Paradise in the Quran

What is the ultimate destination that everyone hopes to reach? Is there a place where one experiences no pain, sadness, anxiety, fear, or suffering? Who is able to go to that place? In this article on Islam4u, we will explore the intriguing topic of paradise in the Quran.

Paradise: A Reward for the Pious

We have come to this world for a purpose. Our lives in this world are not in vain. As a result, we must strive for achieving success. To that end, we must find the truth and true success. Will I be successful if I become rich and lead a life full of comfort and pleasure? Is success confined to this world? The answer is no. True success and prosperity lie in the hereafter. When the Quran talks about how the righteous and pious enter paradise due to their faith in Allah and good deeds, it states how that is the great success, meaning earning Allah’s pleasure so much so that they deserve paradise:

وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِى جَنَّٰتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ‎﴿٧٢﴾

Allah has promised the faithful, men and women, gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them [forever], and good dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. Yet Allah’s pleasure is greater [than all these]; that is the great success. (9:72)

The pious are higher in rank than the righteous. A righteous person is anyone who believes in Allah and does good deeds. However, such a person can have many slip-ups and even may commit many sins. Nevertheless, he is considered righteous to some extent because he believes in Allah and does good deeds. On the other hand, a person who is pious is not just a righteous person. They are extremely careful of their actions and always feel Allah’s presence. As a result, they rarely commit sins and try their best not to make mistakes. Furthermore, even when they do commit sins, they quickly repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness:

إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوْبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ‎﴿١٧﴾

[Acceptance of] repentance by Allah is only for those who commit evil out of ignorance and then repent promptly. It is such whose repentance Allah will accept, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise. (9:17)

Several verses in the Quran indicate that the pious (Godwary) will be the inhabitants of paradise:

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ‎﴿٤٥﴾

Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and springs. (15:45)

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍ ‎﴿٥١﴾‏ فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ‎﴿٥٢﴾

Indeed the Godwary will be in a safe place, (51) amid gardens and springs. (44:51-52)

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ‎﴿١٥﴾‏ ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ ‎﴿١٦﴾

Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and springs, (15) receiving what their Lord has given them, for they had been virtuous aforetime. (16) (51:15-16)

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَنَعِيمٍ ‎﴿١٧﴾‏ فَٰكِهِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ‎﴿١٨﴾

Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and bliss, (17) rejoicing because of what their Lord has given them, and that their Lord has saved them from the punishment of hell. (18) (15:17-18)

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَنَهَرٍ ‎﴿٥٤﴾‏ فِى مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرِۭ ‎﴿٥٥﴾

Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and streams, (54) in the abode of truthfulness with an omnipotent King. (55) (54:54-55)

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى ظِلَٰلٍ وَعُيُونٍ ‎﴿٤١﴾‏ وَفَوَٰكِهَ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ ‎﴿٤٢﴾‏ كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـَٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ‎﴿٤٣﴾

Indeed the Godwary will be amid shades and springs (41) and [enjoying] such fruits as they desire. (42) [They will be told:] ‘Enjoy your food and drink, [a reward] for what you used to do. (43) (77:41-43)

Description of Paradise in the Quran

One of the ways of attracting people to a place is by describing the good things, the beauties, and the attractions of that place. The Quran gives vivid imagery of paradise through its eloquent language. It speaks about the gardens with rivers flowing underneath them. It mentions the great palaces of paradise with their grand design and the precious gems used for the palaces, their couches, and beds. It talks about the various fruits that are available and easily accessible and all the delicious food and drinks that are served in it. Finally yet importantly, it describes the lovely and beautiful maidens known as houris. Let us go over some of these verses.

Surah Waqi‘ah

Surah Waqi‘a beautifully depicts paradise. The description of paradise in this surah begins with “those brought near” (muqarrabun) and how they recline on elegant couches:

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ ‎﴿١٥﴾‏ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ ‎﴿١٦﴾يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ‎﴿١٧﴾‏ بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ ‎﴿١٨﴾‏ لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ ‎﴿١٩﴾‏ وَفَٰكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ ‎﴿٢٠﴾‏ وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ ‎﴿٢١﴾‏ وَحُورٌ عِينٌ ‎﴿٢٢﴾‏ كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ ‎﴿٢٣﴾‏ جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ‎﴿٢٤﴾‏ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا ‎﴿٢٥﴾‏ إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَٰمًا سَلَٰمًا ‎﴿٢٦﴾‏ وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ ‎﴿٢٧﴾‏ فِى سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ ‎﴿٢٨﴾‏ وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ ‎﴿٢٩﴾‏ وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ ‎﴿٣٠﴾‏ وَمَآءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ ‎﴿٣١﴾‏ وَفَٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ ‎﴿٣٢﴾‏ لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ ‎﴿٣٣﴾‏ وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ ‎﴿٣٤﴾‏ إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءً ‎﴿٣٥﴾‏ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا ‎﴿٣٦﴾‏ عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا ‎﴿٣٧﴾‏ لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ‎﴿٣٨﴾

[Those brought near are] on brocaded couches (15) reclining on them, face to face. (16) They will be waited upon by immortal youths, (17) with goblets and ewers and a cup of a clear wine, (18) which causes them neither headache nor stupefaction, (19) and such fruits as they prefer (20) and such flesh of fowls as they desire, (21) and big-eyed houris (22) like guarded pearls, (23) a reward for what they used to do. (24) They will not hear therein any vain talk or sinful speech, (25) but only the watchword, ‘Peace!’ ‘Peace!’ (26) And the People of the Right Hand—what are the People of the Right Hand?! (27) Amid thornless lote trees (28) and clustered spathes (29) and extended shade, (30) and ever-flowing water (31) and abundant fruits, (32) neither inaccessible, nor forbidden, (33) and noble spouses. (34) We have created them with a special creation, (35) and made them virgins, (36) loving, of a like age, (37) for the People of the Right Hand. (38) (56:15-38)

Surah Muhammad

In this surah, Allah attractively describes the streams in paradise, each having unique characteristics:

مَّثَلُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى وُعِدَ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَآ أَنْهَٰرٌ مِّن مَّآءٍ غَيْرِ ءَاسِنٍ وَأَنْهَٰرٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُۥ وَأَنْهَٰرٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّٰرِبِينَ وَأَنْهَٰرٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ كَمَنْ هُوَ خَٰلِدٌ فِى ٱلنَّارِ وَسُقُوا۟ مَآءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَآءَهُمْ ‎﴿١٥﴾

A description of the paradise promised to the Godwary: therein are streams of unstaling water and streams of milk unchanging in flavor, and streams of wine delicious to the drinkers, and streams of purified honey; there will be every kind of fruit in it for them, and forgiveness from their Lord. [Are such ones] like those who abide in the Fire and are given to drink boiling water which cuts up their bowels? (47:12)

Surah Insan

This surah has been revealed in honor of the five infallibles, Prophet Muhammad (s), Imam Ali (a), Lady Fatima (a), Imam Hassan (a), and Imam Hussain (a). You can find more information about this surah in the article titled Surah Insan. The surah explains the rewards that such noble individuals will enjoy in paradise.

إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا ‎﴿٥﴾‏ عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ ٱللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا ‎﴿٦﴾‏ يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسْتَطِيرًا ‎﴿٧﴾‏ وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا ‎﴿٨﴾‏ إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءً وَلَا شُكُورًا ‎﴿٩﴾‏ إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا ‎﴿١٠﴾‏ فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا ‎﴿١١﴾‏ وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا ‎﴿١٢﴾‏ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۖ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًا ‎﴿١٣﴾‏ وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَٰلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًا ‎﴿١٤﴾‏ وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِـَٔانِيَةٍ مِّن فِضَّةٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا۠ ‎﴿١٥﴾‏ قَوَارِيرَا۟ مِن فِضَّةٍ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًا ‎﴿١٦﴾‏ وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا ‎﴿١٧﴾‏ عَيْنًا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًا ‎﴿١٨﴾‏ ۞ وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَّنثُورًا ‎﴿١٩﴾‏ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًا ‎﴿٢٠﴾‏ عَٰلِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ ۖ وَحُلُّوٓا۟ أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا ‎﴿٢١﴾‏ إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَآءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُورًا ‎﴿٢٢﴾‏

