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The | [[File:Jannah.jpg|thumb|A Persian miniature depicting paradise from ''The History of Mohammed'', Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.]]'''Jannah''' (جنة) is the Arabic word for "garden" and is used in Islam to refer to the eternal abode of bliss, or the specific Islamic conception of Heaven. It is also the place from where Adam and his wife Hawa (Eve) are said to have descended after eating from a tree forbidden to the them (the "tree of immortality"<ref>{{Quran-range|20|116|121}}</ref>), thus inaugurating human history. Jannah is the foil to [[Jahannam (Hell)]], which is the eternal abode of torment. Both are said to coexist with the temporal world but will only be occupied by humans after the Day of Judgement.<ref name=":02">{{Citation|title=Encyclopaedia of Islam|publisher=E.J. Brill|volume=3 H-Ir|editor1=B. Lewis|editor2=Ch. Pellat|editor3=J. Schacht|edition=New Edition [2nd]|location=Leiden|chapter=Djanna|pages=447-452|publication-date=1991|isbn=90 04 07026 5}}</ref> | ||
Jannah is described as the eternal residence of Muslims, eventually including those who have first to be purged of their sins by spending a sentence in Jahannam. | |||
The most recurrent, specific description of Jannah in [[Islam and Scripture|Islamic scriptures]] is that that it contains "gardens under which rivers flow". Other details include the services of [[Houri (Heavenly Virgin)|houris (heavenly virgin]]<nowiki/>s) and "young male servants (handsome) as Pearls well-guarded".<ref>{{Quran|52|24}}</ref> Inhabitants will are also said in the Qur'an to have access to fruits, rivers of milk, mansions, and couches, as well as things prohibited for all Muslims on Earth, such as alcohol, and things prohibited for Muslim men in particular, such as silken garments and golden bracelets.<ref name=":02" /> | |||
==Descriptions in scripture== | |||
===Houris (heavenly virgins)=== | |||
{{Main|Houri (Heavenly Virgin)}} | |||
==="Gardens under which rivers flow"=== | |||
The Qur'an repeatedly described heaven as comprising "Gardens under which rivers flow"; here is one such example. | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|2|25}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|2|25}}| | ||
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}} | }} | ||
Gardens are | Gardens are described as desirable: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|2|266}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|2|266}}| | ||
'''Would one of you like to have a garden''' of palm trees and grapevines '''underneath which rivers flow''' in which he has from every fruit? | '''Would one of you like to have a garden''' of palm trees and grapevines '''underneath which rivers flow''' in which he has from every fruit? | ||
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}} | }} | ||
The gardens are a reward | The gardens are a reward: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|3|136}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|3|136}}| | ||
Those - '''their reward is''' forgiveness from their Lord and '''gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise]''', wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers. | Those - '''their reward is''' forgiveness from their Lord and '''gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise]''', wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers. | ||
}} | }} | ||
The best reward a man can get | The best reward a man can get are gardens with rivers: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|3|195}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|3|195}}| | ||
So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''' as reward from Allah, and Allah has with Him '''the best reward.''' | So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''' as reward from Allah, and Allah has with Him '''the best reward.''' | ||
}} | }} | ||
The best | The best things are gardens with rivers: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|3|198}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|3|198}}| | ||
But those who feared their Lord will have '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''', abiding eternally therein, as accommodation from Allah . And that which is with Allah is '''best''' for the righteous. | But those who feared their Lord will have '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''', abiding eternally therein, as accommodation from Allah . And that which is with Allah is '''best''' for the righteous. | ||
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}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|122}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|4|122}}| | ||
But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to '''gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever'''. [It is] the promise of Allah, [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement. | But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to '''gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever'''. [It is] the promise of Allah, [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement. | ||
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}} | }} | ||
Good people will be rewarded with gardens with rivers: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|85}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|5|85}}| | ||
So Allah rewarded them for what they said with gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of doers of good. | So Allah rewarded them for what they said with gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of doers of good. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Good people will live in gardens forever: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|119}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|5|119}}| | ||
Allah will say, "This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness." For them are '''gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever''', Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. '''That is the great attainment.''' | Allah will say, "This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness." For them are '''gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever''', Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. '''That is the great attainment.''' | ||
}} | }}{{Quote|{{Quran|7|42-43}}| | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|7|42-43}}| | |||
But '''those who believed and did righteous deeds''' - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally. | But '''those who believed and did righteous deeds''' - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally. | ||
