Paradise: the Eternal Abode
Paradise is the tremendous reward which Allaah (swt) has prepared for His
beloved (awliyaa) and those who obey Him. It is complete joy and pleasure,
where nothing is lacking and nothing can disturb its purity. What Allaah
(swt) and His Messenger have told us about it makes out heads spin because
our minds are not able to comprehend the greatness of such blessings.
Listen to the words of Allaah (swt) in this hadith qudsi:
“I have prepared for My righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, no ear
has heard and has never crossed the mind of any human being”.
Then the Prophet (saw) said, “Recite, if you wish: “No person knows what is
kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do”. (32:17)
The joys of Paradise are far greater than the pleasures of this world, which
pale into insignificance in comparison. al-Bukhaari reports from Sahl ibn
Sa’d as-Sa’idee that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: “A space the size
of a whip in Paradise is better than this world and al that is in it”. (Fath
al-Baari, 6/319, an-Nawawi’s commentary on Muslim 17/166)
Because admittance to Paradise and salvation from the Fire are according to
Allaah’s will and judgement, it is a great victory and tremendous success, as
Allaah (swt) says:
“Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden, will have
indeed attained the object of life [or: been successful]” (3:185)
“Allaah has promised to believers - men and women - Gardens under which
rivers flow, to dwell therein [forever], and beautiful mansions in Gardens of
everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allaah.
That is the supreme felicity [or success]”. (9:72)
“...and those who obey Allaah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens
with rivers flowing underneath, to abide therein [forever] and that will be
the supreme achievement”. (4:13)
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Admittance to Paradise
There is no doubt that the joy of the believers will be incomparable when
they are led, group by honourable group, to the blessed Gardens of Paradise.
When they reach Paradise its gates will be opened for them, and they will be
welcomed by noble angels congratulating them on their safe arrival after
suffering so much hardship and witnessing so much horror:
“And those who feared their Rabb will be led to the garden in crowds, until,
behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened and its keepers will say
“Peace be upon you! Well have you done! Enter here, to dwell therein”.
(39:73)
In other words, your words, thoughts and deeds were good so your hearts and
souls became pure and for that you deserve Paradise.
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The Believers Will Be Purified Before They Enter Paradise
After the Believers have passed over as-Siraat (the bridge over Hell), they
will be kept on a bridge between Paradise and Hell, where they will be
purified by means of their settling any wrongs that existed between any of
them in this world. THen when they enter paradise they will be pure and
clean, none of them bearing any ill-will towards another or demanding
anything of another.
al-Bukhaari reported from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (ra) that the Messenger of
Allaah (saw) said:
“The believers will be saved from the Fire then they will be kept on a
bridge between Paradise and Hell. They will settle their accounts with one
another for any wrongs that existed between them in this world, until they
are purified and cleansed, and will be permitted to enter Paradise. By the
One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, each of them will know his
dwelling in Paradise better than he knew his dwelling in this world”. (Sahih
al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab al-Qisas Yawm al-Qiyamah, Fath al-Baari,
11/395)
Our Prophet (saw) will be the first to ask for the gates of paradise to be
opened, after Aadam, the father of mankind, and all the other great Prophets
refuse this task.
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The First People to Enter Paradise
The first of mankind to enter Paradise will be our Prophet Muhammad (saw) and
the first nation to enter PAradise will be his ummah. The first member of
this ummah to enter will be Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra).
Ibn Katheer quotes a number of Hadith [an-Nihayah, 2/213] that state this
such as the report of Muslim from Anas (ra) according to which the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) said, “I will be the first one to knock at the gates of
Paradise”.
Muslim also reported from Anas that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: “I
will come to the gates of paradise and ask for it to be opened. The
gatekeeper will ask, “Who are you?” I will say, “Muhammad”. The gatekeeper
will say, “I was ordered not to open the gate for anyone else before you"”.
al-Bukhaari, Muslim and an-Nasaa’ee report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the
PRophet (saw) said: “We are the last, but we will be the first on the Day of
Resurrection. We will be the first of mankind to enter Paradise”.
Abu Dawood reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said,
“Jibreel came to me, and showed me the gate of Paradise through which my
ummah will enter”. Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allaah (saw), would that I
had been with you to see it!”. The Messenger of Allaah (saw) “But you, O Abu
Bakr, will be the first of my ummah to enter Paradise”.
Those Who Will Enter Paradise Without Being Called to Account
The first group of this ummah who will enter Paradise will be those who were
pre-eminent in their imaan, taqwaa, righteous deeds and adherence to the true
religion. They will enter Paradise in one rank: the first of them will not
enter until the last of them enters, and they will be as beautiful as the
full moon.
Al-Bukhaari reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw)
said:
“The first group to enter Paradise will be as beautiful as the full moon.
They will not spit, blow their noses or excrete. Their vessels will be fo
gold, their combs of gold and silver, their incense o aloe, and their sweat
of musk. Each of them will have two wives, the marrow of whose leg-bones
will be visible through their flesh because of their extreme beauty. There
will be no differences or hatred among them (the people of Paradise); their
hearts will be as one, and they will glorify Allaah (swt) morning and
evening”. (Kitaab Bid’ al-Khalq, Baab Ma Jaa’ fi Sifaat al-Jannah, Fath
al-Baari, 6/318; Muslim, at-Tirmidhi)
al-Bukhaari reports from Sahl ibn Sa’d (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah
(saw) said:
“Seventy thousand - or seven hundred thousand - of my ummah will enter
Paradise; the first of them will not enter until the last of them does so,
and their faces will look like the full moon”. (Fath al-Baari, 6/319)
It is true that with each one of these seventy, Allaah (swt) will give His
Prophet seventy thousand. Ahmad reports with a saheeh isnaad from Abu Bakr
(ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said:
“I have been given seventy thousand of my ummah, who will enter Paradise
without being called to account. Their faces will be like the full moon, and
their hearts will be as one. I asked my Rabb, may He be glorified, for more,
and He gave me, along with each of them, seventy thousand more”. (Saheeh
al-Jaami’, 1/350, no. 1068)
Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hibbaan report with a saheeh isnaad from Abu
Umaamah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “My Rabb promised me that
seventy thousand of my ummah would enter Paradise without being called to
account and without being punished, and with each one will be seventy
thousand, and three handfuls of people picked up by my Rabb [i.e. it will be
a great number]”. (Saheeh al-Jaami’ 6/108, no. 2988).
