The Names of Paradise in Islam

Knowledge is Light

The Names of Paradise

Muhammad Jawaid Attari Madani

Allah Almighty has prepared a majestic place as a reward in the Hereafter for His righteous servants. The name of this magnificent place is Paradise (Janna). It is also called the Garden of Eden.^[1] Who has Paradise been created for? Allah Almighty tells us in the Quran:

اُعِدَّتْ  لِلْمُتَّقِیْنَۙ(۱۳۳)

“˹Paradise has been prepared for the righteous.”^[2]

Sayyidunā Ibn ʿAbbās رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reports that there are eight levels of Paradise: Dār al-Jalāl, Dār al-Qarār, Dār al-Salām, Jannat ʿAdn, Jannat al-Maʾwā, Jannat al-Khuld, Jannat al-Firdaws, and Jannat al-Naʿīm.^[3] These are the names of Paradise mentioned in the Quran:

1.   Al-Janna: Janna means “a dense garden in which the ground is hidden because of the trees.” As there will be dense trees in Paradise, and because it is hidden from our sight in this world, it is from the unseen world and hence, it is called Jannah.^[4] The word Jannah has been mentioned in the Quran in many places. It will be said to the Muslims on the Day of Judgement:

اُدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ اَنْتُمْ وَ اَزْوَاجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُوْنَ(۷۰)

“You and your wives will be admitted into Paradise, and you will be pleased.”^[5]

2.   Jannat al-Khuld (The Eternal Garden): The word khuld has been mentioned in conjunction with Paradise in the Quran:

قُلْ اَذٰلِكَ خَیْرٌ اَمْ جَنَّةُ الْخُلْدِ الَّتِیْ وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُوْنَؕ

“Say, ‘Is this better or the Everlasting Gardens which are promised to those who fear? That is their reward and their outcome.’”^[6]

As Paradise and its inhabitants will be everlasting, it is called Jannat al-Khuld. On the Day of Judgement, it will be said to the people worthy of Paradise:

ادْخُلُوْهَا بِسَلٰمٍؕ-ذٰلِكَ یَوْمُ الْخُلُوْدِ(۳۴)

“˹It will be said to them˺, ‘Enter it in peace; this is the day of eternity.’”^[7]

3.   Jannat al-Maʾwā (Gardens of Abode): In regards to rewarding the good actions of the believers, Allah Almighty states:

اَمَّا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنّٰتُ الْمَاْوٰى٘-نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ(۱۹)

“Those who accepted faith and did good deeds, for them are the Gardens of [everlasting] stay; a welcome in return for what they did.”^[8]

This level is near the Lote Tree of the Furthest Boundary (sidrat al-muntahā).

The Quran states:

عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهٰى(۱۴) عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَاْوٰىؕ(۱۵)

“Near the lote-tree of the last boundary. Close to which is the Everlasting Paradise.”^[9]

This is the level in which Sayyidunā Ādam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم resided before descending to Earth too.^[10]

4.   Al-Firdaws: In regards to the believers who pray with humility and submissiveness, who avoid futile speech, pay zakat, protect what is entrusted to them, protect their chastity, and offer the prayer consistently, Allah Almighty states:

اُولٰٓىٕكَ هُمُ الْوٰرِثُوْنَۙ(۱۰) الَّذِیْنَ یَرِثُوْنَ الْفِرْدَوْسَؕ-هُمْ فِیْهَا خٰلِدُوْنَ(۱۱)

“Those who will get the inheritance of Paradise; they will abide in it forever.”^[11]

Jannat al-Firdaws is the most superior level of Paradise. Many hadith encourage us to pray for its attainment. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “When you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is the central part of Paradise and the highest rank of Paradise, and at its top is the Throne of the Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise.”^[12]

5.   Jannat ʿAdn (The Garden of Permanent Residence): Allah Almighty has made it specifically for whomever He wills from among His creation.^[13] This word has been mentioned in the Quran many times. Allah Almighty has promised ʿAdn to the believers:

وَعَدَ اللّٰهُ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنٰتِ جَنّٰتٍ تَجْرِیْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْاَنْهٰرُ خٰلِدِیْنَ فِیْهَا وَ مَسٰكِنَ طَیِّبَةً فِیْ جَنّٰتِ عَدْنٍؕ-وَ رِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ اَكْبَرُؕ-ذٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِیْمُ۠(۷۲)

“Allah has promised the Muslim men and women, Gardens beneath which rivers flow-they will abide in it forever-and pure dwellings in Gardens of everlasting stay; and the greatest [reward] is Allah’s pleasure; this is the supreme success.”^[14]

Explaining the nature of ʿAdn, it is reported:

Ḍaḥḥāk رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: “ʿAdn is a city of Paradise in which the prophets, messengers, martyrs, and leaders of the Muslims will live. The remaining Muslims and Paradises will be around this city.”^[15]

