"Be ye foremost (in seeking) Forgiveness from your Lord, And a Garden (of Bliss), The width whereof is as the width of Heaven and earth, Prepared for those who believe In Allah and His messengers: That is the Grace of Allah, Which He bestows on whom He pleases: and Allah is The Lord of Grace abounding.'' (Qur'an 57:21)
Paradise (Jannah) is the final and eternal abode for the believers. It is a place of peace and happiness, filled with light (nur) emanating from the throne of Allah and a beautiful fragrance. There will be no hardship there. No one will grow old or die and nobody will leave.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that Allah says:
"I have prepared for My pious slaves, those comforts which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human being has ever imagined. Recite if you wish, 'No person knows the joy which is hidden from them' [Qur'an 38:52] '' (narrated by Abu Hurairah and recorded in Bukhari and Muslim)
The First People To Enter Paradise
Narrated Abu Huraira (r.a.): The Prophet said, “The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the full moon, and the batch next to them will be (glittering) like the most brilliant star in the sky. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have neither enmity nor jealousy amongst themselves...''(Bukhari)
Some Will Come Out Of Hell And Into Paradise
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (r.a.) reported: Some people during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'Messenger of Allah! shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?' The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'Yes,' and added: 'Do you feel any trouble in seeing the sun at noon with no cloud over it, and do you feel trouble in seeing the moon (open) in the full moonlit night with no cloud over it?' They said: 'No, Messenger of Allah!' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'You will not feel any trouble in seeing Allah on the Day of Resurrection any more than you do in seeing any one of them.'
When the Day of Resurrection comes a Mu'adhdhin (a proclaimer) would proclaim: 'Let every people follow what they used to worship.' Then all who worshipped idols and stones besides Allah would fall into the Fire, till only the righteous and the vicious and some of the people of the Book who worshipped Allah are left. Then the Jews would be summoned, and it would be said to them: 'What did you worship?' They will say: 'We worshipped 'Uzair, son of Allah.' It would be said to them: 'You tell a lie; Allah had never had a spouse or a son. What do you want now?' They would say: 'We feel thirsty, O our Lord! Quench our thirst.' They would be directed (to a certain direction) and asked: 'Why don't you go there to drink water?' Then they would be pushed towards the Fire (and they would find to their great dismay that) it was but a mirage (and the raging flames of fire) would be consuming one another, and they would fall into the Fire. Then the Christians would be summoned and it would be said to them: 'What did you worship?' They would say: 'We worshipped Jesus, son of Allah.' It would be said to them: 'You tell a lie; Allah did not take for Himself either a spouse or a son.' Then it would be said to them: 'What do you want?' They would say: 'Thirsty we are, O our Lord! Quench our thirst.' They would be directed (to a certain direction) and asked: 'Why don't you go there to get water?' But they would be pushed and gathered together towards the Hell, which was like a mirage to them, and the flames would consume one another. They would fall Into the Fire, till no one is left except he who worshipped Allah, be he pious or sinful. The Lord of the Universe, Glorified and Exalted, would come to them in a form recognisable to them and say; 'What are you looking for? Every people follow that which they worshipped.' They would say: 'Our Lord, we kept ourselves separate from the people in the world, though we felt great need of them; we, however, did not associate ourselves with them.' He would say: 'I am your Lord.' They would say: 'We take refuge with Allah from thee and do not associate anything with Allah.' They would repeat it twice or thrice, till some of them would be about to return. It would be said: 'Is there any sign between you and Him by which you will recognise Him?' They would say: 'Yes.' and the things would be laid bare. Those who used to prostrate themselves before God of their own accord would be permitted by God to prostrate themselves. But there would remain none who used to prostrate out of fear (of people) and ostentation but Allah would make his back as one piece, and whenever he would attempt to prostrate he would fall on his back. Then they would raise their heads and He would assume the Form in which they had seen Him the first time and would say: 'I am your Lord.' They would say: 'Thou art our Lord.'
