Reading this article will help you understand how Islam describes Paradise and address various discussions on the topic, including the physical aspects of Paradise and the concept of virgins promised to Muslims. The content aims to provide a comprehensive view of Islamic teachings on the afterlife, exploring the spiritual significance and literal interpretations of Islamic texts.
Quran Soura 50 Aya 31-35 :
وَأُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ
And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far,
هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ
[It will be said], ’ This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]
مَّنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيبٍ
Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].
ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُلُودِ
Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity.’
لَهُم مَّا يَشَاءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ
They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.
Some claims about Paradise
Faith in Paradise and the Argument from Incredulity
Paradise is a fundamental aspect of faith in Islam. It is viewed as Ghayb (invisible) and beyond human understanding unless revealed by God. The Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) are the only reliable sources that describe Paradise. Straying from these texts can result in personal interpretations, which may lead to misunderstandings about its nature.
For matters relating to the Ghayb, such as Paradise, hell, and angels, believers approach these subjects with sound and pure logic:
- Existence and Attributes of the Creator: Believers use reason and intellect to affirm the existence of a Creator, recognizing attributes such as omniscience and omnipotence.
- Prophethood of Muhammad(ﷺ) : Logic and intelligence are applied to recognize the truth of the message of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), confirming his status as the last Prophet sent by the Creator.
- Authenticity of the Scriptures: This section critically evaluates the evidence supporting the accurate transmission of the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet.
- Belief in Divine Revelations: After those rational assessments, believers trust in all Allah and His Prophet have revealed about the unseen, relying on the understanding transmitted by the Prophet and his companions.
Despite the simplicity of these beliefs, critics continue to challenge them. Their main argument, known as the Argument from Incredulity, arises from disbelief rooted in personal astonishment or skepticism, much like the incredulity expressed by the pagans of Mecca regarding the idea of physical resurrection. This skepticism often disregards the logical basis underlying these beliefs, instead concentrating on subjective interpretations of what seems plausible.
Quran Soura 17 Aya 49-51 :
وَقَالُوا أَإِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا
And they say, ’ When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected as a new creation?’
۞ قُلْ كُونُوا حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا
Say, ’ Be you stones or iron
أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ ۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا ۖ قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هُوَ ۖ قُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا
Or [any] creation of that which is great within your breasts.’ And they will say, ’ Who will restore us?’ Say, ’ He who brought you forth the first time.’ Then they will nod their heads toward you and say, ’ When is that?’ Say, ’ Perhaps it will be soon -
The Quran addresses these allegations with a powerful response, asserting that the One who created the universe to test His creatures is certainly capable of creating another realm to reward them :
Quran Soura 36 Aya 81 :
أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ
Is not He who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the likes of them? Yes, [it is so]; and He is the Knowing Creator.
Paradise in Islam is a place that is both material and real
The Quran affirms that the pleasures of Paradise are both spiritual and physical:
- The soul receives its greatest reward: to be with Allah, to receive His mercy, to be able to evoke Him in all circumstances, and the pinnacle of these pleasures is to see its Creator. In addition, it will be purified of all hatred, jealousy, and sadness.
- The body will enjoy physical pleasures, such as seeing beautiful things, tasting delicious food, making love tirelessly, and no longer suffering from fatigue or illness.
The remainder of this article will detail the various pleasures of the soul and body through verses from the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ). But before that, let’s examine the divine justice behind a paradise for both body and soul.
The believer’s body faces various trials throughout this life; it devotes itself to prayer and fasting and strives to live according to the Commandments of its Creator. God’s justice dictates that the reward is as much for the soul as for the body. Here’s a parable to bring the idea closer to home:
Two men serve the same master in the same work. One man oversees the tasks and directs the other, while the second man puts in the effort to complete the work. Is it fair for the master to reward only the one who supervises and commands while ignoring the one who exhausts himself with hard labor?
Certainly not! How, then, would God’s justice bear it that man’s soul, body, and sensibility serve God, the soul merely watching and commanding service? For, since it does not eat bread, it does not fast, it does not walk, it suffers neither cold nor heat, it does not fall ill, it is not killed since it is immortal, it suffers none of the bodily pains that the body suffers because of the elements. Is it correct that it alone should go to Paradise and not the body that has exhausted itself in God’s service?
Virgins in Paradise: Is the Muslim Paradise too “sexual”?
In the Hereafter, Allah has prepared gardens of delight where believers will find sexual partners. Women will experience the most pleasurable relationships with their handsome husbands, who will be at the height of their youth and vitality. Men will be reunited with the wives they had in this life, along with many beautiful Hoor al-Ayn (pure virgins) who await them.
Muslims don’t understand why some detractors think paradise “shouldn’t” contain sex, but delving into the deeper reasons for these detractors reveals just how much the influence of ancient Christian ideas is present. Christian thinking, which views legal sex as “dirty” and “shameful,” suggests that it is not the ambition of an upright person. On this basis, they exonerate their religious leaders from such a humble concept in this life, and they reject the “repulsive” concept of sexual pleasures in Paradise. In the afterlife, they deny any sexual intercourse, claiming that Paradise is a “pure place” above such animal notions.
Islam, on the other hand, is balanced. Our Lord created us with instincts and inclinations. He has not forbidden people to enjoy lawful relationships with their spouses in this life, nor has He attributed blame to them for doing so. He has prohibited harmful acts of transgression such as fornication, adultery, and homosexuality, but He has allowed even the most pious of His servants to indulge in sexual relations with their spouses without prejudice or blame associated with it.
