7.19. THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE ARE OF TWO TYPES
There are two kinds of people in Paradise: the foremost brought near (sabiqun muqarrabun) and the righteous ones of the right hand (abrar ashab al-yamin). Allah, Most High, says:
“No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in *illiyyun. And what can make you know what is ‘illiyun? It is (their destination recorded in) a register inscribed. Which is witnessed by those brought near (to Allah). Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure. On adorned couches, observing. You will recognize in their faces the radiance of pleasure. They will be given to drink [pure] wine [which was] sealed. The last of it is musk. So for this let the competitors compete. And its mixture is of Tasnim. A spring from which those near (to Allah) drink.“ (al-Mutaffifin (83): 18-28)
Ibn ‘Abbas (radhiyAllahu ‘anhuma) said: ‘It will be mixed for those of the right hand while the ones brought close drink it pure.’ It occurs in the Sahlh that the Prophet said: “When you hear the muezzin, repeat what he says, then invoke a blessing on me, for everyone who invokes a blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah; then ask from Allah al-Wasilah for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only one of Allah’s servants, and I hope that I may be that one. If anyone asks that I be given al-Wasilah, he will be assured of my intercession.’
Here the Prophet informs us that the all-Wasilah, which is fitting for only one of Allah’s servants whom he himself wished to be, is a rank in Paradise; this being the case, is there then something higher in rank than al-Wasilah that is located outside of Paradise and suits the creation?
It is further stated in the Sahlh in the hadith of the angels who look for the gatherings of remembrance:
“They tell the hallowed and exalted Lord: ‘We found them praising and exalting You and pronouncing Your greatness.’ He asks them: ‘What do they ask?’ They reply: ‘They ask for Paradise.’ He: ‘Have they seen it?’ Them: ‘No.’ He: ‘What if they had seen it!’ Them: ‘Had they seen it, they would have sought it even more!’ He: ‘From what do they seek protection?’ Them: ‘They seek protection from the Fire.’ He: ‘Have they seen it?’ Them: ‘No.’ He: ‘What if they had seen it!’ Them: ‘Had they seen it, they would have sought protection from it even harder!’
He: ‘May you be witness that I have granted them their request and protected them from what they seek protection from (or along those lines).’ Them: ‘Among them is so and so, an enormous sinner, he came for something else and then sat with them.’ He: ‘They are such a group that no one who sits with them is miserable.’”These Were Most Virtuous Of people and what they were seeking was Paradise and what they were fleeing from was Hell.
We know that those who gave their pledges to the Prophet on the night of the Aqabah were the best of the first and foremost Muslims and better than all of these Shaykhs. When the Prophet took this pledge from the Helpers they told him: “Declare your conditions for your Lord, yourself, and your companions.” He said: “For myself, I ask you to exclude me from anything you exclude yourself and your families from. For my companions, I ask you to support them.” They said: “If we do that, what will we get?” He replied: “You shall have Paradise.” They then said: “Give us your hand, for by Allah, we will not annul it nor ask you to annul it.” In the course of the pledge, they told him: “We have agreements with these people, but we will break them.”
These men who gave their pledges to the Prophet were amongst those of Allahs creation who loved Allah creation who loved Allah and his Messenger the most and who sacrificed their lives and wealth in seeking their acceptance in a way that none of these later people could compete with. The highest reward they were after was Paradise, and had there been anything higher than that they would have sought it. They knew well that Paradise does not only contain every single desire and lofty goal but also holds within things not yet sensed by the soul and thus not yet desired; after all, seeking, loving, and wanting is dependent on sensing, feeling, and conceptualizing. If man cannot imagine, sense, or feel something, he simply cannot seek, love, and yearn it. In Paradise, both of the aforementioned exist. Allah, Most High, says:
“They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.” (al-Qaf (50): 35)
And
“And therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes.” (al-Zukhruf (43): 71)
As we can see, Paradise holds what they desire and more: this ‘more’ is what they cannot desire yet because they do not know what it is.The Prophet said: “…what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what has not occurred to the heart of man.” This is a vast topic.
By Shaykhu’l-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
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