Paradise

Heaven is the place in the Hereafter where Believers will eternally reside. In Heaven they will have whatever they desire and will be given excellent things. Things which neither any eye has seen nor any ear has heard about nor the thought thereof has passed any mind. Dwellers of Jannah will be able to meet The Prophet Muhammad  and be allowed to see Allah the Most Merciful Himself.

Also referred to as: Jannah, Jannat, Paradise, Gardens of Paradise,bliss ,heaven ,paradise,heaven ,paradise .

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1-Paradise: Introduction

What do you want most out of life? A nice house, expensive clothes, money, wealth, opulence? What if you were told about a place where you could get everything you wanted and keep it forever? What would you say? Of course you would be very excited and want to see this perfect place right away. Surely no one would ever object to living in such a wonderful place.

Now just think. Has anyone ever talked to you about a place filled with a countless array of blessings, where beauty is spread out at your feet? Surely someone must have done so, telling you and all other people about the existence of a life - the life of Paradise - where everything that you want will be prepared for you. Everyone knows that after death there is an endless Paradise. Everyone judged worthy to enter it will find everything they desire there; they will receive their rewards and blessings, and live in a perfect place surrounded by beauty forever. To those faithful servants who pass the test of this earthly life, Allah has promised an unprecedented land. The limited time one spends in this world, on the other hand, is an opportunity to attain these beauties.

So what keeps people from being overcome with joy at the good news of Paradise? What stops them from longing for it, from expending every effort to attain it? Why do people, knowing that they will receive these blessings as a divine reward, not prepare for Paradise? Surely the most important reason is that some people do not have an assured faith that it exists; others are not convinced. There may be other reasons why people do not believe in or have doubts about it. But the basic thing that we must consider is that this doubt sometimes arises from a lack of knowledge.

The only remedy for this lack of knowledge is the Qur'an.

In the Qur'an, Allah describes a wonderful life of perfect and endless beauty in Paradise. Someone who does not know this beauty's extent or how the Qur'an describes it may have difficulty envisioning Paradise and the kind of life there.

This book tells people about Paradise, which Allah offers to them, describes its great blessings, and proclaims its beauties to everyone. It informs people that Paradise is one of two ways of life prepared for them in the afterworld, and that every good thing will be theirs in Paradise to a degree that surpasses our present ability to imagine. It also shows that Paradise, is a place where all blessings have been created perfectly and where people will be offered everything their souls and hearts will desire; that people will be far removed from want and need, anxiety or sadness, sorrow and regret. Every kind of beauty and blessing exists in Paradise and will be revealed with a perfection never seen or known before. Allah has prepared such blessings there as a gift, and these will be offered only to people with whom He is pleased.

This book describes everything about Paradise in the light of the Qur'an's verses. So, as you read this information and try to envision that blessed place, remember that the Qur'an is the truth. Based on this information, consider the perfection of the real land that is waiting for you, and make every effort to be worthy of it. Be aware that Allah will give you all of these things by His grace, and that they can be yours forever. Given all of this, if you still cannot decide in favor of eternal beauty, remember that the only choice left is Hell, a place full of anguish from where you will observe the comfort of those in Paradise and experience eternal anxiety, sadness, misery, and sorrow.

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Some Superstitions About Paradise

The verses depicting Paradise awake in the reader today the same sense of grandeur, quality, beauty, richness, bounteousness, well-being, and prosperity as they did 14 centuries ago. All of the values associated with Paradise have been desired by people of every period of history and of every social class. For example, the gold, silver, and precious jewels in Paradise, as described in the Qur'an, are even more in demand today than they were in the past.

The Qur'an also mentions that silk will be found in Paradise. Today, either as clothing or for decorative purposes, silk is preferred as a high quality material. At the same time, it is a symbol of wealth and grandeur. All of the precious things used to describe Paradise are far more valuable today than they were 1,400 years ago.

Again, the beautiful residences, palaces, and mansions mentioned in the Qur'an are luxurious places desired by everyone regardless of when they live. Today's villas and mansions are all of this category, and are marks of distinction, quality, and wealth.

