Speaking with Allah
The condition of Hell was also shown to the Noble Prophet ﷺ. He reached a valley where he heard a very unpleasant and terrifying sound. He also sensed a foul smell. He asked:
«“Jibril! What is this?”»
Jibril عليه السلام explained:
«“This is the voice of Hell. It is saying: ‘O my Lord! Give me the food that You have promised me. My chains and shackles, my fire and flames, the heat, hot wind, pus, and other terrifying forms of punishment have become excessive. My depth and the intensity of the fire within that depth—that is, my hunger—have become very great. Therefore, give me the food that You have promised me.’”»
In response to this call of Hell, Allah Almighty said:
«“Every disbelieving and polytheistic man and woman, every evil-natured, wicked, and impure person, will be your food.”»
Upon hearing this, Hell replied:
«“Enough! I am satisfied.”»
During this same journey, the Prophet ﷺ was shown the appearance of the Dajjal. His appearance was like that of ‘Abd al-‘Uzza ibn Qatan.
This ‘Abd al-‘Uzza had died during the period of ignorance, before the appearance of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ was shown some people whose lips were like the lips of camels. They had large burning coals in their hands, so large that each person’s hand was filled by a single coal. They were putting these burning coals into their mouths.
After seeing this, the Prophet ﷺ asked Jibril عليه السلام:
«“Jibril! Who are these people?”»
He replied:
«“These are the people who used to consume the wealth of orphans through force and oppression.”»
After this, the Prophet ﷺ saw some people before whom excellent meat had been placed on one side, while spoiled and foul-smelling meat was placed on the other side. They were leaving the good meat and eating the spoiled meat.
The Prophet ﷺ asked Jibril عليه السلام:
«“Who are these people?”»
He explained:
«“These are the people to whom Allah Almighty had given chaste women as wives, but they abandoned them and went to other women. Or they are women who abandoned their husbands and went to other men.”»
The Prophet ﷺ also saw some people consuming flesh from their own bodies. They were being told:
«“Eat this just as you used to eat the flesh of your brother.”»
He asked:
«“Who are these people?”»
Jibril عليه السلام said:
«“These are the people who used to mock and insult one another.”»
After Hell had been shown to him, the Prophet ﷺ was shown Paradise.
He saw domes made of pearls. Its soil was like musk.
The Prophet ﷺ saw pomegranates in Paradise that were as large as huge containers. The birds of Paradise were as large as camels.
After being taken through the seven heavens, the Prophet ﷺ was taken to Sidrat al-Muntaha, which is a lote tree.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ saw a spring at the root of Sidrat al-Muntaha. Two rivers flowed from it. One was called Kawthar and the other was called Rahmah.
The Prophet ﷺ said that he bathed in this spring.
According to one narration, four rivers of Paradise flow from the root of Sidrat al-Muntaha: one river of water, the second of milk, the third of honey, and the fourth of wine.
At that time, near Sidrat al-Muntaha, the Prophet ﷺ saw Jibril عليه السلام in his original form—that is, the form in which Allah Almighty created him.
He had six hundred wings, and each wing was so enormous that it could cover the horizon of the sky. Multicolored pearls and rubies were falling from these wings in such countless numbers that only Allah knows their number.
Then a cloud came and surrounded the Prophet ﷺ. He was taken upward through this cloud, while Jibril عليه السلام remained behind.
(Some narrations mention that he was taken upward by means of a ladder instead of a cloud.)
Here, the Prophet ﷺ heard the sound of Sareer al-Aqlam, meaning the rustling sound of the pens writing upon the Preserved Tablet.
These were the pens of destiny, and the angels were writing the destinies of creation with them.
From this detail, it becomes clear that Jibril عليه السلام did not proceed beyond Sidrat al-Muntaha. It is also understood that Sidrat al-Muntaha is above the seventh heaven.
Some scholars have written that it is situated to the right of the Great Throne.
According to another narration, Jibril عليه السلام took the Prophet ﷺ above the seventh heaven. There he reached a river.
Tents made of rubies, pearls, and emeralds were erected along it. In this river was a green-colored bird. It was so beautiful that nothing like it had ever been seen.
Jibril عليه السلام explained:
«“This is the River of Kawthar, which Allah Almighty has granted you.”»
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“I saw golden and silver cups floating in it, placed upon dishes of ruby and emerald. The water of this river was whiter than milk. I picked up one of the cups and filled it from the river. When I drank from it, it was sweeter than honey and more fragrant than musk.”»
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“Jibril عليه السلام took me to Sidrat al-Muntaha. Near it is the Hijab al-Akbar, the Great Veil.”»
When they reached the Great Veil, Jibril عليه السلام said:
«“The limit of my journey ends here. Now you proceed ahead.”»
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“I proceeded forward until I reached a throne made of gold. A silk carpet from Paradise was spread upon it.”»
At that moment, I heard the voice of Jibril عليه السلام saying:
«“O Muhammad! Allah Almighty is praising you. Listen and obey. Do not be frightened by the Divine Speech.”»
Thereupon, I praised Allah Almighty.
After this, I was granted the vision of Allah. I immediately fell into prostration.
Then Allah Almighty revealed to me:
«“O Muhammad! Paradise will remain forbidden for all the Prophets until you enter Paradise. Likewise, Paradise will remain forbidden for all the nations until your Ummah enters Paradise.”»
In addition, Allah Almighty said:
«“O Muhammad! We have granted you Kawthar. Thus, you have been given the distinction that all the people of Paradise will be your guests.”»
After this, fifty prayers were made obligatory.
The number of prayers was reduced on the advice of Hazrat Musa عليه السلام, until their number was reduced to five.
However, Allah Almighty said:
«“O Muhammad! These are five prayers each day. The reward of each one of them will be equal to ten, and thus the reward of these five prayers will be equal to the reward of fifty prayers.
Whoever from your Ummah intends to perform a good deed but does not carry it out, I will record one good deed for him merely because of his intention. If he actually performs that good deed, I will record it as ten good deeds.
And whoever intends to commit an evil deed but does not commit it, record one good deed for him. But if he commits that evil deed, I will record only one evil deed for him.”»
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“I saw written upon the gate of Paradise: ‘The reward for charity is tenfold, while the reward for a loan is eighteenfold.’”»
I asked Jibril عليه السلام:
«“Why is giving a loan better than giving charity?”»
He replied:
«“The reason is that when a person who asks for charity is given charity, he may still possess something at that moment. But the person who asks for a loan does so only when he has nothing.”»