What is Heaven?
A thick garden is called Jannah (Heaven). Jannah will be the final abode of a Mo'min (true Muslim). The word Jannah has been mentioned in the Qur'an at several places with additional adjectives to highlight its characteristics. For example: Jannatun Naeem (garden of bliss), Jannatul Khuld (garden of permanent abode), Jannātu Adn (gardens of eternity), Jannatul Ma'wa (garden of refuge) etc.
Likewise, other associate words have also been used to denote Jannah. For example: Firdaus (paradise or grand garden), Raudah (garden of flower), Dārul Maqamah (house of abode) and Darus Salam (house of peace) etc.
Expanse of Jannah
"And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [i.e., Paradise] as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous"
- (Aal Imran: 133)
"Even an ordinary inhabitant of Jannah would get such a vast Heaven that he can tread in it for a thousand years." (Tirmizi)
What will transpire in Jannah?
There will be peace and tranquility in Jannah everywhere.
"Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place"
- (Ad Dukhan: 51)
In Jannah, there will not be any fear, nor any sorrow. It will be a permanent abode for the inmates. In the words of Qur'an:
"No fatigue will touch them therein, nor from it will they [ever] be removed."
- (Al Hijr: 48)
Whatever they desire will be available to them. The Quran says,
"And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish]"
- (Fussilat: 31)
Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: I have prepared for my servants things that no eye has ever seen it, no ear has ever heard about it and no mind has ever imagined about it." (Bukhari)
"On thrones woven [with ornament], Reclining on them, facing each other. There will circulate among them young boys made eternal. With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring - No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated - And fruit of what they select - And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire. And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes, The likenesses of pearls well-protected, As reward for what they used to do. They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin - Only a saying [of] peace, peace."
- (Al Waqi'ah: 15-26)
"Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place."
- (Al Kahf: 31)
The most important thing that will happen therein will be that they will be honoured with the glimpse of Allah. As the Qur'an says,
"Some faces on that day, will be fresh, looking towards their Lord."
- (Al Qiyamah: 22-23)
Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The most honourable people will be those who will have the glimpse of Allah in the morning and in the evening." (Tirmizi, Ahmad).
What is Hell?
Jahannam (hell) is an abode of fire. Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The fire of Jahannam was heated for thousand years so much that it became embers. Again it was lit for a thousand years and it became white. Again it was lit for thousand years and it blackened. Now it is extremely black and its flames shall never extinguish."
Jahannam for whom?
Jahannam will be the final abode of Kafir (infidel), Mushrik (polytheist) and Munafiq (hypocrite).
And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?" They will say, "Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'" And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.
- (Al Mulk: 6-11)
What will happen in Jahannam?
"So, those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling water will be poured over their heads whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted; And for them are hooked rods of iron. Whenever they would desire to get out of it, out of anguish, they will be driven back therein (saying): Taste the torment of burning."
- (Al Haj: 19-22)
The food for the inmates of Hell will be the thorny fruit of Zaqqüm (pungent and thorny tree of cactus growing at the bottom of Hell). The Qur'an says,
"Verily, the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinful; like molten brass it will seeth in their bellics like boiling water."
- (Ad Dukhan: 43-46)
"And no food will be there for them but bitter and thorny shrubs which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger."
- (Al Ghashiyah: 6-7)
They shall be given boiling water and Hamim (boiling pus). There will be no escape for inmates of Jahannam. Restless, they would call for death but no death shall embrace any one there. There will be no friend and helper.
"And those who disbelieved, for them is the Fire of Hell; It will not completely destroy them so that they will not die, nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus We repay every ungrateful one! Therein will they cry aloud: Our Rab! Take us out from here, then we shall do good and not as we have done. (Allah will answer them): Did we not grant you a life long enough for one having a desire to reflect therein? And the Warner did come to you. So taste the torment. The wrong-doers have no helpers."
- (Fatir: 36-37)
May Allah save us from the punishment of Jahannam (Aameen)! We should keep reciting the following (supplication):
رَبَّنَا ٱصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا
"Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering;"
- (Furqan: 65)
Comforts of Paradise
Whatever has been said above pertaining to Jannah and Jahannam, it has been said in our own language for us to understand it. Otherwise, there is no comparison between the things of this world and those of the Hereafter.
There is no limit to the reward that will be given and there is no end to the punishment that will be inflicted. The comfort and distress of Jannah and Jahannam will make one forget the comfort and distress of this world.
Allah said, "On the Day of Resurrection one amongst the inmates of Hell who had led a life of ease and plenty amongst the people of the world will be made to dip in Fire once and then he will be asked: O son of Adam! Did you find any comfort? Did you happen to get any material blessing? He will say: No. By Allah, O my Lord! I never had pleasant life. And then an inmate of paradise will be brought who had led the most miserable life (in the world) and he would be made to step into Paradise once and he would be asked: "O son of Adam! Did you ever face any hardship? Had any distress fallen to your lot?" He would say: "No. By Allah! Never did I face any hardship nor did I experience any distress. (Muslim)
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