The Day of Resurrection 9 – Paradise at last!
Nearly there…
The believers, having endured the wait for the reckoning to begin, some shaded beneath the Throne of Allah, others standing in sweat that reached their ankles, knees or even their necks, will have witnessed the intercession of the Prophet ﷺ until reckoning began. They would have been sorted into groups, had their deeds presented and have seen the Sirat bridge stretched over the raging flames of Hell. The bridge will be finer than a hair, sharper than a sword, and beneath it the roaring of the Fire can be heard like a beast inhaling and exhaling in fury.
They would have been surrounded by utter darkness, except for the light that was generated by their prayers, charity, and their connection with the Quran during their lives. Each person’s light will shine according to their deeds. Some will have a radiance stretching ahead of them, while others will have only a faint flicker at their feet, dimming and returning as they falter. The air will be filled with cries:
رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا
Our Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us.
(At Tahrim 66:8)
The first of the believers will pass like lightning – a flash of brilliance across the darkness, then others like a gust of wind, like soaring birds, like galloping horses, some running, some walking, and some crawling, scraping across the bridge with trembling hands and knees, while the Fire lashes below. Hooks will snatch according to one’s deeds, yet by Allah’s mercy, the faithful will pass, one after another. (Musnad Ahmad, Sahih Hibban)
When they finally reach the other side, their limbs trembling, hearts still pounding, the sound of the Fire will fade, replaced by a calm that descends like dawn after a storm. Before them will flow the Hawd, the blessed reservoir of the Prophet ﷺ, vast and dazzlingly white. Its water will be whiter than milk, sweeter than honey, and more fragrant than musk. They will see cups twinkling as numerous as the stars.
Imagine the moment their parched throats finally taste this water – cool, smooth, and utterly refreshing, washing away the heat and dryness of the long wait, the fear, and the exhaustion of the crossing. Every drop quenches not only thirst but longing; a sweetness fills their souls that they have never known before. Tears of relief and gratitude flow as they receive their own individual cup from the hand of the Messenger ﷺ himself.
After drinking, they move towards the Qantarah bridge, between Paradise and Hell. Though their deeds have been weighed, people may still be holding grudges, jealousy, and bitterness from disputes and issues they had with others during their lives. Altercations, arguments, conflicts will be resolved. All negativity will be lifted from their hearts, until not a trace remains. The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِذَا خَلَصَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ حُبِسُوا بِقَنْطَرَةٍ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، فَيُقْتَصُّ لِبَعْضِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ، حَتَّى إِذَا نُقُّوا وَهُذِّبُوا، أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي دُخُولِ الْجَنَّةِ
When the believers are saved from the Fire, they will be detained on a bridge between Paradise and Hell, where mutual wrongs will be settled among them, until they are purified and cleansed, and then permitted to enter Paradise.
(Bukhari)
Imagine the sight: those who have not spoken for decades, making up with each another, eyes softened, the deepest wounds of their hearts will be cleansed. The painful memories they used to rewind, deleted forever. They will embrace and forgive each other from the bottoms of their hearts, and the love between them will become pure, unlike any love in the world. Allah describes this moment:
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ
And We will remove whatever is in their hearts of resentment; [so they will be] brothers, facing one another on thrones.
(Al Hijr 15:47)
Tranquility will descend upon them. Faces will shine. The angels will greet them with words sweeter than any sound they have ever heard:
سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ
Peace be upon you; you have done well — so enter it, to abide eternally.
(Az Zumar 39:73)
The promise of eternal peace
Paradise is the place of complete serenity and safety. After the worries of dunya, the conflicts, pains, tensions, fears, and anxieties, paradise will be a place of complete peace and serenity. Every heart will be pure, every soul at ease, and the atmosphere filled only with harmony, kindness, and remembrance of Allah. Nothing will disturb the peace – no ugly sight, no irritating sound, no unpleasant smell and nothing that makes anyone feel sad, annoyed, or fearful. There will be no vicious gossip, no vulgar words, and no hurtful speech.
Fragrance
Around them, the fragrance of Jannah will fill the air, richer than any scent of musk or perfume from the world. Streams will be glistening in the distance, and their hearts will be overflowing with joy and relief.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
The fragrance of Paradise can be found from a distance of forty years.
