Paradise and Hell
No discussion of death and the Hereafter would be complete without a mention Paradise and Hell. The descriptions and explanations of both of these two eternal abodes are countless in both the Qur'an and the Hadith, and therefore only a handful are mentioned here.
Allah has thus conveyed to us very clearly what is in store for both the believers and the disbelievers and therefore we should know what to expect as a result of both our good and bad deeds.
"Verily, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. While those who reject Allah will enjoy [this world] and eat as cattle eat. The Fire will be their abode."
(Qur'an 47:12)
The descriptions of Paradise and Hell are very graphic and in stark contrast to one another. This no doubt is the intention since it helps a person to strive towards good and gain much reward for these efforts, and avoid evil so as to not suffer the consequences of our sins, not only in this life, but also in the Hereafter. We will therefore have no defence once we die in saying that we weren't aware of what the rewards and punishments would be. Allah has warned us in very black and white terms about the consequences of our actions so that we may make the right choices and have no complaint in the Hereafter.
Paradise
Paradise is known as Jannah in Arabic, and all its bounties have been promised to the believers by Allah. This is regardless of gender, since the only criteria used to admit a person to Paradise will be their belief in Allah and their piety.
"He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof. And he that works a righteous deed - whether male or female, and is a believer - such will enter the Garden. Therein they will have provision without measure."
(Qur'an 40:40)
Paradise is a place more wonderful than we are ever capable of imagining since our idea of pleasure and delight is limited to what experiences and objects are in this life. It is related that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Allah said:
"I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen or no ear has heard, nor has it occurred to the human heart. Thus, recite if you wish, 'And no soul knows what joy has been kept hidden for them.' "
(Hadith, with the last part being from the Qur'an 32:17)
It should always be kept in mind therefore, that whatever descriptions of Paradise Allah provides us with, these descriptions will always be limited by our knowledge of those things in this world. So whilst we are told about the fountains, fruits, gardens and rivers in Paradise we should not necessarily assume that they are like what we have here on earth. Undoubtedly whatever lies in Paradise is infinitely better than its earthly counterpart.
Similarly, the wine in Paradise is not like the wine that we know. It does not cause intoxication or have ill effects and so it is also not correct to compare the wine on earth with the wine in Paradise.
However, having said that, Allah attempts to help us understand the wonders and bliss of Paradise using the most beautiful descriptions through describing what we know form this world - we may only understand Paradise as a place that is completely blissful and free of worries where we can have anything we may desire.
"Be foremost [in seeking] forgiveness from your Lord. And a garden [of bliss], the width of the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers - that is the grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of abounding grace."
(Qur'an 57:21)
When the believers arrive at the gates of Paradise, they will be greeted by the angels with greetings of peace and invited in.
"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, so enter it, abiding [in it] eternally.'"
(Qur'an 38:49-50)
The inhabitants of Paradise will recline on carpets with as much fruit as they desire hanging within reach.
"They will recline on carpets whose linings will be of rich brocade. The fruit of the gardens will be hanging near [and in easy reach]. Then which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?"
(Qur'an 55:54-55)
They will be free to eat and drink in the gardens that will be cool with shade and water flowing constantly.
"As for the righteous, they shall be amid [cool] shades and springs [of water] and fruits, all they desire. 'Eat and drink to your heart's content because of what you used to do.' Thus do We certainly reward the doers of good."
(Qur'an 77:41-44)
There will be no tiredness or harm in Paradise. The inhabitants of Paradise will not hear bad speech nor have bad feelings towards each other (such as jealousy), and there will be greetings of peace. The people of Paradise will be pure and not have a need to urinate, defecate or menstruate. There will be no work to do and they will not have a care in the world, just in a constant state of pleasure and joy.
The dwellers of Paradise will wear bracelets of gold and pearls and green garments made of fine silk and rich brocade. They will sit on thrones with an all encompassing view and recline on luxurious carpets in the cool shade. They will be served unlimited amounts of delicious food and drink in/on gold vessels by devoted, youthful servants that resemble scattered pearls.