Some things you need to know about Paradise in Islam
The pleasures of Paradise are beyond imagining
Paradise contains pleasures that man cannot imagine. Allah -may He be exalted and magnified- said:
Quran Soura 32 Aya 17 :
فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do.
The Quran speaks of gardens, rivers, honey, drinks, meat, and fruit because these things are familiar to every person and are part of human life. However, the description of Paradise in the Quran only represents a tiny part of what Paradise truly is. The Quran addresses humans in a common language everyone can understand, describing things in Paradise that relate to our earthly experiences. On this subject, the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) said:
عن أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- قال: قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: «قال الله -تعالى-: أَعْدَدْتُ لعِبَادي الصَّالحين ما لا عَيْنٌ رأَت، ولا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَت، ولا خَطَر على قَلب بَشَر، واقْرَؤُوا إن شِئْتُمْ: (فلا تَعلم نفس ما أُخْفِي لهم من قُرَّة أَعْيُنِ جَزَاء بما كانوا يعملون).
عن سهل بن سعد -رضي الله عنه- قال: شَهدت من النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مَجْلِسَا وَصَفَ فيه الجَنَّة حتى انتهى، ثم قال في آخر حديثه: «فيها ما لا عَيْنٌ رأَت، ولا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَت، ولا خَطَر على قَلب بَشَر» ثم قرأ:(تتجافى جُنُوبهم عن المَضَاجِع) إلى قوله -تعالى-:(فلا تعلم نفس ما أُخْفِي لهم من قُرَّة أَعْيُنِ).
صحيح. حديث أبي هريرة متفق عليه.
حديث سهل بن سعد رواه مسلم.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Allah, the Almighty, said: ’I have prepared for My righteous slaves what no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever conceived,’ and recite if you wish: {And no soul knows what delight awaits them as the reward for their deeds.} [Sūrat As-Sajdah: 17]'
Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I witnessed a gathering wherein the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) described Paradise until the end, then he said at the end of his speech: 'Therein is what no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever conceived.' Then he recited: {They arise from [their] beds ... no soul knows what delight awaits them.} [Sūrat As-Sajdah: 16-17]'
[Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
So these are pleasures that man has not yet imagined, Ibn Abbâs -may Allah be pleased with him- explains thus:
“The reality of what exists in Paradise has only names in common with what exists in this world.”
[Source : Silsilat ul-ahâdîth as-sahîha, n° 2188]
The inhabitants of Paradise will have everything they want
In Paradise, men and women will have everything they desire; all they have to do is ask. Allah states in the Quran:
Quran Soura 50 Aya 35 :
لَهُم مَّا يَشَاءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ
They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.
Believers can ask God for pleasures they used to enjoy during their earthly life, and each of us will have pleasures we would like to find in Paradise. Here is an example cited by the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ):
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِلاَلٌ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَوْمًا يُحَدِّثُ وَعِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَادِيَةِ ' أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ اسْتَأْذَنَ رَبَّهُ فِي الزَّرْعِ فَقَالَ أَوَ لَسْتَ فِيمَا شِئْتَ. قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَزْرَعَ. فَأَسْرَعَ وَبَذَرَ فَتَبَادَرَ الطَّرْفَ نَبَاتُهُ وَاسْتِوَاؤُهُ وَاسْتِحْصَادُهُ وَتَكْوِيرُهُ أَمْثَالَ الْجِبَالِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى دُونَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يُشْبِعُكَ شَىْءٌ '. فَقَالَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَجِدُ هَذَا إِلاَّ قُرَشِيًّا أَوْ أَنْصَارِيًّا فَإِنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ زَرْعٍ، فَأَمَّا نَحْنُ فَلَسْنَا بِأَصْحَابِ زَرْعٍ. فَضَحِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was preaching while a bedouin was sitting there. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'A man from among the people of Paradise will request Allah to allow him to cultivate the land Allah will say to him, ’Haven’t you got whatever you desire?’ He will reply, ’yes, but I like to cultivate the land (Allah will permit him and) he will sow the seeds, and within seconds the plants will grow and ripen and (the yield) will be harvested and piled in heaps like mountains. On that Allah will say (to him), 'Take, here you are, O son of Adam, for nothing satisfies you.’ 'On that the bedouin said, 'O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Such man must be either from Quraish or from Ansar, for they are farmers while we are not.' On that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) smiled .
Sahih al-Bukhari 7519
Having their souls cleansed of all corruption, believers will only ask for things that conform to their original nature—fitra—that Allah is pleased to satisfy.
Paradise already exists today
As you read these words, Paradise (like Hell) already exists:
Quran Soura 3 Aya 133 :
۞ وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous
Quran Soura 57 Aya 21 :
سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.
The inhabitants of Paradise will inhabit different levels; the distance between levels resembles the distance between the Earth and the stars:
عن أبي سعيد -رضي الله عنه- عن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: «إن أهل الجنة ليَتَراءَوْنَ أهل الغرف من فوقهم كما تَراءَوْنَ الكوكب الدري الغابر في الأفق من المشرق أو المغرب لِتفَاضُلِ ما بينهم» قالوا: يا رسول الله؛ تلك منازل الأنبياء لا يبلغها غيرهم قال: «بلى والذي نفسي بيده، رجال آمنوا بالله وصدقوا المرسلين».
صحيح. متفق عليه.
Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: '’The dwellers of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty chambers above them in the same way that you look at a shining star far away on the horizon, in the East or in the West, due to their superiority over one another.’ The Companions said: ’O Messenger of Allah, are these lofty chambers for the prophets and nobody else can reach them?’ He replied: ’No! By Allah in whose Hand my soul is, these are for the men who believed in Allah and believed the Messengers.’'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
عن أبي سعيد الخدري -رضي الله عنه- عن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: «إن في الجنة شجرة يسير الراكب الْجَوَادَ الْمُضَمَّرَ السريع مائة سنة ما يقطعها».
وروياه في الصحيحين أيضًا من رواية أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- قال: «يسير الراكب في ظلها مئة سنة ما يقطعها».
صحيح. حديث أبي سعيد: متفق عليه.
حديث أبي هريرة: متفق عليه.
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'In Paradise there is a tree that the rider of a lean swift horse cannot cover (its distance) in one hundred years.' Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'A rider walks in its shade one hundred years without crossing it.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim with its two versions] Sahih/Authentic.
And yet, it will be full
Despite its immense size, Paradise will still be full:
عن أبي سعيد الخدري -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «احْتَجَّتِ الجنَّة والنَّار، فقالتِ النَّار: فيَّ الجبَّارون والمُتَكَبِّرُون. وقالتِ الجنَّة: فيَّ ضُعَفَاء الناسِ ومساكِينُهُم، فقضى الله بَيْنَهُمَا: إِنك الجنَّة رحْمَتي أَرحم بك من أشاء، وإِنك النَّار عذابي أُعذب بك من أشاء، ولِكِلَيْكُمَا عليَّ مِلْؤُهَا».
صحيح. رواه مسلم.
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Paradise and Hell debated. Hell said: ’The tyrants and the arrogant are in me.’ Paradise said: ’The weak and the poor are in me.’ So Allah judged between them and said to Paradise: ’You are My Mercy. I show mercy through you to whom I will.’ And He said to Hell: ’You are My Punishment, I punish through you whom I will. And I guarantee to fill both of you completely.’'
[Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
Paradise is made up of levels
The justice of God dictates that each person receives retribution in Paradise according to his actions in this earthly life. The differences between the various retributions can be enormous; however, by the mercy of God, each individual will be satisfied with what God has granted them :
Quran Soura 8 Aya 4 :
أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.
عن أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- أن رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: «إنَّ في الجنَّة مائةَ دَرَجَة أعَدَّهَا الله للمُجاهِدين في سَبِيل الله ما بَيْنَ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ كما بين السماء والأرض».
صحيح. رواه البخاري.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “In Paradise, there are one hundred degrees that Allah prepared for those who make jihad in the cause of Allah. The distance between each two degrees is like the distance between the heaven and earth.”
[Al-Bukhari] Sahih/Authentic.
At the entrance to Paradise
Paradise Doors
Quran Soura 39 Aya 73 :
وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ
But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, ’ Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein,’ [they will enter].
Paradise has eight gates, and the blessed will arrive in groups before these gates after the Last Judgment. Each gate is designated for certain types of individuals based on their deeds and the aspects of faith they excelled in during their earthly lives. For example, one gate is known specifically for those who were punctual and devout in their prayers, while another might be reserved for those who gave generously in charity.
عن أبي هريرة - رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «من أنْفَق زوْجَيْن في سَبيل الله نُودِي من أبْوَاب الجنَّة، يا عبد الله هذا خَيْرٌ، فمن كان من أهل الصلاة دُعِي من باب الصلاة، ومن كان من أهل الجِهاد دُعِي من باب الجِهاد، ومن كان من أهل الصيام دُعِي من باب الرَّيَّانِ، ومن كان من أهل الصَّدَقة دُعِي من باب الصَّدَقة» قال أبو بكر -رضي الله عنه-: بأبي أنت وأمي يا رسول الله! ما على من دُعِي من تلك الأبواب من ضَرورة، فهل يُدْعَى أحَدٌ من تلك الأبواب كلِّها؟ فقال: «نعم، وأرْجُو أن تكون منهم».
صحيح. متفق عليه.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Anyone spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise: ’O slave of Allah, this is good! So, whoever was from the people of prayer will be called from the gate of prayer; whoever was from the people of Jihad will be called from the gate of Jihad; whoever was from the people of fasting will be called from the gate of Ar-Rayyān; and whoever was from the people of charity will be called from the gate of charity.’' Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! Whoever is called from one of these gates will have nothing to worry about. Will anyone be called from all of those gates?' He said: “Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
The first to enter Paradise
The Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) will be the first to enter the gates of Paradise:
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' آتِي بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَسْتَفْتِحُ فَيَقُولُ الْخَازِنُ مَنْ أَنْتَ فَأَقُولُ مُحَمَّدٌ . فَيَقُولُ بِكَ أُمِرْتُ لاَ أَفْتَحُ لأَحَدٍ قَبْلَكَ ' .
Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection. and would seek its opening. and the keeper would say: Who art thou? I would say: Muhammad. He would then say: It is for thee that I have been ordered, and not to open it for anyone before thee.
Sahih Muslim 197
The community of the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) is the first to enter Paradise, followed by the other communities and their prophets:
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' نَحْنُ الآخِرُونَ الأَوَّلُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَنَحْنُ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ بَيْدَ أَنَّهُمْ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا وَأُوتِينَاهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ فَاخْتَلَفُوا فَهَدَانَا اللَّهُ لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ فَهَذَا يَوْمُهُمُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ لَهُ - قَالَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ - فَالْيَوْمُ لَنَا وَغَدًا لِلْيَهُودِ وَبَعْدَ غَدٍ لِلنَّصَارَى ' .
صحيح مسلم
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: We are the last (but) we would be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we would be the first to enter Paradise, but that they were given the Book before us and we were given after them. They disagreed and Allah guided us aright on whatever they disagreed regarding the truth. And it was this day of theirs about which they disagreed, but Allah guided us to it, and that is Friday for us; the next day is for the Jews and the day following for the Christians.
Sahih Muslim 855c
In his book Hadi Al-Arwah, Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya comments:
This nation (of Islam) will be the first to rise from its grave and the first to occupy the highest places in the Gathering. It will be the first under the shadow of the throne. Muslims will be the first to be judged, the first to pass over the ‘Sirat’ (a razor-thin bridge over the bottomless abyss of Hell), and the first to enter Paradise. The entrance to Paradise is forbidden to all Prophets until Muhammad(ﷺ) enters first, forbidden to other nations until his nation can enter first.
Hadi Al-Arwah, Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya
The community of the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) will be the one with the most places in Paradise. According to the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ), two-thirds of the people in Paradise will be Muslims:
حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الطَّحَّانُ الْكُوفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ ضِرَارِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ مُحَارِبِ بْنِ دِثَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ عِشْرُونَ وَمِائَةُ صَفٍّ ثَمَانُونَ مِنْهَا مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ وَأَرْبَعُونَ مِنْ سَائِرِ الأُمَمِ ' .
Ibn Buraidah narrated from his father that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)said: 'The people of Paradise are a hundred and twenty rows, eighty of them are from this nation, and forty are from the rest of the nations.'
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2546
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
Welcomed by the angels
On their arrival, the blessed will be welcomed by the Angels:
Quran Soura 39 Aya 74 :
وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ ۖ فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ
And they will say, ’ Praise to Allah, who has fulfilled for us His promise and made us inherit the earth [so] we may settle in Paradise wherever we will. And excellent is the reward of [righteous] workers.’
عن أبي سعيد الخدري وأبي هريرة -رضي الله عنهما- مرفوعاً: «إذا دخلَ أهلُ الجنةِ الجنةَ يُنَادِي مُنادٍ: إن لكم أن تَحْيوا، فلا تَموتُوا أبداً، وإن لكم أن تَصِحُّوا، فلا تَسقَمُوا أبداً، وإن لكم أن تَشِبُّوا فلا تَهرَمُوا أبداً، وإن لكم أن تَنعَمُوا، فلا تَبْأسُوا أبداً».
صحيح. رواه مسلم، وفي لفظه تقديم وتأخير.
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'When the inhabitants of Paradise enter Paradise, a caller will call out: Indeed, you will live forever and never die, you will be healthy and never fall ill, you will be young and never grow old, and you will be happy and never be sad.'
[Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
The First Meal in Paradise
Do you know the first thing people in Paradise eat when they arrive? Caudate lobe of fish liver. This will be the appetizer.
Then, they will eat the meat of a bull that grazed on the plants of Jannah, which will be slaughtered for its inhabitants. With this, they will drink from a spring called Salsabeel, as reflected in a hadith from Thawban (Sahih Muslim 315a).
The inhabitants of Paradise and their description
The physical appearance of men in Paradise
The men in Paradise will have the height of our Father Adam and the beauty of Joseph, and the age of Jesus (Jesus was 33 years old when God raised him to Himself), and they won’t have beards:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال النّبي صلّى الله عليه وسلّم : يدخل أهل الجنّة الجنّة جردًا مردًا بيضًا جعادًا مكحلين أبناء ثلاث وثلاثين وهم على خلق آدم ستون ذراعًا
(رواه أحمد و حسنه الشيخ الألباني في صحيح الترغيب و الترهيب رقم ٣٧٠٠)
“According to Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (may the prayers of Allah and His salvation be upon him) said: ’When the people of paradise enter it, they will have no hair on their bodies, they will be beardless, white, they will have long hair and eyes smeared with kohl.
They will be thirty-three years old and will be in the image of Adam (may the prayers of Allah and His salvation be upon him), their height will be sixty cubits.”
(Reported by Ahmed and authenticated by Sheikh Albani in Sahih Targhib n°3700)”
Women in Paradise More Beautiful than Houris
The believers who enter Paradise will be queens in their domain, far more beautiful than the houris of Paradise:
Quran Soura 4 Aya 124 :
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
Quran Soura 56 Aya 35 :
إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً
Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation
God (may He be magnified) says that the women of this Earth who enter Paradise will be recreated with unique forms. In Paradise, He will offer them a brand-new regeneration in accomplished beauty that contrasts with their earthly lives. Those who are old will become young again, and those considered unattractive will become very attractive.
God will recreate old women with completely wrinkled skin, bent backs, spindly limbs, thinning hair, and toothless, deficient, and inferior vision into beautiful, young, graceful, seductive, and superbly perfect women.
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : غَدْوَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا، وَلَقَابُ قَوْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ أَوْ مَوْضِعُ قَدَمٍ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا، وَلَوْ أَنَّ امْرَأَةً مِنْ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ اطَّلَعَتْ إِلَى الأَرْضِ، لأَضَاءَتْ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَلَمَلأَتْ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا رِيحًا، وَلَنَصِيفُهَا ـ يَعْنِي الْخِمَارَ ـ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا).
Narrated Anas: Allah’s Messenger said : 'A forenoon journey or an after noon journey in Allah’s Cause is better than the whole world and whatever is in it; and a place equal to an arrow bow of anyone of you, or a place equal to a foot in Paradise is better than the whole world and whatever is in it; and if one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill the whole space between them (the earth and the heaven) with light, and would fill whatever is in between them, with perfume, and the veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it.'
