Intro from a Description of Paradise by Ibn al Qayyim

From brother Ammar AlShukry:
I’ve always loved this section of Ibn Al-Qayyim’s introduction to his work on the description of paradise called “Haadi Al-Arwaah ilaa bilaad Al-Afrah”

“And when those of certainty came to know what they were created for and for what purpose they came into existence they raised their heads high.  When they knew that paradise was elevated for them they rolled up their sleeves for it.  And that the straight path was made clear to them so they were firm as they traversed upon it.  And they saw that the greatest inequity is to sell that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and has not been conjured up by the imagination of any soul in an eternity that never ends for a temporal life, rather something only like a false dream, or a vision that visits during sleep, corrupted by disturbances, paired with torments.  If it brings some laughter it brings much weeping, and if it causes happiness one day it causes sadness for months.  Its pains are greater than its pleasures and its sorrows are many folds greater than its happiness.  The first of it is fear and the last of it is ruin.

What amazement at a fool in the shape of a wise person, and an imbecile in the clothes of a person of intellect, who preferred a portion that is perishable and lousy, over a portion that is eternal, and sold a paradise that is equal to the heavens and the earth for an earth that is a constricted prison shared amongst a people afflicted by impairments and calamities.  And (sold) goodly homes in gardens of Eden under which rivers flow, for a camel stable- constricted and ends with ruin.  And (sold) loving virgins, equal in age, as if they are like rubies and coral (in beauty), for foul, lowly women who would take a boyfriend or commit adultery.  And Hoor with restricted gaze awaiting in tents, for filthy ones who would curse amongst the people.  And (sold) rivers of wine a pure pleasure for those who drink, for an impure drink that does away with the mind and corrupts one’s wordly and religious life.  And (sold) the pleasure of gazing at the Face of the All-Great and the Most Merciful, for the pleasure of glancing at hideous lowly faces.  And (sold) the experience of listening to the address of Al-Rahman, for the experience of listening to music and singers.  And (sold) the reclining on thrones of pearls, rubies and chrysolite on the Day of Increase for the reclining on gatherings of transgression with every wandering devil.  And (sold) the calling of the caller “Oh people of paradise: For you here is everlasting bliss and no despair, and everlasting life and no death, and everlasting residence and no relocation, and everlasting youth and no aging” for the songs of singers…

It is paradise…so how amazing is it then, how could the one seeking it sleep?  And how could the one courting it not accept its dowry?  And how could one be pleased with living in this (earthly) abode after hearing its description?  And how has the one who desires it been able to live without embracing its virgins?  And how could the eyes of those who desire it glance away from it? And how could those who were certain of it be patient at not entering it? And how could the hearts of the majority of mankind be unconcerned with it?  And with what did the souls of those who turned away replace it?

“I hope that no one will stand before his Lord in this way…”

“I hope that no one will stand before his Lord in this way…”.

Hammâd ibn Ziyâd narrated that Layth ibn Abî Burdah said: “I went to Madînah, where I met ‘Abdullâh ibn Salâm, who said to me: ‘Would you like to visit a place visited by the Prophet (SAAS), and we will offer you sâwiq and dates?…’ Then he said:

‘When Allâh gathers people on the Day of Judgement, He will remind them of His blessings.

One of His slaves will say: “Remind me of something,” and Allâh will say:

“Remember when you faced such-and-such adversity, and you prayed to Me so I relieved you of it.

Remember when you were travelling in suchand-such a place, and you asked Me to give you a travelling companion, and I did so.

Remember when you asked for the hand of so-and-so the daughter of so-and-so, and others also asked for her hand, so I gave her to you to marry; and kept the others away.”

His slave will be standing before his Lord, Who will remind him of His many blessings.’”

Then the narrator of this story (Layth) wept and said,

I hope that no one will stand before his Lord in this way, because the one who does so will be punished.” (i.e. if Allâh has to point out that which should be obvious, this is a sign of a person’s ingratitude, and he will be punished.)

[‘The Sahâbah and Tabi‘în on Gratitude’  in Ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyyah (R)’s Patience and Gratitude, pp. 47 of the pdf]

The Description of the Worldly Women in Jannah

Bismillahi Wal hamdullillah Was Salaatu Was Salaamu ‘alaa Rasoolillahi

Ammaa Ba’d:

The following are some text related to the women of Jannah, and I intend by the women of Jannah here, the women from the women of the Dunya who were successful in making it to Jannah. Since in the texts of the Book and the Sunnah, we understand that the women of Jannah are of two main types, The women of the Dunya who were rewarded with Jannah (From Mankind and the Jinn), and: The Hoorul Een who have never been in the dunya but were created in Jannah for Jannah.

It should also be Known that from the worldly women that are rewarded with Jannah there are those who are superior to the Hoorul Een.

The messenger – Sallallahu Alaihi Was Salam said: “The best women of Jannah are four Khadeejah Binti Khuwailid, Faatimah Binti Muhammad, Maryam Binti ‘Imraan and Aasiyah Binti Mazaahim the wife of Pharoah.. )

(Collected by Imaam Haakim in his ‘Mustadrak’ (3836))

Concerning the Hadeeth Imaamul Manaawi states:

“..he mentioned ‘.. Women of Ahlul Jannah’ and he didnt (just) say ‘Women‘ to prove that they are more virtuous than (even) the Hoor (Al Een), otherwise it would be believed that he (only) intended the women of this world..”