(Musnad Ahmad)
Now purified, their thirst quenched, and their hearts reconciled, they will see Jannah before them. What a sight! Each soul will look ahead in hope, and enter Jannah. At last.
Levels of Paradise
In Paradise there will be no injustice, as we experience in the world. Allah will ensure that everyone receives the rewards they were promised and even the tiniest good deeds that were carried out with sincerity, will be rewarded beyond imagination. Allah said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds.
Entry to Paradise is not because of our deeds, it is through Allah’s mercy.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“No one’s deeds will admit him to Paradise.” They said, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Not even me, unless Allah covers me with His mercy.”
(Bukhari)
Yet this mercy is granted to those who believed, strived, repented, and loved their Lord. The Qur’an calls it Dar al-Salam, “The Abode of Peace”, where sorrow, fatigue, and injustice does not touch anyone.
However, deeds determine one’s place and rank within Paradise. Among the most honoured will be those who devoted themselves to the Qur’an. The Prophet ﷺ said:
قِيلَ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ: اقْرَأْ وَارْقَ، وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَؤُهَا
It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an: ‘Recite and ascend, and recite as you used to recite in this world; for your rank will be at the last verse you recite.’
(Abu Dawoud and Tirmidhi)
Thus, one’s closeness to the Qur’an, through memorisation, recitation, and reflection will determine the degree of their elevation. The Prophet ﷺ described a special set of levels prepared for those who strive in Allah’s cause:
إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ أَعَدَّهَا اللَّهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، مَا بَيْنَ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ
In Paradise there are one hundred levels which Allah has prepared for those who strive in His cause; and the distance between each level and the next is like that between heaven and earth.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This does not mean there are only one hundred levels in total; rather, it illustrates the vastness of Jannah and the magnitude of reward for sincere effort and sacrifice. Classical scholars commented that there is no fixed number of levels in Jannah; rather, its degrees are as numerous as Allah wills. Some even said they correspond to the number of verses in the Qur’an.
The eight gates of Paradise
The gates of Jannah will open wide to receive its people. Allah says:
جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍۢ مُّفَتَّحَةًۭ لَّهُمُ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبُ
Gardens of everlasting bliss, whose gates will be open for them.
(Sad, 38:50)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Paradise has eight gates, one of which is called Ar-Rayyan, through which only those who fast will enter.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
- Bab al-Salah (Prayer Gate) – for those who were steadfast in their ṣalah.
- Bab al-Jihad (Gate of Striving) – for those who strove in Allah’s cause.
- Bab al-Sadaqah (Charity Gate) – for the generous and charitable.
- Bab al-Rayyan (Fasting Gate) – for those devoted to fasting.
- Bab al-Hajj (Gate of Pilgrimage) – for those who performed Ḥajj and ʿumrah sincerely.
- Bab al-Kwan al-Ghayẓ (Gate of Forgiveness) – for those who restrained anger and forgave others.
- Bab al-ʿIman (Gate of Faith) – for those strong in belief and reliance on Allah.
- Bab al-Dhikr (Gate of Remembrance) – for those whose tongues were moist with Allah’s remembrance.
These names are drawn from various authentic narrations and the explanations of scholars such as al-Nawawi, Ibn Ḥajar, and al-Qurṭubi.
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) once asked:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ:
«مَنْ أَنْفَقَ زَوْجَيْنِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ نُودِيَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ، يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَذَا خَيْرٌ. فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّلَاةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ بَابِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجِهَادِ دُعِيَ مِنْ بَابِ الْجِهَادِ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّدَقَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ بَابِ الصَّدَقَةِ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصِّيَامِ دُعِيَ مِنْ بَابِ الرَّيَّانِ.»
فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: «يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، هَلْ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهَا دَعْوَةٌ كُلُّهَا؟»
قَالَ: «نَعَمْ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ.»
Whoever spends two of anything in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise: ‘O servant of Allah, this is good.’ Whoever was devoted to prayer will be called from the Gate of Prayer; whoever was devoted to jihad, from the Gate of Jihad; whoever was charitable, from the Gate of Charity; whoever was fasting, from the Gate of al-Rayyan.’
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, will there be anyone called from all of them?’ He replied, ‘Yes, and I hope you will be one of them.’
