Part 12

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

Those evildoers lost their own souls and their families when they preferred kufr to eemaan. Listen to the wailing and cries when they are punished: "The Day when their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allaah and obeyed the Messenger!" And they would say, "Our Rabb, verily we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) Path. Our Rabb, give them double penalty and curse them with a very great curse!" (33:66-68) Listen to how Allaah (swt) described their condition [we seek refuge with Allaah (swt) from that]: "As for those who are wretched, they will be in the fire, sighing in a high and low tone. They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and earth endure, except as your Rabb wills.." (11:106-107) az-Zajjaj said, "The high tone (az-Zafeer) is because of the intensity of their groaning and it is very high. It was suggested that az-Zafeer means the panting of the breath in the chest due to extreme fear, so that the ribs become swollen. The "low tone" (ash-Shaheeq) is a long drawn-out breath, or an intake of breath; in either case it is an indication of the great extent of their grief and anguish. Their situation is likened to that of the one whose heart was overwhelmed by heat and whose soul was surrounded by it. al-Layth said, "azZafeer means that a man will take deep breaths because of his intense grief, and ash-Shaheeq refers to his exhaling" (Siddeeq Hasan Khan, Yaqadhat uli al-I'tibaar p.72) Footnotes (1) Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani narrated these two hadiths in Silsilat al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 4/245, no. 1679 and attributed the first hadith to al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak. al-Haakim said "It is a hadith whose isnaad is sahih". adh-Dhahabi agreed with him. Sheikh Naasir said, "He should have added: according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim. All the men of its isnaad are men who narrated the hadith they (alBukhaari and Muslim) recorded. He mentioned that one of them, Abul-Nu'man, whose nickname was 'Aarim had become confused. Sheikh Naasir quoted the second hadith in support of the first, and attributed it to Ibn Maajah, and Ibn Abi-Dunyaa; Yazeed al-Raqqas one of the narrators, is da'if, but the rest of the narrators are those from whom al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated.

How to Save Oneself From the Fire As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So the Muslims pray to their Rabb with faith to save them from the Fire: "Those who say, "Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, forgive us then, our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire". (3:16) "...Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all] this, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers. Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling [us] to faith: "Believe in your Rabb," and we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise". (3:191-194) Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and describe the deeds that will protect one from the Fire, for example, love of Allaah (swt). In al-Haakim's al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad's al-Musnad, a report from Anas ibn Maalik (ra) states, "The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "By Allaah (swt), Allaah will never thrown one whom He loves into the Fire" (sahih, See Sahih al-Jaami' 6/104)

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as Ahmad reports in al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Imaan, with a hasan isnaad from Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah: "The Prophet (saw) said, "Allaah (swt) says, "Fasting is a shield with which one may protect oneself from the Fire". (Sahih al-Jaami, 4/114) In Shu'ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from 'Uthmaan ibn Abil-Aas that the Prophet (saw) said, "Fasting is a shield from the punishment of Allaah (swt)" It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is sahih (Sahih al-Jaami' 3/264). If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against the enemy, then that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "Whoever fasts for one day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will remove him [lit. his face] seventy years distance from the Fire". (Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee - Sahih alJaami' 5/310) Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allaah and jihaad for His sake: "But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will be two gardens [ie in Paradise]" (55:46) Al-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah(saw) said: "No one who weeps out of fear of Allaah will enter Hell until the milk goes back into the breast [i.e. never] and a man will never have both the dust from fighting in the way of Allaah (swt) and the smoke of Hell". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is sahih) al-Bukhaari reports from Abu 'Abs that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allaah (swt) will never meet in the Fire of Hell". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3794) Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "A Kaafir and the one who kills him will never meet in the Fire of Hell." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3795) We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection with Allaah from it: "Those who say, "our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath is indeed an affliction grievous." Evil indeed is it as an abode and as a place to rest in". (25:64-65) Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with a sahih isnaad from Anas, that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "No one asks Allaah (swt)) for Paradise three times, but Paradise will say, "O Allaah (swt) admit him to Paradise". And no Muslim asks Allaah for protection from Hell three times, but Hell will say, "O Allaah save him from me"" (Sahih al-Jaami, 5/145, no.5506) al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that when the Prophet (saw) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of dhikr he said, "Allaah (swt) asks them and He knows best, "What are they seeking protection from?" They tell Him, "From the Fire". He asks, "And have they seen it." They say, "No, by Allaah, O Rabb, They have not seen it." He says, "How would it be if they had seen it?" They say, "They would be even more afraid and anxious to escape it". He (swt) says, "Bear witness that I have forgiven them"". (Sahih al-Jaami', 2/233, no. 2169)

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

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, Al-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)

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.

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

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.