WHERE BELIEVERS LIVE IN PARADISE
Allah has promised the men and women of the believers
Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly,
forever, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And Allah's good pleasure
is even greater. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 72)
As we said earlier, the houses where believers live their earthly lives
are "places in which Allah has permitted to be built
and in which His name is remembered" (Surat an-Nur, 36), places
that are cared for and kept spotlessly clean according to Allah's command.
Houses in Paradise are like these, in that they are incomparably refreshing
places in which Allah is remembered and offered thanksgiving.
In the same way as these beautiful houses and mansions may be built
amid natural beauty, it is also possible that they may have been built
in outstandingly modern cities with aesthetically beautiful architecture
and superior technology.
The houses mentioned in the Qur'an are generally built amid natural
beauty, as the following verse informs us:
But those who heed their Lord will have mansions
raised upon mansions high, beneath which runnning waters flow. That is
Allah's promise. Allah does not break His promise. (Surat az-Zumar, 20)
Mansions located in high places, with views around and below them, provide
a detailed panorama that allows their inhabitants to perceive many beautiful
things at the same time.
The Qur'an mentions that water runs below those mansions built in high
places. Thus, in order to see this view, the mansions may contain sitting-rooms
with picture windows or with glass on all four sides. In such mansions,"designed
to provide the human spirit with the greatest amount of pleasure possible,
believers lounge on their thrones, enjoy the best fruits and drinks and,
as they look down from above, derive pleasure from looking at one beautiful
view after another.
The mansions are designed and furnished with the highest quality materials
and the most harmonious colors, and feature comfortable armchairs and
thrones facing each other. As "gold-encrusted thrones" (Surat al-Waqi'a,
15) and "thrones lined up" (Surat at-Tur, 20) maintain, thrones are symbols
of wealth, splendor, and power.
Believers, to whom Allah has granted Paradise's eternal blessings, have
been found worthy of such beauty. Sitting and reclining on their thrones,
and surrounded by unimaginable beauty, they continually remember Allah.
The Qur'an states:
They will enter Gardens of Eden, where they will
be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will
be of silk. They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has removed all sadness
from us. Truly, our Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Thankful: He Who has
lodged us, out of His favor, in the Abode of Permanence, where no weariness
or fatigue affects us." (Surah Fatir, 33-35)
Reclining upon soft couches, believers "gaze around
them" (Surat al-Mutaffifin, 23). Just seeing Paradise's magnificent
views and beauties is a feast for the eyes and a great blessing. This
will be an enjoyable banquet for believers to behold.
To share these beauties and pleasures with all believers, regardless
of when they led their earthly existence, is a blessing that can be realized
fully only in Paradise. For example, to sit on facing thrones and converse
with Musa (as), 'Isa (as), or with pious believers and the Prophet's Companions,
as well as to remember Allah with them, is not a pleasure that the world
can grant; this pleasure belongs only to Paradise.
In Paradise, everything believers desire will be created and brought
to them by special servants appointed for that task. The Qur'an informs
us that:
Circulating among them will be youths like hidden
pearls. (Surat at-Tur, 24)
Believers, whom Allah has made worthy of Paradise, are highly select
and valuable persons. The fact that they are in a position of "high
honor" (Surat as-Saffat, 42) shows the value that Allah places
upon them. The servants mentioned above, who attend immediately to the
believers' every wish and give them free and interrupted service, are
described in the Qur'an as ageless young men:
Ageless youths will circulate among them, serving
them. Seeing them, you would think them scattered pearls. (Surat al-Insan,
19)
These servants, whose sole purpose is to attend to the believers' wishes,
and the fact that the blessings are freely offered with such perfect service,
are other examples of glorious beauty. The gadgets used in this service
also have great value and are of high quality, for:
Platters and cups of gold will be passed around
among them, and they will have there all that their hearts desire and
in which their eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever.
(Surat az-Zukhruf, 71)
While in this world, believers attend to many things, among them getting
as close as possible to the blessings of life in Paradise. We can learn
about the magnificent material used for clothing there. Allah teaches
people in this world to wear fine clothing, as stated in:
O Children of Adam! We have sent down clothing
to you to conceal your private parts, and fine apparel. But the garment
of the fear of Allah - that is the best! That is one of Allah's Signs,
so that hopefully you will pay heed. (Surat al-A'raf, 26)
In Surat al-A'raf, 31, Allah urges believers to wear clean and fine
clothing: "O Children of Adam! Wear fine clothing
in every mosque. Eat and drink, but do not be profligate. He does not
love the profligate." Therefore, the clothing worn in Paradise
will be several times more splendid and stylish than worldly clothing.