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The first to enter Paradise
The first to enter Jannah will be our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He said:
«آتي بابَ الجنةِ يومَ القيامةِ فأستفتحُ، فيقولُ الخازنُ: من أنتَ؟ فأقولُ: محمدٌ، فيقولُ: بك أُمرتُ لا أفتحُ لأحدٍ قبلَك»
“I will come to the gate of Paradise and ask for it to be opened. The gatekeeper will say, ‘Who are you?’ I will say, ‘Muhammad.’ He will say, ‘It is for you that I have been ordered not to open to anyone before you.’”
(Muslim)
After him, his Ummah will be the first of all nations to enter, as he ﷺ said:
نحن الآخرون الأولون يوم القيامة
We are the last (of the nations in this world), but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection.
(Muslim)
Among this Ummah, the poor believers will enter before the rich. The Prophet ﷺ said:
يَدْخُلُ فُقَرَاءُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ بِأَرْبَعِينَ خَرِيفًا
The poor among the Muhajirun will enter Paradise forty years before the rich among them.
(Muslim)
In another narration:
يَدْخُلُ الْفُقَرَاءُ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ عَامٍ
The poor will enter Paradise five hundred years before the rich.
(Tirmidhi)
This is because the wealthy will be delayed for questioning about how they earned and spent their wealth, while the poor will have little to account for. Thus, the first to enter will be the Prophet ﷺ, followed by the poor and humble believers, and then the rest of the righteous, each according to their deeds and closeness to Allah.
As the believers arrive, angels will welcome them with honour. The believers hearts will overflow with relief and gratitude. They will say,
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَآءُ
Praise be to Allah, who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us inherit the land so we may dwell in Paradise wherever we wish.
(Az-Zumar, 39:74)
The rivers, gardens, and palaces of Jannah
The Qur’an describes Paradise as a realm of unimaginable beauty:
فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى
In it are rivers of water incorruptible, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, rivers of wine delightful to drinkers, and rivers of purified honey.
(Muhammad, 47:15)
The Prophet ﷺ said that when he was taken in Miʿraj, he saw Kawthar, the great river granted to him, its banks lined with domes of hollow pearls and its soil of fragrant musk. (Bukhari)
Its dwellings are of gold, silver, and crystal , glittering palaces and tents that shimmer with light. Allah says:
وَيُدْخِلُهُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمْ
And He will admit them to Paradise which He has made known to them.
(Muhammad, 47:6)
Ibn ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with him) explained:
They will know their dwellings in Paradise better than they knew their homes in the world.
The Prophet ﷺ described:
A tent in Paradise is a hollow pearl, sixty miles high; in each corner, a family will reside unseen by the others.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The Qur’an repeatedly confirms that both men and women who believe and perform righteous deeds will be rewarded with eternal bliss:
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
Whoever does righteous deeds – whether male or female – while being a believer – those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
(Nisa 4:124)
And Allah says:
وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا
Give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever.
(At Tawbah 9:72)
The shade and fruits
The trees of Paradise are vast beyond imagination. The Prophet ﷺ said,
In Paradise there is a tree under whose shade a rider could travel for a hundred years without crossing it.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Its fruits hang low and within reach:
قُطُوفُهَا دَانِيَةٌ
Its clusters of fruit will hang low and near.
(Al-Haqqah, 69:23)
The believers will recline on couches lined with silk, surrounded by companions purified from all worldly faults.
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّصْفُوفَةٍۢ وَزَوَّجْنَـٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍ
Reclining on arranged couches, and We will marry them to fair companions with large, beautiful eyes.
(At Ṭur, 52:20)
The Prophet ﷺ said,
The believer will have tents made of pearls, gardens planted with gold, and spouses of beauty that never fades.
(Muslim)
The more dhikr one did in their life, the more trees they will have in their gardens. Indeed, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said to the Prophet ﷺ:
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ: أَقْرِئْ أُمَّتَكَ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ، وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ طَيِّبَةُ التُّرْبَةِ، عَذْبَةُ الْمَاءِ، وَأَنَّهَا قِيعَانٌ، وَأَنَّ غِرَاسَهَا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
‘Convey my greetings to your Ummah, and tell them that Paradise has pure soil and sweet water, and that it is a plain (barren land), and its plantations are: Subḥānallāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, lā ilāha illallāh, and Allāhu akbar.’ (Tirmidhi and Musnad Ahmad)
The light and beauty
Jannah will be filled with radiance unknown to this world. Its light will not come from sun or moon, but from the light of Allah.
