Ahadith from Sihah Collections on the Topic of Heaven and Hell
2.4 Abu Sa`id al-Khudri (ra) reports the Prophet (saws) as having said: “Allah (swt) will address the people of Paradise and say, ‘O people of Paradise!’ They will reply: ‘Here we are, O our Lord! All grace is Yours! And all good flows from You!’ He will ask them: ‘Are you satisfied?’ They will say, ‘Why should we not be satisfied, O our Lord, when You have given us what You have not given any of Your other creations?’ He will say, ‘Shall I not give you something better than this?’ They will say, ‘O our Lord! What can be better than this?’ He will say, ‘I declare My satisfaction (ridwan) with you and shall never be angry with you anytime.’”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
2.5 Mu`adh ibn Jabal (ra) says he heard the Prophet (saws) say: ‘Paradise is a hundred levels. Each level is like the heaven and the earth. Firdaws, is the highest level. `Arsh is directly over it. The four rivers of Paradise spring from it. Therefore, when you ask Allah (swt), ask for Paradise, then ask for Firdaus.’
2.6 `Ubada ibn Samit (ra) says the Prophet (saws) said: ‘Paradise has a hundred levels. Between each level is the distance equal to what is between the heaven and earth. The highest level of Paradise is Firdaws. It is from here that the four Paradise rivers spring forth. Above it is the `Arsh of Allah, the Merciful. Therefore, when you ask Allah (for Paradise), ask for Jannatu al-Firdaus.2
(Tirmidhi)
Notes:
1. We have stated earlier that `Arsh is inexplicable since we have not received further information about it save that it has legs or posts: Qawa’im, to be precise. Beyond that we know nothing, and therefore, we say add nothing. Neither do we liken it to something, nor describe it in any other way. All we can say is that it is something that befits the Greatness of Allah (swt).
2. That is, we do not have to underestimate ourselves. Humble we must be, and sinners we may be, but there is no reason why we should consider Firdaus beyond our reach. Our Lord is a Magnanimous Lord whose Generosity is restrained by nothing. When He gives, He gives in a way befitting One who owns all that exists, whether between the heaven and earth or beyond it.
And let no one feel it a big thing to ask Allah (swt) for Jannah al-Firdaus. Nothing is big for Allah (swt). And He grants what He is asked for. He is the Bountiful whose bounty knows no limits and whose treasures do not dry up.
2.7 Anas (ra) says the Prophet (saws) said: ‘A morning or an evening in Paradise will be better than the world and all that it holds. Verily, if a woman from Paradise were to peep into the world (below) it would get lighted up, and would be filled with perfumes. Indeed, the scarf on her head in Paradise is better than all that the heaven and earth hold.’
(Bukhari)
2.8 Abu Sa`id al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah (ra) report the Prophet (saws) as having said: “A crier will cry out (to those in Paradise): `You will be healthy here and will never be ill, you will stay alive here and never die, you will stay young here and never get old, and you will be in blessings here and never will you lose them.'”
(Muslim)
2.9 Abu Sa`id al-Khudri (ra) says the Prophet (saws) said: “By God in whose hand is my life, you will know your way to your home in Paradise better than you know the way to your home here on this earth.”
(Bukhari)
Notes:
We know that the smallest share in Paradise, given to one who will enter last, will be ten times larger than this earth and what it contains. Obviously those who would have done well in this life would get much larger share of Paradise. It is also known that the dwellers in Paradise will visit each other, host parties etc. In fact, they will travel from one level to another visiting friends and relatives. Now the question may arise: with such vast spaces and distances, how will people know where their specific homes are? The Prophet has answered this question: that you will have much less chances of getting lost than what you have of losing the way to your homes here in this life.
2.10 `Ali (ra) reports the Prophet (saws) as having said: “In Paradise there will be a market place in which there will be no buying and selling of anything but of images of men and women. When a certain image appears attractive to a man, he will enter into it (and acquire that image).”
(Tirmidhi)
2.11 Abu Hurayrah (ra) says the Prophet (saws) said: “He who enters Paradise will be in joy and happiness. He will never be in any inconvenience there. Neither his clothes will become old, nor will he ever lose his youth.”
(Muslim)
2.12 Anas (ra) says the Prophet (saws) said: “In Paradise there will be markets which people will visit every Friday. Northern winds will blow there which will fill their bodies and clothes with perfume. Due to its effect they will acquire new beauties and grace. When they will return to their people they will tell them, `You have acquired new beauty and grace since you left us.’ They will reply, `By God, you have also acquired new beauty and grace since we left you.'”
(Muslim)
2.13 Mu`adh ibn Jabal (ra) says the Prophet (saws) said: “People of Paradise will enter Paradise in the state of youth, clean of all (useless) hair, virgin, eyes dark and of age 30 to 33.”
(Tirmidhi)
