Chapter Six
On the Rock and Its Origin in Paradise

Rāfiʿ reported that ʿUmar al-Muzanī, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘The Rock is from Paradise.’”

ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘The foremost of all places is Jerusalem.’”

Ibn ʿAbbās, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The Rock of Jerusalem is one of the rocks of Paradise.”

Kaʿb related that directly above the Kaaba, in the seventh heaven, is the Much-Frequented House, to which the angels make pilgrimage. If stones fell from it, they would fall upon the Kaaba. Paradise in the seventh heaven is directly above Jerusalem; if a stone fell from it, it would fall upon the Rock.

Dahb related that Allah Most High says: “Rock of Jerusalem, within you are My Paradise and My Fire; within you are My reward and My punishment. Blessed is whoever visits you.”

ʿUbāda ibn al-Sāmit said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘The Rock of Jerusalem rests upon a palm tree, and the palm tree stands upon one of the rivers of Paradise. Beneath the palm tree are Āsiya, Pharaoh’s wife, and Mary, daughter of ʿImrān, stringing necklaces for the people of Paradise until the Day of Resurrection.’”