Part 25

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

al-Bukhaari reports that 'Abdullaah ibn Salaam asked the Prophet (saw) a number of questions when he first came to Madinah, one of which was, "What is the first thing that the people of Paradise will eat?" He said, "The caudate [extra] lobe of fish liver" [Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/270] Muslim reports from Thawban that a Jew asked that the Prophet (saw), "What will they be presented with when they enter Paradise?" He said, "The caudate [extra] lobe of fish liver." The Jew asked, "What will they eat after that?" The Prophet (saw) said, "The bull, which is grazing now in Paradise, will be slaughtered for them." The Jew asked, "What will they drink after that?" He said, "From a spring called Salsaabeel." The Jew said, "You have spoken the truth." [Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/270]

(iii) The food and drink of the people of Paradise does not produce any impure excrement. It might cross one's mind that the food and drink of Paradise might produce the same as the food and drink of this world, namely excrement, urine, mucus, saliva, and so on. But this is not the case. Paradise is a place that is free from all impurities, and its people are free of all the blemishes of people of this world. A hadith reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah clearly rejects such a nation: the Prophet (saw) said, "The first group to enter Paradise will be as beautiful as the full moon; they will not spit or blow their noses." [al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad' al-Khalq, Baab Maa jaa'a fi Sifaat al-Jannah, Fath al-Baari, 6/317, also Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab Awwal Zumrah Tadhkul al-Jannah, 4/2178, no. 2834] This does not only apply to the first group to enter Paradise, all those who enter will be similarly pure. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "The first group of my ummah to enter Paradise will be as beautiful as the full moon and those that come after them will be like the brightest shining star, and those that follow them will be ranked according to their status. They will not defecate, urinate or blow their noses or spit." [Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab awwal zumrah tadkhul al-Jannah, 4/2188, no. 2834] It might be asked where will the waste produces go? This question was posed to the Prophet (saw) by his Sahabah and he replied, "[It will come out as] burps which are like musk." [Muslim in 4/2180, no. 2835]. Other parts the excretions will be turned into sweat like musk that will come out of their bodies.

(iv) Why Will the People of Paradise Eat and Drink and Comb their Hair? If the people of Paradise are to abide there forever, and it is free form all discomfort, pain and sickness, if there is no hunger or thirst there, and no impurities or dirt, then why will the people of Paradise eat and drink, and wear perfume and comb their hair? al-Qurtubee answered this question in at-Tadhkirah [p. 475, see also al-Fath, 6/325]: "The luxuries and clothing of the people of Paradise will not be for the purpose of warding off potential pains; they will not eat because of hunger or drink because of thirst, or wear perfume because of some offensive odour, because Paradise is a never-ending succession of delight and joy. Do you not remember the words of Allaah (swt) to Aadam? "Verily you have [a promise from Us] that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you [will] suffer not from thirst therein nor from the sun's heat." [20:118-119] The wisdom behind it [food and drink, etc] is so that Allaah will introduce Paradise to them in ways similar to the good things that they enjoyed on earth, but He will increase it in ways known only to Him."

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

(v) The Vessels and Cups of the People of Paradise The vessels from which the people of Paradise will eat and drink will be of gold and silver. Allaah (swt) says: "Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them.." [43:71] i.e. cups of gold. And Allaah (swt) says, "And amongst them, will be passed round vessels of silver and cups of crystal, crystal-clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure thereof according to their wishes." [76:15] i.e it will combine the purity of crystal with the whiteness of silver. al-Bukhaari and Muslim reported from Abu Musaa al-Ash'ari that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "The believer in paradise will have a tent made of a hollowed out pearl.. and two gardens of silver, their vessels and everything in them, and two gardens of gold, their vessels and everything in them." [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/86] Among the vessels from which they will drink will be cups and jugs and glasses: "They will be served by immortal boys, with cups, and jugs and a glass from the flowing wine." [56:17-18] The "cup" [koob] is something that has no handle or spout, the "jug" [ibreeq] has a handle and a spout and the "glass" [kaa's] is a cup that is filled with drink.

