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 | THE PARADISE IN HEAVENS | for everyone |
BLESSING AND DISSIPATION
In the following sections, we will
analyze how the Qur'an looks at Paradise and, based upon these
descriptions,"try to imagine this perfect place. But before we do this,
let's look at a few important points. In today's societies, many people
have erroneous ideas and impressions in their conscious and subconscious
minds. As such obstacles cause them to formulate a mistaken view, we
must describe some basic Islamic concepts whose meanings have departed
from their original understanding.
With this in mind, we first have to
distinguish between "blessing" and "dissipation."In the following pages, we will see that the Qur'an describes Paradise as an extremely luxurious and magnificent place, and that life therein is as comfortable and attractive as it can be.
However, to many people today, such a life is not so much
"Islamic" as it is a natural outcome of being alienated from Allah and
religious moral teaching.
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So, because of this erroneous
understanding that dominates society, so many people think that a
comfortable, luxurious, and ostentatious life, and all that goes along
with it, are "un-Islamic." They see such things as expensive clothes,
rich food, entertainment, dinner parties, magnificently appointed
houses, décor, and valuable art works as belonging to ignorant people
cut off from their religion. They usually call a life filled with these
things "dissolute," and criticize those who give this society its name
as "living undisciplined lives of dissolution." The word "dissolution"
(safahat) comes from the Arabic safih, and can be translated as "a lack
of discipline, overindulgence, a weakness of mind that comes from living
an irresponsible life of wealth and comfort."
Here, we encounter a false
understanding that must be corrected. The life of Paradise that Allah
has been pleased to choose for His servants, as well as a life that
contains every kind of luxury, comfort, and ostentation, is also the
most beautiful and noble way of life, one that conforms as closely as
possible to religious moral teaching.
A false definition of dissolution opens the way to
misunderstanding. Dissolution, or rebellion against Allah through a lack
of discipline and overindulgence, is a condition of the human mind.
People are not dissolute because of their clothes, ostentatious houses,
aesthetic environments, or material wealth. Rather, the problem is in
their minds.
The natural result of this situation is this: If people have a
Qur'anic morality and a strong faith, they can live among the richest
opulence imaginable without ever becoming dissolute. On the contrary,
because they view everything they encounter according to the Qur'anic
criteria and moral teaching, they see all of the beauty surrounding them
as a blessing. In other words, they realize that all of these things
are gifts from Allah. So, if Muslims know that Allah has given all of
the surrounding riches, beauty, opulence, and magnificence, naturally
they thank our Lord for what He has provided. This is, after all, why
all blessings have been created.  |
So, wealth can be defined in two ways. Some rich people are believers who consider all of their possessions to be blessings from Allah, while other rich people go astray by considering all of their possessions as their own, forget Allah, and fall into dissolution. However, the model that Allah has proposed for all of His servants is wealth, as mentioned in the first model above. Wealth and poverty are tests for believers. Although some believers may be tested by poverty, Allah commands: "We desired to show kindness to those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them leaders and inheritors" (Surat al-Qasas, 5). This might happen in the world, but it certainly will happen in the afterlife.
Therefore, it would be very wrong for
Muslims to find fault with grand,
luxurious, and opulent lives. Muslims must not shun such people and
regard them with disdain, because, after all, all material things in
this life (e.g., fine clothes, delicious food, magnificent homes and
works of art) were created for Muslims, as we read in Surat al-A'raf,
32:
Say:
"Who has forbidden the fine clothing that Allah has produced for His
servants and the good kinds of provision?" Say: "On the Day of Rising,
such things will be exclusively for those who had faith during their
life in the hereafter…"
The Qur'an gives the example of Prophet Sulayman (as), to whom
Allah gave great wealth. In fact, it describes these possessions, as
well as his opulent palace and works of art, in Surah Saba', 12-13 and
Surat an-Naml, 44.
The important thing here is that Sulayman (as) gave thanks to
Allah amid all of these magnificent possessions, for he knew that they
were a mercy from our Lord. By relating his words: "Truly
do I love the love of good with a view to the glory of my Lord" (Surah
Sad, 32), the Qur'an draws our attention to his deep
understanding.
This example shows us that the love of possessions, defined
here as "the love of good," is legitimate as long as it is a means to
praise Allah. No doubt, believers who have this kind of love will not
hesitate to use their possessions as Allah directs. Possessions are a
blessing belonging to Allah, and so those who have them will use them as
Allah commands.
