What is the cost of Paradise

One of the realities that is with Allah is Paradise, for which the believers and good doers are enthusiastic. The Merciful Allah has invited all His servants to this permanent site. He has stated belief, piety, good deed, and observing lawful and unlawful deeds for reaching it.

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extensiveness of which is as the heavens and the earth; it is prepared for those who guard against evil. (3:133)

سَابِقُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ، ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ.

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extensiveness of which is as the heavens and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His apostles, that is the grace of Allah. (57:21)

Based on the Qur’¡nic verses and the traditions of the Prophet and his Household (a.s), paradise is the reward for belief, good deed, piety, and avoiding unlawful acts. One who is away from these facts and is, on the other hand, polluted with disbelief and other sins is not deserved to enter paradise rather would be placed in Hell and deprived of Allah’s Mercy and countenance.

وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُوْلَئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ يُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ.

Whoever does good, whether male or female, and he is a believer, he shall enter the Garden, in which he shall be given sustenance. (40:40)

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ، يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنْ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ، أُوْلَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمْ اللَّهُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ. وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِنْ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ، ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ.

And as for the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor rate, and obey Allah and His Apostle; Allah will show Mercy to these; Surely Allah is Mighty, Wise. Allah has promised to the believing men and the believing women gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them, and goodly dwelling in gardens of perpetual abode; and best of all is Allah’s goodly pleasure- that is the grand achievement. (9:71-72)

Imam Al-Sajj¡d (a.s) stated:

إعْلَمُوا أنَّهُ مَنِ اشْتَاقَ إلَى الجَنَّةِ سَارَعَ إلَى الحَسَنَاتِ وَسَلاَ عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ، وَمَنْ أشْفَقَ مِنَ النَّارِ بَادَرَ بِالتَّوْبَةِ إلَى اللهِ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ وَرَاجَعَ عَنِ المَحَارِمِ.

One, who is eager to come into paradise, rushes to goodness and forgets lusts. And one, who is afraid of the Hell, rushes to Allah via repentance and avoids the unlawful(  Bihar Al-Anwr: 75/ 139, Bab 21, tradition 3.).

Imam `Al¢ (a.s) said:

ثَمَنُ الجَنَّةِ العَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ.

The cost of the paradise is good deeds(  Ghurar al-°ikam: 154, tradition 2876; M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 2/ 794, Al-Janna, tradition 2538.).

The fifth infallible Imam, Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) has stated:

عَشْرٌ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِهِنَّ دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ: شَهَادَةُ أنْ لاَ إلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَأنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَالإقْرَارُ بِمَا جَاءَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ، وَإقَامُ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ، وَصَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ، وَحِجُّ البَيْتِ، وَالوِلاَيَةُ لأوْلِيَاءِ اللهِ، وَالبَراءَةُ مِنْ أعْدَاءِ اللهِ، وَاجْتِنَابُ كُلِّ مُسْكِرٍ.

There are ten things with which anyone who meets Allah would enter paradise; testifying that there is no deity but Allah, that Mu¦ammad is His Prophet, and that he has brought Qur’¡n from Allah, establishing prayers, paying zakat, fasting in Ramadan, Hajj, befriending Allah’s friends, hating His enemies, and avoiding anything intoxicant(  Khisal: 2/ 432, tradition 16; M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 2/ 796, Al-Janna, tradition 2548.).

Allah’s Mercy

The holy Qur’¡n and the traditions have extensively mentioned Allah’s Mercy toward His servants, inviting everyone to obtain this Mercy by resorting to belief, good deeds, piety, charity, and repentance from sins.

فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِهِ فَسَيُدْخِلُهُمْ فِي رَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ.

As for those who believe in Allah and hold fast by Him, He will cause them to enter into His Mercy. (4:175)

وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ.

And when those who believe in Our signs come to you, say: Peace be on you, your Lord is the lord of All-encompassing Mercy. (6:54)

وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ.

And My Mercy encompasses all things. (7:156)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ.

Surely, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (2:173)

فَقُلْ رَبُّكُمْ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ.

