Jannah — Paradise Gardens beneath which rivers flow Just how great is the destination we are striving for? It is impossible for us to imagine the true beauty of Paradise. Here are just a few descriptions from our scriptures: Allah the Almighty says: إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَعِيمٍ Lo! those who kept their duty dwell in gardens and delight, فَاكِهِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَوَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ Happy because of what their Lord hath given them, and (because) their Lord hath warded off from them the torment of hell-fire. كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا هَنِيئًا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (And it is said unto them): Eat and drink in health (as a reward) for what ye used to do, مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّصْفُوفَةٍ ۖ وَزَوَّجْنَاهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍ Reclining on ranged couches. And we wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes. (at-Tur 17-20) And He says: مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ كَمَنْ هُوَ خَالِدٌ فِي النَّارِ وَسُقُوا مَاءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَاءَهُمْ A similitude of the Garden which those who keep their duty (to Allah) are promised: Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, and rivers of milk whereof the flavour changeth not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of clear-run honey; therein for them is every kind of fruit, with pardon from their Lord. (Are those who enjoy all this) like those who are immortal in the Fire and are given boiling water to drink so that it teareth their bowels? (Muhammad 15) And He says: أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place! (al-Kahf 31) The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Allah said, I have prepared for My pious worshipers such things as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and nobody has ever thought of. All that is reserved, besides which, all that you have seen, is nothing." Then he recited:-- No soul knows what is kept hidden (in reserve) for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do. (32.17) (Sahih al Bukhari 4780) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "In Paradise, there are a hundred levels, what is between every two levels is like what is between the heavens and the earth. Al-Firdaus is ts highest level, and from it the four rivers of Paradise are made to flow forth. So when you ask Allah, ask Him for Al-Firdaus." (Tirmidhi 2531) And it was narrated that a Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, indeed, I love horses. Are there horses in Paradise?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If you are admitted into Paradise, you shall be brought a horse of rubies with two wings, then you shall be carried on it, then it will fly with you wherever you want." (Tirmidhi 2544) And it was narrated: "We were seated with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he looked towards the moon on the night of a full moon and said: "Indeed you shall be placed before your Lord and you shall see Him as you see this moon. You will see Him without trouble. So if you are able to keep from becoming overwhelmed from prayer before the rising of the sun and before its setting, then do so." Then he recited: And glorify the praises of your Lord before the setting." (Tirmidhi 2551) And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah will say to the people of Paradise: O people of Paradise! They will say: 'We respond to You, O our Lord,and we are at Your service.' Then He will say: Are you pleased? They will say: 'Why should we not be pleased when You have given us what you have not given anyone from Your creation.' So He will say: I shall give you what is greater than that. They will say: 'And what is greater than that?' He will say: I shall cover you in My Pleasure and I shall not become angry with you ever." (Tirmidhi 2555) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed in Paradise there is a sea of water, and a sea of honey,and a sea of milk, and a sea of wine, then the rivers shall split off afterwards." May Allah make all of us from the people of Jannah.