Pleasures of
this world are tangible and present, while
delights of Paradise are unseen promises.
People are readily influenced by what they can
instantly see and know. It is hard for them to
forgo something that is in front of them for
the sake of something that is in the future,
so how much harder is it if the promise will
not be attained until after death?
Almighty
Allah drew a comparison between worldly
pleasures and the joys of Paradise and
explained that the delights of Paradise are
far superior to this world's pleasures. Allah
speaks at length denouncing this world and
extolling the virtues of the hereafter to
encourage humans to strive hard for success in
the next world.
Many
verses in the Qur'an dismiss this world of
instant, evanescent pleasures and state that
the rewards of Almighty Allah are far better.
For example, Almighty Allah says,
(But
as to those who are careful of (their duty
to) their Lord, they shall have gardens
beneath which rivers flow, abiding in them
— a gift from the presence of Allah, and
that which is with Allah is best for the
righteous.)
(Aal `Imran 3:198)
(And
do not stretch your eyes after that with
which We have provided different classes
of them, (of) the splendor of this world's
life, that We may thereby try them, and
the sustenance (given) by your Lord is
better and more abiding.)
(Ta-Ha 20:131)
(Beautified
for humankind is love of the joys (that
come) from women and offspring and
stored-up heaps of gold and silver and
horses branded (with their mark) and
cattle and land. That is comfort of the
life of this world, and Allah — with Him
is a more excellent abode. Say,
"Shall I inform you of something
better than that? For those who keep from
evil, with their Lord are Gardens
underneath which rivers flow wherein they
will abide, and pure mates and contentment
from Allah, and Allah is Seer of the
servants.)
(Aal `Imran 3:14–15)
There
are many reasons why the delights of
Paradise are superior to the pleasures of
this world. We will discuss this topic in
detail.
Fleeting
Worldly Pleasures
Almighty
Allah says,
(Say,
"The provision of this world is
short, and the hereafter is better for
those who guard (against evil), and you
shall not be wronged the husk of a date
stone.")
(An-Nisaa'
4:77)
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
illustrated the inferiority and fleeting
nature of the pleasures of this world in
comparison with the delights of Paradise:
"By
Allah, in comparison with the hereafter,
this world is nothing more than [the
example of] someone of you who puts
their finger in the sea [and he gestured
with his forefinger]: Let them see how
much water they would retrieve."
(Muslim)
A
finger dipped in the sea would not even pick
up one drop; this is how little this world
is worth when compared with the hereafter.
Because
the pleasures of this world are so
insignificant, Almighty Allah rebukes those
who prefer the pleasures of this world to
the joys of the hereafter:
(O
you who believe, what ails you that when
it is said unto you, "Go forth in the
way of Allah," you are bowed down to
the ground with heaviness? Are you
contented with this world's life instead
of the hereafter? But the provision of the
life of this world is but little in the
hereafter.)
(At-Tawbah 9:38)
Quality
of Life in Paradise
The
cloths, jewels, palaces, food, and drink of
the people of Paradise will be far superior
to those of this world's life. There is in
fact no room for comparison, as even the
smallest space in Paradise is better than
this world and all its pleasures. On the
authority of Abu Hurairah, Al-Bukhari and
Muslim narrated that the Messenger of Allah
said,
"In
Paradise, the space taken by a whip is
better than this world and everything in
it."
According
to another narration by Al-Bukhari and
Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah, the
Prophet said,
"In
Paradise, the space taken by the bow of
anyone of you is better than all that
the sun overwhelms."
The
comparison between the women of Paradise and
the women of earth serves to demonstrate the
superiority of that which is in Paradise. On
the authority of Anas, Al-Bukhari reported
that the Messenger of Allah said,
"If
a woman of the people of Paradise were
to look at this earth, she would light
up everything in between and fill it
with her fragrance; the veil on her head
is better than this world and all that
is in it."
No
Impurities or Disappointments
In
this world's life, eating and drinking
result in the need for excretion, which is
accompanied with unpleasant odors. Those who
drink wine in this world lose their minds.
Women in this world menstruate and give
birth, which are sources of pain and hurt.
On
the other hand, Paradise is free from all of
these discomforts: Its people do not
urinate, defecate, spit, or suffer from
catarrh. The wine of Paradise is described
by its Creator as follows:
(White,
delicious to those who drink. There shall
be no trouble in it, and they shall not be
exhausted therewith.)
(As-Saffat 37:46–47)
The
water of Paradise does not become brackish,
and the milk never changes in flavor.
Almighty Allah says,
(A
similitude of the Garden that those
guarding (against evil) are promised —
Therein are rivers of water unpolluted and
rivers of milk whereof the flavor changes
not.)
(Muhammad 47:15)
The
women of Paradise are pure and free from
menstruation, nifas (postnatal
bleeding), and all other impurities suffered
by women in this world. Almighty Allah says,
(And
there for them are pure mates, and there
for ever they abide.)
