Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Brother Burhan,

Assalamalaykum,

Could you explain the meaning of the fragrance of paradise from the following hadith please?

Narrated by  Abdullah bin Amr (Radhiallaho anho):

Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)said,"Whoever killed a Mu'ahid (a person who is granted the pledge of protection by the Muslims) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years (of traveling)."

The first part is okay to understand, okay but I was confused about the second part regarding the 40 years of travelling, does that mean we as muslims should be able to smell the fragrance of paradise at say the age of 30 if we live to 70 Inshallah? How can we get to that state where we an smell paradise all the time, especially as although I am aware of Allah at all times but I am guilty of neglecting many basic Islamic duties due to say busy working lifestyles, un-Islamic environments and living under not so perfect Islamic conditions / countries ike the Middle East where even prayers are hard to miss in Jamaat because the Adhaan can be heard where as in the UK we are in constant Jihad to perform our prayers at work, not in Jammat but also on time? Your help on clarifying this would be good.

Jazak Alllah Khayr.

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Answer:

Distance of fragrance of paradise

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: The first part is okay to understand, okay but I was confused

about the second part regarding the 40 years of travelling, does that mean

we as muslims should be able to smell the fragrance of paradise at say the age of 30 if we live to 70 Inshallah?

Narrated by  Abdullah bin Amr (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)said, "Whoever killed a Mu'ahid (a person who is granted the pledge of protection by the Muslims) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years (of traveling)."

The gist of the above narration is that one who kills a ‘muahid’ in the life of this world, will be kept far away from Paradise in the Hereafter! The Messenger of Allah (saws) is guiding the believers regarding the magnanimity of the sin of killing of a ‘muahid’ and the vastness and magnificence of the Paradise by declaring that the sweet fragrance of Paradise is so far-reaching, that one is able to smell it even at a distance of forty years of travel!!!

The hadith has nothing to do with ones smelling the fragrance of Paradise in this transitory life, or the age in the life of this world; but is an idiom or phrase used by the Messenger of Allah (saws) to stress the magnanimity of the sin and the vastness of Paradise and its far reaching fragrance in the Hereafter. Even if we take the standard distance of walking a mile in 10 minutes, the distance traveled by only walking for 40 years would be approximately 2 million miles! That is how far-reaching the sweet fragrance of Paradise will be in the Hereafter; and that is only the distance if one walks….just imagine the distance if one uses the other means of transport of the world like horse riding, or car-travel, or air-travel, etc.! And if one even imagines the distance using any of the vehicles of the Hereafter, the distance would indeed be mind-boggling!!! That is how far the killer of a ‘muahid’ will be kept away from Paradise in the Hereafter!

Your Statement: Where as in the UK we are in constant Jihad to perform our prayers at work, not in Jammat but also on time?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 64 Surah Taghabun verses 15-16:

15 Your riches and your children may be but a trial: but in the Presence of Allah is the highest Reward.

16 So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey; and spend in charity for the benefit of your own souls: and those saved from the covetousness of their own souls they are the ones that achieve prosperity.

It is indeed true that believers living in non-muslim and un-godly environments are in a bigger trial regarding their practicing of the deen. That is precisely why Islam propagates that the believers must strive to create and live in an Islamic environment. Allah commands the believers, wherever they live, to fear Him as much as they can; and it is expected that the believers who live in unrighteous environments and strive to practice their deen sincerely, will earn a generous reward from their Merciful and Bounteous Lord on the Day of Judgement. The bigger the trial a believer passes, the bigger will be his reward on that Inevitable Day in the Presence of the Generous Lord.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan