Mention of Allah’s bestowal of His good pleasure upon them—the greatest of all their blessings ⦗1⦘
Allah the Exalted says:
“The likeness of the Garden promised to the God-fearing: in it are rivers of water that never become stagnant, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, rivers of wine delightful to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey. In it they will have every kind of fruit, and forgiveness from their Lord.” (Q 47:15)
And He says:
“Allah has promised the believing men and believing women Gardens beneath which rivers flow, in which they will abide forever, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of perpetual residence. Yet Allah’s good pleasure is greater; that is the supreme triumph.” (Q 9:72)
Malik ibn Anas narrated from Zayd ibn Aslam, from ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar, from Abu Sa‘id, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Allah will call out to the people of Paradise, ‘O people of Paradise!’ They will say, ‘Here we are, our Lord, and all goodness is in Your hands.’ He will ask, ‘Are you pleased?’ They will reply, ‘How could we not be pleased when You have granted us what You have not granted anyone else among Your creation?’ He will say, ‘Shall I not give you something better than that?’ They will ask, ‘Our Lord, what could be better than this?’ He will say, ‘I confer upon you My good pleasure, and I shall never again be displeased with you.’”
The two Shaykhs recorded it in their Ṣaḥīḥ collections through Malik’s chain. ⦗2⦘
Abu Bakr al-Bazzar said: Salamah ibn Shabib and al-Fadl ibn Ya‘qub narrated to us; they said: al-Firyabi narrated to us, from Sufyan, from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jabir, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When the people of Paradise have entered Paradise, Allah—exalted is He—will say, ‘Shall I not grant you—’ (I think he said) ‘something better than this?’ They will say, ‘Our Lord, is there anything better than what You have already given us?’ He will say, ‘My good pleasure is greater.’”
This hadith meets the criteria of al-Bukhari, yet none of the compilers of the canonical books included it through this chain. ⦗3⦘
Mention of the Lord, exalted be He, looking upon the people of Paradise and greeting them with peace
Allah the Exalted says:
“Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be ‘Peace,’ and He has prepared for them a noble reward.” (Q 33:44)
And He says:
“‘Peace!’—a word from a Merciful Lord.” (Q 36:58)
Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Majah, in the Book of Sunnah of his Sunan, narrated to us: Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Abi al-Shawarib told us; Abu ‘Asim al-‘Abbadani told us; al-Fadl al-Raqashi told us, from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“While the people of Paradise are enjoying their bliss, suddenly a brilliant radiance will shine upon them—”