Welcome to this week's episode of the series "Let's Know Islam". Today, we continue our discussion about the Day of Resurrection and paradise.

Last week, we pointed out that on the Day of Judgement, only the inhabitants of paradise are immune from the despair and hardships. As of their entry to Heavens, they are highly respected and honored, with angels greeting and congratulating them on their entry to paradise. Angels point out that the inhabitants of Heavens have endured many hardships and woes and have remained patient, while refraining from corruption and derailment form the righteous path, in order to fulfill their duties, and that their safety and health in paradise is the outcome of their patience and endurance in the past.

God has pledged paradise to righteous people, and has displayed the beautiful scenes of Heavens in a large number of ayahs of Holy Quran.

Meanwhile, when Holy Quran talks about the divine blessings in Heavens, it uses terms which could be understood by mankind. Given that in the mortal world, mankind is restricted in time and location, the terms which are used cannot describe facts which are beyond the boundaries and restrictions of the mortal world.

Let's imagine a baby, who is in his mother's womb. The mother of this baby is never capable of describing the beauties of the sunset and sunrise next to a pretty lake; gardens filled with flowers, ever-green farms, tall mountains, and never-ending oceans for her baby. In a similar manner, full description of Heavenly blessings for individuals who live in the mortal world and have never been in Hereafter, is not understandable; given that Hereafter is much larger and different to the material and mortal world.

Hence, the full facts about divine blessings in paradise are not understandable by mankind, who has only seen the mortal world. Therefore, Holy Quran, in description of Heavenly blessings, uses terms which are understandable by mankind.

One of the features of paradise is its vastness.

The 12^th ayah of Surat Al-Hadid in Holy Quran notes: "Take the lead towards forgiveness from your Lord and a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who have faith in Allah and His apostles. That is Allah's grace, which He grants to whomever He wishes, and Allah is dispenser of a great grace."

This ayah invites people to carry out good deeds and whatever is eternal. Holy Quran, in order to describe the vastness of paradise, has noted that paradise is vast as the heavens and the earth. This comparison has taken place, given that mankind does not know anything vaster than heavens and the earth to assess and compare paradise with.

Paradise is large and vast. Paradise maintains many divine blessings and numerous beautiful and intact scenes and landscapes, which the inhabitants of paradise always like and watch. In fact, the beautiful sceneries of paradise are always fresh for the inhabitants of paradise. The inhabitants of paradise have all divine blessings available for them.

Within the 70^th and 71^st ayahs of Surat al-Zukhruf in Holy Quran, God notes: "Enter paradise, you and your spouses, rejoicing (they will be served around with golden dishes and goblets, and therein will be whatever the souls desire and eyes delight in) and you will remain in it forever."

Hence, in the glorious gathering of paradise, the true host of the inhabitants of paradise in God.

Naturally, every individual in the mortal world has a number of needs and demands; some of which may be fulfilled, while some others are not accessible. This is because the limitations and restrictions of the mortal world obstruct the fulfillment of the entire demands of mankind. However, in contrast, within paradise all of the demands of mankind are accessible and achievable without any set condition.

Meanwhile, one of the surprising facts about paradise is that the inhabitants of paradise never seek any change and development in their situation in paradise.

It should be said that no matter how interesting the blessings of the mortal world are; they become ordinary in the eyes of mankind at some point. For instance, scenic landscapes such as tall waterfalls, thick forested regions, and beautiful coastlines are interesting for those, who have not seen them. However, for those who live nearby and next to these scenic landscapes, they are seemingly ordinary, and may not be interesting as such in their eyes. The situation of mankind in the mortal world resembles someone who has lost something and aims to find it. Whenever he gains access to something, he imagines that it is his lost one, thereby establishing a bond with it for a while. However, after some time, he realizes that he has not reached his destination and goal. Thus, he starts to seek something else, to somehow find his lost one.

However, mankind truly finds his lost one in paradise, which is eternal life coupled with safety and comfort. This has been one of the age-old aspirations of mankind in the mortal world.

Hence, one of the main features of the blessings in paradise is that the inhabitants of paradise are always fulfilled. The blessings in paradise are in line with the innate needs and demands of mankind, and they meet the needs of everyone. Hence, the inhabitants of paradise never seek any changes and never want to live somewhere else.

MR/MG