The Love of Paradise

Almighty Allah,
The King of all kings,
The Lord of Majesty and Sovereignty,
Says in the sanctified hadith:

“I prepared for my pious servants what an eye has never seen, nor an ear has
ever heard of, nor ever crossed the heart of a human soul.”

“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what
they used to do.” (As-Sajdah, 32: 17)

Truly how can we ever imagine the splendor of an abode firmly set by Allah
Himself and made a dwelling for his beloved servants!
Filled it with His Mercy, bestowed Honors and Good Pleasure!
Described attaining its delights as the supreme success
Its kingdom as a Realm Magnificent
Placed in it entire absolute goodness
Purged it of any fault or want
Whoever enters it will live in heaven
Never to be wretched
Will be immortal never to die
His clothes never to wear out
And his youth never to fade

In shade long-extended,
By water flowing constantly,
And fruits in plenty,
Whose season is not limited, and their supply will not be cut off
And on Thrones of Dignity, raised high

Paradise

If you ask about its land and soil

Musk and saffron

If you ask about its roof

The Throne of the Most Merciful

If you ask about its mortar

Fragrant musk

If you ask about its pebbles

 Pearls and jewels

If you ask about its building

A brick of silver and a brick of gold

If you ask about its trees

Their trunks are of gold

If you ask about its fruits

As big as jars, softer than butter and sweeter than honey

If you ask about its rivers

Rivers of milk whose taste never changes; rivers of wine [wherefrom they will
get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication], a joy to those who
drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear

If you ask about their food

The fruits they choose and the flesh of fowls they desire

If you ask about their drink

The water of Tasnim [a spring whereof drink those nearest to Allah], mixed
with Zanjabîl (ginger) and Kâfûr (camphor)

If you ask about their drinking vessels and cups

Crystal-clear of gold and silver

If you ask about its gates

Eight gates, one is called Ar-Raiyan only to be entered by the Fasters
The gate of Prayers, the gate of Striving, the gate of Charity, the gate of Hajj,
the gate of those who repress anger and who pardon men, the gate of those who
put their trust in Allah and the gate of Remembering Allah [celebrating the
Praises of Allah] or Knowledge

If you ask about the wideness of its gates

Between the shutters yawns a distance to be covered in forty years
And a day would come when it would be fully crowded

If you ask about its life

A life of Bliss,
In a Garden on high,
The fruits hanging in bunches low and near
Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!

No false, dirty, evil vain talk will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech (like
backbiting, etc.)
But only the saying of: Salâm! Salâm! (Peace! Peace)
 If you ask about the rustling of its trees in the wind
A soft song that pleases whoever hears it

If you ask about its shade

There is a tree under its shadow a rider can travel for a hundred years
Still he will not be able to cover its stretched distance

If you ask about its domes and tents

Each is made of a single hollow pearl, thirty miles high towards the sky

If you ask about its lofty chambers

One above another under which rivers flow

If you ask about its height

Steal a glance at the shining planets or those hiding in the horizons that eyes
almost never reach

If you ask about the dress of its inhabitants

Green garments of finest silk and rich gold embroidery

If you ask about their adornments

Bracelets of gold and pearls and on the heads are crowns

If you ask about its couches

Raised thrones lined with rich brocade

If you ask about their servants

Boys of everlasting youth, if you see them you would think them
Scattered pearls

If you ask about their wives

Chaste females (virgins) restraining their glances only for their husbands, of
equal ages, whom no man or jinn before them has ever touched

If you ask about the beauty of its inhabitants

Their faces as bright as the full moon in a dark night

If you ask about what they hear

The singing of their wives from Houris (female fair ones)
With wide, lovely eyes
And higher than it, is hearing the voices of Angels and the Prophets,
And highest ever be is hearing the Words of the Lord of ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn
and all that exists)

If you ask about the Day of More

 [Having the honor of glancing at the Countenance of Allah]
It is the visit of the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise
Seeing His Face that is far above any likening
As you see the sun at noon and the full moon

If you ask about its key

The Testimony that there is no god but Allah
La illâh ilâ Allah

Have you ever dreamt of Paradise?

Dreamt of your riches and palaces there?
Dreamt that you are visiting the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace), going with Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and
returning with ‘Umar bin Al-Khattâb (may Allah be pleased with him)?
Imagined that you are inviting the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him
peace) his Companions and his family to your palace?

Have you ever dreamt that you have crossed the Straight Way [a Way in the
sharpness of a sword and the thickness of a hair suspended over Hell] and have
successfully passed all the trials?

