The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, told us that within Paradise are things that no eyes have ever seen, nor ears have ever heard, and that things in it are beyond our imagination and comprehension, but we all have our own personal ideas of what eternal bliss would probably be like. I remember a few years ago, I overheard my niece and my nephew discussing the landscape, and the privileges of living in Jannah. My nephew was telling my niece that in Jannah, they would be able to eat all the candy that they wanted and that there would be streams of chocolate and trees of ice cream. I always tell people, that Paradise for me, would be being able to eat all the cheesecake and chocolate that I wanted, without gaining a pound. But what Allah has in store for the believers is so much more than this. He, in His Book, and through His Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, has given us a clear picture of our goal, so that we can keep it in front of us at all times. By keeping our eyes on the prize, no matter our hardships in this worldly life, we can strive that much harder to attain it.

Allah says, “And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he ought to strive and he is a believer; (as for) these, their striving shall surely be accepted.” [17:19] Allah has also described Paradise in many places in the Qur’an, so let us now take a look at what He has in store for the believers.

Description in the Qur’an of Paradise

“The description of Paradise which the Muttaqoon have been promised is that in it are rivers of water, the taste and smell of which are never changed. Rivers of milk the taste of which will remain unchanged. Rivers of wine that will be delicious to those who drink from it and rivers of clear, pure honey. For them will be every kind of fruit and forgiveness form their Lord.” [47:15]

“And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient. Reclining on raised thrones, they will see there neither the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive bitter cold, (as in Paradise there is no sun and no moon). The shade will be close upon them, and bunches of fruit will hang low within their reach. Vessels of silver and cups of crystal will be passed around amongst them, crystal-clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure of them according to their wishes. They will be given a cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabeel, and a fountain called Salsabeel. Around them will (serve) boys of perpetual youth. If you see them, you would think they are scattered pearls. When you look there (in Paradise) you will see a delight (that can not be imagined), and a Great Dominion. Their garments will be of fine green silk and gold embroidery. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink.” [76:12-21]

“And those foremost (In Tawheed and obedience to Allah and His Messenger in this life) will be foremost (in Paradise). They will be those nearest to Allah in the Gardens of Delight. A multitude of those (the foremost) will be from the first generation (who embraced Islam) and a few of those (the foremost) will be from the later (generations). They will be reclining, face to face, on thrones woven with gold and precious stones. They will be served by immortal boys, with cups and jugs, and a glass from the flowing wine, from which they will have neither any headache, nor any intoxication. They will have fruit from which they may choose, and the flesh of fowls that they desire. There will be Houris with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for the pious), like preserved pearls, a reward for deeds that they used to do. They will hear no vain or sinful speech (like backbiting, etc.) but only the saying of: Salam, Salam, (greetings of peace). And those on the Right Hand, who will be those on the Right Hand? They will be among thorn-less lote-trees among Talh (banana trees) with fruits piled one above another, in long-extended shade, by constantly flowing water, and fruit in plenty, whose season is not limited, and their supply will not be cut off. They will be on couches or thrones raised high. Verily, We have created for them (maidens) of equal age, loving (their husbands only). For those on the Right Hand.” [56:10-38]

“Verily, the dwellers of Paradise that Day, will be busy in joyful things. They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. They will have therein fruits (of all kinds), and all that they will ask for. (It will be said to them): “Salamun” (Peace be on you), a Word from the Lord, Most Merciful.” [36:55-58]

Can you imagine? Wearing the finest silk clothing and sitting on chairs made of gold and precious stones? Those who disbelieve in the words of Allah, say that this is all a fairy-tale, made up by a would-be prophet. But we know, that Allah is the Truthful and that His Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, spoke only what was revealed to from the Most Truthful. And even though Allah describes Paradise for us in the Qur’an, He still says, “So no soul knows the delights of the eyes which is hidden for them; a reward for what they did.” [32:17]

