The Palaces and Tents of Paradise
Allâh (swt) will build good and beautiful dwellings for the people of Paradise:
"and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting bliss" [9:72]
In some places in the Qur'ân, Allâh (swt) described these dwellings as ghurafât [chambers or dwellings]:
"and they will reside in the high dwellings [Paradise] in peace and security." [34:37]
The reward for the slaves of the all-Merciful will be:
"Those will be rewarded with the highest place [in Paradise] because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect" [25:75]
Allâh (swt) described these Ghurafât:
"But for those who fear Allâh and keep their duty to their Rabb [Allâh], for them are built lofty rooms, one above the other, under which rivers flow. [This is] the Promise of Allâh, and Allâh does not fail in [His] Promise." [39:20]
Ibn Kathîr said:
"Allâh has told us about His blessed slaves who will have rooms [or dwellings] in Paradise: these will be lofty palaces, lofty Rooms, one above another - story upon story, well-constructed, strong and decorated." The Prophet (saw) described these palaces to us. According to a hadith narrated by Ahmad, and Ibn Hibbân from Abû Mâlik al-Ash'ari and by at-Tirmidhi from 'Ali (ra) the Prophet (saw) said:
"In Paradise there are dwellings whose inside can be seen from the outside,and the outside can be seen from inside. Allâh [swt] has prepared them for those who feed the hungry, and speak softly and gently, fast continuously and pray at night whilst the people are asleep."
[Sahîh al-Jâmi' as-Saghîr, 2/220, no. 2119]
Allâh (swt) has told us that there are tents or pavilions in Paradise:
"Houris [beautiful, fair females] restrained in pavilions" [55:72]
These pavilions are wondrous tents, made of pearls, each one is made from a single, hollowed-out pearl. They are sixty miles high; according to some reports they are sixty miles wide. Al-Bukhâri reports from 'Abdullâh ibn Qays that the Messenger of Allâh (saw) said,
"The tent is a hollowed out pearl, thirty miles high; in each corner of it the believer will have a wife whom no one else can see".
Abû 'Abdus-Samad and al-Hârith reported from Abû 'Imrân that the wording was
"sixty miles high" [Sahih al-Bukhâri, Kitâb Bid' al-Khalq, Bâb Sifât al-Jannah, Fath al-Bâri, 6/318]
Muslim reported from 'Abdullâh ibn Qays that the Prophet (saw) said:
"The believer in Paradise will have a tent made out of a single, hollowed-out pearl, sixty miles long, in which he will have [a number of] wives, whom he will visit in turn, none of whom will see the others".
[see also Muslim, Kitâb al-Jannah, Bâb fi Sifât Khiyâm al-Jannah, 4/2182, no. 2838]
The Prophet (saw) told us about the characteristics of the palaces of Some of his wives and companions. Al-Bukhâri and Muslim report that Abû Hurayrah (ra) said,
"Jibrîl came to the Prophet (saw) and said, "O Messenger of Allâh, Khadîjah is coming, carrying a container of food. When she comes to you, convey to her greetings of peace from her Rabb and from me, and give her the glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of brocade, in which there is no noise or exhaustion.""
[Mishkât al-Masâbîh, 3/266]
Al-Bukhâri and Muslim report from Jâbir that the Messenger of Allâh )saw) said,
"I entered Paradise, where I saw ar-Rumaysa', the wife of Abû Talhah. And I heard footsteps and asked, "Who is that?" He [Jibrîl] said, "That is Bilâl." And I saw a palace with women in its courtyard. I asked, "Whose is this?" They said, "It is for 'Umar ibn al-Khattab". I had wanted to go in and look at it, but I remembered your jealousy [when women are concerned] 'Umar said, "May my mother and father be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allâh (saw), would I feel jealous from you?"
[Mishkât al-Masâbîh]
The Prophet (saw) has told us of the way in which the believer may acquire more than one house in Paradise: Ahmad reports with a sahîh isnâd from Ibn 'Abbâs that the Prophet )saw) said,
"Whoever builds a masjid for Allâh, even if it is as small as the nestling-place scratched out by the sane grouse for its eggs, Allâh (swt) will build a house for him in Paradise".
[Sahîh al-Jâmi' as-Saghîr, 5/265, no. 6005]
Ahmad, al-Bukhâri, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Mâjah report from 'Uthmân that the Messenger of Allâh (saw) said:
"Whoever builds a mosque for Allâh (swt), Allâh (swt) will build something similar for him in Paradise".
[Sahîh al-Jâmi' as-Saghîr, 5/265, no. 6007]
Muslim, Abû Dawud, Ahmad, an-Nasâ'î, and Ibn Mâjah report from Umm Habîbah that the Messenger of Allâh (saw) said,
"Whoever prays Twelve extra ]supererogatory] rak'ahs every day, Allâh (swt) will build for him a House in Paradise."
[Sahîh al-Jâmi', 5/316, no. 6234]