Jannah Bucket List: When Dreams are Realized
Many of us have a list of achievements we hope to accomplish in this life. It could be traveling to different countries, running a dream business or simply reading a certain number of books each year. Bucket lists are a result of our natural inclination towards achieving. Sometimes goals are an unconscious result of peer pressure. We feel the need to have a certain list of goals like our peers.
A Muslim is able to view the idea of bucket lists in a slightly different light. We simply know that regardless of how much of my list I am able to achieve and how many awards, medals or certificates I get, this world will eventually come to an end. Our belief in the temporary nature of this life gives us peace when some of our worldly goals do not come to fruition. The eternal Jannah is the only place where every goal, wish and desire is granted (1). We will discuss some of these fascinating rewards in light of the Quran and Hadith.
Everlasting Good Health
If a person is inching towards checking off all their goals and is then afflicted with illness; the only goal that will matter at that time is regaining their health. We are on the outskirts of a global pandemic, and have come to understand the worry and caution that come with an infectious disease.
How wondrous would it be to be living in a place where falling ill is unheard of? In Jannah, not the slightest trace of sickness touches its inhabitants. In addition, the aging process that cosmetic companies use to their benefit by producing creams and serums would be non-existent. In Jannah, people are forever young!
In fact, the people of Jannah will continue to grow in beauty every week as the Prophet (s) told us:
“In Jannah there is a market to which the people will come every Friday. The northern wind will blow and shower fragrance on their faces and clothes and, consequently, it will enhance their beauty and loveliness.”(2)
The Company of those We Love
Sometimes in this life, we are forced to interact with people we don't particularly love or even like. In Jannah a person will only be in the company of those whom he or she loves (3). In fact feelings of hatred, envy and dislike do not even exist. It truly is a peaceful abode.
Seeing Allah The Most High
Allah praised the Believers in the Quran because they believe in the unseen. We believe in Allah even though we have never seen him. This was an issue for some of the previous nations who refused to worship Allah while they could not see Him. In Jannah, the true Believers will be rewarded with finally being able to see their Creator. The Prophet (s) looked at the full moon and said: "You shall see your Rabb in the Hereafter as you are seeing this moon; and you will not feel the slightest inconvenience in seeing Him." (4)
Jannah is described as place where there is not a single impurity, where the sweat of its inhabitants will smell like musk (5) and where rivers flow. It is beyond the dreams and goals of our limited minds; “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” (6)
References
- Allah, the Exalted, has said: 'I have prepared for my righteous slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and the mind of no man has conceived.' (Bukhari).
- Sahih Muslim
- A man asked Prophet Muhammad (s) about the Day of Judgment saying, “When will the Hour be?” The Prophet (s) said, “What have you prepared for it?” The man said, “Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle.” The Prophet (s) said, “You will be with those whom you love.”
- Al-Waqi’ah (56:25-26).
- Bukhari and Muslim
- Ibn Hibban
