He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked about Allah Most High’s words:

“As for those who are blessed, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein for as long as the heavens and the earth endure,”

and His words:

“On the Day when We roll up the heaven as a scroll is rolled up with its writings.”

He answered:

Praise be to Allah. Several groups of scholars have said that His words, “for as long as the heavens and the earth endure,” refer to the heaven and earth of Paradise. It is established in the two Sahīh collections that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When you ask Allah for Paradise, ask Him for Firdaws, for it is the highest and most central part of Paradise, and its roof is the Throne of the Most Merciful.”

Concerning Allah Most High’s words, “We have already written in the Psalms, after the Reminder, that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth,” some scholars have said that this means the earth of Paradise.

Accordingly, there is no contradiction between the rolling up of this heaven and the continued existence of the heaven that forms the roof of Paradise. In Arabic, anything overhead may be called a ‘heaven’; thus, clouds may be called a ‘heaven,’ as may a roof.