Umm Ibraheem

Bismillah….three more CDs to go inshaAllah and then I can begin Lives of the Prophets….This tour of Jannah stuff is pretty cool. It paints a picture for you.

A Tour of Jannah

Imagine that you are taking a tour of Jannah – the true wonderland. No matter how great you imagine jannah, that won’t be a fraction of the real thing. Imagine yourself in the position of experiencing everything we will talk about. The more you are attached to paradise, the more you fear hell, and the closer you will be to Allah.

Allah talks about the righteous in the Qur’aan and says: “…they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope…” (32:16)They fear the punishment of Allah, and they are also expecting the ajr of Allah. Always remember Ibn AlQayyim’s two wings of hope/love and fear.

A Bridge of Purification

On the day of judgment, this person will be to a bridge that leads to Jannah – the only road that goes there. He will be stopped. All of the believers that he used to know in dunya and he owes them something – whether it is financial or whether he’s hurt, abused or spoken ill about any of them – they will be bought together on this bridge. Everything that happened between them will be evened out. They will go through a process of purification on this bridge. If you slapped someone in dunya, you’ll get that back. If you spoke ill about someone, you will have to be paid back for on that bridge.

Allah is pure and He accepts nothing that is not pure. Because Jannah is pure, no one can enter until they are 100% pure. The purification process that a person goes through begins in dunya. Any pain or suffering you go through in this world is a purification, and the pain of death, the pain in the grave and the waiting of the day of judgment – all are purification.

In a hadith in Bukhaari, RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, “When the believers pass safely over (the bridge across) Hell, they will be stopped at a bridge in between Hell and Paradise where they will retaliate upon each other for the injustices done among them in the world, and when they get purified of all their sins, they will be admitted into Paradise. By Him in Whose Hands the life of Muhammad is everybody will recognize his dwelling in Paradise better than he recognizes his dwelling in this world.” [Bukhaari, 3/43/620] Instinctively, you will know where you belong. You will know where your house is better than you knew your house in dunya. This is because you are a son of Adam and Adam’s (‘alayhis salaam) original house was Jannah. He did not belong to certain country in this world; he did not have a nationality. He didn’t have a pride of belonging to a country; his homeland was Jannah. And his children, who are righteous, their homeland is Jannah.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, be in this world as a wayfarer – a traveler.

Your First Meal

You’ve spent a lot of time waiting on the day of judgment, standing in the heat, with no food or water. You’re hungry and thirsty. As soon as you get to the gates of Jannah, you will be treated. So what will be the first meal of Jannah and what will you drink? This meal will start with an appetizer, move onto a main dish and then following that, you will have something to drink. Remember that you’re very hungry and thirsty, so this will be one of the tastiest foods you have ever had.

The appetizer will be fish liver. I don’t know if that is your favorite in liver – or if any of you love to have fish in the first place – but keep in mind that anything you get in Jannah will be good. RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam called it fish liver, but trust me, it’s going to be good [see Bukhaari, 6/60/7]

The main course is going to be a good steak. The hadith doesn’t say steak, but it says in the hadith that it is an ox – a steer. This steer is alive right now – in Jannah. It is eating in Jannah. As it is the tradition of the ambiya, if they ever had an animal to slaughter, they would do that as an honoring for their guest (like it is mentioned about Ibraheem ‘alayhis salaam in the Qur’aan, in which he slaughtered the calf for his guests). Since you are entering into Jannah, and you are a new guest in paradise, the angels are going to prepare this special treat for you. So this ox/steer that has been feeding in Jannah for a very long time, it will be slaughtered, and you will have its meat in Jannah. [see Bukhaari, 8/76/527 and Muslim, 39/6710]

What will you drink? The drink that will be along with this food is from a spring called salsabil. We have no idea what salsabil is. It sounds very good and will taste very good. Thauban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: While I was standing beside the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, one of the rabbis of the Jews came and said: “Peace be upon you, O Muhammad.” I pushed him back with a push that he was going to fall. Upon this he said: “Why do you push me?” I said: “Why don’t you say: ‘O Messenger of Allah?’” The Jew said: “We call him by the name by which he was named by his family.” The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said [out of kindness]: “[Yes] My name is Muhammad with which I was named by my family.”

