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Al-Jannah wal An-Nâr-The Paradise and the Hellfire #12/12
by Shaykh 'Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar
The Wishes of the People of Paradise
Some of the People of Paradise will wish for things that will
be fulfilled in the strangest ways, unlike anything that happens
in this world. The Messenger (saw) told of some of these and how
they will be fulfilled. Abû Hurayrah said that the Prophet (saw)
was speaking and a bedouin man was present. The Prophet (saw)
said:
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"A man from the people of
Paradise will ask his Rabb for permission to grow things.
Allâh will ask him,
"Do you not have what you want?"
He will say, "Of course, but I love to grow things." So he
will sow the seeds and in the blinking of an eye the plant
will grow and its fruit will ripen and become like mountains.
Allâh (swt) will say,
"Here it is. O son of Adam nothing satisfies you!"
The Bedouin said, "By Allâh! you wont find him except he is
from Quraysh or the Ansâr for these are the people that love
to grow things. As for us, we don't grow anything!" The
Messenger of Allâh (saw) laughed." [Mishkât al-Masâbîh, 3/95,
no. 5653] |
The Wives of the People of Paradise
(i) The Wife Of The Believer In This World Will Be His Wife
In The Hereafter If She Is Righteous
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"Gardens of 'Adn, which
they shall enter, and [also] those who act righteously from
among their fathers, and their wives and their offspring..."
[13:23] |
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"They and their wives will
be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones." [36:56] |
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"Enter Paradise, you and
your wives, in happiness" [43:70] |
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(ii) A Woman [Who Was Married More Than Once] Will Be With
The Last of Her Husbands
In Târîkh ar-Raqqah, Abû 'Ali al-Hurani reported from Maymun
ibn Mahran that
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"Mu'âwiyah ibn Abi
Sufyan (ra) proposed to Umm ad-Darda' but she refused to
marry him, saying, "I heard Abud-Dardâ' say that the
Messenger of Allâh (saw) said, "A woman will be with the last
of her husbands."" |
The men in its isnâd are trustworthy apart from al-'Abbâs ibn
Sâlih, whose biography is unknown. Abul-Shaykh reported it in at-Târîk
with a sahîh isnâd only quoting the marfû' version of it. At-Tabarâni
reported it with a da'îf isnâd in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat but taking
both isnâds into account strengthens it. The marfû' version is
sahîh, and it also has two corroborating reports that are mawqûf.
The first of these was reported by Ibn 'Asâkir from 'Ikrimah:
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"Asmâ bint Abi Bakr was
married to az-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwâm who was harsh towards her.
She came to her father and complained to him, and he said, "O
my daughter, have patience, for if a woman has a righteous
husband, and he dies and she does not remarry after his
death, they will be reunited in Paradise." |
[The men of its isnâd are thiqât [trustworthy] but is it
mursâl because 'Ikrimah never met Abû Bakr; he only heard it from
Asmâ]
The second report was narrated by al-Bayhaqî in as-Sunan, where
he says that Hudhayfah said to his wife,
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"If you want to be my
wife in Paradise, do not remarry after I die, for the woman
in Paradise will be with the last of her husbands on earth."
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For this reason, Allâh forbade the wives of the Prophet (saw)
to remarry after his death, because they will be his wives in the
Hereafter.
