"When Allah created Paradise and the Fire, He sent Jibril to Paradise , saying: 'Look at it and at what I have prepared in it for its inhabitants.'" He (s.a.w) said: "So he came to it and looked at it, and at what Allah had prepared in it. He (Jibril) said: 'Indeed, by your Might, none shall hear of it except that he shall enter it.' Then He gave the order for it to be surrounded with hardships. He said: 'Return to it and look at it, and at what I have prepared in it for its inhabitants.'" He (s.a.w) said: "So he returned to it and found it surrounded with hardships. He returned to Him and said: 'Indeed, by your Might, I fear that none shall enter it.' He (s.a.w) said: 'Go to the Fire and look at it and at what I have prepared in it for its inhabitants.' So he found it, one part of it riding the other. So he returned to Him and said: 'Indeed, by your Might, none shall hear of it and then enter it.' So He gave the order for it to be surrounded with desires, then He said: 'Return to it.,' so he (Jibril) returned to it, then he said: 'Indeed, by Your Might, I fear that none shall be saved from it except that he shall enter it.'"
Hadith Commentary: The Nature of Paradise and Hell
This profound narration from Jami' at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2560) reveals divine wisdom regarding the path to Paradise and Hell. The great scholar Imam at-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan sahih, indicating its sound authenticity in the Islamic tradition.
The Initial State of Paradise
When Allah first showed Paradise to Jibril (Gabriel), it appeared so magnificent that the angel declared no one who heard of it would refrain from entering. This demonstrates the unimaginable beauty and perfection of the eternal abode prepared for the righteous believers.
The scholars explain that if Paradise were easily accessible without trials, people might enter for worldly motives rather than sincere faith. Thus, divine wisdom required testing humanity's commitment to truth.
The Hardships Surrounding Paradise
Allah surrounded Paradise with difficulties - referring to the obligatory acts of worship, moral restraints, and patience through trials that believers must endure. As classical commentators note, these hardships purify souls and distinguish the sincere from the insincere.
Imam al-Qurtubi explains that these hardships include performing prayers, fasting, controlling desires, and enduring life's tests with patience and gratitude to Allah.
The Nature of Hellfire
When Jibril first saw Hell, its terrifying layers overwhelmed him, making him believe no one would enter it once aware of its horrors. This emphasizes the severity of divine punishment for those who reject truth and persist in disobedience.
The description of "one part riding the other" indicates the intense, overlapping layers of punishment and the overwhelming nature of Hell's torment.
Desires Surrounding Hell
Allah surrounded Hell with desires - referring to the worldly temptations, unlawful pleasures, and base instincts that lead people toward sin. Classical scholars identify these as the whispers of Shaytan, greed, lust, anger, and other passions that divert people from righteousness.
As Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali comments, this demonstrates how Satan beautifies evil deeds and makes them appealing, while the path to Paradise requires struggling against one's lower desires.
Spiritual Lessons
This hadith teaches that true success requires striving against one's base nature and enduring hardships for Allah's sake. The ease of following desires leads to destruction, while the difficult path of obedience leads to eternal bliss.
The ultimate wisdom lies in Allah testing His servants to distinguish those who truly deserve Paradise through their conscious choice to obey despite temptations and difficulties.