PARADISE OF THIS WORLD, PARADISE OF THE HEREAFTER

The present world is a testing ground, while the Hereafter is the home of reward. Discovering the present world as an introduction to Paradise makes one deserving of eternal Paradise.

According to the Quran, this world bears a resemblance to Paradise (2:25). Whatever a person will be given in the world of Paradise has its initial and imperfect version granted to them in this world. The only difference is that the present world is temporary and extremely limited, while the world of Paradise is eternal and free from all limitations.

That is why the Quran says that man has been granted everything in this world according to his needs (14:34), whereas in the Paradise of the Hereafter, all things will be granted to man according to his desires. (41:31)

The Hereafter is the home of reward, while the present world is a testing ground. Due to the exigencies of putting man to the test, the present world is a world of toil and struggle (Quran, 90:4) and is, thus, full of problems. In other words, the Paradise of the Hereafter is a flower without thorns, while the Paradise of this world is a flower with thorns. The trial of man in this world is to take the flowers and avoid the thorns. Avoidance of the thorns is the real test in this world.

One who takes the flowers and disregards the thorns has passed the test. He will lead his life in this world with feelings of thanksgiving. This is, in fact, what is desired by the Lord. On the contrary, one who fails to overlook the thorns will always live a life of complaint. He will remain deprived of the worship of thanksgiving in this world and, as a result, will be deprived of entering into Paradise in the Hereafter. According to a verse of the Quran, this world is actually an introduction to Paradise:

“He will admit them into the Garden He has already made known to them.” (47:6)

This refers to a person who discovers Paradise at an intellectual level while living in this world of tests. One who has discovered the reality of Paradise will think deeply about Paradise; he will reflect deeply upon the creation plan of God and the Hereafter. Then, he will find the reflection of Paradise in this world itself. He will discover the reality that this world has been created as a precursor to Paradise.

The Paradise of the Hereafter is perfect, while the present world is an imperfect version of Paradise. In the Paradise of the Hereafter, man will find all the resources and means of comfort and luxury in their ideal form. These comforts and luxuries can be experienced in this world in a less-than-ideal form, with the difference that the Paradise of the Hereafter is eternal, while the present world is only a temporary and partial introduction to Paradise.

Paradise, without doubt, in its full sense, can be known only in the Hereafter. In the present world, man can know Paradise in terms of potential, and in the Hereafter, he will find it in terms of actuality. Discovering the present world as an introduction to Paradise, in fact, makes one deserving of the Paradise of the Hereafter.