islamic paradise description

The Paradise that the Qur’an and Hadith speak of is uniquely Islam’s own. No other literature offers – if ever it will mention – the splendid description that the Islamic sources do.
Primarily there were two problems with older Scriptures: Jewish, Christian, and others. Firstly, the emphasis on accountability was absent. When there was no accountability, there could be no rewards and no punishments. Therefore, the concept of Paradise, which is the reward for righteous living, had to be downplayed. A second problem arose from the first. If there was no accountability, then, why religion? The answer was, for spiritual satisfaction. This led to the concept of a Hereafter where there will be spiritual delights; which meant a dim concept of Paradise: a Paradise where there was no real pleasure, at least not for the millions of common people who understand physical pleasure better than spiritual. After all, Paradise is not for the elite, who like to define what it should be like. These factors explain why the concept of Paradise has remained unattractive in other religions.
But the Qur’an talked of accountability right from the start; with that came the promise of Paradise and thus, Paradise came to be well-defined and excellently described. It was made the focal point of religion. The spiritual delight was not ignored altogether; but its description was given as much space as spiritualists occupy in a crowd of men.

مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِنْ مَاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِنْ لَبَنٍ لَمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِنْ خَمْرٍ لَذَّةٍ لِلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِنْ عَسَلٍ مُصَفًّى ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ

“The description of the Paradise that the pious have been promised: rivers of unpolluted water, rivers of milk of unchanging taste, rivers of wine, tasty for the drinkers, and rivers of pure honey; and for them therein all kinds of fruits - and forgiveness from their Lord.” (Muhammad: 15)

It can be noticed in the above that the description of four rivers of material pleasure is followed by a fifth river of pleasure, the spiritual pleasure, of God’s forgiveness (that will not be followed by anger anytime in future).

وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ (٥٦:١٠) أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ (٥٦:١١) فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ (٥٦:١٢) ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ (٥٦:١٣) وَقَلِيلٌ مِنَ الْآخِرِينَ (٥٦:١٤) عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَوْضُونَةٍ (٥٦:١٥) مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ (٥٦:١٦) يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ (٥٦:١٧) بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِنْ مَعِينٍ (٥٦:١٨)لَا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنْزِفُونَ (٥٦:١٩) وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ (٥٦:٢٠) وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ (٥٦:٢١) وَحُورٌ عِينٌ (٥٦:٢٢) كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ (٥٦:٢٣) جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ (٥٦:٢٤) لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا (٥٦:٢٥) إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا

“And the Outrunners? – (Ah) the Outrunners They are the ones brought nigh. In gardens of bliss. A throng from the earlier ones. And a few from the later ones... Upon couches studded (with precious stones). Reclining upon them, face to face. Perpetual youths going around them... With goblets, beakers and glass(es) (filled from) flowing-fountains. No headache shall they undergo thereby nor intoxication. And with fruits such as they choose. And flesh of fowl such as they desire. And wide-eyed Houris. In the likeness of pearls well-preserved. A reward for that they labored. They shall hear no idle talk therein nor commission of sin. But for the saying, ‘Peace, Peace.’”
(Al-Waqi`ah : 10 - 26)

It can be noted in this passage that the description starts with spiritual pleasures in two lines: “They are brought nigh,” (i.e. brought near God), and, “in gardens of bliss;” and is followed by material pleasures in 9 verses. The passage ends with two more spiritual pleasures: no idle talk, and peace. Thus, in a small passage there is harmony: 2 spiritual + 9 material + 2 spiritual pleasures. Closer examination of the passage will reveal greater harmony.
But it is not merely the physical or spiritual pleasures that matter. It is the image expressing stunning beauty, spectacular scenery (52: 17-28):
“Surely, the pious shall be in gardens and bliss.
Enjoying what their Lord would have bestowed them. Their Lord saved them from the chastisement of the Fire.
Eat and drink with relish for what you were working.
Reclining upon lined couches, and We shall espouse them to wide-eyed Houris.
And those who believed, and their offspring followed them in faith, We shall join their offspring with them; and We shall deprive not aught of their works. Every man is pledged for what he earned.
And We shall extend to them fruits and of the (kind of) meat they desire.
They will playfully snatch therein from one another cups (of wine), neither frivolity nor any sin (touching them).
And there shall go round on them lads, as if they were hidden pearls.
And some of them will advance upon others asking each other.
They will say, ‘Previously we were ever-fearful in our families.
Then Allah conferred upon us favor and saved us from the poisonous punishment.
We were earlier ever-calling upon Him. Truly it is He who is All-benign, All-merciful.’”
In addition to the beautiful description, one may note how spiritual bliss is combined with physical, always in the same proportion in which the spiritualists exist among the common people.
Consider the following (76: 11-22):
“So, Allah saved them from the evil of that day and shed over them brightness and blissful joy.
And recompensed them for their patience with a Garden, and silk.
Reclining therein on couches. They shall experience therein neither sun nor bitter cold.
Near them will be its shades and its clusters hanging low.
And, there will be passed around them vessels of silver and crystal-goblets.
Crystal-goblets made of silver, that they would have filled to right measure.
And they will be served drinks therein whose mixing will be with ginger.
From) A spring therein named Salsabeel.
There will go around them eternal lads. If you saw them you would think they are scattered pearls.
If you saw there, you would see therein bliss and a great kingdom.
Upon them apparels of green silk and brocade. And they shall be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord shall give them a drink, pure.
This, indeed, is a recompense for you, and your striving has been appreciated.”
This is in English. In Arabic, it can have an exhilarating, overpowering effect.