Paradise of Shaddad

Centuries ago, a Kafir^[1] king named Shaddad ruled over the world. When he heard about Paradise and its special and unique characteristics from different blessed Ambiya عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام, being rebellious, he made a firm plan to make a Paradise in this world.

Description of Shaddad’s Paradise

٭ Shaddad got a very large city built.

٭ Its palaces were made of gold and silver bricks.

٭ Pillars of those palaces were made of ruby^[2] and emerald^[3].

٭ Floor of the houses and pathways were also made of jewels.

٭ Instead of pebbles, beautiful pearls were laid on the floor.

٭ Jewels were laid at many places on which streams were made to flow.

٭ Various trees were planted for the purpose of shade and beauty.

In short, all the means of comfort and luxury were gathered in that city within a span of 300 years.

Bad end of Shaddad

When the construction work got completed, Shaddad along with the ministers of his kingdom left for the Paradise he had got built. The journey of one day and night was still remaining when a terrifying voice was heard from the sky and Shaddad along with his companions met a dreadful end at the age of 900.

Who saw this city?

In the era of the companion of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, camel of a pious saint Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qilabah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ went missing in the desert of Adan, a city near Yemen. While searching for the camel in the desert, he discovered the Paradise of Shaddad and beheld its beauty. There was no person present over there. He took some jewels from there and returned. When Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came to know about it, he called Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qilabah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and asked about this matter. After listening to the complete details, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ went to Sayyiduna Ka’b-ul-Ahbaar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and asked: ‘Does any such and such type of city also exist in the world?’ Sayyiduna Ka’b-ul-Ahbaar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ replied: ‘Yes!’ Thereupon, he mentioned the complete story of Shaddad and said: ‘In your era, a Muslim will enter this city while searching for his camel. His colour will be red and eyes will be blue; he will have a short height and a mole on the eyebrows.’ Upon seeing Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qilabah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ afterwards, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said: ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! He is the same person.’ (‘Ajaaib-ul-Quran ma’ Gharaib-ul-Quran, pp. 222-223; Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 10, pp. 663-664; Khaazin, vol. 4, pp. 376)

Madani pearls obtained from this parable

Dear Madani children!

٭ Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ strongly dislikes disobedience and arrogance of people.

٭ Shaddad suffered the Divine torment because of committing disobedience.

٭ Fearing Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, we should adopt humility.

٭ Refrain from every such act which is a disobedience to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. This will definitely lead us to a ‘Bright Future’.

Dear Madani children! Your family members take great care of you, so, you should also not do such things which cause any trouble to them, for example playing dangerous games, etc.

Playing dangerous games

Children like to play various kinds of games because they are crazy about playing games. But dear children! Every game is not good, some are very dangerous which may prove very harmful to you, such as climbing a wall, hanging on pipes, etc. While playing such games, if your hand slips, you may receive a serious head injury, you may get fracture in your hands or legs, and Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forbid, it may lead to a lifelong disability. So, it is better to keep away from such types of games.

Playing in water

The activity of playing in water also brings great harm, you may fall ill, you may suffer ear infection if water gets into it, and you may slip in water and fall and resultantly get hurt.

Going near fire and electricity

You should keep away from the electricity cables, stoves (when stove burner is on) and heaters. You should not play with matches and fire because you may get burnt, therefore, keep away from all such dangerous things. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ protect all of us!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

A lion had grown too old to catch its prey. One day, he thought that he should use such a cunning trick that he gets his prey easily every day. Finally, he hit upon an idea and pretended to be sick and stayed in his cave thinking that whichever animal would visit him for inquiring after his health, he would eat it. This way, he will enjoy the feast without any struggle. When animals came to know about the illness of the lion, they started visiting him for inquiring after his health. Whichever animal would go in the cave would not come back because the lion would eat him. One day, a vixen visited it and inquired after its health standing outside the cave: ‘Mr. Lion! How are you?’ The lion, in response, said to the vixen: ‘Why are you standing outside. Come inside.’ The vixen replied: Mr. Lion! ‘I have noticed that there are many footprints of animals going into the cave but none coming out. So, I am fine being here. After inquiring your health, I will leave from here.’ (Masnawi ki Hikayaat, pp. 301)