Then the bridge would be set up over the Hell and intercession would be allowed and they will say: 'O God, keep safe, keep safe.' It was asked: 'Messenger of Allah, what is this bridge?' He said: 'The void in which one Is likely to slip. There would be hooks, tongs, and spits like the thorn that is found in Najd and is known as Sa'dan. The believers would then pass over within the twinkling of an eye, like lightning, like wind, like a bird, like the finest horses and camels. Some will escape and be safe, some will be lacerated and let go, and some will be pushed into the fire of Hell till the believers will find rescue from the Fire. By One in Whose hand is my life, there will be none among you more eager to claim a right than the believers on the Day of Resurrection for (saying their) brethren in the Fire who would say: 'O our Lord, they were fasting along with us, and praying and performing pilgrimage.' It will be said to them: 'Take out those whom you recognise.' Then their persons would be forbidden to the Fire; and they would take out a large number of people who had been overtaken by Fire up to the middle of the shank or up to the knees. They would then say: 'O our Lord! not one of those about whom Thou didst give us command remains in it.' He will then say: 'Go back and bring out those in whose hearts you find good of the weight of a dinar.' Then they will take out a large number of people. Then they would say: 'O our Lord! we have not left anyone about whom You commanded us.' He will then say: 'Go back and bring out those in whose hearts you find as much as half a dinar of good.' Then they will take out a large number of people, and would say: 'O our Lord! not one of those about whom Thou commanded us we have left in it.' Then He would say: 'Go back and in whose heart you find good to the weight of a particle bring him out.' They would bring out a large number of people, and would then say: 'O our Lord, now we have not left anyone in it (Hell) having any good in him.' Abu Sa'id Khudri said: 'If you don't testify me in this hadith, then recite if you like: "Surely Allah wrongs not the weight of an atom; and if it is a good deed. He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward" (al-Qur'an, iv. 40).
Then Allah, Exalted and Great, would say: 'The angels have interceded, the apostles have interceded and the believers have interceded, and no one remains (to grant pardon) but the Most Merciful of the mercifuls.' He will then take a handful from Fire and bring out from it people who never did any good and who had been turned into charcoal, and will cast them into a river called the River of Life, on the outskirts of Paradise. They will come out as a seed comes cut from the silt carried by flood. You see it near the stone or near the tree. That which is exposed to the sun is yellowish or greenish and which is under the shade is white. They said: Messenger of Allah! it seems as if you had been tending a flock in the jungle. He (the Holy Prophet) said: They will come forth like pearls with seals on their necks. The inhabitants of paradise would recognise them (and say): Those are who have been set free by the Compassionate One. Who has admitted them into paradise without any (good) deed that they did or any good that they sent in advance Then He would say: 'Enter the paradise; whatever you see in it is yours.' They would say: 'O Lord, Thou hast bestowed upon us (favours) which Thou didst not bestow upon anyone else in the world.' He would say: 'There is with Me (a favour) for you better than this.' They would say: 'O our Lord! which thing is better than this?' He would say: 'It is My pleasure. I will never be angry with you after this.'' (Muslim Book #001, Hadith #0352)
The Last Person To Enter Paradise
Ibn Mas'ud (r.a.) reported: Verily the Messenger of Allah said: ''The last to enter Paradise would be a man who would walk once and stumble once and be burnt by the Fire once. Then when he gets beyond it, he will turn to it and say: 'Blessed is He Who has saved me from thee. Allah has given me something He has not given to any one of those in earlier or later times.' Then a tree would be raised up for him and he will say: 'O my Lord I bring me near this tree so that I may take shelter in its shade and drink of its water.' Allah, the Exalted and Great, would say: 'O son of Adam, if I grant you this, you will ask Me for something else.' He would say: 'No. my Lord.' And he would promise Him that he would not ask for anything else. His Lord would excuse him because He sees what he cannot help desiring; so He would bring him near it, and he would take shelter in its shade and drink of its water.
Afterwards a tree more beautiful than the first would be raised up before him and he would say: 'O my Lord! bring me near this tree in order that I may drink of its water and take shelter in its shade and I shall not ask Thee for anything else.' He (Allah) would say: 'O son of Adam, if I bring you near it, you may ask me for something else.' He would promise Him that he would not ask for anything else. His Lord will excuse him because He would see something he cannot help desiring. So He would bring him near it and he would enjoy its shade and drink its water.
