A place for all God's people
Heaven (or Jannah) is a place replete with delights but wholly devoid of any violence or suffering. It's a place where our earthly wishes are met, where wine - forbidden to Muslims in this life - is abundant, but without any of its negative effects. It's a place where the pleasures surpass our existing senses - "couches lined with silk brocade;" "rivers of milk of which the taste never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of clarified honey;" "fruits and other joys that one's heart could desire;" and "all that eyes could delight in." It's a place where all of our troubles disappear, our tiredness vanished. And Heaven's greatest enjoyment is that it is where God reveals Himself.
But Heaven isn't just a physical place. It's also a spiritual refuge and a future hope. Particularly as we live in a time of conflict, injustice, and uncertainty, all Muslims strive to reach this eternal resting place of peace. We all hope to be counted amongst those described by the Prophet Muhammad, who said: "The first group of people to enter Heaven will be shining like the moon on a full moon night. Then will come those who follow them, who will be like the most shining planet in the sky."
For me, perhaps the most profound beauty of Heaven is its plurality and diversity of people. Heaven is dar al-salaam, the ultimate safe haven. It's a place for all those who have done good deeds - men and women, adults and children, Muslims and non-Muslims, peoples of all nationalities and cultures - to enjoy together and in harmony. In the Qur'an, we read: "Truly, the pious and righteous people will be amidst gardens and water-springs. It will be said to them: 'Enter therein in peace and security. And We (Allah) will remove from their hearts any deep feeling of bitterness. They will be like brothers and sisters facing each other on thrones. No sense of fatigue will touch them, nor will they ever be asked to leave it." (15:45-48)
By
Daisy Khan
|
March 27, 2010; 4:51 PM ET
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Posted by: abrahamhab1 | March 29, 2010 5:55 PM
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I think two Muslim females sent about 40 Russians to their final destination today in the most brutal way with some help from quran and allah
Posted by: RobertKundrally | March 29, 2010 5:27 PM
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I am not sure if I would even want to be in the Quranic heaven considering the number of homicide-martyrs that are residing there. Truly, Ms. Khan, you cannot expect anyone to take you seriously if you write about the "diversity" of those going to the Islamic heaven. I have read your Quran and many of the hadith. I live a good life and treat people fairly and equally and I utterly reject the Muslim Allah and find the Islamic prophet Muhammad to be a despicable man whose example should as often be avoided as emulated. The problem that you, and any believer of the monotheistic faiths have when dealing with the concept of heaven has to do with the thorny issue of your so-called holy books which claim to be the bearers of the one true belief/message of god. Christians have the same troubles if they attempt to claim "diversity" in their mythical heaven. Those who reject your gods and "truths" will not be represented in your imagined multicultural heaven. Please, if you want to believe in something then at least have the intellectual honesty to follow those beliefs. Be true to your faith and just express sympathy for the infidels who have rejected the one true faith and who will not have the joy of the rivers of wine and beautiful dark-eyed houris.
Posted by: rentianxiang | March 29, 2010 4:09 PM
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Dear Dr. Khan,
The best of words are from Allah, aza wa jel:
Al Quran, Surah Al Furqan 25:10-18
Pickthal Commentary thereon:
"Blessed is He Who, if He will, will assign thee better than (all) that - Gardens underneath which rivers flow - and will assign thee mansions. (10) Nay, but they deny (the coming of) the Hour, and for those who deny (the coming of) the Hour We have prepared a flame. (11) When it seeth them from afar, they hear the crackling and the roar thereof. (12) And when they are flung into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they pray for destruction there. (13) Pray not that day for one destruction, but pray for many destructions! (14) Say: Is that (doom) better or the Garden of Immortality which is promised unto those who ward off (evil)? It will be their reward and journey's end. (15) Therein abiding, they have all that they desire. It is for thy Lord a promise that must be fulfilled. (16) And on the day when He will assemble them and that which they worship instead of Allah and will say: Was it ye who misled these my slaves or did they (themselves) wander from the way? (17) They will say: Be Thou glorified! it was not for us to choose any protecting friends beside thee; but Thou didst give them and their fathers ease till they forgot the warning and became lost folk. (18)"
This is very clear, one must be a submitter to the Will of Allah to be granted Jannah. Everyone is invited to submit-without exception so there will be the diversity of people that you wish, the same diversity that one finds in the Ummah today; however, these diverse people are united in their belief: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his slave and Messenger".
The promise of Jannah is truly a beautiful promise that will be fulfilled. Allah is the best of Planners, firm in his plan and true.
