Paradise
Paradise represents the highest aspiration that believers strive to attain on the Day of Judgment. It is the magnificent reward promised by Allah the Almighty to His righteous servants who acknowledge His oneness, believe in Him, His scriptures, angels, and messengers, peace be upon them, as well as in the Last Day, and the good and evil of destiny. Paradise is the abode of eternity and everlasting bliss, free from grief, fatigue, or sorrow. Allah has described the characteristics of Paradise in numerous verses of the Holy Quran, while His Messenger, peace be upon him, has outlined the path to Paradise and the means of entering it.
Reasons for Entering Paradise
There are various factors that lead to entering Paradise, by the will of Allah, including the following:
- Sound Faith and Good Deeds: Correcting one’s faith is one of the foremost reasons for entering Paradise. Engaging in actions that lead to Paradise without a sound belief will not reward one with entry into Paradise, as evidenced by Allah’s words: “And We came to what they had done of deeds, so We made them as dust dispersed.” Conversely, faith alone is insufficient for entry into Paradise; Allah has often linked faith with good deeds throughout the Quran, as He states: “Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – they are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.” Good deeds must be performed sincerely for the sake of Allah and in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, who said: “Indeed, Allah does not accept any deed unless it is done sincerely for Him, seeking His Face.” Thus, establishing faith in Allah that motivates obedience to His commands, combined with performing righteous actions as outlined by the Prophet, is essential for entering Paradise.
- Piety and Vigilance: Piety can be defined as acting and obeying Allah under the guidance of His light. Some describe it as acting upon the revelation, fearing the Majestic, being content with little, and preparing for the day of departure. Evidence that piety leads to Paradise is found in Allah’s declaration: “Know that the friends of Allah – no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve – those who have believed and were fearing Allah. For them are glad tidings in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the words of Allah; that is the great triumph.”
- Obedience to Allah and His Messenger: One of the significant reasons for entering Paradise is obeying Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him, in all aspects of life, even when the Islamic ruling contradicts personal interests. Allah states in His wise book: “And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger – He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow. And whoever turns away – He will punish him with a painful punishment.”
- Striving in the Cause of Allah: Striving in the path of Allah is among the greatest causes of entering Paradise. It is worth noting that striving encompasses several forms, including striving against oneself and desires, advocating the faith, combat, and financial contributions. Allah says: “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties; for that, they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed.”
- Pursuing Knowledge: Seeking knowledge is also a reason for entering Paradise, provided it is sincerely intended for the sake of Allah. The aim should be to know Allah, learn His commands and prohibitions, and understand the Islamic rulings and the purifying Sunnah. As narrated by Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever takes a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will ease for him a path to Paradise.”
The Righteous Predecessors and Paradise
The interaction of the companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, regarding the concept of Paradise differed significantly from that of later followers of the Ummah of Muhammad, peace be upon him. Their discussions about Paradise were not mere theoretical conversations without feeling; rather, they lived with the concept of Paradise and were profoundly impacted by what they heard about it, making it a focal point in each of their lives. The historical records are rich with instances showcasing this, such as the narration by Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, during the Battle of Badr. As the disbelievers drew near, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Stand up for a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth.” When Umar bin Al-Hammam, may Allah be pleased with him, heard the Prophet’s words, he contemplated them as if hearing them for the first time and exclaimed: “O Messenger of Allah, is Paradise indeed as vast as the heavens and the earth?” The Prophet affirmed, prompting Umar to express his astonishment by saying: “What a tremendous thing!“
Fearing that Umar might doubt this statement, the Prophet asked: “What leads you to say that?” Umar replied: “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, only out of hope that I may be among its people.” Recognizing the sincerity in Umar’s words, the Prophet assured him: “You are among its people.” This was Umar’s ultimate hope – to be one of the inhabitants of Paradise, a promise delivered by the truthful Prophet who speaks not from desire, where nothing could prevent him from entering Paradise but death. Umar then took some dates from his food pouch, ate a few, and declared: “Should I live long enough to eat these dates, that would be a long life.” He then discarded the dates, rising to fight against the disbelievers until he was martyred, ultimately achieving what he wished for.
Definition of Paradise in Language and Terminology
In linguistic terms, Paradise is defined as a garden filled with palm trees and other plants, which conceal what lies within, derived from the word “genna,” meaning to cover. This is why a fetus is called “junayn” as it is concealed in its mother’s womb, and the term “jinn” is likewise used because they are unseen. The phrase “the darkness of the night” also stems from this meaning since it covers its surroundings. In a legal context, Paradise refers to the abode of honor and eternity that Allah has prepared for the believers, granting them the privilege of gazing upon His noble face. It is replete with eternal blessings and contains what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has any heart conceived, as stated in Allah’s words: “And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as a reward for what they used to do.”