The Prophet (saw) described the characteristics of these seventy thousand.
al-Bukhaari reports from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet (saw) said, “I was
shown the nations, and I saw a Prophet pass by with a group of his people,
and another with a band of his people, another with only ten, another with
five, and another on his own (with no followers). Then I looked and saw a
large crowd of people. I asked, “O Jibreel, are these my ummah?” He said,
“No, but look at the horizon.” So I looked, and saw a huge multitude of
people. Jibreel said, “These are your ummah, and those seventy thousand in
front will not be called to account or punished.” I asked, “Why?” He said,
“They did not treat themselves with branding (cauterisation) or with ruqyaa
(charms) and they did not see evil omens in things (i.e they were not
superstitious): they put their trust only in their Rabb"”. ‘Ukaasha ibn
Mihsan stood up and said, “Pray to Allaah (swt) to make me one of them”. The
Prophet (saw) said, “O Allaah (swt) make him one of them”. Then another man
stood up and said, “Ask Allaah (swt) to make me one of them”. The Prophet
(saw) said, ‘Ukaasha has preceded you”. (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab
ar-Riqaaq, Baab Yadhkul al-Jannah Sab’un Alfan bi Ghayri Hisaab, Fath
al-Baari, 11/405)
These may be the ones whom Allaah (swt) has called al-Muqarraboon (those
nearest to Allaah swt):
“And those foremost [in faith] will be foremost [in the Hereafter]. These
will be those nearest to Allaah [al-Muqarraboon], in the Gardens of Bliss”.
(56:10-12)
More of them will come from the early generations than from the later
generations:
“A multitude of those [foremost] will be from the first generations [who
embraced Islaam], and a few of those [foremost] will be from the later
generations”. (56:13-14)
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The Poor Will Enter Jannah Ahead of the Rich
Muslim reports from ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah
(saw) said< “The poor of the Muhajireen will enter Paradise forty years ahead
of the rich”. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/663, no. 5235)
at-Tirmidhi reported from Abu Sa’eed, and Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah
reported from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: “The
poor of the Muhajireen will enter Paradise five hundred years ahead of the
rich of the Muhajireen” (Saheeh al-Jaami’ 4/90, no.4104).
Elsewhere the Prophet (saw) explained that these are the people who have
nothing to be brought account for, and this is in addition to their jihaad
and virtue. al-Haakim reported from ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr that the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) said, “Do you know who will be the first of my ummah to enter
Paradise?” I said, “Allaah and His Messenger know best”. He said, “The poor
of the Muhajireen. They will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of
Resurrection and ask for it to be opened. The gatekeepers will say to them,
“Have you been brought to account?” They will say, “What do we need to be
brought to account for? We were carrying our swords and fighting for the sake
of Allaah (swt) until we died.” Then the gates will be opened for them and
they will stay there for forty years before anyone else enters”. (Silsilah
al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 2/532, no. 853, al-Haakim said it is sahih according
to the conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
al-Bukhaari reports from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (saw) said, “I
stood by the gate of Paradise and saw that the majority of those who entered
were the poor and wretched. The rich [Muslims] were detained while the
people of Hell were ordered to be taken to Hell”. (Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab
ar-Riqaaq, BAab Sifaat al-Jannah, wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 2/345)
Some of the hadith quoted above stated that the poor will enter Paradise
forty years ahead of other people while others state that the difference will
be five hundred years. The two statements may be reconciled by pointing out
that the poor a re not all alike, neither are the rich. As al-Qurtubee
suggested (at-Tadhkirah, p.470) the poor vary in the strength of their imaan
and their achievements, and the same applies to the rich. If we think in
terms of the first of the poor and the last of the rich to enter Paradise
then the time-span will be five hundred years, but if we are thinking of the
last of the poor and the first of the rich, then the time span is forty
years. And Allaah knows best.” (Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/345)
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The First Three to Enter Jannah
at-Tirmidhi reported with a hasan isnaad from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet
(saw) said:
“I was shown the first three to enter Paradise: the Shaheed (the martyr); the
one who is chaste and proud; and the slave who worships Allaah (swt) with
devotion and is faithful and sincere towards his master” (Jaami’ al-Usool,
10/535, attributed to Ahmad, al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqi)
The Sinners Among the Believers Will Enter Paradise
(i) They will be brought forth from Hell and will enter Paradise by means of
intercession.
Muslim reports from Abu Sa’eed that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said:
“The people of Hell will remain there, never dying, and never living. But
there are people who will enter Hell because of their sins, and will be
killed therein, so that they become like coals. Permission will be granted
for intercession to be made, and they will be brought forth in groups and
spread on rivers of Paradise, and it will be said, “O people of Paradise,
pour water on them. Then they will grow like seeds in the silt left by a
flood”. [Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab as-Shafa’ah wa Ikhraaj al-Muwahiddin
min an-Naar, 1/172]
Muslim also reports from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah that the Messenger of Allaah
(saw) said, “Some people will be brought out of the Fire, having been burnt
all over except for their faces, and they will enter Paradise”. [Muslim,
Kitaab al-Imaam, Baab adna Ahl al-Jannah Manzilatan, 1/178]
The people of Paradise will call these people who are brought out of Hell and
admitted to Paradise, al-Jahannamiyyoon. al-Bukhaari reports from ‘Imraan
ibn Husayn (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said, “Some people will be brought out
of Hell through the intercession of Muhammad (saw). They will enter Paradise
and will be known as al-Jahannamiyyoon.” [Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab
ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/418. They are
also mentioned in a hadith narrated from Jaabir by Muslim, 1/179 and
al-Bukhaari from Anas, Fath al-Baari 11/416]
According to another sahih hadith narrated by Jaabir: “The Prophet (saw)
said, “They will be brought out of the Fire through intercession, as if they
are tha’areer”. I asked, “What are tha’areer?” He said, “Daghabis [snake
cucumbers]"”. [al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaah al-Jannah wan-Naar,
Fath al-Baari, 11/416]
Muslim reports a lengthy hadith from Abu Hurayrah, in which the Prophet (saw)
describes the Hereafter, and in which he says: “...When Allaah (swt) has
finished judging mankind, and wants to bring whomever He wills out of Hell by
His Mercy, He will order angels to bring forth those upon who He wishes to
bestow His mercy of the people who never associated anything in worship with
Allaah (swt), and who said, “Laa ilaaha illaah Allaah”. The angels will
recognise them in Hell, and will known them by the mark of sujood on their
foreheads. The Fire will consume all of a man except the mark of sujood
which Allaah (swt) has forbidden the Fire to consume. They will be brought
forth, having been burned in the Fire, the water of life will be poured on
then, and they will grow like seeds left by still after a flood”. [Saheeh
Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab ar-Ru’yah, 1/299, no. 182]
It was reported in more than one hadith that Allaah (swt) will bring forth
from hell whoever has a dinaar’s weight of faith in his heart, or even half a
dinaar’s weight or an atom’s weight. Moreover, people will be brought forth
who never did any good deeds at all. Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri reported that the
Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “Allaah (swt) will admit the people of
Paradise to Paradise and He will admit whomsoever He will by His Mercy. And
He will admit the people of Hell to Hell, then He will say, “Look for anyone
who has the weight of a mustard seed of faith in his heart, and bring him
out"”. [Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab Ithbat ash-Shafa’ah wa Ikhraaj
al-Muwwahhadeen, 1/172]
One of the reports about Hell is the hadeeth narrated by Jaabir ibn
‘Abdullaah (ra) concerning entering Hellfire:
“Then intercession will be permitted and they will interceded until whoever
says Laa ilaaha illa Allaah and has a barley grain’s worth of goodness in his
heart will be brought forth. They will be made to stand in the courtyard of
paradise and the people of Paradise will start to pour water over them, until
they begin to grow like seeds left by silt after a flood. All traces of the
Fire will disappear, then he [the person who was brought out of Hell] will
keep asking until he is given the equivalent of this world and ten times
more”. [Sahih Muslim, Baab adna Ahl al-Jannah Manzilatan, 1/178]
Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Prophet (saw) said: “Whoever says Laa
ilaaha illaa Allaah and has a barely grain’s weight of goodness in his heart
will be brought out of the Fire. Then whoever says, “Laa ilaaha illaa
Allaah” and has a wheat grains weight of goodness in his heart will be
brought out of the Fire. Then whoever says, Laa Ilaaha illaa Allaah and has
an atom’s-weight of goodness in his heart will be brought out of the Fire”.
[Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab adna Ahl al-Jannah Manzilatan, 1/182]
There are many hadiths that discuss this matter.
(ii) Opinions of different groups on intercession.
The Khawaarij and Mu’tazilah deny that there will be any intercession to
protect those who are guilty of major sins and have been ordered to enter
Hell from doing so, or to bring forth those who have already entered.
al-Qurtubee said, “This intercession was denied by the innovators, Khawaarij
and Mu’tazilah. Their denial is based on their corrupt principles, which are
based on what they saw as rational thinking”. [1]
These reprehensible ideas which go against the muttawaatir sahih hadith,
emerged while the Sahabah were still alive. Muslim reports in his sahih from
Yazeed al-Faqeer, who says: “I was infatuated with one of the ideas of the
Khawaarij, so a large group of us went out, intending to go for Hajj and then
go out to fight the people. We came to Madinah, where we found Jaabir ibn
‘Abdullaah sitting by a pillar, narrated hadith to the people. When he
mentioned al-Jahannamiyyoon, I said, “O Companion of the Messenger of Allaah,
what is this that you are narrating, when Allaah (swt) says: “And who You
admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame.” [3:192] and “....everytime
they wish to get away therefrom, they will be put back thereto..” [32:20]
So what is it that you are saying?” He said, “Have you read the Qur’aan?” I
said, “Yes.” He asked, “Have you heard about the [exalted] position of
Muhammad [i.e. the position to which Allaah swt would raise him]?” I said,
“Yes”. He said, “That is the honoured position of Muhammad by which Allaah
(swt) will bring out whosoever He wishes to bring out”. Then he described
as-Siraat [the bridge over Hell] and the passing of the people over it, then
said, “I am afraid that I may not have remembered exactly what he said. But
he said that people would be brought out of Hell after entering it. He meant
that they would come out looking like the wood of the ebony tree; they would
enter one of the rivers of paradise and bathe in it, then they would come out
looking [white] like sheets of paper”. We turned back and said, “Woe to
you! Dso think this sheikh would tell lies about the Messenger of Allaah
(saw)? We turned back [from the views of the Khawaarij] and by Allaah (swt)
every one of us abandoned this group except for one man”. [Sahih Muslim,
Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab adna Ahl al-Jannah Manzilatan, 1/179, no.191]
The Khawaarij and Mu’tazilah went ot extremes with their claim that people
guilty of major sins [al-Kabaair] would never come out of Hell, and that the
intercession of those who interceded would be of no avail for them. The
Murji’ah went to the opposite extreme by stating that no-one who was guilty
of major sins would necessarily enter Hell, and believing that all such
people would enter Paradise without being punished at all. Both groups are
in conflict with the well-known muttawaatir Sunnah and with the consensus of
the Salaf and Imaams of this ummah. Allaah (swt) has guided Ahl as-Sunnah
wal-Jama’ah to the truth in this matter where others have erred, by His Will.
They [Ahl as-Sunnah] believe that hose who are guilty of major sins are
subject to the will of Allaah (swt); if He wills, He will forgive them, out
of mercy, and If He wills, He will punish them for His sins then admit them
to Paradise by His Mercy.
“Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him, but He forgives
anything else, to whom He pleases.” (4:48)
“Say: O My Slaves who have transgressed against themselves [by committing
evil deeds and sins]! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily Allaah
forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-forgiving, All-Merciful”. (39:53)
Shirk will not be forgiven, but any other sin is subject o the Will of
allaah. The one who repents will be as if he never sinned. The aayaat that
the Khawaarij use to prove that intercession will not be accepted actually
refers to the kinds of intercession believed in by the mushrikeen. They
think that interceding with Allaah is like interceding with rulers or
authorities on earth, where a person may intercede with someone (an authority
figure) without that person’s permission and even if the one in authority is
displeased with the one on whose half intercession is made. This is not so
in the case of Allaah (swt) may He be glorified. Several texts reject this
type of intercession, for example:
“Then guard yourselves against A Day when one soul shall not avail another,
nor shall intercession be accepted from him nor will compensation be taken
from him nor shall anyone be helped [from outside]” (2:48)
“Then will no intercession of [any] intercessors profit them”. (74:48)
“..No intimate friend, nor intercessor will the wrongdoers have, who could be
listened to”. (40:18)
Several texts explain that no-one can intercede with Allaah except with His
permission and unless He is pleased both with the intercessor and the one for
whom he seeks to intercede:
“Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission?” (2:255)
“and they cannot interceded except for him with whom He is pleased” (21:28)
“And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail
nothing except after Allaah has given leave for whom He wills and pleases”.
(53:26).
Allaah (swt) also says about the angels: “He knows what is before them and
what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is
pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of him”. (21:28)
“No intercession can avail in His presence, except for those to whom He has
granted permission”. (34:23)
These aayaat reject and refute the kind of intercession believed in by the
mushrikeen, i.e. intercession via angels, prophets and righteous people,
("saints"), and confirm only that intercession which takes place with the
permission of Allaah (swt) and when He is pleased with both the intercessor
and the one on whose behalf he intercedes. Allaah (swt) is not pleased with
the kuffaar and mushrikeen. As for the disobedient monotheists, intercessors
will interceded for them, but they will not intercede for a mushrik.
al-Bukhaari narrated that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, “I said, “O Messenger of
Allaah, who will be the most happy with your intercession on the Day of
Resurrection?” He said, “I thought, O Abu Hurayrah, that no one would ask me
this question before you, because I have seen that you are so eager to learn
hadith. The one who will be the most happy with my intercession on the Day
of Resurrection will be the one who says Laa ilaaha illaa Allaah sincerely
and from the heart"”. [al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah
wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/418]
[1] al-Khawaarij are a sect that emerged after the battle of Siffin; they
denounced ‘Alee and Mu’awiyah, and whoever followed them, as kaafirs, and
claimed that whoever was disobedient to Allaah (swt) would remain forever in
Hell. The Mu’tazilah are the followers of Waasil ibn ‘Ataa’ who believe in
the Mu’tazili doctrine that whoever commits major sins will remain eternally
in Hell, but does not judge their position in this life.