Now you have the gates of Paradise wide open before you and the Lord,
gloried ever be His Majesty and Might, is calling you by your own name,
imagine!! “O so and so! You are to have four things from Me: yours is to be
healthy never to fall sick, yours is to be young never to grow old, yours is to
live never to die and yours is to live in comfort and luxury never to be
wretched.”

After that you step in, your palaces are built from a brick of gold and a brick of
silver and its mortar is musk, its pebbles are pearls and its ceiling is the Throne
of The Most Merciful. Imagine that in Paradise you will enjoy colors of
delights completely unknown to us in worldly life.
Truly, the highest attained pleasure in Paradise is when the believer sees Allah,
the Exalted and Ever-Majestic.
“Allah, be he highly blessed and exalted, will call on them saying, ‘O people of
Paradise, Salamun Alaikum (Peace be upon you),’ and the believers will answer
saying, ‘O Allah! You are The Peace and from You is The Peace, blessed ever
be, O Lord of Majesty and Honor.’
The Almighty will say, ‘O people of Paradise! Where are My servants who
obeyed Me though have not seen Me?’”
Imagine the joy of your heart when you raise your hand and say, ‘I, O Lord.’
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “And none of
them but will be addressed a speech by his Lord, saying to him, ‘O so and so! I
am pleased with you, are you pleased with Me?’”
Imagine that Allah, be He highly blessed and exalted, addresses these words to
you alone.
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “The servant will
feel abashed. Then, Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic, will say to him, ‘Do
you remember such and such sin…do you remember such and such sin…do
you remember such and such sin?’
The servant will say, ‘O Lord! Have not You forgiven me?’
Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic, will say, ‘Yes, by My Forgiveness you
reached this status of yours.’
Then He will say, ‘O My servant, wish and desire, for nothing you wish but I
will give it to you.’ So, the servant will wish and when his wishes come to an
end Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic, will say to him, ‘You forgot to wish
for such and such,’ reminding him of wishes the servant forgot!”

The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) firmly
established the belief in Paradise and deepened its love within the hearts of the
Companions. He used that deep affection and love as a strong motive that
encouraged the behavior that should be displayed in solving problems,
fulfilling goals and achieving success in all domains of life.

Listen to the story of the Companion called Harâm bin Mulhân (may Allah be
pleased with him) whom the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him
peace) sent to one of the kings in Yemen. Harâm bin Mulhân took the message
and went. It is known that messengers are granted security and never killed.
Harâm bin Mulhân stood in the presence of the king and handed him the
message. The king read the message then gave a man standing behind Harâm
bin Mulhân a secret signal to kill him. The name of the king’s servant was
Jabâr (the tyrant)…[the name perfectly suits the incident]. Jabâr held a spear
and upon the signal of the treacherous king, the spear flew from the hand of
Jabâr piercing the back of our noble master Harâm bin Mulhân and coming
out of his stomach.
Imagine the situation and the shocking surprise. We wonder, what did Harâm
bin Mulhân say then? It is expected that he would say, ‘O traitors, O murderers,
O tyrants.’ Anybody in his place would have said so. But the moment the spear
pierced the back of our noble master Harâm bin Mulhân he cried out saying, ‘I
won by the Lord of the Ka‘bah.’ How strange! But what did Harâm bin
Mulhân win.??

These words powerfully shook Jabâr. He could not believe the words our
noble master, Harâm bin Mulhân, said. You won? Having a spear stabbed in
your back by treason!

Jabâr spent a whole year searching and wondering (what did he win?), until he
came to the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)
and learned the secret. Then Jabâr said, ‘I testify that there is no god but Allah
and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I swear it before you by virtue of
the words Harâm said to me a year ago!!’

Imagine, the words of Harâm saved Jabâr from hellfire and made him enter
Paradise. Few words, ‘I won by the Lord of the Ka‘bah.’

Another illustration is the story of the Companion named ‘Abdullâh bin Anîs
(may Allah be pleased with him). One day the Prophet (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) sent him on a very serious mission aimed to stop a war to
be waged against the Muslims. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) said to ‘Abdullâh, ‘If you fulfill it, you will have from me a
reward.’ Immediately ‘Abdullâh bin Anîs hurried, crossing thousands of miles
and he skillfully accomplished the mission. When he returned, he came to the
Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and smilingly said to him,
‘Rejoice, O Messenger of Allah, I did it.’ On hearing this the Prophet (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most
Great). Wait for me Ibin Anîs until I bring you a reward.’

