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 pointis expressed as:
They will hear no idle talknor any lying there, as a recompensation
from your Lord, a commensurate gift. (Suratan-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! Youhave 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
themfrom 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 thewage 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
searingwind. Beforehand we certainly used to call uponHim 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 notto die [again,] beyond ourprevious 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 themembers of their
intimatecircle trying to make themdeviate 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." Theintercession 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 ....
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