Question: Some Prophetic traditions say that some inhabitants of Paradise will be given a place as large as the world, and that hundreds of thousands of palaces and houris will be granted to them. What is the reason for this, and why and how does one person need all these things?

Answer: If you were only a solid object, a vegetable creature consisting of a stomach, or only had a limited, heavy, simple, and transient corporal or animal body, you would not own or deserve so many palaces or houris. But you are a comprehensive miracle of Divine Power. If you ruled this world and used all of its wealth and pleasure to satisfy your undeveloped senses' and faculties' needs, you still could not satisfy your greed during your brief life. However, if you have an infinite capacity in an eternal abode of happiness, and if you knock on the door of infinite Mercy in the tongue of infinite need, you will receive the Divine bounties described in such Traditions. We shall present a comparison to illustrate this elevated truth.

Like this valley garden, each vineyard and garden in Barla has a different owner.[1] Each bird, sparrow, or honey-bee, which has only a handful of grain, may say: "All of Barla's vineyards and gardens are my places of recreation." Each may possess Barla and include it in its property. The fact that others share it does not negate its rule. A truly human person may say: "My Creator made the world a home for me, with the sun as its chief lamp and the stars as its electric lights. Earth is my cradle spread with flowered carpets," and then thanks God. This conclusion is not negated because other creatures live in this "house." On the contrary, the creatures adorn this home and are like its decorations. If, on account of being human, you or even a bird were to claim the right of control over such a vast area in this narrow, brief world and to receive such a vast bounty, why should you consider it unlikely that you will own property stretching for 500 years in a broad, eternal abode of happiness?[2]

Just as the sun is present here in many mirrors simultaneously, a spiritually enlightened being may be present in many places at the same time, as discussed in The Sixteenth Word. For example, Gabriel can be on 1,000 stars while being present at God's Supreme Throne, in the Prophet's presence, and in the Divine Presence. Prophet Muhammad can meet with most of the devoted, God-conscious members of his community in the Place of Gathering after the Resurrection, just as he can appear in many places and to numerous saintly people in this world simultaneously. A group of saints (abdal: substitutes) can appear in many places at the same moment. Ordinary people sometimes can do as much as a year's work in a minute while dreaming or having a vision of it, and everyone can be in contact with and concerned with many places at the same time in heart, in spirit, and in imagination. Such things are well-known and witnessed.

Given this, the inhabitants of Paradise (which is of light, unrestricted, broad, and eternal) will have bodies with the spirit's strength and lightness and the imagination's swiftness. They will be able to be in countless places simultaneously, talk with innumerable houris, and receive pleasure in an infinite number of ways. This is fitting for that eternal Paradise and infinite Mercy, and the Truthful Reporter says that this is the reality and the truth. But such truths cannot be weighed on the scales of our tiny minds.

Glory be to You. We have no knowledge save only what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, All-Wise.

O Lord, do not call us to account if we forget or fall into error. O God, bestow blessings on Your beloved, who opened the doors of Paradise through being beloved by You, and through his prayers, and whose community You enabled to open those doors through calling Your blessings on him. On him be blessings and peace. O God, let us enter Paradise among the pure, righteous ones through the intercession of Your chosen beloved. Amin.

[1] The garden of Süleyman, who served this poor one with perfect loyalty for 8 years, where this Word was written in 1 or 2 hours.

[2] In classical jurisprudential books, a day's distance is about 30 kms (about 18.6 miles). (Tr.)

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