Paradise - an Islamic Point of View of Heaven

When people think of Paradise, they think of sandy beaches, beautiful crystal clear water and all the sunshine that they can soak up. In Islam the word Paradise means so much more to the Muslim. Many faiths believe in a Heaven, and they also believe that by living a good life they will be admitted after death through the golden gates.

The belief of Heaven or Paradise is very real to the Muslim. No matter how hard a person may try to grasp the concept of Paradise, they will never be able to. God has placed in the Qu'ran several descriptions of Paradise, however, the comprehension of the real thing is virtually impossible for one's mind to grasp.

The Qu'ran gives wonderful descriptions of what God has in store for His righteous servants, those who obey and worship only Him. He explains to them that they will have anything that they desire and more. The Qu'ran also specifies that a person will no longer have needs, sadness, hatred or any other ill feelings in their hearts.

In this article we will journey through Paradise in Islam. We will explore what the Qu'ran and the sunnah say about the wondrous eternal abode and how a person can get there.

There is no pain and or suffering in Paradise. In this world joys and delights are only temporary. People can go on a beautiful vacation in the Caribbean or pamper themselves for an entire day at the spa. But no matter how wonderful their joyous experience is, it cannot last forever. People have to go back to their daily lives, working, worrying, and having desires of reliving their delightful days. In Paradise people no longer feel hurt or pain and they are always happy. There is no suffering or hardship because Paradise is made up of pure joy and delight lasting eternally.

Wealth is another thing that people try to hold on to in this life. Many people believe that by attaining great wealth they will succeed and no longer will they have to deal with the everyday worries of an average person. Some people feel that mansions, expensive jewelry, extravagant cars and financial stability will be the ultimate key to happiness, however, the reality is that these things will not be able to come with a person after he or she dies. Wealthy people can live miserable and depressing lives, while poor or less fortunate people have a healthy happy well-rounded life. God has promised all of the believers who make it to Paradise that they will have whatever their hearts desire. They will no longer be poor. They will live in palaces 60 miles long, and they will have servants catering to their every need. God says in the Qu'ran:

"... there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that the eyes could delight in ..." (Quran 43:71)

"Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent forth (good deeds) in dayspast!" (Quran 69:24)

"... They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good [is] the recompense! How beautiful a couch [is there] to recline on!" (Quran 18:31)

Death will no longer exist in Paradise. Muslims believe that this temporary stay on earth is only a brief journey that one must go through it order to be judged. It is taught in Islam not to hold on to these worldly desires and delights because they will eventually pass away as with all of mankind. In Paradise, the believer will no longer feel the pain or agonies of death. They will rest there eternally and instead of growing older and less beautiful, the people will become more beautiful as time passes.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said about the people of Paradise: "They will never fall ill, blow their noses or spit." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari). This statement means that people will not have to go through the things that they go through here on earth, such as getting sick or having to do gross things such as blow their nose or spit.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that a caller will call out in Paradise when people enter it.

"Indeed may you be healthy and never be sick again, may you live and never die again, may you be young and never grow feeble again, may you enjoy, and never feel sorrow and regret again." (Saheeh Muslim)

The people of Paradise will never have to hear fowl language or hateful speech again. They will dwell amongst peaceful and good people and they will only hear good words of peace.

"They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin. But only the saying of: Peace! Peace!" (Quran 56:25-26)

People will not have any bad feelings for one another in Paradise.

"And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world)." (Quran 7:43)

The Prophet, peace be upon him said:

"There will be no hatred or resentment among them, their hearts will be as one, and they will glorify God, morning and evening." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

People will have the best of companions in Paradise, who were also the best people on the earth.

"And whoever obeys God and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom God has bestowed favor - of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions!" (Quran 4:69)

The eternal home of the believer is Paradise. Paradise will never come to an end because it will be forever. People will live in a lap of luxury and in lofty gardens and never be asked to leave. Muslims strongly believe that earth is only apart of a short test that God is giving all of His servants. They do not believe that this earth is their true home because eventually they will pass away. Paradise is considered the true home of the believesr so they have to work hard to maintain it by doing good deeds in this world.

Say: Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far) better for him who fears
God." (Quran 4:77)

As for Paradise, people will live forever. God says:

"...its provision is eternal and so is its shade..." (Quran 13:35)

"What is with you must vanish, and what is with God will endure ..." (Quran 16:96)

"(It will be said to them): This is Our Provision, which will never finish" (Quran 38:54)

Everything will be better than it was in this world. In Paradise, people may or may not recognize some of the things that they have in this world; however, they will be far more superior. The clothes, food, drinks, homes, jewelry and more will be much better than anything we could imagine in this world. Even the most beautiful dress or expensive diamond necklace, will not compare to anything in Paradise.

"The space of the bow of any one of you in Paradise is better than all that the sun rises upon" (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh 3/85, no. 5615)

When a person drinks or takes in intoxicants, they may feel as if they are having the time of their life, however, there is a bad side to indulging in impurities. When we eat and drink in this world, we have to have excretion along with its fowl smells. As for the people of Paradise, they will no longer experience any of these impurities. A woman will no longer menstruate or have to feel the pain or birthing a child. Even the wine is pure in Paradise and does not cause headache or sickness like the wine in this world.

"Crystal-white, delicious to those who drink (thereof), free from intoxication, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom" (Quran 37:46-47)

The water of Paradise does not become corrupted, and its milk never changes its' flavor.

"... rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes ..." (Quran 47:15)

God says about the women of Paradise:

"... and they shall have therein purified mates having no menses, urine, stools, etc." (Quran 2:25)

The prophet, peace be upon him, answered someone when they asked how the people of Paradise will relieve themselves:

"They relieve themselves by perspiring through their skins, and its fragrance will be that of musk, and all stomachs will have become lean." (ibn Hibbaan)

God said, its delights are truly hidden:

"No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do." (The Quran, 32:17)

There is nothing like the palaces and wondrous delights of paradise.

It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river, ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses". (Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan)

The Sahabah (companions) asked the Prophet, peace be upon him about the buildings of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful description:

"Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade." (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee)

God says in the Qu'ran:

"And when you look there (in Paradise) you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined), and a great dominion" (Quran 76:20)

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that God said:

"I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine."

"No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." (Quran 32:17)

In another report:

"Never mind what God has told you; what He has not told you is even greater." (Saheeh Muslim)

Every Muslim is working hard to attain the pleasures of Paradise. Worldly gains will not mean much to a true believer, for they know that their true pleasure of palaces, thrones, and servants all belong with the Creator in His gardens of bliss, underneath which rivers flow. I hope that God wiling this will help you have a better understanding of Heaven to a Muslim.