بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

What are your aspirations?

What would you think is your greatest achievement?

There are multiple levels of worldly achievements that people aspire to attain — to become a CEO, to have a certain amount of wealth and assets by a certain age, to reach the peak of Mount Everest, and so many more examples.

As incredible as these worldly accomplishments are, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us that there are many more unimaginable and mind-boggling levels of excellence, prestige and honour in the akhirah. If the rewards we attain for accomplishing worldly achievements make us feel happy and fulfilled, then think how our reactions would be when Allah rewards us with Jannah and everything that it contains. Rasulullah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ) said that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:

“I have prepared for My righteous servants (such excellent things) as no eye has ever seen, nor an ear has ever heard, nor a human heart can ever think of (in Jannah).” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 7498]

Blessings upon blessings beyond one’s expectations, dreams, and wildest imaginations. No levels of achievements in this temporary world can ever match even the lowest level of Jannah. And this is what I want to inspire today — that our greatest achievement is to earn the ridha (pleasure) of Allah, through which we enter His Jannah. May Allah make us one of them!

🌸 The mere distance from one level of Jannah to the next

Just like how we have different grades and levels in career, sports, etc, there are multiple tiers and different ranks in the akhirah. Allah says: “See how We have bestowed more (provisions in this dunya) on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter will be greater in degrees, and greater in preference.” [Surah Al-Isra’ 17: 21]

Every single one of us will be ranked according to the quality and quantity of our deeds on the Day of Judgement. So even when righteous believers enter Jannah by the Rahmah of Allah, their specific levels of Jannah will differ from one another depending on their scale of good deeds. But do you know how much of a difference there is, when it comes to prestige and honour, from one level of Jannah to another? Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“The distance between two levels (of Jannah) is like the distance between heavens and earth.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 2790]

The distance between just two different levels of Jannah isn’t like the distance between the lowest depth of the unexplored ocean, with the highest mountain in the world (and that’s already expansive enough for us), rather Allah sets their distance like the distance between the earth with the unknown territories of the ever-expanding galaxies. And this is only the distance between two levels of Jannah. Think what it implies for the best and highest level of Jannah!

But why is there so much emphasis on different ranks, and difference of rewards? Why isn’t it sufficient for everyone to just enter Jannah at an equal level?

Because Allah is Al-’Adl, the Most Just, and He subhanahu wa ta'ala does not equate His righteous servants who were foremost, who strove harder in iman, taqwa, and ‘amal soleh, with any other believers. This is why Allah encourages us to compete with one another when it comes to Jannah:

“Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Rabb, and Jannah the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.” [Surah Al-Hadid 57: 21]

🌸 Aspire for Al-Firdaus, the highest level of Jannah

The beauty of this Deen is that every single one of us has the opportunity to work towards attaining the highest level of Jannah — whether we are rich or poor, able-bodied or disabled, young or old — because the One who does our ‘grading’ is Allah ta'ala, Who knows the sincerity of our intentions, and intimately knows the limits of our capacities. It is far different from the norms of this dunya, where only a segment of people who have a certain set of human capabilities and certain social circles can attain that special level or elite rank.

But perhaps we think to ourselves: “No way. The highest level is only for the super pious, like the Prophets. I can’t reach that level. I’ll be happy to just enter the lowest level of Jannah.”

Had it been the case, then Rasulullah ﷺ would never have encouraged us when he said: “When you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaus which is the best and highest part of Jannah.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 2790]

From the Ever Encompassing Rahmah of Allah upon us, is that He subhanahu wa ta'ala has not singled out the best of Jannah to be reserved only for the Prophets ‘alayhumus-salaam. See how Rasulullah ﷺ did not tell us to make du’a just for the entrance of Jannah, but the highest. And when a person asks Allah with sincerity, determination, and puts in the necessary efforts, Allah will make it easy for him to attain what he asks. This is the greatest achievement that we should all strive for!

The real measurement in the Sight of Allah is not our wealth, not our status, not our popularity, but our taqwa and good deeds. So be eager to do good deeds for the sake of Allah. Aspire to reach Jannah Al-Firdaus, for it is indeed attainable by the Help and Rahmah of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

We ask Allah to make us among those who will enter the highest level of Jannah without reckoning. O Allah, grant us success in this dunya, and make us those who attain the greatest honour, prestige, and achievement in the akhirah.

“And those foremost (in performing righteous deeds) will be foremost (in Jannah). These will be those nearest (to Allah). In the Gardens of Delight (Jannah).” [Surah Al-Waaqi’ah 56: 10-12]

Your sister in Deen,

Aida Msr