Part 24

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

"O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to go forth in the Cause of Allaah [Jihaad] you cling heavily to this earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter" [9:38] We have already quoted numerous texts that indicate the inexhaustible abundance of the blessings and joys of the Aakhirah. (ii) The Hereafter is also better from the perspective of quality. The clothing, food, drink, jewellery and palaces of the people of Paradise will be far superior to their counterparts in this world. There is in fact no room for comparison, as even the smallest space in Paradise is better than this world and all that is in it. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "The space of a whip in Paradise is better than this world and everything in it" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/85, no. 5613] Also narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "The space of the bow of any one of you in Paradise is better than all that the sun rises upon" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/85, no. 5615] The comparison between the women of Paradise and the women of this earth serves to demonstrate the superiority of that which is in Paradise. al-Bukhaari reports from Anas that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "If a woman from the people of Paradise were to look at this earth, she would light up everything between it and fill it with her fragrance; the veil on her head is better than this world and all that is in it" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/85, no. 5614] (iii) Paradise is free from all the impurities and disappointments of this world. Eating and drinking in this life results in the need for excretion and its associated unpleasant odours. If a person drinks wine in this world, he loses his mind. Women in this world menstruate and give birth, which are sources of pain and hurt. Paradise is fre from all of these discomforts: its people will not urinate, defecate, spit or suffer from catarrh. The wine of Paradise, as described by its Creator, is: "Crystal-white, delicious to those who drink [thereof], free from intoxication, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom" [37:46-47] The water of Paradise does not become brackish, and its milk never changes in flavour: "..rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes.." [47:15] The women of Paradise are pure and free from menstruation, nifaas [postnatal bleeding] and all the other impurities suffered by women in this world, as Allaah (swt) says: "...and they shall have therein Azwaajun Muttaharatun [Purified mates having no menses, urine, stools, etc]" [2:25] The hearts of the people of Paradise will be pure, their speech will be good, their deeds righteous. There will be no hurtful, upsetting, offensive or provocative talk there, for Paradise is free of all worthless words and deeds:

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

"...free from any laghw [dirty, false, evil, vague talk], and free from sin" [52:23] The only speech that is heard there is good, sincere and pure, free from all the shameful shortcomings of earthly speech: "No Laghw [dirty, false, evil talk] will they hear therein, nor lying" [78:35] "They shall not hear therein any Laghw, but only salaam [salutations of peace]" [19:62] "Where they shall hear neither harmful speech nor falsehood" [88:11] Paradise is the abode of purity and peace, "No laghw will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech [like backbiting, etc], But only the saying of Salaam! Salaam! [greetings with peace]" [56:25] For this reason, when the people of Paradise have been saved from the Fire, they will be detained of a bridge between Paradise and Hell, where they will be purified by settling any wrongs that may be outstanding, so that they may enter Paradise, pure of heart and soul, free from any resentment, envy or other negative emotions of this world. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that when the people of Paradise enter Paradise, "There will be no hatred of resentment among them, their hearts will be as one, and they will glorify Allaah, morning and evening" [al-Bukhaari from Abu Hurayrah, in Kitaab bid' al-Khalq, Baab maa jaa'a fi Sifaat al-Jannah, Fath al-Baari, 6/318] Allaah indeed spoke the truth when He (swt) said, "And We shall remove from their breasts any lurking sense of injury: [they will be] brothers [joyfully] facing each other on thrones [of dignity]" [15:47] A "sense of injury" is hatred. It was reported from Ibn 'Abbaas and 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib that when the people of paradise enter Paradise they will drink from one spring, and Allaah (swt) will remove all sense of injury or hatred from their hearts, then they will drink from another spring, and their faces will become pure and bright [al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, p. 499]. This is probably what is meant by the aayah, "And their Rabb will give them a pure drink" [76:21] (iv) The Pleasures of This World are Transient Whilst the Joys of the Hereafter are Lasting and Eternal This is why Allaah (swt) calls the pleasures of this world "temporary conveniences" because they are enjoyed for a short while, then come to an end, but the joys of al-Aakhirah have no end: "What is with you, must vanish, and what is with Allaah will endure.." [16:96] "[It will be said to them]: This is Our Provision, which will never finish" [38:54] "...its provision is eternal and so is its shade.." [13:35] Allaah (swt) gave an example of how quickly this world will pass away: "And put forward for them the example of the life of this world, it is like the water [rain] which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But [later] it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allaah is Able to do everything. Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the

