Continued…
Jabir reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) saying “the residents of Paradise will eat and drink but will neither spit, nor pass water, nor excrement, nor phlegm. Someone asked what would happen to the food they eat? He said, it will be expelled through a single hiccup and sweat, which will smell of musk. With every breath they will glorify and praise Allah” (Hadith 6798).
Abu Bakr bin Abdullah bin Qais reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “the believer’s home in Paradise will be large hollow pearl, sixty miles in breadth. Hence, providing them privacy and personal space” (Hadith 6804).
Paradise is an amazing reward
Allah says in The Majestic Quran “And to those who believe and do good deeds, give good news of gardens with running streams beneath them. Each time they are given fruit to eat, they say, “We used to eat this before.” They will be given something like it, and they will have chaste spouses and live there forever” (Al-Baqarah: 25). The phrase ‘gardens beneath which rivers flow’ shows the tranquil, cool setting of Paradise with the soothing sound of flowing streams. Some other descriptors include the lush greenery, the variety of fruit trees and the vastness of space.
In another verse, Allah says “Those who believed migrated and struggled with their wealth and lives in Allah’s way will have a special place close to Allah; These are the winners. Your Lord gives them glad tidings of receiving His kindness, pleasure, and gardens in which they will enjoy everlasting delights, living there forever. Allah gives a mighty reward” (Tawbah: 20-22). Allah’s pleasure is the greatest reward that a believer is working towards, that’s Heaven. It’s a symbol of His approval, love, and glad tidings.
The consequences of faith and denial in the Hereafter
In another place, Allah says “Those who do not expect to meet Us but are satisfied with this worldly life where they feel at ease, and have chosen to ignore Our signs, their final abode shall be the Fire because of their lifestyles. But those who believe and do righteous deeds, their Lord will guide them through their faith to Paradise where rivers flow beneath them in the gardens of delight. Here their prayer will be, “Glory to you, Allah!” and their greeting will be, “Peace,” whilst their closing prayer will be, “And praise be to Allah, Lord of all realms” (Yunus: 7-10).
The contrasting images of paradise and hell
Allah says “Say, the truth is from your Lord so whoever wants to believe let him do so and whoever wishes to deny let him.” We have prepared for the evildoers a fire; its walls will surround them. When they ask for water, they will be relieved with boiling water hotter than molten brass that will burn their faces, a dreadful drink, an unbearable place of rest. On the other hand, those who believe and do righteous deeds shall be in Paradise. We will not waste the reward of the one who does good work; for them are everlasting gardens with streams running beneath their feet. There, they will be wearing golden bracelets, green dresses with silk embroidery, and rich patterns. They will be sitting on couches. What a wonderful reward and an extraordinary resting place” (Kahf: 29-31).
The delights of paradise
These are further explained in the following verses “Allah’s sincere servant will be given provisions that will be familiar to them: fruits, they shall be honoured in Gardens of delight, sitting on comfortably on couches facing each other, they shall be served with a cup filled from a flowing fountain, white and delicious for the drinkers, a drink that will neither cause headache nor confusion. Their spouses of modest gaze and most beautiful eyes, like protected eggs will accompany them” (Saffat: 40-49). In the Quran, there are vivid pictures of the comforts, delights, fruits, and drinks of Paradise, including furniture like couches, cushions and carpets.
How can I get to paradise?
Why wouldn’t you yearn for it? The above-mentioned verses and passages reveal the reasons why people will enter paradise; faith, good deeds, good morals, avoidance of sin, love of Allah and the Messenger etc. Here are some more pearls of wisdom from the Messenger (peace be upon him) about how to attain Jannah.
“Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger and establishes the prayer and fasts in the month of Ramadan, will be granted Jannah” (Bukhari).
“Whoever says: I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my religion, and Muhammad as my Prophet, will go to paradise” (Dawud).
“Anyone who asks Allah three times for paradise, the paradise will say: “Allah, let him come in” (Tirmidhi).
“Allah has ninety-nine names, anyone who believes them and understands them will enter paradise” (Bukhari).
“Being truthful will make you righteous and righteousness will lead you to paradise” (Bukhari).
“Whoever can guarantee me that they will control their mouth and private parts then I guarantee them paradise. (they don’t backbite or bad mouth others nor are sexually unclean)” (Bukhari).
“Anyone whose soul leaves his body and he’s free from pride, debt and fraudulent behaviour will enter Jannah” (Ibn Majah).
“People who spread greetings of Salaam, feed the hungry and pray while people are asleep, then your entry into paradise will be hassle-free” (Ibn Majah).
“A person who builds a Masjid seeking the pleasure of Allah will have a mansion built for him in paradise” (Bukhari).
“The person who prays 12 Rak’ah during day and night, will have a house built in paradise (this refers to the sunnah prayers, 2 before Fajr, 4 before Zohar, 2 after Zohar, 2 after Magrib and 2 after Isha)” (Nisai).
“A student of knowledge who travels to learn will have his journey to paradise made easy” (Tirmidhi).
“The parents who raise up two girls will go to paradise with me (the Prophet indicated this with his two fingers)” (Tirmidhi).
“The dying person whose last words are ‘there is no God but Allah’ will go to paradise” (Abu Dawud).
