…’Wish,’
and he will wish and wish…
Allah
Ta’ala has said in the Quran (translation of meaning):
“And
give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds,
that they will have gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow….”
(Quran 2:25)
Allah
Ta’ala has also said (interpretation) :
“Race one with another
for forgiveness from your Lord and for Paradise , whose width is as
the width of the heavens and the earth, which has been prepared for
those who believe in God and His messengers.. ..” (Quran 57:21)
Allah
Ta’ala has said in the Quran (translation of meaning):
“But
those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens
(Paradise) in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever….”
(Quran 4:57)
The
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said that a caller
will call out in Paradise when people enter it: “Indeed may you be
healthy and never be sick again, may you live and never die again,
may you be young and never grow feeble again, may you enjoy, and
never feel sorrow and regret again.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Allah
Ta’ala says (interpretation of meaning):
“They will not hear
therein ill speech or commission of sin. But only the saying of:
Peace! Peace!” (Quran 56:25-26)
There
will be no enmity between people nor ill-feelings:
“And We shall
remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury
(which they had, if at all, in the life of this world).” (Quran
7:43)
The
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: “There will be
no hatred or resentment among them, their hearts will be as one, and
they will glorify God, morning and evening.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
“Say:
Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far) better
for him who fears Allah.” (Quran 4:77)
As
for Paradise , people will live forever. Allah Ta’ala says
(translation of meaning):
“…its provision is eternal and so is
its shade…” (Quran 13:35)
The
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam), may Allah praise him,
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)
Anas
reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said, “There is a market in the Garden to which the
people go every week. The north wind blows and scatters (fragrance)
in their faces and clothes. They are increased in beauty and
handsomeness. They return to their families who have also increased
in beauty and handsomeness. Their families will say to them, ‘You
have increased in beauty and handsomeness?’ They will say, ‘And,
by Allah, you have increased in beauty and handsomeness since we
left.'” (Muslim)
Abu
Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, “Allah will say to the one among you with
the lowest position in the Garden, ‘Wish,’ and he will wish and
wish. He will then say to him, ‘Did you wish?’ He will say,
‘Yes,’ and He will say to him, ‘You have what you wished for
and the same again with it.” (Muslim)
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” (Quran 37:46-47)
The
water of Paradise does not become brackish, and its milk never
changes in flavor:
“…
rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste
never changes …” (Quran 47:15)
What
we have mentioned has been a mere comparison in order to understand
the nature of Paradise , but as Allah said, its delights are truly
hidden:
“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as
a reward for what they used to do.” (The Quran, 32:17)
Paradise:
There is Nothing Like It
The
delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description.
They are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter
how advanced we may become, what we achieve is as nothing in
comparison with the joys of the Hereafter. As is mentioned in several
reports, there is nothing like Paradise :
“It is sparkling
light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river, ripe fruit,
a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of
radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses”. (Ibn
Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan)
The
Sahabah asked the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam)
about the buildings of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful
description:
“Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant
musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever
enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will
live there forever and never die; their clothes will never wear out
and their youth will never fade.” (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee)
Allah
Ta’ala says (explanation of meaning):
“And when you look there
(in Paradise) you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined), and a
great dominion” (Quran 76:20)
The
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said that Allah Ta’ala
said:
“I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no
ear has heard and no human heart can imagine.” Recite if you
wish:
“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a
reward for what they used to do.” (Quran 32:17)
In
another report:
“Never mind what Allah has told you; what He has
not told you is even greater.” (Saheeh Muslim)