Page 320 - Quranic Wisdom - New.indd

Paradise: The Ideal World to Live In

Here, the Quran uses two words: ishtiha and iddi‘a. Ishtiha
means to desire and iddi‘a means to demand. By ishtiha is meant
material desire and by iddi‘a intellectual demand.

These two words refer to two aspects of the human personality.
Ishtiha means that the material desires of the people of Paradise
will be fulfilled in their perfect form. In the present world
also there are things that we desire, but they are fulfilled in an
imperfect way and the sense of fulfilment derived from them is
temporary in nature. In Paradise we will be provided with these
in their perfect form and for eternity.

God Almighty will select such individuals from the
whole of human history and settle them in Paradise.
In this way that kind of high society will be formed
in Paradise which is the greatest need of a true
believer.

There are two aspects of intellectual demand. First, to find
a universal framework in which one can think, where one can
exercise one’s mind without any limit. This framework is not
available in this world. But, it will be made available to us in
Paradise. It will be possible for man to carry on his thinking
process in an unlimited way. And, it is this fact that is referred to
in the Quran in these words:
If all the trees on earth were pens, and the sea [were]
ink, with seven [more] seas added to it, the words
of God would not be exhausted: for, truly, God is
Almighty and Wise. (31:27)
This Quranic verse tells us about the unlimited data and
facts which are not available in the present world. However, in
Paradise these would become available to us. In this way man will
have that framework in the light of which he will be able to think
according to his intellectual demand in an unlimited manner.

319