Difference of Levels of Jannah

So now you have had your meal and now you are heading straight for your property in Jannah. You are travelling through your instincts and you are seeing all of this wonder around you – breathtaking scenes.

We know that Jannah is divided into different levels. Allah says: “See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.” (17:21) Allah is saying that people in this world have differences in wealth and health; people have different provisions. Similarly, the people in Jannah will have greater and larger differences. In Jannah, the differences will be huge. RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says that people who are in a lower level will see people in the level above them as you see stars – that is the tremendous difference between them. Remember that Jannah is huge.

Allah says: “Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous.” (3:133) That is the width of Paradise, not the length.

There are seven heavens. We are living in the lowest heaven, and this heaven, compared to the one above it, is like a ring in a desert. How large is the heaven we are in? Every star that we see and every galaxy that is discovered are all within the lowest heaven. Allah says: “Verily! We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty).” (37:6) 

We are talking about light years of distance – the sun is about 8 minutes in light years. And the closest star is 4.25 light years. And we know the speed of light. Imagine how far and vast the universe is, subhanAllah! And each heaven is like a ring in a desert compared to the one above it. And the seventh heaven, compared to the al-Kursi of Allah is like a ring in a desert, and the Kursi compared to the Throne is like a ring in a desert.

All of humanity is fighting over this earth and it is not like a speck compared to Jannah.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone…” [see Muslim, 33/6441 for rest of hadith]

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “The inmates of Paradise would see the inmates of the apartment over them just as you see the shining planets which remain in the eastern and the western horizon because of the superiority some have over others.” [see Muslim, 40/6790 for complete hadith] So small deeds in this world will have a big leverage in akhirah.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said that those who recite Qur’an will be told to recite when they enter Jannah. And with every ayah that they recite, they are going to go up one level. Very small deeds in dunya make a big difference in akhirah.

Allah talks about two groups of people in surah Ar-Rahman. Allah says: “But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord, there will be two Gardens.” (55:46) Allah then says: “And below them both [in excellence] are two [other] gardens.” (55:62) So you have a high status and a lower status beneath them.