(iii) al-Hûr al-'Eyn
Allâh (swt) will marry the believers in Paradise to beautiful
women who were not their wives in this world, as Allâh (swt)
says:
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"So [it will be] and We
shall marry them to Houris with wide lovely eyes." [44:54]
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Al-Hûr is the plural of Hûrâ', which is a woman, the white
parts of her eyes intensely white, and the black is intensely
black. Al-'Eyn is the plural for 'Aynâ, which is the woman whose
eyes are wide. The Qur'ân describes al-Hûr al-'Eyn as being firm
and full-breasted:
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"Verily, for al-Muttaqûn,
there will be a success; gardens and grapeyards and young
full-breasted [mature] maidens of equal age." [78:31-33] |
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Al-Hûr al-'Eyn are creatures that Allâh (swt) has made
especially for Paradise, and has made them virgins:
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"Verily, We have created
[their companions] of special creation, and made them
virgin-pure [and undefiled], beloved [by nature], equal in
age." [56:35-37] |
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The fact that they are virgins means that no-one has ever
married them before:
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"...whom no man or jinn
has touched before them." [55:56] |
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This refutes the idea that the wives that Allâh (swt) will
create for them in Paradise will be their wives from this life,
made young again after old age had overtaken them. That idea if
correct in that Allâh (swt) will admit the believing women to
Paradise with their youth restored but they are not al-Hûr al-'Eyn
whom Allâh created in Paradise. The Qur'an also speaks of the
beauty of the women of al-Jannah:
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"And [there will be]
Houris with wide lovely eyes [as wives for the pious], Like
unto preserved pearls." [56:22-23] |
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Maknûn ["preserved"] means hidden or protected, something
whose colour is not changed by exposure to sunlight or by being
tampered with. Elsewhere, Allâh likens them to rubies and coral,
two beautiful precious stones:
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"In them will be [maidens]
restraining their glances, whom no man or jinn has touched
before them, Then which of the favours of your Rabb will you
deny? Like unto rubies and coral." [55:56-58] |
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Al-Hûr are also described as restraining their gaze upon their
husbands i.e. they restrict their gaze and don't let their eyes
wander to others. Allâh (swt) has stated that they are very
beautiful, and it is sufficient to know that Allâh (swt) said:
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"In them will be fair
[companions] good and beautiful; then which of the favours of
your Rabb will you deny? Companions restrained [as to their
glances] in [goodly] pavilions" [55:70-72] |
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The women are not like the women of this world. They are free
of al-Hayd [menstruation], an-Nifâs [post-natal bleeding],
spittle, mucus, urine and stools. This is what is referred to in
the âyah:
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"..And they shall have
therein Azwâjun Mutahharatun [purified mates]" [2:25] |
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The Prophet (saw) told us about the beauty of the wives of the
People of Paradise. Al-Bukhâri and Muslim reported from Abû
Hurayrah that the Messenger (saw) said,
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"...the marrow of whose
leg-bones will be visible through the flesh because of their
extreme beauty."
[as-Sahîh, Kitâb al-Khalq, Bâb Mâ Jâ'a fi Sifât al-Jannah,
Fath al-Bâri, 6/318 and Muslim in Kitâb al-Jannah wa Sifât
Na'îm ahlilhâ, Bâb awwal zumrah tadkhul al-Jannah, 4/2178,
no. 2834] |
Look at this beauty that the Prophet (saw) described! Can you
find any comparison to it in the world that you know?! :
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"If one of the women of
Paradise were to look at the people of this world, everything
in between them would be lit up and filled with her
fragrance. The veil on her head is better than this world and
everything in it." [al-Bukhâri, in as-Sahîh, Kitâb al-Jihâd,
Bâb wa Zawwajnahum bi Hûr-'Eyn. Fath al-Bâri, 6/15] |
The smallest number of wives that any one man will have in
Paradise is seventy-two. It was reported that the Shahîd will
have seventy two wives from amongst al-Hûr al-'Eyn [Mishkât al-Masâbîh,
3/357, no. 3834, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Mâjah from al-Miqdâm ibn Ma'd
Yakrib]
The Song of al-Hûr al-'Eyn
The Messenger (saw) told us that al-Hûr in Jannah sing with
sweet, beautiful voices. In al-Mu'jam al-Awsat, at-Tabarâni
reports with a sahîh isnâd from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (saw)
said,
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"The wives of the people
of Paradise will sing to their husband in the most beautiful
voices that anyone has ever heard. What they will sing is:
"We are good and beautiful, the wives of a noble people, who
look at their husbands content and happy." And they will
sing, "We are eternal, and will never die, we are safe and
will never fear, we are remaining here and will never go
away.""
[Sahîh al-Jâmi as-Saghîr, 2/48, no. 1557; also Abû Na'îm, ad-Diyâ
in Sifât al-Jannah] |
Samawayh reported in al-Fawâ'id from Anas that the Messenger
of Allâh (saw) said,
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"al-Hûr al-'Eyn are
singing in Paradise saying, "We are the beautiful houris, we
are being kept for noble husbands."" [Sahîh al-Jâmi', 2/58,
no. 1598] |
The Jealousy of al-Hûr al-Eyn over their Husbands in this
World
The Prophet (saw) told us that al-Hûr feel jealous over their
husbands in this world, if the wife of one of them upsets him.
Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi report with a sahîh isnâd from Mu'âdh that
the Messenger of Allâh (saw) said,
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"No woman in this world
upsets her husband but his wife from among al-Hûr al-'Eyn
will say, "Do not upset him, may Allâh kill you! For he is
with you only temporarily, and soon he will leave you and
come to us."" [Sahîh al-Jâmi' as-Saghîr, 6/125, no. 7069]
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(iv) The believer in Paradise will be given the strength of
One Hundred Men
Anas reported that the Prophet (saw) said,
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"The believer in
Paradise will be given such and such strength." He was asked,
"O Messenger of Allâh, will he really be able to do that?" He
said, "He will be given the strength of one hundred men." [it
was reported by at-Tirmidhi, Mishkât al-Masâbîh, 3/90, no.
5636, at-Tirmidhi said: "gharîb sahîh."] |
The People of Paradise Will Laugh at the Fire
After Allâh (swt) admits the people of Paradise to Paradise,
they will call out to their opponents among the kuffâr in Hell,
rebuking and scolding them:
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"And the dwellers of
Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire [saying]:
"We have indeed found true what our Rabb promised us; have
you also found true, what your Rabb promised [warnings, etc]?
They will say "Yes". Then a crier will proclaim between them:
"The Curse of Allâh is on the Dhâlimûn [wrongdoers]" [7:44]
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The kuffâr used to dispute with the believers in this world,
making fun of them and insulting them, but on that Day the
believers will be victorious: they will be in a state of
everlasting joy, looking at the wrongdoers and making fun of
them:
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"Verily, al-Abrâr will be
in delight, on thrones, looking [at all things]. You will
recognise in their faces the brightness of delight. They will
be given to drink pure sealed wine, the last thereof will be
the smell of musk, and for this let [all] those strive who
want to strive. It [that wine] will be mixed with Tasnîm, a
spring whereof drink those nearest to Allâh. Verily [during
the earthly life] those who committed crimes used to laugh at
those who believed, and whenever they passed by them, used to
wink to one another [in mockery]; and when they returned to
their own people, they would return jesting; and when they
saw them, they say, "Verily! These have indeed gone astray!"
But the [disbelievers] had not been sent as watchers over
them [the believers]. But this Day those who believe will
laugh at the disbelievers on [high] thrones, looking [at all
things]. Are not the disbelievers paid [fully] for what they
used to do?" [83:22-36] |
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By Allâh, the kuffâr will finally get the punishment that they
deserve, a punishment that fits their crimes. The believer who is
now in the luxury of Paradise will remember that colleague or
friend who used to encourage him to follow kufr in this world and
called him to embrace those misguided principles that would have
placed him in the ranks of the kuffâr and enemies of Allâh (swt).
He will tell his companions about that former colleague, and tell
them to look at him and his punishment. When he sees how he is
being punished, he will realise the extent of the blessing that
Allâh (swt) has bestowed upon him, and how Allâh (swt) has saved
him from a similar fate. Then he will address his former
companion and rebuke him:
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"Then they will turn to
one another, mutually questioning. A speaker of them will
say, "Verily I had a companion [in the world] who used to
say, "Are you among those who believe [in resurrection after
death], [that] when we die and become dust and bones, shall
we indeed [be raised up] to receive reward or punishment
[according to our deeds]?" The Man said, "Will you look
down?" So he looked down and saw him in the midst of the
Fire. He said, "By Allâh! You have nearly ruined me. Had it
not been for the Grace of my Rabb, I would certainly have
been among those brought forth [to Hell]." [Allâh (swt)
informs about the true believer that he said], "Are we not
then to die [any more]? Except our first death and we shall
not be punished? [after we have entered Paradise] Truly this
is the supreme success! For the like of this let the workers
work." [37:50-61] |
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Tasbîh And Takbîr Are Among The Delights Of The People Of
Paradise
Paradise is the abode of reward and delight, not of trials and
testing. A problem might arise concerning the hadîth reported by
al-Bukhâri and others from Abû Hurayrah, according to which the
Prophet (saw) described the first group to enter Paradise and
said,
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"They will glorify Allâh
(swt) morning and evening." [Sahîh al-Bukhâri, Kitâb Bid' al-Khalq,
Bâb mâ jâ'a fi Sifât al-Jannah, Fath al-Bâri, 6/318] |
But there is nothing problematic in this report, insha'Allâh,
because, as al-Qurtubî said
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"This tasbîh is not the
matter of obligation or imposition." |
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As was reported by
Muslim, Jâbir explained it as follows, "They will be inspired
with tasbîh and takbîr as they are inspired with breathing."
