Questioner: When I read some Christian books, it appears to me that the word paradise and heaven refer to the same thing. Yes. But when I refer to the Holy Quran, the question became very complex for me. First of all, the word al-jannah has been used, and the plural form samawat has been used, and also samay has been used, the singular form, that is, heaven. So I got a bit confused there also. I mean, I said perhaps you may draw light on it.
Huzoor (rh): You see, the word heaven and paradise are two different words. When you say paradise, you never misunderstand this word to apply to the universe as a whole, or heavens meaning the skies. But when the word heaven is used, because it has both the meanings, it creates the confusion. Sometimes in English, when you say heavens, you refer to the space in general, you know, cosmological existence and things. But also it refers to the jannah, as we understand by the word Arabic. Heaven means paradise. So because you have been reading the Holy Quran in English, I think that is the main problem. Heavens and heavens and heavens and heavens are used, referring sometimes to this and sometimes to that. So it is better to pinpoint the places which have created some confusion in your mind, and have an appointment with the Imam Sahib, and he will let you know exactly what this heaven stands for here and what this heaven stands for there.
