The evidences for offering congratulations have already been cited above, and we explained that a glad tiding may pertain either to a benefit in this world or to a blessing in the Hereafter. The author then mentioned two ḥadiths: the report of Abū Ibrāhīm ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Awfā—may Allah be pleased with him—in which the Prophet ﷺ gave Khadījah—may Allah be pleased with her—the good news of a house in Paradise, and the narration of Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī, which will be quoted shortly, God willing. In that report the Prophet ﷺ informed Khadījah of a house in Paradise built of qasab (hollow pearls) wherein there is neither clamour nor fatigue. Yet the qasab from which Khadījah’s palace is constructed in Paradise is nothing like the reed found on earth; the name is the same, but the reality is altogether different. Likewise, Paradise contains date-palms, pomegranates, fruits, the meat of birds, and many other delights, but their resemblance to what we know is confined to the shared name alone—the name is the same, while the essence is wholly distinct.

A person must be alert to this principle: matters of the unseen that carry a familiar name in this world do not, in fact, resemble their earthly counterparts in the Hereafter. Consider, for example, the attributes of Allah, exalted is He. Allah possesses a noble Face characterized by majesty and honour, and we too possess a face; the term is identical, yet the realities differ. The Most High has said, “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing” (Q 42:11). His Face befits His splendour and greatness, and it is impossible for us to comprehend it—neither descriptively, nor imaginatively, nor verbally. It is far more exalted than anything our words can encompass, and the same truth applies to all of His other attributes, glorious and sublime is He.