Several Questions regarding the Paradise
Author: Ustadz Said Yai, Lc. MA
Here are several questions regarding the paradise which might be unfamiliar to some muslims.
What is the first food to be served upon entering the Paradise?
This is among the unseen matters that is known only by revelation from Allah or His messenger – peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- . The answer is in the hadith below:
عن أَنَسٌ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَلَامٍ بَلَغَهُ مَقْدَمُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَتَاهُ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَائِلُكَ عَنْ ثَلَاثٍ لَا يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلَّا نَبِيٌّ مَا أَوَّلُ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ وَمَا أَوَّلُ طَعَامٍ يَأْكُلُهُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ وَمَا بَالُ الْوَلَدِ يَنْزِعُ إِلَى أَبِيهِ أَوْ إِلَى أُمِّهِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي بِهِ جِبْرِيلُ آنِفًا قَالَ ابْنُ سَلَامٍ ذَاكَ عَدُوُّ الْيَهُودِ مِنْ الْمَلَائِكَةِ قَالَ أَمَّا أَوَّلُ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ فَنَارٌ تَحْشُرُهُمْ مِنْ الْمَشْرِقِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ وَأَمَّا أَوَّلُ طَعَامٍ يَأْكُلُهُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ فَزِيَادَةُ كَبِدِ الْحُوتِ وَأَمَّا الْوَلَدُ فَإِذَا سَبَقَ مَاءُ الرَّجُلِ مَاءَ الْمَرْأَةِ نَزَعَ الْوَلَدَ وَإِذَا سَبَقَ مَاءُ الْمَرْأَةِ مَاءَ الرَّجُلِ نَزَعَتْ الْوَلَدَ قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ.
(1). It is narrated from Anas -may Allah be pleased with him – that when ‘Abdullah Ibn Salam heard about the arrival of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, he visited him and asked about several things. He said, “I’d like to ask you three things, of which no one knows the answers except the prophets. What is the first of the portents of the Hour? What is the first food eaten by the resident of Paradise? What causes a child to resemble his father or mother?”. He -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- answered, “Angel Gabriel has just told me (the answers).” Ibn Salam replied, “He is the enemy of the jews among the angels.” Then the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- continued, “The first portent of the portents of the Hour is the emergence of fire that can gather human being from the east to the west. As for the first food eaten by the residents of Paradise is a small meat that adheres on fish’s liver. As for children, if a man’s semen precedes woman’s (to reach the womb), then it will resemble its father, and if the woman’s fluid precedes man’s semen (to reach the womb), it will resemble its mother. ” then Abdullah Ibn Salam said, “Asyhadu an La ilaha illallah wa annaka rasulullah” (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that you are Allah’s messenger). [1]
Thus, the first food Allah the Glorified and Exalted will serve to the residents of Paradise is a small lump of meat that sticks to fish’s heart. However, I need to remind that whatever lies in Paradise will not bear any resemblance to whatever exists in this world. Even if it has similar naming, it doesn’t mean that it resembles worldly object. It only resembles it in name, and certainly, whatever exists in Paradise is beyond imagination, of its delicacy, pleasures, and luxury.
How many doors are there in Paradise and what are their names?
We all know that Paradise has some doors. But how many of it? The number of its doors are explained in the hadith below:
عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ ثَمَانِيَةُ أَبْوَابٍ فِيهَا بَابٌ يُسَمَّى الرَّيَّانَ لَا يَدْخُلُهُ إِلَّا الصَّائِمُونَ.
(2). It is narrated from Sahl Ibn Sa’d -may Allah be pleased with him- that the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be on him- said, “The paradise has eight doors. There is a door called Ar Rayyan. None enters it except people who fast frequently.“[2]
Thus, the number of the doors of Paradise is eight. In the hadith above, it is mentioned about the name of one of the doors. Are there any information from the hadith about the names of the other doors?
