Appendix 5
Heaven and Hell
The descriptions of Heaven
and
Hell
throughout
the
Quran
are
allegorical.
And the Quran tells us so whenever such descriptions occur as independent statements, not within a general subject.
See
2:24-26,
13:35,
and
47:15.
The
word
“Mathal” (allegory) is used in these verses.
Linguistically, the word “Mathal”
in these verses can be removed,
and we still have perfect
sentences. But it is there because the descriptions of Heaven and Hell are allegorical.
What Heaven and Hell are really like is far beyond our comprehension. Hence the need for allegory.
How can one describe, for example, the taste of chocolate to a person who
never tasted chocolate? Allegory will have to be used. The person has to wait to actually taste chocolate in order to know what chocolate tastes
like. Whatever allegory
we use to describe the taste of chocolate can never approximate the real thing.
Heaven already exists,
since Adam and Eve were placed in it during
their days of innocence
(2:35). We learn from Sura 55 that there are two “High Heavens”—one for the humans
and one for the jinns—and two “Lower Heavens”—one for the humans and one for the jinns (see Appendix
11 for more details).
Hell is not created yet. It will be created
on the Day of Judgment
(69:17 & 89:23). More details are given in Appendix 11.
The High Heaven
vs
The Lower Heaven
There are profound differences between the High
Heaven
and
the
Lower
Heaven. Allegorically, water in the High Heaven flows freely (55:50),
while the water of the Lower Heaven needs to be pumped out (55:66).
Allegorically, the High Heaven has all kinds of fruit (55:52),
while the Lower Heaven has a limited
variety of fruits (55:68).
Allegorically, the pure spouses readily join their spouses in the High Heaven (55:56), while the
dwellers
of
the
Lower
Heaven
must
go
fetch
their
spouses
(55:72).
Yet, even the Lower Heaven is an incredibly fantastic prize for those who are
fortunate enough to escape Hell and end up in the Lower Heaven (3:185)—going to the Lower Heaven is a great triumph.
People who depart this life before reaching
their 40th birthday, and did not sufficiently
develop their souls, will go to the Lower Heaven (46:15, Appendices 11 & 32).
The High Heaven is reserved
for
those who believed, led a righteous life, and developed
their souls sufficiently.
Whoever succeeds
in barely missing Hell, and is admitted into Heaven, has attained a great triumph. [ 3:185
] |
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