Guinness World Recordwith Coins

Philippine civic groups and charities lined up almost 73 kilometres
(45 miles) of coins recently ina bid to set a new Guinness World
Record and build schools for the poor.
Volunteers lay down sets of 25-centavo coins in an attempt to break
the Guinness World Record on the longest line of coins, now held by
the United States at 64.8 km (39 miles), at the Quirino Grandstand in
Manila November 30, 2011. Some 3.5 million pieces of 25-centavo coins
werecollected to complete a record breaking 70km (43 miles).

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The Well of Zamzam

The Well of Zamzam is a well located within the Masjid al Haram in
Mecca,Saudi Arabia, 20 meters east of the Kaaba, the holiest place in
Islam. According to Islamic tradition it was a miraculously- generated
source of water, which began thousands of years ago when Ibraham's
infant son was thirsty and kept crying for water and was kicking at
the ground when water gushed out. Millions of pilgrims visit the well
each year while performing the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages, in order to
drink its water. By Saudi law, the water cannot be sold outside ofthe
kingdom, but because of strong demand there is a thriving market in
fake Zamzam water in other countries.
Here are some interesting facts about Zamzam:
The Zamzam well was excavated by hand, and is about 30 metres deep and
1.08 to 2.66 metres in diameter.
It started 4000 yrs ago.
Zamzam water has no colour or smell, but it hasa distinct taste, and
its pHis 7.9-8.0, indicating that it is alkaline to some extent.
Never dried since then.
Never changed the taste, no Algea or plant growthin the pond, thus no
disease caused.
It taps groundwater fromthe wadi alluvium and some from the bedrock.
Originally water from thewell was drawn via ropesand buckets, but
today the well itself is in a basement room where it can be seen
behind glass panels (visitors are not allowed to enter). Electricpumps
draw the water, which is available throughout the Masjid via water
fountains and dispensing containers near the Tawaf area.
The water level is 3.23 metres (about 10.59 ft) below the surface.
This small pond provides water to millions of people through heavy
motors pulling 8000 litres/second for more than a 24 hour period
showed a drop in water level from 3.23 metres below surface to 12.72
metres and then to 13.39 metres, after which the water level stopped
receding. When pumpingstopped, the water level recovered to 3.9 metres
below surface only 11 minutes later. This data shows that the aquifer
feeding the well seems torecharge from rock fractures in neighbouring
mountainsaround Mecca.
It was tested by European Laboratories & declared fit for drinking.

