This is the abode of the righteous. Jesus (sws) has called it: “The Kingdom of Heaven.” [1] The Quran has also called it Rawdah (garden), Firdaws (orchard), Jannah al-Naim (orchard of blessings), Jannah al-Khuld (orchard of eternal life), Jannah ‘dan (orchard of eternal abode) besides some other similar names. It is as expansive as the Universe, and is a place of eternal bliss where in contrast to this world, there is no concept of death with life, sorrow with happiness, worry with satisfaction, hardship with ease and torment with blessings. Its comfort is eternal, its bliss endless and its days and nights unending. Its peace is forever, its happiness will never cease and its majesty is everlasting and its perfection immaculate:

وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ سُعِدُواْ فَفِي الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ إِلاَّ مَا شَاء رَبُّكَ عَطَاء غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ (108:11)

And as for the fortunate, they shall abide in Paradise and remain there as long as the heavens and the earth [of that world] endure, unless your Lord ordains otherwise. As a favour never ending. (11:108)

Believers will be led into it with such majesty that before them and behind them and on their right and on their left – everywhere there will be angels of God. These angels will escort them in their company to Paradise where its guards will welcome them with salutations and greetings:

وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا حَتَّى إِذَا جَاؤُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ (73:39)

And those who feared their Lord shall be led in throngs to Paradise. Until when they draw near, its gates will be opened for them and its keepers will say to them: “Peace be to you; rejoice and enter into it to dwell forever.” (39:73)

The Quran has portrayed the life of Paradise by depicting the life of royal and regal people so that man in this transient world is able to have some idea of the blessings of Paradise. Hence it is for this purpose that lush green orchards, flowing streams, luxuriant gardens, towering castles, very expensive utensils, slaves wearing golden waste-bands, thrones made of gold, clothes of satin and brocade, goblets of crystal, blissful gatherings and stunning virgins are mentioned:

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ مَفَازًا حَدَائِقَ وَأَعْنَابًا وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتْرَابًا وَكَأْسًا دِهَاقًا لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا كِذَّابًا جَزَاءً مِنْ رَبِّكَ عَطَاءً حِسَابًا (78: 31-36)

However, for the God-fearing, there is great success on that Day. Gardens [to dwell in] and grapes [to feast on] and blooming maidens of equal ages [to be charmed with] and overflowing cups [to be drunk in their companionship]. They will not hear therein any idle talk or any false accusation. This will be the reward from your Lord – exactly according to their deeds. (78:31-36)

فَوَقَاهُمْ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًاوَجَزَاهُمْ بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا مُتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًاوَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَالُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًاوَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِآنِيَةٍ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَقَوَارِيرَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًاوَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًاعَيْنًا فِيهَا تُسَمَّى سَلْسَبِيلًاوَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَنثُورًاوَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًاعَالِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ وَحُلُّوا أَسَاوِرَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًاإِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُمْ مَشْكُورًا(76: 11-22)

So Allah [their Lord] saved them from the affliction of that Day and bestowed them with freshness and joy, and as reward for being patient[in this world] gave them Paradise [to live in] and robes of silk [to wear]. They will be reclining in it on thrones and will feel neither the heat of the sun nor the cold of the winters. The shades of its trees will bow down over them and the clusters of their fruits will be within their easy reach. And dishes of silver [to eat from] and goblets of crystal [to drink from] will be passed around them. And the crystal will be of silver which they [—their attendants—] will have aptly arranged [for every service]. [Besides this], they will be given to drink a wine flavoured with Zanjabil. This is also a spring therein called Salsabil. And they will be attended by boys graced with eternal youth; they will be running around. When you see them, you will think that they are pearls scattered about. And wherever you look, you will see great bliss and a kingdom glorious [such] that even the outer garments of [the dwellers of paradise] will be of green silk and brocade and satin. And they were adorned with bracelets of silver [and then they reached the place where] their Lord entertained them with pure wine. Indeed, this is a reward of your deeds and [congratulations to you that] your endeavours have been acknowledged. (76:11-22)

Similarly, the Quran has said that the dwellers of Paradise will get whatever they desire (41:31; 43:71; 50:35). Their hearts will be cleansed from envy and malice; like brothers they will sit on thrones facing each other (7:43; 15:47). They will never be turned out from Paradise nor will they ever get fed-up and want to come out of it and nor will they face any sort of difficulty there (15:48; 18:108; 35:34-35). The blessings and favours of Paradise will come before them every time with a new taste, pleasure and beauty. When the same fruit will be given to them again and again, each time it will have a new taste, a fresh outlook and provide them with a unique pleasure (2:25). Purity and cleanliness will abound everywhere (56:25). Neither will there be any regret of the past nor any fear of the future (2:62, 112, 262, 274, 277). Most of all, the dwellers of Paradise will be blessed with the pleasure of God: He will be pleased with them and in return the whole atmosphere will resound day and night with cries of exaltation, gratitude and praise for the Lord from these dwellers (9:72, 10:10, 19:62, 22:24, 39:73).

The Prophet (sws) has further explained that the dwellers of Paradise shall eat and drink but will neither spit nor need to urinate or defecate; neither will there be any fluid coming out of the nose nor will there be any saliva and cough; even their sweat will smell of musk; they will live in such luxuries that they will encounter no hardship; neither will their clothes rot nor will these people lose their youth. A caller will call: there is such health here which has no illness, there is such life here which has no death, there is such youth here which has no old age. The faces of people will be shinning like the moon and the stars. [2]

All this portrayal is to bring these sites closer to our comprehension. What exactly is their reality? The best answer to this question is the one given by the Prophet (sws) that in Paradise the Almighty will provide His servants with that which eyes have not seen, ears have not heard and never has any person ever been able to imagine what is in it. [3] On a similar note, the Quran too has said:

فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاء بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ (17:32)

Then no one knows what bliss has been kept hidden for him as a reward for his deeds. (32:17)

(Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)

(Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

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[1]. Matthew, 5:19-20; 7:21.

[2]. Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 553, (no. 3327); Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 1231, 1233, (nos. 7149, 7157).

[3]. Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 541, (no. 3244); Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 1228, (no. 7132).