Sahih al-Bukhari 6567, 6568
The Houris
Quran Soura 2 Aya 25 :
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, ’ This is what we were provided with before.’ And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
Quran Soura 38 Aya 52 :
۞ وَعِندَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ
And with them will be women limiting [their] glances and of equal age.
Quran Soura 44 Aya 54 :
كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجْنَاهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍ
Thus. And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
Quran Soura 55 Aya 70-74 :
فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَاتٌ حِسَانٌ
In them are good and beautiful women -
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ
Fair ones reserved in pavilions -
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ
Untouched before them by man or jinni -
Quran Soura 56 Aya 22-23 :
وَحُورٌ عِينٌ
And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,
كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ
The likenesses of pearls well-protected,
Quran Soura 56 Aya 35-37 :
إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً
Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation
فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا
And made them virgins,
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا
Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
Quran Soura 78 Aya 33 :
وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتْرَابًا
And full-breasted [companions] of equal age
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' أَوَّلُ زُمْرَةٍ تَلِجُ الْجَنَّةَ صُورَتُهُمْ عَلَى صُورَةِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ، لاَ يَبْصُقُونَ فِيهَا وَلاَ يَمْتَخِطُونَ وَلاَ يَتَغَوَّطُونَ، آنِيَتُهُمْ فِيهَا الذَّهَبُ، أَمْشَاطُهُمْ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ، وَمَجَامِرُهُمُ الأَلُوَّةُ، وَرَشْحُهُمُ الْمِسْكُ، وَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ زَوْجَتَانِ، يُرَى مُخُّ سُوقِهِمَا مِنْ وَرَاءِ اللَّحْمِ، مِنَ الْحُسْنِ، لاَ اخْتِلاَفَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَلاَ تَبَاغُضَ، قُلُوبُهُمْ قَلْبٌ وَاحِدٌ، يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّهَ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا '.
صحيح البخاري
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'The first group (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the moon when it is full. They will not spit or blow their noses or relieve nature. Their utensils will be of gold and their combs of gold and silver; in their centers the aloe wood will be used, and their sweat will smell like musk. Everyone of them will have two wives; the marrow of the bones of the wives’ legs will be seen through the flesh out of excessive beauty. They ( i.e. the people of Paradise) will neither have differences nor hatred amongst themselves; their hearts will be as if one heart and they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and in the evening.'
Sahih al-Bukhari 3245
عن أبي موسى -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «إن للمؤمن في الجنة لَخَيْمَةٌ من لُؤْلُؤَةٍ واحدة مُجَوَّفَةٍ طُولُها في السماء ستون مِيلًا، للمؤمن فيها أَهْلُونَ يطوف عليهم المؤمن فلا يرى بعضهم بعضًا».
صحيح . متفق عليه.
Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'In Paradise, the believer will have a tent made of a single hollow pearl, the length of which will be sixty miles in the sky. The believer will have wives therein whom he will visit in turn, and none of whom will see the others.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَمُجْتَمَعًا لِلْحُورِ الْعِينِ يُرَفِّعْنَ بِأَصْوَاتٍ لَمْ يَسْمَعِ الْخَلاَئِقُ مِثْلَهَا قَالَ يَقُلْنَ نَحْنُ الْخَالِدَاتُ فَلاَ نَبِيدُ وَنَحْنُ النَّاعِمَاتُ فَلاَ نَبْأَسُ وَنَحْنُ الرَّاضِيَاتُ فَلاَ نَسْخَطُ طُوبَى لِمَنْ كَانَ لَنَا وَكُنَّا لَهُ ' .
رواه الترمذي
Ali narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Indeed in Paradise there is a gathering for Al-Hur Al-’Ein wherein they rasie their voices. The creatures have not heard the likes of them.' [He said: ] 'They say: ’We are the eternal ones, we shall not die. We are the ones who live in joy and comfort, we have no needs. We are the pleased ones, we do not get angry. Tuba(good news) to the one who belongs to us and we to him.’' Other chains report similar narrations.
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2564
Grade: Da’if (Darussalam)
عن معاذ بن جبل -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «لا تؤذي امرأةٌ زوجَها في الدنيا إلا قالت زوجته من الحُورِ العِينِ لا تُؤْذِيهِ قاتلك الله! فإنما هو عندك دَخِيلٌ يُوشِكُ أن يفارقَكِ إلينا».
صحيح. رواه الترمذي وابن ماجه وأحمد.
Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Whenever a woman harms her husband in this world, his wife from the Houris of Paradise says: ’Do not harm him! May Allah destroy you! He is but a passing guest with you, and he will soon leave you to join us.’'
[Ibn Maajah] Sahih/Authentic.
Description of Paradise
The clothes and furniture of the people of Paradise
Quran Soura 18 Aya 31 :
أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.
Quran Soura 22 Aya 23 :
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
Indeed, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein will be silk.
Fruits and beverages of Paradise
Quran Soura 37 Aya 40-47 :
إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ
But not the chosen servants of Allah.
أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ رِزْقٌ مَّعْلُومٌ
Those will have a provision determined -
فَوَاكِهُ ۖ وَهُم مُّكْرَمُونَ
Fruits; and they will be honored
فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
In gardens of pleasure
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ
On thrones facing one another.
يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ
There will be circulated among them a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring,
بَيْضَاءَ لَذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ
White and delicious to the drinkers;
لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ عَنْهَا يُنزَفُونَ
No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated.