The Light of Allah, the Exalted, shines from the direction of His Throne. Scholars explain that its radiance is from the Light of Allah Himself, as the Prophet ﷺ said,
His veil is light; if He were to remove it, the radiance of His Face would burn everything His sight reaches.
(Muslim).
When the veil is lifted, the people of Paradise will behold their Lord, and that will be the greatest light and joy they ever experience. As Ibn Taymiyyah beautifully summarised: “Paradise is illuminated by the Light of its Lord; there is no sun and no moon.”
Everything within Jannah shines and sparkles, and each person’s beauty will increase day by day.
The Prophet ﷺ described the endless youth, beauty, and joy of Paradise:
مَنْ يَدْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ يَنْعَمُ لَا يَبْأَسُ، لَا تَبْلَى ثِيَابُهُ، وَلَا يَفْنَى شَبَابُهُ
Whoever enters Paradise will enjoy bliss; he will never be miserable, his clothes will never wear out, and his youth will never fade.
(Muslim)
The Qur’an speaks of gardens beneath which rivers flow, adorned with shade, fountains, and trees whose branches are heavy with fruits:
فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى
Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, rivers of wine delightful to drinkers, and rivers of purified honey.
(Muḥammad 47:15)
The garments of Paradise are woven from silk, brocade, and the leaves of the blessed Ṭuba tree.
أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا طُوبَى قَالَ شَجَرَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَسِيرَةُ مِئَةِ سَنَةٍ ثِيَابُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَكْمَامِهَا
A man said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ “What is Tuba (13:29)?” The Prophet ﷺ said,
It is a tree in Paradise as wide as a hundred years of travel. The clothes of the people of Paradise will come from its leaves.
(Ibn Hibban)
Luxury and entertainment
These radiant youths will serve the people of Paradise with honour and joy, carrying cups and trays of fine drink.
Everything will be the height of luxury:
Allah describes the attendants of Paradise:
وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَّنثُورًا
Immortal youths will circulate among them — when you see them, you would think them scattered pearls.
(al Insan 76:19)
يُطَافُ عَلَيۡهِم بِصِحَافٖ مِّن ذَهَبٖ وَأَكۡوَابٖۖ وَفِيهَا مَا تَشۡتَهِيهِ ٱلۡأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ ٱلۡأَعۡيُنُۖ وَأَنتُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
Plates of gold and cups will be passed around them. In it will be everything their hearts desire and their eyes delight in, and you will live there forever. This is the Paradise you have inherited because of what you used to do. There will be abundant fruits for you from which you will eat.
(Az Zukhruf 71–73)
It is also narrated that the believers will have markets to visit, not for trade, but for pleasure and discovery. In one narration, the Prophet ﷺ said:
There is a market in Paradise to which the people will come every Friday. A north wind will blow and scatter fragrance on their faces and clothes, increasing them in beauty and brightness.
(Muslim)
When they return to their companions, their families will say, “By Allah, you have increased in beauty!” and they will reply, “And you too, by Allah, have increased in beauty since we left.”
Radiance of the believers
The believers’ faces will be radiant with light and joy. Allah says:
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاعِمَةٌۭ لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌۭ فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ
Faces that Day will be glowing — pleased with their striving — in an elevated Garden.
(Al Ghashiyah, 88:8–10)
Whatever the soul desires
In Paradise, every wish is fulfilled as soon as it crosses the heart. Allah says:
وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ الْأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الْأَعْيُنُ وَأَنتُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Therein you will have whatever your souls desire and whatever delights your eyes, and you will dwell therein forever.
( al Zukhruf 43:71)
And He says:
فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
No soul knows what delight is hidden for them – a reward for what they used to do.
(al Sajdah 32:17)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
يُؤْتَى بِأَشَدِّ النَّاسِ بُؤْسًا فِي الدُّنْيَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيُصْبَغُ صَبْغَةً فِي الْجَنَّةِ، فَيُقَالُ: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، هَلْ رَأَيْتَ بُؤْسًا قَطُّ؟ فَيَقُولُ: لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ بُؤْسًا قَطُّ
The most miserable person in the world among the people of Paradise will be dipped once into Paradise, and it will be said: ‘O son of Adam, did you ever experience misery?’ He will say, ‘No, by Allah, my Lord, I never experienced misery at all.’
