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Islam / Muslim : Muhammad and Jesus, part 2 of 10

Heavenly BlissThe Qur’an itself is not very descriptive of heaven or paradise. The two statements about what it is actually like are as follows:Surah 88:10-16,

In a lofty Paradise.Where they shall neither hear harmful speech nor falsehood,Therein will be a running spring,Therein will be thrones raised high,And cups set at hand.And cushions set in rows,

And rich carpets (all) spread out.

Surah 78:32-34,

Abdullah Yusuf Ali, trans.-“Gardens enclosed, and grapevines; And voluptuous women of equal age; And a cup full (to the brim).”
Marmaduke Pickthall, trans.-“Gardens enclosed and vineyards, And voluptuous women of equal age; And a full cup.”
Mohammad Habib Shakir, trans.-“Gardens and vineyards, And voluptuous women of equal age; And a pure cup.”

The Hadith provides further descriptions.Sahih Bukhari 4:474,

The Prophet said, “There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) if a rider travels in its shade for one hundred years, he would not be able to cross it.”

Mishkat,

Allah’s Messenger said, “The inhabitants of Paradise are hairless, beardless and have black eyes, their youth does not pass away and their garments do not wear out.”

Sahih Bukhari 4:546 and Bukhari 6:7,

…the first meal of the people of Paradise will be Extra-lobe (caudate lobe) of fish-liver.

Sahih Bukhari 4:543 and Bukhari 4:544,

…Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adam’s creation.

Sahih Bukhari 4:464 and Bukhari 7:124, 7:125,

The Prophet said, ‘I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women.”

Sahih Bukhari 4:468,

Allah’s Apostle said, “The first group (of people) who will enter Paradise…will have two wives; the marrow of the bones of the wives’ legs will be seen through the flesh out of excessive beauty…their hearts will be as if one heart and they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and in the evening.”

Sahih Bukhari 5:318,

Do you think there is only one Paradise? There are many Paradises…

Sahih Bukhari 2:463 and Bukhari 2:340,

Allah’s apostle said, “Any Muslim in whose three children died before the age of puberty will be granted Paradise by Allah because of His mercy to them.”

Sahih Bukhari 1:35,

The Prophet said, “The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my followers, then I would not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would have loved to be martyred in Allah’s cause and then made alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and then again martyred in His cause.”

In the Bible various references to “heaven” contextually refer to the atmosphere, outer space, or God’s kingdom-the Kingdom of Heaven. The biblical concept of heaven is more akin to a temporary abode that will ultimately culminate in God creating new heavens and new earth in which eternal life will be enjoyed with God in the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 14:17 and 16:17 refer to a temple in heaven.

Revelation 3:12 begins to reveal the New Jerusalem,

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And [I will write on him] My new name.

Revelation 21:1 tells of the ultimate entropy of the original creation and the making of a new one,

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:10-22 is when the New Jerusalem comes forth,

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God…But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Revelation 22:1-5 describes the New Jerusalem:

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Revelation 21:3-6

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”

Overall the heavenly paradise of the Qur’an appears to be geared towards the earthly-like pleasures of men-and I do not mean humanity but males: voluptuous women and two wives each and with a wive’s salvation being based on her husband’s approval (according to the Hadith), “If a woman dies while her husband was pleased with her, she will enter Paradise.”
Apparently, the only reference to engaging Allah is “their hearts will be as if one heart and they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and in the evening.” Yet, this comes from later Hadith and not from the Qur’an itself.

The Biblical concept is that of the tabernacle of God being with humans, He will dwell with them, and they will be His people. God will comfort us and will bring suffer to an end. The new heavens and new earth will be a place in which people of all former nationalities and of both genders will enjoy relationships with each other and with God.


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