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The word ‘Ar-Raheem’ is repeated in the Holy Qur’an 115 times as the name of Allah. Mercy implies a comparison with other beings or with other times or places, while there is no being like unto Allah. Mercy may imply piety, patience, or forgiveness – all which the sinner needs and Allah Most Merciful bestows in abundant measure. Where the terrible consequences of evil (the rejection of Allah) are mentioned, there is always stress laid on Allah’s attributes of Grace and Mercy.
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9. The Fragrance of Paradise
Paradise is filled with a wonderfully pleasing fragrance, which the believers will be able to discern from a great distance. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever kills a man of ahl adh-dhimmah (non-Muslim living under Islamic rule and protection) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance can be detected from a distance of forty years’ traveling.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’ as-Sagheer)
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6. The springs of Paradise
In Paradise, many springs provide drinks of different tastes. Allah (SWT) said: “Truly, the pious and righteous people will be amidst Gardens and water-springs.” (Qurán 15: 45)
There are two springs from which the Muqarraboon (those nearest to Allah) will drink pure and undiluted, while the Abraar (pious, who fear Allah and avoid evil) will drink their water mixed with something else. The two springs are as follows:
a) The spring of Kafoor. Allah “(SWT) said: “Verily, the Abraar shall drink a cup (of wine) mixed with water from a spring in Paradise called Kafoor., a spring where the slaves of Allah will drink, causing it to gush forth abundantly.” (Qurán 76:5-6)
b) The spring of Tasnim. Allah (SWT) said: “They will be given to drink pure sealed wine, the last thereof (that wine) will be the smell of musk, and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive. It (that wine) will be mixed with Tasneem, a spring whereof drink those nearest to Allah.” (Qurán 83: 25-28)
7. The palaces of Paradise
Allah will build good and beautiful dwellings for the people of Paradise. In some places in the Qurán, Allah (SWT) described these dwellings as ghurafaat (chambers or dwellings): “And they will reside in the high dwellings (paradise) in peace and security.” (Qurán 34: 37). Allah (SWT) described these gurafaat: “But those who fear Allah and keep their duty to their Lord, for them are built lofty rooms, one above the other, under which rivers flow. (This is) the promise of Allah and Allah does not fail in (His) promise.” (Qurán 39: 20)
Ibnu Katheer said: “Allah has told us about His blessed servants who will have rooms (dwellings) in Paradise: these will be lofty palaces ‘lofty room, one above the other’- storey upon storey, well-constructed, strong and decorated. The Prophet described these palaces to us. According to a hadith narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban from Abu Malik al-Ashári and Tirmidhi from Ali (RA) the Prophet (saw) said: “In Paradise, there are dwellings whose inside can be seen from the outside, and the outside can be seen from inside. Allah has prepared them for those who feed the hungry, and speak softly and gently, and fast continuously, and pray at night whilst the people are asleep.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’as-Sagheer)
Allah has also told us that there are tents or pavilions in Paradise. He (SWT) said: “Houris (beautiful, fair ladies) restrained in pavilions.”(Qurán 55: 72). These pavilions are wondrous tents, made of pearls – each one is made from a single, hollowed-out pearl. They are sixty miles high; according to some reports they are sixty miles wide. Bukhari reported from Abdullah Ibn Qays that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The tent is a hollowed out pearl, thirty miles high; in each corner of it the believer will have a wife whom no one else can see.”(Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) also told us about the characteristics of the palaces of some of his wives and companions. Bukhari and Muslim reported that Abu Hurairah said: “Jibreel came to the Prophet (SAW) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Khadijah is coming, carrying a container of food. When she comes to you, convey to her greetings of peace from her Lord and me, and give her the glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of brocade, in which there is no noise or exhaustion.’” (Mishkaat al-Masabeeh)
8. The light of paradise
Imam Qurtubi said: “The scholars said, there is no night and day in Paradise; rather they will be in eternal everlasting light. They will know when night comes because curtains or screens will be put up and doors will be closed, and they will know when the day comes because the curtains or screens will be taken down and the doors will be opened.” (At-Tadhkirah)
Allah (SWT) said: “And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Paradise, which We shall give as an inheritance to those of Our servants who have been pious and righteous.” (Qurán 19:62-63). Ibnu Kathir interpreted the verse “This means something approximate to the times of day and night; it does not mean that there will be day and night there. They will know the passing of time by changes in the light.”(Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
On the same subject, Ibnu Taymiyah said: “There is no sun or moon in Paradise, and no day or night, but they will know morning and evening from a light that shines from the direction of the Throne.”(Majmoo’al-Fatawa Sheikh al-Islam).
(to be continued)
by Umar S. al-Ashqar
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