The analogy of breathing was used because it is something man
does with no conscious effort. Their breathing will become
tasbîh, and the reason for this is that their hearts will be
illuminated with the knowledge of their Rabb, may He be
glorified, and filled with love for Him, and whoever loves a
thing remembers it frequently."" [Fath al-Bâri, 6/326] |
Shaykh al-Islâm Ibn Taymiyyah stated that this tasbîh and
takbîr will be one of the pleasures enjoyed by the people of
Paradise. He said,
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"This is not the kind of
bligatory work that is done for the sake of a specific
reward. It is the same as the kind of deeds that people do
for pleasure and enjoyment." [Majmu' Fatâwa, 4/330] |
The Best Thing That The Ahl al-Jannah Will Be Given Is The
Pleasure of Allâh (swt) And To See His Face
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"Some faces that Day will
be Nadhirah [shining, radiant], Looking at their Rabb."
[75:22-23] |
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Ibn al-Kathîr said,
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"Seeing Allâh is the
ultimate joy in the Hereafter, the most precious gift of
Allâh. May Allâh (swt) help us reach that goal." [Jâmi' al-Usûl,
10/557] |
Abû Sa'îd al-Khudri reported that the Prophet (saw) said that
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"Allâh will say to the
people of Paradise,
"O People of Paradise!
They will say, "We are at Your Worship, our Rabb, and all
goodness is in Your hand." He will say,
"Are you content?"
They will say, "Why should we not be content, O Rabb, when
you have given us what you have not given to anyone else of
Your Creation?" He will say,
"Shall I not give you better than that?"
They will say, "O Rabb, what could be better than that?" He
will say,
"I grant you My pleasure and I will never be displeased with
you after that."
[al-Bukhâri and Muslim, Mishkât al-Masâbîh] |
and Muslim and at-Tirmidhi reported from Suhayb ar-Rumi that
the Messenger of Allâh (saw) said:
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"When the people of
Paradise enter Paradise, Allâh will say:
"Do you want anything more?"
They will say, "Have You not made our faces white [i.e.
honoured us]? Have You not admitted us to Paradise and saved
us from the Fire?" Then the veil will be lifted, and they
will never have been given anything more dear to them than
looking at their Rabb, may He be Blessed and Exalted." |
One report adds,
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"Then the Prophet (saw)
recited the âyah,
"For those who have done good is the best [reward i.e.
Paradise] and even more [i.e. the honour of glancing at the
Countenance of Allâh]..." [10:26] |
Thus seeing the Face of Allâh (swt) was interpreted as part of
the "more" [mazîd] which Allâh has promised to al-Muhsinûn [those
who have done good]:
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"There they will have all
that they desire - and We have more [for them, i.e. a glance
at the All-Mighty, All-Majestic." [50:35] |
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This is a joy and honour that will be denied to the Kuffâr and
Mushrikîn:
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"Nay, surely they
[evildoers] will be veiled from seeing their Rabb that day."
[83:15] |
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Imâm Mâlik ibn Anas, the Imâm of al-Madinah, used this âyah as
proof that "Looking at their Rabb" [75:23] literally meant they
would see the face of Allâh, as some had interpreted it as
meaning the people would be waiting for their reward. Mâlik said,
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"They have lied.... The
people will look at Allâh on the Day of Resurrection with
their own eyes. If the believers are not going to see their
Rabb on the Day of Resurrection, why did Allâh (swt) say that
the kuffâr would be veiled from Seeing Him?" [See Sharh as-Sunnah,
Mishkât al-Masâbîh, 3/100 no. 5662] |
At-Tahhâwi, the great Hanafi Imâm, said in his"al-'Aqîdah at-Tahhâwiyyah",
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"This seeing [Allâh] is
true, something that will happen to the people of Paradise;
it is not necessary to attempt to define it or describe how
it will happen. It is mentioned in the Book of Our Rabb
[75:23]. The way it will happen is according to the will and
knowledge of Allâh and we have to believe init as it was
narrated from the Messenger of Allâh in the sahîh hadîth. We
should not interpret it according to our own inclinations and
opinions, for no one is sound in his dîn except the one who
submits fully to Allâh and His Messenger. What is ambiguous
should be referred to one who has knowledge (i.e. a scholar)"
[Sharh at-Tahhâwiyyah, 203] |
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