The Description of Paradise - I

There is nothing Like It
The delights of Paradise surpass 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 nothing in comparison with the joys of the
Hereafter. As is mentioned in several Ahadeeth, there is nothing like
Paradise: "It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, alofty 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]
The Prophet Muhammad was asked by his companions about the buildings
of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful description: "(In it are)
Bricks of gold and silver, 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 will
never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will
never fade." [Ahmad and others]
Describing Paradise, Almighty Allaah Says (what means): {And when you
look there [in Paradise], you will see pleasure and great dominion."}
[Quran 76:20]
What Allaah Almighty has kept hidden from us of the delights of
Paradise is beyond our ability to comprehend. Almighty Allaah Says
(what means):
{And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes
[i.e. satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do.} [Quran 32.
17]
Besides, the Messenger of Allaah said:
"Allaah, the Exalted, has said: "I have prepared for My righteous
Slaves [in Paradise] what no eyes have ever seen, no ears have ever
heard of, and what has never come to the mind or heart of a human
being."; recite, if you wish{And no soul knows what has been hidden
for them of comfort for eyes [i.e. satisfaction] as reward for what
they used to do.} [Quran 32:17] [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Moreover, Imaam Muslim reported that Sahl Ibn Sa'd As-Saa'idi said: I
attended a gathering where the Messenger of Allaah described Paradise,
and I stayed until he finished speaking. At the end of the
description, he said: "In it is whatno eyes have ever seen, no ears
have ever heard of, and what has never come to the mind or heart of a
human being." He then recited the verse (which means): {Their sides
part [i.e. they arise] from [their] beds; they supplicatetheir Lord in
fear and aspiration, and from what We have providedthem, they spend ).
And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes
[i.e. satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do.} [Quran 32:
16-17]
The Gates of Paradise
Paradise has gates through which the believers will enter, as the
angels enter therein, as Allaah, the Most Exalted, Says (what means):
{Gardens of perpetual residence, whose doors will be opened to them.}
[Quran 38: 50]
Allaah, the Most Exalted, Says (what means): {Gardens of perpetual
residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among
their fathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels
will enter upon them from every gate, [saying]. 'Peace [i.e. security]
be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final
home.'} [Quran 13: 23-24]
Allaah, the Most High and Exalted,has told us that these gates will be
opened when the believers reach them, and they [the believers] will be
welcomed by the angels with greetings of peace. Almighty Allaah Says
(whatmeans): {…when they reach it while its gates have been openedand
its keepers say, 'Peace be upon you; you have become pure;so enter it
to abide eternally therein,'} [Quran 39: 73]
The number of gates of Paradise is eight; one of them is called Ar-
Rayaan, which is exclusively for those who fast. The Messenger
of Allaah said: "In Paradise there are eight gates. There is one gate
called 'Ar-Rayyaan'. No-one will enter it except those who fast, and
when they have entered, it will be locked behind them, and no-one else
will enter it." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
There are also gates for those who pray much, those who give charity
and those who fight in Jihad, as well as the gate called Ar-Rayyaan
for those who fast.
In a Hadeeth reported by both Al-Bukhaari and Muslim, Abu Hurayrah
narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said:
"Whoever spends a pair (of anything) from his wealth for thesake of
Allaah, will be called fromthe gates of Paradise, Paradise has eight
gates. Whoever will be from the people of the prayer (i.e.the people
who observe the prayer regularly, properly, and perform both
obligatory and supererogatory prayers), will be called from the gate
of prayer; whoever will be from among the people of Sadaqah (charity,
i.e. spend money in charity) will be called from the gate of charity.
Whoever will be from among the people of Jihad will be called from the
gate of Jihad, and whoever will be from among the people of fasting
(obligatory and optional) will be called from the gate of fasting."
Furthermore, Abu Bakr said: "By Allaah, it would not matter if a
person was called from any of them, but will anyone be there tobe
called from all of them, O' Messenger of Allaah?" He said,"Yes, and I
hope that you will be one of them." [Al-Bukhaari Muslim]
Abu Bakr's question refers to a person who has all these good
qualities: prayer, fasting, charity, Jihad, etc., in order to be
called from all the gates. In another Hadeeth, the Prophet said:
"Whoever spends a pair (of anything) for the sake of Allaah will be
called from all eight gates of Paradise. He also spoke of the person
who performs ablution and does it properly, then lifts hisgaze to the
sky and says: 'Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illallaah wahdahu laa shareeka
lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluhu,' the eightgates
of Paradise will be opened to him, and he will enter it through any
gate he wishes." [ibid]
Additionally, 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab said: "The Messenger of Allaah
said: "Whoever performs ablution and does it well, then lifts his gaze
to the heavens and says: 'Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa Allaah wahdahu
laa shareeka lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluhu (I
bear witness that None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, He
has nopartners nor associates, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His
slave and Messenger), the eight gates of Paradise will be opened to
him, and he will enter it through any gate he wishes." [Muslim]
Allaah also Says (what means): {…when they reach it while its gates
have been opened and its keepers say, 'Peace be upon you; you have
become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein'.} [Quran 39:73]
The Prophet told us that there is a gate, which is specific for those
who will not be called to account: this is the right-hand gate of
Paradise. The rest of themwill enter Paradise with all other nations
through other gates. In aHadeeth about Ash-Shafaa'ah (intercession),
the Prophet said:
"Allaah will say: 'O Muhammad, admit those of your Ummah (followers)
who do not need to be brought to account through the right hand gate;
and the others will enter through other gates like the rest of the
people." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
In the same Hadeeth, the Prophet described the width of the gate of
Paradise, stating that the width between the two sides of the gate is
like the distance between Makkah and Hajar, or between Makkah and
Basra." [ibid]
The Messenger of Allaah said: "The distance between the two
gate-panels of one of the gates ofParadise is the distance of
forty-year's walking, but a time will come when it would be very
crowded." [Ahmad]