Indeed the pious will drink from a cup seasoned with Kafur, (5) a spring where Allah’s servants will drink, making it gush forth as they please. (6) They fulfill their vows and fear a day whose ill will be widespread. (7) For the love of Him, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner, (8) [saying,] ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks. (9) Indeed we fear a frowning and fateful day from our Lord.’ (10) So Allah saved them from that day’s ills and graced them with freshness [on this faces] and joy [in their hearts]. (11) He rewarded them for their patience with a garden and [garments of] silk, (12) reclining therein on couches, without facing any [scorching] sun, or [biting] cold. (13) Its shades will be close over them and its clusters [of fruits] will be hanging low. (14) They will be served around with vessels of silver and goblets of crystal (15) —crystal of silver— [from] which they will dispense in a precise measure. (16) They will be served therein with a cup of a drink seasoned with Zanjabeel, (17) from a spring in it named Salsabeel. (18) They will be waited upon by immortal youths, whom, were you to see them, you will suppose them to be scattered pearls. (19) As you look on, you will see there bliss and a great kingdom. (20) Upon them will be cloaks of green silk and brocade and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. Their Lord will give them to drink a pure drink. (21) [They will be told]: ‘This is your reward, and your efforts have been well-appreciated.’ (22) (76:5-22)

Surah Rahman

وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ جَنَّتَانِ ‎﴿٤٦﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٤٧﴾‏ ذَوَاتَآ أَفْنَانٍ ‎﴿٤٨﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٤٩﴾‏ فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ ‎﴿٥٠﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٥١﴾‏ فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ ‎﴿٥٢﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٥٣﴾‏ مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشِۭ بَطَآئِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ ۚ وَجَنَى ٱلْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ ‎﴿٥٤﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٥٥﴾‏ فِيهِنَّ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّ ‎﴿٥٦﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٥٧﴾‏ كَأَنَّهُنَّ ٱلْيَاقُوتُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ ‎﴿٥٨﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٥٩﴾‏ هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَٰنُ ‎﴿٦٠﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٦١﴾‏ وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ ‎﴿٦٢﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٦٣﴾‏ مُدْهَآمَّتَانِ ‎﴿٦٤﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٦٥﴾‏ فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ ‎﴿٦٦﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٦٧﴾‏ فِيهِمَا فَٰكِهَةٌ وَنَخْلٌ وَرُمَّانٌ ‎﴿٦٨﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٦٩﴾‏ فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَٰتٌ حِسَانٌ ‎﴿٧٠﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٧١﴾‏ حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَٰتٌ فِى ٱلْخِيَامِ ‎﴿٧٢﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٧٣﴾‏ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّ ‎﴿٧٤﴾‏ فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ‎﴿٧٥﴾‏ مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِىٍّ حِسَانٍ ‎﴿٧٦﴾‏

For him who stands in awe of his Lord will be two gardens. (46) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (47) Both abounding in branches. (48) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (49) In both of them will be two flowing springs. (50) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (51) In both of them will be two kinds of every fruit. (52) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (53) [They will be] reclining on beds lined with green silk. And the fruit of the two gardens will be near at hand. (54) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (55) In them are maidens of restrained glances, whom no human has touched before, nor jinn. (56) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (57) As though they were rubies and corals. (58) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (59) Is the requital of goodness anything but goodness? (60) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (61) Beside these two, there will be two [other] gardens. (62) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (63) Dark green. (64) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (65) In both of them will be two gushing springs. (66) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (67) In both of them will be fruits, date-palms and pomegranates. (68) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (69) In them are maidens good and lovely. (70) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (71) Houris secluded in pavilions. (72) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (73) Whom no human has touched before, nor jinn. (74) So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny? (75) Reclining on green cushions and lovely carpets. (76)

Surah Rahman describes the houris in two places. For this reason, it is known as the bride of the Quran (عَروس القرآن).

The Believers Will Be Rewarded With “Firdaws”

The word paradise comes from the Arabic word “Firdaws” (فردوس), which is originally a Persian word. In two verses of the Quran, Allah uses the word “Firdaws” specifically to refer to the eternal abode of the righteous. For the sake of brevity, we will mention one of the instances:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتُ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا ‎﴿١٠٧﴾‏ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا ‎﴿١٠٨﴾

As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, they shall have the gardens of Firdaws for abode, (107) to remain in them [forever]; they will not seek to leave it for another place. (108)

Heaven has different levels. The highest level of heaven is known as Firdaws. Only the truly devout and pious believers will be admitted to it.

