Jannah (Heaven/Paradise)

5/6/2017, 10 Ramadhan 1438H

Maher Zain- Jannah (English and Arabic version)

Narrated Abu Dhar:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Someone came to me from my Lord and gave me the news (or good tidings) that if any of my followers dies worshipping none (in any way) along with Allah, he will enter Paradise." I asked, "Even if he committed illegal sexual intercourse (adultery) and theft?" He replied, "Even if he committed illegal sexual intercourse (adultery) and theft." (Sahih Bukhari: 1237)

Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Among the inmates of Hell, a person who had led the most luxurious life in this world will be brought up on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Fire and will be asked: 'O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you happen to get any luxury?' He will reply: 'By Allah, no, my Rubb.' And then one of the people of Jannah who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah. Then he will be asked: 'O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?' He will say: "By Allah, no my Rubb, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship". (Muslim & Riyad as-Salihin: Book 1, Hadith 462)

To believe in Judgment Day (Qiyamah) is one of the Articles of Faith in Islam. We believe in the existence of heaven and hell, for eternal justice. Only those who do the righteous deeds, those who believe in the existence of heaven, and those who work for it by worship the true Creator of heaven, will get a place in heaven eternally. The road map to heaven are mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. The description of heaven also mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. 

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 82:

"But they who believe and do righteous deeds - those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally." (Quran 2:82)

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 177:

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous." 

(Quran 2:177)

Surat Al-'Isrā' (The Night Journey), Chapter 17, Verse 36:

"And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned." (Quran 17:36)

You can be whatever you want (lawyer, mufti, cleaner, doctor, etc), but our ending is same - death. Everyone will die, no one lives forever. But afterlife is eternal. Whether you want to be torture in hellfire forever, or be happy in heaven forever, it is all our own choice in this earthly life (dunya), because all our good deeds and bad deeds will be counted. That will determine our future in afterlife. "YOLO: You Only Lives Once"

Surat 'Āli `Imrān (Family of Imran), Chapter 3, Verse 85:

"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." (Quran 3:85)

Allah mentioned about heaven in Quran, more than He mentioned about hellfire. It means that Allah want us to be in heaven, not in hell. It also means that, there are many ways to go to heaven, by do the right and good deeds, and refrain from bad deeds. the good and bad deeds are listed out by Allah in the Quran, and shown by our beloved Prophets. Our Prophets are the messengers of Allah who guaranteed heaven by Allah. They all dead already, except Prophet Isa (Jesus) that will return before the world end, but he also will die later, because he is a human being. Thus, to go to heaven is by follow the rules mentioned in the Quran and Hadith, and follow the example and way of life of our Prophets, by worship the one true God, Allah the Creator of heaven and hell. Since Allah is the Creator, so He mentioned about His creations in the Quran. The messages has been spread by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Surat 'Āli `Imrān (Family of Imran), Chapter 3, Verse 133:

"And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous." (Quran 3:133)

Who will be in Jannah?

• The believers

Surat At-Tawbah (The Repentance), Chapter 9, Verse 71-72:

"The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Allah has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah is greater. It is that which is the great attainment." (Quran 9:71-72)

Everyone will go to Paradise EXCEPT those who do not want to go. Who would not want to go to Paradise? Those who disbelief, those who disobey. They will go to Hell. Allah will be angry because He offered us all Paradise, He wants us all to be in Paradise.

Follow the way of life of those who guaranteed paradise by Allah. Read and study their history and way of life. They are all worship the one true God, Allah S.W.T. and struggle to spread Islam to the people during their time. Islam is not a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but Islam is the religion of Prophet Adam a.s. and other prophets, mentioned in the Quran.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "All my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse." They said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who will refuse?" He said, "Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me is the one who refuses (to enter it)." (Sahih Bukhari: 7280)

Narrated Hasana' daughter of Mu'awiyah:

She reported on the authority of her paternal uncle: "I asked the Prophet (ﷺ): Who are in Paradise? He replied: Prophets are in Paradise, martyrs are in Paradise, infants are in Paradise and children buried alive are in Paradise." (Sunan Abi Dawud 2521).

• Prophets/Messengers of Allah mentioned in the Quran.
• Martyrs (for example: those who die while protecting their own land from invasion such as the Syrians/Palestinians, those who die to protect their family).
• Companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 

Surat At-Tawbah (The Repentance), Chapter 9, Verse 100:

"And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment." (Quran 9: 100)

Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Abu Bakr is in Paradise, 'Umar is in Paradise, 'Uthman is in Paradise, 'Ali is in Paradise, Talhah is in Paradise, Az-Zubair is in Paradise, 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf is in Paradise, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas is in Paradise, Sa'eed is in Paradise, and Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah is in Paradise." ( Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3747)

1. Abu Bakr As-Sidiq 
2. 'Umar Ibn Al Khattab
3. 'Uthman Ibn Affan
4. 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib
5. Talhah Ibn Ubaydillah
6. Az-Zubair Ibn Awam
7. 'Abdur-Rahman Ibn 'Awf
8. Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas 
9. Sa'eed Ibn Zayd
10. Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah

It is sinful and wrong to reject any companions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, as they were the people who struggle to spread the religion of Islam to the mankind and those who are willing to die to protect Prophet Muhammad PBUH from danger and enemies of Islam. The syiah reject the companions that guaranteed the high rank of paradise by Allah (Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman) and Prophet's wife, Aisyah because of the fitnah (slander). 

Surat An-Nūr (The Light), Chapter 24, Verse 11:

"Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against 'Aishah, the wife of the Prophet SAW) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment." 

