ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Fast in the Month of Ramadhan Chapter 16 : a Glance At Paradise and Hell - 1 Although the Holy Qur’an tells us a good deal about Paradise and hell, more details are provided through Qudsi ahadith related by archangel Jibrael (Gabriel), peace be upon him, to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who, in turn, is quoted by his right hand, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as), and by the other eleven infallible Imams (as).

The Prophet of Islam (pbuh), moreover, was able, during his ascension to heaven not only to see but even to walk through Paradise, to eat of its fruit, and to observe its grounds. He (pbuh) was also able to cast a look at hell and see the methods whereby its residents are being tortured.

Both al-Tirmithi and Abu Dawood quote the following Qudsi hadith as narrated by the Messenger of Allah (pbuh): When Allah created Paradise and hell, He sent Gabriel to Paradise saying, "Look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants." He came to it and looked at it, observing what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants, then he returned to the Almighty and said, "By Your Glory do I swear that nobody hears of it without (desiring to) enter it.

" So He ordered it to be surrounded with obstacles and hardships then ordered Gabriel to return to it and see what obstacles and hardships with which it was surrounded. Having returned to it and observed it, he addressed the Almighty saying, "By Your Glory do I swear that I fear lest not even one person should be able to enter it. " Allah said to him, "Go to take a look at hell and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants," and Gabriel found it to be layers above layers.

He returned and said, "By your Glory do I swear that nobody who hears of it will ever (wish to) enter it." So He ordered it to be surrounded with incitements and attractions then ordered Gabriel to return to it. Having returned to it, he said, "By Your Glory do I swear that I am afraid lest nobody should be able to escape entering it." Let us now glance at each of these places separately. 1) A Description of Paradise Paradise (or heaven) is of different degrees of loftiness and happiness.

Unlike hell, which is a very deep pit of fire, Paradise is level (or, say, many levels), so much so that even its rivers do not bore holes on its surface but flow miraculously in their paths without scathing the surface. And there is more than one heaven or garden.