Apart from the Qur’anic descriptions of Paradise, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, would often describe Paradise to his companions. His descriptions were oftentimes so vivid and moving, that many-a-companion would hurriedly rush towards it. This was the case, as Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, and his companions proceeded towards Badr and arrived there before the disbelievers (of Makkah). When the disbelievers arrived, the Messenger of Allah said, “None of you should step forward ahead of me to do anything.” Then the disbelievers advanced (towards us), and the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, said, “Rise to enter Paradise whose width is equal to the Heavens and the Earth.” Umayr Ibnul Humam al-Ansari asked, “O Messenger of Allah, is Paradise equal in width to the heavens and the earth?” He, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, “Yes.” Umayr said, “Bak’hin! Bak’hin!” (An Arabic word denoting excitement and astonishment) The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, asked him, “What made you say these words: Bak’hin, Bak’hin?” He said, “Messenger of Allah, nothing but the desire to be amongst its residents.” He, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, “You are surely among its residents.” He then took some dates form his bag and began to eat them. Then he said, “If I were to live until I had eaten all of the dates, indeed this life would be too long.” Anas then said, “He threw away the remaining dates he had with him. He then fought (the disbelievers) until he was killed.” (Muslim)

What words could have inspired Umair and others like him to long for, and to pay the ultimate price for a place in Paradise? Let’s now take a look at what the Messenger of Allah, had to say about Paradise.

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The hunchback in the park
A solitary mister
Propped between trees and water
From the opening of the garden lock
That lets the trees and water enter
Until the Sunday sombre bell at dark

Eating bread from a newspaper
Drinking water from the chained cup
That the children filled with gravel
In the fountain basin where I sailed my ship
Slept at night in a dog kennel
But nobody chained him up.

Like the park birds he came early
Like the water he sat down
And Mister they called Hey Mister
The truant boys from the town
Running when he had heard them clearly
On out of sound

Past lake and rockery
Laughing when he shook his paper
Hunchbacked in mockery
Through the loud zoo of the willow groves
Dodging the park keeper
With his stick that picked up leaves.

And the old dog sleeper
Alone between nurses and swans
While the boys among willows
Made the tigers jump out of their eyes
To roar on the rockery stones
And the groves were blue with sailors

Made all day until bell time
A woman figure without fault
Straight as a young elm
Straight and tall from his crooked bones
That she might stand in the night
After the locks and chains

All night in the unmade park
After the railings and shrubberies
The birds the grass the trees the lake
And the wild boys innocent as strawberries
Had followed the hunchback
To his kennel in the dark.

My head was bleeding like a fountain. We put some towels and pressed until the ambulance came. The police arrested the guy (turned out to be my neighbor downstairs. He has a separate entrance between buildings, and I enter the building from other side, so I really didn’t know he was my neighbor. I never saw the guy before) and he told the police we were making noise. We do have parties some weekends and we are very loud when we party, but tonight even the TV wasn’t on. But after listening to me, the police took him.

I went to hospital, they made 7 stitches and worst part is as it in my head, they couldn’t stitch it. They used staple gun on my head after local anesthesia.

The police told me to come to the station to testify. I don’t have health insurance so I will probably receive $2000-3000 hospital bill, which I can’t pay.

What steps should I take legally? Anything to mention while testifying? How about the hospital bill? What’s gonna happen to him? How am I gonna be safe in my house after this event?

Thank you for your replies.

Eating bread from a newspaper
Drinking water from the chained cup
That the children filled with gravel
In the fountain basin where I sailed my ship
Slept at night in a dog kennel
But nobody chained him up.

Like the park birds he came early
Like the water he sat down
And Mister they called Hey mister
The truant boys from the town
Running when he had heard them clearly
On out of sound

Past lake and rockery
Laughing when he shook his paper
Through the loud zoo of the willow groves
Hunchbacked in mockery
Dodging the park-keeper
With his stick that picked up leaves.

