Part 140

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related in Mutawaatir form (i.e, so many people related from so many people at each level of the narration, that it is impossible for them to have erred or to have colluded upon a lie). That Paradise and the Hellfire exist at the present time is a belief of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jaman’ah, those who adhere to the firm rope. Therefore our view is contrary to those who claim that Paradise and the Hellfire are yet to be created — that they will be created on the Day of Resurrection. This view issues forth from those who have not come across Ahaadeeth that are authentic by the consensus of the scholars, Ahandeeth that are found in sahih Muslim, sahih Bukhaaree, and other trusted and famous Islamic sources; those Ahaadeeth are related with authentic and good chains which cannot be repudiated, for they are related by so many narrators at each level of those narrations that it is impossible for them to have colluded together in order to fabricate a lie.

It is established in sahih Bukhaaree and Sahech Muslim that the Messenger of Allah i saw paradise and the Hellfire during his night journey.

And the Messenger of Allah 2% said, “The Hellfire complained to its Lord, saying, ‘O my Lord, part of me has consumed another part of me/ and then Allah permitted it to take two breaths: one in the winter and one in the summer, and so the most bitter cold you find js from its cold, and the most severe heat you find is from its heat. So when it is hot, cool yourselves with the Prayer (ie., delay it in the afternoon until the temperature cools down).”

Abu Hurairah . related that the Messenger of Allah 2% said, “Paradise and the Hellfire debated. The Hellfire said, ‘I have been favored with the arrogant and oppressive ones.’ Paradise said, ‘Why is it that only the weak ones from the people and their lower ones enter me, to the exclusion of others?’ Allah said to Paradise, ‘You are My Mercy; I have Mercy through you upon whomsoever I please from My slaves.’ And He ¥% said to the Hellfire, “You are My Punishment: with you I punish whomsoever I please from My slaves. Each one of you has his fill’ As for the Hellfire, it will not become filled until He 4# places His Foot on it, saying, ‘Enough, enough’ Then will it become filled, as it withdraws into itself. And Allah does not wrong anyone from His creation. As for Paradise, Allah will create some created beings for it (and thus it becomes filled).” Related by Bukhaaree and Muslim, and this wording is of

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the narration of Muslim.

Anas 2 reported that the Messenger of Allah # said, “Hellfire will continue to have (its dwellers) thrown into it, and it will say, ‘Are there any more?’ Until the All-Mighty places His Foot in it, and it withdraws into itself, It will say, ‘Enough, enough, by Your Glory and Generosity. And there will continue to be extra space in Paradise until Allah creates some created beings for it, and makes them inhabit that extra space in Paradise.” (Bukhaaree and Muslim) However, what is mentioned above is contrary to what Abu Hurairah # related from the Prophet # in a hadith found in sahih Al-Bukhaaree. In it, it is mentioned that Allah # creates for the Hellfire whomsoever He 4 pleases, and then they are thrown into it. Then it will say, “Axe there any more.” Some of the trusted retainers of Ahaadeeth have said, “This is a mistake on the part of some narrator; perhaps he became confused and mixed up the words, transferring the ruling for Paradise to the Hellfire.” And Allah knows best.

If we suppose the above narration in Bukhaaree to be correctly memorized, it might mean that Allah 8¢ will test those people in Al- ‘Arasaat (vast planes of the Day of Judgment) just as He will test others upon whom the proof was not established in the world. As for those who disobey from them, He will admit them into the Hellfire; and as for those who answer from them, He will admit them into Paradise, and that is because of the saying of Allah #: + oe wes OL “And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warningy’"

And the saying of Allah 3:

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“Messengers are bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah % after the (coming

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of) Messengers. And Allah # is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise.”"

Some Attributes Of The People Of Paradise And Some Attributes Of The People Of The Hellfire

We have previously mentioned the description of the people of Paradise at the time when they will approach it and enter it. Their form will become 60 arm-spans in length and 7 arm-spans in width. They will have no hair on their bodies, they will be Mukahhaleen (blackness in their eyelids as a part of their form and appearance, and not through the use of kohl}, and they will each be 33 years old. Anas ibn Maalik 2 reported that the Messenger of Allah #8 said, “The people of Paradise will enter Paradise upon the height of Adam: sixty arm-spans upon the beauty of Yousuf, upon the birth of ‘Resa — thirty three years (old), and upon the tongue of Muhammad.” (Related by Abu Bakr ibn Abee Ad-Dunyaa)}

In a narration related by Daawood ibn Al-Husain, Ibn ‘Abbaas 2 said, “The tongue of the dwellers of Paradise is Arabic.”

