What is Janna
-
Peace be upon you Taj,
Paradise, from the Arabic FIRDOUS, is a synonym of Jannah (singluar) and Jannat (plural). It has been mentioned in the Quran. You can check a transliteration to find the two Ayat where it appears. and .
My apologies, thank you for the correction and clarification. But we should still reject the term "heaven".
Jannah is not a garden, it is much, much more.
I am talking strictly the definition. I know that it symbolizes much much more, but the word itself means garden. Do you agree?
Howevere, if a garden is unbelievably, extraordinarily exceptional in beauty, then it can be called jannah (with a small j).
Please elaborate on that for me.
-
And Peace be upon you, Kyle
We can use the word jannah to describe a breathtaking, a very unusual garden, the same way Allah Subhanahu used the word jannah to describe the extravagant garden of the man in Surate Al Kahf ( The Cave). Arabs do too use jannah to describe the awe of a landscape.
Like when we speak about Switzerland, we would go ? Oh, it?s jannah!?
Yet we say "I have a house and a garden."
But never would we say " I have a house and a jannah."
The Egyptians use the word "jenaynah" or "genaynah" (a baby jannah) and mean an ordinary house garden.So the word Jannah basically means all the Beauty one can or cannot imagine! And because a garden happens to be the most beautiful place one can every see and be in, with all the freshness of air, the colors, the waters, the produce and the energy, etc. that is why to use the word jannah to describe a garden should be fairly understandable.
But we should still reject the term "heaven".
But why!?
Take a look at the following Ayat and . You will see that Allah Subhanah has given us an idea of the size of Jannah, that it?s as wide as all the Heavens (recognized and unrecognized skies) and Earth. Allah Subhanahu also has beautified the Heavens , , , , . So if Jannah is the Beauty and the Heavens are made beautiful, we can then say that Jannah is Heavens.Taj
-
Peace be upon you Taj,
Take a look at the following Ayat and . You will see that Allah Subhanah has given us an idea of the size of Jannah, that it?s as wide as all the Heavens (recognized and unrecognized skies) and Earth.
As wide as all the skies and the earths, not "heavens".
Allah Subhanahu also has beautified the Heavens , , , , . So if Jannah is the Beauty and the Heavens are made beautiful, we can then say that Jannah is Heavens.
Jannah, the garden, is state of mind that starts here on earth and continues after this phase of exsistence. How can you equate that with the skies above?
Lets start another thread fo this so we can keep this thread on the right track.
-
And Peace be upon you, Kyle
As wide as all the skies and the earths, not "heavens".
I found the following and some more on Dictionary.com
2 entries found for heavens.
n.
-
The sky or universe as seen from the earth; the firmament. Often used in the plural.
-
Christianity.
a. often Heaven The abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those who are granted salvation.
b. An eternal state of communion with God; everlasting bliss. -
Any of the places in or beyond the sky conceived of as domains of divine beings in various religions.
a. Heaven God Heaven help you!
b. heavens Used in various phrases to express surprise Good heavens!
5. The celestial powers; the gods. Often used in the plural The heavens favored the young prince.
6. A condition or place of great happiness, delight, or pleasure The lake was heaven.In my mind, I always thought that the word Heavens meant the first meaning, the most popular meaning, which is here above
- The sky or universe as seen from the earth; the firmament. Often used in the plural.
So, anyway, Kyle, it is a good idea to start a new thread on Jannah, although I don't think I can add more. If I learn any further or any better, I will bring it up!
Taj
-
-
Peace be upon you Taj,
Yes, I am aware that word "heaven" implies all of those things, but this word is "empty" in my opinion and is borrowed from another philosophy.
The dictionary will have it because it must incorporate all peoples understanding. But for example, the arabic dictionaries list "hajj" as "pilgrimmage" (among other definitions), but the reading(quran) shows that the God does not define hajj as having to travel to Mecca and waste money that could be given to the poor and needy.
The word janna(garden) is given to give us a visual picture and to bring to mind certain similitudes for us to think about, like reaping what you sow, we cannot get that from "heaven", do you see the difference?
I need to study "Al firdaus" as you have just pointed that out to me earlier today, thanks again for that.
I have created another thread for this, if the moderators could, please move these last few posts to that thread. Thanks.
-
So the word Jannah basically means all the Beauty one can or cannot imagine! And because a garden happens to be the most beautiful place one can every see and be in, with all the freshness of air, the colors, the waters, the produce and the energy, etc. that is why to use the word jannah to describe a garden should be fairly understandable.
Peace Taj
your post makes me think of the English word "sublime" - which aims to give one a sense of the indescribable beauty of creation. I'd never associated Jennah with the notion of the sublime before so thank you for that post - its given me much to reflect on.
salaams
asdfjk
-
Peace be upon you,
All "credit" for anythig beneficial belongs to the God D
I think you both will agree with me on that D
-
Peace, Kyle,
The word janna(garden) is given to give us a visual picture and to bring to mind certain similitudes for us to think about, like reaping what you sow, we cannot get that from "heaven", do you see the difference?
Heavens signifies the multitude of the reward, The Jannah. It is Allah's unlimited way of paying of the Faithful.
So if something as tiny as a seed would turn into a tree with a multitude of apples, oranges, etc.. so is the living. If Earth is our little home now (the seed), Heaven will turn to be our big home later (the tree).Yes, I am aware that word "heaven" implies all of those things, but this word is "empty" in my opinion and is borrowed from another philosophy.
If Earth is so abundant, how can Heaven be empty!?Taj
-
Peace be upon you Taj,
I say the word "heaven" is empty word because it is not a clear word due to the christian influence. Many think about little caucasian children with wings and a big gate, etc, when they hear that word "heaven". I prefer to translate "samaa" (spelling?) as "SKIES". I agree with the similitude you gave regarding the seed and tree, very well said.
-
And upon you be the Peace, Kyle,
I agree with the similitude you gave regarding the seed and tree, very well said.
Thanks to youI prefer to translate "samaa" (spelling?) as "SKIES"
Samaaa'a = means sky (singular).
The a'a = at the end of the Arabic word, is the same as the A in Apple but more strongly stressed. This letter is called "Hamzah". It is ommitted in the plural word and replaced with the W = which is then followed by the long vowel aa =
The Hamzah = and the long vowel aa = cannot come together.
Samaawaatt = means skies (plural).I am not very good at English but isn't it more common to say seven Heavens, than to say seven skies?
The word "Heaven" is mystical while "sky" is rather scientific, or factual, right?
And I'm suddenly reminded of Carl Sagan!Taj
-
Peace be upon you,
I am not very good at English but isn't it more common to say seven Heavens, than to say seven skies?
Yes, it is more common to say seven heavens, but incorrect, just like it is more common to think of angels as children with wings, but incorrect. Remember, the "guided"(yahood) from the people like to change the words, we have to stick to the proper words so we can understand the similitudes that grow from them.
The word "Heaven" is mystical while "sky" is rather scientific, or factual, right?
Absolutely. And it is the scientific understanding that allows us to enjoy the , not mystical, but SYMBOLIC SIMILITUDES and extract meaningful lessons.
And I'm suddenly reminded of Carl Sagan!
What did Carl say about it?