ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Shi'ite Creed Concerning The Garden (al-janna) And The Fire (an-nar) Concerning The Garden (al-janna) [^1] And The Fire (an-nar) [^2] Says the Shaykh Abu Ja'far: Our belief concerning Paradise is that it is a permanent abode (daru'l-baqa') [^3] and an abode of safety. There is in it neither death, nor old age, nor disease, nor calamity, nor decline, nor palsy, nor care, nor sorrow, nor need, nor poverty.

It is an abode of plenty, of happiness, of quiet and of nobility. Affliction shall not touch its inmates, nor weariness. In it there will be things for which the souls of men yearn and which give delight to their eyes, and they shall reside therein forever. It is an abode the inmates whereof are the neighbors of Allah, and His friends (awliya') and loved ones and the recipients of His generosity. And they are of different kinds and ranks.

Among them will be some who like angels[^4] will receive their favors by sanctifying and glorifying Allah and declaring His greatness. And there will be others who will find pleasure in different kinds of food and drink and fruit and comfortable couches,[^5] and fair women with beautiful, big, black eyes,[^6] and in being served by young pages endowed with perpetual youth, and in sitting on cushions and rich carpets and in dresses of silk brocade.

All of them will be able to enjoy what they like and desire, in accordance with their own aspirations, which shall be granted to them by Allah. Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq has said: Verily mankind worship Allah in three different ways. One group among them worships Him out of desire for His Paradise and in the hope of His reward - and this is the worship of servants. Another group worships Him for fear of His Fire - and this is the worship of slaves.

Yet another group worships Him out of love for Him - and this is the worship of the noble ones; these, indeed, arc the trusted ones (amin, plural umana') [^7] . And this (follows from) the saying of Allah the Glorious and Mighty: “And such are safe from that day” (Qur'an 27:89) . And our belief concerning Hell is that it is a place of degradation or that of revenge on unbelievers and sinners. None but the polytheists will reside therein permanently.