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Day of Resurrection

Narrated Abu Huraira: Some people said, “O Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him)! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” He said, “Do you crowd and squeeze each other when looking at the sun when clouds do not hide it?” They replied, “No, Allah’s Apostle.” He (peace be upon him) said, “Do you crowd and squeeze each other on looking at the moon when it is full and not hidden by clouds?” They replied, No, O Allah’s Apostle!” He (peace be upon him) said, “So you will see Him (your Lord) on the Day of Resurrection, similarly Allah will gather all the people and say, ‘Whoever used to worship anything should follow that thing. ‘So, he who used to worship the sun will follow it, and he who used to worship the moon will follow it, and he who used to worship false deities will follow them; and then only this nation ( i.e., Muslims) will remain, including their hypocrites. Allah will come to them in a shape other than they know and will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, ‘We seek refuge with Allah from you. This is our place; we will not follow you till our Lord comes to us, and when our Lord comes to us, we will recognize Him.

Why Don’t You Embrace Islam?

Al-Mighty Allah describes Paradise in the Quran, “Verily, the dwellers of Paradise that Day, will be busy in joyful things. They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. They will have therein fruits (of all kinds), and they shall have whatever they desire (They shall be given whatever they ask for). (It will be said to them) “Salamun” (Peace be on you), a Word from the Lord, Most Merciful.” [ Qur’an chapter 36/55-58]

Further, the Quran describes, “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” (Surah As-Sajda 32/17)

Heaven is a beautiful and wonderful place that awaits those who believe in Allah and do righteous good deeds, where every wish is fulfilled. Every kind of beauty and blessing exists in Paradise and will be revealed with a perfection never seen or known before. There would be many types of delights that people enjoy therein. The highest blessing is Allah’s good pleasure. Allah will say: “This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) – they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise) (Quran Chapter 5/119)

Women Of Paradise: The Black Woman

We often hear speakers in Friday prayer or in admonitions talking about Paradise and all of us find our hearts, minds and thoughts tuned on to that ‘frequency’. However, the majority of the speakers talk about Paradise as if it were a house for men only. Reality is not like that.

Paradise is for the believing men and women.

The only price for it is sound belief in Allah, love of Alaah and His Messenger salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam.

In what follows are the glad tidings given by the Messenger of Allah salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam, to some of the women among his companions.

Death And Hereafter In Islam

“Every soul shall taste death. Qur’an 29:57

Death is Near
“Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!” Qur’an 4:78
Death is the reality from which none can escape. It draws nearer every day; every hour; every minute. According to the CIA’s The World Factbook, almost two people die each second. That’s a staggering 57.9 million people each year! Every single being will reach this inescapable fate, regardless of their age, health, background, social status, or piety. Where are the past kings, the billionaires, and the powerful? Where are the once beautiful, the famous, and the intellectual elite?

The Reality of Death
Death is not a disaster, but simply a passing from this world to the next. It should make us reflect and ponder about the purpose of life, and what will become of us after death.

Allah (God) has informed us in the Qur’an that He has created us with the purpose of worshipping Him alone and that He made this life a test to see who will fulfil that purpose: “And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me. Qur’an 51:56

God has also informed us of the purpose behind the creation of death and life: “Allah is He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed.” Qur’an 67:2

One does not prepare for death by pre-paying funeral services or selecting a coffin in advance. It is about fulfilling one’s purpose in life – to worship Allah alone, to live according to His commandments, and perform good deeds. The concept of worship in Islam is all-encompassing and is not merely restricted to praying. In fact, any action that is pleasing to Allah is considered an act of worship, and a person will be rewarded for it.

Which Women Will Enter Jannah?

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Shall I inform you which woman will enter Paradise?” The Sahaba replied: “Yes, most certainly.” Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The woman who has children, is lovable, when she becomes angry the husband consoles and comforts her, and when the husband becomes angry she says that as long as you do not become pleased with me, I will not even apply surmah (antimony) to my eyes.” [Tibrani]

The love between husband and wife offends Shaitan more than anything else. If husbands and wives are to care for each other and strive to maintain a peaceful and loving environment in the house, every Muslim household can become a model of Jannah. All kinds of quarrels and arguments will cease, and the misfortune of divorce will not prevail. Children brought up in such environments will be an example of piety, discipline, love, and sympathy. May Allah make every Muslim house a model of Jannah.

If the hearts of both spouses are united, there can be no greater bounty, and if there are differences between them (Allah forbid), there can be no greater calamity.

