The Delights of the people of Paradise - II

09/12/2012| IslamWeb

The pleasures of this world are transient whilst the joys of the Hereafter are lasting and eternal:

This is why Almighty Allah calls the pleasures of this world “temporary conveniences” because they are enjoyed for a short while, then they come to an end, but the joys of the Hereafter have no end; there are many verses in this regard, Allah Says (what means): { Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has is lasting.} [Quran 16: 96]

{Indeed, this is Our provision; for it there is no depletion.} [Quran 38: 54]
{.... The example [i.e. description] of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade.} [Quran 13: 35] 

Allah, the Most Exalted, gave an example of how quickly this world will pass away in the verse (which means): {And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability. Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life.

{But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope.} [Quran 18: 45-46]

Allah likened this life to the rain that falls from the sky and causes plants to grow, flower and bear fruit. This lasts for only a short time before they shrivel and are blown away by the wind. Such are the luxuries of this life, such as youth, wealth, sons, land and fields. All of this passes away; youth fades, health and vitality are replaced by sickness and old age, wealth and children may disappear, a person may be taken from his family and wealth, but the Hereafter will never vanish or go away.

Allah Says (what means): {For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous. Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward the righteous.} [Quran 16: 30-31]

Seeking to enjoy the pleasures of this world and neglecting the Hereafter will be followed by regret and sorrow when one enters the Fire of Hell:

Regarding this, Allah, Glory be to him, Says (what means): {Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.}
[Quran 3. 185]

The Food and Drink of the People of Paradise

The trees and ripe fruits of Paradise hang within easy reach, so that the people of Paradise may pick whatever fruits they desire. The people will also have whatever food and drink they desire; Allah Says (what means):

{And fruit of what they select And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.} [Quran 56: 20-21]

{And therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.} [Quran 43: 71]

Allah, the Most High, will grant them with whatever they want of the good food and drink of Paradise, as in the verse (which means): {[They will be told]. “Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth in the days past.”} [Quran 69: 24]

In Paradise, there will be a sea of water, a sea of wine, a sea of milk and a sea of honey, and the rivers of Paradise will flow out of these seas. There will also be many springs in Paradise, and its people will drink from these seas, rivers and springs. Allah, the Most Exalted, Says (what means):

{Indeed, the righteous will drink from a cup [of wine], whose mixture is of Kaafoor (camphor). A spring of which the [righteous] servants of Allah will drink; they will make it gush forth in force [and abundance].} [Quran 76: 5-6]

{And they will be given to drink there of a cup [of wine] mixed with Zanjabeel [ginger], a spring there, called Salsabeel.} [Quran 76: 17-18]

{It [that wine] will be mixed with Tasneem, a spring whereof drink those nearest to Allah.} [Quran 83: 27-28]

 

The wine of the people of Paradise:

One of the drinks that Allah Almighty will bestow upon the people of Paradise will be wine. The wine of Paradise is free from all the troubles and problems that characterize the wine of this world, which makes people lose their mind, causes headaches, stomachaches and other physical disorders, or which may have something wrong in the way it is made, or its colour, etc. But the wine of Paradise is free from all such faults; it is pure and beautiful, as described in the verse (which means): {There will be circulated among them a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring. White and delicious to the drinkers. No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated.} [Quran 37: 45-47]

Besides, Allah Almighty described the beauty of its white colour then explained that its drinkers enjoy it very much, without it affecting their minds; Allah Says (what means): {Rivers of wine delicious to those who drink.} [Quran 47: 15]

And they will never be adversely affected by drinking it; Allah Says (what means): {No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated.} [Quran 37:47]

Elsewhere in the Quran, Almighty Allah describes the wine of Paradise, Saying (what means): {There will circulate among them young boys made eternal. With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring. No headache will they have there from, nor will they be intoxicated .} [Quran 56: 17-19]

Commenting on this passage, Ibn Katheer said: “It does not cause their heads to ache or their minds to be fogged; it is pure, although it still contains the ingredients that make it a delight to the drinker. Adh-Dhahhaak narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Wine produces four things: drunkenness, headache, vomit and urine. Allah has mentioned the wine of Paradise, and He has purified it of all these things.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/514]