But if possessions are not seen as a blessing, dissolution sets
in. The Qur'an gives many examples of how deviators understand the
meaning of riches. One of the clearest examples is that of Qarun, a rich
man who "gloated" (Surat al-Qasas, 76) and said:
"I have only been given it because of the knowledge I have" (Surat
al-Qasas, 78). Such a love of possessions cannot bring people
close to Allah; rather, it diverts them from His way and alienates them
from faith. The Qur'an describes this type of love as:
Truly man is ungrateful to
his Lord, and indeed he bears witness to that. Truly he is fierce in his
love of wealth. (Surat al-'Adiyat, 6-8)
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So, for this reason Muslims
must view wealth according to the Qur'an's criteria and pursue it only
to please Allah and serve Islam. They must desire all of Allah's
blessings, because all blessings of this earthly life have been created
for those faithful and sincere servants who exert every effort to please
and serve Allah. We have to be continually thankful for these blessings
and follow Sulayman's (as) example: "What an excellent servant! He
truly turned to his Lord" (Surah Sad, 30).
Those who live according to the real
spirit of the Qur'an's moral teachings and adopt the point of view
described above will be deemed "worthy and qualified" to enter Paradise,
which possesses, as one of its most salient characteristics, eternal
splendor and dazzling wealth and beauty. People who think and feel like
Sulayman (as), who said: "Truly do I love the love
of good with a view to the glory of my Lord" (Surah Sad, 32)
amid all of this beauty, are believers.
Since this is how believers will
think in Paradise, their true home, they must establish this point of
view in this world, which is no more than a preparation for the world to
come. Far from regarding wealth, beauty, and splendor as dissolution,
believers must know that every blessing is a mercy from our Lord,
recognize its value, learn to enjoy it, and be thankful.
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THIS LIFE IS NOT OUR REAL LIFE
Many people think
that they can make a perfect life for themselves in this world. They
think that if they can acquire enough material possessions, they will
experience total personal satisfaction and happiness. According to the
most widespread opinion, a person's life will be perfect after he or she
has attained material wealth, gotten married with this intention in
mind, and is respected by society because of his or her influential and
well-established career.
The Qur'an does not support this view,
for it states that this present life will never be perfect and without
problems, as it is designed like that.
The root of dunya
(world) has a very important meaning in this sense: It is a derivative
of the adjective "daniy": low, unrefined, basic and worthless. "World"
means a space characterized by these traits. So, the Qur'an often
emphasizes this worldly life's worthlessness and unimportance. It refers
to such things as wealth, family, status, and success, which are
thought to make for a good life, as nothing more than transitory and
deceptive. In one verse, Allah says:
Know that the
life of the world is merely a game and a diversion and ostentation, and a
cause of boasting among yourselves and trying to outdo one another in
wealth and children, like the plant-growth after rain, which delights
the cultivators. But then it withers, you see it turning yellow, and
then it becomes broken stubble. In the hereafter there is terrible
punishment, but also forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. The
life of the world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion. (Surat
al-Hadid, 20)
Another verse explains how people are blinded by
illusion because of this earthly life:
Yet still you
prefer the life of the world, when the hereafter is better and longer
lasting. (Surat al-A'la, 16-17)
As this verse says, such people regard
the life of this world as superior to the Afterlife. Such a mistaken
view causes them to turn away from faith in Allah and His Book. The
Qur'an describes such people as "those who do not
expect to meet Us and are content with the life of the world and at rest
in it, and those who are heedless of Our Signs" (Surah Yunus, 7)
and reveals that they will find themselves in Hell's eternal agony.
Surely, this imperfection does not mean that this world contains no
beautiful things. On the contrary, Allah filled the world with beautiful
things to remind us of Paradise. But mixed in with these beautiful
things are the imperfection and ugliness of Hell.
The qualities of
Paradise and Hell are mixed together here, for this world is really a
place of testing. Thus believers can get an idea of those two places
and, instead of getting caught up in this world's short and transitory
life, can direct themselves toward the real, perfect, and endless life
of the Hereafter. As a result, the Qur'an describes the Afterlife as
each person's true and eternal land.
But despite this truth, many people
think they can make a perfect life in this world. They view this life's
imperfections and deficiencies (e.g., getting sick, becoming tired, and
suffering from pain and worry) as something totally natural. However,
Allah has created all these imperfections with many hidden meanings, and
people have to think seriously about these meanings and learn the
appropriate lessons.
It could have
been possible that people would never get sick or feel so tired that
they would need to rest or sleep. They could have had so much stamina
and energy that they would not feel fatigued. If Allah had willed, He
could have created us without such flaws and deficiencies. But He
created us with them so that we might understand that we are helpless
and weak.