The Superiority of the Women of Paradise over the Hoor al Ayn
Umm Salamah (radi Allahu anha) narrates that she said to Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam): “O Rasul Allah, are the women of this world superior or the hoors (of Paradise)?”

He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, “The (mominah) women of this world will have superiority over the hoors just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.”

Umm Salamah (radi Allahu anha) then asked, “O Rasul Allah, what is the reason for this?”

He answered, “Because they performed salah, fasted, and worshiped [Allah]. Allah will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies. [The human mominah] will be fair in complexion and will wear green clothing and yellow jewelry. Their incense-burners will be made of pearls, and their combs will be of gold. They will say, ‘We are the women who will stay forever, and we will never die. We are the women who will always remain in comfort, and we will never undergo difficulty. We are the women who will stay, and we will never leave. Listen, we are happy women and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us.'” [Tabrani]

As beautiful as the hoors of Jannah are, sincere & practicing Muslim women of this world will be far superior to them in Jannah. To imagine how wonderful those women will be who make it to Jannah, we only need to see how hoors have been described and then realize that they are of poor quality when compared to the fineness of the righteous women who Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) puts in Jannah.

From the Quran and hadith literature, we learn that “a hoor is a most beautiful young woman with a transparent body. The marrow of her bones is visible, like the interior lines of pearls and rubies. She looks like red wine in a white glass.” [Tirmidhi]

A hoor has big, beautiful eyes with black irises and intense white scleras. She is a woman characterized by modesty and flexing glances; she never looks at any man except her husband. She feels grateful for being his wife and is always reconciled with him. A hoor is young, immortal, and does not age. She is free of animosity and speaks softly. “She is of white color and free from routine physical disabilities such as menstruation, menopause, urinal and offal discharge, childbearing and the related pollution.” [Tirmidhi]

Having been brought up in luxury, she is a luxury herself. “If a hoor looked down from her abode in Heaven onto earth, the whole distance between Heaven and earth would fill with light and fragrance. Her face is more radiant than a mirror, and one can see one’s image in her cheek.” [Mishkat]

When a man turns his face away from her, she becomes 70 times more beautiful. If she were to spit in the salty water of the seven oceans, then the oceans would turn sweeter than honey.

However, sincere & practicing Muslim women will not feel jealous of the hoors as they will be far superior to the hoors in every way. Righteous women who enter Paradise, regardless of the age they died or how they looked on earth, will be made much more beautiful than the hoors of Jannah. A hoor is one of the delights of Paradise. She has only been created in Paradise for the sake of someone else. Believing women will be themselves deserving of great rewards and will be given these rewards in Jannah. This hadith tells us that the reason for the superiority of Muslim women over hoors is the acts of worship and obedience that they performed in this world.

The Children Of The Mushrikeen

The Messenger of Allah (saw) was asked about the children of the Mushrikeen, and he said, “Allah who created them knows best what they would have done”. [on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas, Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Janaa’iz, Baab ma qilaa fi awlaad al-Mushrikeen, Fath al-Baari, 3/246]

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “Every child is born in a state of fitrah [the natural state of man] and his parents make him a Jew or a Christian, or a Magian, just as an animal produces a perfect baby animal: do you find it mutilated?” [Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Janaa’iz, Baab ma qilaa fi awlaad al-Mushrikeen, Fath al-Baari, 3/246]

As Ibn Hajar said, “al-Bukhaari may Allah have mercy on him, indicating that he was refraining from giving an opinion on the children of the mushrikeen.

Later in his Saheeh, in the tafseer of Surat ar-Rum, he indicates that he favored the suggestion that they are in Paradise. He also organized the hadith in this chapter in such a way that shows this was his favored opinion. He starts with a hadith that indicates that we cannot say one way or the other, then quotes a hadith that indicates that they are in Paradise, and follows that with a hadith that clearly states that this is the case:

“As for the children around him, they are the children of mankind.” In another version, “As for the two children around him, every child is born in a state of fitrah.” Some of the Muslims asked, “Even the children of the Mushrikeen?” He said, “Even the children of the mushrikeen”

Ibn Hajar said, “This is supported by the hadith of Anas reported by Abu Ya’la, in which the Prophet (saw) said, “I asked my Rabb for the laheen [those who play or those who are unaware] of the children of mankind, that they would not be punished, and that was granted to me.” [its isnaad is hasan] Laheen was explained as meaning children, because of the hadith of ibn ‘Abbaas narrated by al-Bazzar. Ahmad reported from al-Khansaa bint Mu’aawiyah ibn Suraym from her paternal aunt who said, “I said, “O Messenger of Allah, who is in Paradise?” He said, “Prophets are in Paradise, martyrs are in Paradise and newborn babies are in Paradise”. Its isnaad is hasan. [Fath al-Baari, 3/246]

