Based on a beautiful narration from Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A), we learn about the final, purifying steps a believer takes before being welcomed into Paradise—a process filled with honor and mercy.
The Tree at the Gates of Paradise
When the mindful believers are led to the gates of Jannah, they first find a magnificent tree. From the root of this tree flow two streams of heavenly water, each serving a unique purpose in their final purification.
A Two-Fold Cleansing
Upon command, they approach the first stream and drink from it. This act cleanses them from the inside out, washing away all internal foulness and filth, leaving their souls pristine.
Next, they approach the second stream and perform Wudu (ablution). This water purifies their external form. It bestows upon them a radiant glow, a beauty that is eternal. Their hair will never be disheveled, and their skin will never crack. They are, as the narration describes, "polished" to perfection.
A Welcome of Peace and Purity
Now fully purified, they approach the keepers of Paradise. The angels greet them with the ultimate welcome:
(Peace be upon you! You have become purified, so enter it to abide therein forever.)
This greeting is a divine confirmation. "Salaamun 'alaykum" means they are safe from their environment. "Tibtum" means they are safe from their own internal sins. And "Fadkhuluhaa khaalideen" means they are eternally safe from time, from any enemy, and from ever being expelled.
The Greatest Welcome: The Pleasure of Allah
The welcome doesn't end there. The greatest honor awaits. Allah Himself will call out, "O people of Paradise!" They will respond, "Here we are, O Allah!"
Allah will ask, "Are you pleased?" They will express their immense gratitude, saying how could they not be, when He has given them what He has given to no one else. But Allah then bestows an even greater gift:
This is the ultimate welcome, a promise of eternal divine favor that surpasses all other joys of Paradise.
A Home More Familiar Than Your Own
The Prophet (S.A.W) said that a believer will know their home in Jannah better than they knew their home in this world. An angel will guide them, not because they are lost, but to make them feel even more welcomed, showing them every palace and companion that awaits.
The journey into Jannah is not merely an entrance; it is a final, beautiful ceremony of purification and honor, culminating in the greatest reward of all: the eternal pleasure of Allah (S.W.T).