Each individual must come face to face with his or her
helplessness and weakness at every moment of life. His body, upon which
he lays so much value, constantly reminds him of his situation. When he
wakes up every morning and starts his day, his face is swollen and
distorted, his mouth has a bad taste, and there is an uncomfortable
dirty feeling on his skin, hair, and body. If he does not clean himself
carefully, he cannot leave this unpleasant state. This cleaning must be
repeated several times during the day, because after a few hours have
passed, the dirt returns. After not washing for a few days, his need to
wash himself becomes all the more obvious, coming to a point where he
makes those around him very uncomfortable.
The human body is not
as strong or resilient as a stone or a piece of metal; rather, it is
made of an extremely perishable material: flesh. The body is covered
with a thin skin that could be torn at any moment by the slightest
accident. Structurally speaking, flesh is very vulnerable. It can be
wounded, bruised, and twisted by the slightest blow, and, with age,
begins to lose its former youthfulness and becomes rough and wrinkled.
After death, it starts to rot. A few weeks after burial, the body begins
to disintegrate and be eaten by worms and bacteria, until finally it
mixes with the soil and disappears.
As stated earlier, this shows us our
frailty and reminds us that the imperfections in the world are specially
created. Instead of flesh, human beings could have been created from
much stronger and purer materials or could have been totally free of
pain, illness, and vileness. However, all of these things were created
to remind human beings of how poor and needy they are in relation to
Allah, and to show them just how imperfect and deficient a place this
world really is.
When we look at these imperfections, we
can see our own frailty and understand the transitory nature of all
people's earthly strength and values. Meanwhile, we also can understand
that the people who we adore, try to please, or earn their respect and
praise are as weak and imperfect as anybody else.
But as most people
cannot understand this or see this world's great imperfection and flaws,
they find satisfaction in this earthly life. Actually, this is the
result of an extreme ignorance and lack of intelligence.
The morality of
such people is described in the Qur'an as follows:
So turn away
from him who turns away from Our remembrance and desires nothing but the
life of the world. That is as far as their knowledge extends... (Surat
an-Najm, 29-30)
Those who are
unaware of this truth and bound by a passion for the life of this world
are people without "knowledge," as the verse says.
But what is this
"knowledge" that we must have in this matter? In truth, it is nothing
less than the knowledge of Paradise, which Allah has promised to us. The
most important steps toward this are to be well-versed in the Qur'an
and to think seriously about what it says.
In the Qur'an, Allah
described the believers' real homeland in these words:
The life of
the world is nothing but a game and a diversion. The abode of the
hereafter - that is truly Life, if they only knew. (Surah al-'Ankabut,
64)
One
hadith records our Prophet (saas) as saying that Paradise is humanity's
real abode, a place in which there will be no human imperfection:
A
proclaimer will proclaim: "For you there is everlasting health, and you
will never be sick. For you there is everlasting life, and you will
never die. For you there is perpetual youth, and you will never get old.
And for you there is everlasting bliss, and you will never be in want.
(Muslim)
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THE STATE OF THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE IN
THIS WORLD
The Beautiful Lives of Believers in
this WorldIn addition, they also
The Qur'an promises believers the joy
of an endless reward and eternal happiness. But one point often escapes
attention: This good news, extending in endless time and into endless
beauty, has already started for believers in this world, for since they
have been promised Paradise in the world to come, they will be blessed
in this world by Allah's grace and generosity. The Qur'an also says that
believers who do good works will be given a good life in this world as
well:
Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a
believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them
according to the best of what they did. (Surat an-Nahl: 97)
In several
places, the Qur'an proclaims that the good news announced in the verse
above will be enjoyed by all sincere believers, the Prophets being the
foremost among believers. For example, our Prophet (saas), who was given
the good tidings of the highest ranks of Paradise in the Qur'an, was
someone whom Allah made rich in this life: "Did He
not find you impoverished and enrich you?" (Surat ad-Duha, 8).
In addition, the Qur'an mentions the riches and possessions given to
Prophets Dawud (as), Sulayman (as), Ibrahim (as), and Dhu'l Qarnayn (as)
several times.
Giving blessings and beauty in this
world as a reward and encouragement, as well as an indication to sincere
believers of our Lord's grace and favor, is one of Allah's unchanging
laws. Since wealth, splendor, and beauty are Paradise's most basic
characteristics, Allah creates similar blessings here to remind His
chosen servants of Paradise and to increase their ardor and desire to
attain it. Therefore, just as unbelievers already begin their eternal
anguish in this world, sincere believers begin to see the eternal beauty
promised to them.
