Amal Al-Sibai
Saudi Gazette
Just as a bird needs both its wings to fly, a Muslim’s heart should be in a state of balance between fear and hope. When we reach this balance between fear and hope, we feel at peace, become determined to repent from sins, and gain the energy to perform acts of worship that bring us closer to our Lord.
Many people focus more on one wing, the wing of fear; and they neglect the wing of hope.
We obey Allah’s commands because of fear of Hellfire, which is indeed important, but we must also obey Allah with the hope that one day, we will arrive at the gates of Paradise and the angels will say to us, {Peace be upon you, you have done well, so enter here to abide therein.} (Chapter 39, verse 73)
We can try to picture some of the beauties in Paradise awaiting the believers, to motivate us to keep us away from sin and to keep us on the right path.
The wonders and magnificence of Paradise are beyond our imagination. The companion of the Prophet, Abu Huraira, reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allahhas said: I have prepared for My righteous servants that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has conceived.”
Some of the bounties and luxuries of Paradise have been described in the Holy Quran and in the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Glistening rivers flow in Paradise, as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, {The description of Paradise which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine [non-intoxicating] delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord.} (Chapter 47, verse 15)
The dirt on the banks of the river is of rubies and sapphires, the pebbles are pearls, and there are round, smooth cups there for the people of Paradise to drink from. The believers drink from the cool streams and rivers out of pleasure; and not from thirst. There is no hunger or thirst in Paradise; people there drink out of pleasure. Exotic birds with long necks are circling above, and they swoop down to drink from the river.
The trees in Paradise are laden with large, luscious, sweet fruits for the believers to indulge in. Whenever we desire to eat fruit, the trees’ branches droop down to come within our reach so we can pick fruit with ease. The fruits are clean, wonderful to the taste, and are of different shapes, sizes, colors, tastes, and textures, so that each time we eat a fruit, we are surprised and delighted by the taste. Every time a fruit is picked, another fruit grows in its place. The trees have huge trunks of gold and the branches provide everlasting shade. A gentle breeze blows through the trees. As the branches and leaves sway, the trees make a melodious sound, more pleasing than the sound of music.
In Paradise, we will reside in palaces, far more exquisite and splendid than the most beautiful palace of the richest king in this world.
The Prophet’s companions asked what the palaces in Paradise are built from and he (peace be upon him) replied, “One brick of gold and one brick of silver. Its mortars are of musk of strong scent, its stones are pearls and emeralds, and its soil is of saffron. Whoever enters it will be in bliss and not in want, live in bliss and not die, their clothes will not get old, and their youth will not end.” (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
Our palaces are furnished with beds that we rest on and once we sit on the bed, it is raised high up in the air, floating. Plenty of plump, soft cushions and pillows are lined up on the bed for our comfort. This bed for the believers is also a means of transportation in Paradise. If you longed to see someone in Paradise, your bed will fly you to your friend and align your bed right beside your friend’s. And the two of you would be sitting across from each other, talking, and eating fruit.
Allah has created for the believers in Paradise, servants to wait on us at our every beck and call. They are beautiful; created solely to serve the believers. Each servant carries a tray of gold in one hand and a tray of silver in the other hand, to pass out platters of food and crystal glasses filled with a wine that is sweeter than honey, with a fragrance of musk. The wine in Paradise is not like the wine on Earth. The drink in Paradise does not cloud the mind nor cause headache; it is delightful to drink without any negative effects.
There is another means of transportation for the believers in Paradise. Allah has created horses made of rubies with wings made of gold at the service of the people of Paradise. The believer smoothly rides these winged horses to travel wherever he/she wants.
Nothing disturbs the serenity and joy we will feel in Paradise; no vain talk will be heard, there will be no anger, hatred, resentment, jealousy, or envy. No weakness, fatigue, or boredom affects the believers in Paradise.
Each believing man in Paradise will be handsome and each woman will be strikingly beautiful, and they will be tall. Any physical flaws or imperfections we have in this world will disappear in Paradise. The inhabitants of Paradise will be 33 years of age; in perfect health and at the height of physical strength.
The believers in Paradise will be granted whatever they wish for, whatever their hearts desire.
The ultimate glory and bliss that the believers of a high status will experience in Paradise is seeing their Lord, seeing Allah without a barrier or veil in between.
Will we be of those believers of high status, deserving to be in the divine presence of our Lord? We hope that we will, but hope must be the fuel that drives us to perfect our worship, to deal kindly and respectfully with all people, and to stay away from that which our Lord has forbidden.
