Chapter 23: Allāh Created the Paradise of Firdaws with His Hand. By Imām Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawi (died 481H)

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all creation, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his Companions.

These are chapters from Shaikhul-Islām Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawī’s: “The Book Of Forty Narrations In The Evidences Of Tawhīd” (Born 396H and died 481H may Allah’s mercy be upon him). This compilation is an amazing series of narrations in the establishment of the Tawhīd of Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, especially in the arena of the Names and Attributes that has left the Jahmiyyah and their offspring such as the Ashā’irah and Māturīdīs dumbstruck just as Allāh has said:

وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا

“And say: ‘The Truth has come and falsehood has been vanquished. Surely! Falsehood is ever bound to be vanquished.’” (Al-Isrā 17:81)

Chapter 23: Allāh Created the Paradise of Firdaws with His Hand.

Abu Ismā’īl Al-Harawī (481H) with his chain of narration to Anas Ibn Mālik (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) that Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: “Indeed Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, created Al-Firdaws with His Hand and He prohibited entry for every polytheist (mushrik) and alcoholic, addict of intoxicants.” (End)

(Checking: Reported by Ibn Mandah in Radd ‘Alal-Jahmiyyah, p. 77, no. 51, 2nd edition, printed in 1402 AH, with the checking of Shaikh Ali Nāsir Al-Faqīhī. So, Shaikh ‘Ali Nāsir Al-Faqīhi said: I did not come across anyone who has graded this narration, however, what has been stated in the ahādeeth and ayāt concerning the Attribute of the Hand of Allah suffices the need for this narration. I did, nevertheless, come across a mursal hadeeth as a witness, narrated from Abdullah ibn Al-Hārith from his father, reported by Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Asmā was-Sifāt, p. 318).

A narration that is clear and authentic: Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:

كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِيَدِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ رَحْمَتِي سَبَقَتْ غَضَبِي

“Your Lord wrote for Himself with His own Hand before He created the creation: ‘My mercy precedes My wrath.'”

(Ibn Mājah, no. 189, sahīh)

Abu Dardā (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:

لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مُدْمِنُ خَمْرٍ

“The one addicted to alcohol (or intoxicants) will not enter Paradise.”

(Ibn Mājah, no. 3376, sahīh) And in a narration of Ibn Mājah (no. 3375) declared hasan by Shaikh Al-Albanī, the Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:

مُدْمِنُ الْخَمْرِ كَعَابِدِ وَثَنٍ

“The alcoholic resembles the one who worships idols.”

Al-Firdaws

Mu’ādh bin Jabal (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) say:

الْجَنَّةُ مِائَةُ دَرَجَةٍ كُلُّ دَرَجَةٍ مِنْهَا مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ وَإِنَّ أَعْلاَهَا الْفِرْدَوْسُ وَإِنَّ أَوْسَطَهَا الْفِرْدَوْسُ وَإِنَّ الْعَرْشَ عَلَى الْفِرْدَوْسِ مِنْهَا تُفَجَّرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا مَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ فَسَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ

‘Paradise has one hundred levels, and the distance between each level is like the distance between heaven and earth. The highest level is Al-Firdaws and the best of it is Al-Firdaws ― the Throne of Allah is above Al-Firdaws, and from it spring forth the rivers of Paradise. So when you ask of Allah, ask Him for Al-Firdaws.’”

(Ibn Mājah, no. 4331, sahīh)

Principle

Al-Imām Ibn Taymiyyah stated, “Ahlus-Sunnah describe Allāh with whatever He has described Himself with, and with whatever Allāh’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) described Him with — without any distortion [from the apparent meanings] or negation — and without saying how His Attributes are, and without likening them to the creation.” (Majmū Al-Fatāwā 5/26)

Benefit

The narration contains a promise to the polytheists, that they will never gain entry to Paradise. As for the Muslim who is an alcoholic, addicted to intoxicants, then for him, there is a severe threat that he will be barred from the highest levels of Paradise and that Allah may punish him severely in the Fire before he is admitted into Jannah.

A Muslim will not remain in the Hellfire forever even if Allah does punish him. So to avoid the threat of Allah’s punishment, he should stop taking intoxicants (wine, drugs, etc.), repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness.

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