Part 15

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

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

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

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 Al-Nawawi, 17/300]

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 sahih] 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, atTirmidhi, 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: alBukhaari 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]

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

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". [sahih, Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/214] The Prophet (saw) also said, "Whoever performs wudu 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, anNihaayah, 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".

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