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The Pleasures of Paradise

The reality of Paradise is something which peoplewill never be able to
understand until they actually enter it, but Godhas shown us glimpses
of it in the Quran. He has described it as a place essentially
different to the life of this world, both in the very nature and
purposeof life, as well as the types of delights which people will
enjoy therein. The Quran tells people about Paradise, which God
offers to them, describes its great blessings, and proclaims its
beauties to everyone. It informs people that Paradise is one of two
ways of life prepared forthem in the afterworld, and that every good
thing will be theirs in Paradise to a degree that surpasses our
present ability to imagine. It also shows that Paradise is a place
where all blessings have been created perfectly and where people will
be offered everything their souls and hearts will desire, and that
people will be far removed from want and need, anxiety or
sadness,sorrow and regret. Every kind of beauty andblessing exists in
Paradise and will be revealed with a perfection never seen orknown
before. God has prepared such blessings there as a gift, and
thesewill be offered only to people with whom He is pleased.
But what is the nature ofthese delights in Paradise, and how will itbe
different from the delights of this world? We will try to highlight
afew of these differences.
Pure delight without pain and suffering
While people in this world experience some delight, they also face
much toil and suffering. If one was to scrutinize the life which they
live, they will find that the amount of hardship theyface is much more
than the ease and comfort. Asfor the life of the Hereafter, there
will be no hardship nor suffering in it, and people will live therein
in pure joy and delight. All the causes of sorrow, pain and suffering
which people experience in this life will be absent in the Hereafter.
Let's take a look at some of these causes.
Wealth
When one thinks of success in this life, they usually conjure the
image of big houses, fine jewelry and clothing, and expensive cars;
financial stability is seen to be the key to a happy life. To most
people, success is inseparably related to wealth, even though thisis
the furthest from the truth. How many times have we seen the
wealthiest of people living such miserable lives, that it sometimes
even leads them to commit suicide! Wealth is something which humans
in their very nature desire at any cost, and this desire has been
created for a great and wise purpose. When this desire is not
satiated, it causes some extent of grief in a person. For this
reason, God has promised the inhabitants of Paradise that they will
have all that they imagined as far as wealth and belongings are
concerned, both for those who were extremely poor, experiencing even
hunger and thirst, to those well-to-do but who desired even more. God
gives us a glimpse of this when he says:
"… there will be there allthat the souls could desire, all that the
eyes could delight in …" (Quran 43:71)
"Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent forth (good deeds)
in days past!" (Quran 69:24)
"… They will be adorned therein with bracelets ofgold, and they will
wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will recline
therein on raised thrones. How good [is] the recompense! How
beautiful a couch [is there] to recline on!" (Quran 18:31)
Disease and Death
Another cause of pain and suffering in this life is the death of a
loved one or disease, which are both non-existent in Paradise. None
will feel any sickness or pain in Paradise. The Prophet Muhammad, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said about the people of
Paradise:
"They will never fall ill, blow their noses or spit."( Saheeh Al-Bukhari )
None will die in Paradise. All shall live eternally enjoying the
pleasures therein. The Prophet Muhammad saidthat a caller will call
out in Paradise when peopleenter it:
"Indeed may you be healthy and never be sick again, may you live and
never die again, may you be young and never grow feeble again, may you
enjoy, and never feel sorrow and regret again." ( Saheeh Muslim )
Social Relationships
As for the remorse felt due to a rift in personal relationships,
people will never hear any evil or hurting comments or speech in
Paradise. Theywill only hear good words and words of peace. God
says:
"They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin. But only
the saying of: Peace! Peace!" (Quran 56:25-26)
There will be no enmity between people nor ill-feelings:
"And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or senseof
injury (which they had, if at all, in the life ofthis world)…" (Quran
7:43)
The Prophet said:
"There will be no hatred or resentment among them, their hearts will
be as one, and they will glorify God, morning and evening." ( Saheeh
Al-Bukhari )
People will have the bestof companions in the Hereafter, who were also
the best people in the world:
"And whoever obeys God and the Messenger –those will be with the ones
upon whom God has bestowed favor – of the prophets, the steadfast
affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are
those as companions!" (Quran 4:69)
The hearts of the people of Paradise will be pure, their speech will
be good, their deeds righteous. There will be no hurtful, upsetting,
offensive or provocative talk there, for Paradise isfree of all
worthless words and deeds. If we were to discuss all the causes for
anguish in this life, we would surelyfind its absence or opposite to
be true in Paradise.
The Pleasures of Paradise (part 2 of 2)
The Eternalness of the Hereafter
The Pleasures of this world are transient whilst the joys of the
hereafter are lasting andeternal. In this life whena person enjoys
something, it is only a short while before they get bored with it and
proceed to search for something they feel is better, or they may not
feel a need for it altogether. As for the delights of Paradise, a
person will never feel bored with anything, but rather, its goodness
will increase each time they indulge in it.
Also, the life of this world is very short. Humans only live on this
earth for a short while, and very few people reach the age of seventy.
"…Say: Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far)
better for him who fearsGod…" (Quran 4:77)
As for Paradise, people will live forever. God says:
"…its provision is eternaland so is its shade…" (Quran 13:35)
"What is with you must vanish, and what is with God will endure …" (Quran 16:96)
"(It will be said to them):This is Our Provision, which will never
finish" (Quran 38:54)
Superior Delights
The delights of the people of Paradise, such as their clothing, food,
drink, jewelry and palaces, will be far superior to their counterparts
in this world. There is in fact no room for comparison,as even the
smallest space in Paradise is better than this world and all that is
in it. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be
uponhim, said:
"The space of the bow ofany one of you in Paradise is better than all
that the sun rises upon" ( Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh 3/85, no. 5615)
Free from all Impurities
Paradise is free from all the impurities of this world. Eating and
drinking in this life results in the need for excretion and its
associated unpleasant odors. If a person drinkswine in this world, he
loses his mind. Women in this world menstruateand give birth, which
are sources of pain and hurt. Paradise is free from all of these
discomforts: its people will not urinate, defecate, spit or suffer
from catarrh. The wine of Paradise, as describedby its Creator, is:
"Crystal-white, delicious to those who drink (thereof), free from
intoxication, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom" (Quran
37:46-47)
The water of Paradise does not become brackish, and its milk never
changes in flavor:
"…rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste
never changes…" (Quran 47:15)
The women of Paradise are pure and free from menstruation, postnatal
bleeding and all the other impurities suffered by women in this world,
and all are free from stool and feces. God says:
"…and they shall have therein purified mates…" (Quran 2:25)
The prophet answered a person when they asked how the people of
Paradise will relieve themselves:
"They relieve themselvesby perspiring through their skins, and its
fragrance will be that of musk, and all stomachs will have become
lean." ( ibn Hibbaan )
What we have mentioned has been a mere comparison in order to
understand the nature of Paradise, but as God said, its delights are
truly hidden:
"No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for
what they used to do." (Quran 32:17)
Paradise: There is Nothing Like It
The delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description.
They are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter
how advanced we may become, what we achieve is as nothing in
comparison with the joys of the Hereafter. As is mentioned in several
reports, there is nothing like Paradise:
"It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing
river, ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an
eternal abode of radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high
houses". ( Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan )
The Sahabah asked the Prophet about the buildings of Paradise and he
replied with a wonderful description:
"Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of
pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled
with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and
never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will
never fade." ( Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee )
God says:
"And when you look there (in Paradise) you will see a delight (that
cannot be imagined), and a great dominion." (Quran 76:20)
What God has kept hidden from us the delights of Paradise is beyond
our ability to comprehend. The Prophet said that God said:
"I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard
and no human heart canimagine." Recite if you wish:
"No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for
what they used to do." (Quran 32:17)
In another report:
"Never mind what God has told you; what He has not told you is even
greater." ( Saheeh Muslim )
In other articles, we will attempt to mention some of the specific
details of Paradise and the delights therein described to us by God
and His last Prophet.

