Part 17

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

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).

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

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'watitammah, 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 alWaseelah, 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 sahih 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 facesaway 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". [sahih 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. [sahih 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 dua. 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.""

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

Ibn Katheer said, "This is a sahih isnaad although none of the authors of the six books reported it. But there is a corroborating report in sahih 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 Al-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]

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

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 alGhayb [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 alBaari, 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