Another pleasure of Paradise is its fruits and drinks. Whenever I eat different types of fruit, I’m constantly reminded of Allah and His greatness—there’s such complexity and uniqueness in every fruit. Bananas, oranges, pomegranates, kiwis, grapes… and this is what we’ve been exposed to in our countries! We haven’t even heard or dreamed of what’s available in other parts of the world, let alone Paradise. This reality also describes the special drinks of Paradise, which, unlike drinks in this world, cause no harm and give rise only to joy and satisfaction.
The people of Paradise will live uninterrupted enjoyment that will continually be renewed. For every fruit the believer cuts in Paradise, another fruit would grow in its place. The fruit there resembles the jar; the trees of Paradise have trunks of gold.
When the trees of Paradise sway, they produce a beautiful sound that moves me—a sound more pleasant than music.
Meat of Paradise
Quran Soura 56 Aya 20-21 :
وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ
And fruit of what they select
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا الْكَوْثَرُ قَالَ ' ذَاكَ نَهْرٌ أَعْطَانِيهِ اللَّهُ يَعْنِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَشَدُّ بَيَاضًا مِنَ اللَّبَنِ وَأَحْلَى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ فِيهَا طَيْرٌ أَعْنَاقُهَا كَأَعْنَاقِ الْجُزُرِ ' . قَالَ عُمَرُ إِنَّ هَذِهِ لَنَاعِمَةٌ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' أَكَلَتُهَا أَنْعَمُ مِنْهَا ' .
جامع الترمذي
Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was asked: 'What is Al-Kawthar?' He said: 'That is a river that Allah has given me'- that is, in Paradise- ’whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. In it are birds whose necks are like the necks of camels.' ’Umar said: 'Indeed this is plump and luxurious then.' So the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, 'Those who consume it are more plumb than it.'
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2542
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
The Rivers of Paradise
Quran Soura 2 Aya 25 :
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, ’ This is what we were provided with before.’ And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
Quran Soura 57 Aya 15 :
فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ ۖ هِيَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ
So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination.
Quran Soura 56 Aya 31 :
وَمَاءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ
And water poured out
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' الْكَوْثَرُ نَهْرٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ حَافَّتَاهُ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمَجْرَاهُ عَلَى الدُّرِّ وَالْيَاقُوتِ تُرْبَتُهُ أَطْيَبُ مِنَ الْمِسْكِ وَمَاؤُهُ أَحْلَى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الثَّلْجِ ' .جامع الترمذي
`Abdullah bin `Umar narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “Al-Kauthar is a river in Paradise, whose banks are of gold, and it flows over pearls and corundum. Its dirt is purer than musk, and its water is sweeter than honey and whiter than milk.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3361
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
Les palais du Paradis
Quran Soura 39 Aya 20 :
لَٰكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ الْمِيعَادَ
But those who have feared their Lord - for them are chambers, above them chambers built high, beneath which rivers flow. [This is] the promise of Allah. Allah does not fail in [His] promise.
Quran Soura 76 Aya 20 :
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًا
And when you look there [in Paradise], you will see pleasure and great dominion.
عن أبي موسى -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «إن للمؤمن في الجنة لَخَيْمَةٌ من لُؤْلُؤَةٍ واحدة مُجَوَّفَةٍ طُولُها في السماء ستون مِيلًا، للمؤمن فيها أَهْلُونَ يطوف عليهم المؤمن فلا يرى بعضهم بعضًا».
صحيح . متفق عليه.
Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'In Paradise, the believer will have a tent made of a single hollow pearl, the length of which will be sixty miles in the sky. The believer will have wives therein whom he will visit in turn, and none of whom will see the others.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ' إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَغُرَفًا يُرَى ظُهُورُهَا مِنْ بُطُونِهَا وَبُطُونُهَا مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا ' . فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ لِمَنْ هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ' هِيَ لِمَنْ أَطَابَ الْكَلاَمَ وَأَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَأَدَامَ الصِّيَامَ وَصَلَّى لِلَّهِ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ ' . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَقَدْ تَكَلَّمَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ هَذَا مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ وَهُوَ كُوفِيٌّ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ الْقُرَشِيُّ مَدَنِيٌّ وَهُوَ أَثْبَتُ مِنْ هَذَا .
جامع الترمذي
Ali narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Indeed in Paradise there are chambers whose outside can be seen from their inside, and their inside can be seen fom their outside.' A Bedouin stood and said: 'Who are they for O Prophet of Allah?' he said: 'For those who speak well, feed others, fast regularly, and perform Salat for Allah during the night while the people sleep.'
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2527
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
The Soil of Paradise
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الْجَنَّةُ مَا بِنَاؤُهَا قَالَ ' لَبِنَةٌ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَلَبِنَةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمِلاَطُهَا الْمِسْكُ الأَذْفَرُ وَحَصْبَاؤُهَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ وَالْيَاقُوتُ وَتُرْبَتُهَا الزَّعْفَرَانُ مَنْ يَدْخُلْهَا يَنْعَمْ وَلاَ يَبْأَسْ وَيُخَلَّدْ وَلاَ يَمُوتْ لاَ تَبْلَى ثِيَابُهُمْ وَلاَ يَفْنَى شَبَابُهُمْ '
جامع الترمذي
Abu Hurairah narrated: 'We said: ’O Messenger of Allah! ’Paradise, what is it constructed of?’ He said,’Bricks of silver and bricks of gold. Its mortar is musk of a strong fragrance, and its pebbles are pearls and rubies, and its earth is saffron. Whoever enters it shall live and shall not suffer, and shall feel joy and shall not die, nor shall their clothes wear out, nor shall their youth come to an end.’ .’'