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) then entered his house
and gave him a stick he took from the ground and said:
‘Take, O Ibin Anîs.’ But ‘Abdullâh asked, ‘What is this, O Messenger of
Allah?’ As if surprised by such a strange reward! But the Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace) said:
‘O Ibin Anîs take this stick and hand it back to me on the Day of Resurrection
to admit you into Paradise with it.’
After that incident ‘Abdullâh remained attached to one thing all along his life
until he died, Paradise.

‘Abdullâh said, ‘By Allah it never leaves my hand. I sleep holding it close to
my chest and I commanded that it should be buried with me until I meet the
Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) on the Day of Resurrection
and say to him, ‘Here is the stick, O Messenger of Allah, let me into Paradise
by it.’ True that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) could
have just said to him, ‘To you I give the glad tidings of (entering) Paradise,’ but
he preferred to give him a material bond that attaches him to paradise; a way
that certainly has a stronger impact on the human soul

Not only did the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) teach his
Companions the love of Paradise but instilled Paradise in the nation, the entire
nation of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) till the Day of
Resurrection.

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Between my
tomb and pulpit is a garden of the gardens of paradise.” Why did he state that
hadith? To help us feel Paradise and instill it in us substantially.
The religious scholars considered the following question, ‘Is the Holy Rawdah
[the Holy Garden: a place inside the Prophetic Masjid lying between the tomb
of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the pulpit of his
Masjid] truly a part from Paradise or the spoken words are just a metaphor?
Meaning, that the Rawdah is as wonderful and beautiful as Paradise?

The majority of religious scholars consensually said, ‘It forms a real part from
Paradise, which we shall see in Paradise.’

Do you wish to have Paradise in your heart? Do you wish to walk in it? Go and
sit in the Holy Rawdah, sit in Paradise.

As for Paradise and Uhud Mount, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) said concerning it, ‘Uhud is one of the mountains of Paradise.’
Imagine having a mountain from Paradise in front of you. The Black Stone is
also from the stones of Paradise, therefore we find millions of Muslims trying
hardly to kiss that part of Paradise, touch it or even point their hands towards it.

Why do not we try to instill the love of Paradise in our souls by following the
example of the Companions and by visiting places like [the Holy Rawdah,
Uhud Mount and the Black Stone].

Truly, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) instilled the love
of Paradise in the Companions, bringing up a generation longing for Paradise, a
generation of unsurpassed victories.

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used the value of
loving Paradise in changing people’s life to the better and strengthening their
adherence to their religion.

If an Orientalist or a denier of the existence of paradise heard our talk about

loving Paradise and clinging to it he would claim that the concept of Paradise is
a drug we use to escape from our circumstances and abandon work, activity
and production in worldly life.

We answer back by affirming that Islam is very practical. Islam is a religion for
reforming both, the life of this world and the Hereafter. The Prophet
Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used the love of
Paradise, after firmly implanting and rooting it in the souls, in solving problems
and in encouraging change to that which is more ideal on many levels
including the social, the educational and the psychological.

On the social level: for instance: solving the problem of children’s ingratitude
towards their parents.
This big social problem which the eastern and western communities suffer
from, so we find the mother or the father are lonesome in their last days,
deserted and forsaken by their own children.

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) solved it by saying,
‘Let him be disgraced, the servant whose parents attained old age in his life,
one or both of them, yet they did not cause him to enter Paradise.’ When a
man who is brought up to love Paradise hears this hadith, is it possible that he
may show ungratefulness towards his parents? Or will there be a need to an old
people’s home?

Second: on the educational level: the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) said, “Whoever treads a path in search of knowledge, Allah will
smooth for him a path leading to Paradise.” Connecting for us knowledge
with Paradise, for the more you searched and gained information in any useful
branch of knowledge, the closer you step towards Paradise. Imagine if in our
upbringing we receive the love of Paradise, is it possible that we can ever
accept to lag behind scientifically?

It also solves the problem of children’s failure at school, if we instilled this

concept in their minds they would definitely change, but remember that first we
must sow the seeds of loving paradise in their hearts for them to have a real
powerful motive.

Third: on the psychological level

1-[People suffering hardships]:

Whoever suffers the loss of his son, the fruit of his heart, the treasures of the
entire world would not compensate him. But if he showed patience, thanked
Allah and said, ‘Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ (Al-
Baqarah, 2: 156) Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic, will say to His angels
concerning him, ‘Build for My servant a house in Paradise and name it the
House of thanking.’ Only this will relieve the heart of the parents and
encourage them to show contentment and to go on with their lives.

