Heaven And Hell (3/4)

The Ranks of Paradise

It is related in the Sahihain that the Prophet said, "Paradise has one hundred degrees and the distance between each degree is like the distance between the heavens and the earth." In another sahih hadith it is related that he said: "Paradise has one hundred degrees which Allah has reserved for the mujahidin who used to fight in His Way, and the distance between each degree is the same as the distance between the heavens and the earth."[1]

So there are degrees in Paradise and the highest degree belongs to our beloved Prophet He said in a sahih hadith, "So if you ask Allah for anything ask Him for Firdous, for it is the highest part of the Garden and the most exalted part of the Garden and above it is the Throne of the Merciful from which the rivers of the Garden gush forth."[2]

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri related that the Prophet said, "The people of the Garden will gaze at those who dwell in its lofty mansions in the same way as you look at a brilliant star on the far horizon in the east or west — and all of this will be because of their excellence over each other."[3]

The Dwellings in Paradise

Allah says: “But those who have Taqwa of their Lord will have high-ceilinged Halls and more such Halls built one above the other, and rivers flowing under them. That is Allah's promise. Allah does not break His promise.” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39: 20)

So Allah has told us that there certainly are lofty mansions in the Garden, one above another. Abu Musa' al-Ash'ari related that the Prophet said, "A dwelling (in the Garden) is like a hollow pearl which is sixty miles high and in every corner of the dwelling the believer will have a family which cannot be seen by the others."[4]

Abdullah ibn Qais related that the Prophet said, "In the Garden there is a Hall made of a single hollow pearl sixty miles wide, in each corner of which there are wives who will not see those in the other corners — and the believer will visit all of them and enjoy their company. And there are two gardens whose utensils and contents are made of silver, and two other gardens whose utensils and contents are made of such-and-such (gold). And nothing will prevent the people who dwell in the Garden of Eden from seeing their Lord except the Veil of Majesty over His Face."[5]

It has been related by Abu Hurairah and A'isha "Jibril came to the Prophet and said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Khadija is just coming with a bowl of soup (or food or drink) for you. When she comes to you, give her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a palace of jewels in the Garden, where there will be neither any noise nor any tiredness." [6]

It has been related by Anas that the Prophet said, "I dreamt that I entered the Garden and in front of me was a palace of gold. I asked, 'Whose palace is this?' They (the angels) replied, 'It is for a man of the Quraysh.' I thought it might be me, so I asked, 'Who is he?' The angels replied, 'It is Umar ibn al-Khattab.[7]'"

The Food of the People of Paradise

Allah says: “And any fruit they specify and any bird-meat they desire.” (Surah Al-Waqi'ah, 56: 20-21)

As for the fruits of Paradise, Allah says:

 “When they are given fruit there as provision, they will say, 'This is what we were given before.' But they were only given a simulation of it.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 25)

In another verse, Allah says:

 “Its shading branches will droop down over them, its ripe fruit hanging ready to be picked.” (Surah Al-Insan, 76: 14)

It has been related by Anas Ibn Malik, "When the Messenger of Allah was asked what Al- Kawthar is, he replied, 'It is a river (in the Garden) which Allah has given me, whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, with birds whose necks are like the necks of sacrificial camels.' Umar remarked, 'They must have a pleasant life,' and the Messenger of Allah replied, 'Those who eat them have an even more pleasant life.[8]'"

It has been related by Jabir that the Prophet said, "The people of the Garden eat and drink but do not have to spit, or pass water, or defecate, or deal with catarrh.” Someone asked, 'Then what happens to the food?' and he replied, 'They just burp and perspire — and their perspiration smells like musk and they glorify and praise Allah as easily as you breathe.[9]'"

Thawban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah said, "While I was standing next to the Messenger of Allah one of the rabbis of the Jews came and started asking the Prophet some questions. Among them was, 'Who will be the first people to cross the Sirat (on the Day of Rising)?' He replied, 'They will be the poor from amongst the refugees.' The Jew asked, 'What will be their first meal when they enter the Garden?' He replied, 'A fillet of fish-liver.' He asked, 'What will they have to eat after this?' He answered, 'A bullock which has grazed in different parts of the Garden will be slaughtered for them.' He asked, 'What will they have to drink?' He replied, 'They will be given a drink from the fountain called Salsabil.’ The Jew said, 'You have spoken the truth — you are indeed a Messenger.[10]’”