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:

Wherever paradise is mentioned it is described as gardens with rivers flowing beneath. Is there a significance to this? I am very curious to find out why the same description is given every time specially with the `rivers flowing beneath`.

Thank you.

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Answer:

Why paradise with rivers and gardens?

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.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 50 Surah Qaaf verse 35: There they (the men and women of Paradise) shall have all that they will desire, and We have with Us yet more for them!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqan verses 15-16: Ask them, “Is this (the Fire) better, or the everlasting gardens which have been promised to the God-fearing, righteous people (men and women)?”. That will be the recompense of their good deeds and the final destination of their journey, wherein, they will get everything they desire, and wherein they will dwell forever. This is a promise which your Lord has taken upon Himself to fulfill.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.303 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Allah said, 'I have prepared for My pious worshipers such things as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and nobody has ever even imagined. All that is reserved and, compared to all that you have seen is nothing."

The Lord, High and Exalted He is, declares that the rewards and gifts He has prepared for the righteous in Paradise are absolutely unimaginable to the human mind, and the fortunate dwellers in Paradise will get there whatever their hearts might desire!

If one thinks deeply or asks any person that if he had absolutely no financial or any limitations whatsoever, what would be the condition of his ‘dream’ house; one would reply that he would love a huge palace, surrounded by massive lush green gardens filled with mature trees and fruits and flowers, and lakes and rivers and waterfalls in it! It is in the nature or the ‘hard disc’ of man that he loves lush greenery and water; and that is exactly what the Lord Most Bounteous has promised in simple terms to His righteous believing slaves in the Realms of the Hereafter.

It is not that the fortunate dwellers of Paradise will only get huge palaces, and massive lush green gardens, and rivers flowing therein; but therein they have the Solemn Promise and Word of The Bounteous Lord that they will have therein whatever their hearts will desire, and some more!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verse 20: But it is for those who fear their Lord that lofty mansions one above another have been built: beneath them flow rivers (of delight): (such is) the promise of Allah: never doth Allah fail in (His) promise.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 23: Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 31: For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade; they will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on!

May Allah Subhanah have mercy upon you and us, forgive you and us our sins, and guide us to do deeds that will enable us tread the Path that reaches His Mercy and His Grace. Ameen.

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