Paradise and Hell

-------------------Al-Jannah wa An-Naar-------------------------
enter unto them from every gate [saying] Salaamun ''alaykum for that you persevered in patience!
is the final home!" [13:19-24]
And at the beginning of Surah al-Mu'minoon, Allaah explains that success is for the believers and then describe
will qualify them for success:
"Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their salaah with khushoo', and those who tur
laghw [dirty, false, evil, vain talk, falsehood and all that Allaah has forbidden], and those who pay t
those who guard their chastity, except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess, fo
free from blame; but whoever seeks beyond that then those are the transgressors; those who are fa
their amaanah [all duties that Allaah has ordained: honesty, moral responsibility, and trusts] and to
and those who strictly guard their prayers [at the fixed times]. These are indeed the inheritors who
Firdaws. They shall dwell therein forever" [23:11]
The Prophet (saw) also said, "The people of Paradise are three: a ruler who is fair and just; a man who
compassionate and gentle towards every relative and Muslim; and a man with a large family who is
not beg" [Muslim, see Sharh an-Nawawi 'alaa Muslim, 17/198]
The Way to Paradise is Very Hard
Paradise is very high, and ascending lofty places takes a great deal of effort. The way to Paradise is filled with
against human wishes and inclinations. This needs strong determination and willpower. In a hadith narrated by
Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra) the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said,
"Hell has been veiled with desires, and Paradise has been veiled with [surrounded by] hardships."
an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhi, and Abu Dawud report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) sa
created Paradise, He told Jibreel, "Go look at it". So he went and looked at it, then he came back an
Glory, no-one will hear of it but he will enter it". So He surrounded it with hardships and said, "Go a
he went and looked at it, then came back and said, "By Your Glory, I fear that no-one will enter it""
10/520, 8068]
an-Nawawi commented on the first hadith:
"This is an example of the beautiful, eloquent and concise speech which the Prophet (saw) was capable, in whi
beautiful analogy. It means that nothing will help you to reach Paradise except going through hardships, and n
to Hell, but whims and desires. Both are veiled as described, and whoever tears down the veil will reach what w
it. The veil of Paradise is torn down by going through hardships and the veil of Hell is torn down by giving in to
desires. Hardship including striving consistently and patiently in worship, restraining one's anger, forgiving, bei
in charity, being kind to those who mistreat you, resisting physical desires, etc" [Sharh an-Nawawi 'ala Muslim
The People of Paradise Will Inherit The Portion of Paradise That Would Have Gone to the People of Hell
Allaah has given two positions to every descendent of Aadam: a position in Jannah and a position in Jahanam.
destined to damnation of the kuffaar and mushrikeen will inherit the positions in Hell that had been allocated to
Paradise, and those of the people of Paradise for whom eternal bliss is decreed will inherit the portions of Parad
allocated to the people of Hell. After describing the good deeds that would earn Paradise for the successful beli
"These are indeed the inheritors, who shall inherit the Fridays"
Ibn Katheer said in his commentary on this aayah: "Ibn Abi Haatim said - and he quoted to the isnaad going b
Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said:
"There is no one among you who does not have two positions, one in Paradise and one in Hell. The
a house built for him in Paradise, and his house in Hell will be demolished". A similar report was narra