Surah At Taubah Notes (71-72) | Qualities of Faithful Believers | Description of Jannah

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

Qualities of Faithful Believers

 (71) The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

(The believers, men and women, are supporters of one another;) they help and aid each other. 

Surely, an authentic Hadith states, (The believer to the believer is just like a building, its parts support each other.) and the Prophet crossed his fingers together. In the Sahih it is recorded, (The example of the believers in the compassion and mercy they have for each other, is the example of one body: if a part of it falls ill, the rest of the body suffers with fever and sleeplessness.)

(...they enjoin good, and forbid evil),

(they perform the Salah, and give the Zakah), they obey Allah and are kind to His creation,

(and obey Allah and His Messenger), concerning what he commands and refraining from what he prohibits,

(Allah will have mercy on them.) Therefore, Allah will give mercy to those who have these qualities,

(Surely, Allah is All-Mighty), He grants glory to those who obey Him, for indeed, might and glory is from Allah Who gives it to His Messenger and the believers,

(All-Wise), in granting these qualities to the believers, while giving evil characteristics to hypocrites. Surely, Allah's wisdom is perfect in all His actions; praise and glory be to Him.

Good News for the Believers of Eternal Delight

(72) Allah has promised to the believers -men and women, - Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of 'Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme success.

Allah describes the joys and eternal delight He has prepared for the believers, men and women in,

(Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever) for eternity,

(and beautiful mansions), built beautifully in good surroundings.

 `Abdullah bin Qays Al-Ash`ari said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Two gardens, their pots and whatever is in them are made of gold, and two gardens, their pots and whatever is in them are made of silver. Only the Veil of Pride of Allah's Face separates the people from gazing at Him, in the garden of Eden.)

Messenger of Allah said, (For the believer in Paradise there is a tent like a hollow pearl which is sixty miles high in the sky, and in the tent the believer will have (so large) a family that he visits them all and some of them would not be able to see the others.)

It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, offers prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he emigrates in Allah's cause, or remains in the land where he is born.) The people said, "O Allah's Messenger! Shall we acquaint the people with this good news'' He said, (Paradise has one-hundred grades which Allah has prepared for the Mujahidin who fight in His cause, the distance between each two grades is like the distance between the heaven and the earth. So, when you ask Allah, ask Him for Al-Firdaws which is the best and highest part of Paradise, from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise and above it is the `Arsh (Throne) of the Beneficent.) 

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, that the Messenger of Allah said, (If you invoke Allah for Salah (blessings) on me, then also invoke Him to grant me Al-Wasilah.) He was asked, "What is Al-Wasilah, O Allah's Messenger'' He said, (The highest grade in Paradise, it will be for only one man, and I hope I am that man.) 

 Abu Hurayrah said, "We said, `O Allah's Messenger! Talk to us about Paradise, what is it built of' He said, (A brick of gold and a brick of silver. Its mortar is from musk, its gravel is pearls and rubies. Its sand is saffron. Whoever enters it will enjoy the delights, will never be hopeless, and will live forever and will not die. His clothes will never decay nor will his youth ever end.)'' 

 Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Allah, the Exalted and Ever High, will say to the people of Paradise, `O residents of Paradise!' They will say, `Labbayka (here we are!), our Lord, and Sa`dayk (we are happy at your service!) and all the good is in Your Hand.' He will ask them, `Are you pleased' They will say, `Why would not we be pleased, O Lord, while You have given us what You have not given any other of your creation' He will say, `Should I give you what is better than all this' They will say, `O Lord! What is better than all this' He will say, `I will grant you My pleasure and will never afterwards be angry with you.')