In another narration, Abu Kareemah Al-Miqdaam Ibn Ma’dee-Karib related that the Messenger of Allah #¢ said, “There is no person who dies Saqatan (i.e. in a miscarriage) or old age or between those two except that he will be raised upon the age of thirty — and in another narration, thirty three. If he is from the dwellers of Paradise, he will be upon the...appearance of Yousuf and the heart of Ayyoob. He will be Murdan (no hair on his chin; this refers to his beauty) and Mukahhil (blackness in his eyelids as a part of his form and appearance, and not through the use of kohl). And whoever is from the people of the Hellfire will be made large and huge like the mountains.” In one narration, “Until the skin on one of their hands becomes 40 arm-spans (thick) and until a canine tooth from their canine teeth becomes like Uhud (a famous mountain in Madeenah).” Al-Baihagee related the above through two chains,

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both of which have weakness in them.

And it is established, that the people of Paradise eat and drink, though they do not urinate or defecate. Their food leaves them through their sweat, which will have a fragrance like musk AlAdhfar, And their breaths will be Tahmeed (i.c. saying, ‘Alhamdulillah’ all praise is for Allah), Takbeer (i.e. saying, ‘Allahuakbar, allah is the greatest), and Tasbeeh (ie. saying, “Subhaanallah,’ how perfect Allah is!).

And it also established that the first group from them will be upon the appearance of the moon; then those who follow them will be in splendor, upon the light of (the most) glistening star in the sky. They will have sexual intercourse, though they will not reproduce or have children unless they want to. And they will never die or sleep. That they do not sleep indicates the completeness of their life and the abundance of their pleasures - such as being served food and drink continuously. The more they advance in their eternal lives, the more they will increase in their beauty, splendor, youth, strength, and completion, And Paradise will increase for them in its beauty, splendor, fragrance, goodness, and light. And they will come to desire it ever more as it increases in honor, delight, and sweetness, Allah @ said: fone her ee ee “Wherein they shall dwell (forever). No desire will they have for removal therefrom.""")

We have already mentioned that the very first person to enter Paradise from the children of Adam is the Messenger of Allah 2%, and he will be the highest of them in degree. And among the nations, his will be the first to enter Paradise. The first to enter Paradise from this nation is Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq 4. We also pointed out that the individuals of this nation are going to represent

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a large portion of the dwellers of Paradise: they will represent twothirds of its dwellers. We have previously mentioned that, “The people of Paradise will be in 120 rows; this nation will make up 80 of those rows.”

The Poor Ones From This nation Will Enter Paradise 500 Years Before The Rich Ones From It

Abu Hurairah 4: ascribed the following saying to the Prophet #8: “The poor Muslims will enter Paradise half a day before the rich ones from them, and that is (equal to) 500 years.” (Al-Musnad, Jaamai’ At-Tirmidhee, and Sunan Ibn Maajah) The chain of this narration fulfills the conditions of Muslim. And At-Tirmidhee said, “Hasan sahih.”

At-Tabaraanee related a similar Marfoo’ narration (one that is ascribed to the Prophet #%) from Abu Hurairah .

If the first narration is correctly memorized, then it is referring to the first of the poor ones and the last of the rich ones. And Allah knows best.

The First Three To Enter Paradise And The First Three To Enter The Hellfire

Abu Hurairah # related that the Messenger of Allah #% said, “The first three to enter Paradise and the first three to enter the Hellfire ‘were presented to me. As for the first three to enter Paradise, they are the martyr, the owned slave who is not occupied away from obedience to his Lord by the slavery of the world, and the poor one who is Muta‘affif (who abstains from the unlawful and from asking others), and who has dependents. As for the first three to enter the Hellfire, they are the ruler who is Musallit (Le. who is given authority and becomes oppressive), one who is possessed of great wealth but does not fulfill the right of Allah in his wealth, and the poor person who is proud (boastful).” (Ahmad) At-Tirmidhee related it through a different chain and said, “Hasan.” But he didn’t mention