And the old dog sleeper
Alone between nurses and swans
While the boys among willows
Made the tigers jump out of their eyes
To roar on the rockery stones
And the groves were blue with sailors. . .

My heart and I

ENOUGH ! we’re tired, my heart and I.
We sit beside the headstone thus,
And wish that name were carved for us.
The moss reprints more tenderly
The hard types of the mason’s knife,
As heaven’s sweet life renews earth’s life
With which we’re tired, my heart and I.

II.
You see we’re tired, my heart and I.
We dealt with books, we trusted men,
And in our own blood drenched the pen,
As if such colours could not fly.
We walked too straight for fortune’s end,
We loved too true to keep a friend ;
At last we’re tired, my heart and I.

III.
How tired we feel, my heart and I !
We seem of no use in the world ;
Our fancies hang grey and uncurled
About men’s eyes indifferently ;
Our voice which thrilled you so, will let
You sleep; our tears are only wet :
What do we here, my heart and I ?

IV.
So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
It was not thus in that old time
When Ralph sat with me ‘neath the lime
To watch the sunset from the sky.
`Dear love, you’re looking tired,’ he said;
I, smiling at him, shook my head :
‘Tis now we’re tired, my heart and I.

V.
So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
Though now none takes me on his arm
To fold me close and kiss me warm
Till each quick breath end in a sigh
Of happy languor. Now, alone,
We lean upon this graveyard stone,
Uncheered, unkissed, my heart and I.

VI.
Tired out we are, my heart and I.
Suppose the world brought diadems
To tempt us, crusted with loose gems
Of powers and pleasures ? Let it try.
We scarcely care to look at even
A pretty child, or God’s blue heaven,
We feel so tired, my heart and I.

VII.
Yet who complains ? My heart and I ?
In this abundant earth no doubt
Is little room for things worn out :
Disdain them, break them, throw them by
And if before the days grew rough
We once were loved, used, — well enough,
I think, we’ve fared, my heart and I.

A Denial

I

We have met late—it is too late to meet,
O friend, not more than friend!
Death’s forecome shroud is tangled round my feet,
And if I step or stir, I touch the end.
In this last jeopardy
Can I approach thee, I, who cannot move?
How shall I answer thy request for love?
Look in my face and see.

II

I love thee not, I dare not love thee! go
In silence; drop my hand.
If thou seek roses, seek them where they blow
In garden-alleys, not in desert-sand.
Can life and death agree,
That thou shouldst stoop thy song to my complaint?
I cannot love thee. If the word is faint,
Look in my face and see.

III

I might have loved thee in some former days.
Oh, then, my spirits had leapt
As now they sink, at hearing thy love-praise!
Before these faded cheeks were overwept,
Had this been asked of me,
To love thee with my whole strong heart and head,—
I should have said still . . . yes, but smiled and said,
“Look in my face and see!”

IV

But now . . . God sees me, God, who took my heart
And drowned it in life’s surge.
In all your wide warm earth I have no part—
A light song overcomes me like a dirge.
Could Love’s great harmony
The saints keep step to when their bonds are loose,
Not weigh me down? am I a wife to choose?
Look in my face and see—

V

While I behold, as plain as one who dreams,
Some woman of full worth,
Whose voice, as cadenced as a silver stream’s,
Shall prove the fountain-soul which sends it forth;
One younger, more thought-free
And fair and gay, than I, thou must forget,
With brighter eyes than these . . . which are not wet . . .
Look in my face and see!

VI

So farewell thou, whom I have known too late
To let thee come so near.
Be counted happy while men call thee great,
And one belovèd woman feels thee dear!—
Not I!—that cannot be.
I am lost, I am changed,—I must go farther, where
The change shall take me worse, and no one dare
Look in my face and see.

VII

Meantime I bless thee. By these thoughts of mine
I bless thee from all such!
I bless thy lamp to oil, thy cup to wine,
Thy hearth to joy, thy hand to an equal touch
Of loyal troth. For me,
I love thee not, I love thee not!—away!
Here’s no more courage in my soul to say
“Look in my face and see.”

Genesis – White Mountain, The Knife, The Musical Box, The Return of the Giant Hogweed, The Fountain of Salmacis, Watcher of the Skies, Get ‘em out by Friday, Supper’s Ready, Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, The Battle of Epping Forest, The Cinema Show, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, In the Cage, the Carpet Crawlers, Dance on a Volcano, Eleventh Earl of Mar, One for the Vine

Yes – Yours is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, I’ve Seen All Good People, Perpetual Change, Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround/The Fish, Heart of the Sunrise, America, Close to the Edge, And You And I, Siberian Khatru, The Revealing Science of God, Ritual, The Gates of Delirium, Sound Chaser, Awaken

King Crimson – 21st Century Schizoid Man, I Talk to the Wind, Epitaph, Moonchild, In the Court of the Crimson King, The Devil’s Triangle, Lizard, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, Red, One More Red Nightmare, Starless, Elephant Talk, Discipline

Emerson Lake and Palmer – Take a Pebble, Tank, Lucky Man, Tarkus, Bitches Crystal, Nutrocker, The Endless Enigma, From the Beginning, Hoedown, Trilogy, Abaddon’s Bolero, Toccata, Still…You Turn Me On, Karn Evil 9, Piano Concerto No. 1, C’est La Vie, Fanfare for the Common Man, Pirates

Pink Floyd – Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, A Saucerful of Secrets, Atom Heart Mother, Echoes, One of These Days, Time, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Dogs, Pigs (Three Different Ones)

Jethro Tull – Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, My God, Hymn 43, Locomotive Breath, Thick as a Brick, A Passion Play, Minstrel in the Gallery, Baker St. Muse, Bungle in the Jungle

Rush – Anthem, By-tor and the Snow Dog, The Necromancer, The Fountain of Lamneth, 2112, Xanadu, Closer to the Heart, Cygnus X-1, La Villa Strangiato, The Spirit of Radio, Jacob’s Ladder, Natural Science, Tom Sawyer

Frank Zappa – Trouble Every Day, The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet, Absolutely Free suite, Absolutely Free, The Idiot Bastard Son, Lumpy Gravy, Peaches en Regalia, Willie the Pimp, It Must Be a Camel, Billy the Mountain, Big Swifty, Camarillo Brillo, Montana, Cosmik Debris, Inca Roads, The Adventures of Greggory Peccary

Kraftwerk – Ruckzuck, KlingKlang, Tanzmusik, Autobahn, Radioactivity, Europe Endless, Trans-Europe Express, The Robot, Das Model

Traffic – Heaven is in Your Mind, Dear Mr. Fantasy, Paper Sun, Hole in my Shoe, All You Can Join In, Feelin’ Alright, Feeling Good, Glad, Empty Pages, John Barleycorn, The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys

Gentle Giant – Advent of Panurge, Just the Same, Pantagruel’s Nativity, Knots, In a Glass House, Boys in the Band, On Reflection, So Sincere, Design, Funny Ways
Van der Graaf Generator – A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, Lemmings, House With No Door, Pioneers Over C

Magma – Riah Sahiltaahk, Mekanik Zain, Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh, Kohntarkosz, De Futura

The Moody Blues – Nights in White Satin, A Question, Tuesday Afternoon

The Soft Machine – Moon in June, Out-Bloody-Rageous, Rivmic Melodies, Virtually, Esther’s Nose Job

Marillion (Fish) – Script for a Jester’s Tear, He Knows You Know Garden Party, Forgotten Sons, Fugazi, Kayleigh, Blind Curve…, Bitter Suite, Incommunicado

