Unknowns of Paradise greater than knowns

15-5-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum, Sheikh. Can you please explain the wording 'is nothing', Allaah willing?
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said, “Allaah said, 'I have prepared for My pious worshipers such things as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and nobody has ever imagined. All that is reserved, besides which, all that you have seen, is nothing." Then he recited: {And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do.} [Quran 32.17]” (Sahih Bukhari 4780)

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Prophet said, “Allah said, 'I have prepared for My pious worshipers such things as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and nobody has ever imagined. All that is reserved, besides which, all that you have seen, is nothing." Then he recited: {And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do.} [Quran 32.17]” [Al-Bukhaari and Ibn Maajah]

“Besides which, all that you have seen, is nothing”; meaning leave that which you know of about the bliss and enjoyment of Paradise as this is insignificant in comparison to what I have reserved for you. This is the meaning that the scholars mentioned regarding its interpretation.

As-Sindi said in his commentary on Ibn Maajah, “That is to say, leave that which you know of about the bliss of Paradise as what you do not know is greater.”

Allah knows best.