The Last Person to Enter Paradise
The Prophet (saw) has told us about the last man who will be brought out of
Hell and into Paradise and the conversation that will take place between him
and his RAbb, and the incredibly great honour that Allaah (swt) will bestow
upon him. Ibn al-Ithir collected all the hadith on this topic in Jami’
al-Usool from which we will quote the following:
(i) ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oud (ra) said:
“The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “I know the last of the people of Hell
who will be brought forth from it, and the last of the people of Paradise to
enter it. It is a man who will come out of Hell crawling on all fours.”
Allaah will say to him, “Go and enter Paradise”. So he will come to it and
will suppose that it is full. He will go back and say, “My Rabb, I found it
full”. Allaah (swt) will say, “Go and enter Paradise for there you have
something like the world and ten times over [or you have something ten times
better than the world]. He will says, “Are you making fun of me - or
laughing at me - and You are the Sovereign of all?” I [’Abdullaah] saw the
Messenger of Allaah (saw) smiling so broadly that his back teeth were
visible. He used to say, “That is the one who is lowest in status of the
people of Paradise”. [al-Bukhaari, 11/386, ar-Riqaaq, at-Tawheed Baab Kalaam
ar-Rabb ‘azza wa jall yawm al-qiyamah ma’a al-anbiyaa wa ghayrihim; and
Muslim, with slight variation, no. 186, Baab aakhir Ahl an-Naar Khurujan; and
at-Tirmidhi, no. 2598 in Safah Jahanam, Ch. 10]
(ii) ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oud reported that the MEssenger of Allaah (Saw) said:
“The last person to enter paradise will be a man who will alternately walk,
stagger and be touched by the Fire. Once he has passed out of the Fire, he
will turn to face it and say, “Blessed be He Who has saved me from you.
Allaah (swt) has given me something that He did not give to the earlier and
later generations. Then a tree will be raised up for him, and he will say,
“O my Rabb, bring me closer to this tree so that I may enjoy its shade and
drink of its water”. Allaah (swt) will say, “O son of Aadam perhaps if I
grant you this, you will ask Me for something else?” He will say, “No, O
Rabb, I promise that I will not ask for anything else”. Allaah (swt) will
excuse him because he is seeing something that he has no patience to resist
so he will bring him closer and he will enjoy its shade and drink its water.
Then another tree, better than the first, will be raised up for him and he
will say, “O my Rabb, bring me near to this tree so that I may drink its
water and enjoy its shade, then I will not ask you for anything more”.
Allaah (swt) will say, “O son of Aadam did you not promise Me that you would
not ask me for anything else? Perhaps if I bring you closer to this tree you
will ask for more?” So the man will promise not to ask for any more, and
Allaah will excuse him because he is seeing something that he has no patience
to resist, so He will bring him closer and he will enjoy its shade and drink
its water. Then a third tree will be raised up at the gate of paradise, and
it will be better than the first two. The man will say, “O My Rabb, bring me
closer to this [tree] so that I may enjoy its shade and drink its water, and
I will not ask for anything more.” Allaah will say, “O son of Aadam, did
you not promise Me that you would not ask Me for anything more?” He will
say, “Yes, O Rabb, I will not ask you for anything more.” His Rabb, may He
be glorified, will excuse him because he is seeing something which he has no
patience to resist, so He will bring him closer. When he is brought close,
he will hear the voices of the people of Paradise, and will say, “O my Rabb,
admit me to it.” Allaah (swt) will say, “O son of Aadam what do you want so
that you will never ask Me for anything else? Will it please you if I give
you the world and as much again?” He will say, “O Rabb, are You making fun
of me when You are the Rabb al-Aaalameen?” Ibn Mas’oud smiled and said, “Why
do you not ask me why I am smiling?” They asked, “Why are you smiling?” He
said, “Because the Messenger of Allaah (saw) smiled”. They asked, “Why are
you smiling, O Messenger of Allaah (saw)?” He said, “Because the Rabb of the
Worlds will smile when He is asked, “Are You making fun of me when You are
the Rabb of the Worlds?” He will say, “I am not making fun of you, but I am
able to do whatever I will""". [Muslim, no. 187, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab
aakhir an-Naar khurujan]
And in the version of Abu Sa’eed, he adds, “Allaah (swt) will tell him, “ask
for such and such” and when he has stated his wishes, Allaah (swt) will say,
“You will have them and ten times more”. Then he will enter his house [in
Paradise] and his two wives from among al-hoor al-’eeyn will enter and say,
“Praise be to Allaah (swt) who has created you for us and created us for
you”. He will say, “No one has ever been given anything like that which I
have been given.” [reported by Muslim, no.188 Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab adna Ahl
al-Jannah manzilatan]
*****************************************************************************
Those Who Will Enter Paradise Before the Day of Resurrection
The first human being ever to enter Paradise was the father of mankind, Aadam
(as),
“O Aadam! Dwell you and your wife in the Garden and enjoy [its good things]
as you wish, but approach not this tree or you run into harm and
transgression”. (7:19)
But Aadam disobeyed Allaah by eating from the tree which Allaah (swt) had
forbidden him to eat from, so Allaah (swt) sent him down from the Garden of
Paradise to this world of distress and misery:
“We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Aadam, but he forgot, and
We found on his part no firm will-power. When We said to the angels,
“Prostrate yourselves to Aadam”. They prostrated themselves but not Iblees,
he refused. Then we said, “O Aadam! Verily, this is an enemy to you and
your wife. So let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that you are
landed in misery. There is in it [enough provision] for you not to go hungry
nor to go naked, Nor to suffer from thirst nor from the sun’s heat”. But
Shaytaan whispered evil to him, he said, “O Aadam, Shall I lead you to the
Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?” As a result they both
ate of the tree and so their nakedness appeared to them, and they began to
sew together leaves from the Garden for their covering. Thus did Aadam
disobey his Rabb and allow himself to be seduced. But his Rabb chose him
[for His Grace]; He turned to him with forgiveness, and gave him guidance.
He [Allaah] said, “Get you down, both of you - all together - from the
Garden, with enmity one to another.” [20:115-123]
The Messenger of Allaah (saw) also saw PAradise. al-Bukhaari reports from
‘Imraan ibn Husayn that the Prophet (saw) said, “I have seen Paradise and I
saw that its inhabitants are the poor..” [Sahih Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad’
al-Khalq, Baab ma jaa fi Sifaat al-jannah, Fath al-Baari, 6/318]
Among those who will enter paradise before the Day of Resurrection are
ash-Shuhadaa [the martyrs]. Muslim reports that Masruq said, “We asked
Abdullaah ibn Mas’oud about this aayah:
“Think not of those who are slain in Allaah’s way as dead. Nay, they live,
finding their sustenance in the presence of their Rabb” (3:169)
He said, “We asked about that too, and the Prophet (saw) said, “Their souls
are in the bellies of green birds, and they have lights suspended from the
Throne. They wander about in Paradise wherever they wish, then they take
shelter in those lights. Their Rabb will suddenly come to them and ask,” Do
you desire anything?” They will say, “What thing could we wish for when we
can wander wherever we wish in Paradise?” Allaah will come and ask this
three times. When they see that they will not be allowed to giver no reply,
they will say, “O Rabb, would that we could return our bodies and be killed
for Your sake one more time.” When Allaah (swt) sees that they have no wants
or needs, they will be left alone"”. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/351, no. 3804)
Whoever dies will be shown his position in Paradise or Hell morning and
evening. Muslim reports from Ibn ‘Umar (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah
(saw) said:
“When any one of you dies, he will be shown his position morning and evening.
