Satyarth Prakash

9. "But bear good tidings unto those who believe and do good works that they shall have gardens watered by rivers; so oft as they eat of the fruit thereof for sustenance, they shall say, this is what we have formerly eaten of; and they shall be supplied with several sorts of fruit having a mutual resemblance to one another. There shall they enjoy wives subject to no impurity, and there shall they continue for ever." (Surah 2: 25)

C. ~ The paradise as described in the Qoran is in no respect better than this world, because the same sort of things that are obtainable here are to be had there. The only exception being that men here die and are born again, whereas this is not the case with them in paradise, te women also here do not continue to live for ever, whereas in paradise they do so. We should like to know how these poor women pass their days till the day of judgment?

Of course it will be alright if the Mohammaden God extends His helping hand to them and thereby they manage to pass their days with comfort. Tut Tut! Tut! But this goes to show that the paradise of the Mohammedans justly resembles the Golak and the temple of the Gosaeens of Gokal wherein women are valued more than men. Similarly in the temple of God (paradise) women are valued and loved more than men by God. They live forever in heaven but not men. How can this arrangement last unless God desires it? The Mohammedan God is surely in danger of falling in love with these women!!!

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The Response

As is the case with all other anti-Islamic people, who never miss the opportunity of maligning the Islamic concept of Paradise, so also Swamiji brings up this topic in many of his allegations in Satyarth Prakash. Swamiji, the things of Paradise are in no way comparable to the things of this world. If only you had been honest enough to read the following verse of the Quran, you would not have raised this question.

فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them - as a reward for their (good) deeds. [Surah 32: Ayah 17]

Sahih Muslim Book 40 : Hadith 6781

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying that: Allah the Exalted and Glorious, said: I have prepared for My pious servants which no eye has ever seen, and no ear has ever heard, and no human heart has ever perceived but it is testified by the Book of Allah. He then recited: "No soul knows what comfort has been concealed from them, as a reward for what they did". (32: 17)

The blessings of Paradise and the blessings of the world only resemble in name, not in the nature. So whatever is spoken of in Paradise is only a very loose similitude. The reality of those blessings will only be known once we make it to Paradise. There is nothing impure in that concept so as to malign it. The example of this is that suppose we want to make a person 2000 years ago understand what a train is. How would be make him understand? Obviously we will use similitudes of the things he is aware of and the vocabulary he uses. Since, 2000 years ago, there was no word 'train' so we couldn't have used the correct word. Same is the case with Paradise and what it contains. Righteous women and men, both are valued equally and both live forever in Paradise.

Let us now try to briefly visualise the Vedic Paradise and what it contains. It is mentioned in Atharva Veda, Kaand 4; Sukt 34; Mantra 6

Full lakes of butter with their banks of honey, flowing with wine, and milk and curds and water; Abundant with their overflow of sweetness, these streams shall reach thee in the world of Paradise (Svarga Loke), whole lakes with lotus-blossom shall approach thee.

The Animated Being, i.e., God is in a treasure chest.

Having eight circles and nine gates, The City of God, is Ayodhya. It contains a golden treasure-chest, celestial, begirt with light. Men deep in lore of Brahma know that Animated Being which dwells in that golden treasure-chest that hath three spokes and three supports. [Atharva Veda Kand 10; Sukt 2; Mantra 31,32]

Swamiji accuses Allah of being in danger of falling in love with women because he sees the Ishwar of Vedas busy with His two wives, Shrii and Lakshmi. When your Ishwar Himself is polygamous, why point a finger at Islam?

Shrii and Lakshmi are your wives. Each side of you are Day and Night. The constellations are your form: the Asvins are your open jaws. Wishing, wish yonder world for me, wish that the Universe be mine. [Yajur Veda Adhyay 31:Mantra 22]

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This ends our response. New point may be included if required.