Almighty Allah says:
(The parable of
the Garden which the righteous are promised
— beneath it flow rivers: Perpetual is the
enjoyment thereof and the shade therein; such
is the end of the righteous, and the end of
unbelievers is in the Fire.)
(Ar-Ra`d 13:35)
Natural beauty and greenery are among the
wonderful blessings of Paradise. Mansions
built in gardens, right next to springs, are
another form of beauty. Paradise, in which
there is (…neither
the sun's (excessive heat) nor (the moon's)
excessive cold)
(Al-Insan 76:13),
has such a pleasant climate that no one there
feels uncomfortable. It contains no exhausting
sweaty heat or freezing cold. In Paradise,
Almighty Allah will admit believers into (…shades,
cool and ever deepening.)
(An-Nisaa' 4:57)
The expression refreshing
shade,
along with mentioning that the climate will be
comfortable and just as any person would want
it, indicates that the environment and
condition in Paradise have been designed to
give the human spirit true satiety and
comfort. Everything in Paradise will be just
as a believer desires. One of the natural
beauties most mentioned by Almighty Allah in
the Qur'an is that of (…water
flowing constantly.)
(Al-Waqi`ah 56:31)
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 gardens, as well as
artificial and natural streams, arise from
this longing for spiritual delight.
The main reason why these natural views are
so pleasurable is because the human spirit has
been created for Paradise. These beauties are
described elsewhere as follows:
(In them
(each) will be two springs pouring forth
water in continuous abundance.)
(Ar-Rahman
55:66)
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 whereby people
can give thanks to Almighty Allah and praise
His name. This is especially so if the water
flows in the hills, among trees and
greenery, or runs over stones. This is a
really impressive sight. It either collects
in the place where it falls, or forms pools
and flows from one place to another.
Continually flowing water is a sign of
endless and inexhaustible plenty.
As we learn in Surat Al-Hijr:
(The righteous
(will be) amid gardens and fountains (of
clear-flowing water).)
(Al-Hijr 15:45)
Another verse reads:
(As to the
righteous, they shall be amidst (cool)
shades and springs (of water).)
(Al-Mursalat 77:41)
The places of shade may be special spaces
created so that the believers can sit and
observe all of this beauty (but Allah knows
best). As with mansions, these shady places
are also placed in high places so that the
people in Paradise can view the beauty below
and see its many details. Shady nooks offer
are especially pleasurable to believers, for
example, people are served various kinds of
food and fruits there, come together and
hold pleasant conversations, and enjoy
themselves. Their being placed next to
springs, spaces that give pleasure to the
human soul, adds to their attractiveness.
From these springs flow delicious water.
Another form of natural beauty is the
gardens. For example, the (luxuriant
meads of the Gardens)
mentioned in Surat Ash-Shura, verse 22, have
been prepared only for the 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 most delicate and
sweet-smelling ones on Earth, and several
species of animals, both known and unknown
to us.
The gardens are adorned with various
fruits and other types of trees, plains of (dark-green
in color (from plentiful watering))
(Ar-Rahman 55:64) plants and flowers, and,
in some places, pools and fountains. In
verses 28 and 29, Surat Al-Waqi`ah also
mentions that
((they
will be) among lote-trees without thorns)
and (among
Talh trees with flowers (or fruits) piled
one above another.)
By reflecting upon all these things, we can
form a general view of Paradise. Some of its
characteristics remind us of things in this
world; others are unique blessings and
beauties of Paradise that no one has ever seen
or known, and that our minds cannot imagine or
express. We must be aware that beautiful
things and surprises are in store for the
believers in Paradise.
These are surprises prepared by Allah's
infinite knowledge and they are beyond our
imagination. As verse 22 of Surat Ash-Shura
tells us,
(they
shall have, before their Lord, all that they
wish for. That will indeed be the magnificent
bounty (of Allah).)
Everything in Paradise, including all its
natural beauties, is brought into being in
accordance with a believer's own desire and
pleasure. In other words, Almighty Allah
allows a believer's imagination to play a role
in forming the environment of Paradise as a
favor from Him.
Endless Delight
(Eat you and drink
you to your heart's content, in return for
what you did.)
