The Creation Of Paradise

Ummnurah

Abu Hurairah RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “When Allah created Paradise and Hellfire, He sent Gabriel to Paradise, saying, ‘look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its dwellers.’ So Gabriel went to it and looked at it and at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants. Then Gabriel returned it Allah and said, ‘By Your Glory, no one would have imagined it, without entering it’.

So, Allah made that it be encompassed by forms of hardship, and He said to Gabriel, ‘Return to it and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants! So, Gabriel returned to it and found that it was encompassed by the forms of hardship. Then he returned to Allah and said, ‘By Your Glory, I fear that no one will enter it'.

Allah said, ‘Go to Hellfire and look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its occupants.’ Gabriel found that it was in layers, one above the other. Then Gabriel returned to Allah and said, ‘By Your Glory, no one who hears of it, will enter it.’

So, Allah ordered that it be encompassed by lusts. Then He said, ‘Return to it and Gabriel returned to it and said, ‘By Your glory, I am frightened that no one will escape from entering it.’ (At-Tirmidzi, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa’i).

Masruq RA said: “We asked ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud about the verse: “And do not regard those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead, rather, they are alive with their Lord and being provided for.” (Surah Ali-Imran, 3:169). He said, ‘We asked about that to the Prophet and the Prophet SAW said, “Their souls are like the green birds, having lanterns suspended from the Throne, roaming freely in Paradise as they please, then taking shelter in those lanterns. Their Lord cast a glance at them and said, ‘Do you wish for anything?’ They said, ‘We wish we roam freely in Paradise as we please?’ And He did that with them three times- when they saw that they would not be spared from being asked again, they said, ‘Oh Lord! We would like for You to put our souls back into our bodies so that we might strived for Your sake once again.’ When Allah saw that they were not in need of anything, they were let back.’ (Muslim, At-Tirmidzi, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah).

®srikandeh