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HEAVEN(S) AND PARADISE - THE DIFFERENCE



!opyright " #$$% &oseph A 'slam: Article last modified ()
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*arch #$(#


The word 'Heavens' has two main usages within the +nglish language. Some +nglish commentators
of the ,uran make use of this term interchangeably which can become the source of some
confusion for readers.

The word -.eaven(s-

(1) Is applie as a !e"e!en#e $o $he #osmi# spa#e% all in$e!&ala#$i# ma$e!ial% plane$s% 'illions o" s$a!s%
&ala(ies% )o!mholes% 'la#* holes% $he s*+ an $he seemin&l+ enless e(panse o" $he ,nive!se an
eve!+$hin& )i$hin i$-

(.) /s,all+ *no)n as 'heaven'% i$ is applie as a !e"e!en#e "o! an e(is$en#e in $he a"$e!li"e% $he
holies$ pla#e a$$aina'le '+ people o" va!io,s s$ana!s o" &ooness% pie$+% "ai$h% !i&h$eo,sness an
'elie"0 a s$a$e o" #omple$e "eli#i$+-

The ,uran makes a distinction between the two concepts by attributing two different terms to the
two very different concepts.


(1) 'SA1AA' - HEAVENS AS THE 2IDER /NIVERSE

The Arabic -Samaa- is formed from its root S''/0*''*01A1 which carries meaning of height2
loftiness2 to be raised2 uplifted2 elevated or the higher 3 uppermost part of anything.



Source: +dward 4anes 4e5icon 314




Source: +dward 4anes 4e5icon 3.4


The word Samawaat(i (a plural of -Samaa- refers to the sky and any part of the wider e5panse of the
universe. /early every Surah of the ,uran makes a reference to it as can be noted in the following
e5amples: ($.($(6 ((:($76 (#:($(6 (8:(%6 (9:796 ():8%6 (::($#6 (7:9( etc.

The word -Samawaat(i- is usually accompanied with -ard- (+arth2 signifying the +arth as a coe5istent
part of the wider cosmic space of the whole ;niverse.



'llustration 0 &oseph 'slam


Similar references also e5ist in the previous scriptures:

Colossians 1516-17
<=or in .im all things were created2 both in the heavens an on ea!$h (8!ee*5 '9,!anos' *ai epi '&e')2
visible and invisible2 whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 0 all things have been
created through .im and for .im. And .e is before all things2 and in .im all things hold together<



(.) JANNAH - 8ARDENS 9F :;ISS

The >ardens of perpetual bliss2 the most holiest of abodes for the righteous is referred to the ,uran
as 'Jannah'. Some +nglish commentators do describe this differently attempting to best capture the
Arabic term into +nglish. .enceforth2 >ardens of ?liss2 >ardens of +den2 >ardens of +ternity2
.eavenly Abode and Paradise are but some of the many different renderings referring to this state
of felicity.

The root word 'JN' at the core of the word 'Jannah' signifies something which is covered2 veiled and
can imply something which is hidden from one-s senses. -&annah- literally means a -garden-
irrespective of whether it is an abode in the afterlife or elsewhere. (Please see a!$i#le 314 'elo))-

't takes its meaning from the dense trees which conceal the ground.






Source: +dward 4anes 4e5icon 3<4


=rom its root meaning to imply something concealed and in the conte5t of the -after0life-2 &annah can
also refer to an abode which hitherto remains concealed from one-s senses. This is in contrast to
-Samaa- which remains generally perceptible to the human senses.




Source: +dward 4anes 4e5icon 3=4


Similarly2 the creation of the @&'//A is thus referred to as they are too C9NCEA;ED
from one-s senses.



Source: +dward 4anes 4e5icon 3>4

.ence2 the word -&annah- (>ardens of +den is a term similarly derived due to its
concealment from one-s senses.


Source: +dward 4anes 4e5icon 364




FINA; TH9/8HTS


Two different concepts which can often be rendered as -.eavens- within the +nglish language are
distinguished in the Arabic by the terms 'Sama()aa$)' and 'Jannah'. They denote the wider ;niverse
and the state of felicity respectively.


Rela$e A!$i#les5

(1) Adam (pbuh and &annah 0 An +arthly Abode or ParadiseB
(.) Are There Seven .eavens or Several .eavensB

REFERENCES

314 ;ANE- E-2% E)a! ;anes ;e(i#on% 2illiams an No!&a$e 1?6<0 ;i'!ai!ie , ;i'an :ei!,$-;e'anon 1@6?% Vol,me =%
Pa&e 1=<=
3.4 I'i-
3<4 I'i-% Vol,me .% Pa&e =6<
.ighlights marked in red on the le5icon e5cerpt are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original te5t other than
they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational
and e5planatory purposes.
3=4 I'i-% Vol,me .% Pa&e =6.
3>4 I'i-
.ighlights marked in red on the le5icon e5cerpt are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original te5t other than
they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational
and e5planatory purposes.
364 I'i-% Pa&e =6<



&oseph 'slam
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