The Qur'an especially mentions two kinds of material found in Paradise:
silk and brocade. For example, it states that believers will wear
"fine silk and rich brocade, face to face with one another" (Surat ad-Dukhan,
53). In this world, these two materials are rare, expensive, and
of high quality. Such clothing will give great aesthetic pleasure both
to the person wearing them and the one who sees them being worn. The beauty
and splendor of this clothing only enhances the perfection of those who
wear it.
Of course, the material and clothing found there is not limited to these
two, for Allah, Who granted these great rewards, will clothe the people
of Paradise in many more beautiful garments made of many more beautiful
materials. He can create clothing styles and materials that are unknown
to us in this world.
The Qur'an tells us that this beautiful clothing is ornamented with
jewelry to enhance its attractiveness. Gold and silver bracelets and pearls
are mentioned specifically, as in the following verses:
Allah will admit those who believe and do right
actions into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, where they will be
adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will
be of silk. (Surat al-Hajj, 23)
They will wear green garments of fine silk and
rich brocade. They will be adorned with silver bracelets. And their Lord
will give them a pure draught to drink. (Surat al-Insan, 21)
As this verse maintains, beautiful jewelry complements fine clothing,
and both offered for the pleasure of believers.
The basic quality of the materials in Paradise is their varied delicacy
and striking beauty, both of which are reflections of Allah's eternal
knowledge and artistry. For example, thrones are inlaid with precious
stones and arranged carefully in high places; clothing is made of silk
and brocade, and adorned with gold and silver ornaments.
Allah has given many details about Paradise in the Qur'an, but the expressions
that He has used allow believers to use their imagination open. In Paradise,
(Allah surely knows best) every believer will have all kinds of blessings,
views, and places especially designed for his or her own pleasure. Of
course, apart from the blessings announced in the Qur'an, Allah has prepared
many more surprises for believers, whom He has made worthy of Paradise.
SPOUSES OF THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE
But as for those who have faith and do right actions,
We will admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining
in them timelessly, for ever and ever. In them, they will have spouses
of perfect purity...(Surat an-Nisa', 57)
Paradise is a magnificent place of eternal life that Allah has prepared
as a reward for His faithful servants. As we saw earlier, the Qur'an describes
Paradise by telling of the houses people will live in, the food and drink
they will enjoy, the clothes they will wear, and of all the beautiful
things to be found there. In Paradise, just as in this world, life continues
to be lived. Of course that life is far too wonderful to be compared to
this life, but there are some general similarities. For this reason, when
believers pass from this earthly life to the afterworld, they encounter
no shock or strangeness and thus will adapt easily.
Their new eternal life in Paradise will be similar to the one they lived
here. In other words, they will have the best food and drink, the finest
clothing, splendid homes, and spouses. As the Qur'an says, they will enter
Paradise together with the spouses that Allah has presented to them as
a blessing, and they will be welcomed with a joyful celebration. (Surat
az-Zukhruf, 70)
The Qur'an describes the women of Paradise as "spouses
of perfect purity" (Surat an-Nisa', 57). In addition, all of this
world's deficiencies, worries, and needs are completely absent in Paradise:
"Indeed, We have produced them [i.e., the women
of Paradise] in a [new] creation." (Surat al-Waqi'a, 35) This new
creation will have all of the excellent things appropriate to Paradise.
When we consider a creation suitable for the perfections of Paradise,
these general characteristics of women in Paradise come to mind: Their
hair is always clean and shiny, their skin is smooth and clear, and delightful
aromas come from their bodies. (Allah surely knows best.)
Another feature of the women given in marriage to believers in Paradise
is that they are "of equal age" (Surah Sad: 52)
who were created only for their husbands. They are mentioned in the Qur'an
as having "eyes reserved for them alone." (Surat
as-Saffat, 48)
Another verse says in this regard:
In them are maidens with eyes for them alone, untouched
before them by either man or jinn. (Surat ar-Rahman, 56)
The fact that they are mentioned "as if they were
[delicate] eggs, well protected" (Surat as-Saffat, 49) or
"dark-eyed maidens like hidden pearls" (Surat al-Waqi'a, 23) leads
us to believe that they were created and preserved for their husbands
alone. The word "hidden" indicates that they are as difficult
to obtain as they are valuable to possess. Their being compared to an
egg or a pearl may indicate that their skin is smooth and shiny. (Allah
knows the truth.)
The desire that a man feels for a woman who belongs only to him, and
who shows him interest and affection, gives the human spirit much pleasure.
