Gems from Juzz 'Amma: "The Paradise On Earth"

~ Gems from Juzz 'Amma ~

Day 13 / Gem 13

Surah Balaq, 1: "The Paradise On Earth"

 لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

"No, I swear by this City."

When you go to Makkah, the first feeling you get when you go there is the feeling of 

tranquility (mutma'innah) and your trouble's disappearing.

The last ayah of the previous Surah [Fajr] was, “Oh you tranquil soul (mutma'innah).”

So Allah starts this surah with mentioning one of the most tranquil places on Earth - the city of 

Makkah.

He also says in the previous Surah, Irji'ee il-laa Rabbika Raaddiyatan marddiyah, “Return to your Lord, pleased and well pleased with.”

This is the same when people go to Allah in Hajj and 'Umrah.

Even the clothes we are told to wear  when performing Hajj and 'Umrah signify returning to Allah in death, since the two white cloths are similar to the two white cloths we wear when being buried.

‘Raaddiyah’ - Pleased - they are satisfied, when they see the house of Allah. And when they have completed their Hajj.

‘Marddiyah ‘- well pleased with. If Allah is pleased with your Hajj, part of the pleasure is that your sins will be forgiven.

He also said in the previous Surah:

Fadkhulee fee 'ibadee

“Enter amongst My slaves.”

In Hajj / 'Umrah you enter amongst the slaves of Allah who are also striving to earn His pleasure.

wadkhulee jannatee 

“Enter My garden/paradise.”

The closest thing to Paradise in this world is the Haramain (the 2 Holy Mosques of Makkah and Medinah.) And there is a location there called Rawd al Jannah -  Garden of Paradise.

The above beautiful lessons of the previous surahs are reminded to us in this surah and the parallels between the closest thing to paradise on this earth and paradise in the next world, are highlighted in these verses.

May Allah allow us the opportunity to pray many times on Rawd al Jannah in this world, and make us of those who enter into Jannah without accountability in the next world, ameen!