Indeed from the scholars are those who held that the women of Jannah who were in this world and earned Jannah are all better than the Hoorul Een, since one was created in Jannah, while the other was rewarded with Jannah through their Imaan and righteous deeds and thus are superior.

So there are a number of characteristics mentioned concerning the women of Jannah who were women from the children of Aadam that were rewarded with Jannah after being in the dunyah.

From that:

Allah will purify them!

Allah the most high says:

“And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds that for them will be gardens beneath which rivers flow. Everytime they will be provided with a fruit therefrom they will say this is what we were provided with before and they will be given things in resemblance and they will have therein purified spouses and they will abide therein forever”

(Suratul Baqarah Vs 25)

Concerning the portion of the verse “..they will have therein purified spouses” Ibn Abbaas and Ibn Mas’ood said: “They will not have menses, neither will that defecate, urinate, break wind or have mucus.

Allah will ‘recreate’ them!

Concerning the statement of Allah the most high:

“Verily we will create them of special creation, and will make them virgins, Loving and playful (with their husbands) of equal age“

(Suratul Waaqi’ah 35-37)

concerning the first verse mentioned here Qataadah and sa’eed ibn Jubair mentioned: ” i.e We Have created them anew”

Ibn Abbaas mentioned: “He (Allah) intends here, Adamiyaat (that is, women from the children of Aadam, since some held that the intent with the verse are the Hoorul ‘Aen’)

That which brings clarity to this is the hadeeth of the messenger -Sallallahu Alaihi was Salam “Elderly women will not enter Jannah” Upon hearing this an elderly woman began to cry so the messenger of Allah said: “Inform her that on that day she will not be elderly rather she will be youthful For indeed Allah has said: “Verily we will create them of special creation..”

(Collected by At Tirmidhi and declared ‘Hasan’ by Shaikh Al Albaani in ‘Ghaayatul Maraam p215)

Concerning the statement: ‘Uruban..(Loving and playful (with their husbands)

Ibn Abbaas mentioned: “Passionate and emotional with their husbands and their husbands are passionate and emotional with them“

(Tafseer Ibn Katheer 7/533 – Darut Taiybah print)

They will be large Chested maidens

Concerning the statement of Allah

“Gardens and grapeyards, and young full breasted maidens of equal age..”
(Suratul Naba Vs 32-33)

Ibn Katheer mentions:” It was mentioned by Ibn Abbaas, Mujaahid and others concerning the statement of Allah: “Kawaa’iba Atraabaa ‘That is they will be Full breasted young maidens, due to the fact that they will be virgins, Loving and playful (with their husbands) of equal age (since the people of Jannah will be of one age) as has been clarified in (the explanation of) Suratul Waaqi’ah

(Tafseer ibn Katheer 8/308 (Dar Tayyibah Print))

They will have the most beautiful clear skin!

Upon the authority of Abu Huriaira who said the prophet – Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Was Salam Said (describing the beauty of women in Jannah): “..Her marrow is visable beneath her skin, and there are no bachelors in Paradise“

(Collected by Bukhaari and Muslim)

Concerning this description of her skin in the hadeeth Imaamul Iraaqi mentions in tarhu Tathreeb “..Her marrow is visable beneath her skin..” That is, from the extremely pure nature of her skin, one can see her marrow just as one can see the fine threads inside a very pure pearl..”

(Tarhu Tathreeb 9/226)

However this manifests, it will be beautiful!

They will continue to become more beautiful every friday….forever!

Upon the authority of Anas ibn Maalik who said that the Messenger of Allah  – Sallallahu alaihi wa Salam said: “Indeed in Jannah there is a market that will be attended (by the inhabitants of Jannah) every Jumu’ah, wherein a breeze will blow upon them from the north, it will blow in their faces and upon their garments and they will increase in good looks and beauty (due to it). They will return to their families who would also have become more good looking and beautiful. Their families will say to them ‘By Allah! you have become more good looking and beautiful since you have left us! and they will say back to them: ‘And you By Allah have become more good looking and beautiful since we have left out!’

one version mentions at its end ’..and that is every Jumu’ah’

(Collected by Muslim in his ‘Saheeh’)

Their beautiful fragrance

Upon the authority of Anas Ibn Maalik – Radhiyallahu ‘anhu – who said that the Messenger of Allah – Sallallahu alaihi Was Salam – Said: “..If a woman from the women of Jannah were to appear in this world, that which is between (the heavens and the earth) would be filled with her (beautiful) fragrance.

Their Brilliance!

Upon the authority of Anas Ibn Maalik – Radhiyallahu ‘anhu – who said that the Messenger of Allah – Sallallahu alaihi Was Salam – Said: “..If a woman from the women of Jannah were to appear in this world, that which is between (the heavens and the earth) would be filled with her (beautiful) fragrance. And they they would illuminate that which is between the heavens and the earth..“

The brilliant beauty of their garments alone

The previous hadeeth continues..

“.. The scarf that is on her head is better than the world and that which is upon it!”

(Collected By Tirmidhi (1651) and declared ‘Saheeh’ by Shaikh Al Albaani in Saheeh Sunan At Tirmidhi)

And as some of the salaf said: “If this is her scarf (or shawl) then what about her!. Think of All the tremendous beauty that is present in our present world and know that one of her accessories alone is better than it all!

This is just a portion of that which has occured concerning what is promised to her, that is not to mention all the other delights of Jannah that she will partake in alongside the men who enter.

Wallahu A’lam

Abu Hakeem Bilal

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