✨The Levels of Paradise ✨

When paradise is mentioned, it stirs the believers’ hearts. They covet and long for it and their tongues move in remembrance of Allah Almighty and they supplicate for attaining it. They do not see any bliss in this worldly life, no matter how great, that comes anywhere close to the bliss of paradise, let alone similar to it.

And paradise has degrees and levels, one above the other, according to iman (faith) and righteous deeds.

Al Anfal (8) 4: Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.

Levels on top of one another. Those on the lower levels raise their heads and see the higher levels just as one of us raises his head to the sky to see the moon and the stars. Abu Saeed Al Khudry, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
The dwellers of Paradise will look at those in the upper abodes above them as you look at a shining star in the eastern or western horizon because of their superiority over others. They said, Oh Messenger of Allah, will that be the dwellings of the Prophets that no one other than them can attain? He replied, Yes, but by Him in Whose Hand is my soul, men who believed in Allah and affirmed the truthfulness of the Messengers will attain them. [Bukhari 3256, Muslim 2831b]

And Al Firdaus which is the highest level and degree of paradise was mentioned in the Book of Allah Almighty. After He the Almighty recounted some attributes of the believers, he concluded it with:
Al Mominoon (23) 10-11: (10) Those are the inheritors (11) Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally.

Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, Al Firdaus is the uppermost of Paradise, center of Paradise and the best of Paradise.

And the Prophet ﷺ clarified that Firdaus is four gardens. Among them is the Garden of Adn which was mentioned frequently in the Quran. Musa Al Ashari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
Two gardens of silver, their vessels and everything in them; and two gardens of gold, their vessels and everything in them, and there is nothing between the people and seeing their Lord, except the Cloak of Greatness covering His Face in the Garden of ‘Adn. [Bukhari 7444, Muslim 180]

The highest station of Al Firdaus is a level that only one human being can attain and that is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. And it is the station of Al Waseelah that if anyone requests it for the Prophet ﷺ he will attain his intercession. As Abdullah bin Amr , may Allah be pleased with them, narrated that he heard the Prophet ﷺsay:
If you hear the caller to prayer, say as he says then send blessings upon me for whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold. Then ask Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, which is a position in paradise which only one of the servants of Allah will attain, and I hope that I will be the one. Whoever asks for Al-Wasilah for me, will be entitled to my intercession.[Muslim 384]

The highest of the people in rank in Paradise is the Prophet ﷺ. And he is the best messenger. As Allah Almighty said:
Al Baqarah (2) 253: Those are the messengers some of whom We have given excellence over some others. Among them there are ones to whom Allah spoke (directly) and He raised some of them steps higher (in other respects)

Mujahid and others said about the verse “and He raised some of them steps higher” refers to Mohammad ﷺ.

Ibn Al Qayim, may Allah have mercy on him, said; and the station of the Prophet ﷺ was called Al Wasilah because it is the closest station to the throne of the Merciful. And it is the closest station to Allah Almighty. That is why it is the best and noblest of Paradise and has the greatest light. Al Fudhail bin Eyaadh, may Allah have mercy on him, said: do you know why it is the best of Paradise? Because the throne of the Lord of the Worlds is its ceiling. And since the Messenger ﷺ was the greatest of creation in servitude to his Lord, the most knowledgeable of Him, the most fearful of Him, and the most loving of Him, his station is the closest to Allah Almighty. And it is the highest level in paradise and the Prophet commanded his ummah (community) to request it for him. So that they attain through this supplication closeness from Allah Almighty and increased iman (faith). And also Allah decreed it for the Prophet ﷺ for reasons among which is the supplication of his ummah (community) for him.

And whoever loves the Prophet ﷺ, follows his guidance, adheres to his sunnah, obeys his command and refrains from his prohibitions, will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection with the Prophet ﷺ who will not be concealed from him even though the Prophet is at a higher station than him. As Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said:
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, you are dearer to me than myself, and you are dearer to me than my family and my wealth, and dearer to me than my children. And while I am at home, I remember you and cannot wait to come see you. And if I remember my death and your death, I know that when you enter Paradise you will be raised with the prophets and if I enter paradise I am afraid that I will not see you. So the Prophet ﷺ did not respond to him until Gabriel came to him and revealed this verse:
An Nisa (4) 69: And whoever obeys Allāh and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allāh has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.[The Authentic Series (Albani) 6/1044]

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