The Jew said: “I have come to ask you (something).” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Should that thing be of any benefit to you, if I tell you that?” He (the Jew) said: “I will lend my ears to it. [I cannot guarantee that I will benefit, but I will lend my ears to it].” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam drew a line with the help of the stick that he had with him and then said: “Ask (whatever you like).”

Thereupon the Jew said: “Where would the human beings be on the Day when the earth would change into another earth and the heavens too (would change into other heavens)? [referring to the day of judgment]. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “They would be in darkness beside the Bridge.”

He (the Jew) again said: “Who amongst people would be the first to cross (this bridge)?” He sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “They would be the poor amongst the refugees [muhajireen].”

The Jew said: “What would constitute their breakfast [it is translated as breakfast here, but tuhfa is an appetizer or treat] when they would enter Paradise?” He (the Holy Prophet) replied: “A caul of the fish-liver.” He (the Jew) said. “What would be their food alter this?” He (the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “A bullock which was fed in the different quarters of Paradise would be slaughtered for them.” He (the Jew) said: “What would be their drink?” He (the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: They would be given drink from the fountain which is named Salsabil.” [see Muslim, 3/614 for the rest of the hadith]

Difference of Levels of Jannah

So now you have had your meal and now you are heading straight for your property in Jannah. You are travelling through your instincts and you are seeing all of this wonder around you – breathtaking scenes.

We know that Jannah is divided into different levels. Allah says: “See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.” (17:21) Allah is saying that people in this world have differences in wealth and health; people have different provisions. Similarly, the people in Jannah will have greater and larger differences. In Jannah, the differences will be huge. RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says that people who are in a lower level will see people in the level above them as you see stars – that is the tremendous difference between them. Remember that Jannah is huge.

Allah says: “Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous.” (3:133) That is the width of Paradise, not the length.

There are seven heavens. We are living in the lowest heaven, and this heaven, compared to the one above it, is like a ring in a desert. How large is the heaven we are in? Every star that we see and every galaxy that is discovered are all within the lowest heaven. Allah says: “Verily! We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty).” (37:6) We are talking about light years of distance – the sun is about 8 minutes in light years. And the closest star is 4.25 light years. And we know the speed of light. Imagine how far and vast the universe is, subhanAllah! And each heaven is like a ring in a desert compared to the one above it. And the seventh heaven, compared to the al-Kursi of Allah is like a ring in a desert, and the Kursi compared to the Throne is like a ring in a desert.

All of humanity is fighting over this earth and it is not like a speck compared to Jannah.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone…” [see Muslim, 33/6441 for rest of hadith]

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “The inmates of Paradise would see the inmates of the apartment over them just as you see the shining planets which remain in the eastern and the western horizon because of the superiority some have over others.” [see Muslim, 40/6790 for complete hadith] So small deeds in this world will have a big leverage in akhirah.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said that those who recite Qur’aan will be told to recite when they enter Jannah. And with every ayah that they recite, they are going to go up one level. Very small deeds in dunya make a big difference in akhirah.

Allah talks about two groups of people in surah Ar-Rahman. Allah says: “But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord, there will be two Gardens.” (55:46) Allah then says: “And below them both [in excellence] are two [other] gardens.” (55:62) So you have a high status and a lower status beneath them.

