Praise be to Allah.
Undoubtedly increasing one’s righteous deeds is one of the main means of increasing in reward and rising in status before Allah. The more the Muslim rises in the levels of Paradise, the more he will acquire extra blessings that are not shared by one who is at a lower level.
It was narrated from Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The people of Paradise will see the people of the chambers of Paradise above them as you see a brilliant star far away on the horizon in the east or the west, because of the difference in status between them.” They said: O Messenger of Allah, is that the status of the Prophets that no one else will attain? He said: “No, by the One in Whose hand is my soul. They are men who believed in Allah and believed in the Messengers.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3256) and Muslim in his Saheeh (2831).
Whoever wants to seek more of the blessings that are with Allah must do more acts of piety and righteousness. That is easy for the one for whom Allah makes it easy.
As for planting trees and building palaces in Paradise, that may be accompanied by the giving of extra space to the believing slave as a reward from his Lord. Or it may be that planting trees and building palaces will occur within the space he is given by his Lord in Paradise, without meaning that extra space is given to him for these trees and palaces. Allah knows best what will happen. The Islamic texts did not tell us about what is really going to happen in that regard.
We do not think it is appropriate to discuss such tiny details because it is like splitting hairs, which we are forbidden to do; it comes under the heading of discussing something in which there is no benefit. A place the size of a hand span in paradise is better than this world and everything in it, and the one who is saved is the one who is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:185].
If the Muslim focuses on taking all measures of attaining this success, then he will have no time to ask about the space that the believers will have in Paradise, or about what will really happen when the trees of Paradise are planted and the palaces are built.
It was narrated from Abu Na‘aamah that ‘Abdullah ibn Maghaffal (may Allah be pleased with him) heard a son of his saying: O Allah, I ask You for the white palace in Paradise, which in my right as I enter it. He said: O my son, ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge with Him from Hell, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “There will be people among thus ummah who will overstep the mark in du‘aa’ and purification.”
Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad (27/356).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
May Allah bless you. This questioner is asking: Will the righteous woman in this world be one of al-hoor al-‘iyn in the hereafter? I hope that you can give me an answer.
Then he (may Allah have mercy on him) answered as follows:
The righteous woman in this world – meaning the wife – will be better than al-hoor al-‘iyn in the hereafter, and more beautiful and more desirable to her husband, for the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told us that the first group to enter Paradise will do so looking like the moon on the night when it is full.
Question:
Does the description of al-hoor al-‘iyn also apply to the women of this world in the Qur’an?
He (may Allah have mercy on him) replied:
What appears to me to be the case is that the women of this world will be better than al-hoor al-‘iyn even in physical characteristics, and Allah knows best. We say to our brother: These questions are pointless. If you are one of the people of Paradise and you enter Paradise, then you will find therein whatever your heart may desire and may delight the eye. You will find therein that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and it has never crossed the mind of any human. These questions about unseen matters come under the heading of going to extremes (and splitting hairs) in the religion of Allah, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Those who go to extremes are doomed; those who go to extremes are doomed; those who go to extremes are doomed.” Be patient, my brother, until you enter Paradise, then you will find that which has never even crossed your mind. End quote.
Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb by al-‘Uthaymeen (4/2)
And Allah knows best.
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