Posted by: safiyah111 | March 29, 2010 2:48 PM
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"A place for all god's people"
Which god would that be then? Humans have invented so many I get confused. When using this word you need to clarify exactly which one of the myriad of gods you are alluding to.
Posted by: GMartin-Royle | March 29, 2010 10:59 AM
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Dear Daisy Khan,
Quran,Rock Chapter Verse 45 says *Surely those who kept their duty(it means their duty in islam) or those who guard(against evil.Evil means non-islam) will be amidst gardens....*
According to Submission/Islam Theology,Infidel/Non-Muslim can not enter Paradise.Non-Muslim can not pass near Jannah/Heaven.
In Submission mentality,only and only True Believer Muslims shall enter Garden where Virgins(niether males nor Jinns didnt touch them),Fairy Girls and Chaste Women like egg(it means White Woman) waiting for you(muslim males)
Non-muslim can not enter Islam Paradise.
Posted by: halozcel1 | March 29, 2010 10:49 AM
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The Five Step Method to Deprogram/"Deflaw"/"Deheaven" 1400 years of Islamic mumbo jumbo.
Are you ready?
Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.
"1. Belief in Allah"
aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc." should be added to your cleansing neurons.
"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."
Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gib Gnab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "creationist".
"3. To believe in the existence of heavenly angels."
A major item for neuron cleansing.
Angels/devils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hittites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No angels ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith.
Today we would classify angels as fairies and "tinker bells". Modern devils are classified as the demons of the demented.
"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."
Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.
Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the uneducated masses in line. Today we call them fortune tellers.
Prophecies are also invalidated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.
"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone."
Mohammed spent thirty days fasting in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via Gabriel. Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic violence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallucinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.
Accept these five "cleansers" and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!
Posted by: YEAL9 | March 28, 2010 4:59 PM
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Well, amazing! One can stop reading after the first paragraph and wonder how still is it possible for a major daily in the world's top national power to publish the kind of claptrap that the first paragraph introduces so well. Truly amazing!
Posted by: ivansoto | March 28, 2010 4:48 PM
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The kingdom is where the government acknowledges that God is King and His word is our law. That is why Torah is called Law and why God's primary message through the prophet Muhammad is to live by Torah and Gospel, all God's word, believe is what was sent to all God's prophets, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus etc.
We can have the kingdom here now because God inhabits His word. When we live by His word, His power, wisdom and presence are there in His word. Jesus (Isa) taught us that the law was God's love for us, to protect us with strong guidelines for justice and equality.
We could withdraw from our oppressive employment lifestyle and confusing government that causes world problems and by turning to a garden paradise lifestyle that solves the world problems with the one strategy. It is not difficult to have heaven on earth; we only need to desire it.
Posted by: MarieDevine | March 28, 2010 12:44 PM
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Some observations:
Islam's reliance on heavenly angels and "demons of the demented" for authenication is coming to a fast close. As it does, Mecca will no longer be a shrine to these fictional characters and will simply become a historical tourist attraction. Maybe Disney will construct another Disney World there featuring roller coaster-chariot rides to the fictional heavens, a water park at the Grand Mosque along with a Hall of Religious Embellished Characters featuring talking figures of Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed and his eleven wives.
Heaven(if it exists) is a Spirit State as per Aquinas and JPII i.e. no bodies to include glorified bodies allowed. That sure puts the kibosh on Easter!!
The simple preacher man's (aka Jesus') spirit/soul resides in Heaven (if it exists) with all the souls of deceased good people of any religion or of no religion therefore there will be no second coming.
As per Somerville, “Religion is our vehicle for the journey. Once arrived, it will be left at the door” i.e. there is no religion in Heaven (if it exists).
The Holy Roman "Empirers"/Popes/Kings/Queens et al continued the money grab selling access to JC and heaven resulting in some of today's
richest organizations on the globe i.e. the Christian churches and related aristocracies
.
From Professor JD Crossan:
"Moreover, an atonement theology that says God sacrifices his own son in place of humans who needed to be punished for their sins might make some Christians love Jesus, but it is an obscene picture of God. It is almost heavenly child abuse, and may infect our imagination at more earthly levels as well. I do not want to express my faith through a theology that pictures God demanding blood sacrifices in order to be reconciled to us."
Posted by: YEAL9 | March 28, 2010 12:12 AM
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"And Heaven's greatest enjoyment is that it is where God reveals Himself.”
God who is the essence of purity could not reveal Himself in the Muslim paradise. This is because of the grand eternal orgy that would be taking place between Mohammedan men and their black-eyed nymphs.