The Paradise

The Palaces and Tents of Paradise

Allaah (swt) will build good and beautiful dwellings for the people of Paradise:


"and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting bliss" [9:72]


In some places in the Qur'aan, Allaah (swt) described these dwellings as ghurafaat [chambers or dwellings]:


"and they will reside in the high dwellings [Paradise] in peace and security." [34:37]


The reward for the slaves of the all-Merciful will be:


"Those will be rewarded with the highest place [in Paradise] because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect" [25:75]


Allaah (swt) described these Ghurafaat:


"But for those who fear Allaah and keep their duty to their Rabb [Allaah], for them are built lofty rooms, one above the other, under which rivers flow. [This is] the Promise of Allaah, and Allaah does not fail in [His] Promise." [39:20]


Ibn Katheer said: "Allaah has told us about His blessed slaves who will have rooms [or dwellings] in Paradise: these will be lofty palaces, "lofty rooms, one above another - story upon story, well-constructed, strong and decorated. The Prophet (saw) described these palaces to us. According to a hadith narrated by Ahmad, and Ibn Hibbaan from Abu Maalik al-Ash'ari and by at-Tirmidhi from 'Ali (ra) the Prophet (saw) said:


"In Paradise there are dwellings whose inside can be seen from the outside, and the outside can be seen from inside. Allaah [swt] has prepared them for those who feed the hungry, and speak softly and gently, fast continuously and pray at night whilst the people are asleep." [Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 2/220, no. 2119]


Allaah (swt) has told us that there are tents or pavilions in Paradise:


"Houris [beautiful, fair females] restrained in pavilions" [55:72]


These pavilions are wondrous tents, made of pearls, each one is made from a single, hollowed-out pearl. They are sixty miles high; according to some reports they are sixty miles wide. al-Bukhaari reports from 'Abdullaah ibn Qays that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "The tent is a hollowed out pearl, thirty miles high; in each corner of it the believer will have a wife whom no one else can see". Abu 'Abdus-Samad and al-Haarith reported from Abu 'Imraan that the wording was "sixty miles high" [Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bid' al-Khalq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah, Fath al-Baari, 6/318]


Muslim reported from 'Abdullaah ibn Qays that the Prophet (saw) said:


"The believer in Paradise will have a tent made out of a single, hollowed-out pearl, sixty miles long, in which he will have [a number of] wives, whom he will visit in turn, none of whom will see the others". [see also Muslim, Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab fi Sifaat Khiyaam al-Jannah, 4/2182, no. 2838]


The Prophet (saw) told us about the characteristics of the palaces of some of his wives and companions. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, "Jibreel came to the Prophet (saw) said, "O Messenger of Allaah, Khadeejah is coming, carrying a container of food. When she comes to you, convey to her greetings of peace from her Rabb and from me, and give her the glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of brocade, in which there is no noise or exhaustion."" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/266]


al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "I entered Paradise, where I saw ar-Rumaysa', the wife of Abu Talhah. And I heard footsteps and asked, "Who is that?" He [Jibreel] said, "That is Bilaal." And I saw a palace with women in its courtyard. I asked, "Whose is this?" They said, "It is for 'Umar ibn al-Khattab". I had wanted to go in and look at it, but I remembered your jealousy [where women are concerned]." 'Umar said, "May my mother and father be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allaah (saw), would I feel jealous from you?" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/226]


The Prophet (saw) has told us of the way in which the believer may acquire more than one house in Paradise:


Ahmad reports with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn 'Abbaas that the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever builds a masjid for Allaah, even if it is as small as the nestling-place scratched out by the sane grouse for its eggs, Allaah (swt) will build a house for him in Paradise". [Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 5/265, no. 6005]


Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah report from 'Uthmaan that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said "Whoever builds a mosque for Allaah (swt), Allaah (swt) will build something similar for him in Paradise". [Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 5/265, no. 6007]


Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, and Ibn Maajah report from Umm Habeebah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Whoever prays twelve extra [supererogatory] rak'ahs every day, Allaah (swt) will build for him a house in Paradise." [Saheeh al-Jaami', 5/316, no. 6234]



The Light of Paradise

al-Qurtubee said, "The scholars said there is no night and day in Paradise, rather they will be in eternal everlasting light. They will know when night comes because curtains or screens will be put up and doors will be closed, and they will know when day comes because the curtains or screens will be taken down and the doors will be opened. This was mentioned by Abul-Faraj ibn al-Jawzee" [al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, p. 504]


Ibn Katheer in his commentary on the aayah: "And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Paradise, which We shall give as an inheritance to those of Our slave who have been al-Muttaqoon [pious and righteous]" [19:62-63] said, "This means something approximate to the times of day and night, it does not mean that there will be a day and night there. They will know the passing of time by the changes in the light" [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/471]


On the same subject, Ibn Taymiyyah said, "There is no sun and moon in Paradise, and no day or night, but they will know morning and evening from a light that shines from the direction of the Throne" [Majmu' Fataawa Shaikh al-Islaam, 4/312]


The Fragrance of Paradise

Paradise is filled with a pure and beautiful fragrance, which the believers will be able to discern from a great distance. Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah and al-Haakim report with a saheeh isnaad that the Messenger (saw) said, "Whoever kills a man of Ahl ad-Dhimmah [non-Muslims living under Islaamic rule] will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance can be discerned from a distance of forty years' travelling." [Saheeh al-Jaami as-Sagheer, 5/235, no. 6324 adn 5/337 no. 6333]