The Natural Beauty of Paradise

"What is the example [i.e.,description] of Paradise promised to the
righteouslike? It has rivers flowing under it, and its foodstuffsand
cool shade never fail. That is the final fate of those who have done
their duty. But the final fate of the disbelievers is the Fire."
(Surat ar-Ra'd, 35)
Natural beauty and greenery are among Paradise's wonderful blessings.
Mansions built in gardens, right next to springs, are another beauty.
Paradise, in whichthere is "neither burning sun nor bitter cold"
(Surat al-Insan, 13), has such a pleasant climate that no one is made
uncomfortable. It containsno exhausting sweaty heat or freezing cold.
In Paradise, Allah will admit believers into "cool, refreshing shade"
(Surat an-Nisa', 57)
The expression"refreshing shade," along with revealing that the
climate will be comfortable and just as a person would want it, points
out that Paradise's environment and conditions have been designed to
give the human spirit true satiety and comfort. Every thing and
condition in Paradise will be just as a believer desires.
One of the natural beauties most mentioned by Allah in the Qur'an is
that of "outpouring water" (Surat al-Waqi'a, 31).
As we observe in this earthly life, the human spirit derives great
pleasure from water, especially flowing water. Lakes, rivers,
waterfalls, and streams flowing in a forest all speak to the human
spirit. All artificial pools and fountains in mansions, residences,
estates, and villa gardens, as well as artificial and natural streams,
arise from this longing for the spiritual aesthetic.
The main reason why these esthetic views are so pleasurable is because
the human spirit has beencreated for Paradise. These beauties are
described elsewhere, as follows:
In them [two other Gardens] are two gushing springs. (Surat ar-Rahman,66)
The sight and sound of flowing water comfort and gladden the human
heart. The sight and sound of water falling from above give pleasure
and are a means wherebypeople can give thanks to Allah and praise His
name.Especially if the water flows in the hills, among trees and
greenery or runs over stones, it is a really impressive sight. It
either collects in the placewhere it falls, or forms pools and flows
from one place to another. Continually flowing wateris a sign of
endless and inexhaustible plenty.
As we learn in Surat al-Hijr, 45: "The heedful will be amid Gardens
and Springs." Another verse reads: "The heedful will be in shady nooks
by springs" (Surat al-Mursalat, 41)
The "shady nooks" may be special spaces created so that believers can
sit and observe all of this beauty. (Allah knows best)As with
mansions, these shady nooks also are placed in high places so that the
people in Paradise can view the beauty below and see its many details.
Shady nooks offer special pleasure to believers. For example, people
are served various kinds of food and fruits there, come together there
and hold pleasurable conversations, and enjoy themselves there. Their
being placed next to springs, spaces that give pleasure to the human
soul, adds to their attractiveness. From thesesprings flow delicious
waters.
Another natural beauty is the gardens. For example, the "lush Meadows
of the Gardens" mentioned Suratash-Shura, 22 have been prepared only
for believers. One of their particular features is the harmony of
natural beauty contained therein. Within them grow a never-ending
variety of plants, similar to the mostdelicate and sweet-smelling ones
on Earth, and several species of animals, both known and unknown to
us.
The gardens are adorned with various fruit and other types of trees,
plains of "deep viridian green" (Surat ar-Rahman, 64) plants and
flowers, and, in some places, poolsand fountains. Surat al-Waqi'a also
mentions"fruit-laden lote-trees with thorns removed" and "[banana]
trees layered [with fruit]" (28-29)....

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Take protection with your shields

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates: Rasulullah (SAW)came to us and said: Take
protection with your shields! Sahabah (Prophet's companions) asked: O
Rasulullah! is there a threat of some enemy coming? He said: Take
protection with yourshields against the Fire (ofHell)! Say,
Subhanallah (Allah is flawless), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah),
La ilaha illallah (None is worthy of worship but Allah), Allahu Akbar
(Allah is the Greatest). On the Day of Resurrection, these words will
come from the front, back, right and left (defence from all sides) of
the one who had recited them, and ensure deliverence for him, and
these are those good deeds for which the reward will be given
eternally.

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Is the one who commitsa sin and tells people not to do it a hypocrite?

I have a problem, everyday i only communicate my feelings to people in
order to get to Allah. For example; I feel guilty about a sin thati do
and then i will regret it and ask for forgiveness constantly and only
cry if igive an Islamic talk about it to warn people away from it.
Every day i hate myself for only being ableto express my true regret
through people to Allah, i feel like im showing off and everytime i
intend to do something, there is a battle between me an shaytan to do
the intention for Allah. I am trying to stop speaking toboys in
college but in my sociology class there are two practicing boys and
everytime i talk about Islam i can't say it out load but i wisper it
in fear of showing off. I then onlyshout or say out load Jahilstuff
but i become very easily worried about whatpeople think of me. I show
off in the deen and fear i shall become a hypocrite or be led
astray,it's a battle to do one deed for Allah sometimes and i feel
like i can't express to Allah my full regret without using people.
Praise be to Allaah.
We ask Allah to make us and you steadfast in adherence to His
religion, and to ward off from us the plots of the Shaytaan, for he is
a clear enemy who seeks to lead people astray. You should note that
enjoining what is good and forbidding whatis evil is one of the
characteristics of the believers. Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"The believers, men and women, are Awliya (helpers, supporters,
friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people)
Al-Maroof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to
do), and forbid (people)from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief
of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden)"
[at-Tawbah 9:71].
But the one who wants toenjoin what is good and forbid what is evil
should not let his actions contradict his words; rather he should
enjoin what is good and do it, and he should forbid what is evil and
avoid it. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of
themeaning):
"O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?
Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do"
[as-Saff 61:2-3].
And Shu 'ayb (peace be upon him) said:
"I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you"
[Hood 11:88].
Al-Bukhaari (3267) and Muslim (2989) narrated that Usaamah ibn Zayd
(may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "Aman will be brought
on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire; his intestines
will spill forth in the Fire and he will go around as a donkey goes
around the millstone. The people of Hell will gather around him and
will say: O So andso, what is the matter with you? Did you not enjoin
what is good and forbid what is evil? He will say: Yes, but I used
toenjoin good and not do it,and I used to forbid evil and do it."
Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
One of the qualities and characteristics that the daa'iyah (the one
who calls others to Allah) should – indeed must – have is that he must
act upon what he calls peopleto and he should be a good example of
what he is promoting. He should not be one of those who call people to
something then fail to do it themselves, or who tell people not to do
something, then do it. That is the state of the losers; we seek refuge
with Allah from that. As for the believers who will succeed, they call
people to the truth and act in accordance with it, striving and
hastening to attain it, and keeping away from that which they tell
others not to do.
End quote from Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 1/346
Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Part of the etiquette of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is
evil is that one should be the first to obey the commands and the
first toavoid what is forbidden.
End quote from Sharh Riyaadh as-Saaliheen, p. 202
If a person exhorts his brother concerning a sin that he himself has
fallen into, although this is something that is not befitting for the
Muslim, itdoes not come under the heading of hypocrisy or showing off.
The Standing Committee was asked:
If I exhort my brothers and warn them against certain sins, but I
myself fall into those sins, am I regarded as a hypocrite?
The Committee replied: You have to repent from sins and exhort your
brothers to avoid them. It is not permissible for you to commit sins
and fail to advise your brothers, because this is combining two sins.
You have to repent to Allah from that whilst still advising your
brothers.....

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An Easy Passage to the Next World

Those the angels take in avirtuous state. They say:"Peace be upon you!
EnterParadise for what you did."(Surat an-Nahl: 32)
Death in a Virtuous State
Up to this point, we have seen that sincere believerslive a good life
in this world, are not overcome with fear or pessimism, and have a
healthy and comfortable spiritual life. Since those who believe seek
Allah's pleasure, we learn from the Qur'an thatthey have won His
special assistance, support, and protection; their misdeedswill be
removed from them and that they will be rewarded according to the best
of what they did;and they will not be wronged. Since they"purchase"
the next life inexchange for this life, theyhave made what the Qur'an
calls a "good bargain." Allah is pleased with them, and they are
pleased with Him.
But what will happen to them at the end of their lives? Where and when
will Allah meet them at the hour He has appointed for their
death?Neither believers nor unbelievers know where and when they will
die. This fact is explained in Surah Luqman in these words:
Truly Allah has knowledgeof the Hour, sends down abundant rain, and
knowswhat is in the womb. And no self knows what it will earn
tomorrow, and no self knows in what land it will die. Allah is
All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Surah Luqman, 34)
Together with this, the Qur'an informs us how death will come to
believers, how their souls will be taken, and what will happen at the
moment of death. As far as we know, believers experience death as a
very gentle passage, like amomentary change in dimension. Just like
the person whom Allah causes to be "as dead during his sleep" (Surat
az-Zumar, 42) and wakes up the next morning to a new day, when
believers die, they will be taken outof the worldly dimension and pass
to the next dimension (Certainly Allahknows the truth.)
Allah announced this gentle and easy passage in Surat an-Nazi'at, 2,
where He points to the appointed angels and says "those who draw
outgently."
Another verse tells about the angels' conversation when they come to
take abeliever's soul:
Those the angels take in avirtuous state. They say:"Peace be upon you!
EnterParadise for what you did." (Surat an-Nahl, 32)
The following verse describes a believer's death:
The greatest terror will not upset them, and the angels will welcome
them: "This is your Day, the one that you were promised." (Surat
an-Anbiya', 103)
Clearly, believers who have led a good life in thisworld will have a
beautiful and easy death, and their life in the next world will begin
when they are met by angels. From that moment on, all of their
relations with thisworld will cease, and theywill be sent to an
appointed place where they will come before Allah's Presence. As it
was from the beginning, so it continues: comfort and ease await all
believers.

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