Believers
live far from every spiritual anxiety and sorrow, because they remain in
the awareness of Allah, Who created them, and so conform to His
commands and prohibitions; because they live according to Islam, the
religion that Allah was pleased to choose for humanity; and, most
importantly, because they nurture hope and great expectations for the
life to come. Above all, our Lord's assistance and support is with them,
for: "Allah sent down His serenity on His
Messenger and on the believers" (Surat at-Tawba, 26). Believers
find a sense of comfort in the knowledge that Allah sees them in every
prayer they observe, in every faithful work they perform, and in
everything they do, both great and small, to gain His good pleasure. In
addition, they also know that angels record their deeds in books and
that they will be rewarded in the Afterlife for what they have done.
This is the sense of security that comes from their knowledge that Allah
supports them with unseen hosts and angels, that they have a "succession of angels in front of them and behind them,
in order to "guard them by Allah's command" (Surat ar-Ra'd, 11), that
they will overcome the challenges they will face in Allah's way, and
that they always have the joyful promise of Paradise. So, sincere
believers, according to what Allah revealed to the angels, will never be
overcome with fear or excitement, for: "I am with
you, so make those who have faith firm" (Surat an-Anfal, 12).
The Qur'an
says that believers are "those who say: 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then go
straight" (Surah Fussilat, 30). The angels descend on them and say: "Do
not fear and do not grieve, but receive the glad tidings of Paradise
you have been promised" (Surah Fussilat, 30). It also says that
believers know that Allah "imposes on no self any more than it can bear"
(Surat al-A'raf, 42).
They have a firm belief in destiny and
that Allah makes and accomplishes everything. Thus they accept
everything that happens to them as being from Allah, as the following
verse says: "Nothing can happen to us except what
Allah has ordained for us" (Surat at-Tawba, 51). Since they seek
to please Allah, saying: "Allah is enough for us
and the Best of Guardians" (Surah Al 'Imran, 173-174), no evil
thing will touch them.
But because this world is a place of
testing, believers will face difficulties, such as hunger, illness, and
sleeplessness, an accident or material loss. They may go through even
more difficulties and trials, such as those of poverty and constraint,
as indicated in the following verse:
Or did you
suppose that you would enter Paradise without facing the same as those
who came before you? Poverty and illness afflicted them, and they were
shaken to the point that the Messenger and those who had faith with him
said: "When is Allah's help coming?" Be assured that Allah's help is
very near. (Surat al-Baqara, 214)
Such trials did
not sway the Prophets and the believers from their firm faith in our
Lord, or from their determination to put the Qur'an's verses into
practice. At the end of the verse, Allah promises believers that His
assistance is already very near to them. In another verse, He states
that:
Allah will give security, in their victorious Safe
Haven, to those who had fear. No evil will touch them, and they will
know no sorrow. (Surat az-Zumar, 61)
All believers know that difficulties
are created to test their faith, and that if they are patient and
submissive, these difficulties will be great opportunities for them to
mature spiritually. In addition, these trials will become the source of
their eternal reward in the Afterlife. For this reason, they will submit
to these difficulties and retain their well-being, happiness, or joy.
These anxieties will not upset their spiritual balance or adversely
affect their perception or determination. In fact, their enthusiasm will
continue to grow, because they know that they will receive the reward
for their patience and submission in His Presence.
For unbelievers, the
situation is just the opposite. Those who deny the Qur'an suffer
spiritual anguish in addition to the physical pain that they endure in
this earthly life. The fear, sorrow, hopelessness, tension, pessimism,
and other negative feelings that they experience here are just the
beginning of the anguish they will suffer in Hell. Allah describes these
people in the following verse:
When Allah desires to guide someone,
He expands his breast to Islam. When He desires to misguide someone, He
makes his breast narrow and constricted, as if he were climbing up into
the sky. That is how Allah defiles those who do not believe. (Surat
al-An'am, 125)
Allah reveals that He wills to forgive the sins and
errors of those who stand in awe and reverence of His Glory, that He
will reward His faithful and repentant servants with the finest
blessings in this earthly life, and that they will find favor with Him.
As we read in the Qur'an:
Ask your Lord for forgiveness, and then
turn toward Him in repentance. He will let you enjoy a good life until a
specified time, and will give His Favor to all who merit it. But if you
turn your backs, I fear for you the punishment of a Mighty Day. (Surah
Hud, 3)
In other words, seeking Allah's forgiveness and turning
to Him in repentance are duties enjoined upon all faithful Muslims.