They also took as evidence the hadith, “The children of the mushrikeen are servants of the people of Paradise” [Ibn Mandah in al-Ma’rifah, Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah, Abu Ya’la in al-Musnad and al-Albaani deemed it saheeh by the sum of its isnaad, Silsilat al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 3/452, no. 1468]

The idea that they are in Paradise is the opinion of some scholars, such as favored by Abul-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzee [Majmu’ Fataawa, 24/382, 4/303] an-Nawawi said of this opinion, “This is the correct position favored by those who study the words of Allah, “… And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger [to give warning]” [17:15]” [Fath al-Baari, 3/247]

al-Qurtubee also considered this the most likely t be corrected, reconciling the apparently conflicting reports by saying that the Prophet (saw) initially said they would be in Hell with their parents, then he refrained from passing any judgment and said “Allah knows best what they would have done”, then it was revealed to him that no one would be punished for the sins of another [17:15] so he stated that they would be in Paradise [at-Tadhkirah, p.515]. The trouble with this way of reconciliation, as Ibn Hajar said, is that this is not a matter that can be subjected to study and examination. It is a matter of al-Ghayb, which can only be known through revelation. And Allah knows best.

Some scholars, such as Hammaad ibn Zayd, Hammaad ibn Salamah, Ibn al-Mubaarak and Ishaaq, say that they are subject to the will of Allah. It was also transmitted by al-Bayhaqee in al-I’tiqaad from ash-Shaaf’iee. Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr said “This might be the opinion of Maalik, although there is no written evidence for that” [Majmu’ Fatawah, 4/281-404, 24/372] and Abul-Hasan al-Ash’ari attributed this opinion to Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, [Majmu’ Fatawah, 24/372].

This is also the favored view of Ibn Taymiyyah, who suggested that they will be tested on the day of Resurrection – “The correct view is what was said concerning them, Allah knows best what they would have done”. We cannot say of any particular individual that he will be in Paradise or Hell. Several hadiths state that on the Day of Resurrection, they will be tested in the arena of judgment: they will be given commands and prohibitions and those who obey will enter Paradise, whilst those who disobey will be sent to Hell.” He attributed this to Imaam Ahmad and Abul-Hasan al-Ash’ari, who attributed it to Ahlus-Sunnah [Majmu’ Fataawa, 24/372, 4/303, 4/281].

Ibn Hajar also stated that they would be tested in the Hereafter by being shown the Fire: whoever enters it will find it cool and safe, but whoever refuses to enter it will be punished. Ahadeeth to this effect was reported by al-Bazzar from Anas and Abu Sa’eed and by at-Tabaraani from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal. It has been proven through saheeh asaanid that the insane and those who lived between the time of Jesus (as) and Muhammad (saw) will also be tested in the Hereafter. al-Bayhaqee stated in al-I’tiqaad that this is the correct opinion. [Fath al-Baari 3/246].

The soundness of this opinion is indicated by the clear, unambiguous aayaat of the Qur’an, which tells the story of the righteous slave whom Musa (as) traveled to meet at the junction of the two seas. Explaining the reason why he killed the boy, he said, “And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief” [18:80].

Muslim reports from Ibn ‘Abbaas (ra) “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, concerning the boy was killed by al-Khidr, “He was decreed from the beginning to be a kaafir and if he had been left, he would have oppressed his parents with his rebellion and disbelief.” Commenting on this hadith, Ibn Taymiyyah said “It means that Allah decreed it in Umm al-Kitaab [the Register Book in Jannah] i.e. it was written that he would be a kaafir and if he had lived he would have been a kaafir indeed.”

al-Qurtubee said, in at-Tadhkirah [p.514]: “What makes this idea [that they will be tested in the Hereafter] weak is the fact that the Hereafter is not the place of testing; it is the place of recompense – the reward of punishment. al-Hulaymee said, “This hadith is not proven to be sound, and it contradicts the basic beliefs of the Muslims because the Hereafter is not the place of testing. Everyone will inevitably know about Allah, and there is no test when a thing is inevitable.”