If he is one of the people of Paradise, then he will be one of the people of
Paradise, and if he is one of the people of Hell, then he will be one of the
people of Hell and he will be told, “This is your position until Allaah (swt)
resurrects you to it on the Day of Resurrection"”. [Muslim, see Muslim bi
sharh an-Nawawi, 17/300]
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From: lamole786@a…
Date: Tue Aug 29, 2000 6:40 pm
Subject: al-Jannah wa an-Naar [22]
Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Raheem
Assalaamu ‘alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
al-Jannah wa an-Naar
In The Light of the Qur’aan and Sunnah
Based on the Book by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paradise: There is Nothing Like It
The delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description. They
are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter how advanced
we may become, what we achieve is as nothing in comparison with the joys of
the Hereafter. As is mentioned in several reports, there is nothing like
Paradise:
“It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river,
ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of
radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses”. [Ibn Maajah,
as-Sunan, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah, 2/1448, no. 4332. Ibn
Hibbaan narrated it in his saheeh]
The Sahabah asked the Prophet (saw) about the buildings of Paradise and he
replied with a wonderful description:
“Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and
sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will
never feel miserable; he will live there forever and never die; their clothes
will never wear out and their youth will never fade.” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi,
ad-Daarimee, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/29, sahih].
Allaah (swt) indeed spoke the truth when He (swt) said: “And when you look
there [in Paradise] you will see a delight [that cannot be imagined]. and a
great dominion” [76:20]
What Allaah (swt) has kept hidden from us the delights of Paradise is beyond
our ability to comprehend: al-Bukhaari reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that
the Prophet (saw) said that Allaah (swt) said, “I have prepared for My slaves
what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine”.
Recite if you wish, “No person know what is kept hidden for them of joy as a
reward for what they used to do.” (32:17). In the version reported by
Muslim from Abu Hurayrah, there is the addition, “Never mind what Allaah has
told you; what He has not told you is EVEN greater”.
***************************************
The Gates of Paradise
Paradise has gates through which the believers, like the angels, will enter:
“‘Adn [Eden - everlasting gardens] of Paradise, whose doors will open for
them"[38:50]
“...And angels shall enter unto them from every gate [with the salutation]:
“Peace be unto you for that you persevered in patience! How excellent is the
final home!” [13:23-24]
Allaah (swt) has told us that these gates will be opened when the believers
reach them, and they will be welcomed by the angels with greetings of peace:
“...til, when they reach it, its gates will be opened, and its keepers will
say, “Salaamun ‘alaykum! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.”
[39:73]
The number of gates in Paradise is eight, one of which is called ar-Rayyaan,
which is exclusively for those who fast. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from
Sahl ibn Sa’eedi that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “In Paradise there
are eight gates, one of which is called ar-Rayyaan. No one will enter it
except those who fast, and when they have entered it will be locked behind
them and no one else will enter it”. [Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/214]
In addition to ar-Rayyaan, there are also gates for those who pray much,
those who give in charity and those who fight in jihaad; Abu Hurayrah (ra)
reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever spends a pair [of anything]
from his wealth for the sake of Allaah (swt) will be called from the gates of
Paradise, and Paradise has eight agates. Whoever used to pray [regularly and
properly] will be called from the gate of prayer; whoever use to give in
charity will be called from the gate of charity’ whoever used to fight in
jihaad will be called from the gate of jihaad, and whoever used to fast
[regularly] will be called from the gate of fasting”. Abu Bakr (ra) said,
“By Allaah, it would not matter if a person was called from any of them but
will anyone be called from all of them, O Messenger of Allaah (saw)?” He
said, “Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them”. [saheeh, Ibn Katheer,
an-Nihaayah, 2/214]
The Prophet (saw) also said, “Whoever performs wudhu and does it properly,
then lifts his gaze to the sky and says, “Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa Allaah,
wahdahu laa shareeka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abdahu wa rasuluhu, the
eight gates of Paradise will be opened to him, and he will enter it through
whichever one he wishes”. [Muslim, Ahmad and others on the authority of
‘Umar, an-Nihaayah, 2/219]
The Prophet (saw) told us that there is a gate, which is only for those who
will not be called to account: this is the right-hand gate of Paradise.
Everyone else will enter Paradise with the rest of the nations through the
other gates. In a hadith about ash-Shafaa’ah (intercession) whose
authenticity is agreed upon, Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (saw)
said, “Allaah (swt) will say, “O Muhammad, admit those of your ummah who do
not need to be brought to account through the right-hand gate and the others
will enter through the other gates like the rest of the people."”
In the same hadith, the Prophet (saw) described the width of the gates of
Paradise:
“By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the distance between two
panesl of the gates of Paradise or between the two gateposts, is liek the
distance between Makkaah and Hajar, or between Makkah and Basra”
[an-Nihaayah, 2/221]
The Prophet (saw) has told us that the gates of Paradise are opened during
Ramadhaan. al-Bukhaari, Muslim, and Ahmad report from Abu Hurayrah that the
Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “When the month of Ramadhan comes, the gates
of heaven are opened”.
In some reports it states that the distance between the two gate-panels when
they are open is that of a forty year journey. The Messenger of Allaah (saw)
said, “The distance between the two gate-panels of one of the gates of
Paradise is the distance of forty-year’s walking, but there will come a time
when it is very crowded”. [Ahmad in al-Musnad, Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah, from
Haakim ibn Mu’aawiyah from Mu’aawiyah, sahih; see also Muslim and Ahmad on
the authority of ‘Utbah ibn Ghazwaan]
And in the narration of at-Tabaraani reported in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer from
‘Abdullaah ibn Salaam, it is said “..and it [the gate] will become as crowded
as a drinking-trough surrounded by thirsty camels”.
The Levels of Paradise
(i) Evidence that Paradise has various levels and its inhabitants will be in
different categories
Paradise consists of levels, some of which are above others, and its people
will be of differing levels and categories according to their position in
Paradise. Allaah (swt) says:
“Whoever wishes for the quick passing [transitory enjoyment of this world] we
readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then afterwards, We have
appointed for him Hell, he will burn therein disgraced and rejected, [-far
away from Allaah’s Mercy]. And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for
it, with the necessary effort due to it, [i.e. righteous deeds of obedience
to Allaah] while he is a believer [in tawheed] then such are the ones whose
striving shall be appreciated, thanked and rewarded [by Allaah]. To each -
these as well as those - We bestow from the bounties of your Rabb. And the
bounties of your Rabb can never be forbidden” [17:18-20]
Allaah (swt) explains how He gives more of His bounty in this world or the
next, as He (swt) wills, and His Bounty is not withheld [forbidden] from
either the righteous or the sinful. Then He (swt) says:
“See how We prefer one above another [in this world] and verily, the
Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preference.” [17:21]
Allaah (swt) explains that the differences between people in the Hereafter
will be greater than the differences between them in this life, and the
difference between the levels or ranks of the Hereafter is greater than the
differences here in this life. Allaah (swt) also differentiates between His
Prophets as He does between the rest of His believing slaves. Allaah (swt)
says:
“Those Messengers! We preferred some to others; to some of them Allaah spoke
[directly]; others He raised to degrees of [honour]; and to ‘Eesa the son of
Maryam, We gave clear proofs and evidence, and supported him with Ruh
al-Quddus [Jibreel]...” [2:253]
and “...And indeed We have preferred some of the Prophets above others..”