Then a tree would be raised up for him at the gate of the paradise, more beautiful than the first two. He would say: 'O my Lord! bring me near this (tree) so that I may enjoy its shade and drink from its water. I shall not ask Thee for anything else.' He (Allah) would say: 'O son of Adam! did you not promise Me that you would not ask Me anything else?' He would say: 'Yes, my Lord, but I shall not ask Thee for anything else.' His Lord would excuse him for He sees something the temptation of which he could not resist. He (Allah) would bring him near to it, and when He would bring him near it he would hear the voices of the inhabitants of the paradise. He would say: 'O my Lord! admit me to it.' He (Allah) would say: 'O son of Adam, what will bring an end to your requests to Me? Will it please you if I give you the whole world and a like one along with it?' He will say: 'O my Lord! art Thou mocking at me, though Thou art the Lord of the worlds?'
Ibn Mas'ud laughed and asked (the hearers): 'Why don't you ask me what I am laughing at.' They (then) said: 'Why do you laugh?' He said: 'It is in this way that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) laughed. They (the companions of the Holy Prophet) asked: 'Why do you laugh, Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'On account of the laugh of the Lord of the universe, when the desirer of paradise said, Thou mocking at me though Thou art the Lord of the worlds? He would say: I am not mocking at you, but I have power to do whatever I will.' '' (Book #001, Hadith #0361)
People Will Recognise Their Home In Paradise
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said. ''By Allah, in Whose hand is my life, all of you who enter the Paradise, when you are given your house to live in Paradise, your abode, you will recognise your house in Paradise more than the house you used to live in, in the dunya (this world).'' (Bukhari volume 8 page 355)
The People In Paradise Will See Their Lord
Jareer ibn Abdullah (r.a.) narrated that ''One night we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) and he looked at the moon - It was the fourteenth night of the month, and the full moon was shining in the sky. The Messenger of Allah then turned towards us and said ''Surely you will see Allah as you are seeing the moon. You will have to make no special effort to see Him, nor will there be any difficulty'' (Bukhari, Muslim). This hadith has been narrated by twenty one Sahabahs (Companions of the Prophet).
Suhaib (r.a.) reported the Apostle (may peace be upon him) saying: 'When those deserving of Paradise would enter Paradise, the Blessed and the Exalted would ask: 'Do you wish Me to give you anything more?' They would say: 'Hast Thou not brightened our faces? Hast Thou not made us enter Paradise and saved us from Fire?' He (the narrator) said: He (God) would lift the veil, and of things given to them nothing would he dearer to them than the sight of their Lord, the Mighty and the Glorious. (Book #001, Hadith #0347)
The Greatest Pleasure Of Paradise
Abu Sai'd Kudri (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (pbuh) said that Allah will say to the people of Jannat (Paradise), ''O people of Jannat.'' They will answer, 'O our Lord, we are present and all goodness is in your hands. Allah will then say to them, ''Are you pleased?'' They will say ''O our Lord, how could we not be pleased when You have given us [those bounties] which You have not given any of Your creation?'' Allah will say, ''Should I not give you something better than all this?'' Allah will say, ''I enter you into My happiness and I will never become angry at you.'' (Bukhari, Muslim)
Verses from Qur'an about Paradise
''Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk. For they have been guided (in this life) to the purest of speeches; they have been guided to the Path of Him Who is worthy of (all) praise.'' (Qur'an 22: 22-24)
"Be quick in the race For forgiveness from your Lord, And for a Garden whose width Is that (of the whole) Of the heavens And the earth, Prepared for the righteous. (Qur'an 3:133)"
"Verily, for the Righteous, Are Gardens of Delight, In the Presence of their Lord.'' (Qur'an 68:34)
"And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds: until behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened; and its keepers will say: 'Peace be upon you! well have ye done! enter ye here, to dwell therein.' (Qur'an 39:73)
For the righteous, are Gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath; Therein is their eternal home; with spouses purified and the good pleasure of Allah, for in Allah's sight are (all) His servants. (Qur'an 3:15)
"They will say: 'Praise be to God, Who has truly fulfilled His Promise to us, and has given us (this) land in heritage: We can dwell in the Garden as we will: how excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!' '' (Qur'an, 39:74)
"Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.'' (Qur'an, 3:185)
"But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden, abiding in it eternally." (Qur'an 2:82)