These attitudes show that believers are aware of how helpless and weak
they are before Allah, for they know their errors and shortcomings and
are aware that they can make mistakes. Therefore, they desire Allah's
mercy. As our Lord has said, He rewards such people here for their fine
morality and gives them a good life until they die. In another verse, He
describes the believers' earthly life in this way:
When those
who have fear of Allah are asked, "What has your Lord sent down?" their
reply is, "Good!" There is good in this world for those who do good, and
the abode of the hereafter is even better. How wonderful is the abode
of those who guard against evil. (Surat an-Nahl, 30)
When all of this
life's beauties are compared with the land to come, they become
completely valueless. Therefore, if a goal is to be chosen, it can only
be the life of the world to come. Allah increases the blessings of those
believers who, already in this world, have set their hearts on the life
to come.
In their prayers, believers pray for the world to come
and ask Allah for blessings and good in this life. Examples of such
prayers are given in the following verses:
When you have
completed your rites, remember Allah as you used to remember your
forefathers - or even more. Some people say: "Our Lord, give us good in
this world." They will have no share in the hereafter. Others say: "Our
Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and
safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire." They will have a good
share from what they have earned. Allah is swift at reckoning. (Surat
al-Baqara, 200-202)
In the Qur'an, those faithful servants
of Allah who sincerely believe in Him are said to be made heirs of this
world. Surely His promise is true and will come to pass. One verse
states:
Allah has
promised those of you who believe and do right actions that He will make
them successors in the land, as He made those before them successors;
(that He) will firmly establish for them their religion (Islam), which
He is pleased to give them; and, in place of their fear, security. "They
worship Me, not associating anything with Me." As for those who do not
believe after that, such people are deviators. (Surat an-Nur, 55)
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GOOD NEWS
In an earlier section, we
mentioned that those sincere believers who give themselves to Allah will
enjoy His blessings in this life before they enter Paradise. One of the
most important blessings is the promise of good news to believers.
Several verses"speak of Allah's promise of Paradise and the announcement
of this good news to believers as follows:
Their Lord gives
them the good news of His mercy and good pleasure, and Gardens where
they will enjoy everlasting delight. (Surat at-Tawba, 21)
There is good
news for them in the life of the world and in the hereafter. There is
no changing the words of Allah. That is the great victory! (Surah Yunus,
64)
The
hearts of those believers who have hope in this good news trust that
their good works will find favor in Allah's sight, that the blessings
they await are close at hand, and are filled with contentment.  |
The angels
descend upon those who say: "Our Lord is Allah," and then go straight:
"Do not fear or grieve, but receive the glad tiding of Paradise that you
have been promised. We are your protectors in the life of the world and
the hereafter. You will have there all that your selves could wish for.
You will have there everything that you demand. Hospitality from the
One Who is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah Fussilat, 30-32)
Allah has also
entrusted the prophets with announcing this good news. In Surat
al-Ahzab, 47, Allah commands the Prophet (saas) to proclaim that
believers will receive an immense reward from Him; In Surah Ya Sin, 11,
He reveals him that "those who obey the Qur'an and stand in awe of the
Most Gracious will receive pardon and an excellent reward"; and Surat
az-Zumar, 17 announces that those who shun the worship of false gods and
turn toward Allah will have good news. And in Surah Yunus, 2, Allah
tells His Messenger to "give good news to those
who believe, that they are on a sure footing with their Lord."  |
ALLAH'S PROMISE
To those who will come into
His Presence as believers, Allah gives the promise of Paradise, wherein
they will remain forever. As there is no doubt that this promise will be
fulfilled, those who believe with certainty will never doubt its truth.
Moreover, if they have surrendered their souls to Him as believers,
they know that their sins will be forgiven and that they will be
accepted into Paradise. The following verse makes this clear:
Gardens of
Eden which the All-Merciful has promised to His servants in the Unseen.
His promise is always kept. (Surah Maryam, 61)
The fact that Allah has promised
Paradise to believers brings them an indescribable joy and enthusiasm.
They know that Allah wills Paradise for His faithful servants, and that
He has made them its heirs. Here is another verse that mentions this
promise:
Is someone to whom We have promised good and who then
obtains it like someone to whom We have given enjoyment in the life of
the world and then, on the Day of Rising, is one of those brought to
punishment? (Surat al-Qasas, 61)
They will say: "Praise be to Allah Who
has fulfilled His promise to us and made us the inheritors of this
land, letting us settle in Paradise wherever we want. How excellent is
the wage of those who work." (Surat az-Zumar, 74)
Believers who have been given the good
news several times during their earthly lives, and to whom Allah has
promised Paradise, will receive at the end of their lives that for which
they hoped. Finally, that long-awaited moment will come. The place that
they have contemplated throughout their lives, prayed to attain, and
striven to be worthy of is Paradise - "the best place to be," and "the
most beauteous of all goals." This perfect place was prepared for
believers, and its doors are opened to them.The following verse gives a unique view about their entrance into Paradise:
Gardens of Eden
that they will enter, and all of their parents, wives, and children who
have acted honorably. Angels will enter in to welcome them from every
gate: "Peace be upon you because of your steadfastness! How wonderful is
the Ultimate Abode!" (Surat ar-Ra'd, 23-24)
They will be welcomed into Paradise "with greetings and [words of] peace" (Surat
al-Furqan, 75), and enter there "in peace, in complete security!" (Surat
al-Hijr, 46). There is only one thing left to do: to discover
the beauties of this eternal land prepared for believers and endowed
with every kind of blessing.
THOSE WHO ARDENTLY HOPE FOR PARADISE:
THE PARTY OF ALLAH
Allah has inscribed faith upon such
people's hearts, will reinforce them with a spirit from Him, and admit
them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them
timelessly, forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased
with Him. Such people are the party of Allah. Truly it is the party of
Allah who are successful. (Surat al-Mujadala, 22)
Those believers to whom Allah has
announced His promise of good news have important qualities, as revealed
in the Qur'an:
-They believe and do right actions.
(Surat al-Baqara, 25)
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- They fear
Allah. (Surah Al 'Imran, 15)
- They spend for the cause of Islam in
times both ease and hardship. (Surah Al 'Imran, 134)
- They
control their rage. ( Surah Al 'Imran, 134)
- They pardon
other people.( Surah Al 'Imran, 134)
- After they act
indecently or wrong themselves, they remember Allah and ask forgiveness
for their wrong actions. (Surah Al 'Imran, 135)
- They do not
knowingly persist in doing wrong actions. (Surah Al 'Imran, 135)
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- The obey
Allah and his Messenger. (Surat an-Nisa', 13)
- They keep up
prayer, spend in charity, believe in and support Allah's messengers.
(Surat al-Ma'ida, 12)
- They are truthful. (Surat al-Ma'ida,
119)
- They leave their homes for the cause of Allah and
strive in Allah's way with their souls and possessions. (Surat at-Tawba:
20)
- They do good. (Surah Yunus, 26)
- They humble
themselves before their Lord. (Surah Hud, 23)
-They repent of
their sins. (Surah Maryam, 60)
- They honor their trusts and
contracts. (Surat al-Mu'minun: 8)
- They safeguard
their prayers. (Surat al-Mu'minun: 9)
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- They
compete with one another in the doing of good deeds. (Surah Fatir, 32)
- They are
Allah's chosen servants. (Surat as-Saffat, 40)
- They believe in
the Qur'an. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 69)
- They say "our
Lord is Allah" and thereafter stand firm in their faith. (Surat
al-Ahqaf, 13)
- They are heedful. ( Surah Muhammad,
15)
- They turn toward Allah with their whole heart. (Surah
Qaf, 32)
- They stand in awe of the Most Gracious, although He
is beyond the reach of human perception, and come unto Him with a heart
returning in repentance. (Surah Qaf, 33)
- They are the
doers of good. (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 16)
- They ask for
Allah's forgiveness before the dawn. (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 18)
- They are
the forerunners. (Surat al-Waqi'a, 10)
- They always
keep their word and fear a day whose evil will spread far and wide.
(Surat al-Insan, 7)
- They give food, despite their love
for it, to the poor and orphans and captives. (Surat al-Insan, 8)
- They give the appropriate respect to the Messenger of
Allah. (Surat al-Hujurat, 3)
PLEASE CLICK HERE MIRACLES OF THE QUR’AN
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newyorkermen wrote on Nov
11, '07, edited on Nov 11, '07
AN EASY PASSAGE TO THE NEXT WORLD Those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say: "Peace be upon you! Enter Paradise for what you did."(Surat an-Nahl: 32) Death in a Virtuous State Up to this point, we have seen that sincere believers live a good life in this world, are not overcome with fear or pessimism, and have a healthy and comfortable spiritual life. Since those who believe seek Allah's pleasure, we learn from the Qur'an that they have won His special assistance, support, and protection; their misdeeds will be removed from them and that they will be rewarded according to the best of what they did; and they will not be wronged. Since they "purchase" the next life in exchange for this life, they have made what the Qur'an calls a "good bargain." Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him.  But what will happen to them at the end of their lives? Where and when will Allah meet them at the hour He has appointed for their death? Neither believers nor unbelievers know where and when they will die. This fact is explained in Surah Luqman in these words: Truly Allah has knowledge of the Hour, sends down abundant rain, and knows what is in the womb. And no self knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no self knows in what land it will die. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Surah Luqman, 34) Together with this, the Qur'an informs us how death will come to believers, how their souls will be taken, and what will happen at the moment of death. As far as we know, believers experience death as a very gentle passage, like a momentary change in dimension. Just like the person whom Allah causes to be "as dead during his sleep" (Surat az-Zumar, 42) and wakes up the next morning to a new day, when believers die, they will be taken out of the worldly dimension and pass to the next dimension (Certainly Allah knows the truth.) Allah announced this gentle and easy passage in Surat an-Nazi'at, 2, where He points to the appointed angels and says "those who draw out gently." Another verse tells about the angels' conversation when they come to take a believer's soul: Those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say: "Peace be upon you! Enter Paradise for what you did." (Surat an-Nahl, 32)  The following verse describes a believer's death: The greatest terror will not upset them, and the angels will welcome them: "This is your Day, the one that you were promised." (Surat an-Anbiya', 103) Clearly, believers who have led a good life in this world will have a beautiful and easy death, and their life in the next world will begin when they are met by angels. From that moment on, all of their relations with this world will cease, and they will be sent to an appointed place where they will come before Allah's Presence. As it was from the beginning, so it continues: comfort and ease await all believers. THANK YOU VERY MUCH 4 GAVE ME COMMENT PLEASE CLICK HERE NOW THE SIGNS OF THE LAST DAY   |
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merryciateul wrote on Nov
15, '07
Keindahan surga
tidak dapat digambarkan dengan hal apapun yang teridah yang ada
didunia... Ya Robb, hambamu ini tidak pantas masuk ke Surga Mu.. Namun
Hamba juga tak sanggup masuk ke Neraka Mu..!!
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newyorkermen wrote on Nov
17, '07, edited on Nov 17, '07
 THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF PARADISE "What is the example [i.e., description] of Paradise promised to the righteous like? It has rivers flowing under it, and its foodstuffs and cool shade never fail. That is the final fate of those who have done their duty. But the final fate of the disbelievers is the Fire." (Surat ar-Ra'd, 35) Natural beauty and greenery are among Paradise's wonderful blessings. Mansions built in gardens, right next to springs, are another beauty. Paradise, in which there is "neither burning sun nor bitter cold" (Surat al-Insan, 13), has such a pleasant climate that no one is made uncomfortable. It contains no exhausting sweaty heat or freezing cold. In Paradise, Allah will admit believers into "cool, refreshing shade" (Surat an-Nisa', 57) The expression "refreshing shade," along with revealing that the climate will be comfortable and just as a person would want it, points out that Paradise's environment and conditions have been designed to give the human spirit true satiety and comfort. Every thing and condition in Paradise will be just as a believer desires.  One of the natural beauties most mentioned by Allah in the Qur'an is that of "outpouring water" (Surat al-Waqi'a, 31). As we observe in this earthly life, the human spirit derives great pleasure from water, especially flowing water. Lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and streams flowing in a forest all speak to the human spirit. All artificial pools and fountains in mansions, residences, estates, and villa gardens, as well as artificial and natural streams, arise from this longing for the spiritual aesthetic. The main reason why these esthetic views are so pleasurable is because the human spirit has been created for Paradise. These beauties are described elsewhere, as follows: In them [two other Gardens] are two gushing springs. (Surat ar-Rahman, 66) The sight and sound of flowing water comfort and gladden the human heart. The sight and sound of water falling from above give pleasure and are a means whereby people can give thanks to Allah and praise His name. Especially if the water flows in the hills, among trees and greenery or runs over stones, it is a really impressive sight. It either collects in the place where it falls, or forms pools and flows from one place to another. Continually flowing water is a sign of endless and inexhaustible plenty. As we learn in Surat al-Hijr, 45: "The heedful will be amid Gardens and Springs." Another verse reads: "The heedful will be in shady nooks by springs" (Surat al-Mursalat, 41)  The "shady nooks" may be special spaces created so that believers can sit and observe all of this beauty. (Allah knows best) As with mansions, these shady nooks also are placed in high places so that the people in Paradise can view the beauty below and see its many details. Shady nooks offer special pleasure to believers. For example, people are served various kinds of food and fruits there, come together there and hold pleasurable conversations, and enjoy themselves there. Their being placed next to springs, spaces that give pleasure to the human soul, adds to their attractiveness. From these springs flow delicious waters. Another natural beauty is the gardens. For example, the "lush Meadows of the Gardens" mentioned Surat ash-Shura, 22 have been prepared only for believers. One of their particular features is the harmony of natural beauty contained therein. Within them grow a never-ending variety of plants, similar to the most delicate and sweet-smelling ones on Earth, and several species of animals, both known and unknown to us. The gardens are adorned with various fruit and other types of trees, plains of "deep viridian green" (Surat ar-Rahman, 64) plants and flowers, and, in some places, pools and fountains. Surat al-Waqi'a also mentions "fruit-laden lote-trees with thorns removed" and "[banana] trees layered [with fruit]" (28-29). By reflecting upon all of these things, we can form a general view of Paradise. Some of its characteristics remind us of things in this world; others are unique blessings and beauties of Paradise that no one has ever seen or known, and that our minds cannot imagine or express. We must be aware that beautiful things and surprises are waiting for believers in Paradise, things and surprises prepared by Allah's infinite knowledge and beyond our imagination. As Surat ash-Shura, 22 tells us: "They will have whatever they wish for with their Lord. That is the great favor," everything in Paradise, including all of its natural beauties, are brought into being in accordance with a believer's own desire and pleasure. In other words, Allah allows a believer's imagination a role in forming Paradise's environment as a favor from Him. ENDLESS DELIGHT Eat and drink with relish for what you did.