Similarly, the thrones, couches, and cushions of Paradise form a part of the most comfortable and grand interior decoration. This kind of aesthetically beautiful furnishing is today displayed in the grandest of places.

Allah is the owner of all material things, and it belongs to His glory to find His beloved servants worthy of all of these beautiful things, both in this life and the next.

Does Paradise Contain Things Not Mentioned in the Qur'an?

The Qur'an describes Paradise through examples and comparisons taken from this world, for people can imagine something unknown only in terms of that which is known to them. However basic the description might be, it gives a certain idea. The Qur'an's detailed and subtle descriptions of Paradise's blessings show us that these blessings and beauties are superior to the best, most beautiful, and highest quality things to be found in this world.

The Qur'an describes Paradise by giving examples of the most desirable, high quality, and rarest things. For example, women with large dark eyes have a rare quality that gives them an extremely aesthetic and attractive appearance. Therefore, women in Paradise have large, dark gazelle-like eyes. This does not mean that no women there have green, blue, or brown eyes, but only serves to emphasize the excellent quality of Paradise and Allah's statement that the finest things here are much finer there. To give another example: The Qur'an says that every kind of fruit is present in Paradise. But, in various verses, bananas and figs are generally singled out more often as the preferred fruits. Of course, these fruits are two blessings chosen from the infinite abundance of all fruits in Paradise.

The announcement that everything desired by everyone exists in Paradise for their pleasure and to fulfill their hearts' desire is enough to express the idea that Paradise's blessings are infinite and far beyond human imagination. Everyone understands the Qur'an to the degree of his or her faith, intelligence, and sincerity. Thus disbelievers who read it with ill-intentions will understand the verses about Paradise according to their own sterile ideas. However, Paradise's superior beauty is evident to anyone who thinks about such verses with an open and intelligent awareness. Allah displays a perfect design even in the smallest details of this world; surely, it would be easy for Him to create far more excellent things than these.

Indifference

Some people are indifferent to Paradise, saying: "If it comes; fine. If it doesn't, that's fine too." However, in the afterlife there are only two possibilities: Paradise or Hell. There is no option to go to a place in between.

It is clear that someone who does not appreciate Paradise as is due, who does not long for or desire to attain it, is unworthy of it and will never be admitted to it. There is only one place for such a person to go: Hell. For this reason, being indifferent to Allah's greatest grace and gift to believers and not desiring to enter it, as well as persisting in this attitude is one of the clearest signs that he or she belongs among the people of Hell.

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Conversations in Paradise

They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has removed all sadness from us. Truly our Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Thankful: He Who has lodged us, out of His favor, in the Abode of Permanence, where no weariness or fatigue affects us." (Surah Fatir, 34-35)

The Qur'an contains detailed accounts of conversations among believers, to whom Allah has given an exalted position in Paradise. These conversations are important, because they provide a good example for believers in this life. The verses: "They will hear no idle talk in it, nor any call to sin. All that is said is: 'Peace! Peace!''' (Surat al-Waqi'a, 25-26) show the importance of avoiding empty talk. Elsewhere, the same point is expressed as:

They will hear no idle talk nor any lying there, as a recompensation from your Lord, a commensurate gift. (Surat an-Naba', 35-36)

Now, let us look at every word of wisdom in the conversations taking place in Paradise.

After giving their account, believers are sent to Paradise in groups. The gates of Paradise are opened for them, and they are greeted by the gatekeeper, who says to them:

�"Peace be upon you! You have done well, so enter it timelessly, forever." (Surat az-Zumar, 73)

In another verse, it is said that angels who will come in to welcome them from every gate will say to them:

"Peace be upon you because of your steadfastness! How wonderful is the Ultimate Abode!" (Surat ar-Ra'd, 24)

Believers answer:

"Praise be to Allah, Who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us the inheritors of this land, letting us settle in the Garden wherever we want. How excellent is the wage of those who work!" (Surat az-Zumar, 74)

"Beforehand we used to live in fear among our families. But Allah was gracious to us and safeguarded us from the punishment of the searing wind. Beforehand we certainly used to call upon Him because He is the All-Good, the Most Merciful." (Surat at-Tur, 26-28)

