The Lower and Higher Statuses

The last Man who enter in to Jannah

Ibn Mas’ud reported: Verily the Messenger of Allah said:

“The last to enter Paradise would be a man who would walk once and stumble once and be burnt by the Fire once. Then when he gets beyond it, he will turn to it and say: ‘Blessed is He Who has saved me from thee. Allah has given me something He has not given to any one of those in earlier or later times.’ Then a tree would be raised up for him and he will say: ‘O my Lord I bring me near this tree so that I may take shelter in its shade and drink of its water.’ Allah, the Exalted and Great, would say: ‘O son of Adam, if I grant you this, you will ask Me for something else.’ He would say: ‘No. my Lord.’ And he would promise Him that he would not ask for anything else. His Lord would excuse him because He sees what he cannot help desiring; so He would bring him near it, and he would take shelter in its shade and drink of its water.

“Afterwards a tree more beautiful than the first would be raised up before him and he would say: ‘O my Lord! Bring me near this tree in order that I may drink of its water and take shelter in its shade and I shall not ask Thee for anything else.’ He (Allah) would say: ‘O son of Adam, if I bring you near it you may ask me for something else.’ He would promise Him that he would not ask for anything else. His Lord will excuse him because He would see something he cannot help desiring. So He would bring him near it and he would enjoy its shade and drink its water.

“Then a tree would be raised up for him at the gate of the Paradise, more beautiful than the first two. He would say: ‘O my Lord! Bring me near this (tree) so that I may enjoy its shade and drink from its water. I shall not ask Thee for anything else.’ He (Allah) would say: ‘O son of Adam! Did you not promise Me that you would not ask Me anything else?’ He would say: ‘Yes, my Lord, but I shall not ask Thee for anything else.’ His Lord would excuse him for He sees something the temptation of which he could not resist.

“He (Allah) would bring him near to it, and when He would bring him near it he would hear the voices of the inhabitants of the Paradise. He would say: ‘O my Lord! Admit me to it.’ He (Allah) would say: ‘O son of Adam, what will bring an end to your requests to Me? Will it please you if I give you the whole world and a like one along with it?’ He will say: O my Lord! Art Thou mocking at me, though Thou art the Lord of the worlds?’”

Ibn Mas’ud laughed and asked (the hearers): “Why don’t you ask me what I am laughing at.” They (then) said: “Why do you laugh?” He said: “It is in this way that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam laughed.” They (the companions of the Prophet) asked: “Why do you laugh, Messenger of Allah?” He said: “On account of the laugh of the Lord of the universe, when He would say: “I am not mocking at you, but I have power to do whatever I will.” [Muslim, 1/361]

Allah will tell him, “Son of Adam, what will please you? If I give you the equivalent of the earth and everything in it inside Jannah, will that satisfy you?” The man will say, “Yes.” Allah will say, “I will give you that and similar to it and similar to it and similar to it….” So Allah will multiply it 5 times. So the man will stop Allah subhaana wa ta’aala and say, “That’s enough, Allah! I am pleased! I am pleased!” Allah will say, I will give you all of that times 10, and I will give you all that will please your eyes and satisfy your heart (in addition to that.) This the lowest level of Jannah! This is the reward for a man burned in hell for years and the last person to enter Jannah – subhanAllah!

What about the highest level of Jannah? 

It is like a pyramid – the people in lower levels are more and there are less and less on top. At the very top is only one person.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, “Whoever after listening to the Adhan says, ‘O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established! Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgment) to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised him)’, then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection.” [Bukhaari, 1/11/588]

 Allah reserved this place for Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. His place is right beneath the Throne of Allah. RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is right next to the Creator – Allah.

There are other people who are high – the messengers.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was asked who are the best of shuhadaa`. RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said that when they die, Allah will smile at them. And if Allah smiles at anyone, they will not go through reckoning. They are going to be in the highest mansions of paradise.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also says, The one who looks after the orphan, whether he is a relative or not, I and he will be together in Jannah like this. [Two fingers next to each other].

Also, people will realize that they are getting to an elevated status in Jannah. They will ask why they are being elevated in status, and they will be told: Because your children used to make istighfaar for you. If you want to be dutiful towards your parents, make du’aa` for them. And teach your children to make du’aa` for you as well.