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

Allah Almighty has created ʿAdn with His power. One of its bricks is made of white pearl, another of topaz, another of red ruby, and another of green emerald. The ground will be musk, the grass will be saffron, the stones will be pearls, and the dust will be amber.^[16]

6.   Dār al-Salām (Abode of Peace): It is called as such because its denizens be in peace, safe from difficulty and calamity.^[17]  After describing the transience of the world, Allah Almighty invites people to Dār al-Salām:

وَ اللّٰهُ یَدْعُوْۤا اِلٰى دَارِ السَّلٰمِؕ-

“And Allah calls to the abode of peace.”^[18]

Sayyidunā Qatāda رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said that Dār al-Salām is Paradise. It is from the perfect Mercy of Allah Almighty that He has invited His servants to paradise.^[19]

This is the Paradise which Allah has promised to his friends, in which there will be no grief or worry. They will be at peace with the endless blessings and mercies of Jannah.^[20]

7.   Dār al-Muqāma (Abode of Rest): After entering Paradise, the dwellers will praise Allah like so:

الَّذِیْۤ اَحَلَّنَا دَارَ الْمُقَامَةِ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖۚ-لَا یَمَسُّنَا فِیْهَا نَصَبٌ وَّ لَا یَمَسُّنَا فِیْهَا لُغُوْبٌ(۳۵)

“The One Who has, by His munificence, established us in a place of serenity in which no hardship shall ever reach us, nor any fatigue affect us.”^[21]

8.   Dār al-Ḥayawān (Abode of True Life): The life in Paradise is the true and eternal life. It is stated in the Quran:

وَ اِنَّ الدَّارَ الْاٰخِرَةَ لَهِیَ الْحَیَوَانُۘ

“Indeed, the abode of the Hereafter is certainly the true life.”^[22]

The erudite exegete Ibn Abī Zamanīn al-Mālikī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه said, “The abode of the Hereafter refers to Janna.”^[23]

9.   Al-Maqām al-Amīn (The Peaceful Place): The place of security against death, leaving Paradise, and every type of difficulty and worry. The Quran states:

اِنَّ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ فِیْ مَقَامٍ اَمِیْنٍۙ(۵۱)

“Indeed, the pious are in a place of peace.”^[24]

10.   Maqaʿd Ṣidq (Assembly of Truth): Speaking the truth is an action that leads to Paradise. In relation to the truthful believers, Allah states:

فِیْ مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ مَلِیْكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ۠(۵۵)

“Seated in the assembly of the Truth, in the presence of Allah, the Omnipotent King.”^[25]

Imam al-Qurṭubī said: “Ṣidq refers to truth and the assembly of truth in which there will be no useless talk or sin; that is Paradise.”^[26]

11.   Dār al-Qarār (The Eternal Abode): A believing man gave advice to his nation:

یٰقَوْمِ اِنَّمَا هٰذِهِ الْحَیٰوةُ الدُّنْیَا مَتَاعٌ٘-وَّ اِنَّ الْاٰخِرَةَ هِیَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ(۳۹)

“O my people! The life of this world is just a brief usage, and indeed the next abode is one of everlasting stay.”^[27]

12.   Dār al-Muttaqīn (Abode of the Pious):

وَ لَدَارُ الْاٰخِرَةِ خَیْرٌؕ-وَ لَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِیْنَۙ(۳۰)

“The final home is the best; and indeed, what an excellent final home for the pious.”^[28]

13.   Al-Ḥusnā (The Goodness): Allah has promised Paradise for all the noble Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم through these words:

وَ كُلًّا وَّعَدَ اللّٰهُ الْحُسْنٰىؕ

“Allah has promised goodness to all.”^[29]

Al-Ḥusna here refers to Paradise.^[30]

14.   Al-Ghurfa (High Rank): Allah Almighty states:

اُولٰٓىٕكَ یُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوْا وَ یُلَقَّوْنَ فِیْهَا تَحِیَّةً وَّ سَلٰمًاۙ(۷۵)خٰلِدِیْنَ فِیْهَاؕ-حَسُنَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَّ مُقَامًا(۷۶)

“They will be rewarded the highest position in heaven, the recompense of their patience, and they will be welcomed with honour and greetings of peace. They shall abide in it forever; what an excellent abode and place of stay.”^[31]

15.   Jannāt al-Naʿīm (Gardens of Serenity): Allah has described the reward of the pious like so:

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَهُمْ جَنّٰتُ النَّعِیْمِۙ(۸)

“Indeed, those who believed and did good deeds; for them are Gardens of Serenity.”^[32]

Dear Allah! For the sake of Your grace and mercy, let us bask in the company of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his Companions in al-Firdaws.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم