A099
Surah: 015 - Ayah: 099
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15:99
Ibadat in Paradise
Q. 65. Is there 'ibadat-u bandagi in the Paradise? If not, how is the flight of angels possible with the remembrance of God? Is 'ibadat not enjoined until death comes, according to the Qur'an (15:99)?
A. There is no 'ibadat of hardship in the Paradise, such as we do today, considering it the slavery of God. Nor is there the ibadat which is done out of fear of hell or to covet Paradise. Nonetheless, there is certainly special and higher ibadat in the Paradise, which is done without any hardship, with extreme happiness, love and friendship of the Lord. Such an 'ibadat or dhikr-i ilahi (remembrance of God) takes place in the Paradise on the height of spirituality. It is the gnostic (arifanah) and angelic dhikr, which starts automatically by will and indication (isharah) only and contains spiritual and intellectual pleasures, delights and joys. It is like the food of intellect and soul. This kind of 'ibadat is to see the treasures of knowledge and gnosis hidden in the Names and Words and the marvels and wonders in spirituality. As the Prophet says: "La hawla wa la quwwata ilia billahil-aliyyil-azim (There is no power and strength except in Allah, the High, the Great) is a treasure among the treasures of the Paradise". This means that the other treasures of the Paradise are also Names and Words such as these.
Ibadat is not enjoined until death comes, for the purpose of it is not that death should come and one should die; its purpose is the final level of certainty, i.e. haqq al-yaqin (the truth of certainty), which is the highest certainty. Thus, in the above-mentioned verse (15:99), it is the certainty (yaqin) which is mentioned and not the death.
Yaqin (That reality in which there cannot be any doubt)
It is said in verse (15:99): "And worship your Lord until (the destination of) certainty comes (to) you." The purpose of worship is not death, as some understand by yaqin, rather it is the highest recognition which is the truth of certainty (haqqu'l-yaqin).
Yaqin (The truth of certainty, the perfect stage of certainty)
Verse (15:99) says: "And worship your Lord until the (truth of) certainty comes to you." At the ultimate end of certainty, the Perfect Man attains the rank of fana’ fi’llah (annihilation in God) and baqa’ bi’llah (survival in God), where every kind of worship not only becomes easy, rather automatic, because it is in reality among the bounties of paradise.
The various levels or stages of recognition and worship are linked to each other. Recognition is also called certainty (yaqin). Thus, with respect to certainty, worship has three stages: worship at the stage of the knowledge of certainty, worship at the stage of the eye of certainty, and worship at the stage of the truth of certainty, which is the final stage, for it is said: "Continue to worship until (the stage of the truth of) certainty comes." (15:99). This is the ultimate stage of obligatory worship, but where it is in the form of the fruit of Paradise, there it always gives light and happiness.
This verse has been referred 4 times.