us. Truly our Lord isEver-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 willcome 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 thepunishment of the searing
wind. Beforehand we certainlyused 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! Wewould 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!" Theirgreeting there
is:"Peace!" The end of theircall 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 isEver-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 almostruined me! If it were notfor the blessing of
my Lord, I would surely be [now] among those whoare 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 seethe members of their
intimate circle trying to make them deviate fromthe 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 didin
the world.
The verses below tell about the words spoken between the people of
Paradise and those in Hell, and give expressionto 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 whoplunged, and denied theDay of
Judgment until the Certainty came to us." The intercession of those
who intercede willnot help them. (Surat al-Muddaththir, 40-48)
So, the people in Hell confess the evil that theydid 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!"
Betweenthem 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 itcrooked, 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
youas provision." They will say: "Allah has forbiddenthem 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. Sotoday 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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