Good Deeds that Grant the Lofty Mansions of Paradise
O Devotees of the Prophet! Paradise is a magnificent place that Allah Almighty has created for the believers. In it, He has placed such bounties that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, nor has the thought of them ever crossed any person's heart. Any example given in its praise is merely for the sake of some explanation; otherwise, the most superior thing of this world bears no comparison to anything in Paradise.
Let us hear a few narrations about the good deeds that lead to attaining the lofty mansions of Paradise (i.e., the high palaces and towering abodes of Paradise) and strive to act upon them.
1. Those Who Affirm the Messengers
The Beloved Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: “The inhabitants of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (i.e., the high abodes) in the same way you look at a star twinkling in the distant eastern or western edge of the sky, because the ranks of some will be higher than others.” The esteemed Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم asked, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Will those be the ranks of the esteemed Prophets which no one else can reach?” The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Why not? By the One who is in control of my life! These will be the people who believed in Allah Almighty and affirmed the Messengers.”[1]
2. Those Who Love, Meet, and Sit Together for the Sake of Allah
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: “Verily, in Paradise, there are pillars of ruby upon which are lofty mansions (i.e., high palaces) of peridot. Their gates are open, and they shine as brightly as a very luminous star.” The esteemed Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم asked, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Who will (be the fortunate ones to) reside in these lofty mansions?” He replied, “Those who love one another for the sake of Allah Almighty, those who sit together for the sake of Allah Almighty, and those who meet one another for the sake of Allah Almighty.”[2]
3. Those Who Speak Kindly, Feed Others, and Fast Consistently
The heart-touching statement of the Final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is: “In Paradise, there are such lofty mansions that their exterior is visible from the interior, and their interior is visible from the exterior.” A Bedouin (a desert-dweller) stood up and asked, “O Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! For whom are these?” He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “They are for the one who speaks softly, feeds others, fasts continuously, and gets up at night to offer salah for the sake of Allah Almighty when people are asleep.”[3]
In Mirʾāt al-Manājīḥ, volume 2, page 260, Mufti Ahmad Yār Khān NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, while explaining “fasts continuously,” writes: “This means to fast perpetually, except for the five days on which fasting is forbidden, i.e., the 1st of Shawwal and the 10th to the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah. This hadith is a proof for those who fast perpetually. Some have said it means to fast for three consecutive days every month.”
4. Those Who Spread Salam and Fast Continuously
In a lengthy narration, it is related that Sayyidunāā Jābir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates:
One day, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came to us and said, “Shall I not tell you about the lofty mansions (i.e., the high palaces) of Paradise?” We replied, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! May our parents be sacrificed for you! Please do tell us!” He said, “In Paradise, there are lofty mansions of various types of jewels, whose exterior view is visible from the interior, and whose interior view is visible from the exterior. In them are such bounties, rewards, and honour that no ear has ever heard of, nor has any eye ever seen them.” We asked, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! May our parents be sacrificed for you! For whom are these?” He replied, “For that fortunate person who spreads the greeting of peace (salam), fasts perpetually, feeds people, and prays while people are asleep.”
I enquired, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! May my parents be sacrificed for you! Who has the ability to do these things?” He replied, “Soon I will inform you about who from my Ummah has the ability to do this.” Then he said, “Whoever meets his Muslim brother and greets him with salam, and he replies, has spread salam. Whoever feeds his family to their fill has fed others. Whoever fasts the entire month of Ramadan and three days every month is as if he has fasted perpetually. And whoever performs the Isha and Fajr prayers in congregation is as if he has prayed at a time when people—i.e., the Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians—were asleep.”[4]
5. Those Who Spend in the Way of Allah
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Buraydah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “Verily, in Paradise, there are lofty mansions whose interior part is visible from the exterior, and whose exterior view is visible from the interior. Allah Almighty has prepared them for those who love one another for His sake, meet one another for His sake, and spend in His way.”[5]
6. Those Who Adopt Poverty (faqr)
The Final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: “In Paradise, there are such lofty mansions (i.e., high palaces) that the inhabitants of Paradise will look up to them just as the people of the world look at the stars in the sky. Only a Prophet who adopted poverty (faqr), a poor martyr, and a poor believer will enter them.”[6]
O lovers of Paradise! To attain a high station and lofty palaces in Paradise, we must perform abundant good deeds and become those who abstain from evil. May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to perform good deeds that will earn us high palaces in Paradise, for His pleasure.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
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