What Is Jannah? Paradise in Islam

Jannah (Arabic: الجنة) is pronounced JAN-nah. The word means “garden”, especially a garden so lush that it is shaded and hidden by its trees.

Meaning

In Islam, Jannah is Paradise: the eternal home God has prepared for those who believe in Him and do good. The Qur’an describes it with images that speak to every human longing — gardens beneath which rivers flow, shade, fruit, reunion with loved ones, and above all peace: no fear, no grief, no tiredness and no hurtful speech. Its greatest joy is God’s pleasure and nearness to Him.

Yet Muslims believe that Paradise is more than any description. In a saying the Prophet ﷺ related from God:

…I have prepared for My Pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being…

Mercy, not a ticket

Muslims do not believe anyone can “earn” Paradise by deeds alone, as if buying a ticket. Faith and good deeds matter greatly, but it is ultimately God’s mercy that brings people in (Bukhari 6463). This keeps believers both hopeful and humble: hopeful because God is merciful, humble because no one can boast of their deeds.

Example

“May God reunite us in Jannah,” Muslims often say when a loved one passes away.

To learn more about the life to come, read What Happens After Death?, and see Akhirah.