Paradise and Hell

By: Allama Husayn Ansariyan
Paradise is the eternal abode for the pious and good people and hell is the eternal abode for those who have followed the path of disbelief and disobedience. This meaning has been mentioned in many Qur’anic verses and Islamic teachings especially the traditions of AhlulBayt (as). We do not see it is necessary to explain these two facts because most of the people have heard of them and their aspects through the religious meetings or the Islamic books.
Believing in paradise and hell is one of the necessities of religion and disbelieving in them means the very disbelief.
Paradise is full of material and moral blessings and it is the reward of the pious and good people and the hell with all kinds of outward and inward torment is the punishment of the criminals who have resisted Allah their Creator and insisted to be away from Him.
Paradise and hell are among the matters of the unseen and showing their quality and quantity cannot be achieved for man except via the revelation. Human skills are unable to perceive the facts of that world; therefore man, without relying on the revelation, cannot discover these two facts (paradise and hell) whatever knowledge he has.
Allah has said about the people of truthfulness and purity, “Allah will say: This is the day when their truth shall benefit the truthful ones; they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide in them for ever: Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Allah; this is the mighty achievement.” Qur'an, 5:119
And He has said about the criminals and corruptive people, “And (as for) those who have earned evil, the punishment of an evil is the like of it, and abasement shall come upon them--they shall have none to protect them from Allah--as if their faces had been covered with slices of the dense darkness of night; these are the inmates of the fire; in it they shall abide.” Qur'an, 10:27
Imam al-Baqir (as) has said, “On the day of resurrection Allah will order a caller to call out before him: “Where are the poor? “A great group of people will rise. Allah will say, “My slaves!” They will say, “Here we are, our Lord!” Allah will say, “I have not made you poor because you have no dignity near Me but I have chosen you for such a day. Look at the people. Whoever has done a favor to you for the sake of Me, reward him with paradise on behalf of Me54.”
Imam as-Sadiq (as) has said, “Whatever believer has prevented another believer from what he is in need of while he is able to carry it o ut by himself or another, Allah will stand him on the day of resurrection black-faced, blue-eyed and his hands tied to his neck. It will be said, “This is the betrayer who has betrayed Allah and His messenger.” Then he will be ordered to be in hell55.”
Ameerul Mo'mineen Ali bin Abu Talib (as) narrated that the Prophet (S) had said to him, “O Ali, he tells lies who claims that he loves me but he hates you. O Ali, on the day of resurrection a caller will call out from inside the Throne, “Where are the lovers and followers of Ali? Where are the lovers of Ali and there lovers? Where are those who love each other for the sake of Allah? Where are those who help each other for the sake of Allah? Where are those who prefer the others to themselves? Where are those whose tongues have been dry of thirst? Where are those who offer prayers in the night while the others are sleeping? Where are those who cry for fear of Allah? There shall be no fear come upon you neither shall you grieve! You are the companions of Muhammad. Let your eyes be delighted. Go to paradise you and your wives and be glad there56!”
Paradise and hell have been mentioned in hundreds of verses and many holy traditions. According to the traditions narrated from Imam as-Sadiq (as) paradise and hell have been created and have existed.
We see that these two facts are among the facts of the unseen too. Believing in them to be the abodes of the good and bad people has many important advant ages for man’s life because one, who expects paradise, will try his best to be in it. This leads him to adopt the true beliefs, good morals and do good deeds and the one, who is afraid of hell, will refrain from committing any sin or disobedience that may take him to the terrible torment of hell.
Out of what has been discussed above concerning Allah the Almighty, the angels, the barzakh, the day of resurrection, the accounting, the book (of deeds), the scales, paradise and hell this saying of Allah “who believe in the Unseen” has become clear.
Believing in the Unseen becomes easy to the believers through pondering on the Qur’anic verses and the holy traditions and this is possible to every man and woman. Having this belief is a legal and rational obligation because believing in the unseen is a main principle from among the necessary principles of religion. No one has the right to imitate any of the people in this concern because one must believe in the Unseen by inquiring the divine knowledge.
Believing in the Unseen has a great value for man because it moves the feelings of good and humanity and it makes him be beloved to Allah and this belief opens a door towards deliverance in this life and the afterlife and prepares for man a base of happiness in this world and the afterworld and helps him to worship Allah and to follow the orders of the Prophet (S) and the infallible Imams (as).
The holy Qur'an has mentioned in the first verses of the sura of al-Baqara (2) after the matter of believing in the Unseen, offering prayers, spending in the way of Allah, believing in the Qur'an and the other divine books and the afterlife and all these things are among the effects and requirements of believing in the Unseen.
Believing in the Qur’an and the other divine books that have been revealed before the Qur'an occurs by pondering on the Qur’anic verses and reading the good (tafsirs) interpretations of the Qur’an.
The Qur'an defines itself as the divine revelation that has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S) to guide the human beings. The Qur’an has challenged those who suspect it to give even one verse like it if they can.
The Qur’an has challenged all the human beings. If the human beings could create as uralike the suras of the Qur’an even the shortest one of the Qur'an, the enemies of Islam, with all knowledge and sciences they had, would be the first to respond to this barefaced and exciting challenge but no one and no nation can ever compose something like the Qur’an until the day of resurrection.
“And if you are in doubt as to that which We have revealed toour servant, then produce a chapter like it and call on your witnesses besides Allah if you are truthful.” Qur'an, 2:32
“Say: If men and jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Qur’an, they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were aiders of others.” Qur'an,17:88
These two verses close the door of doubting and hesitation about the revelation of the Qur’an and therefore believing in the Qur’an and the other divine books will not be a difficult matter.
Believing in the afterlife also occurs by pondering on the Qur’anic verses in this concern which have proofs and evidences and it is not a difficult matter too.
Believing in the Unseen, the Qur’an, the other Divine books and the afterlife gives to man’s heart relief and beauty that makes man turn towards the divine Throne and enter into the safe divine Sanctum to gain success and to reform his morals and conducts through prayers and zakat.