"There, no sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shay they [ever] be evicted." (Qur'an 15:48)
"They will not taste death therein, except the first death, and He will preserve them from the penalty of the Blazing Fire. [It will be] a bounty from your Lord. That will be the supreme achievement!" (Qur'an 44:56-57)
"But those who believe And work deeds of righteousness -- To them shall We give A Home in Heaven -- Lofty mansions beneath which Flow rivers -- to dwell therein For aye -- an excellent reward For those who do (good)! -- Those who preserve in patience, And put their trust In their Lord and Cherisher.'' (Qur'an 29:58-59)
''Indeed the people of Paradise will be happily occupied. They and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches. There are for them fruits and there is for them all they ask for.'' (Qur'an 36: 55-57)
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More Sayings Relating to Paradise
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, ''The comparison of the world to the hereafter is like dipping your hand into the ocean and examining how much water you have taken out of it.'' (Narrated by Mutawrid r.a. recorded in Muslim)
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira (r.a.) that a bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: 'Messenger of Allah, direct me to a deed by which I may be entitled to enter paradise.' Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) remarked: 'You worship Allah and never associate anything with Him, establish the obligatory prayer, and pay the Zakat which is incumbent upon you, and observe the fast of Ramadan.' He (the bedouin) said: 'By Him in Whose hand is my life, I will never add anything to it, nor will I diminish anything from it.' When he (the bedouin) turned his back, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: 'He who is pleased to see a man from the dwellers of paradise should catch a glimpse of him.' (Muslim Book#001 Hadith #0014)
Abu Dharr (r.a.) reported: I walked with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the stony ground of Medina in the afternoon and we were looking at Uhud. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Abu Dharr!' I said: 'Messenger of Allah, I am here at thy beck and call.' He said: 'What I desire is that Uhud be gold with me and three nights should pass and there is left with me any dinar but one coin which I would keep to pay debt. (I love) to spend it among the servants of Allah like this and he pointed in front of him, and on his right side and on his left side.' We then proceeded on and he said: 'Abu Dharr.' I said: 'At thy beck and call, Messenger of Allah.' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'The rich would be poor on the Day of Resurrection, but he who spent like this and like this and like this, and he pointed as at the first time.' We again went on when he said. 'Abu Dharr, stay where you are till I come back to you.' He (the Holy Prophet) then moved on till he disappeared from my sight He (Abu Dharr) said: I heard a sound and I heard a noise. I said (to myself): The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) might have met (mishap or an enemy). I wished to follow him but I remembered his command for not departing till he would come back. So I waited for him, and when he came I made a mention of what I heard. He said: 'it was Gabriel, who came to me and said: "He who dies among your Ummah without associating Anything with Allah would enter paradise. I said: Even if he committed fornication or theft? He said: Even if he committed fornication or theft.'' (Muslim Book #005, Hadith #2174)
Uqba b. 'Amir (r.a.) reported: We were entrusted with the task of tending the camels. On my turn when I came back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I found Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) stand and address the people. I heard these words of his: 'If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak'ahs setting about them with his heart as well as his face, paradise would be guaranteed to him.' I said: 'What a fine thing is this!' And a narrator who was before me said: 'The first was better than even this.' When I cast a glance, I saw that it was 'Umair who said: 'I see that you have just come and observed: If anyone amongst you performs the ablution, and then completes the ablution well and then says: I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the eight gates of paradise would be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes.' (Muslim Book#002, Hadith #0451)
