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The degrees and levels of Paradise and Hell, and the deeds that take one to them
Praise be to Allaah.
With regard to numbers, there is one Hell and one Paradise, but each of them has degrees and levels. Paradise is sometimes mentioned in the plural in the Sunnah, but this does not mean that there are several types of Paradise; rather this is indicative of its greatness and the various degrees and levels in it, or it is indicative of the greatness of the reward of the one who enters it, as it says in the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik that Umm al-Rubayyi’ bint al-Bara’ , who was the mother of Haarithah ibn Suraaqah, came to the Prophet
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Secondly:
The levels of Hell differ according to the extent of their inhabitants’ kufr in this world. The hypocrites will be in the lowest level of Hell, as our Lord has told us (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them”
[al-Nisa’ 4:145]
The least severe (in torment) of its levels – from which we seek refuge with Allaah – was mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the hadeeth reported by al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer who said: The Messenger of Allaah
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Thirdly:
We know of no limit to the number of degrees and levels in Paradise. It was said that their number is equal to the number of verses in the Qur’aan, based on the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr, who said that the Prophet
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Al-Mundhiri said in al-Targheeb: al-Khattaabi said: It said in the report that the number of verses in the Qur’aan is the number of degrees or levels of Paradise in the Hereafter, and it will be said to the reader: ‘Rise through the levels to the extent that you used to read the verses of the Qur’aan. Whoever recites all of the Qur’aan, will reach the highest degree of Paradise in the Hereafter, and whoever recites part of it will reach a level commensurate with that, and the limit of his reward will match the limit of his reading. Al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 2/228
But this idea is subject to further discussion, because the hadeeth speaks of the manaazil (status, position) of those who memorized Qur’aan, not of their darajaat (degrees, levels). The darajah (degree or level) varies according to their efforts in this world, just as there are other acts of faith in which people vary in status, such as sincere faith, jihad and others. So we cannot say that the one who memorized the entire Qur’aan will be in the highest degrees of Paradise in absolute terms.
The highest of the degrees of Paradise is al-Firdaws, as it was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
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What is meant by the “middle of Paradise” is the best of it, as when Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Thus We have made you a just (and the best) nation (lit. a middle nation)”
[al-Baqarah 2:143]
The Sunnah also describes the position of those who do certain actions. For example:
1 – Faith in Allaah and belief in the Messengers:
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet
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2 – Jihad for the sake of Allaah:
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
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3 – The one who sincerely desires martyrdom may also attain that.
It was narrated from Sahl ibn Haneef that the Prophet
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4 – Spending for the sake of Allaah.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The poor came to the Prophet
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5 – Doing wudoo’ properly even when it is difficult, taking many steps towards the mosque and waiting for prayer after prayer.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah
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6 – Memorizing Qur’aan
‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr narrated that the Prophet
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The one who is keen should set his sights on the highest position in Paradise and strive to earn the pleasure of Allaah and enter the Paradise of al-Firdaws, which is the highest that Allaah has promised.
And Allaah knows best