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Muslim Women’s reward in paradise

We were asked this question a number of months ago and we gavewhat we
thought was a reasonable answer but it has now become clear that more
explanation is needed. What was the question? What is the reward of
Muslim womenin paradise?
Partly due to the inflated responses of some men, we have been
compelled to write about this issue and I shall endeavour to clarify
any misconceptions. Some men seem to think that it is absolutely fine
to boastabout the reward that they will get in paradise then put down
any females by assuming thatthere reward is little. They say that they
are going to get seventy two virgins and the woman will receive very
little reward. A woman who asked us this question almost questioned if
there was any reward forwomen in paradise. This came as a shock to us
andwe had to start to search to find answers.
Ponder these Quranic passages:
"Men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who
believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey,
and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who
persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are
humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who
give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard
their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who
remember Allah much and women who remember – Allah hath prepared for
them forgiveness and a vast reward." (The Clans 33:35)
"Whoever acts righteously, whether male or female, and is a believer,
him verily we shall revive with a goodlylife." (The Bee 16:97)
Gender has no relevance when striving for paradise. Also note that the
women here are included in the vast reward. So what could we get in
paradise? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) said, "In paradise there are things that no ear has heard, no eye
has seen and no one could contemplate." (Muslim 2825)
"For men there is a share of what they earned, andfor women, a share
of what they earned. Pray to Allah for His grace." (The Women 4.32)
So women like their malecounterparts will get their share of what they
have strived for in the world and this will not belost.
"So, whoever does the smallest good act will seeit." (The Earthquake 99:7)
What about in Paradise?
"For them, with their Lord, there is what they wish. That is the
reward of those who are good intheir deeds." (The Troops 39:34)
We do not need to emphasise that this is for all the inhabitant of
paradise; that they will have whatever they wish for and if they do
not want something then it istheir choice. It is your paradise and you
can choose to have whatever you wish.
It is also narrated that the believing women of paradise are superior
to the maidens of paradise by seventy degrees. (Tafsir As-Sharbini Vol
4 p. 181)
Note that in another hadith it states that if one of the maidens of
paradise were to spit into the oceans that they would turn sweet. If
this is the beauty of the maiden what then wouldbe the beauty of the
Muslim woman in paradise?
Hut Full?
They said that they will have a 'hut of women' and whatever their
wills desire of carnal pleasures. They based their claim on this
hadith:
وقال عبد الله بن وهب: أخبرنا عمرو: أن دراجاً أبا السمح حدثه عن أبي
الهيثم عن أبي سعيد عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال"أدنى أهل الجنة
منزلة الذي له ثمانون ألف خادم، واثنتان وسبعون زوجة، وتنصب له قبة من
لؤلؤ وزبرجد وياقوت كما بين الجابية وصنعاء " ورواه
الترمذي من حديث عمرو بن الحارث به
Abu Sa'eed narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) said, "The lowest station of the inhabitants of Paradise
will attain eighty thousand servants, seventy two spouses and erected
for him is a domeof pearls, chrysolite and ruby, similar to the
distance between Al-Jabiyyah and San'a." Narrated Imam At-Tirmidhi
with a sound chain – Hassan Gharib.
Whenever I get a question that confuses me I try to look at the
original sources and thenuse this as a base for my answers. Now their
claim is that men get this reward and not the women. My first problem
is that the hadith says 'Ahl Al-Janna' which we have translated as the
inhabitants of paradise. Does this not include women? It must and it
must also include Jinn. Note the hadith is Hassan Gharib which is a
hadith that has a sound chain but has come to us from two chains of
narrators. The next problem is the word 'zawjah' or spouses, which has
been translated as women. We can understand this but ifyou look
towards the rules in Arabic for the useof the number seventy, which
precedes it, what follows must be a feminine singular noun. This leads
us to say that this hadith includes women and Jinn, for the above
reasons, to have multiple partners in paradise.
We can also examine the Quranic chapter the Heffer (2:25) which
states, "They have purified partners, in there, and abide therein
forever." Partners (azawaj), as Zaynab Ansari rightly pointed out, is
not gender specific.
Final Remarks
I would like to say this issue is somewhat a distraction to the
concern that we should have which is what are we doing to make
ourselves worthy of attaining it. That is what we shall be concerned
with.
It really annoys me when some men deem deen to be a 'man' thing and
thatthe women should stay athome. This is one of the reasons why men
are no longer what they used to be because we have no women who can
teach them the religion! If there are facilities for women then use
them and accommodate them because other groups will get them and then
where would we be!
So please brothers do notmake Muslim women's life harder by pointing
out how many partners you will have and remember that they will have
what they wish for as well. Paradise is for everyone and in
paradisewomen will be righty rewarded for putting up with us men!!
Hmm, that reward could be endless if they are anything like me maybe
that is why I am not married!!
I would like to finish this post with this hadith:
Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant
him peace) once said, "Whoever enters Heaven shall find comfort and no
distress; his garments shall not grow threadbare, neither shall his
youth ever come to an end. In Heaven there shall be that which no eyes
has seen, no ear has heard and which has never occured to mortal
mind."
(Ibn Al-Mubarak, 512; Al-Bayhaqi, Ba'th from Remembrance of Death
translation by Abdul Hakim Murad p.241)
There is no distress, no pain, no sadness in Paradise.

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