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira (r.a.): We were sitting around the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him). Abu Bakr and Umar were also there among the audience. In the meanwhile the Messenger of Allah got up and left us, He delayed in coming back to us, which caused anxiety that he might be attacked by some enemy when we were not with him; so being alarmed we got up. I was the first to be alarmed. I, therefore, went out to look for the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) and came to a garden belonging to the Banu an-Najjar, a section of the Ansar went round it looking for a gate but failed to find one. Seeing a rabi' (i. e. streamlet) flowing into the garden from a well outside, drew myself together, like a fox, and slinked into (the place) where God's Messenger was. He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'Is it Abu Huraira?' I (Abu Huraira) replied: 'Yes, Messenger of Allah.' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'What is the matter with you?' I replied: 'You were amongst us but got up and went away and delayed for a time, so fearing that you might be attacked by some enemy when we were not with you, we became alarmed. I was the first to be alarmed. So when I came to this garden, I drew myself together as a fox does, and these people are following me.' He addressed me as Abu Huraira and gave me his sandals and said: 'Take away these sandals of mine, and when you meet anyone outside this garden who testifies that there is no god but Allah, being assured of it in his heart, gladden him by announcing that he shall go to paradise.' Now the first one I met was Umar. He asked: 'What are these sandals, Abu Huraira?' I replied: 'These are the sandals of the Messenger of Allah with which he has sent me to gladden anyone I meet who testifies that there is no god but Allah, being assured of it in his heart, with the announcement that he would go to paradise.' Thereupon 'Umar struck me on the breast and I fell on my back. He then said: 'Go back, Abu Huraira,' So I returned to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and was about to break into tears. 'Umar followed me closely and there he was behind me. The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be on him) said: 'What is the matter with you, Abu Huraira?' I said: 'I happened to meet 'Umar and conveyed to him the message with which you sent me. He struck me on my breast which made me fall down upon my back and ordered me to go back.' Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'What prompted you to do this, 'Umar?' He said: 'Messenger of Allah, my mother and father be sacrificed to thee, did you send Abu Huraira with your sandals to gladden anyone he met and who testified that there is no god but Allah, and being assured of it in his heart, with the tidings that he would go to paradise?' He said: 'Yes.' Umar said: 'Please do it not, for I am afraid that people will trust in it alone; let them go on doing (good) deeds.' The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'Well, let them.' (Muslim: Book #001, Hadith #0050)
It is reported on the authority of Anas b. Malik (r.a.): We were forbidden that we should ask anything (without the genuine need) from the Holy Prophet. It, therefore, pleased us that an intelligent person from the dwellers of the desert should come and asked him (the Holy Prophet) and we should listen to it. A man from the dwellers of the desert came (to the Holy Prophet) and said: 'Muhammad, your messenger came to us and told us your assertion that verily Allah had sent you (as a prophet).' He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: 'He told the truth.'
He (the bedouin) said: 'Who created the heaven?' He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 'Allah.' He (the bedouin again) said: 'Who created the earth?' He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 'Allah.' He (the bedouin again) said: 'Who raised these mountains and who created in them whatever is created there?' He (the Holy Prophet) replied: 'Allah.'
Upon this he (the bedouin) remarked: 'By Him Who created the heaven and created the earth and raised mountains thereupon, has Allah (in fact) sent you?' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'Yes.'
He (the bedouin) said: 'Your messenger also told us that five prayers (had been made) obligatory for us during the day and the night.' He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: 'He told you the truth.' He (the bedouin) said: 'By Him Who sent you, is it Allah Who ordered you about this (i. e. prayers)?' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'Yes.'
He (the bedouin) said: 'Your messenger told us that Zakat had been made obligatory in our riches.' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'He has told the truth.' He (the bedouin) said: 'By Him Who sent you (as a prophet), is it Allah Who ordered you about it (Zakat)?' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'Yes.'
He (the bedouin) said: 'Your messenger told us that it had been made obligatory for us to fast every year during the month of Ramadan.' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'He has told the truth.' He (the bedouin) said: 'By Him Who sent you (as a prophet), is it Allah Who ordered you about it (the fasts of Ramadan)?' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'Yes.'
He (the bedouin) said: 'Your messenger also told us that pilgrimage (Hajj) to the House (of Ka'bah) had been made obligatory for him who is able to undertake the journey to it.' He (the Holy Prophet) said: 'Yes.'