The Lower and Higher Statuses

Ibn Mas’ud reported: Verily the Messenger of Allah said:

“The last to enter Paradise would be a man who would walk once and stumble once and be burnt by the Fire once. Then when he gets beyond it, he will turn to it and say: ‘Blessed is He Who has saved me from thee. Allah has given me something He has not given to any one of those in earlier or later times.’ Then a tree would be raised up for him and he will say: ‘O my Lord I bring me near this tree so that I may take shelter in its shade and drink of its water.’ Allah, the Exalted and Great, would say: ‘O son of Adam, if I grant you this, you will ask Me for something else.’ He would say: ‘No. my Lord.’ And he would promise Him that he would not ask for anything else. His Lord would excuse him because He sees what he cannot help desiring; so He would bring him near it, and he would take shelter in its shade and drink of its water.

“Afterwards a tree more beautiful than the first would be raised up before him and he would say: ‘O my Lord! Bring me near this tree in order that I may drink of its water and take shelter in its shade and I shall not ask Thee for anything else.’ He (Allah) would say: ‘O son of Adam, if I bring you near it you may ask me for something else.’ He would promise Him that he would not ask for anything else. His Lord will excuse him because He would see something he cannot help desiring. So He would bring him near it and he would enjoy its shade and drink its water.

“Then a tree would be raised up for him at the gate of the Paradise, more beautiful than the first two. He would say: ‘O my Lord! Bring me near this (tree) so that I may enjoy its shade and drink from its water. I shall not ask Thee for anything else.’ He (Allah) would say: ‘O son of Adam! Did you not promise Me that you would not ask Me anything else?’ He would say: ‘Yes, my Lord, but I shall not ask Thee for anything else.’ His Lord would excuse him for He sees something the temptation of which he could not resist.

“He (Allah) would bring him near to it, and when He would bring him near it he would hear the voices of the inhabitants of the Paradise. He would say: ‘O my Lord! Admit me to it.’*** He (Allah) would say: ‘O son of Adam, what will bring an end to your requests to Me? Will it please you if I give you the whole world and a like one along with it?’ He will say: O my Lord! Art Thou mocking at me, though Thou art the Lord of the worlds?’”

Ibn Mas’ud laughed and asked (the hearers): “Why don’t you ask me what I am laughing at.” They (then) said: “Why do you laugh?” He said: “It is in this way that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam laughed.” They (the companions of the Prophet) asked: “Why do you laugh, Messenger of Allah?” He said: “On account of the laugh of the Lord of the universe, when He would say: “I am not mocking at you, but I have power to do whatever I will.” [Muslim, 1/361]

***Imam Anwar’s narration of the hadith is different from this place. He says: Allah will tell him, “Son of Adam, what will please you? If I give you the equivalent of the earth and everything in it inside Jannah, will that satisfy you?” The man will say, “Yes.” Allah will say, “I will give you that and similar to it and similar to it and similar to it….” So Allah will multiply it 5 times. So the man will stop Allah subhaana wa ta’aala and say, “That’s enough, Allah! I am pleased! I am pleased!” Allah will say, I will give you all of that times 10, and I will give you all that will please your eyes and satisfy your heart (in addition to that.) This the lowest level of Jannah! This is the reward for a man burned in hell for years and the last person to enter Jannah – subhanAllah!

What about the highest level of Jannah? It is like a pyramid – the people in lower levels are more and there are less and less on top. At the very top is only one person.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, “Whoever after listening to the Adhan says, ‘O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established! Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgment) to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised him)’, then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection.” [Bukhaari, 1/11/588] See the du’aa` here.

 

Allah reserved this place for Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. His place is right beneath the Throne of Allah. RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is right next to the Creator – Allah.

There are other people who are high – the messengers.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was asked who are the best of shuhadaa`. RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said that when they die, Allah will smile at them. And if Allah smiles at anyone, they will not go through reckoning. They are going to be in the highest mansions of paradise.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also says, The one who looks after the orphan, whether he is a relative or not, I and he will be together in Jannah like this. [Two fingers next to each other].

Also, people will realize that they are getting to an elevated status in Jannah. They will ask why they are being elevated in status, and they will be told: Because your children used to make istighfaar for you. If you want to be dutiful towards your parents, make du’aa` for them. And teach your children to make du’aa` for you as well.