(Al-Baqarah
2:25)
The
hearts of the people of Paradise will be
pure. Their speech will be good and their
deeds righteous. There will be no hurtful,
offensive, or provocative talk, for Paradise
is free from all worthless words and deeds:
(There
they pass from hand to hand a cup wherein
is neither vanity nor cause of sin.)
(At-Tur 52:23)
The
only talk that is heard there is the good,
sincere, and pure talk. It is free from all
shameful shortcomings of worldly talk:
(They
shall not hear therein any vain words or
lying.)
(An-Naba' 78:35)
(They
shall not hear therein any vain discourse,
but only "Peace.")
(Maryam
19:62)
Paradise
is the abode of purity and peace:
(There
they hear no vain speaking nor
recrimination — only the saying,
"Peace! Peace!")
(Al-Waqi`ah
56:25–26)
After
being saved from Hellfire, the people of
Paradise will be detained on a bridge
between Paradise and Hell. There they will
be purified by settling any quarrels that
may be still outstanding among them. Then
they may enter Paradise with pure hearts and
souls, free from any resentment, envy, or
other negative worldly emotions.
Al-Bukhari
and Muslim reported that the people of
Paradise will enter it without hatred or
resentment among them; their hearts will be
one, and they will glorify Almighty Allah
morning and evening. Almighty Allah says,
(And
We will root out whatever of rancor is in
their breasts — (they shall be) as
brethren, on raised couches, face to face.)
(Al-Hijr 15:47)
Ibn
`Abbas and `Ali ibn Abi Talib reported that
when the people of Paradise enter it, they
drink from one spring, and Allah removes any
hostility or hatred from their hearts; then
they drink from another spring, and their
faces become pure and bright. This is
probably what is meant by the following
verse:
(And
their Lord shall make them drink a pure
drink.)
(Al-Insan 76:21)
Eternal
Joys of Paradise
Almighty
Allah calls the pleasures of this world
temporary conveniences. They are enjoyed for
a short while, and then they come to an end.
Meanwhile, the joys of Paradise never cease.
Almighty Allah says,
(That
which you have wastes away, and that which
Allah has remains.)
(An-Nahl 16:96)
([It
is said to the righteous], "Truly
this is Our provision; it shall never
waste away.")
(Saad 38:54)
(A
similitude of the Garden that is promised
unto those who keep their duty (to Allah)
— Underneath it rivers flow; its food is
everlasting and its shade.)
(Ar-Ra`d 13:35)
Almighty
Allah gives us an example of how quickly
this world will pass away:
(And
set forth to them the similitude of the
life of this world as water that We send
down from the sky, so the vegetation of
the earth mingles with it and then becomes
dry twigs that the winds scatter, and
Allah is the holder of power over all
things. Wealth and children are an
adornment of the life of this world, but
the good deeds that endure are better in
your Lord's sight for reward and better in
expectation.)
(Al-Kahf 18:45–46)
Allah
likens this life to rain, which falls from
the sky and causes plants to grow, flower,
and bear fruit. This lasts for only a short
time before these plants are shriveled and
easily blown away by the wind.
Such
are the luxuries of this life: youth,
wealth, children, land, etc. All of these
pass away: Youth fades, health and vitality
turn into sickness and senescence, and
wealth and children are likely to perish. A
person may be taken from his or her family
and wealth, but the "wealth" of
Paradise never vanishes. Almighty Allah
says,
(And
it is said to those who guard (against
evil), "What is it that your Lord has
revealed?" They say,
"Good." For those who do good in
this world is good, and certainly the
abode of the hereafter is better, and
certainly most excellent is the abode of
those who guard (against evil). The
Gardens of Eden — they shall enter them;
rivers flow beneath them; they shall have
in them what they please. Thus does Allah
reward those who guard (against evil).)
(An-Nahl 16:30–31)
Regret
of the People of Hellfire
Almighty
Allah says,
(Every
soul shall taste of death, and you shall
be paid your reward in full only on the
Day of Resurrection; then whoever is
removed far away from the fire and is made
to enter the Garden is indeed triumphant,
and the life of this world is nothing but
a provision of vanities.)
(Aal `Imran 3:185)
After
reading these verses and living with their
meanings, how would anyone spare Paradise
for the sake of worldly pleasures? Ramadan
is when we should all give up this world's
pleasures and be ready for the delights of
Paradise.
Ibn
Majah and Ibn Hibban narrated a beautiful
hadith in which the Prophet said,
"Who
is rolling up his [or her] sleeves for
Paradise? Paradise has no like; by the
Lord of the Ka`bah, it is a shinning
light; a swaying basil; a constructed
palace; a running river; many ripe
fruits; a comely, beautiful wife; and
many enduring garments, in affluence and
bloom and in raised, beautiful, and
sound dwellings."
The
companions said, "We are ready to roll
up our sleeves for it, O Messenger of
Allah." The Prophet said, "Say,
'in sha' Allah [Allah willing].'"
So,
are you going to roll up your sleeves for
Paradise?
