Unlawful in this life but lawful in Paradise

23-9-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

I would like to know why certain things have been made unlawful in this life when they are lawful in Paradise.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

First and foremost, you must know that Allaah The Almighty alone is the One who determines what is lawful and what is unlawful. There is wisdom behind every single divine ordinance, regardless of whether we realize it or not. As a matter of fact, this life is a trial of our servitude and obedience. In other words, the true believer is the one who immediately and obediently responds to any divine command and whose reply is always, “We hear and obey.” On the other hand, the transgressor is the one who says, “We hear and disobey.”

When it comes to what Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, have decided, the believer is left no choice and has no right to object to any of the commands of Allaah The Almighty or to ask why He has made something unlawful and another thing lawful.

Allaah the Almighty Says (what means):

 •        {It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.}[Quran 33:36]

•        {He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.}[Quran 21:23]

Indeed, once the dwellers of Paradise enter it they will no longer be charged with duties or subjected to trials. They will be overwhelmed by the pleasure of Allaah The Almighty and will be granted all kinds of bliss, and this includes things that they were prohibited from in the worldly life. That is to say, they will be rewarded for their patience and obedience by being allowed what they were denied in life, despite the fact that there is no resemblance at all between this life and what is in the Hereafter. Allaah the Almighty Says about the wine of Paradise (what means):

•        {They will exchange with one another a cup [of wine] wherein [results] no ill speech or commission of sin.}[Quran 52:23]

•        {White and delicious to the drinkers; No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated.}[Quran 37:46-47]

•        {There will circulate among them young boys made eternal, With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring, No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated.}[Quran 56:17-19]

Al-Qurtubi Al-Maaliki may Allaah have mercy upon him stated in his commentary on the verse {no ill speech or commission of sin} that this wine, unlike wine in the world, does not cause those who drink it to utter vain speech. It was reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him that those who drink the wine of Paradise do not lie or say false things. In addition, it was reported on the authority of Mujaahid may Allaah have mercy upon him that people will not insult each other or commit sins under its influence.

Besides, the one who drinks wine in this life drinks it with the devil but the wine of Paradise is purified from the filth and harmful effects of worldly wine. It does not cause headaches or stomach aches and it does not deprive a person of his senses. It does not cause those who drink it to utter vain speech and it has a beautiful appearance and taste, for Allaah the Almighty Says (what means): {White and delicious to the drinkers; No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated.}[Quran 37: 46-47] This was reported on the authority of Qataadah may Allaah have mercy upon him.

In his commentary on this last verse, Al-Qurtubi may Allaah have mercy upon him reported on the authority of Zayd ibn Aslam may Allaah have mercy upon him that the wine of Paradise is bright in color and has a beautiful appearance, unlike worldly wine that is ugly and has a disgusting color, for it is either red, black or yellow. With regards to: {nor from it will they be intoxicated}, it means that they will not lose their senses. Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him mentioned that worldly wine has four bad characteristics: it makes a person lose his senses, one a person causes a headache, leads to vomiting and  affects the urine; whereas the wine of Paradise is free from such bad effects.

And Allaah Knows best.

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