Are There Seven Levels of Janna or 100?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I have a question that I need clarification on. In the Quran, Allah says that He has made seven heavens.
“It is He who created for you all that the earth contains; then He turned to the heavens and made them seven skies – and He is the knower of all things.” [Quran, 2:29]
But, in another hadith, it is stated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed in Paradise, there are one hundred levels that Allah has prepared for those who fight in Allah’s way. The distance between each level is like the distance between Heaven (sama’) and Earth.”
So, are there seven levels or a hundred or more? I would greatly appreciate any help you could give me with this.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Seven Heavens
“He is the One Who created everything in the earth for you. Then He turned towards the heaven, forming it into seven heavens. And He has perfect knowledge of all things.” [Quran, 2:29]
The seven heavens do not refer to the seven levels of Paradise (Janna). They refer to the seven heavens above us and exist beyond the visible universe. The first heaven is what we can see above us, and the stars and galaxies with various aids; the other six heavens are somewhere far beyond that.
Ranks and Levels will Differ According to Actions
“They will each be assigned ranks according to their deeds. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.” [Quran, 6:132]
“See how We have favored some over others (in this life), but the Hereafter is certainly far greater in rank and in favor.” [Quran, 17:21]
Ask Allah for the Highest level of Paradise
‘Ubada ibn al-Samit reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Paradise has one hundred levels, and between every two levels is a distance like that between the heavens and earth. Al-Firdaws is its highest level, from which four rivers of Paradise flow, and above is the Throne. When you ask from Allah, ask for Al-Firdaws.” [TirmidhI]
Recite and Ascend the Levels of Paradise
‘Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and ascend as you recited in the world! Verily, your rank is determined by the last verse you recite.” [Tirmidhi]
Emphasis to Pray in Congregation
Abu al-Ahwas (Allah be pleased with him) reported, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) said, “Whoever would be pleased to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, let him guard over these prayers when they are announced. Verily, Allah has instituted for His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, practices of guidance, for they are indeed practices of guidance. If you were to pray in your houses like one who keeps to his house, you would have abandoned the practice of your Prophet, and if you were to abandon the practice of your Prophet, you have been misguided. No man purifies himself in the best manner and then proceeds to one of these mosques, but that Allah records a good deed for every step he takes, raises him by a rank, and erases a sin. We have seen a time when no one leaves it but a hypocrite whose hypocrisy is known, whereas a weak man would come being carried by two men until he was placed within the rows.” [Muslim]
Ranks in Paradise Elevated by Hardship, if not Deeds
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, a man may have a rank with Allah that he does not achieve by his good deeds. Thus, Allah continues to put him to trial with what he hates until he reaches the rank destined for him.” [Ibn Hibban]
The summary is that the ranks and levels are different for each good deed. There are different levels of Janna for the various good deeds. So the hadith about those who fight in the way of Allah (Mujahidin) talks about the levels of Janna for the Mujahidin, the hadiths about the companion of the Quran talk about the levels of Janna for a companion of the Quran, and the hadiths about taking each step towards and walking to the Masjid talks about levels specific for such a good deed, etc.
Read the Links Below for Further Understanding
Related Answers:
- How Many Levels of Paradise and Hell are There?
- Ranks and Meaning of Paradise
- Is This a Hadith or a Statement, “There Are Seven Earths: In Every Earth Is a Prophet Like Your Prophet”?
Recommended Books:
- A Concise Description of Jannah & Jahannam: The Garden of Paradise and the Fire of Hell
- Driving the souls to the Abodes of Happiness
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
