Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims
Paradise
I. Similarities on Paradise
Islam and Christianity have some superficial similarities in their view of life after death.
Why would it not be surprising that these are the similarities between Christianity and Islam? (Remember the natural knowledge of God.)
Would you worship a God who did not reward the good and punish the evil?
Would you practice a religion that had nothing to offer beyond this life?
II. Totally Different Paths to Paradise
From our study on "Works, Not Faith" describe the way Islam urges for a Muslim to get to heaven.
From your own faith and knowledge about Christianity, describe the way Christianity urges for a Christian to get to heaven.
What difference does this shed on the statement above on similarities, "They agree unbelievers will be in hell and believers will be in heaven."?
III. al-Jannah, The Muslim View of Paradise
Perhaps it would be best to simply quote from the Koran to determine what Muslims believe about Paradise.
Say: shall I give you glad tidings of things far better than those? For the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord with rivers flowing beneath; Therein is their eternal home; with spouses purified and the good pleasure of Allah, for in Allah's sight are (all) His servants. Sura 3.15
What is the environment like in heaven (greatly different from much of the Muslim world on earth!)
Who accompanies the male in heaven?
Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord and for a garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth prepared for the righteous. Sura 2.133
How big is heaven?
Allah hath promised to believers men and women gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss in the Good Pleasure of Allah: that is the supreme felicity. Sura 9.72
What is the greatest pleasure in heaven?
And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury; beneath them will be rivers flowing; and they shall say: "Praise be to Allah Who hath guided us to this (felicity): never could we have found guidance had it not been for the guidance of Allah: indeed it was the truth that the apostles of our Lord brought unto us." And they Shall hear the cry: "Behold! the garden before you! Ye have been made its inheritors for your deeds (of righteousness)."
The companions of the garden will call out to the companions of the fire: "We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to us true: have you also found your Lord's promises true?" They shall say "yes"; but a crier shall proclaim between them: "the curse of Allah is on the wrong- doers; Sura 6.43-44
What change will occur in the hearts of the believers from their life on this earth?
(Here is) a Parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised: in it are rivers of water incorruptible: rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of fruits and Grace from their Lord. (Can those in such Bliss) be compared to such as shall dwell for ever in the Fire and be given to drink boiling water so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)? Sura 47.15
What forbidden pleasure will be the Muslim's in heaven?
Forgive the lengthy quote, but I want to be absolutely fair and let the Koran speak for itself.
Sura 55.46-77
46. But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord there will be two Gardens
47. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
48. Containing all kinds (of trees and delights)
49. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
50. In them (each) will be two Springs flowing (free);
51. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
52. In them will be Fruits of every kind two and two.
53. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
54. They will recline on Carpets whose inner linings will be of rich brocade: the Fruit of the Gardens will be Near (and easy of reach).
55. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
56. In them will be (Maidens) Chaste restraining their glances whom no man or Jinn before them has touched
57. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
58. Like unto rubies and coral.
59. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
60. Is there any Reward for Good other than Good?
61. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
62. And besides these two there are two other Gardens
63. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
64. Dark green in color (from plentiful watering).
65. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
66. In them (each) will be two springs pouring forth water in continuous abundance:
67. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
68. In them will be Fruits and dates and pomegranates:
69. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
70. In them will be fair (companions) good beautiful
71. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
72. Companions restrained (as to their glances) in (goodly) pavilions
73. Then which of the favor of your Lord will ye deny?
74. Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched
75. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
76. Reclining on green Cushions and rich Carpets of beauty.
77. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?
What is the recurring refrain of this sura?
What other forbidden pleasure will be the Muslim's in heaven?
Explain how do you get that from Sura 55.46-77.
Does it seem moral to you that God in heaven should grant "pleasures" to his followers that were denied them (and strongly condemned as damnable sins) while they were on earth?
Does this show something about the mind-set of the Muslim regarding pleasures here on earth?
There is an interesting view of women in heaven. It does not come from the Koran, but from the Hadith (the remembered traditions of the Prophet).
Muslim reports from 'Imraan ibn Husayn (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said, "Few of the inhabitants of paradise are women".
What is the percentage of men to women in heaven?
Look at the explanation Muslim scholars give:
This does not contradict the fact that every man in Paradise will have more than one wife. What is referred to by the women who will be the majority of the inhabitants of Hell is women who are descendants of Adam: the inhabitants of Paradise will have many wives from among al-Hoor al-'Iyn. "Women will be few among the inhabitants of Paradise because in most cases they prefer the immediate pleasures of this life, as they are less wise and unable to keep the Hereafter in mind. They are too weak to strive and prepare themselves for it, and are more inclined towards this world. In spite of all this, they are the strongest factor in this world that distracts men from the Hereafter, because men are inclined to desire them and they are not concerned with the Hereafter. They are quick to follow those who call them to deviate from Islam, and reluctant to follow those pious people who call them to the Hereafter, and righteous deeds". (al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, 1/369)
In spite of all this, there are many righteous women among them, who stay within the limits set by Allah, adhere to His laws, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Many of these women will enter Paradise, and many of them excel over men in their faith and righteous deeds.
So, why are there so few women in heaven, relatively speaking?
Girls, what's your opinion of this?
Guys, how's that sound to you?
Why would this be a popular teaching in Islam?
Then there is the highest position of honor in heaven.
The highest position in Paradise which will be attained by only one person is called al-Wasiilah. It will be attained by the Chosen Prophet, the best of Allah’s creation our Prophet Muhammad.
Who gets the seat of honor in al-Jannah, at the right hand of God?
IV. Paradise, The Christian View of Paradise
Let's be perfectly even-handed and simply see what the Bible says to summarize what Christians believe about Paradise.
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21.1-4
What is the environment like in heaven (greatly different from all of the Christian world on earth!)
Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. Luke 20.34-36
Are people married in heaven?
He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21.6-8
Is there anything in heaven that indicates there will be actions or deeds which would have been immoral for the believer on earth? Prove it from the above passage.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3.2-3
What change will occur in the hearts of the believers from their life on this earth?
Will we even want to engage in acts of immorality in heaven?
We will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4.18
What is the greatest pleasure in heaven?
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." Mark 10.35-40
Who gets the seat of honor in Paradise at the right hand of God?
Is the Christian heaven something you could be proud of? Is the Muslim heaven something you could be proud of? Why or why not?
What does a comparison between the Christian God in his heaven and Allah in his heaven reveal?