By Babatunde Jose
Many sources agree that paradise has “various degrees and levels”. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was once credited to have assured the mother of a martyr: “O Umm Haritha, there are gardens in Paradise … and your son has attained the highest, Firdaus”, indicating a hierarchy of levels. But he did not say how many levels there are.
Scriptural suggestions allude to the fact that there are many levels of Jannah and not all the locations of paradise and hell are easily discernible or indeed mutually reconcilable.
For example, Q.23:17 states: “We created above you seven paths (Ṭarā’iq)”, from which is drawn a heaven of seven tiers, “a structure familiar to Middle Eastern cosmogony since the early Babylonian days”.
Some descriptions of Jannah/the Garden indicate that the most spacious and highest part of the Garden is Firdaus which is directly under the Throne, and the place from which the four rivers of Paradise flow.
Another possibility is that there are four separate realms of the Garden, of which either Firdaus or Eden is the uppermost. This is based on Surah 55, which talks about two Gardens: But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord, there will be two Gardens. (Quran 55:46)
Here two Gardens are mentioned, and indeed they are four, counting the other two mentioned in Sura 55:62-76. Opinions are divided about this, but the best opinion is that the two mentioned in verses 46-61 are for the degree of those nearest to Allah. And those in verses 62-76 for the Companions of the Right Hand.
According to one source only God knows the exact number of the levels of Paradise.
Two verses of the Quran (Q.7:40, 39:73) mention “gates” or “doors” (using the plural form) as the entrance of paradise, but say nothing about their number, names, or any other characteristics.
“To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven …” (Q.7:40)
“And those who kept their duty to their Lord (Al-Muttaqoon – the pious) will be led to Paradise in groups till when they reach it, and its gates will be opened” (Q.39:73)
In traditions, the highest level is known as Firdaus (sometimes called Eden) or Illiyin. Entrants will be greeted by angels with salutations of peace, As-Salamu Alaykum.
Notably and contrary to many ideas on heaven, God (Allah) does not reside in paradise.
Life after death takes two forms: a life in Paradise for those in whom their good deeds preponderate over the evil and a life in hell for the evil doers.
As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise, (Quran 18:107)
The description of Paradise as a garden with flowing rivers is a parable or a likeness and not an actuality as we know it here.
Inside there will be neither too much heat nor bitter cold; there will be fountains (Q.88:10), abundant shade from spreading tree branches green with foliage (Q.53:14-16, also Q.36:56–57). They will be passed a cup (Q 88:10–16) full of wine “wherefrom they will get [no] aching of the head” (hangovers) [Q.56:19], and “which leads to no idle talk or sinfulness” (Q.52:23), and every meat (Q.52:22) and trees from which an unceasing supply of fruits grow (Q.36:56–57), “that looks similar ˹but tastes different˺”;(Q.2:25) adornment with golden and pearl bracelets (Q.35:33) and green garments of fine silk and brocade (Q.18:31); attended upon by [ghulman] (Q.52:24), servant-boys (eternal youths (56:17, 74:19)) like spotless pearls (Q.52:24).
The Quran explains: The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised! –Beneath it flows rivers: Perpetual is the enjoyment thereof and the shade therein: Such is the End of the Righteous; and the End of Unbelievers is the Fire. (Quran 13:35)
Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them–as a reward for their (good) Deeds. (Quran 32:17)
The prophet (SAW) said: “Allah says I have prepared for my righteous servants what no eye has seen, and no ear has heard, and what the mind has not conceived.” Bukhari
The fruits of Paradise, whatever the names mentioned, are not the fruits of this life. Similarly, is the case with the rivers of water, milk and honey all of which are plainly spoken of as a parable; the thrones, cushions, and carpets; the ornaments, bracelets and silk robes, are not things of this world and only serve to perfect the picture of the happiness of man as his sense are incapable of perceiving these things. They are only a likeness as is explained in the Quran.
The resurrection means quite a new life and new order of things, a new heaven, and a new earth. Paradise extends over the whole of heaven and the universe: Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous, (Quran 3:132)
The prophet (SAW) was asked, if Paradise encompasses all the universe, where then is Hell; he replied: Where is the night when the day comes? This shows that Paradise and Hell are more like two conditions.
Watchful preparation in Life, and the light of faith, which reflects the divine light are matters of personal life and cannot be borrowed from another. So, in Christ’s ‘Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 15:1-13), when the foolish ones had let their lamps go out for want of oil, they asked to borrow oil from the wise ones, but the wise ones answered and said, “Not so; but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves”.
The wall will divide Good from Evil. But the Gateway in it will show that communication will not be cut off. Evil must realize that Good-i.e., Mercy and Felicity-had been within its reach, and that the wrath which envelops it is due to its own rejection of Mercy.
It is in this vein that those who have conspired to make our lives miserable in this country will find themselves on the other side of the Resurrection divide. These include, the 10 percenters: Embezzlers, outright raiders of the Exchequer, subsidy racketeers, kidnappers and the wreckers of our economy, including the Dasukites.
As noted earlier, the things mentioned about Paradise are not the things of this world. It is therefore, with the same end in view that mention is made of the company of men and women in that state to which sensually minded people have attached a sensual significance.
This is the root of the misconception of ‘women in Paradise’. Nowhere in the Quran is it suggested that there would be a sexual orgy between men and women in Paradise. This idea is a figment of the lustful imagination of depraved minds who think of part of the pleasures of paradise as having sexual intercourse with young virgins. Perish the thought. Like they say, ‘dead body no de smoke’. The Quran makes no such promise. The wives of the righteous are mentioned as accompanying their husbands in paradise as co-beneficiaries of Allah’s Grace:
They and their associates will be in cool groves of (cool) shade, reclining on Thrones (of dignity); (Quran 36:56) See also (Quran 40:8)
According to the Quran concerning women in Paradise, we read: We have created (their Companions) of special creation. And made them virgin pure (and undefiled), Beloved (by nature), equal in age, For the Companions of the Right Hand. (Quran 56:35-38)
What is true of women is also true of children in Paradise. Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness), (Quran 56:17)
And those who believe and whose families follow them in Faith, –to them shall We join their families: Nor shall We deprive them (of the fruit) of aught of their works: (yet) is each individual in pledge for his deeds. (Quran 52:21)
Literally, progeny, offspring, family; applied by extension to mean all near and dear ones. Love is unselfish, and works not merely, or chiefly, for self, but for others; provided the others have faith and respond according to their capacities or degrees, they will be joined together. Even though on individual merits their rank might be less.
As already noted, though the love poured out by Prophets, ancestors, descendants, friends, or good men and women, will secure for their loved ones the enjoyment of their society, it is an indispensable condition that the loved ones should also, have shown their faith and their goodness in deeds.
Each individual is responsible for his conduct. You cannot ride on the good deeds of loved ones, parents and so on to enter the kingdom. Your own good works must speak for you.
Allah hath promised to Believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers
flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting bliss.
But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah: That is the supreme felicity. (Quran 9:72)
The ultimate goal of Paradise is our meeting with God. And that life is above all corporeal conceptions.
“…Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us and grant us Forgiveness: For Thou hast power over all things.” (Quran 66:8)
The true joys of Paradise are thus really the true joys of advancement in righteousness.
The truth is that only the righteous shall experience paradise, and we pray to be counted among them; including our departed ones: Amin.
Barka Juma’at and a happy weekend.