[17:55]
Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said “A strong
believer is better and more beloved to Allaah (swt) than a weak one although
both are good...” and al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah and
‘Amr ibn al-Aas that the Prophet (saw) said, “If a judge seeks to form an
independent judgement [ijtihaad] and is correct, he will have two rewards; if
he seeks to form an independent judgement and is wrong, he will have one
reward.”
Allaah, subhaanahu wa ta’ala, says: “Not equal among you are those who spent
and fought before the conquest [of Makkah] [with those among you who did so
later]. Such are higher in degree that those who spent and fought
afterwards. But to all, Allaah has promised the best [reward].” [57:10]
And “Not equal are those of the believers who sit [at home] except those who
are disabled [by injury or are blind or lame, etc] and those who strive hard
and fight in the Cause of Allaah with their wealth and their lives. Allaah
has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and
their lives above those who sit [at home]. Unto each, Allaah has promised
good [Paradise] but Allaah has preferred those who strive hard and fight,
above those who sit [at home] by a huge reward; degrees of [higher] grades
from Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy. And Allaah is Ever Oft-Forgiving,
All-Merciful”. [4:95-96]
“Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the
maintenance of al-Masjid al-Haram [at Makkah] as equal to the worth of those
who believe in Allaah and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the
Cause of Allaah? They are not equal before Allaah. And Allaah guides not
those people who are the Dhaalimoon. Those who believed and emigrated and
strove hard and fought in Allaah’s Cause with their wealth and their lives
are far higher in degree with Allaah. They are the successful. Their Rabb
gives them glad tidings of a Mercy from Him, and that He is pleased and of
Gardens for them wherein are everlasting delights. They will dwell therein
forever. Verily, with Allaah is a great reward”. [9:19-22]
“Is one who is obedient to Allaah prostrating himself or standing [in prayer]
during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy
of his Rabb [like one who disbelievers]? Say: “Are those who know equal to
those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember [i.e.
learn a lesson from Allaah’s Signs]” [39:9]
The Prophet (saw) said, narrated by al-Bukhaari from Abu Hurayrah,
“...Paradise has one hundred levels which Allaah has reserved for the
mujaahideen who fight in His Cause and the distance between each of the two
grades is like the distance between the heavens and the earth. So when you
ask Allaah for something, ask for al-Firdaws which is the best and highest
part of Paradise. Above it is the throne of the Most Merciful, and from it
originate the rivers of Paradise”. [al-Bukhaari in as-Saheeh, Kitaab
al-Jihaad, Baab Darajat al-Mujaahideen fi Sabeelillaah, Fath al-Baari, 6/11]
al-Bukhaari also reports from Anas that Umm Harithah came to the Prophet
(saw) when her son Harithah had been martyred at Badr, killed by an arrow.
She said, “O Messenger of Allaah, you know how dear Harithah was to my heart.
If he is in Paradise, I will not weep over him, but if he is not there, you
will see what I do”. He said, “Is there only one Paradise? There are many
Paradises and he is in al-Firdaws, the Highest.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab
ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah, wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/418]
*****************************************************
Differences between the Levels of al-Jannah
The Prophet (saw) explained that the people will be in different levels in
Paradise according to their status. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu
Sa’eed al-Khudri that the Prophet (saw) said, “The people of Paradise will
look at the people dwelling in the chambers above them in the same way that
people look at a brilliant star shining far away on the horizon, in the East
or West, because of their superiority [in reward] over them.” The people
asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, are these the dwellings of the Prophets which
no one else can attain?” He replied, “No by the One in Whose Hand is my
soul, they are for the men who believed in Allaah, and also in His
Messengers.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bid’ al-Khalq, Baab Sifaat
al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 6/220; Saheeh Muslim Kitaab al-Jannah,
Baab tara’i Ahl al-Jannah Ahl al-Ghuraf, 4/2177, no. 2831]
Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Hibbaan reported from Abu Sa’eed that
the Prophet (saw) said,
“The people in the higher levels will be seen by those below them as if they
were looking at a star rising on the horizon. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar will be
among them; what good people they are!” [Saheeh al-Jaami’ as-Sagheer, 2/187,
no. 2026]
al-Qurtubee said, “Know that these chambers will differ in height, and
appearance according to the deeds of their occupants. Some of them will be
higher than others. When the Prophet (saw) said, “No by the One is Whose
Hand is my soul, they are for the men who believed in Allaah (swt) and also
in His Messengers; he did not mention deeds or anything other than faith and
belief in the Messengers, with no doubts or questions. Otherwise, how could
these chambers be reached through the faith and belief of the ordinary
people? If that were the case, then all the Muslims would reach these
highest levels, and that is impossible” as Allaah says, “Those will be
rewarded with the highest place [in Paradise] because of their patience..”