(Muslim)
No decay, no night, no fatigue, no impurity
In Paradise, not only with every wish of the heart will be granted instantly, but its wonders are beyond anything we can imagine. The Prophet ﷺ said:
In Paradise there is what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what no human heart has ever conceived.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Such is the overwhelming joy of Jannah that even the memory of pain is erased by a single glimpse of its beauty.
There is no fatigue, sleep, or decay in Paradise. The people of Jannah neither grow tired nor fall ill, and their youth is everlasting. There is no sun or moon, no day or night — the light comes from the Throne of Allah, and the ambience remains serene and radiant forever. The inhabitants will be thirty-three years old, tall and perfect, as in the ḥadith:
The people of Paradise will enter it hairless, beardless, and of one age — thirty-three years.
(Tirmidhi)
No heat, hunger, or fatigue will touch them. The climate will be perfect:
لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًا
They will see neither burning sun nor bitter cold.
(Al-Insan, 76:13)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
يَأْكُلُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ فِيهَا وَيَشْرَبُونَ وَلَا يَتَغَوَّطُونَ وَلَا يَمْتَخِطُونَ وَلَا يَبُولُونَ، وَلَكِنْ طَعَامُهُمْ ذَلِكَ جُشَاءٌ كَرِيحِ الْمِسْكِ
The people of Paradise will eat and drink, but they will not pass any excrement, blow their noses, or urinate. Their food will be digested as belching that smells like musk.
(Muslim)
This hadith shows that Jannah is completely pure, the pleasures of eating and drinking exist, but without any impurity or discomfort.
The Prophet ﷺ also described the beautiful fragrance of the people of Paradise:
عَرَقُهُمْ مِسْكٌ
Their sweat will be of musk.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This indicates that even their bodily functions in Jannah are sources of delight and fragrance, not discomfort.
Companionship
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَتَى السَّاعَةُ؟
قَالَ: «وَمَاذَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَهَا؟»
قَالَ: مَا أَعْدَدْتُ لَهَا مِنْ كَثِيرِ صَلَاةٍ وَلَا صَوْمٍ وَلَا صَدَقَةٍ، وَلَكِنِّي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ﷺ.
فَقَالَ: «أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ»
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah, when is the Hour?”
He replied, “What have you prepared for it?”
The man said, “I have not prepared much in the way of prayer, fasting, or charity, but I love Allah and His Messenger.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “You will be with those whom you love.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said afterwards:
فَمَا فَرِحْنَا بِشَيْءٍ فَرَحَنَا بِقَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ: أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ
We were never as happy about anything as we were upon hearing the Prophet ﷺ say: ‘You will be with those whom you love.’
(Bukhari)
He added:
So I love the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and ʿUmar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them, even though I have not done deeds like theirs.
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا
إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا
They will not hear therein ill speech or sinful talk — only the saying, ‘Peace, peace.’
(Al Waqi‘ah 56:25–26)
This highlights the purity of speech and the atmosphere of complete peace in Jannah — no idle or harmful words, only greetings of peace and goodness.
Reunited with loved ones and being with good company
Inhabitants will be united with those they loved – their righteous family, friends, as well as the righteous predecessors who came before them:
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَـٰنٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ
Those who believed, and whose descendants followed them in faith — We will join them with their descendants.
(At-Tur, 52:21)
They will visit each other, recall the life of the world, and rejoice that Allah saved them.
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبْلُ فِىٓ أَهْلِنَا مُشْفِقِينَ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَوَقَىٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ
They will turn to one another, asking: ‘We were afraid when we were among our families, but Allah has been gracious to us and has saved us from the torment of the scorching fire.’
(At Tur, 52:25–27)
One of the greatest blessings of Jannah is being in the company of the Prophet ﷺ. The Qur’an and hadith both affirm that the righteous will be united with those they love.
Allah says:
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger — they will be with those whom Allah has blessed: the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.
(An Nisa 4:69)
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ
A person will be with those whom he loves.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This means that sincere love for the Prophet ﷺ and striving to follow his way will, by Allah’s mercy, make one his companion in Paradise, the most honourable company of all.
