The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:"Indeed the least of the people of Paradise in rank is the one who shall look at his gardens, his wives, his bounties, his servants and his beds for the distance of a thousand years, and the noblest of them with Allah is the one who shall look at His Face morning and night." Then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) recited: Some faces on that day shall be radiant. They shall be looking at their Lord.
Hadith Commentary: The Two Types of Vision in Paradise
This profound hadith from Jami' at-Tirmidhi (2553) establishes two distinct ranks among the inhabitants of Paradise: those granted vision of Allah's Countenance and those who receive immense worldly delights without this supreme blessing.
The Lowest Rank Explained
The "least in rank" refers to relative comparison among Paradise dwellers, not absolute deprivation. Even this lowest rank enjoys unimaginable blessings spanning gardens, spouses, servants, and luxuries extending a thousand years' journey - demonstrating Allah's infinite generosity.
The "thousand years" measurement signifies both immense physical expanse and eternal duration, as time in Paradise differs from worldly time. This emphasizes that even the lowest Paradise rank surpasses all earthly imagination.
The Supreme Rank: Vision of the Divine
The noblest rank belongs to those granted the ultimate blessing: gazing upon Allah's Countenance "morning and night." This continuous vision represents the peak of spiritual fulfillment beyond all material pleasures.
Scholars explain "morning and night" indicates perpetual, uninterrupted vision, as Paradise has no true night but rather varying states of illumination. This eternal contemplation fulfills the soul's deepest yearning.
Quranic Verification
The Prophet's recitation of "Some faces on that day shall be radiant. They shall be looking at their Lord" (Surah Al-Qiyamah:22-23) authenticates this doctrine through divine revelation, confirming the believers' ultimate reward is the beatific vision.
Spiritual Implications
This hadith teaches that Paradise has hierarchical levels based on spiritual attainment. While all inhabitants are eternally blessed, the highest stations are reserved for those whose worship was purely for Allah's pleasure, not merely Paradise's rewards.
It encourages believers to seek the highest spiritual goals through sincere devotion, remembering that the vision of Allah is the ultimate triumph that makes all other pleasures secondary.