Invoking the Quranic verses that describe paradise(jannah)as a garden, Professor Nanji likened experiencing a garden to a spiritual balm for the soul. At another level, gardens are also rich with esoteric symbolism not just because of the Quranic 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 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 Patterns of Faith: A Place in Paradise.