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

good righteous deeds that last are better with your Rabb for rewards and better in respect of hope" [18:45-46] Allaah (swt) likened this life to the rain that falls from the sky and causes plants to grow and flower and bear fruit. This lasts for only a short time, before they shrivel and are blown away by the wind. Such are the luxuries of this life, such as youth, wealth, sons, lands and fields. All of this passes away; youth fades, health and vitality are replaced by sickness and old age, wealth and children may disappear, a man may be taken from his family and wealth, but the Hereafter will never vanish or go away: "...And excellent indeed will be the home of the Muttaqoon, 'Adn Paradise which they will enter, under which rivers flow.." [16:30-31] (v) Seeking to Enjoy the Pleasures of this World and Neglecting the Hereafter Will be Followed By Regret and Sorrow When One Enters the Fire of Hell "Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection will you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception [a deceiving thing]" [3:185]

The Food and Drink of the People of Paradise We have already discussed the trees and fruits of Paradise, including the ripe fruits, which hang within easy reach, so that the people of Paradise may pick whichever fruits they desire. The people will also have whatever food and drink they desire: "Any fruit [any] that they may choose, And the flesh of fowls that they desire" [56:20-21] "...there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that the eyes could delight in.." [43:71] Allaah (swt) will permit them to take whatever they want of the good food and drink of Paradise: "Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!" [69:24] We have also mentioned above that in Paradise there will be a sea of water, a sea of wine, a sea of milk and a sea of honey, and the rivers of Paradise will flow out of these seas. There will be also many springs in Paradise, and its people will drink from these seas, rivers and springs.

(i) The Wine of the People of Paradise One of the drinks that Allaah will bestow on the people of Paradise will be wine. The wine of Paradise is free of all the troubles and problems that characterise the wine of this world, which makes people lose their minds, and causes headaches, stomach aches and other physical disorders, or which may have something wrong in the way it is made, or its colour, etc. But the wine of Paradise is free from all such faults; it is pure and beautiful: "Round them will be passed a cup of pure wine; white, delicious to the drinkers. Neither will they have ghoul [any kind of hurt, abdominal pain, headache, etc] from that, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom" [37:45-47]

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

Allaah described the beauty of its white colour, then explained that its drinker enjoy it very much, without is affecting their minds: "..rivers of wine delicious to those who drink.." [47:15] And they will never be adversely affected by drinking it: "..nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom" [37:47] Elsewhere in the Qur'aan, Allaah describes the wine of Paradise, "They will be served by immortal boys, With cups and jugs, and a glass from the flowing wine, Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication" [56:17-19] Commenting on this passage, Ibn Katheer said, "it does not cause their heads to ache or their minds to be fogged; it is pure, although it still contains the ingredients that make it a delight to the drinker. ad-Dahhaak narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas said, "Wine produces four things: drunkenness, headache, vomit and urine. Allaah (saw) has mentioned the wine of Paradise, and He has purified it of all these things." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/514] In another part of the Qur'aan, Allaah (swt) says: "They will be given to drink pure sealed wine, the last thereof will be the smell of musk.." [83:2526] This wine is sealed or covered, and at the end of it, the drinker will find the scent of musk.

(ii) The first food of the people of Paradise The first food which Allaah (swt) will present to the people of Paradise will be the caudate [extra] lobe of fishliver. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, the earth will be like one loaf of bread, which Allaah will turn around in His hands, just as any of you prepares bread whilst he is travelling, to offer it as food to the people of Paradise." A Jewish man came and said, "May the Most Merciful bless you, O Abul-Qaasim. Shall I not tell you what food [nuzul] will be offered to the people of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection?" The Prophet (saw) said, "Of course." The Jew said that the earth would be a single loaf of bread, just as the Prophet (saw) has said. The Prophet (saw) looked at us and smiled so broadly that his back teeth were visible, then he said, "Shall I not tell you of their food? Balam and noon [a large fish]". They asked, "What is that?" He said, "A bull and noon seventy thousand people will eat from the caudate [extra] lobes of their livers" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/56] Al-Nawawi's comments on this hadith may be summarised as follows: "Nuzul is the food prepared for a guest upon his arrival. Turning the bread around in one's hands means kneading it and tossing it from hand to hand, until it is flat and round like a disk. The meaning of the hadith is that Allaah (swt) will make the earth like a huge loaf of bread to feed the people of Paradise. Noon is a whale or large fish; balam is a Hebrew word that means "bull"; the caudate [extra] lobe of a fish liver is the best part of it." [Sharh Al-Nawawi 'alaa Muslim, 17/136]