Paradise: Questions & Answers

PARADISE
Questions & Answers
The Twenty-Eighth Word

This Word consists of two chapters. The first chapter points to several subtleties and refined aspects of Paradise.

Since the existence of Paradise was proven in The Tenth Word through twelve indisputable truths in an extremely clear manner, and since in the second chapter of this Word the essence and summary of The Tenth Word is presented as a consecutive and very solid Arabic proof in which the existence of Paradise is clearly demonstrated, we will not discuss the proof of Paradise in this chapter. Instead, we will address several aspects that give rise to questions, answers, and objections.

If divine guidance assists us, a great and profound Word concerning this immense truth will later be written, inshaAllah.

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحٖيمِIn the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ اٰمَنُو وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ اَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِى مِنْ تَحْتِهَا اْلاَنْهَارُ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرَةٍ رِزْقاً قَالُوا هٰذَا الَّذِى رُزِقْناَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَاُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا وَلَهُمْ فِيهَاۤ اَزْوَاجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَGive glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with fruit therefrom, they will say, ‘This is what we were provided with before,’ though they will be given only its likeness. There they will have purified spouses, and therein they will abide forever.” – The Quran 2:25.

These are brief answers to several questions about the eternal Paradise. Since the Qur’anic verses concerning Paradise are more beautiful than Paradise itself, more refined than the hūrīA pure maiden of Paradise., and sweeter than the spring of salsabīlA spring in Paradise whose pure and refreshing drink is described in the Qur'an., nothing remains for anyone else to say.

Yet, in order to bring those luminous, eternal, exalted, and beautiful verses closer to the understanding of the intellect, we will offer a few steps and present several insights as examples, like flowers from the Paradise of the Qur’an.

We will now discuss five subtle questions and answers. Indeed, Paradise is a source of all pleasures, both spiritual and bodily.

Question: What does a body, which is subject to deficiency, defect, changeability, instability, and pain, have to do with eternity and Paradise? Since the soul can experience exalted pleasures, should that not be sufficient? Why is bodily resurrection necessary for bodily pleasures?

Answer: Just as the earth, in comparison to water, air, and light, is denser and darker, yet nevertheless forms the source and foundation of all divine creations and thereby, in one respect, rises above all the other elements, so too the dense nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. of man, by virtue of its comprehensive nature—provided that it purifies itself—rises above all the subtle faculties of man.

In the same way, the body, or the material aspect of existence, is the most comprehensive, encompassing, and richest mirror of the manifestations of the Divine Names. The senses and instruments by which all the bounties of Allah’s mercy can be perceived, measured, and weighed belong to bodily existence, that is, to the material aspect of existence.

For example, if the sense of taste in the tongue did not function as a measuring instrument for the different kinds of food, it would not be able to distinguish, taste, or evaluate their flavors.

Furthermore, the instruments by which the manifestations of the Divine Names can be perceived, recognized, and experienced also belong to bodily existence. Likewise, the faculties for experiencing infinitely varied pleasures are found within bodily existence.