[25:75]
This patience often involved self sacrifice and being steadfast for the sake
of Allaah, focussing on Him, being a true slave to Him. These are the
attributes of al-Muqarraboon, as Allaah (swt) says:
“And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us,
but only he [will please Us] who believes and does righteous deeds; for such
there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the
high dwellings [Paradise] in peace and security”. [34:37]
Here Allaah mentioned the highest chambers or dwellings of Paradise and
states that they will not be attained by means of wealth and children, but
through faith and righteous deeds then they will have a double reward. Their
place will be the high dwellings, which tells you that this is faith that
gives one tranquility and certainty, and fills the heart. A person with such
faith is content no matter what happens to him, and in all situations and
circumstances. If he does a good deed, he does not mix it with the opposite,
which are evil deeds. Good deeds that are uncontaminated with evil deeds
cannot be achieved except by the one whose imaan is very great and who is
content and has no doubts, no matter what his circumstances. The faith and
deeds of the one whose good deeds are contaminated are not like that, so his
status will be lower” [al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, p. 464]
The inhabitants of the highest levels of Paradise will enjoy greater
pleasures than the people below them. Allaah (swt) has promised two gardens
to those who fear Him:
“But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will be two
gardens” [55:46]
Allaah (swt) described these Gardens, then He (swt) said, “And besides these
two, there are two other Gardens [i.e. in Paradise]” [55:62]
These two gardens will be lower in status. Whoever thinks of the
characteristics of the two gardens which Allaah mentioned second will realise
that they are lower than the first two, because the first two are for the
muqarraboon [those who are close to Allaah], whilst the second two are for
ashaab al-yameen [those of the Right Hand] as Ibn ‘Abbaas and Abu Musa
al-Ash’ari said [at-Tadhkirah, 440]. al-Qurtubee said:
“When He described the two pairs of gardens, He referred to the difference
between them. Describing the first two, He said “in them [both] will be two
springs flowing free” [55:50] whereas in the second two “..will be two
springs gushing forth water” [55:66]. Gushing or bubbling water is not the
same as flowing water; bubbling is of a lesser degree than flowing. Allaah
says that in the first two gardens “..will be every kind of fruit in pairs”
[55:52] - all kinds of fruit, well known and rare, moist and dry; this is a
general statement. But in the second two gardens “..will be fruits, date
palms and pomegranates” [55:68] Allaah does not say that there would be
every kind of fruit in pairs. In the first two gardens the people will be
“reclining upon the couches lined with silk brocade” [55:54], while in the
second two gardens they will be “reclining on green cushions and rich
beautiful mattresses” [55:76] which means embellished or embroidered, and
there is no doubt that a couch lined with silk brocade is superior to an
embroidered cushion. The Hoor al-’Eeyn in the first two gardens are
described as “like rubies and coral” [55:58] whilst those in the second two
gardens are described as “fair [wives] good and beautiful” [55:70]; not
everything that is beautiful is as beautiful as rubies and coral. The first
two gardens are described as “with spreading branches” [55:48] while the
second two are “dark green [in colour]” [55:64] so intensely green that it is
almost black. The first two clearly have many bushes and trees, whilst the
second two are described simply as being green” [at-Tadkhirah, p. 440]
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of
Allaah (saw) said, “Two gardens of silver, their vessels and everything in
them and two gardens of gold, their vessels and everything in them, and there
will be nothing between the people and their seeing Allaah, except the
garment of pride over His Face in the Paradise of ‘Adn” [Jaami’ al-Usool,
10/498, no. 8029]
Allaah (swt) described the drink of the pious in Paradise:
“Verily the Abraar [pious, who fear Allaah and avoid evil] will drink a cup
[of wine] mixed with water from a spring in Paradise called Kafoor” [76:5]
“And they will be given to drink there a cup [of wine] mixed with Zanjabeel
[ginger]” [76:17]
It seems - and Allaah Knows Best - that this is for Ahl al-Yameen. Elsewhere
Allaah (swt) says: “It [that wine] will be mixed with tasneem, A spring
whereof drink those nearest to Allaah” [83:27-28]. Ahl al-Yameen will drink
something mixed with Tasneem, whilst al-Muqarraboon will drink a pure drink
of Tasneem. Tasneem is the name of a spring in Paradise.
The Highest and Lowest Positions in Paradise
Muslim reports from al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah that the Messenger of Allaah
(saw) said:
“Musaa asked his Rabb, “Who will have the lowest position in Paradise?”
Allaah said, “A man who will come after the people of Paradise have entered
Paradise. He will be told, “Enter Paradise”, and he will say, “O my Rabb,
how? The people have already taken their places.” He will be asked, “Will
you not be content if you could have the equivalent of a kingdom on earth?”
He will say, “Yes, my Rabb”. So he will be told, “You will have that and as
much again, and as much again, and as much again, and as much again.” On the
fifth time, he will say, “I am content with that, my Rabb”. He will be told,
“You will have all that and ten times more; you will have whatever your heart
desires and whatever will delight your eyes.” The man will say, “I am
content with that”. Musaa asked, “My Rabb, who will have the highest status
in Paradise?” Allaah said, “They are those whom I choose. I establish their
honour with My own hand and then set a seal over it, [and they will be
blessed with Bounties] which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human
mind can comprehend."” This confirmed by the words of Allaah, may He be
glorified and exalted, “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy
as a reward for what they used to do”. [32:17]
*********************************************
The Highest Position in Paradise
The highest position in Paradise which will be attained by only one person is
called al-Waseelah. It will be attained, insha’Allaah, by the Chosen
Prophet, the best of Allaah’s creation, our Prophet Muhammad (saw). This is
narrated in a hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah
according to which the Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever says, when he hears the
call to prayer, “Allaahumma Rabba hadhihi-da’wati-tammah,
was-salaatil-qaa’imah, aati muhammadan al-waseelata wal-fadeelata, wab’aththu
maqaaman mahmoodan alladhi wa’adtahu [O Allaah, Lord of this Perfect Call and
the Prayer to be Offered, grant Muhammad al-Waseelah - the highest position
in Paradise - and also the eminence and resurrect him to the praised position
You have promised], intercession for him will be granted on the Day of
Resurrection.”
Muslim reported that ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr al-’Aas said, “I heard the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) say, “When you hear the muaddhin call, say what he says, then
send blessings on me, for whoever sends blessings on me, Allaah (swt) will
return it to him tenfold. Then ask Allaah to grant me al-Waseelah, for
whoever asks Allaah (swt) to grant me al-Waseelah intercession will be
granted for him."”
The Sahaabah asked the Prophet (saw) “What is al-Waseelah?” He said, “It is
the highest level of Paradise, which only one man will reach, and I hope that
I will be the one”. [Ahmad from Abu Hurayrah]
The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “al-Waseelah is a rank above which there
is no other in the sight of Allaah (swt). Ask Allaah (swt) to grant me
al-Waseelah” [Ahmad from Abu Sa’eed, See Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/2332]
************************************************************
Those Who Take their Positions in the Highest Levels
Among those who will occupy the highest levels in Paradise are the shuhaadaa,
the best of whom are those who fight in the front ranks and never turn away
until they are killed. Ahmad and at-Tabaraani report with a saheeh isnaad
from Na’eem ibn Hamar (1) that the Prophet (saw) said, “The best of the
Shuhaadaa are those who fight in the first rank, and do not turn their faces
away until they are killed. They will have the pleasure of occupying the
highest dwellings in Paradise. Your Rabb will smile at them, and whenever
your Rabb smiles upon any of His Slaves, that person will not be brought to
account”. [Musnad Ahmad, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab al-Ihsaan ila al-armila
wal-masaakeen wal-yateem 2/2286, hadith no. 2982]
The one who helps widows and the destitute will have the status of a mujaahid
in Paradise. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said,
“The one who helps widows and the destitute is like one who fights in jihaad
for the sake of Allaah (swt).” I [the narrator] think he said, “And he is
like the one who stands all night in prayer and never sleeps, and like the
one who fasts continually and never breaks his fast”. [Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab
az-Zuhd, Baab al-Ihsaan, ila al-armilah wal-miskeen wal-yateem, 2/2286, no.
2982]
The one who sponsors an orphan will be close to the Prophet (saw) in
Paradise. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said,
“The one who sponsors an orphan, whether from his own wealth or from the
orphan’s wealth, I and he will be like these two in Paradise,” - and Maalik
[the narrator] gestured with his forefinger and middle finger. [Saheeh
Muslim, Kitaab az-Zuhd, 2/2286, no. 2982; “lahu aw ghayrihi” - whether from
his own wealth or from the orphan’s wealth - means whether he supports him
from his own wealth or is a legal guardian over the orphan and the orphan’s
wealth]
Allaah (swt) will raise the status of parents by the blessing of their
children’s du’aa. Ahmad reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of
Allaah (saw) said, “Allaah (swt) will raise the status of His righteous slave
in Paradise, and he will say, “O my Rabb, how could I deserve this?” He will
say, “Because your child sought forgiveness for you."”