Allah is the Most Just and it would not be fair to grant the same rewards to all believers, since every person differs with regard to what good deeds they have performed during their lifetime. In order to recognise this, Allah has created different ranks within Paradise that the believers will enter according to the number and value of their good deeds.
"To all are degrees [or ranks] according to their deeds."
(Qur'an 6:132)
There is 100 different ranks in Paradise just for those who fight for Allah's sake and the distance between ranks is like the distance between the Heavens and the earth. The highest part of Paradise (i.e. the highest rank) is known as al-Firdaus, above which is Allah's throne, and from it originate the rivers of Paradise.
"Look how We have bestowed more on some than on others. But verily in the Hereafter is greater rank in difference and preference."
(Qur'an 17:21)
"Those who believe, emigrate and strive with might and main in Allah's cause with their wealth and their persons have the highest rank in the sight of Allah. They are the ones who will achieve [salvation]. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Himself and good pleasure and of gardens for them wherein is lasting enjoyment. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward."
(Qur'an 9:20-22)
Despite all the countless blessings in Paradise, the greatest thing in Paradise is Allah's pleasure.
"Allah has promised believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein eternally and good homes in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the pleasure of Allah is the greatest. That is the supreme triumph."
(Qur'an 9:27)
Hell
For those who do not get saved by Allah's mercy on the Day of Judgement, Hell will be where they are sent, and there they shall remain forever. Hell has many names in Arabic that depict its flames, its depth, its ability to crush objects and so on. Most commonly Hell is known in Arabic as Jahannam.
Allah has made Hell especially for the disbelievers and when they arrive at its gates, they will be opened for them. Just as there are eight gates to Paradise designated to a certain group of doers of good, there are seven gates to Hell, each one designated to a specific class of sinners.
"[To them] will be said, 'Enter you the gates of Hell to dwell therein. And how evil is [this] abode of the arrogant"
(Qur'an 39:72)
Similarly, there is ranks in Hell just as there in Paradise, since some people commit sins more despicable and atrocious than others.
"Is the man who follows the good pleasure of Allah like the one who draws upon himself the wrath of Allah and whose abode is in Hell - an evil refuge? They are varying grades in the sight of Allah, and Allah sees well what they do."
(Qur'an 3:162-163)
The size and depth of Hell is massive and the Messenger of Allah said:
"Hell will be brought on that Day. It will have 70,000 reins with 70,000 angels drawing it by each rein."
(Hadith)
The fire that is known to us in this life simply burns wood and charcoal and so on. The fire of Hell however, will be fuelled by evil people and stones.
"O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, stern [and] severe, who do not disobey Allah in what He orders them and [who] do [precisely] what they are commanded."
(Qur'an 66:6)
There will be no helpers for the inhabitants of Hell, only constant, severe punishment in the blazing fire, with sparks as large as palaces.
"Those are the ones who have exchanged the Hereafter for the gains of this worldly life. The punishment will not be lightened for them, and they will not be aided."
(Qur'an 2:86)
In order that the bodies of the people in Hell can undergo more punishment, their size will be increased. Prophet Muhammad said, regarding this:
"The molar tooth or the canine tooth of an unbeliever will be like [Mount] Uhud, and the thickness of his skin will like a three nights journey."
(Hadith)
The food of the inhabitants of Hell will be from a thorny plant called dhari and from the fruit of a tree called Zaqqum. The Zaqqum tree is horribly bitter and disgusting in taste. It grows at the very bottom of Hell and instead of having tender fruit stalks, they are like the heads of devils. However, since it is the only food available, the dwellers of Hell will eat it voraciously.
"Verily, the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinful. Like molten brass it will boil in their insides - like the boiling of scalding water."
(Qur'an 44:43-46)
For drink they will receive boiling water and the following:
"Thus. Then they will taste it - a boiling fluid and a filthy fluid of pus and blood and other penalties similar to match them."
(Qur'an 38:57-58)
This pus and blood will be that which has oozed from their skins. For clothing, the inhabitants of Hell will receive garments of fire. They will be tied with yokes and chains and dragged along on their faces through the boiling water and then burned in the fire.
