Page 74 - Paradise: The Believers' Real Home

72 PARADISE

Thus, the human heart can be satisfied only in Paradise,
for it was created to serve Allah and takes pleasure only in His
generously given gifts. In this world, it takes refuge in places
that are reminiscent of Paradise; that is, in places whose bless-
ings are used with thanks and in a way that gains Allah's good
pleasure. This is why Paradise on Earth, the ideal long cher-
ished by unbelievers and atheists, is impossible. If you were to
take things in this world that resemble Paradise's material
beauties and gather them in one place, they would have no
meaning without Allah's approval. Moreover, He may also de-
stroy the pleasure that might be derived from such material
beauties.
In short, Paradise is a gift of Allah and is valuable only be-
cause of that. The people of Paradise experience eternal hap-
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piness and joy because "they are honored servants" (Surat
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an-Anbiya', 26).
The wisest word that can be spoken there is a word that

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praises Allah's mighty name: "Master of Majesty and
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G Generosity" (Surat ar-Rahman, 78).
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