| Descriptions of Paradise from the Qur'aan and Hadeeth: "Gardens of perpetual bliss - they shall enter
them, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. And
angels shall enter upon them every gate." [ar-Ra`d, 13:23]
"This is a reminder. Verily, for the
righteous is a beautiful place of [final] return - gardens of eternity, whose doors will
[always] be open to them." [Saad, 38:49-50]
"And those who feared their Lord will
be led to the Garden in crowds, until behold, they arrive there. Its gates will be opened,
and its keepers will say, 'Peace be upon you!' Well have you done, do enter it, abiding
[in it] eternally." [Az-Zumar, 39:73]
Sahl bin Sa`d reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said:
"Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called
ar-Rayyaan, through which none will enter but those who observe fasting."
[al-Bukhaari]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said:
"Whoever spends two things in the way of Allah will be
called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed, 'Oh slave of Allah, here is
prosperity!' So whoever was among the people who used to offer their prayers will be
called from the gate of the prayer; and whoever was among the people who used to
participate in jihaad will be called from the gate of jihaad; and whoever was among those
who used to observer fasts will be called from the gate of ar-Rayyaan; and whoever was
among those who used to give charity will be called from the gate of charity." Abu
Bakr said, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you, oh Allah's Apostle! No distress or
need will befall him who will be called from those gates. Will there be anyone who will be
called from all these gates?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "Yes, and
I hope you will be one of them." [al-Bukhaari]
`Uqba ibn `Aamir said:
"We were entrusted with the task of tending the
camels. On my turn, when I came back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I
found Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) stand and address the people. I heard these
words of his, 'If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak`ahs,
setting about them with his heart as well as his face, Paradise will be guaranteed to
him.' I said, 'What a fine thing this is!' A narrator who was before me said, 'The first
was even better than this.' When I cast a glance, I saw that it was `Umar who said, 'I see
that you have just come and observed. If anyone among you performs the ablution, completes
the ablution well and says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah and that
Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger," then the eight gates of Paradise
will be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes." [Muslim]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger (peace be upon
him) said:
"The gates of Paradise will be opened on Monday and on
Thursdays, and every servant [of Allah] who associates nothing with Allah will be
forgiven, except for the man who has a grudge against his brother. [About them] it will be
said, 'Delay these two until they are reconciled. Delay these two until they are
reconciled. Delay these two until they are reconciled.'" [Muslim, Maalik, Abu Dawood] |