Ibn Katheer said, “This is a saheeh isnaad although none of the authors of
the six books reported it. But there is a corroborating report in Saheeh
Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra), according to which the Prophet (saw) said,
“When a son of Aadam dies his good works come to an end, except for three:
Sadaqah Jaariyah [ongoing charity], beneficial knowledge [that he discovered
or propogated], and a righteous son who will pray for him.” [Ibn Katheer,
an-Nihaayah, 2/340]
*******************************************
The Soil of Paradise
al-Bukhaari and Muslim reported the hadith of al-Mi’raaj from Anas ibn Maalik
from Abu Dharr in which Abu Dharr (ra) said, “The Messenger of Allaah (saw)
said, “I entered Paradise where I saw lights of pearl and its soil was musk”.
Muslim and Ahmad report from Abu Sa’eed that Ibn Sayyaad asked the Messenger
(saw) about the soil of Paradise. He said, “It is a fine white powder of
pure musk”.
Ahmad reports from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw)
said, concerning the Jews: “I am going to ask them about the soil of
Paradise, which is a fine white powder.” So he asked them, and they said,
“It is like a loaf of bread, O Abul-Qaasim,” The Messenger of Allaah (saw)
said, “Bread is like pearls”. [an-Nihaayah, 2/242]
Ahmad at-Tirmidhi and ad-Daarimi reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “I
asked “O Messenger of Allaah (saw), From what are people made?” He said,
“From water.” We asked, “From what is Paradise built?” He said, “Bricks of
gold and silver and mortar of fragrant musk; its pebbles are pearls and
rubies, and its soil is saffron. Whoever enters it is blessed with joy and
will never be miserable; he will remain there forever and never die; his
clothes will never wear out, and his youth will never fade away.” [Mishkaat
al-Masaabeeh, 3/89, no. 5630]
Footnotes
[1] Ibn Hajar said, in Taqreed al-Tahdhib, “Na’eem ibn Hammar or Hibaar or
Khammaar. He was a Sahaabee and the majority of sources give his father’s
name as Himaar.”
The Rivers of Paradise
Allaah (swt), may He be Blessed and Exalted, has told us that rivers flow
from
beneath Paradise:
“And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that
for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow..” [2:25]
“For them will be Gardens of Eternity: beneath them rivers will flow” [18:31]
The Prophet (saw) told us clearly about the rivers of Paradise. He said that
during his Israa’ (Night Journey): “...I saw four rivers flowing out from
beneath Sidrat al-Muntahaa, two visible and two hidden. He asked, “O
Jibreel, What are these rivers?” He said, “The two hidden rivers are rivers
of Paradise, and the two visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates”.
[Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab al-Israa’, 1/150, no. 164; al-Bukhaari
reports the same from Anas ibn Maalik, Jaami’ al-Usool, 10/507, narrated bt
Abu Awanah, al-Isma’eelee and at-Tabaranee in as-Sagheer]
Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said,
“Sihran, Jihran, the Euphrates and the Nile are all from the rivers of
Paradise”. [Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab ma fid-dunyaa min anhaar
al-jannah, 4/2183, no. 2839, al-Albaani attributed it, in Silsilat al-Hadith
as-Saheehah 1/6, to Muslim, Ahmad, al-Ajirri and al-Khateeb]
Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani said, “Perhaps what is meant is that these
rivers originated in Paradise just as mankind did; this hadith does not
contradict the well-established fact that these rivers spring forth from
known sources on earth. If this is not in fact the meaning of this hadith,
then it is one of the matters of al-Ghayb [the Unseen], which we must believe
and accept because the Prophet (saw) has told us about it”. [Silsilat
al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 1/18]
al-Qaree’ said, “These four rivers are considered to be among the rivers of
paradise because they are so fresh and beneficial, and contain blessings from
Allaah, and were honoured by the fact that the Prophets came to them and
drank from them”. [reported by al-Albaani in his footnotes on Mishkaat
al-Masaabeeh, 3/80]
Another of the rivers of Paradise is al-Kawthar, which Allaah has given to
His Messenger (saw): “Verily We have granted you [O Muhammad] al-Kawthar [a
river in Paradise]” [108:1]
The Prophet (saw) saw it and told us about it. al-Bukhaari reported from Anas
ibn Maalik that the Prophet (saw) said,
“Whilst I was walking in Paradise I saw a river whose banks were domes of
hollow pearls, and I asked, “What is this, O Jibreel?” He said, “This is
al-Kawthar which your Rabb has given to you”. And its scent - or its mud -
was of fragrant musk”.
Hudbah [one of the narrators] was not sure if he said tib [scent] or teen
[mud]. [Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab fil-Hawd, Fath al-Baari,
11/464]
Ibn ‘Abbaas explained, “al-Kawthar means the abundant blessings which Allaah
has bestowed upon His Messenger (saw).” Then Abu Bishr said to Sa’eed ibn
Jaabir, who reported this comment from Ibn ‘Abbaas, “There are people who
claim that it is a river in Paradise”. Sa’eed said, “The river in Paradise
is one of the blessings that Allaah has bestowed upon him”. [Sahih
al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab fil-Hawd, Fath al-Baari, 11/463]
al-Haafidh ibn Katheer compiled a number of hadith [an-Nihaayah, 2/246] in
which the Prophet (saw) spoke about al-Kawthar, such as the report narrated
by Muslim from Anas, which states that when the aayah “Verily We have granted
you al-Kawthar” [108] was revealed, the Prophet (saw) said, “Do you know what
al-Kawthar is?” They said, “Allaah and His Messenger know best”. He said,
“It is a river that Allaah (swt) has promised me and in it is much goodness”.
He also quoted the hadith narrated by Ahmad from Anas, according to which the
Prophet (Saw) said, “I have been given al-Kawthar, which is a river flowing
across the face of the earth; its banks are domes of pearl and it is not
covered. I touched its mud with my hand, and found that it was fragrant musk
and its pebbles were pearls”.
Also narrated by Ahmad from Anas, the Prophet (saw) said, “It is a river that
Allaah (swt) has given to me in Paradise. Its mud is musk and its water is
whiter than milk, and sweeter than honey. Birds with necks like the necks of
camels drink from it.”
The rivers of Paradise do not just contain water. There are rivers of water,
of milk, of wine and of clear honey.
Allaah (swt) says:
“The description of Paradise which the Muttaqoon have been promised is that
in it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed;
rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to
those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey [clear and pure]..” [47:15]
at-Tirmidhi reports, with a sahih isnaad, from Haakim ibn Mu’aawiyah that the
Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “In Paradise there is a sea of honey, a sea
of wine, a sea of milk and a sea of water, and the rivers flow out of these
seas.” [Jaami’ al-Usool, 10/508]
He also told us of a river called Baariq, which flows by the gate of
Paradise. During the period of al-Barzakh [the time betw
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