Dear Madani children! Did you see! How wisely the vixen acted and thought deeply about the consequence of entering into the cave and saved itself from being a prey of the lion. But sometimes we get indulged in various evil acts (such as showing disobedience to parents, showing disrespect to the elders, being lazy in study, wasting time etc.), and do not think about the consequences and punishment of these evil acts. Therefore, we should also keep the consequences and punishments of every evil in our mind and save ourselves from them so that we could avoid being the prey of Satan in this world and the Hereafter. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ save us from evil acts!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Tan tan tan! The school bell rang and ten years old Kashaan put his books in his school bag, came out of the school and left for his home. His home was nearby his school. Upon reaching home, he greeted his mother with Salam, washed his hands and face, and sat on the dining-mat to eat food. Then he went to the Masjid and offered Salah and went asleep after coming back home. When he woke up at 4 pm in the evening, he saw that his mother was ironing clothes. Kashaan asked: ‘Mom, are we invited somewhere today, as you are ironing everyone’s clothes?’ His mother replied: ‘We are not invited anywhere today. Tonight is Shab-e-Bara`at, i.e. the night of freedom from the Hell.’ After listening to this, Kashaan went to play. While playing, his friends planned to buy and fire a lot of firecrackers tonight. Upon returning home, Kashaan also asked his mother to give him Rs. 200 to buy firecrackers. Upon this, his mother replied: ‘Son! Setting off firecrackers is an extremely evil practice. Those children who set off firecrackers are bad children and you are a very good child.’ Kashaan said: ‘Mom! Everyone buys small fireworks and firecrackers tonight. Then why are you stopping me?’ His mother replied: ‘Because tonight is not the night of firing firecrackers, but it is the night of worshipping Allah Almighty in abundance. By worshipping in this night, one also attains more reward. People offer Nawafil at homes and Masajid. They recite the Holy Quran and do the Zikr of Allah Almighty. They recite Salat-‘Alan-Nabi and Salam in abundance and convey its reward to their loved ones and relatives. It is also the Sunnah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to visit the graveyard on this night.’ (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 2, pp. 290)

Kashaan said: ‘OK. Well mom! Only give me Rs. 50 so I may buy just a little bit of firecrackers. I promise that I will go to the Masjid and offer Salah and will also go to the graveyard with dad.’ His mother said: ‘Son! It’s not a matter of more or less money. We shall refrain from disobeying Allah Almighty in every state. Firing firecrackers creates a lot of noise which distresses and troubles other people severely and it doesn’t let one worship wholeheartedly. At times, its spark even sets clothes or other things on fire.’ Kashaan asked: ‘Mom! If firing firecrackers is an evil practice, then why do other children do so? Why don’t their parents stop them from doing so?’ His mother replied: ‘Wise parents make their children understand and good children also listen to them. Moreover, they don’t insist on buying firecrackers either.’ Kashaan listened to his mother attentively and came to the Masjid after wearing new clothes.

After Salat-ul-Maghrib, Kashaan saw different types of firecrackers in Zubair’s hand. Kashaan told him not to fire the firecrackers but he did not pay any attention to what Kashaan said and started firing firecrackers along with other kids of the street. Noise of firecrackers and children was very loudly heard in the entire street. In the meanwhile, Zubair set one firecracker on fire but it blew up in his hand before he could throw it at a distance. He screamed out of pain. His hand had burnt severely. Kashaan immediately went to Zubair’s home and told the situation. Zubair’s father came running and took him to the hospital. As Kashaan felt very sad upon Zubair’s hand being burnt, but at the same time, he had understood that this night is not for playing, fireworks and firing firecrackers, but is the night to seek salvation from Allah Almighty, and is the night of freedom from the Hell.