The Messenger of Allah said:
"Verily of the inmates of the Fire, the one with the easiest punishment will be the one who will have a pair of sandals and straps of fire. His brain will from them boil as a kettle boils. He does not see that anyone is suffering a punishment more severe than him, while he is the one with the easiest punishment."
(Hadith)
The inhabitants of Hell will not be able to see their Lord on the Day of Resurrection, and His light (which will be the joy of those in Paradise) will be hidden from them and Hell will be the only reality that they perceive. Examples of some for the punishments they will undergo are that their:
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skins will be roasted - and replaced afresh so that they may suffer again and again for eternity
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skins and intestines scalded
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faces will be burned and their hands shackled so that they cannot use them to protect themselves
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bodies will be dragged in the boiling water
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faces will be darkened black
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intestines will come out of their bellies
In addition to this, the fire will approach them from all directions and mount right up to their hearts. They will weep, sob and sigh in their defenseless states as they are filled with deep regret, grief and self-recrimination for the evil that got them into Hell. They will attempt to offer ransoms (their wealth, children, spouses and people who had helped them during life on earth), and do anything they can to escape the punishment. Prophet Muhammad reported that:
"On the Day of Resurrection Allah will ask the disbeliever: 'If you had enough gold to fill the earth, would you [offer it to] ransom yourself? The person will reply, 'Yes.' Then it will be said to him, 'You were asked for something much easier than that.' "
(Hadith)
What the disbeliever was asked for while in this life, that was so much easier, was simply that s/he should not associate anything with Allah, but s/he refused. If a person does believe in Allah alone, then by Allah's mercy they will be taken from the Hellfire (after having spent some time being punished there) and abide in Paradise eternally. Prophet Muhammad said:
"He who has said, 'There is no god but Allah' and has in his heart goodness equal to the weight of a grain of barley will come out of the Hellfire; he who has said 'There is no god but Allah' and has in his heart goodness equal to the weight of a grain of wheat will come out of the Hellfire; he who has said 'There is no god but Allah' and has in his heart goodness equal to the weight of an atom will come out of the Hellfire"
(Hadith)
The condition with all of this is however, that we hasten towards good in repentance and believe in Allah and Allah alone, in THIS life. For once we die it is too late, and the disbelievers and sinners will indeed wish to return to this world so that they may have a 'second chance' to prove their worth, yet this will be of no use.
"No! When the earth is pounded to powder, and your Lord comes with His angels, rank upon rank, and Hell, that day is brought [face to face] - on that Day will man remember. But how will that remembrance profit him?"
(Qur'an 89:21-23)
"The companions of the Fire will call to the companions of the Garden, 'Pour upon us some water or anything with which Allah has provided you.' They will say. 'Truly, Allah has forbidden them to the disbelievers - those who took their religion as amusement and play and were deceived by the life of the world.' This Day We will forget them just as they forgot the meeting of this, their Day, and [because] they used to deny Our signs."
(Qur'an 7:50-51)
For, as Allah says in the verses above, and in that below, if we remember Him in this life, He too will remember us (in this life and the Hereafter). But if we choose to forget Him, then He too will choose to forget us.
"Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me."
(Qur'an 2:152)
What we should all ask then is how to save ourselves from the Hellfire and be granted Paradise. First and foremost, we must believe in Allah and not associate anything or anyone with Him. Once we have attained faith, we can achieve success by loving and fearing Allah and by praying, fasting, giving charity, striving in Allah's cause and other good deeds.
"O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah."
(Qur'an 3:102)
Allah has commanded us to believe in His messengers and revealed books, the angels, the Day of Resurrection and dwell on other signs of His existence that lie all around us - amongst other things.
"Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire."
(Qur'an 3:191)
Finally, the last part of the above verse from the Qur'an should not be forgotten as a means of protecting ourselves from the Hellfire, that is, by asking for that. Allah will grant anyone anything that He wills, and as the Prophet said:
"Indeed no Muslim seeks Allah's refuge from the Fire without the Hellfire saying, 'O Allah, give him refuge from me.' "
(Hadith)
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