Yes, there are, and the scholars have agreed upon four names of those doors, and they differed regarding the names of the rest. Four agreed names of the doors of Paradise are: door of prayer, door of jihad, door of Rayyan, and door of shadaqah (alms, charity). It is mentioned in the hadith below:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : (( مَنْ أَنْفَقَ زَوْجَيْنِ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ نُودِىَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ ، هَذَا خَيْرٌ . فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّلاَةِ دُعِىَ مِنْ بَابِ الصَّلاَةِ ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجِهَادِ دُعِىَ مِنْ بَابِ الْجِهَادِ ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصِّيَامِ دُعِىَ مِنْ بَابِ الرَّيَّانِ ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّدَقَةِ دُعِىَ مِنْ بَابِ الصَّدَقَةِ )) . فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ – رضى الله عنه – بِأَبِى أَنْتَ وَأُمِّى يَا رسول الله … فَهَلْ يُدْعَى أَحَدٌ مِنْ تِلْكَ الأَبْوَابِ كُلِّهَا قَالَ: (( نَعَمْ . وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ )) .
It is narrated from Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- that the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “Whoever gives a living to a pair of husband and wife in Allah’s Cause, will be called from beneath the Paradise’s doors, ‘O slave of Allah, this is the door for you!”. Whoever included among people who love to perform prayer, will be called from the door of prayer. Whoever included among people who love to perform jihad, will be called from the door of jihad. Whoever included among people who love to perform fast, will be called from the door of Rayyan. Whoever included among people who love to spend their wealth in charity, will be called from the door of charity. Abu Bakr -may Allah be pleased with him
– said, “By my father and mother, O Allah’s messenger! Is there anyone who are called from all of those doors?”. He -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- then said, “Yes, and I wish you are one of them.” [3]
As for the other four doors, the scholars have different opinions regarding it. I’ve collected the names, as follows:
- The door of repentance
- The door of Al Kadzhimin al-ghaizh wal ‘Afina ‘anin Nas (the door for people who are able to hold their anger and forgive others)
- The door of Ar Radhina (the pleased people)
- The door of Al Aiman (People who are in the right side)
- The door of Al Hajj
- The door of Al ‘Amal (good deed)
- The door of Ash Shabirin (the patient ones)
- The door of A, Hafidzin ( People who maintain their dignity)
- The door of knowledge
- The main door of Paradise, entered before the residents of Paradise enter the other doors,
And several other opinions, [4]
What is the highest place in Paradise?
Is it the Firdaus? In fact, it is not Firdaus. There is another place, of which no one shall reside in it except Prophet Muhammad -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-. Its name is mentioned in the following hadith.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَقُولُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَقُولُ ثُمَّ صَلُّوا عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا ثُمَّ سَلُوا اللَّهَ لِي الْوَسِيلَةَ فَإِنَّهَا مَنْزِلَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَا تَنْبَغِي إِلَّا لِعَبْدٍ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ وَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ أَنَا هُوَ فَمَنْ سَأَلَ لِي الْوَسِيلَةَ حَلَّتْ لَهُ الشَّفَاعَةُ
(4) It is narrated by ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Al ‘Ash , that the heard the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, saying, “If you hear the caller calling for prayer, said like what he said! then recite salawat upon me! indeed, whoever recite salawat upon me once, I’ll recite it upon him ten times. Then ask Allah to give me Al Washilah. Verily, it is a place in Paradise that is not given except for one slave among the slaves of Allah. i wish that I am that person. Whoever asks for me al Washilah, I’ll allow him to have my intercession .” [5]
Thus, the highest place in Paradise is Al Washilah. Therefore, we are ordered to ask Allah for Al Washilah for the Prophet after hearing the calling for prayer, so that Allah the Glorified and Exalted bestow Al Washilah to the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- in Paradise.
What is the lowest place in Paradise?
Beside having the highest place, the Paradise also possesses the lowest place. What is it like? Lets read a hadith below:
عن الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ شُعْبَةَ « سَأَلَ مُوسَى رَبَّهُ مَا أَدْنَى أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ مَنْزِلَةً قَالَ هُوَ رَجُلٌ يَجِىءُ بَعْدَ مَا أُدْخِلَ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ الْجَنَّةَ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ. فَيَقُولُ أَىْ رَبِّ كَيْفَ وَقَدْ نَزَلَ النَّاسُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ وَأَخَذُوا أَخَذَاتِهِمْ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَتَرْضَى أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ مِثْلُ مُلْكِ مَلِكٍ مِنْ مُلُوكِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ رَضِيتُ رَبِّ. فَيَقُولُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ وَمِثْلُهُ وَمِثْلُهُ وَمِثْلُهُ وَمِثْلُهُ. فَقَالَ فِى الْخَامِسَةِ رَضِيتُ رَبِّ. فَيَقُولُ هَذَا لَكَ وَعَشَرَةُ أَمْثَالِهِ وَلَكَ مَا اشْتَهَتْ نَفْسُكَ وَلَذَّتْ عَيْنُكَ.