This is incorrect and was refuted by Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, who said, “Responsibility only ceases when one enters the abode of recompense, which is either Paradise or Hell. In the arena of judgment, they will be tested just as they are tested in al-Barzakh. The individual will be asked, “Who is your Rabb? What is your deen? Who is your Prophet?” Allah (swt) says, “[Remember] the Day when the Shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be called to prostrate to Allah, but they [hypocrites] will not be able to do so” [68:42]…” [Majmu’ Fataawa, 24/ 372]

Testing will only cease when a person enters Paradise or Hell. al-Qurtubee’s suggestion that everyone will inevitably know Allah on that Day is correct, but the testing will take the form of orders and prohibitions, as is reported in a number of texts. Allah (swt) will test them by ordering them to enter the Fire: whoever obeys will be blessed, whilst whoever disobeys will be doomed.

Righteous Deeds Essential For Entry To Paradise

[ALLAH’S Quran – 4:122] “As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, We shall soon admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow to live therein forever. This is the promise of Allah, true indeed, and who can be truer in his words than Allah?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said :
[Bukhari, Book #23, Hadith #480] “Narrated Abu Huraira: A Bedouin came to the Prophet and said, “Tell me of such a deed as will make me enter paradise, if I do it.” The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Worship Allah, and worship none along with Him, offer the (five) prescribed compulsory prayers perfectly, pay the compulsory zakat, and fast the month of Ramadan.” The Bedouin said, “By Him, in Whose Hands my life is, I will not do more than this.” When he (the Bedouin) left, the Prophet said, “Whoever likes to see a man of paradise, then he may look at this man.”

[Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0014] “It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that a bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, direct me to a deed by which I may be entitled to enter paradise. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) remarked: You worship Allah and never associate anything with Him, establish the obligatory prayer, and pay the zakat which is incumbent upon you, and observe the fast of Ramadan. He (the bedouin) said: By Him in Whose hand is my life, I will never add anything to it, nor will I diminish anything from it. When he (the bedouin) turned his back, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: He who is pleased to see a man from the dwellers of paradise should catch a glimpse of him.”

Month Of Ramadan: Rewards For Those Who Fasts

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 43] And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and bow down with those who bow down.

[Sahih Bukhari: volume 3, Book 31, Number 118] Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, “Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relations with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, I am fasting.” The Prophet added, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), He has left his food, drink, and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it, and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.”

[Sahih Bukhari: volume 3, Book 31, Number 120] Narrated Sahl (Radi Allah Anhu): The Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?’ They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry, the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.”

[Sahih Bukhari: Volume 3, Book 31, Number 122] Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened.”

[Sahih Bukhari : volume 3, Book 31, Number 123] Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah’s Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”

Our Lord, pour down upon us patience, make our steps firm, and assist us against the unbelieving people.

Allah Sent Gabriel To Paradise And Hell

On the authority of Abu Hurrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- When Allah created Paradise and Hell-fire, He sent Gabriel to Paradise, saying:- Look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- So he (Gabriel) came to it and looked at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- So he (Gabriel) returned to HIM and said:- By your glory, no one hears of it without entering it. So he ordered that it be encompassed by forms of hardship. He said:- Return to it and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- So he (Gabriel) returned to it and found that it was encompassed by forms of hardship.

Then he returned to him and said:- By Your glory, I fear that no one will enter it.

He said:- Go to Hell-fire and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants, and he (Gabriel) found that it was in layers, one above the other. Then he returned to HIM and said:- By Your glory, no one who hears of it
will enter it. So HE ordered that it be encompassed by Lusts.

Then HE said:- Return to it. And he (Gabriel) returned to it and said:- By Your glory, I am frightened that no one will escape from entering it.

Perfect Our Light For Us Till We Cross The Sirat

And there is NONE of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. (Quran Surat Maryam (Mary) – سورة مريم19 A# 71.)

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) Allah’s Apostle [Peace Be Upon Him] said  ‘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 dwellings in this world.’ (Sahih Bukhari, Book 43: Volume 3 Book # 43 Hadith # 620)

‘O you who believe, turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and those who believe with him, their Light will run forward before them and with their Record Books of Deeds in their right hands they will say ‘Our Lord, keep perfect our Light for us and do not put it off till we cross over the ‘Sirat’ (a slippery bridge over Hell) safely and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things.’ (Quran Surat Tahrim 66 A # 8) It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) I have come to know that the Bridge would be thinner even than the hair and sharper than the Sword. ‘SUBHAN ALLAH’. (Sahih Muslim – Book # 031 Hadith # 6090)