What is the Reality of Heaven and Hell?

Rays of Wisdom for the Modern World

His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) is a beaming beacon of Divine guidance and support. His Holiness (aba) represents the highest level of a connection with God in today’s world and thus he is the spiritual leader for tens of millions across the world, and champions the message of fulfilling the rights owed to God, and fulfilling the duties we each owe to our fellow human beings. Over the course of his Friday Sermons, addresses on various occasions, meetings with different organizations and children’s classes, His Holiness (aba) imparts invaluable knowledge and insight on a remarkably vast array of topics.

The Review of Religions is honoured to present some of these ‘Rays of Wisdom’ from His Holiness (aba) taken from various sources, for the benefit of its readers.

What is the Reality of Heaven and Hell?

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Luscious green gardens with the calming sounds of water flowing in streams, or a fiery pit with tall flames; these are the images people think of when it comes to heaven and hell. In some religions these depictions are taken quite literally, and it is thought that this is exactly what people will see and experience in the afterlife. In the Holy Qur’an, similar descriptions of gardens for heaven and fire for hell have been used; however, it is understood that these are metaphorical depictions. But if these are just metaphorical terms, then what is the reality behind heaven and hell and what will they look like? Once, someone asked His Holiness (aba) about the reality of heaven and hell and how exactly one would experience them after their demise.

His Holiness (aba) replied:

‘Different religions have various concepts regarding heaven and hell, and due to not understanding matters pertaining to heaven and hell that have been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and the Ahadith [sayings of the Holy Prophet (sa)] and by presuming them to be physical, Muslims have also developed erroneous concepts of heaven and hell in their minds. In fact, it is to help people understand heaven and hell that the Qur’an and Hadith have painted a metaphorical picture. Certain words have been used metaphorically, whereas they have a hidden meaning behind them. Thus, along with this metaphorical imagery, the Holy Qur’an also mentions the following:

فَلَا تَعۡلَمُ نَفۡسٞ مَّآ أُخۡفِيَ لَھُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعۡيُنٖ جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

“And no soul knows what joy of the eyes is kept hidden for them, as a reward for their good works.”[1]

Similarly, in a Hadith, the Holy Prophet (sa) is reported to have said that the bounties of heaven are such that:

مَا لَا عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلَا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ وَلَا خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ

“Never have eyes seen them, never have ears truly heard of them, nor has any heart ever truly perceived them.”[2]

The reality is that heaven and hell are a reflection of the faith and actions of this world. It is not something new that one will receive from elsewhere; rather, one’s paradise comes from within. That is why the delight stemming from faith and good deeds begins in this very world. The gardens of faith and deeds along with streams can be seen in a subtle manner, whereas in the hereafter, these same gardens will be manifestly experienced. This is why the Holy Qur’an states about those who are in heaven:

 كُلَّمَا رُزِقُواْ مِنۡھَا مِن ثَمَرَةٖ رِّزۡقٗا قَالُواْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي رُزِقۡنَا مِن قَبۡلُ ۖ وَأُتُواْ بِهِۦ مُتَشَٰبِھًا 

“Whenever they are given a portion of fruit therefrom, they will say: ‘This was what was given to us before,’ and gifts mutually resembling shall be brought to them.”[3]

Whilst mentioning the reality of heaven and hell, the Promised Messiah (as) states:

“According to the Holy Qur’an, hell and heaven are both reflections of a man’s life, and are not something new that comes from outside. It is true that in the hereafter, they will be manifested physically, but they will be reflections of the spiritual conditions of man in this life. We do not conceive of heaven as containing material trees, nor of Hell as full of brimstone and sulphur. According to Islamic teachings, heaven and hell are the reflections of the actions that a person carries out in this world.”’[4],[5]

ENDNOTES

1. The Holy Qur’an, 32:18.

2. Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Bad’ al-Khalq.

3. The Holy Qur’an, 2:26.

4.  Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^aba, The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam (Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications Ltd., 2017), 157.

5. Al Fazal International, 17^th July 2021.