فَيَقُولُ رَضِيتُ رَبِّ.
(5). It is narrated by Al Mughirah Bin Syu’bah, he said, “Moses -peace be upon him- asked his Lord, ‘What is the lowest place in Paradise?’. Allah replied, ‘(It is the place of a person) who is admitted in Paradise after other people were admitted into it. Then he said. ‘But my Lord! People have taken their places and shares?’. Then it is said to him, ‘Will you be pleased with the possession of kingdom as a king among the kings of the world?’. he said, ‘Yes, I am pleased, O my Lord?.’ Then Allah continued, ‘For you, that kind of kingdom and the like, and the like, and the like, and the like, ‘ then at the fifth times, the man said, “I am pleased O my Lord!”. Then Allah continued, ‘It is all for you, and for you I give ten times of it and all that you wish and pleases you eyes.'”[6]
This is the lowest place in Paradise, it is five times the pleasures of a king in this world, plus ten folds of that pleasures, plus whatever a person wishes and whatever pleases his eyes. If this is the lowest pleasure in Paradise, then it is certainly unimaginable for us, the pleasure of Firdaus? The highest Paradise, that the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- ordered us to ask for it from Allah.
What kind of human that mostly populate the Paradise?
Knowing the answer of this question is very important, and it lies in a hadith below:
عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ -صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- قَالَ: (( اطَّلَعْتُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ وَاطَّلَعْتُ فِي النَّارِ فَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا النِّسَاءَ.))
(6)
It is narrated by Imran Ibn Hushain that the Prophet peace and prayer of Allah be upon him said
“I’ve seen the residents of Paradise, and I see that most of them are the poor. I’ve also seen the Hell, and I see that most of them are women.” [7]
The most populated kind of human being in Paradise are the poor, whereas the most populated ones in Hell are women. What if the person is rich, and also a woman? Surely her chance to enter the Hell is greater.
Is the number of men in Paradise outnumber women?
There is no exact indication that explains about this matter. However. Some scholars said that the number of men is more than women, based on a hadith below:
عن عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- فِي هَذَا الشِّعْبِ إِذْ قَالَ: (( انْظُرُوا هَلْ تَرَوْنَ شَيْئًا؟ )) فَقُلْنَا نَرَى غِرْبَانًا فِيهَا غُرَابٌ أَعْصَمُ أَحْمَرُ الْمِنْقَارِ وَالرِّجْلَيْنِ, فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ-: (( لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ مِنْهُنَّ مِثْلَ هَذَا الْغُرَابِ فِي الْغِرْبَانِ.))
(7) it is narrated from ‘Amr Ibn ‘Ash -may Allah be pleased with him- that he said, “While we were together with the Messenger of Allah here, he suddenly said, ‘Look at there! Do you see anything?’ We answered, ‘We see a lot of crows, and among the crows, there is one which beak and feet are a little reddish.’ Then the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “Women will not enter the Paradise except just like that crow compared to the rest of the crows.”[8]
If you, dear reader, are a woman, hopefully your are among that small group of women. And may Allah enter us all in His paradise. Aamiin.
Is there any market in Paradise?
There is a market (suuq) in Paradise that is used as the place to gather for all of the residents of Paradise, and it is of course different from any market in this world. It is explained in this hadith below:
عنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- قَالَ: (( إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَسُوقًا يَأْتُونَهَا كُلَّ جُمُعَةٍ فَتَهُبُّ رِيحُ الشَّمَالِ فَتَحْثُو فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ وَثِيَابِهِمْ فَيَزْدَادُونَ حُسْنًا وَجَمَالًا فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَى أَهْلِيهِمْ وَقَدْ ازْدَادُوا حُسْنًا وَجَمَالًا فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ أَهْلُوهُمْ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ ازْدَدْتُمْ بَعْدَنَا حُسْنًا وَجَمَالًا فَيَقُولُونَ وَأَنْتُمْ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ ازْدَدْتُمْ بَعْدَنَا حُسْنًا وَجَمَالًا.))