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2526
Grade: Da’if (Darussalam)
Trees of Paradise
عن أبي سعيد الخدري -رضي الله عنه- عن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: «إن في الجنة شجرة يسير الراكب الْجَوَادَ الْمُضَمَّرَ السريع مائة سنة ما يقطعها».
وروياه في الصحيحين أيضًا من رواية أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- قال: «يسير الراكب في ظلها مئة سنة ما يقطعها».
صحيح. حديث أبي سعيد: متفق عليه.
حديث أبي هريرة: متفق عليه.
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'In Paradise there is a tree that the rider of a lean swift horse cannot cover (its distance) in one hundred years.' Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'A rider walks in its shade one hundred years without crossing it.'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim with its two versions] Sahih/Authentic.
Some activities in Paradise
The relationship between Couples au Paradis
Quran Soura 56 Aya 35-37 :
إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً
Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation
فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا
And made them virgins,
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا
Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
In other words, they maintain their virginity after each sexual encounter with their husbands. The first contact is a particularly memorable moment for the woman, and the first wedding night is unforgettable for her. She will remain faithful and deeply in love with her husband, with all her affection focused solely on him. They will embody grace, and all will share the same age as their spouse: thirty-three.
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ' يُعْطَى الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ قُوَّةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا مِنَ الْجِمَاعِ ' . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوَيُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ ' يُعْطَى قُوَّةَ مِائَةٍ ' . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عِمْرَانَ الْقَطَّانِ .
رواه الترمذي
Anas narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: 'The believer shall be given in paradise such and such strength in intercourse .' it was said: 'O Messenger of Allah! And will he able to do that?' He said: 'He will be given the strength of a hundred.'
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2536
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
Remembering life on Earth
Quran Soura 37 Aya 51-59 :
قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ إِنِّي كَانَ لِي قَرِينٌ
A speaker among them will say, ’ Indeed, I had a companion [on earth]
يَقُولُ أَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُصَدِّقِينَ
Who would say, ’Are you indeed of those who believe
أَإِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ
That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?’’
قَالَ هَلْ أَنتُم مُّطَّلِعُونَ
He will say, ’ Would you [care to] look?’
فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ فِي سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ
And he will look and see him in the midst of the Hellfire.
قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ
He will say, ’ By Allah, you almost ruined me.
وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ
If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in [to Hell].
أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ
Then, are we not to die
إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
Except for our first death, and we will not be punished?’
Quran Soura 52 Aya 26-27 :
قَالُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبْلُ فِي أَهْلِنَا مُشْفِقِينَ
They will say, ’ Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful [of displeasing Allah].
فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَوَقَانَا عَذَابَ السَّمُومِ
So Allah conferred favor upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire.
Friday market
عن أنس بن مالك -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «إن في الجنة سوقاً يأتونها كل جمعة. فَتَهُبُّ ريح الشمال، فَتَحْثُو في وجوههم وثيابهم، فيزدادون حسناً وجمالاً فيرجعون إلى أهليهم، وقد ازدادوا حسناً وجمالاً، فيقول لهم أهلوهم: والله لقد ازددتم حسناً وجمالاً! فيقولون: وأنتم والله لقد ازددتم بعدنا حسناً وجمالاً!».
صحيح. رواه مسلم.
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, in Paradise there is a market to which people will come every Friday. The north wind will blow and scatter fragrances on their faces and clothes, increasing them in charm and beauty. Then they will return to their families, having increased in charm and beauty, and their families will say to them: ’By Allah, you have increased in charm and beauty!’ They will then say: ’And by Allah, you too have increased in charm and beauty after us!’”
[Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
No inconvenience will befall the inhabitants of Paradise
Quran Soura 7 Aya 43 :
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوا أَن تِلْكُمُ الْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, ’ Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth.’ And they will be called, ’ This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do.’
Quran Soura 56 Aya 25-26 :
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا
They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا
Only a saying: ’ Peace, peace.’
The eternity of Paradise
The death of death
Quran Soura 2 Aya 25 :
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, ’ This is what we were provided with before.’ And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
Quran Soura 25 Aya 16 :
لَّهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَاءُونَ خَالِدِينَ ۚ كَانَ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ وَعْدًا مَّسْئُولًا
For them therein is whatever they wish, [while] abiding eternally. It is ever upon your Lord a promise [worthy to be] requested.
Quran Soura 44 Aya 56 :
لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا الْمَوْتَ إِلَّا الْمَوْتَةَ الْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَوَقَاهُمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ
They will not taste death therein except the first death, and He will have protected them from the punishment of Hellfire
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: 'يُؤْتَى بِالْمَوْتِ كَهَيْئَةِ كَبْشٍ أَمْلَحَ، فَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ: يَا أَهْلَ الجَنَّةِ، فَيَشْرَئِبُّونَ وَيَنْظُرُونَ، فَيَقُولُ: هَلْ تَعْرِفُونَ هَذَا؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: نَعَمْ، هَذَا المَوْتُ، وَكُلُّهُمْ قَدْ رَآهُ، ثُمَّ يُنَادِي: يَا أَهْلَ النَّارِ، فَيَشْرَئِبُّونَ وَيَنْظُرُونَ، فَيَقُولُ: وهَلْ تَعْرِفُونَ هَذَا؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: نَعَمْ، هَذَا المَوْتُ، وَكُلُّهُمْ قَدْ رَآهُ، فَيُذْبَحُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: يَا أَهْلَ الجَنَّةِ خُلُودٌ فَلاَ مَوْتَ، وَيَا أَهْلَ النَّارِ خُلُودٌ فَلاَ مَوْتَ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: {وَأَنْذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الحَسْرَةِ إِذْ قُضِيَ الأَمْرُ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ} [مريم: 39]، وَهَؤُلاَءِ فِي غَفْلَةٍ أَهْلُ الدُّنْيَا {وَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ} [مريم: 39]'.