Of course, the source of this strong feeling must be created in the believer's
spirit according to the norms of Paradise. The human spirit takes great
delight in fine conversation, courtesy, and being complemented. So, in
Paradise this desire can be obtained with women who
"limit their glances to their own mates" (Surat ar-Rahman, 56).
In Surat ar-Rahman, 70, Allah describes these women of
Paradise as "sweet, lovely maidens."
As "secluded in cool pavilions" in
Surat ar-Rahman, 72 indicates, the wives of believers exist only
for their husbands. Likewise, "untouched before
them by either man or jinn" emphasizes their virginity. Surat
al-Waqi'a, 36, which proclaims that "[We]
made them purest virgins" strengthens this idea. Allah describes
believers and their wives in Paradise, in shady nooks and reclining on
their thrones, as people who "are busy enjoying
themselves" (Surah Ya Sin, 55-56).
There, all believers have their own wives, who have been created wonderfully
and with all of the qualities that a person could desire. The fact that
they are "devoted, passionate, of like age" (Surat
al-Waqi'a, 37) shows that the women are bound by a passion and
affection based not on the ignorant worldly impulse to "make
a profit and trust in the future," but only on Allah's consent.
By "sweet, lovely maidens" (Surat ar-Rahman, 70),
Allah points out that the beauty of women's faces is another characteristic
of Paradise. The shining inner beauty in their faces reflects the pureness
of their spirit. This expression could mean that they have a face that
is symmetrical, original, flawless, and smooth. This originality could
be hidden in their eye color, nose structure, or in their eyebrows, jaw,
and cheekbones. In short, it could be in every detail of their facial
construction. The verse "We will marry them to maidens
with large, [beautiful] eyes" (Surat at-Tur, 20) draws attention
to one detail: their large eyes.
Indeed, engaged in conversation while sitting on thrones or opposite
each other in the shades, the focus of attention will be a person's face.
While speaking with someone, we look at his or her face. Engaged in good
conversation with a beautiful-faced woman speaking of interesting things
in a beautiful place where Allah is remembered will give a person indescribable
pleasure.
Of course, the perfection of these women is not limited to their faces,
for they are created from head to toe with a wonderful variety. Surat
an-Naba', 33, mentioning the beauty of their bodies, says "nubile
maidens of similar age." Another verse also draws attention to
the fact that they are of the same age: "Beside
them will be chaste women restraining their glances, (companions) of equal
age" (Surah Sad, 52). Since age, as understood in the common worldly
sense, is of no consequence in the eternal life, this verse shows that
each of them will be of a suitable age for the other.
The Qur'an compares women to "rubies and coral"
(Surat ar-Rahman, 58). These elegant and valuable stones, which
are so pleasing to the eye, are used in the Qur'an to stress these women's
striking beauty. We can imagine that comparing the women to rubies and
coral is meant to describe their bright and pure complexion.
Due to these terse comparisons and essential descriptions, believers
can understand how great a reward Allah has prepared for them. Thus, they
pray even more to attain Allah's good pleasure and mercy, to be received
into His Paradise, and exert great effort to attain it.
Allah has not revealed all of Paradise's blessings in the Qur'an, for
they are beyond any human being's ability to imagine and conceive. In
Paradise, Allah offers believers countless blessings that the eye has
never seen and the ear has never heard.
A PARADISE BEYOND THE IMAGINATION
They will have there all that their hearts desire
and in which their eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly,
forever. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 71)
We can get a general idea of what Paradise is like from the fact that
the blessings of Paradise are similar to those in this world (Surat al-Baqara,
25) and from the descriptions and comparisons found in the Qur'an. Allah
said in the Qur'an that He "will admit them into
Paradise, which He has made known to them." (Surah Muhammad, 6)
So we can, with Allah's permission, glean some information while
still living this earthly life. However, Allah bestows this knowledge
only to give us"an idea of what Paradise is like, for in reality its beauty
and blessings are beyond our conception. For example, the verse
"in it there are rivers of water that will never spoil, and rivers of
milk whose taste will never change, and rivers of wine, delightful to
all who drink it, and rivers of honey of undiluted purity" (Surah Muhammad,
15) shows us that Paradise contains excellences that cannot be
compared with things in this world. A hadith also indicates this unimaginable
beauty:
Allah said: "I have prepared for My pious servants things which have
never been seen by an eye, nor heard by an ear, or (even) imagined by
a human being." (Muslim)
In one verse, Allah says that believers will live in Paradise as His
welcome guests:
But those who heed their Lord will have Gardens
through which rivers flow, to live in for ever as a welcome from Allah.
