MuslimHeart
16-08-2004, 03:55 PM
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 Kâfűr (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.
First 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.
Forth: 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]
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 Kâfűr (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.
First 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.
Forth: 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]