"Praise be to Allah, Who has guided us to this! We would not have been guided had Allah not guided us. The Messengers of our Lord came with the Truth." (Surat al-A'raf, 43)

This verse continues:

It will be proclaimed to them: "This is your Garden, which you have inherited for what you did." (Surat al-A'raf, 43)

In another verse, the believers' thanksgiving in Paradise is described as:

Their call there is: "Glory be to You, O Allah!" Their greeting there is: "Peace!" The end of their call is: "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds!" (Surah Yunus, 10)

Another verse says:

They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has removed all sadness from us. Truly our Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Thankful: He Who has lodged us, out of His favor, in the Abode of Permanence, where no weariness or fatigue affects us." (Surah Fatir, 34-35)

The conversation between believers in Paradise is related as follows:

They will turn to one another, asking each other [about their past lives]. One of them will say: "I used to have a friend who would say to me: 'Are you one of those who say that it is true, that after we have died and are turned to dust and bones, we will face a Reckoning?'"

[And] he will add: "Would you like to look [and see him]?"

So he will look down and see him in the midst of the Blazing Fire and say: "By Allah, you almost ruined me! If it were not for the blessing of my Lord, I would surely be [now] among those who are given over [to suffering]. But then [Omy friends in Paradise,] is it [really] so that we are not to die [again,] beyond our previous death and we shall never [again] be made to suffer? Truly this is the Great Victory!" (Surat as-Saffat, 50-60)

As we see from these verses, believers are aware that they have arrived at this final happy end only by Allah's merciful will. Their consciences are keen, and they remember the past. Perhaps their whole lives are shown to them in detail, where they see the members of their intimate circle trying to make them deviate from the right path. And they understand that if Allah had not protected them with His endless grace, they could have followed the wrong path. Believers who come to this awareness give thanks to Allah in Paradise, just as they did in the world.

The verses below tell about the words spoken between the people of Paradise and those in Hell, and give expression to the latter group's sorrow:

In Gardens they will ask the evildoers: "What caused you to enter Saqar [Hell]?"

They will say: "We were not among the prayerful, and we did not feed the poor. We plunged with those who plunged, and denied the Day of Judgment until the Certainty came to us." The intercession of those who intercede will not help them. (Surat al-Muddaththir, 40-48)

So, the people in Hell confess the evil that they did during their earthly lives, and understand that there is no escape from their new abode. Another such conversation is related in these verses:

The Companions of Paradise will call out to the Companions of Hell: "We have found that what our Lord promised us is true. Have you found that what your Lord promised you is true?" They will say: "Yes, we have!" Between them a herald will proclaim: "May the curse of Allah be upon the wrongdoers, those who bar access to the Way of Allah, desiring to make it crooked, and reject the hereafter." (Surat al-A'raf, 44-45)

The Companions of Hell will call out to the Companions of Paradise: "Throw down some water to us, or some of what Allah has given you as provision." They will say: "Allah has forbidden them to the disbelievers." (Surat al-A'raf, 50)

So, the suffering of those in Hell increases several fold. In addition to the many pains they endure, they can see the blessings of Paradise and speak with the people there. However, they cannot attain the blessings that those people enjoy, and it is too late to be sorry. This spiritual suffering is described in another verse:

On the Day when those who were unbelievers are exposed to the Fire, [it will be said to them]: "You dissipated the good things you had in your worldly life, and enjoyed yourself in it. So today you are being repaid with the punishment of humiliation for being arrogant in the earth without any right, and for being deviators." (Surat al-Ahqaf, 20)

So, disbelievers are imprisoned forever in Hell as a "reward" for the evil that they committed during their earthly lives. But believers have found their perfect happiness and salvation.

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The Highest Blessing: Allah's Good Pleasure

Allah has promised the men and women of the believers Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And Allah's good pleasure is even greater. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba, 72)

Earlier, we looked at the dazzling blessings found in Paradise. The picture that emerges is one of letting people experience the greatest pleasures and delights of the five senses.