صحيح متفق عليه
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Death will be brought forward in the shape of a black and white ram. Then a caller will call out: ’O people of Paradise!’ Thereupon, they will stretch their necks and look carefully. The caller will say: ’Do you know this?’ They will say: ’Yes, this is death.’ By then all of them will have seen it. Then it will be announced again: ’O people of Hellfire!’ They will stretch their necks and look carefully. The caller will say: ’Do you know this?’ They will say: ’Yes, this is death.’ And by then all of them will have seen it. Then it (that ram) will be slaughtered and the caller will say: ’O people of Paradise, eternity for you and no death; O people of Hellfire, eternity for you and no death.’' Then, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) recited: {Warn them of the Day of Remorse when all matters will be decided, but they are heedless} [Surat Mariyam: 39]. And the people of the worldly life are heedless. {And they do not believe.} [Surat Mariyam: 39]
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
Being with God
God’s approval
Quran Soura 9 Aya 72 :
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
Allah has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah is greater. It is that which is the great attainment.
عن أبي سعيد الخدري -رضي الله عنه- قال: «إنَّ الله -عزَّ وجل- يقول لأهل الجنة: يا أهل الجنَّة، فيقولون: لَبَّيْكَ رَبَّنَا وَسَعْدَيْكَ، والخير في يَدَيْكَ، فيقول: هل رَضِيتُمْ؟ فيقولون: وما لنَا لا نَرضَى يا ربَّنَا وَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتَنَا ما لم تُعْطَ أحدا من خلقك؟! فيقول: ألاَ أُعْطِيكُمْ أَفْضَلَ من ذلك؟ فيقولون: وأَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَفْضَلُ من ذلك؟ فيقول: أُحِلُّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِضْوَانِي، فَلاَ أَسْخَطُ عليكم بعده أبدًا».
صحيح. متفق عليه.
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Allah will say to the dwellers of Paradise: ’O people of Paradise!’ They will reply: ’O our Lord, we present ourselves and are at Your pleasure, and goodness rests in Your hands.’ Then He will say: ’Are you contented?’ And they will say: ’How shouldn’t we be contented, O Lord, when You have given us what You have not given to any of Your creation?’ Then He will say: ’Wouldn’t you like Me to give you something better than that?’ And they will say: ’O Lord, what is better than that?’ He will say: ’I shall descend My favor upon you and thereafter I shall never be displeased with you.’'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
The vision of God
Quran Soura 75 Aya 22-23 :
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ
[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant,
إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ
Looking at their Lord.
Quran Soura 50 Aya 35 :
لَهُم مَّا يَشَاءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ
They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.
The surplus in question here is the gaze cast upon the face of God the Mighty and Majestic.
عن جرير بن عبد الله البجلي -رضي الله عنه- قال: كنا عندَ النبيِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فنظرَ إلى القمرِ ليلةَ البدرِ، فقالَ: «إنَّكم سترون ربَّكُمْ كما تروْن هذا القمر، لاَ تُضَامُونَ في رُؤْيَته، فَإن استطعتم أنْ لاَ تُغْلَبُوا على صلاة قبل طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا، فَافْعَلُوا». وفي رواية: «فنظر إلى القمر ليلة أربع عشرة».
صحيح. متفق عليه.
Jarīr ibn ‘Abdullāh al-Bujali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were in the presence of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) when he looked at the moon when it was full, and he said: 'You will see your Lord as you see this moon, you will not have any difficulty in seeing Him. So if you are able to not be overcome in observing a prayer before sunrise (the Fajr) and a prayer before sunset (the ‘Asr), then do so.'
In another narration: 'He looked at the moon on the 14th night (of the lunar month).'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
عن أبي موسى الأشعري -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «جَنَّتانِ مِن فِضَّةٍ آنِيَتُهما، وما فيهما، وجَنَّتانِ مِن ذَهَبٍ آنِيَتُهما، وما فيهما، وما بين القومِ وبين أنْ ينظروا إلى ربِّهم إلَّا رِداءُ الكِبْرِياءُ على وجهِه في جَنَّة عَدْنٍ».
صحيح. متفق عليه.
Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Two gardens, the utensils and the contents of which are of silver; two other gardens, the utensils and the contents of which are of gold. Nothing will prevent people from looking at their Lord except the veil of pride over His Face in the Garden of Eden.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
عن صهيب بن سنان -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «إذا دخل أهل الجنة الجنة يقول الله -تبارك وتعالى-: تريدون شيئا أزيدكم؟ فيقولون: ألم تبُيِّضْ وُجُوهنا؟ ألم تُدْخِلْنَا الجنة وتُنَجِّنَا من النار؟ فيكشف الحِجَاب، فما أُعْطُوا شيئا أحَبَّ إليهم من النظر إلى ربهم».
صحيح. رواه مسلم .
Suhayb ibn Sinān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'When the dwellers of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, would ask: ’Do you wish Me to give you anything more?’ They would say: ’Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not made us enter Paradise and saved us from the Fire?’ He (Allah) would then lift the veil, and of all the things they have been given, nothing would be dearer to them than looking at their Lord.'
[Muslim] Sahih/Authentic.