2-[Self-motivated power of action]:

As Nasiah bint Ka‘b (Umm ‘Umarah, may Allah be pleased with her) who
participated in the Battle of Uhud, fighting with her sword in front of the
Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) until the sword
fell and she wanted to run. But she looked and found the Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace) alone, so she firmly stood defending the
Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) unarmed!!! Whereupon the
villain, ‘Abdullâh bin Qam’iah, struck her shoulder with his sword, aiming
many blows at it until her shoulder bones sank and she fell on the ground
bleeding excessively. Her son, Habîb bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with
him), hurried to her but she said to him, ‘Leave me, and turn to help the
Messenger of Allah.’ Upon that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) clapped his hands (in wonder) and said, ‘Who can bear, O Umm
‘Umarah what you are bearing?’
She answered saying, ‘I can bear, more and more bear, but I beg your
companionship in Paradise.’
The incentive and the stimulator is Paradise, for human behavior cannot rise
out of nothing but must have a strong motive behind. So the Prophet (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to her:

‘Not only you Umm ‘Umarah, but you and your family. O Allah! Make them
my companions in Paradise.’

3-[Overcoming the injury or the handicap]:

Days passed by and Umm ‘Umarah participated again in the wars waged
against apostasy. She succeeded to kill the leader of apostates, Musailamah Al-
Kazâb, (Musailamah, the Liar), with the help of Wahshay. But in the battle her
hand was cut off, an incident after which Umm ‘Umarah changed. She
withdrew from people’s company ashamed of her cut off hand. One day ‘Umar
was delivering a sermon in the Masjid and asked about Umm ‘Umarah saying,
‘Where is Umm ‘Umarah?’ And she answered, ‘Yes, O caliph of the Messenger
of Allah.’ He said to her, ‘I heard that you are ashamed of a cut off arm.’ She
answered affirmatively. He said to her, ‘Rejoice and be proud among women, a
part of your body preceded you to Paradise.’ So, she moved her arm and said,
‘Now I can be proud among women, a part of my body preceded me to
Paradise.’

Notice how the love of Paradise changed negative depressing feelings into
pride, happiness and contentment. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) gave the glad tidings to whoever lost his two beloved ones, his
eyes, and showed patience that his compensation will be nothing less than
Paradise.

So we can see that Muslims certainly do not need psychiatrists, for no matter
how severe the adversity is (death of a son – mutilation – loss of sight)
contentment it their highway to Paradise and its everlasting delights. The love
of Paradise dispels all possible psychological problems with absolute mastery.

Fifth: on the level of politics and human rights:

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) called the Muslims to
treat the captives with clemency and be kind to them. Therefore, in Surah
(Chapter) Al-Insân [The Human: 76], Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic,
describes the people of Paradise by saying:

“And they give food, inspite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to Miskin
(poor), the orphan, and the captive.” (Al-Insân, 76, 8)
So, being merciful to a disbelieving captive is one of the causes that made them
enter Paradise; for they were truly the most merciful people to their captives,
which encouraged many captives to embrace Islam. Indeed a strong admirable
influence that the love of Islam and Paradise have with endless examples.

Have not you longed yet to Paradise?

Race for Paradise, please read:

“Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord
(Allah), and towards Paradise, 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 Allâh is the Owner of
Great Bounty.” [Al-Hadîd, 57: 21]

Now if you ask about the seeds you may plant in Paradise
They are
Subhân Allâh
[Glory be to Allah]
Allhamdu li-Allâh
[Praise be to Allah]
La illâh ilâ Allah
[There is no god but Allah]
Allahu Akbar
[Allah is the Most Great]
Subhân Allâh
[Glory be to Allah]
Allhamdu li-Allâh
[Praise be to Allah]
La illâh ilâ Allah
[There is no god but Allah]
Allahu Akbar
[Allah is the Most Great]
Subhân Allâh
[Glory be to Allah]
Allhamdu li-Allâh
[Praise be to Allah]
La illâh ilâ Allah
[There is no god but Allah]
Allahu Akbar
[Allah is the Most Great]
Subhân Allâh
[Glory be to Allah]
Allhamdu li-Allâh
[Praise be to Allah]
La illâh ilâ Allah
[There is no god but Allah]
 Allahu Akbar
[Allah is the Most Great]

“(It will be said to the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism):

My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you
grieve, (You) who believed in Our Ayât (proofs, verses, lessons,
signs, revelations, etc.) and were Muslims (i.e. who submit
totally to Allâh's Will, and believe in the Oneness of Allâh -
Islâmic Monotheism). Enter Paradise, you and your wives, in
happiness. Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them,
(there will be) therein all that the one's inner-selves could
desire, all that the eyes could delight in, and you will abide
therein forever. This is the Paradise which you have been made
to inherit because of your deeds which you used to do (in the
life of the world).” [Az-Zukhruf , 43: 68-72]