The Clothing, Jewellery and Incense-Burners Of the People of Paradise The people of Paradise will wear the most luxurious clothes, amongst other things, garments of silk and bracelets of gold, silver and pearls. Allaah (swt) says:

"And their recompense will be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient." [76:12]

"...wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments will be of silk." [22:23]

"'Adn Paradise they will enter, therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments there will be of silk." [35:33]

"...They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Rabb will give them a pure drink." [76:21]

Their clothes will be colourful, including garments of green silk and brocade:

"..They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine

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

silk and heavy brocade. They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on." [18:31]

"Their garments will be of fine green silk, and gold embroidery. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver.." [76:21]

Their clothing will be far superior to any man-made garment. al-Barraa ibn 'Aadhib said, "A silken garment was brought to the Messenger (saw) and we began to admire its beauty and softness." The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "The handkerchiefs of Sa'd ibn Mu'aadh are better than this." [alBukhaari, Kitaab Bid' al-Khalq, Baab Maa Jaa'a fi Sifat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 6/319]

The Prophet (saw) also told us that the people of Paradise will have combs of gold and silver, and that they will perfume themselves with 'Ud at-Teeb, even though the scent of musk will be emanating from their pure bodies. al-Bukhaari narrates from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said of those who will enter Paradise:

"Their vessels will be of gold and silver, their combs will be of gold and the coals of their incenseburners will be of aloe-wood [Abul-Yaman said, "of 'Ud at-Teeb] and their sweat will be musk." [al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bid' al-Khalq, Baab Maa Jaa'a fi Sifat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 6/319]

Their jewellery will include crowns. Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah report from al-Miqdaam ibn Ma'd Yakrib that among the honours bestowed upon the martyr will be: "..there will be placed upon his head a crown of dignity, one ruby of which is better than this world and all that is in it." [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/358, no. 3834, sahih Muslim, sahih]

The clothing and jewellery of the people of Paradise will never wear out or fade. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever enters Paradise is blessed, and will never be miserable, his clothes will never wear out and his youth will never fade away." [sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab fi Dawam Na'eem al-Jannah, 4/2181, no. 2836]

The Couches of the People of Paradise The palaces of Paradise have been prepared, and in their gardens are places to sit and recline, beautiful couches of delightful colours and high beds whose interiors are lined with silk brocade, let alone how magnificent their outward appearance must be. There are cushions and splendid carpets laid out in the most delightful fashion. Allaah (swt) says: "Therein will be thrones raised high, And cups set at hand, and cushions set in rows, and rich carpets [all spread out]" [88:13-16] "They will recline [with ease] on thrones arranged in ranks. And We shall marry them to Houris [female fair ones] with wide lovely eyes." [52:20] "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 time [generations]. [They will be] on thrones woven with gold and precious stones,reclining thereon, face to face." [56:13-16]

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

This reclining on those thrones and couches will be one of the luxuries that the people of Paradise will enjoy when they gather together, as Allaah (swt) says, "And we shall remove from their breasts any lurking sense of injury; [they will be like] brothers [joyfully] facing each other on thrones [of dignity]." [15:47] "Reclining on green cushions and rich beautiful mattresses" [55:76} "Reclining upon the couches lined with silk brocade" [55:54]

The Servants of the People of Paradise The People of Paradise will be served by boys whom Allaah (swt) will create to serve them and who will be most beautiful and perfect in form: "They will be served by immortal boys, With cups, and jugs, and a glass from the flowing wine." [56:17-18] "And round about them will [serve] boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls." [76:19] Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, "Boys of eternal youth will go around to serve people of Paradise, boys who remain in that youthful form forever, never changing or advancing in age. It was said that they will be wearing earrings, to emphasise their youth, because such a thing is appropriate for young people, but it does not befit those who are older. And Allaah (swt) said [76:19] i.e. if you saw them going around to attend to the needs of their masters, with their beautiful faces and splendid colourful clothes and jewellery, you would think that they were scattered pearls. There is no more beautiful description than the picture of pearls scattered in a place of beauty." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 7/184] Some scholars suggested that these boys are the children of the Muslims and Mushrikeen who die in childhood, but this was refuted by al-'Allaamah Ibn Taymiyyah (ra), who explained that these boys of eternal youth are part of the creation of Paradise: "..they are not the children of this world. When the children of this world enter Paradise, they will do so in a perfect form, like all the other people of Paradise, in the form of their father, Aadam." [Majmu' al-Fatawa, 4/279, 4/311]