But the biggest blessing of all is Allah's good pleasure, and the joy and happiness a believer feels when he or she wins it. As one hadith also relates: "Allah would say to the inmates of Paradise: 'I shall cause My pleasure to alight upon you' " (Muslim). Moreover, being content with everything that Allah has given and offering Him continual thanksgiving brings a noble contentment. The Qur'an draws our attention to this, as follows:

Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. That is the Great Victory. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 119)

The most striking expression of what believers feel when they win Allah's good pleasure is that He will manifest Himself to them in a way that they can see Him. This is impossible in the world because, as the Qur'an says: "Eyesight cannot perceive Him" (Surat al-An'am, 10) But according to the Qur'an, in the next life and in a certain way Allah will manifest Himself to His believing servants. Only Allah knows how this will happen. But we are informed in the Qur'an that the believers' "faces that Day will be radiant, gazing at their Lord" (Surat al-Qiyama, 22-23) and "'Peace!' A word from a Merciful Lord" (Surah Ya sin, 58) will be heard. Believers will be "on seats of honor in the presence of an All-Powerful King" (Surat al-Qamar, 55).

In other words, the greatest possible blessing that believers can have is the deep sense of Allah's mercy and will. By winning His good pleasure, they experience a joy and a happiness that cannot be compared with any material blessing.

Actually, it is Allah's will that gives value to Paradise's other blessings. The same blessings may exist on Earth to a certain extent, but they have no meaning for believers as long as they surpass the limits Allah established.

Believers should think carefully about this extremely important point. The real thing that gives a blessing its value is something far beyond its intrinsic pleasure and delight, for its real value lies in the fact that Allah "granted" it. Believers who use the blessing and thank Allah for it feel that they have received Allah's gift; that the Lord loves, protects, and looks after them; and gives them a taste of His mercy. They take real joy from this.

A blessing is not an end; rather, it is a means to an end. As its purpose is to encourage men and women to offer greater thanksgiving to Allah, all of Paradise's blessings have only one goal: To lead believers to offer eternal thanksgiving to Allah. This is what gives them their value. In short, the blessings of Paradise are no more than a means whereby believers can approach Allah and attain the indescribable joy of winning His eternal friendship, love, and approval. This is why Allah's good pleasure is the greatest blessing of Paradise and far above all other material pleasures.

Let us consider one of Paradise's most striking blessings, one that is frequently mentioned in the Qur'an: beautiful women, who represent the height of the aesthetic idea. Just to be with them is a great blessing. The Qur'an describes the beauty of their faces, their skin, and even their bosoms. With these magnificent women, one of Allah's greatest material blessings - sexuality - can be experienced eternally in the most wonderful way. In the same manner, unmarried women will be married to young palace servants. This also is a free gift to them from Allah.

However, what makes these women so valuable is not merely their beauty, but the fact that they are known to be a gift from Allah. Indeed, the greatest pleasure that can be had is that which comes from receiving the love, closeness, grace, and benevolence of the Giver. No matter how valuable a gift may be, Allah's gift is more valuable for the pleasure it gives in being deemed worthy to be of the gifts of Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and in receiving it.

Accordingly, if they were not Allah's gifts, all blessings would lose their meaning for a believer. Prophet Yusuf's (as) great nobility orients a believer's moral sense in that direction. The Qur'an tells how the wife of an Egyptian governor, desired Yusuf (as) and even forced herself on him. We are told that Yusuf (as) found her attractive, but avoided this forbidden relationship due to Allah's sign to him. When she continued to press him, he preferred to go to prison rather than to commit adultery. He said: "My Lord, prison is preferable to me than what they call on me to do" (Surah Yusuf, 33).

The fact that he found the prison's extremely difficult conditions preferable to what the governor's wife wanted him to do shows the importance that a believer places upon Allah's good pleasure. To act in such a manner and to know that you have gained His approval is the most important thing in a believer's heart. If material blessings present themselves to a believer in a way that goes against Allah's good pleasure, they lose their value.

In Paradise, all material blessings are approved by Allah. He especially created beautiful women and gives them as a gift to believers. Houses, food, natural beauty, and everything else are blessings that Allah offers, and this is what makes them valuable.