(Quran 24:11)

• Infants (even to the non muslim parents).

We are guaranteed paradise by Allah, unless we worship things other than Allah (Syirk). Unlike christianity that believes in original sin, muslims believe that all babies are born sinless. Sin only counted since our puberty age until we die. Those who die before puberty age like because of war, sickness, etc, will be grant Jannah by Allah s.w.t eventhough their parents are non muslims. The children will wait for their parents and ask from Allah to enter paradise together with the parents. However, only muslims parents will enter paradise. The non muslims will remain in hellfire eternally. 

Chapter: The Meaning Of "Every Child Is Born In A State Of Fitrah" And The Ruling On The Dead Children Of The Disbelievers And Of The Muslims.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

The mother of every person gives him birth according to his true nature. It is subsequently his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian. Had his parents been Muslim he would have also remained a Muslim. Every person to whom his mother gives birth (has two aspects of his life) ; when his mother gives birth Satan strikes him but it was not the case with Mary and her son (Jesus Christ). [Sahih Muslim]

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said:

"There are no two Muslims, three of whose children die before reaching puberty, but Allah will admit them to Paradise by virtue of His mercy toward them. It will be said to them: 'Enter Paradise.' They will say: 'Not until our parents enter.' So it will be said: 'Enter Paradise, you and your parents." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 1876)

Islam reject the concept of original sin because Prophet Adam  a.s. repented on his mistakes and Allah accepted his repentance. It means that Allah want us to make sincere repentance for our wrongdoings.

• Children buried alive 

The teaching of Islam save the human civillization and human generation. During Prophet Moses, Pharaoh ordered male infants to be killed. During arab jahilliyah, female infants were buried alive. However, today, the burial of female infants (infanticide) are still exist such as in India. 

India Has Killed 10 Million Girls in 20 Years
19 fetuses found buried near unlicensed clinic in India
Indian men arrested for trying to bury baby girl alive

• Struggler in the cause of Allah

Surat Al-'Anfāl (The Spoils of War), Chapter 8, Verse 74:

"And those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard in the Cause of Allah (Al-Jihad), as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid; - these are the believers in truth, for them is forgiveness and Rizqun Karim (a generous provision i.e. Paradise)." (Quran 8:74)

Anas b. Malik reported:

The Paradise is surrounded by hardships and the Hell-Fire is surrounded by temptations. (Sahih Muslim 2822)

• Those who give aid to the asylum seekers.

Surat Al-'Anfāl (The Spoils of War), Chapter 8, Verse 74:

"as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid; - these are the believers in truth, for them is forgiveness and Rizqun Karim (a generous provision i.e. Paradise)." 

(Quran 8:74)

• Marry the believer

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 221:

"And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember." (Quran 2:221)

• Those who are not arrogant.

Surat Al-'A`rāf (The Heights), Chapter 7, Verse 13:

"(Allah) said: "(O Iblis) get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced." (Quran 7:13)

• The non muslim who haven't heard of Islam.

Surat Al-'Isrā' (The Night Journey), Chapter 17, Verse 15:

"Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger." (Quran 17:15)

• The revert

Everyone of us is born muslim and sinless, eventhough to the non muslim parents. Our deeds will started to be counted since our puberty age. It is our upbringing that make people become christian, jewish, hindu, etc. However, we need to seek the truth. Those who embrace Islam at any age, their past sins will be erase and their good deeds will be multiply.

Surat Al-'Anfāl (The Spoils of War), Chapter 8, Verse 38:

“Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them” (Quran 8:38)

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said:

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'If a person accepts Islam, such that his Islam is good, Allah will decree reward for every good deed that he did before, and every bad deed that he did before will be erased. Then after that will come the reckoning; each good deed will be rewarded ten times up to seven hundred times. And each bad deed will be recorded as it is, unless Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, forgives it.'” (H.R. Nasai, no. 4998)

Description of Jannah

• Eternal lives

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 82:

"But they who believe and do righteous deeds - those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally." (Quran 2:82)

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, " It will be said to the people of Paradise, 'O people of Paradise! Eternity (for you) and no death,' and to the people of the Fire, 'O people of the Fire, eternity (for you) and no death!" (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6545)

• Beautiful

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 25:

"And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before." And it is given to them in likeness." (Quran 2:25)

Surat An-Nisā' (The Women), Chapter 4, Verse 122:

"But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allah , [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement." (Quran 4:122)

• Spouse

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 25:

"And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally." (Quran 2:25)

• Good People

Surat Al-'A`rāf (The Heights), Chapter 7, Verse 42-43:

"But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.

And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, "Praise to Allah , who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do." 

(Quran 7: 42-43)

How to be in Paradise?

• Have faith in Allah as The Only God to be worship.

Surat An-Nisā' (The Women), Chapter 4, Verse 123-124:

"Paradise is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a helper.

And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed." (Quran 4: 123-124)

• Seeking knowledge for the sake of Allah

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)

Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Jannah easy to him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depth of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

References:

1. Sahih Muslim: The Book of Paradise, its Description, its Bounties and its Inhabitants, https://sunnah.com/muslim/53, viewed 5th June 2017.
2. Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Chapters on the description of the Day of Judgement, https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/37, viewed 5th June 2017.
3. Heaven in Quran, http://legacy.quran.com/search?q=heaven, viewed 5th June 2017.
4. Heaven in Hadith, https://sunnah.com/search/?q=heaven, viewed 5th June 2017.
5. Paradise in Quran, http://legacy.quran.com/search?q=paradise, viewed 5th June 2017.
6. Paradise in Hadith, https://sunnah.com/search/?q=paradise, viewed 5th June 2017.