(8) It is narrated from Anas Ibn Malik -may Allah be pleased with him- that the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “Indeed, there is a market in Paradise. People come to it every Friday. The a wind will blow and touch their faces and clothes. Thus, they will be in better condition and more handsome. Then their family say, “By Allah! Now you’re getting better looking and more handsome’. And they reply, “So are you. You’re getting better looking and more handsome.” [9]
That is the residents of Paradise. Allah always adds their pleasure and beauty, which is different from the dwellers of Hell, of whom Allah will only add His torments for them upon their punishment.
What is the greatest pleasure Allah gives in Paradise?
This is the most important question to understand, since some of muslims are misled and go astray. The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- told us in his saying.
عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى تُرِيدُونَ شَيْئًا أَزِيدُكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ أَلَمْ تُبَيِّضْ وُجُوهَنَا أَلَمْ تُدْخِلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَتُنَجِّنَا مِنْ النَّارِ قَالَ فَيَكْشِفُ الْحِجَابَ فَمَا أُعْطُوا شَيْئًا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ النَّظَرِ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
(9) It is narrated from Shuhaib -may Allah be pleased with him- that the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, ‘When those deserving of Paradise would enter Paradise, the Blessed and the Exalted would ask: Do you wish Me to give you anything more? They would say: Hast Thou not brightened our faces? Hast Thou not made us enter Paradise and saved us from Fire? He (the narrator) said: He (God) would lift the veil, and of things given to them nothing would he dearer to them than the sight of their Lord, the Mighty and the Glorious.'”[10]
This is the greatest pleasure Allah gives to the residents of Paradise, which is allowing them to gaze at Allah’s face -Glorified and Exalted be He.
The residents of Paradise will see Allah in paradise with their own two eyes, nothing obscure their views. They will not see it with their hearts, as believed by some misguided muslims. And the indication for it is the following hadith,
عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةً يَعْنِي الْبَدْرَ فَقَالَ إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْقَمَرَ لَا تُضَامُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَتِهِ
(10) It is narrated by Jarir Ibn ‘Abdillah -may Allah be pleased with him-, that he said, “In the past, when we were with the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, and he looked above at the moon on the night of full moon. Then he said, ‘Indeed, you’ll see your Lord just like you see that moon. Nothing will obscure your view/nothing will trouble you in seeing Him.'” [11]
(11){ وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاضِرَةٌ (22) إِلَى رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ (23) }
(22) Some faces on that Day will be fresh and resplendent, (23) and will be looking towards their Lord;” (Chapter Al Qiyamah:22-23)
With these two indications, it is evident that in Paradise, the believers will be able to physically gaze at Allah’s face.
And guidance is with Allah.
——-
Footnotes:
[1] Narrated by Al-Bukhari no. 3329
[2] Narrated by Al-Bukhari no. 3257
[3] Narrated by AL-Bukhari no. 1897
[4] please refer to the author’s thesis in Islamic University of Medina, KSA, titled, Syarhu Al-Ahadits Ash-Shahihah allati infarada biha Ad-Darimi ‘ala Al-Kutub As-Sittah min Kitab Ar-Riqaq’ page 34-37.
[5] Narrated by Muslim no. 875
[6] Narrated by Muslim no. 485
[7] Narrated by Al-Bukhari no. 3241 and Muslim from Ibn ‘Abbas -may Allah be pleased with him- no. 7114 with similar context.
[8] Narrated By Ahmad no. 17770. It is classified as sound hadith by Sheikh Al-Albani in ‘Ash-Shahihah’ no. 1850.
[9] Narrated by Muslim no. 7324
[10] Narrated By Muslim no. 467
[11] Narrated By Al-Bukhari no. 554 and Muslim no. 1466