(Surat al-Mursalat, 43) The Qur'an announces that the people of Paradise are blessed with the finest food and various drinks. But since these people require no nourishment, we can understand that such food and drink have been created only to give pleasure. This food resembles the food of this world. The people of Paradise will express this similarity in the following way: Give the good news to those who believe and do right actions, that they will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them. When they are given fruit there as provision, they will say: "This is what we were given before." But they were only given a simulation of it. They will have there spouses of perfect purity, and will remain there timelessly, forever. (Surat al-Baqara, 25)  Many foods in this world address people's appetites and give pleasure by their appearance and taste. Of course Allah can easily create similar foods in Paradise to give pleasure to believers. But, unlike with earthly food, there will be no need to worry about gaining weight, cholesterol, overeating, and so on, for Allah tells them: "Eat and drink with relish for what you did" (Surat al-Mursalat, 43) Being able to eat and drink beyond any reckoning is a delightfully pleasant reward. In order to attain Paradise, people are tested in this earthly life. Believers show great effort and zeal in order to please our Lord, for they turn to Him sincerely, thank Him continually, pray to Him, and repent of their sins. As a reward, Allah offers them the blessings of Paradise. Leading all of the food mentioned in the Qur'an is meat. In Paradise, Allah gives believers "any kind of fruit and meat that they desire" (Surat at-Tur, 22), and will offer them "any bird-meat they desire" (Surat al-Waqi'a, 22). Moreover, their food will "never run out" (Surah Sad, 54), because believers will"enter Paradise, provided for in it without any reckoning" (Surah Ghafir, 40). They will be able to eat as much as they want, for the amount and types of food available will never decrease, and no one will be forced to stop eating due to being full or feeling sick. Fruit is perhaps the food most often mentioned in the Qur'an. In Paradise, believers receive whatever type of fruit they desire. The Qur'an describes this: Its shading branches will droop down over them, its ripe fruit hanging ready to be picked. (Surat al-Insan, 14)  Thus, we understand that fruits of Paradise grow on trees in natural surroundings and that believers can easily pick and eat them. Surat al-Waqi'a 28-29 mentions "fruit-laden lote-trees with thorns removed" and "[banana] trees layered [with fruit]," meaning that the fruit can be obtained easily due to Paradise's infinite blessings. The fruit it so plentiful that the tree branches cannot bear its weight, and it is easy to reach because the branches bend down to the ground. This fruit may be offered freely on golden and silver trays and tastefully designed plates to believers, who are sitting on thrones and conversing with one another. Certainly all seeds and traces of rot and bruising that annoy people in this world have been removed, as befits Paradise. All fruits are offered to believers freely, with their eye-catching beauty and without blemish. Fruit also adds further color and aesthetic beauty to Paradise. The sight of trees laden with all sorts of colorful fruits lends even more beauty to the wonderful landscape. The predominant color is green, and within that green are yellows, oranges, and reds that form a beautiful view that strikes the human eye. As an indication of Allah's mighty artistry, this view is another cause for thanksgiving. Certainly, many kinds of drinks are also desirable. For instance, Surat as-Saffat, 45 mentions "a cup from a flowing spring passing round among them." In Paradise, believers are given "the choicest sealed wine to drink, whose seal is musk" (Surat al-Mutaffifin, 25-27). As these verses state, whatever they drink is also sweet-smelling and, of course, this wine is unlike any earthly wine. The people who drink it will not become intoxicated or have their awareness impaired. Allah says that these drinks will be offered in glasses. They will not cause headaches, a loss of control of themselves, or any alteration in their minds. Young men whom Allah appointed for this service freely offer these drinks. THANK YOU VERY MUCH 4 GAVE ME COMMENT PLEASE CLICK HERE NOW THE SIGNS OF THE LAST DAY |
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