Description of Paradise in Islam

The Quran and Sunnah are full of references to Paradise and the great reward that is in store for those who believe and do righteousness in this life. The reward for goodness is eternal goodness, and the reward for evil is torment and despair.

Rewards for males and females, although different according to their inherent nature that Allah has created them with, are equally gratifying. No one will feel any resentment towards others, nor envy. Peace is the state in which all will exist forever, regardless of any differences they may have had in this life.

Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says:

{وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا}

Translation: '{And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer in the Oneness of Allâh (Muslim), such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of a Naqîra (speck on the back of a date­stone), will be done to them.}' [An-Nisaa’:124]

They will wear the finest clothing and live in the best of surroundings. It was narrated by Imam Muslim that Abu Bakr ibn `Abdullah ibn Qais reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said that «in Paradise there would be for a believer a tent of a single hollowed pearl the breadth of which would be sixty miles. It would be meant for a believer, and the believers would go around it and none would be able to see the others.»
In the same regards, Allah says in His Glorious Book:

{إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ}

Translation: '{Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.}' [Al-Hajj:23]

He also says:

{وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاعِمَةٌ* لِسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ*فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ*لَا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَاغِيَةً*فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ*فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَرْفُوعَةٌ*وَأَكْوَابٌ مَوْضُوعَةٌ*وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ*وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ}

{[Other] faces that Day will be joyful, pleased with their striving, in a Garden on high, where they shall hear no [word] of vanity: Therein will be a bubbling spring: Therein will be thrones [of dignity], raised on high, goblets placed [ready], and cushions set in rows, and rich carpets [all] spread out.} [Al-Ghashiyah:8-16]

Trees bearing fruits of all kinds, and of types we have not seen or imagined, will be there for those who strived to do their best in this life. The trees will bend their branches down for believers to reach them! All we need to do is to long for a particular one. Rivers of wine that does not intoxicate, rivers of honey, the purest of waters, and milk are all waiting for believers to enjoy.

Eternal youth will be the state of existence for those who inhabit Paradise. The food of Paradise is so pure that their bodies will not produce any wastes, only sweat whose fragrance is musk.

But just as the best things in this life do not come easy, neither does the reward of Paradise come cheap. It is something that requires great effort on our part as Muslims to live a righteous life in Islam and invite others to it as well. We must struggle with our utmost effort to achieve excellence in everything we do and in every relationship we have so that we can achieve the utmost in rewards, Paradise.

Allah, Glory be to Him, says:

{وَسَارِعُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ}

Translation: '{Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that [of the whole] of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous.}' [Aal `Imran:133]

I hope this has helped you with your question. I encourage you to study the Quran to learn what it takes to receive this great reward and to teach what you learn to others. May Allah bless and reward you, and lead us all to what pleases Him. Ameen!

I would like to add more of what the Quran and Sunnah say about the issue. The Prophet (peace be upon him) clearly stated in his description of Paradise that in it «there is what an eye has not seen, what en ear has not heard and what has not crossed the heart of a human.»
All the physical descriptions of Paradise mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah are merely but examples of what Allah has promised His righteous believers. Yet, the ability of Allah to create and prepare for them is much more. He has created all the beauty in existence out of nothing, simply by His own Will.

Logically He can create more and more that is beyond the human imagination. Someone might say, “Well, we do have fine clothes and great wonderful parks and beaches, let alone the great architectural and technological accomplishments that enable the rich to live in wonders in this era.
Thus, these promises of nice gardens and great castles are no longer appealing.” And here comes the hadith of the Prophet that really explains that these physical promises are just a small simple part of what Allah can provide those whom He elevates to enter His Paradise. What is available in Paradise is beyond our imagination; we need to remember that Allah is capable of creating what is beyond our imagination.

Also, the hadith states that there will be what not had crossed the ‘heart’ of humans. It does not say the ‘mind’, but the ‘heart’. The heart longs more and dreams more than the logical mind. The mind might have limits in its dreams. It is limited by logic and by what is ‘possible’. As for the heart, it only longs and dreams of what it wants and loves, whether it is logical or not.

What can explain this more is a verse that is one of my favorites. It says:

{لَهُمْ مَا يَشَاءُونَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ}

Translation: '{They shall have what they will of their Lord's bounty. That is the reward of the good-doers.}' [Az-Zumar:34]

The situation there is completely different. Here we get what we strive for. But there, we get what we will. So, we simply need to will. A person might will to eat a piece of fruit, while another might will to meet with Allah!

And here comes another promise. In my own eyes, it is the most important in Paradise ever: encountering Allah! It would be such a loss to come to this life not knowing Who brought one here. It would be an even greater loss never to encounter Him. It is the loss of people of Hellfire that they are prohibited from encountering Him and it is the blessing of people of Paradise to encounter Him.