How Can We Achieve Paradise?

Achieving paradise is quite straightforward. The Quran has given us the formula:

1. Believe in Allah, the guardianship (wilayah) of the Prophet (s) and the Ahlul Bait (a), and the Day of Judgment.

2. Do righteous deeds, especially by paying attention to performing all the obligatory acts and refraining from the prohibited ones.

3. Avoid sins as much as possible.

4. Seek Allah’s forgiveness constantly even if you think you have not sinned.

5. Be good to your parents.

6. Help the poor, orphans, and wayfarer.

7. Do jihad in the way of Allah with your soul and wealth.

In simple terms, all of these items can be condensed into believing in Allah and doing good deeds. That is why the Quran mostly says that those who believe in Allah and do good deeds will be rewarded with paradise.

Who Will Enter Paradise?

Only those who believe in one God, the guardianship of His Prophet (s) and the Ahlul Bait (a), and the Last Day and do good deeds will enter paradise. Therefore, paradise is not a place for disbelievers, polytheists, and atheists. However, the question is will adherents of religions other than Islam also enter paradise? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as one may expect. In Islam, we have a concept called “mustad‘afin” (مُستَضعَفِين). That is, those who have been oppressed or downtrodden ideologically. Such people did not and could not have the capability to realize the truthfulness of Islam for various reasons including media, propaganda, limited knowledge, and so on. If they believe in God and are righteous, perhaps they will enter paradise. However, those who have learned the truthfulness and veracity of Islam but do not convert to Islam owing to their obstinacy will not enter paradise.

Even if these people are Christian or Jew, they will most probably not enter paradise. That is because they must have converted to Islam, the true religion of God. Of course, the oppressors and tyrants who even claim to be Muslims yet do not act upon the teachings of Islam will not enter paradise either. We have many tyrants in Islamic history who were Muslim by name, yet they will have no place in paradise. For example, Yazid, Mu‘wiyah, and the Abbasid rulers will not enter paradise.

The Two Different Gardens of Paradise

The paradise that all believers have been promised is a place where they will enter after they have been brought to account and their righteousness has been proven on the Day of Judgment. Now, the question is what about those who die and go to barzakh? What will happen to them? The answer is that they will also be rewarded for their good deeds and punished for their bad deeds. Like we read in surah Rahman, those who fear Allah will have two gardens of paradise: one after they die in barzakh, and one in the hereafter.

Intercession: The Gateway to Paradise

Intercession is a concept that is not only mentioned in our hadith but something that even the Quran confirms. Intercession means that on the Day of Judgment, there are certain people of very high status who are able to intercede with Allah on our behalf to grant us paradise. The Quran says the following about intercession:

يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ وَرَضِىَ لَهُۥ قَوْلًا ‎﴿١٠٩﴾

Intercession will not avail that day except from him whom the All-beneficent allows and approves of his word. (20:109)

So who are the intercessors? First and foremost, the intercessors on the Day of Judgment are the Prophet (s) and the Ahlul Bait (a). They are the best of Allah’s creation and have the highest status among all people. Other intercessors include the angels, the prophets, saints of God, and martyrs. Once again, believing in Allah, doing good deeds, and especially believing in the wilayah (guardianship) of the Prophet (s) and the Ahlul Bait (a) are prerequisites for receiving intercession. If one has sinned, those sins will be overlooked thanks to intercession and one will enter paradise without going to hell.

Conclusion

Paradise is the ultimate destination of righteous individuals. It is a place where there is no suffering, pain, sadness, anxiety, fear, or every bad feeling one can imagine. In paradise, one is always happy, cheerful, excited, pleased, and delighted. Paradise has many blessings, such as delicious food and drinks, abundant fruits of various shapes and colors, beautiful gardens, rivers and streams of honey, pure and odorless water, heavenly wine, and heavenly maidens (houris). The dwellers of paradise wear elegant clothes of silk and have bracelets of gold and silver. Achieving paradise is dependent on believing in Allah as the sole God and creator of the universe and doing good deeds. In other words, being a true Muslim is what causes one to enter paradise. Ultimately, to achieve paradise, we must be pious and Godwary because, in the Quran, Allah has promised paradise to those who fear Him.