When Allah created Paradise and Hellfire, He sent Jibrīl (Gabriel) (peace be upon him)

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reported that when Allah created Paradise and Hellfire, He said to Jibrīl (peace be upon him): Go to Paradise and look at it. He went, looked at it, and returned. Jibrīl said: O Lord, by Your Honor, none will hear about it and the bliss, bounty, and pleasant things therein except that he will love to enter it and exert effort for that purpose. Then, Allah surrounded Paradise with hardships and difficulties, involving the fulfillment of commands and the avoidance of prohibitions. So, whoever wants to enter it should go through these hardships. Then, Allah Almighty said: O Jibrīl, go and look at Paradise - after He had surrounded it with hardships. He went and looked at it. Then, he returned and said: O Lord, by Your Honor, I fear that no one will enter it due to the difficulties and hardships that lie on the path to it. And when Allah created Hellfire, He said: O Jibrīl, go and look at it. He went and looked at it. Then, Jibrīl returned and said: O Lord, by Your Honor, none will hear about the punishment, torments, and torture contained therein except that he will hate to enter it and will keep away from the means leading to it. Then, Allah Almighty surrounded Hellfire with desires and pleasures and made them lie on the path to it. Then, He said: O Jibrīl, go and look at it. Jibrīl went, looked at it, then came back, and said: O Lord, by Your Honor, I am fearful and apprehensive that no one will be saved from it - due to the desires and pleasures around it.

Benefits

• Believing that Paradise and Hellfire exist now.
• It is obligatory to believe in the unseen and all that is said by Allah and His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
• Patience over hardships is necessary, for these are the means leading to Paradise.
• Avoiding the prohibitions is necessary, for they are the means leading to Hellfire.
• Surrounding Paradise with hardships and Hellfire with desires are the objects of trial and test in the life of this world.
• The path to Paradise is hard and arduous, and it requires patience and struggle along with faith. And the path to Hellfire abounds with worldly pleasures and desires.

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