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] '''flowing beneath them are rivers'''. And they will say, "Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "'''This is Paradise''', which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do." | And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] '''flowing beneath them are rivers'''. And they will say, "Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "'''This is Paradise''', which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do." | ||
}} | }} | ||
Allah has promised good people gardens: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|72}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|9|72}}| | ||
'''Allah has promised''' the believing men and believing women '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''', wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah is greater. It is that which is the great attainment. | '''Allah has promised''' the believing men and believing women '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''', wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah is greater. It is that which is the great attainment. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Allah has prepared gardens for good people: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|89}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|9|89}}| | ||
'''Allah has prepared''' for them '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''', wherein they will abide eternally. '''That is the great attainment.''' | '''Allah has prepared''' for them '''gardens beneath which rivers flow''', wherein they will abide eternally. '''That is the great attainment.''' | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|100}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|9|100}}| | ||
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and '''He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow''', wherein they will abide forever. '''That is the great attainment.''' | And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and '''He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow''', wherein they will abide forever. '''That is the great attainment.''' | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|10|9}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|10|9}}| | ||
Indeed, '''those who have believed and done righteous deeds''' - their Lord will guide them because of their faith. '''Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens''' of Pleasure | Indeed, '''those who have believed and done righteous deeds''' - their Lord will guide them because of their faith. '''Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens''' of Pleasure | ||
}} | }} | ||
Good people get | Good people get gardens while bad people will get fire: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|13|35}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|13|35}}| | ||
The example of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade. That is the consequence for the righteous, and the consequence for the disbelievers is the Fire. | The example of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade. That is the consequence for the righteous, and the consequence for the disbelievers is the Fire. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|14|23}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|14|23}}| | ||
And those who believed and did righteous deeds will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein by permission of their Lord; and their greeting therein will be, "Peace!" | And those who believed and did righteous deeds will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein by permission of their Lord; and their greeting therein will be, "Peace!" | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|16|31}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|16|31}}| | ||
Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward the righteous | Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward the righteous | ||
}} | }} | ||
Non-Muslims challenged Muhammad to miraculously | Non-Muslims challenged Muhammad to miraculously produce gardens and rivers, suggesting that these things were very strongly desired by the Quraysh: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|17|90-91}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|17|90-91}}| | ||
And they say, "We will not believe you until you break open for us from the ground a spring. | And they say, "We will not believe you until you break open for us from the ground a spring. | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|18|31}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|18|31}}| | ||
Those will have '''gardens''' of perpetual residence; '''beneath them rivers will flow'''. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. '''Excellent is the reward''', and good is the resting place. | Those will have '''gardens''' of perpetual residence; '''beneath them rivers will flow'''. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. '''Excellent is the reward''', and good is the resting place. | ||
}} | }} | ||
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}} | }} | ||
Pharaoh boasted | The Pharaoh boasted about his gardens and their rivers: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|43|51-52}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|43|51-52}}| | ||
And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? | And Pharaoh called out among his people; he said, "O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? | ||
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Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever | Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever | ||
}} | }} | ||
== | ====Geographical explanation==== | ||
Islam's origin in one of the world's most arid regions in all likelihood accounts for the imagery that dominates the Qur'anic portrayal of paradise. One may wonder weather the Qur'an is able to maintain its purported universal import and appeal while focusing so heavily on images that allure primarily to the occupants of deserts. | |||
[[Image:Birthplaceofislam.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2|Map of the world from satellite pictures (picture by NASA)]] | [[Image:Birthplaceofislam.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2|Map of the world from satellite pictures (picture by NASA)]] | ||
==Criticisms== | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[72 Virgins]] | |||
* [[Paradise and hell word count in the Qur'an]] - lists all occurrences of the word paradise/hell in the Quran. It's problematic, because ''jannah'' also means "garden". | *[[72 Virgins]] | ||
*[[Paradise and hell word count in the Qur'an]] - lists all occurrences of the word paradise/hell in the Quran. It's problematic, because ''jannah'' also means "garden". | |||
==References== | |||
[[Category:Heaven]] | |||
[[Category:Qadr (fate)]] | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:Locations]] | |||
[[Category:Eschatology]] | |||
[[Category:Sacred history]] | |||
[[Category:Christian tradition]] |