The everlasting joy
The Prophet ﷺ said,
It will be announced: O people of Paradise, you will live forever and never die; you will be healthy and never fall ill; you will be young and never grow old; you will be joyful and never be sad.
(Muslim)
Each day will bring greater beauty and joy than the one before, as Allah says:
وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ
And with Us is more.
(Qaf, 50:35)
That “more” is the eternal increase of joy, light, and nearness to Allah.
Paradise is the perfection of love, mercy, and reward, the home of peace that every soul yearns for. It is the ultimate contrast to the fleeting, fragile world we know. In it are rivers that never dry, laughter that never fades, and reunion without parting.
The greatest reward — seeing Allah
Every blessing of Paradise is a prelude to the greatest of all – seeing Allah Himself. Allah says:
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ
Faces that Day will be radiant, looking toward their Lord.
(Al-Qiyamah, 75:22–23)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah will say: ‘Do you wish Me to give you more?’ They will say, ‘Have You not brightened our faces and admitted us to Paradise?’ Then Allah will remove the veil, and they will see Him — and they will never be given anything more beloved to them than that sight.
(Muslim)
That vision of the Allah is the pinnacle of all joy, filling the onlooker with peace, joy and fulfilment beyond imagination.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِذَا دَخَلَ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: تُرِيدُونَ شَيْئًا أَزِيدُكُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: أَلَمْ تُبَيِّضْ وُجُوهَنَا؟ أَلَمْ تُدْخِلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَتُنَجِّنَا مِنَ النَّارِ؟ فَيَكْشِفُ الْحِجَابَ، فَمَا أُعْطُوا شَيْئًا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ
When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, will say: ‘Do you wish for anything more?’
They will say: ‘Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not admitted us to Paradise and saved us from the Fire?’
Then He will remove the veil, and they will not be given anything more beloved to them than looking at their Lord, the Mighty and Majestic.
(Muslim)
Allah ﷻ says:
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاضِرَةٌ إِلَى رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ
On that Day, faces will be radiant, looking toward their Lord.
(Qiyama 75:22–23)
The scholars explain that naẓirah means both shining and looking, signifying both inner joy and the external light of those blessed to behold Allah.
Ibn al-Qayyim and Ibn Taymiyyah explain that:
The highest dwellers (A‘la ‘Illiyyin) will see Allah morning and evening, as implied by the verse:
لَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ فِيهَا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا
For them therein is their provision, morning and evening.
(Maryam 19:62)
This has been interpreted as referring to the times they will see their Lord.
Others will see Him once a week on Fridays, during the gathering at the market of Jannah, each according to their rank and closeness.
Allah will be pleased with them
The joy of seeing Allah is accompanied by the satisfaction that He is pleased with the inhabitants of Paradise. The People of Jannah experience layers upon layers of pleasure – and Allah Almighty reveals the pinnacle of their pleasure…
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ’ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ لأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَا أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ. يَقُولُونَ لَبَّيْكَ رَبَّنَا وَسَعْدَيْكَ. فَيَقُولُ هَلْ رَضِيتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ وَمَا لَنَا لاَ نَرْضَى وَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتَنَا مَا لَمْ تُعْطِ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ. فَيَقُولُ أَنَا أُعْطِيكُمْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالُوا يَا رَبِّ وَأَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُ أُحِلُّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِضْوَانِي فَلاَ أَسْخَطُ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدَهُ أَبَدًا ’. متفق عليه.
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
Allah will say to the people of Paradise, ‘O the people of Paradise!’ They will say, ‘Labbaik (at your service), O our Lord, and Sa`daik!’ (pleasure after pleasure to respond to you).
Allah will say, ‘Are you pleased?’
They will say, ‘Why should we not be pleased since You have given us what You have not given to anyone of Your creation?’
Allah will say, ‘I will give you something better than that.’
They will reply, ‘O our Lord! And what is better than that?’
Allah will say, ‘I will bestow My pleasure and contentment upon you so that I will never be angry with you after forever.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)
Why is Allah’s pleasure so important? If you do something without your parent’s approval because you want to and no one can stop you, the enjoyment of it is marred. Even though you followed your dreams, deep down you don’t enjoy it, because you feel there is something missing, which is the pleasure of those you love.
When you have the approval of those you love on your side, you feel you have the whole world and you don’t need anything more. This is the power of their pleasure. Even though it is a simple example without comparison to the love and approval of Allah, it shows us that we wouldn’t enjoy Jannah fully until we are assured of Allah’s pleasure.
(18:30)
How do we earn Allah’s pleasure?
Of course it goes without saying, we get Allah’s pleasure through obedience. However, Allah tells us exactly what pleases Him in the Qur’an.
In Surah Al-Maidah Allah Almighty says:
قالَ اللَّهُ هٰذا يَومُ يَنفَعُ الصّٰدِقينَ صِدقُهُم ۚ لَهُم جَنّٰتٌ تَجرى مِن تَحتِهَا الأَنهٰرُ خٰلِدينَ فيها أَبَدًا ۚ رَضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنهُم وَرَضوا عَنهُ ۚ ذٰلِكَ الفَوزُ العَظيمُ
Allah will say, ‘This is a Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.’ They will have Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will remain forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is the great attainment. (5:119)
In Surah Al-Tawbah, Allah Almighty says:
وَالسّٰبِقونَ الأَوَّلونَ مِنَ المُهٰجِرينَ وَالأَنصارِ وَالَّذينَ اتَّبَعوهُم بِإِحسٰنٍ رَضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنهُم وَرَضوا عَنهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُم جَنّٰتٍ تَجرى تَحتَهَا الأَنهٰرُ خٰلِدينَ فيها أَبَدًا ۚ ذٰلِكَ الفَوزُ العَظيمُ
The Pioneers—The first of the Migrants and the Supporters, and those who followed them in righteousness. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. That is the sublime triumph. 9:100
In Surah Al-Fath, He says:
لَقَد رَضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنِ المُؤمِنينَ إِذ يُبايِعونَكَ تَحتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ ما فى قُلوبِهِم فَأَنزَلَ السَّكينَةَ عَلَيهِم وَأَثٰبَهُم فَتحًا قَريبًا
Allah was pleased with the believers, when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, and sent down serenity upon them, and rewarded them with an imminent conquest. (48:18)
In Surah Al-Mujadilah, He says:
لا تَجِدُ قَومًا يُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَاليَومِ الآخر يُوادّونَ مَن حادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ وَلَو كانوا ءاباءَهُم أَو أَبناءَهُم أَو إِخوٰنَهُم أَو عَشيرَتَهُم ۚ أُولٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فى قُلوبِهِمُ الإيمٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِروحٍ مِنهُ ۖ وَيُدخِلُهُم جَنّٰتٍ تَجرى مِن تَحتِهَا الأَنهٰرُ خٰلِدينَ فيها ۚ رَضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنهُم وَرَضوا عَنهُ ۚ أُولٰئِكَ حِزبُ اللَّهِ ۚ أَلا إِنَّ حِزبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ المُفلِحونَ
You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their parents, or their children, or their siblings, or their close relatives. These—He has inscribed faith in their hearts, and has supported them with a spirit from Him. And He will admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will dwell forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. These are the partisans of Allah. Indeed, it is Allah’s partisans who are the successful. (58:22)
In Surah Al-Fajr, He say:
يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ
But as for you, O tranquil soul. (89:27)
ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً
Return to your Lord, pleased and accepted. (89:28)
فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي
Enter among My servants. (89:29)
وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي
Enter My Paradise. (8:30)
In Surah al-Bayyinah, He says:
جَزاؤُهُم عِندَ رَبِّهِم جَنّٰتُ عَدنٍ تَجرى مِن تَحتِهَا الأَنهٰرُ خٰلِدينَ فيها أَبَدًا ۖ رَضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنهُم وَرَضوا عَنهُ ۚ ذٰلِكَ لِمَن خَشِىَ رَبَّهُ
Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eternity beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is for whoever fears His Lord. (98:8)
Truthfulness
In Surah Maidah, how did those people attain that level of Allah’s pleasure? They were the sadiqeen, the truthful. The simplest way to earn Allah’s pleasure is to be truthful, cling to the truth, and defend it.
Truthfulness is the sign of imaan, contrary to kufr (disbelief) and nifaq (hypocrisy), because the munafiq (hyprocrite) is always lying. Truthfulness is therefore key.
Sacrifice
In Surah Tawbah, Allah Almighty is referring to those who were first to migrate, and support the Prophet (peace be on him) – they were the pioneers. The ones who put themselves forward first.
The main feature of the Muhajireen and the Ansar is that they sacrificed their wealth, their rest, their link with their families, their businesses and properties, and the cities they loved. Sacrifice won them Allah’s rida. If we want Allah’s pleasure, we need to sacrifice our pleasures and likings for Allah’s – such as waking up at Fajr time, even though our mattress is warm and cosy. It is an example of a small sacrifice.
Commitment and conviction
In Surah Fath, those who made bay’aa to the Prophet (peace be on him) under the tree, when he was going to perform umrah, but was prevented, and resulted in the Treaty of Hudaibiya. They had taken the pledge of allegiance under the tree to fight till the death, because Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) had not returned from negotiations, so they thought he had been killed.
It was not easy for them to make this pledge, but they made a commitment to Allah Almighty and this is what led to the fath (conquest) of Makkah. Because of this Allah facilitated their victory. Deep conviction opens the way to be closer to Allah and have more tranqulity (khushoo’).
Loyalty
In Surah Mujadilah, those who get Allah’s rida, are not those who betray, or spy on, or deceive their people. Allah Almighty wants to protect the community from the inside.
People who believe in Allah and the Last Day do not oppose His Messenger; they do not give away secrets or prefer their enemy above their people. This is not the characteristic of those whom Allah is pleased with.
Humility
When you enter Allah’s servitude, and do not rebel, you will be admitted to Jannah. Whoever has arrogance will not be admitted to Jannah. As long as you are in this category of ibaadi, (My servants) who submit to Allah and obey Him and repent and act with humility, you will be admitted to Jannah.
Jannah is the final destination, if you fulfil all the requirements on the list you may enter Jannah. Otherwise not.
Fear
In Surah Bayyinah, Allah is pleased with those who fear (khashiya rabbah) their Lord. They fear Him even though they cannot see Him, and this fear prevents them from doing wrong. Having this feature gives you Allah’s rida. It brings you closer to Allah.
Contentment
Those who are content with what Allah has destined for them, will get His pleasure. This is why the Prophet (peace be on him) taught us how to deal with adversity. When they are afflicted by atrocities and calamities they say ‘to Him we shall return’, or ‘Allah is sufficient for us’. They know He is the one looking after us.
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Those who, when a calamity afflicts them, say, ‘To God we belong, and to Him we will return.’ (2:256)
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Those to whom the people have said, “The people have mobilized against you, so fear them.” But this only increased them in faith, and they said, “God is enough for us; He is the Excellent Protector.” (3:173)
Fighting shaytan
These are the mechanisms with which we fight shaytanic whispers. Shaytan will fill your ears with ‘Why me? Why now? Why this? Why that.’ Tell yourself you are pleased with what Allah has destined for you, but ask Him to relieve you of it, and ease your way, give you good health, and halal rizq, and protect you from evil and oppression.
Make dua
We need to always ask Allah for His pleasure, say: Allahumma inni asaluka ridak
Allah is calling upon the tranquil soul, the nafs mutmaina to return to Him. This is in the context is death, but also metaphorically in terms of coming back to Him with all your mistakes, with repentance.
It is an honour to be called by Allah Almighty, and it’s a call from Allah to all of us to keep coming back no matter what challenges and issues we have.
Destiny and dhikr
We need to have rida (contentment). Be satisfied with what Allah has destined for you, it is your qadar, and part of the 6 pillars of imaan to accept qadar. You will not accept imaan, until you are pleased with the qadar of Allah.
From the sunnah we have the training of doing our morning adhkar. One of the duas from this is:
I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as my Prophet. (Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned in the hadith whoever said this in the morning would be granted Jannah.
Allah’s pleasure comes from softening the heart through dhikr. This establishes rida.
Two way street
When we are pleased with Allah, we have a nafs ul mutmaina (tranquil soul) and in return He is pleased with us (raditun mardiyya). The two are interlinked and flow from each other.
May Allah gather us under the shade of His Throne, make us among the people of Paradise, and guide us to be among those with whom He is pleased. May we live in eternal bliss, near the Prophet ﷺ and be the ones who see Him every day.