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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=2|Content=3|Language=1|References=3}} | {{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=2|Content=3|Language=1|References=3}} | ||
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> | ||
==Gardens under which rivers flow== | 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 Qur'an repeatedly described heaven as comprising "Gardens | |||
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 from beneath which the rivers flow". Though not reflected in English translations, in every instance the definite article is used i.e. "the rivers". This is also noted by Tommaso Tesei, who has detailed how "sources confirm that during late antiquity it was widely held that paradise was a physical place situated on the other side of the ocean encircling the Earth. In accordance with this concept, it was generally assumed that the rivers flowing from paradise passed under this ocean to reach the inhabited part of the world." A notion of four rivers following a subterranean course from paradise into the inhabited world also occurs in contemporary near eastern and Syriac sources.<ref>Tesei, Tommaso. [https://www.academia.edu/12761000/_Some_Cosmological_Notions_from_Late_Antiquity_in_Q_18_60_65_The_Quran_in_Light_of_Its_Cultural_Context_._Journal_of_the_American_Oriental_Society_135.1_2015_19-32 Some Cosmological Notions from Late Antiquity in Q 18:60–65: The Quran in Light of Its Cultural Context.] Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 135, no. 1, American Oriental Society, 2015, pp. 19–32, https://doi.org/10.7817/jameroriesoci.135.1.19.</ref> | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|2|25}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|2|25}}| | ||
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have '''gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow'''. | And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have '''gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow'''. | ||
}} | }} | ||
The concept also appears in numerous sahih hadiths about Muhammad's night journey which mention the Nile and Euphrates, for example: | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|69|514}}|The Prophet (ﷺ) added: | |||
I was raised to the Lote Tree and saw four rivers, two of which were coming out and two going in. Those which were coming out were the Nile and the Euphrates, and those which were going in were two rivers in paradise. Then I was given three bowls, one containing milk, and another containing honey, and a third containing wine. I took the bowl containing milk and drank it. It was said to me, "You and your followers will be on the right path (of Islam)." | |||
}} | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|93|608}}|[...]The Prophet (ﷺ) met Adam over the nearest Heaven. Gabriel said to the Prophet, "He is your father; greet him." The Prophet (ﷺ) greeted him and Adam returned his greeting and said, "Welcome, O my Son! O what a good son you are!" Behold, he saw two flowing rivers, while he was in the nearest sky. He asked, "What are these two rivers, O Gabriel?" Gabriel said, "These are the sources of the Nile and the Euphrates."[...]}} | |||
Gardens are described as desirable: | Gardens are described as desirable: | ||
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{{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}}| | ||
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." | ||
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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. | 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== | ||
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*[[72 Virgins]] | *[[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". | *[[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:Heaven]] | ||
[[Category:Qadr (fate)]] | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:Locations]] | |||
[[Category:Eschatology]] | |||
[[Category:Sacred history]] | |||
[[Category:Christian tradition]] | |||