Thus, the human heart can be satisfied only in Paradise, for it was created to serve Allah and takes pleasure only in His generously given gifts. In this world, it takes refuge in places that are reminiscent of Paradise; that is, in places whose blessings are used with thanks and in a way that gains Allah's good pleasure. This is why Paradise on Earth, the ideal long cherished by unbelievers and atheists, is impossible. If you were to take things in this world that resemble Paradise's material beauties and gather them in one place, they would have no meaning without Allah's approval. Moreover, He may also destroy the pleasure that might be derived from such material beauties.

In short, Paradise is a gift of Allah and is valuable only because of that. The people of Paradise experience eternal happiness and joy because "they are honored servants" (Surat an-Anbiya', 26).

The wisest word that can be spoken there is a word that praises Allah's mighty name: "Master of Majesty and Generosity" (Surat ar-Rahman, 78).

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A Paradise Beyond the Imagination

They will have there all that their hearts desire and in which their eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 71)

We can get a general idea of what Paradise is like from the fact that the blessings of Paradise are similar to those in this world (Surat al-Baqara, 25) and from the descriptions and comparisons found in the Qur'an. Allah said in the Qur'an that He "will admit them into Paradise, which He has made known to them." (Surah Muhammad, 6)

So we can, with Allah's permission, glean some information while still living this earthly life. However, Allah bestows this knowledge only to give us"an idea of what Paradise is like, for in reality its beauty and blessings are beyond our conception. For example, the verse "in it there are rivers of water that will never spoil, and rivers of milk whose taste will never change, and rivers of wine, delightful to all who drink it, and rivers of honey of undiluted purity" (Surah Muhammad, 15) shows us that Paradise contains excellences that cannot be compared with things in this world. A hadith also indicates this unimaginable beauty:

Allah said: "I have prepared for My pious servants things which have never been seen by an eye, nor heard by an ear, or (even) imagined by a human being." (Muslim)

In one verse, Allah says that believers will live in Paradise as His welcome guests:

But those who heed their Lord will have Gardens through which rivers flow, to live in for ever as a welcome from Allah. What is with Allah is better for those who are truly good. (Surah Al 'Imran, 198)

In this verse, Allah describes Paradise as a place of celebration. The end of the world, passing the test, and reaching one's true homeland is certainly a reward worth celebrating. This celebration's duration, dimensions, and content will be too glorious to compare with anything on Earth.

An eternal life full of such never-ending blessings brings a joy that belongs only to Paradise: not to grow tired. Believers in Paradise speak of this excellence as "no weariness or fatigue affects us" (Surah Fatir, 35).

Of course, this includes mental fatigue. People living under this world's prevailing conditions tire easily, because their bodies are created weak. When they get tired, their minds begin to get cloudy, they lose concentration and find it hard to think and conceptualize. But this does not happen in Paradise, for its people's minds are always open, and their consciousness is clear so that they can perceive Allah's blessings perfectly and take pleasure from them. Since this sense of fatigue, which comes from the world's imperfections, is eliminated, believers can have the uninterrupted benefit of endless blessings. People will find perfect joy in Paradise's blessings and go from one blessing to another.

In an environment with no fatigue or boredom, Allah rewards believers by creating "whatever they wish" (Surat ash-Shura, 22; Surat al-Furqan, 16; Surat az-Zumar, 34). There, they have everything that their hearts want. In Surat al-Kahf, 35, Allah says that He will give believers more than they can desire or imagine, and that these blessings will be increased several-fold in Paradise. One hadith paints the beauty of Paradise as follows:

I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Of what was the creation made?" He replied: "Of water." We asked: "(As for) Paradise, what is its foundation?" He said: "One brick of gold and one brick of silver. Its mortars are of musk of strong scent, its stones are pearls and emeralds, and its soil is of saffron. Whoever enters it will be in bliss and not in want, live in bliss and not die, their clothes will not get old, and their youth will not end." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

Allah, Who created human beings, certainly knows better than they what their hearts desire, and so will create these things for believers as a reward in Paradise. The Qur'an announces some of these blessings; the rest are left to the pleasure and desire of the believers' imagination. Generally speaking, all believers delight in the same things, with only slight differences in details. A person can ask the Lord for blessings that appear impossible under this world's conditions, or for blessings of which they have no knowledge. Another verse describes the incomparable beauty of these things:

Platters and cups of gold will be passed around among them, and they will have there all that their hearts desire and in which their eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 71)

From this verse, we can understand that believers expect surprises in Paradise; that they will be pleased with, and derive pleasure from, what they see. They also feel happiness when they see the pleasure and happiness experienced by other believers.

