in Paradise is better than the whole world and everything it contains; and were a woman from the women of Paradise to look down upon the earth (1), she would illuminate all that lies between them and would fill it with fragrance. Indeed, her scarf—meaning her head-covering—is better than the whole world and everything it contains (2).

In another report from Qatādah it is said: “Al-Firdaws is the elevated height of Paradise, its middle and its finest part.” (3)

Al-Ṭabarānī also transmitted it as a marfūʿ report through Saʿīd ibn Bashīr, from Qatādah, from al-Ḥasan, from Samurah. (4)

Allah, Exalted is He, says: “in a Garden, high and lofty” ⦗al-Ghāshiyah 88:10⦘; and He says: “Those are the ones who will have the highest ranks” ⦗Ṭāhā 20:75⦘; and He says: “Hasten toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose breadth is the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing” ⦗Āl ʿImrān 3:133⦘; and He says: “Race with one another for forgiveness from your Lord and for a Garden whose breadth is like the breadth of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers; that is the bounty of Allah—He grants it to whom He wills.” ⦗al-Ḥadīd 57:21⦘

Imam Aḥmad reported: Abū ʿĀmir narrated to us; Fulayḥ narrated to us, from Hilāl ibn ʿAlī, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī ʿAmrah, from Abū Hurayrah, who said that the Prophet ﷺ declared:

“Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, establishes the prayer, and fasts Ramaḍān, then it is a binding promise upon Allah to admit him into Paradise—whether he migrates in Allah’s path or remains in the land in which he was born.”

They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, shall we not inform the people?” He replied:

“Indeed, Paradise contains one hundred levels which Allah—Exalted is He—has prepared for those who strive in His cause. The distance between each two levels is like the distance between heaven and earth. So when you ask Allah, ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is the center of Paradise and its highest part; [above it is the Throne of the All-Merciful], and from it the rivers of Paradise spring forth [or: are made to spring forth].” [Abū ʿĀmir was unsure of the exact wording.]

Al-Bukhārī also recorded it from Ibrāhīm ibn al-Munḏir, from Muḥammad ibn Fulayḥ, from his father, with the same meaning. (5)

Abū al-Qāsim al-Ṭabarānī said: ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz narrated to us; [Abū] Hammām al-Dallāl narrated to us; Hishām ibn Saʿd narrated to us, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from ʿAṭāʾ ibn Yasār, from Muʿādh ibn Jabal, who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Whoever performs these five prayers and fasts Ramaḍān”—I do not know whether he also mentioned zakāh or not—“it is an obligation upon Allah to forgive him, whether he migrates or remains where his mother gave birth to him.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, shall I not go out and announce (6) this to the people?” He replied:

“No; leave the people to continue their deeds, for Paradise has one hundred levels, between each two levels is the like of …”