The narrator said that he (the bedouin) set off (at the conclusion of this answer, but at the time of his departure) remarked: 'By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I would neither make any addition to them nor would I diminish anything out of them.' Upon this the Holy Prophet remarked: 'If he were true (to what he said) he must enter paradise.'' (Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0009)
What Has Paradise Been Made From?
Abu Huraira (r.a.) reports that he enquired from the Messenger of Allah (pbuh): ''What is Jannat made of?'' The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) replied: ''It has been built with one brick of gold and the other of silver and the binding material is of sweet scented musk. The gravel spread over it is of pearls and rubies, and its dust is of saffron. Those who enter it will be in peace and happiness. No distress will ever touch them and they will live forever - death will not come to them.''
People Will Have What They Wish For
Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was speaking whilst a villager was sitting by him. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ''A person in Jannat will ask Allah permission to farm. Allah will say to him, 'Don't you already have whatever you desire?' He will answer, 'Yes, but i love farming.' He will plant his crop, and in a split second it will grow tall and be ready for harvest. [After it is harvested,] this crop will be as big as mountains. Allah will say to him, ' O son of Adam, take this because nothing will satisfy you.'' (Bukhari)
The Maidens of Paradise
Allah (s.w.t) will give pure maidens as wives to the believers known as Hur al 'Ayn or Houris. They have been specifically created for the people of Paradise. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: “And with them will be chaste females, restraining their glances (desiring none except their husbands), with wide and beautiful eyes; (Delicate and pure) as if they were (hidden) eggs (well) preserved.” (Qur'an 37:40-48)
“So (it will be), and We shall marry them to Houris (female fair ones) with wide, lovely eyes.” (Qur'an 44:51-55)
“And beside them will be chaste females (virgins) restraining their glances only for their husbands, (and) of equal ages.” (Qur'an 38:52)
Anas (r.a.) narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying: ''If a bride from among the brides of Jannat cast a glance at the world, the whole universe will be filled with light and fragrance.'' Sai'd bin Amr (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: '' If a woman from Jannat were to look towards the world, she would fill the earth with the smell of musk and [her beauty] would overpower the light of the sun and moon.'' (Tabrani)
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also said ''..The scarf on her head is better than the world and all it contains.'' (Bukhari)
Husbands and their wives from this world, will be together in the hereafter. There will be no jealousy between anyone and the wives and women of this world will be even more beautiful than the Hur al 'Ayn.
The Superiority Of The Women Of This World
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that she said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):
'' O RasulAllah, are the women of this world superior to the hurs? He replied, ''The women of this world will have superiority over the hurs just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.'' Umm Salamah then asked, ''Oh RasulAllah, what is the reason for this?'' He answered, ''Because they performed salah (prayer), fasted, and worshipped [Allah]. Allah will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies [The human women] will be fair in complexion and will wear green clothing and yellow jewelry. Their incense burners will be made of pearls and their combs will be of gold. They will say, 'We are the women who will stay forever and we will never die. We are women who will always remain in comfort and we will never undergo difficulty. We are the women who will stay and we will never leave. Listen, we are happy women and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us.' '' (Tabrani)
(by Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahimahullah) From the book Haadi al-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad il-Afraah by Ibn al-Qayyim, page 193)
Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:
"And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.
And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.
And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.
And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.
And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.
And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.
And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.
And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.
And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.
And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor.
And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.
And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it.
And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years.
And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long.
And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.
And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.
And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.
And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.
And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the moon.
And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity.
And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-'Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds.
And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.
And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the world, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorify, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everything but her, and the light of the sun would be outshone just as the light of the sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.
And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.
And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the All-Mighty, All-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - as you see the sun in the middle of the day and the full moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: 'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!' So they will say: 'We hear and obey!'
Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: 'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allah in which He wishes to reward you!' So they will say: 'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?'
And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: 'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!' So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: 'O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!' So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say: 'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!'
So, they will all give the same response: 'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!' So, He will say: 'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!' So, they will all give the same response: 'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!' So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allah - the Exalted - had not willed not to burn them, would have burned them.
And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say: 'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?' and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the worldly life, so he will say: 'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?' So, He will say: 'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by My forgiveness.'
So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife...
''Some faces that Day, will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord...'' (Qur'an 75:22-3)