Also, we must not forget that one of the greatest blessings of Paradise is protection from the agonies of Hell (Surat ad-Dukhan, 56). All of these things provide a great means of thanksgiving for believers, who can see Hell when they desire and speak with its inhabitants. The Qur'an describes how believers give thanks to Allah, as follows:

They will say: "Beforehand we used to live in fear among our families. But Allah was gracious to us and safeguarded us from the punishment of the searing wind. Beforehand we certainly used to call upon Him because He is the All-Good, the Most Merciful." (Surat at-Tur, 26-28)

In the Qur'an, Allah uses different names when referring to the gardens of Paradise, such as Gardens of Eden, Gardens of Refuge, Gardens of Firdaws, and Gardens of Delight. These names may express the different sections in which various pleasures are to be experienced. (Allah knows the truth.) It is also possible that Paradise may have various degrees or different sections. We can infer this from the following verse:

But as for those who come to Him as believers, having done right actions, they will have the highest ranks. (Surah Taha, 75)

The Qur'an describes Paradise as: "Wherever you look, you will see pleasure and great dominion." (Surat al-Insan, 20)

The following hadith indicates that every detail found in Paradise holds great beauties and blessings: "There is no tree in Paradise that does not have a trunk of gold" (Tirmidhi). Every corner is furnished with countless blessings, thanks to Allah's incomparable knowledge. These things are prepared only for believers, whom Allah forgives in His mercy and accepts into His Paradise.

In the Qur'an, Allah describes the believers' state in Paradise as follows:

We will strip away any rancor in their hearts - brothers, resting on couches face-to-face. (Surat al-Hijr, 47)

Remaining in them timelessly, forever, with no desire to move away from them. (Surat al-Kahf, 108)

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Where Believers Live in Paradise

Allah has promised the men and women of the believers Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And Allah's good pleasure is even greater. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 72)

As we said earlier, the houses where believers live their earthly lives are "places in which Allah has permitted to be built and in which His name is remembered" (Surat an-Nur, 36), places that are cared for and kept spotlessly clean according to Allah's command. Houses in Paradise are like these, in that they are incomparably refreshing places in which Allah is remembered and offered thanksgiving.

In the same way as these beautiful houses and mansions may be built amid natural beauty, it is also possible that they may have been built in outstandingly modern cities with aesthetically beautiful architecture and superior technology.

The houses mentioned in the Qur'an are generally built amid natural beauty, as the following verse informs us:

But those who heed their Lord will have mansions raised upon mansions high, beneath which runnning waters flow. That is Allah's promise. Allah does not break His promise. (Surat az-Zumar, 20)

Mansions located in high places, with views around and below them, provide a detailed panorama that allows their inhabitants to perceive many beautiful things at the same time.

The Qur'an mentions that water runs below those mansions built in high places. Thus, in order to see this view, the mansions may contain sitting-rooms with picture windows or with glass on all four sides. In such mansions,"designed to provide the human spirit with the greatest amount of pleasure possible, believers lounge on their thrones, enjoy the best fruits and drinks and, as they look down from above, derive pleasure from looking at one beautiful view after another.

The mansions are designed and furnished with the highest quality materials and the most harmonious colors, and feature comfortable armchairs and thrones facing each other. As "gold-encrusted thrones" (Surat al-Waqi'a, 15) and "thrones lined up" (Surat at-Tur, 20) maintain, thrones are symbols of wealth, splendor, and power.

