Meadows of Paradise

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

'When you pass by the meadows of Paradise indulge freely in them.' The Companions, Allah be pleased with them. asked: 'O Messenger of Allah! What are the meadows of Paradise?' He replied: 'The circles of 'ilm.'

(Tabarani, Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir)

'Ilm that is mentioned here is 'beneficial knowledge'. It is through this knowledge that we will begin to know our Lord, and love Him and want to connect with Him. We will see the insignificance of this world and the reality of the next life, and surely we will run after what is most pleasurable, the Hereafter (in Paradise).

Don't avoid or run away from circles of 'ilm and never put learning this religion on the back burner for without knowledge one cannot really see the realities of this world and the Hereafter.

This knowledge is like an ocean, no matter how much you draw from it, there is much more remains. So it will keep those who desire Allah and the next life busy for the rest of their lives. There is really no time for idle talks, backbiting, gossips, quarrels, arguments, holding grudges, envy, jealousy and showing off. We have the next world to work for and each one of us will have our own spot as determined by the Lord.

Zirr ibn Hubays said, "I went to Safwan ibn 'Assal to ask him about wiping over leather socks. He said, 'What has brought you, O Zirr?' I said, 'The search for knowledge.' He said, 'The angels lower their wings to anyone who seeks knowledge, out of pleasure at what he is seeking.'... [Imam Nawawi Riyahd As-Salihin]

Narrated by Abu Darda: “If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man.

"The superiority of the learned man over the worshipper is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes a big fortune.” [Abu Dawud]

The two main benefits of treading on the path of knowledge are the protection of angels and the du’a of Allah’s creatures. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth make du’a for the student of knowledge. This includes the du’a of the angels and all other creatures on this earth, such as ants and all the fish in the sea. This is a great honor for children of Adam. Striving for knowledge is one of the best deeds we can do to attain mercy of Allah.

May Allah increase us in knowledge and grant us the highest Paradise and His Noble Countenance. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam