC World Service Religion broadcast the interview on the 18th of April 2000 as part of a programme entitled 鈥淧atterns of Faith: A Place in Paradise鈥.