What is with Allah is better for those who are truly good. (Surah Al 'Imran,
198)
In this verse, Allah describes Paradise as a place of celebration. The
end of the world, passing the test, and reaching one's true homeland is
certainly a reward worth celebrating. This celebration's duration, dimensions,
and content will be too glorious to compare with anything on Earth.
An eternal life full of such never-ending blessings
brings a joy that belongs only to Paradise: not to grow tired. Believers
in Paradise speak of this excellence as "no weariness or fatigue affects
us" (Surah Fatir, 35).
Of course, this includes mental fatigue. People living under this world's
prevailing conditions tire easily, because their bodies are created weak.
When they get tired, their minds begin to get cloudy, they lose concentration
and find it hard to think and conceptualize. But this does not happen
in Paradise, for its people's minds are always open, and their consciousness
is clear so that they can perceive Allah's blessings perfectly and take
pleasure from them. Since this sense of fatigue, which comes from the
world's imperfections, is eliminated, believers can have the uninterrupted
benefit of endless blessings. People will find perfect joy in Paradise's
blessings and go from one blessing to another.
In an environment with no fatigue or boredom, Allah rewards believers
by creating "whatever they wish" (Surat ash-Shura,
22; Surat al-Furqan, 16; Surat az-Zumar, 34). There, they have
everything that their hearts want. In Surat al-Kahf,
35, Allah says that He will give believers more than they can desire
or imagine, and that these blessings will be increased several-fold in
Paradise. One hadith paints the beauty of Paradise as follows:
I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Of what was the creation made?" He
replied: "Of water." We asked: "(As for) Paradise, what is its foundation?"
He said: "One brick of gold and one brick of silver. Its mortars are of
musk of strong scent, its stones are pearls and emeralds, and its soil
is of saffron. Whoever enters it will be in bliss and not in want, live
in bliss and not die, their clothes will not get old, and their youth
will not end." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
Allah, Who created human beings, certainly knows better than they what
their hearts desire, and so will create these things for believers as
a reward in Paradise. The Qur'an announces some of these blessings; the
rest are left to the pleasure and desire of the believers' imagination.
Generally speaking, all believers delight in the same things, with only
slight differences in details. A person can ask the Lord for blessings
that appear impossible under this world's conditions, or for blessings
of which they have no knowledge. Another verse describes the incomparable
beauty of these things:
Platters and cups of gold will be passed around
among them, and they will have there all that their hearts desire and
in which their eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever.
(Surat az-Zukhruf, 71)
From this verse, we can understand that believers expect surprises in
Paradise; that they will be pleased with, and derive pleasure from, what
they see. They also feel happiness when they see the pleasure and happiness
experienced by other believers.
Also, we must not forget that one of the greatest blessings of Paradise
is protection from the agonies of Hell (Surat ad-Dukhan, 56). All of these
things provide a great means of thanksgiving for believers, who can see
Hell when they desire and speak with its inhabitants. The Qur'an describes
how believers give thanks to Allah, as follows:
They will say: "Beforehand we used to live in fear
among our families. But Allah was gracious to us and safeguarded us from
the punishment of the searing wind. Beforehand we certainly used to call
upon Him because He is the All-Good, the Most Merciful." (Surat at-Tur,
26-28)
In the Qur'an, Allah uses different names when referring to the gardens
of Paradise, such as Gardens of Eden, Gardens of Refuge, Gardens of Firdaws,
and Gardens of Delight. These names may express the different sections
in which various pleasures are to be experienced. (Allah knows the truth.)
It is also possible that Paradise may have various degrees or different
sections. We can infer this from the following verse:
But as for those who come to Him as believers,
having done right actions, they will have the highest ranks. (Surah Taha,
75)
The Qur'an describes Paradise as: "Wherever you
look, you will see pleasure and great dominion." (Surat al-Insan, 20)
The following hadith indicates that every detail found in Paradise holds
great beauties and blessings: "There is no tree in Paradise that does
not have a trunk of gold" (Tirmidhi). Every corner is furnished with
countless blessings, thanks to Allah's incomparable knowledge. These things
are prepared only for believers, whom Allah forgives in His mercy and
accepts into His Paradise.
In the Qur'an, Allah describes the believers' state in Paradise as follows:
We will strip away any rancor in their hearts -
brothers, resting on couches face-to-face. (Surat al-Hijr, 47)
Remaining in them timelessly, forever, with no
desire to move away from them. (Surat al-Kahf, 108)
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