(Al-Mursalat 77:43)
The Qur'an announces that the people of
Paradise are blessed with the finest food and
various drinks. However, since these people
require no nourishment, we can understand that
such food and drink have been created only to
give pleasure. This food resembles the food of
this world. The people of Paradise will
express this similarity in the following way:
(Give the good
news to those who believe and do right
actions that they will have Gardens with
rivers flowing under them. When they are
given fruit there as provision, they will
say, "This is what we were given
before." But they were only given a
simulation of it. They will have there
spouses of perfect purity and will remain
there timelessly, forever.)
(Al-Baqarah
2:25)
Many foods in this world address people's
appetites and give pleasure by their
appearance and taste. Of course, Almighty
Allah can easily create similar foods in
Paradise to give pleasure to the believers.
However, unlike earthly food, there will be
no need to worry about gaining weight,
cholesterol, overeating, and so on, for
Almighty Allah tells them:
(Eat and
drink, rejoicing with wholesome appetite,
for what you were doing.)
(Al-Mursalat
77:43)
Indeed, being able to eat and drink
beyond any reckoning is a delightfully
pleasant reward.
In order to attain Paradise, people are
tested in this earthly life. Believers show
great effort and zeal in order to please
their Lord, for they turn to Him sincerely,
thank Him continually, pray to Him, and
repent of their sins. As a reward, Almighty
Allah offers them the blessings of Paradise.
The best of all the food mentioned in the
Qur'an is meat. In Paradise, Almighty Allah
gives believers (of
fruit and meat, anything they shall desire)
(At-Tur 52:22),
and will offer them (the
flesh of fowls any that they may desire)
(Al-Waqi`ah 56:21). Moreover, their food
will (never
fail)
(Saad 38:54), because the believers will (enter
the Garden (of Bliss): Therein will they
have abundance without measure.)
(Ghafir 40:40)
They will be able to eat as much as they
want, for the amount and types of food
available will never decrease, and no one
will be forced to stop eating due to being
full or feeling sick.
Fruit is perhaps the food most often
mentioned in the Qur'an. In Paradise,
believers receive whatever type of fruit
they desire. The Qur'an describes this:
(And the shades
of the (Garden) will come low over them,
and the bunches (of fruit), there, will
hang low in humility.)
(Al-Insan 76:14)
Thus, we understand that the fruits of
Paradise grow on trees in natural
surroundings and that the believers can
easily pick and eat them. Verses 28 and 29
of Surat Al-Waqi`ah mention ((They
will be) among Lote-trees without thorns)
and (Among
Talh trees with flowers (or fruits) piled
one above another),
meaning that the fruit can be easily
obtained due to the infinite blessings of
Paradise. The fruit is so plentiful that the
tree branches cannot bear its weight, and
the fruit is easy to reach because the
branches bend down to the ground.
This fruit may be offered freely to the
believers on golden and silver trays and
tastefully designed plates. The believers
will be sitting on thrones and conversing
with one another. Certainly all seeds and
traces of rot and bruising that annoy people
in this world will have been removed, as
befits Paradise. All fruits are offered to
the believers freely, with their
eye-catching beauty and without blemish.
Fruit also adds further color and
aesthetic beauty to Paradise. The sight of
trees laden with all sorts of colorful
fruits lends even more beauty to the
wonderful landscape. The predominant color
is green, and within that green are yellows,
oranges, and reds that form a beautiful view
that strikes the human eye. As an indication
of Allah's creative power, this view is
another cause for giving thanks.
Certainly, many kinds of drinks are also
desirable. For instance, Surat As-Saffat,
verse 45, mentions (Round
will be passed to them a Cup from a
clear-flowing fountain.)
In Paradise,
believers are given wine to drink: (Their
thirst will be slaked with pure wine sealed)
(Al-Mutaffifin
83:25), and there are (rivers
of wine, a joy to those who drink.)
(Muhammad 47:15)
As these verses state, whatever they
drink is also sweet-smelling and, of course,
this wine is unlike any earthly wine. The
people who drink it will not become
intoxicated or have their awareness
impaired. Almighty Allah says that these
drinks will be offered in glasses. They will
not cause headaches, a loss of control, or
any alteration in the mind. The young men
whom Almighty Allah appointed for this
service freely offer these drinks.
This is Paradise and here
is Ramadan. What will you do in Ramadan to
earn Paradise?
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