Say: Your Lord is the Lord of All-encompassing mercy. (6/147)

For obtaining Allah’s Mercy, one should certainly observe some issues. Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) said:

تَعَرَّضْ لِلرَّحْمَةِ وَعَفْوِ اللهِ بِحُسْنِ المُرَاجَعَةِ، وَاسْتَعِنْ عَلَى حُسْنِ المُرَاجَعَةِ بِخَالِصِ الدُّعَاءِ وَالمُنَاجَاةِ فِي الظُّلَمِ.

Obtain Allah’s Mercy and Forgiveness by returning to Him, and for realizing your return get help from sincere praying in the middle of night(  Bi¦¡r al-Anw¡r: 75/ 162, Bab 22, tradition 1.).

Someone told the Prophet of Islam (s.a): “I would like to get subject to Allah’s Mercy.” The Prophet (s.a) said:

إرْحَمْ نَفْسَكَ وَارْحَمْ خَلْقَ اللهِ يَرْحَمْكَ اللهُ.

Have mercy on yourself and other people, so that Allah would have mercy on you(  Kanz Al-Ummal: 44154; M¢z¡n al-°ikmah: 4/ 2004, Al-Rahma, tradition 7004.).

For a better understanding of Allah’s Mercy, you can refer to the third chapter of the book, under the title Allah’s Mercy.

Allah’s Forgiveness

Forgiveness means pardoning the wrongdoing and avoiding the chastisement. The Almighty has set this fact for the regretful sinners, who wish to return to His Kingdom, out of Mercy, and has admired Himself for this lofty attribute, stating:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا.

Surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving. (4:43)

Imam `Al¢ (a.s) said:

أمْرُهُ قَضَاءٌ وَحِكْمَةٌ، وَرِضَاهُ أمَانٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ، يَقْضِي بِعِلْمٍ وَيَعْفُو بِحِلْمٍ.

Allah’s orders are obligatory and out of expedience and wisdom. His takes pleasure in Mercy and Forgiveness. He rules with knowledge and awareness and forgives patiently(1 Nahj Al-Balagha: sermon 160.).

A Berduin told the Messenger of Allah: “O Prophet of Allah! Who would account for people’s deeds?” The Prophet (s.a) answered: “The Almighty would.” The Arab man said: “By the Lord of Kaaba that we would be saved.” The Prophet asked: “Why do you think so?” He replied:

لأنَّ الكَرِيمَ إذَا قَدَرَ عَفا.

The Generous would forgive if He gets Power(2 Wurr¡m Collection: 1/ 9.).

Imam `Al¢ (a.s) stated:

مَنْ تَنَزَّهَ عَنْ حُرُمَاتِ اللهِ سَارَعَ إلَيْهِ عَفْوُ اللهِ.

Allah’s Forgiveness would rush to anyone who avoids what Allah has forbidden(3 Bi¦¡r al-Anw¡r: 75/ 90, Bab 16, tradition 95.)

Some facts like reward, paradise, mercy and forgiveness that are only with Allah have caused the pious servants a great intense for reaching what is with Him.

اللَّهُمَّ عَظُمَ سُلْطَانُكَ

O Allah! Great is Your Kingdom.

Allah's Kingdom is essential and real. Other sovereignties are conventional and temporary, but Allah's is permanent, unlimited, and endless. His Kingdom embraces hidden and apparent beings, as well as the apparent and hidden aspects of them. There is no kingdom but His Kingdom. All others are in need and have nothing of their own.

Allah's Argument and Proof is great and no one can compete with it. Wisdom, Prophet hood, the Qur’¡n, and the Imamate are His proofs by which He would reason with all the beings in the Resurrection Day, refusing their false excuses for committing sins and avoiding good deeds.

وَعَلاَ مَكَانُكَ

O Allah! Lofty is Your Being.

The Holy God has rightly praised Himself in the Holy Qur’¡n as:

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ.

Nothing like a likeness of Him. (42:11)

He is away from every fault and slip. He owns all the perfection and magnificence attributes. His attributes are the same as His Essence, and His essence is the same as His attributes. The Glorious Names and Lofty Attributes only belong to Him. The establishment of all the beings is by means of His Guardianship, His Mercy, His Power, His Will, and His Knowledge. His Power is above all other powers; His Might is above others' might. That's why His Being is Lofty and His Status is superior to everything.