jannah

Jannah, from Arabic janna meaning garden, is the Islamic concept of the eternal paradise or Garden promised by God to the faithful and righteous. It is described as the ultimate reward and the opposite of Jahannam, the place of punishment.

In the Qur'an and hadith, Jannah is depicted as a place of physical and spiritual blessings: lush gardens with rivers of water, milk, wine (non-intoxicating in some traditions), and honey; fruits, shade from trees, palaces, fine garments of silk, and countless companions. Its inhabitants are said to experience peace, freedom from toil and suffering, and everlasting youth and comfort, with God’s presence often described as a central feature.

Scholars distinguish multiple levels or degrees of Jannah, with Firdaus commonly identified as the highest level, often described as closest to the divine realm. The exact structure varies across sources; some narrations describe gates named for different deeds, such as prayer, charity, and fasting, through which believers may enter.

Entry to Jannah is traditionally conditional on faith and righteous deeds, while ultimate exemption from punishment rests on God's mercy. Intercession, mercy, and forgiveness are frequently mentioned in Islamic sources as mechanisms by which believers may attain entrance.

Within Islamic thought, descriptions of Jannah are both literal and metaphorical, serving as motivation for ethical conduct and spiritual aspiration. Belief about Jannah and its exact details can vary among different Muslim traditions and schools of jurisprudence.