The Believers' Visit to Allah in Paradise

A Theological Study

Abstract

Among what is recorded in Islamic Shari`ah texts of Sunnah, and narrated by the Sunnah and Jama`a about their beliefs, is "The believers' visit to Allah in Paradise". The researcher is interested in writing about this topic in order to clarify the meaning of the "visit", its evidence, and issues related to it, through collecting texts mentioning the visit and scholars' opinion about it. To achieve this the researcher has followed an inductive analytical approach.

The researcher has arrived at a number of findings the most important of which are: the purpose of "the believers’ visit to Allah" is seeking His destination, moving from their chambers, seeing Him, receiving His blessing and hospitality and generosity, which is more than just seeing Him and different from meeting Him. The Prophet Hadiths reveal, in general, this meaning. But, due to being numerous and being transmitted in different ways, they most likely affirm the fact of the visit, and even to take it as definite. This is in addition to reports from the Prophet’s companions and their followers which affirm the visit, and make it a matter of fact and more than an opinion. Hence, scholars specialized in the study of creed, have mentioned the visit, and some wrote whole sections about it and about its evidence. However, the researcher has not come across any of the old Islamic scholars who denied it.

The researcher recommends seeking evidence in matters of difference among Sunnah scholars, and expansion in the study of question of partial relevance to the current topic including the life and exchange of visits among the residents of Paradise.