Believers, to whom Allah has granted Paradise's eternal blessings, have been found worthy of such beauty. Sitting and reclining on their thrones, and surrounded by unimaginable beauty, they continually remember Allah. The Qur'an states:

They will enter Gardens of Eden, where they will be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk. They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has removed all sadness from us. Truly, our Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Thankful: He Who has lodged us, out of His favor, in the Abode of Permanence, where no weariness or fatigue affects us." (Surah Fatir, 33-35)

Reclining upon soft couches, believers "gaze around them" (Surat al-Mutaffifin, 23). Just seeing Paradise's magnificent views and beauties is a feast for the eyes and a great blessing. This will be an enjoyable banquet for believers to behold.

To share these beauties and pleasures with all believers, regardless of when they led their earthly existence, is a blessing that can be realized fully only in Paradise. For example, to sit on facing thrones and converse with Musa (as), 'Isa (as), or with pious believers and the Prophet's Companions, as well as to remember Allah with them, is not a pleasure that the world can grant; this pleasure belongs only to Paradise.

In Paradise, everything believers desire will be created and brought to them by special servants appointed for that task. The Qur'an informs us that:

Circulating among them will be youths like hidden pearls. (Surat at-Tur, 24)

Believers, whom Allah has made worthy of Paradise, are highly select and valuable persons. The fact that they are in a position of "high honor" (Surat as-Saffat, 42) shows the value that Allah places upon them. The servants mentioned above, who attend immediately to the believers' every wish and give them free and interrupted service, are described in the Qur'an as ageless young men:

Ageless youths will circulate among them, serving them. Seeing them, you would think them scattered pearls. (Surat al-Insan, 19)

These servants, whose sole purpose is to attend to the believers' wishes, and the fact that the blessings are freely offered with such perfect service, are other examples of glorious beauty. The gadgets used in this service also have great value and are of high quality, for:

Platters and cups of gold will be passed around among them, and they will have there all that their hearts desire and in which their eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 71)

While in this world, believers attend to many things, among them getting as close as possible to the blessings of life in Paradise. We can learn about the magnificent material used for clothing there. Allah teaches people in this world to wear fine clothing, as stated in:

O Children of Adam! We have sent down clothing to you to conceal your private parts, and fine apparel. But the garment of the fear of Allah - that is the best! That is one of Allah's Signs, so that hopefully you will pay heed. (Surat al-A'raf, 26)

In Surat al-A'raf, 31, Allah urges believers to wear clean and fine clothing: "O Children of Adam! Wear fine clothing in every mosque. Eat and drink, but do not be profligate. He does not love the profligate." Therefore, the clothing worn in Paradise will be several times more splendid and stylish than worldly clothing. The Qur'an especially mentions two kinds of material found in Paradise: silk and brocade. For example, it states that believers will wear "fine silk and rich brocade, face to face with one another" (Surat ad-Dukhan, 53). In this world, these two materials are rare, expensive, and of high quality. Such clothing will give great aesthetic pleasure both to the person wearing them and the one who sees them being worn. The beauty and splendor of this clothing only enhances the perfection of those who wear it.

Of course, the material and clothing found there is not limited to these two, for Allah, Who granted these great rewards, will clothe the people of Paradise in many more beautiful garments made of many more beautiful materials. He can create clothing styles and materials that are unknown to us in this world.

The Qur'an tells us that this beautiful clothing is ornamented with jewelry to enhance its attractiveness. Gold and silver bracelets and pearls are mentioned specifically, as in the following verses:

Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, where they will be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk. (Surat al-Hajj, 23)

They will wear green garments of fine silk and rich brocade. They will be adorned with silver bracelets. And their Lord will give them a pure draught to drink. (Surat al-Insan, 21)

As this verse maintains, beautiful jewelry complements fine clothing, and both offered for the pleasure of believers.

The basic quality of the materials in Paradise is their varied delicacy and striking beauty, both of which are reflections of Allah's eternal knowledge and artistry. For example, thrones are inlaid with precious stones and arranged carefully in high places; clothing is made of silk and brocade, and adorned with gold and silver ornaments.

Allah has given many details about Paradise in the Qur'an, but the expressions that He has used allow believers to use their imagination open. In Paradise, (Allah surely knows best) every believer will have all kinds of blessings, views, and places especially designed for his or her own pleasure. Of course, apart from the blessings announced in the Qur'an, Allah has prepared many more surprises for believers, whom He has made worthy of Paradise.

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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.

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