TYPES OF THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE

To understand this matter, read the following Hadith. A noted scholar of Hadith literature al-Bayhaqi has narrated a Hadith in these words: Abdullah Ibn Rawaha, a Companion of the Prophet said to one of his friends, “Come, let us believe for a moment.” His friend said, “Are we not believers?” Ibn Rawaha said, “Yes, but when we remember God, we increase our faith.” (Shuab ul-Iman lil-Bayhaqi) This Hadith suggests that there are two types of believers. One is a person who, after proclaiming the verbal creed of monotheism, thinks that he has become a believer, has got the faith he was supposed to have. He has nothing more to gain of faith or belief. In contrast, the other person is the one who remembers God again and again. He meditates on God. He continues thus to increase his faith, his faith continues to grow consciously. This example shows that the believers have different ranks or degrees in terms of God-realization. Some are at a higher level of God-realization and some are at a lower level. This difference in the realization of God will make a difference in terms of enjoyment in Paradise. One kind of a believer is one who reads the words Alhamdulillah in the Quran, i.e. praise be to God, the Lord of the universe, then he accepts this fact without any doubt or hesitation. He accepts it with absolute conviction. The second kind of a believer is one who reads Alhamdulillah in the Quran, and such deep meanings of God’s creation are visualized in his mind that a state of thrill arises in him. He is filled with the spirit of praise to God. In the same way, a believer is one when God is mentioned before him; he accepts it as a truth. For example, if a person says Alhamdulillah when he sneezes, then on hearing this, these words will come upon the hearer’s tongue: May God have mercy on him. In contrast, the other believer is the one when God is mentioned before him, due to his increased consciousness, he gets in such a state of mind that the hairs of his body stand on end with the feeling of God’s greatness. His heart leaps at the thought of God’s greatness, as mentioned in the Quran: True believers are those whose hearts tremble with awe at the mention of God, and whose faith grows stronger as they listen to His revelations. They are those who put their trust in their Lord. (8: 2) Similarly, a believer is one who recites the following verse in the Quran: It is God Who gives me food and drink. (26: 79) The reader understood this verse in its literal sense and words of thanks came on his tongue. The second type of believer is the one who reads this verse and innumerable facts come to his mind. He thinks that innumerable