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:

The Hadiths that say how we will be in Heaven or Hell (that Prophets and babies) will be in Heaven, that we will have these many wives, etc. contradict the following Qur'an ayats:

"We will certainly question those who received the message, and We will also question the Messengers." [HQ 7:6]

Say, "I have no power to benefit myself, or harm myself. Only what Allah Wills happens to me. If I knew the future, I would have increased my wealth, and no harm would have afflicted me. I am no more than a warner, and a bearer of good news for those who believe." [HQ 7:188]

"The prophets simply follow the commandments of Allah. He knows their past and future. THEY CANNOT INTERCEDE EXCEPT ON BEHALF OF THOSE ALREADY SAVED BY ALLAH. The prophets themselves worry about their own fate." (HQ 21:28)

”Who is the One who guides you in the darkness of land and sea? Who is the One who sends the winds with good news, signaling His mercy? Is it another god with Allah? Most exalted is Allah, above having any partner. Who is the One who initiates the creation, then repeats it? Who is the One who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Is it another god with Allah? Say, "Show me your proof, if you are truthful." Say, "No one in the heavens and the earth knows the future except Allah. They do not even perceive how or when they will be resurrected." [HQ 27]

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Prophets in 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.

Beloved Brother in Islam, indeed amongst all mankind who ever walked on this planet earth, no one loved and revered and feared Allah Subhanah more than the Prophets of Allah Subhanah. The Aayahs you have quoted indeed clarify that the Sole and Exclusive Power of who will be blessed with Paradise and who will deserve Hell, is in the Control of the All Mighty Lord Alone. Indeed, no Prophet of Allah has the power within himself to bring about any good or harm, except with the Precise Permission and Will of Allah Subhanah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Any news or information concerning the people of Paradise and Hell Fire, or any information concerning the conditions of Paradise or Hell Fire are obviously of the ‘unseen’, and thus one has to base his belief only upon the information given by either Allah Subhanah or His Messenger (saws).

Allah Subhanah had Himself informed the good news to Prophet Mohamed (saws) about his blessed and lofty status in Paradise in the Glorious Quran and through Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.) on many occasions, which the Prophet (saws) relayed to his companions.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 108 Surah Kauthar verse 1: To thee (O Mohamed (saws)) have We granted the ‘Kauthar’ ( The Fount Of Abundance in Paradise).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.583 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

The Prophet (saws) said: "While I was walking in Paradise (on the night of Mi'raj), I saw a river, on the two banks of which there were tents made of hollow pearls. I asked, 'What is this, O Gabriel?' He said, 'That is the Kauthar which Your Lord has given to you.' Behold! Its scent or its mud was sharp smelling musk!"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.434 Narrated by Uqba bin Amir

The Prophet (saws) went out and offered the funeral prayer for the martyrs of the (battle of) Uhud and then ascended the pulpit and said, "I am your predecessor and I am a witness against you. By Allah, I am now looking at my Tank-lake (Al-Kauthar) and I have been given the keys of the treasures of the earth (or the keys of the earth). By Allah! I am not afraid that after me you will worship others besides Allah, but I am afraid that you will start competing for (the pleasures of) this world."

Beloved and dear Brother in Islam, the Prophet (saws) never said anything of the ‘unseen’ from himself, unless and until the news was specifically informed to him by Allah Subhanah, which he revealed to his noble companions. There are several such hadiths describing the people and their conditions in Paradise, the news of which the Messenger of Allah (saws) received from the All Knowing and related it to the believers. These hadiths in no way contradict the Aayahs of the Glorious Quran when read and understood in context.

Even after the Messenger of Allah (saws) was informed of his high and lofty status in Paradise, he (saws) remained always constant in his fear and reverence of his Lord as a grateful and obedient slave servant of the All Mighty.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.19 Narrated by Aisha

Whenever Allah's Messenger (saws) ordered the Muslims to do something, he used to order them deeds which were easy for them to do, (according to their strength endurance). They said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! We are not like you. Allah has forgiven your past and future sins." So Allah's Messenger (saws) became angry and it was apparent on his face. He (saws) said, "I am the most Allah fearing, and know Allah better than all of you do."

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6774 Narrated by Aisha

When Allah's Messenger (saws) occupied himself in prayer, he observed such a (long) qiyam (posture of standing in prayer), that his feet were swollen. Aisha said: “O Messenger of Allah (saws) you do this (in spite of the fact) that your earlier and later sins have been pardoned for you?” Thereupon, he (saws) said: “Aisha, should I then not prove myself to be a thankful servant (of Allah)?”

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