Describing Paradise (Jannah)

DESCRIBING PARADISE (JANNAH):

July 18, 2013

Assalam-o-Alaikum!

Ramadan is the month when we purify ourselves to set a pattern for our lives throughout the year. It is the month when we should pray to ALLAH Almighty to bless us with His infinite mercy so that we are able to earn a place in heaven after our death and escape from hellfire. The concept of heaven is at times mocked by the disbelievers or haters of religion. If we believe that Qur’an is the word of God, then we will find that the concepts of heaven and hell have been discussed parallel to each other repeatedly in the Holy Book. Surah Ar-Rahman (No. 55) and Surah Al-Waqiah (No. 56) contain some detailed descriptions of Jannah.

Hence, the desire to earn a place in heaven means the desire to escape the hellfire in afterlife. One is a place of eternal bliss and the other full of torment and misery. Our supplication (dua) should essentially contain our wish for entering paradise without any punishment in hell, as well as ease in affairs on Judgment Day. May ALLAH grant us with the best in this world as well as the hereafter – ameen.

A SELECTION OF SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.W.) ON PARADISE:

• Hadhrat Abu-Huraira (ra) says that the Prophet of ALLAH (pbuh) stated that such people will be admitted to heaven whose hearts will be like those of birds (in softness and in reliance on God). – (Muslim)

• Hadhrat Abdullah (ra) Bin Masood says that the Prophet of ALLAH (pbuh) stated “I know that person who will be taken last out of hell and admitted last into heaven. That person will get out of hell with his face down on the ground. Then ALLAH Almighty will say to him to go enter heaven. Thus he will reach near heaven but will assume that there is no space. Therefore he will return and will say to God that he found heaven full. Upon this, ALLAH Almighty will tell him to go enter heaven. He will again approach heaven, but will think that it is already full. Hence he will return and again say that he found heaven totally occupied. ALLAH will state for the third time to go enter heaven, and that there is space equivalent to this world for him there and (even) ten times more than that. (Due to his sins and disobedience of ALLAH’s commandments in his earthly life, it will be hard for him to believe that he is being given such a big reward.) And that person will be the lowest ranked person in heaven. – (Al-Bukhari)

• Hadhrat Sahal Bin Saad (ra) says that the Prophet of ALLAH (pbuh) stated that there is a tree in paradise (which is so big) that a rider will travel under its shade for a hundred years but still would not be able to cover the distance.  – (Muslim)

• Hadhrat Abu-Huraira (ra) says that the Prophet of ALLAH (pbuh) stated that one who has the lowest rank in paradise will be asked to wish for what he/she wants. Thus he/she will express his wishes and keep on expressing his/her wishes. Then he/she will be asked if he/she has narrated all his/her desires to which he/she will affirm in positive. Upon this, he/she will be told that all his/her wishes are being granted and an additional equal of all that also. – (Muslim)