Jannah is the ultimate prize and reward Allah (ʿazza wa jall) has prepared for His obedient servants. Jannah is a surprise: what no eye has ever seen, what no ear has ever heard and what no mind could ever imagine. When you think of a feature of Jannah, the only thing it shares with its worldly counterpart is the name: for instance a pomegranate of Jannah is nothing like the pomegranate of the world.
Jannah is beyond imagination. However, we can attempt to catch a glimpse of its beauty by reflecting on its descriptions mentioned by Allah and His Beloved ﷺ.
A Glimpse of Paradise
You have survived the terrors of the Day of the Judgement. The feeling of relief is indescribable. You’ve been given the Book of Deeds in your right hand, you’ve passed the Ṣirāṭ, and now you‘re walking towards Jannah. You can’t see it yet, but you can smell its incredible fragrance.
As you walk on, your eyes are captivated by the grandeur in front of you: the humongous doors of Jannah are towering above you. Just the distance between the two panels of a door is the distance of 40 years’ worth of travel.
The doors are wide open, welcoming you in. As you enter, the greeting of the angels reverberates through the air as they congratulate you: “Peace be upon you! You have done well, so come in, to stay forever” (39:73). Imagine finally seeing the angels and hearing them speak!
As soon as you enter you instinctively know your residence, as our beloved Prophet ﷺ said, “He will know his way to his home in Jannah better than he knew his way to his home in the world” (Bukhārī).
Everywhere you go, the doors of Jannah are opened for you. Like royalty, you do not need to open them yourself. There is no need to keep doors closed, as it is completely safe. You roam around and wander freely, without any restrictions. No visas, no expensive flights, no border controls. You have your own horse; made of gleaming rubies, it has two wings, and you fly on it wherever you wish.
Luxury and Comfort
As you leisurely stroll around, you realise that Jannah is huge. There are exquisite palaces of gold and lofty pavilions of pearls. Its bricks are of gold and silver, and its cement is musk. Its pebbles are of pearl and sapphire, and its soil is of saffron. Jannah is full of rivers meandering through its markets, palaces and pavilions. The river banks are of pearls and coral. Their soil is pure musk.
Inside are jewelled thrones for you to rest on, offering panoramic views. There are thick plush couches, rows of emerald cushions, and fine carpets. You relax and socialise here with your loved ones; eating, drinking, facing each other and having fun. And when you wish for some privacy, you have your own luxurious secluded spaces with their soft furnishings and cosy beds, which you enjoy with your spouses.
At your beck and call are servants with cups and pitchers, ready to serve you. They have their own charm and splendour, like “scattered pearls” (76:9) and they will remain in this state forever.
Jannah does not only look perfect, but it also smells perfect. The weather in Jannah is perfect: neither too hot, nor too cold.
Gardens, Food & Drink
As you walk around, each view is more breath-taking than the one you just saw.
Magnificent landscapes and lush greenery fill your view. The gardens and orchards are full of majestic trees whose trunks are of gold. The trees are laden with fruits: pomegranates, grapes and dates. There are clusters of mouth-watering fruits, softer than butter and sweeter than honey, hanging — just ready for you to eat. Neither too ripe, nor unripe: just perfect. The fruits are always in season, always available. There is an endless supply of platters of juicy meat, each one more delicious than what you just previously ate.
Now that you’ve eaten, you feel like drinking. You do not need to stand up. Instead, a drinking vessel comes and drops itself in your hand. Once you’ve had your fill of drink, it returns to its place.
Jannah is full of fresh springs of assorted sweet drinks, which gush forth from the ground. There are rivers of fresh flowing water; rivers of pure glistening honey; rivers of fresh milk; and rivers of opulent wine. Unlike its worldly counterpart, the wine of Jannah does not have a bad smell: it is pure and it is sealed with musk. It doesn’t give you a headache, make you vomit or make you lose your senses and dignity. The vessels of Jannah are of gold and crystal-clear silver.
Allah (ʿazza wa jall) says, “Platters and cups of gold will be passed around them. There will be whatever the souls desire and the eyes delight in. And you will be there forever” (43:71).
In Jannah, you never feel hunger or thirst. Whatever you eat is merely for pleasure. All the foods and beverages are complimentary. You don’t have to cook or wash up after your meal. Whatever you wish for just appears in front of you.
There are lavish buffets and endless arrays of delicious dining possibilities. With spectacular views, charming company, and every form of comfort and luxury imaginable, every meal is an exquisite experience.
Eternal Peace
In Jannah, there is no stress. There is no pain, no hatred and no negative feelings. There is no backbiting, no gossip, no evil talk, and no useless chatter. In Jannah, there is peace. Eternal peace.
In Jannah you never feel tired: neither physically nor emotionally. You are secure — in every sense. There is no pain. You never experience illness. You never feel angry, or a sense of despair. Jannah is perpetual hope. There is no sadness, no fear and no anxiety.
Jannah is everlasting happiness.
In Jannah, you don’t run out of anything. Allah’s gifts upon gifts to you are uninterrupted, constantly flowing. Jannah is eternal. You never get bored of Jannah. In the world, you may go on a luxurious holiday, but by the end of two weeks, you start missing home. In Jannah you never feel like that. Jannah is your home. Your real home.
Beauty and Company
Your garments are of the finest and softest silk: glistening emerald gowns. Your hands glisten with the finest jewellery: bracelets of gold and pearls. Your clothes never wear out. Even your comb is of gold.
Everyone you see is beautiful, radiant and hair free. Nobody spits, blows their noses or needs to go to the bathroom. Even their sweat is musk. Nobody grows old: no creaking bones, wrinkles or weakening memories. The ability to derive pleasure does not ever diminish.
In Jannah, your heart bursts with love and gratitude to The One who created you. You constantly glorify and praise Him “as easily as you breathe” (Muslim).
Jannah is pure beauty and eternal bliss, which you enjoy with your spouses. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) says, “The people of Paradise will be busy enjoying themselves. They and their spouses are in pleasant shade, reclining on couches” (36:55-6).
If you are from the men of Jannah, Allah marries you to the ḥūr. They have striking eyes, radiant skin, and they wear dazzling dresses. They are loving, faithful and of exemplary character. The Prophet ﷺ said, “If one of the women of Jannah were to appear to the people of the earth, she would fill up what is between the heavens and the earth with her light and her fragrance. And the scarf on her head is better than the world and what is in it” (Bukhārī).
And if you are from the women of the world, you are even more beautiful and stunning than the ḥūr and have a superior status due to your worship of Allah in the world.
In Jannah, there is no loneliness. In Jannah you are reunited with your loved ones: your spouses, your children, your parents, your grandparents; even the great-grandparents you always dreamed of meeting. You are able to meet the special friends of Allah, and the heroes and heroines of our Ummah. You are able to converse with the Companions and the Prophets. You are able to enjoy the blessed company of the Chosen One ﷺ!
And after all of these blessings, you are finally gifted with the best blessing, the joy of which surpasses all joy: the pleasure of seeing Allah, The Most Exalted and Majestic.
Let us always ask Allah al-Wahhāb (The Ever Giving) with the special duʿā’ of ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu):
اَللّٰهُمَّ إنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ إِيْمَانًا لَّا يَرْتَدُّ ، وَنَعِيْمًا لَّا يَنْفَدُ ، وَمُرَافَقَةَ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ فِيْ أَعْلَىٰ جَنَّةِ الْخُلْدِ
O Allah, I beg you for faith which does not waver, blessings which do not cease, and the company of our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ in the loftiest abode of the Eternal Garden (Ibn Ḥibbān).