Gong – Tropical Fish: Selene, Flying Teapot, The Isle of Everywhere, Ooby-Scooby Doomsday…, Esnuria, Percolations pt. 1 and 2, I’ve Bin Stone Before…, Heavy Tune, Other Side of the Sky, I Never Glid Before

Kansas – The Pinnacle, Magnum Opus, Death of Mother Nature Suite, Song for America, Incomudro: Hymn to the Atman

Tangerine Dream – Phaedra, Mysterious Semblance At the Strand of Nightmares, Ricochet, Pt. 2, Stratosfear, Cherokee Land, Force Majeure, Cloudburst Flight, Atem

Caravan – Nine Feet Underground, Policeman, In the Land of Grey and Pink, C’thulu Thulu, Waterloo Lily, Hello Hello, Memory Lain, Hugh/Headloss

Uriah Heep – Lady in Black, Salisbury, July Morning, Paradise/The Spell

Camel – Lady Fantasy, Lunar Sea, First Light, Echoes, You Make Me Smile, Ice

Peter Gabriel – Here Comes the Flood, Solsbury Hill, Waiting for the Big One, Games Without Frontiers, Biko, Sledgehammer

The Mahavishnu Orchestra – Meeting of the Spirits, You Know You Know, Birds of Fire, One Word, Trilogy Suite, Hymn to Him, Inner Worlds Pt. 1 & 2

Others: Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, Catherine of Aragon by Rick Wakeman, Autumn and Antique Suite, both by the Strawbs, Kuiama by ELO, Hallalewah, Pinch, Yoo Doo Right, and Bel Air by Can, Fool’s Overture and Brother Where You Bound by Supertramp, Come Sail Away and Renegade by Styx
Please, no ‘add more’ comments, ESPECIALLY for Pink Floyd.
Please, try to use SPECIFIC songs!
Also, I want no progressive metal.

Okay, so here is a little taste of the story:

The morning started off like most days, except for everyone at the Cronston manor. The birds were chirping a melody that was peaceful, and most people in the small town of St. Janquet in England were either sleeping or getting out of bed for their morning cup of tea. At the edge of town near the quiet forest surrounding the small relaxing town was the Cronston manor. This particular manor was large, as most are, and a mix between dark blue and light blue with a white trim at the bottom. There was a large balcony in the back that overlooked the large garden. The garden had lush green grass with a majestic fountain that every so often spurted out a stream of water. Stone fences no taller than 5 feet surrounded the manor. The maid at the house is Mrs. Monatila, she’s a kind lady in her late 40’s but you don’t want to get on her bad side. She woke up every morning at 5 AM to tidy up the house and work on her daily housekeeping duties for the Cronstons. While she was walking across the 1st floor of the manor she went along cleaning the vases with a wet cloth like she usually does but when she got to the study she opened the door to a find a body lying on top of the desk. She clasped her mouth with her right hand and was feeling a little sick. She gently walked across the wood floor and over to the body. A gasp escaped her when she turned the body to look at the face and to her shock, it was……..

(So, what do you guys think?)
I do have it broken up into paragraphs, but for some reason yahoo put it all into one block or text, sorry. I added more detail to my story because I wanted to create a vivid world for the reader to step in to.

Sorry if its long…

Sitting atop his stoop, gazing upon the white land he came to know and love, Oliver noticed his world depleting. He had lived here, alone, not knowing where he came from, not understanding who he was, only having the distinct urge to run his fingers along the smooth white surfaces. That was what Oliver did, for hours and hours letting his soft fingers become tough and ridden with calluses. But Oliver had a much more unique talent then that one, as he wandered living in his bland world, he once saw an end. Where the white would stop and it would become dark and misty slowly fading into a deep world Oliver dared never to explore. Sometimes he would go back to the edge, curiosity, maybe, only to see the darkness overcoming the bright white. Oliver worried more and more his world would come to an end, bringing him to sit on the floor and move his fingers making pictures. He could see them, but as he blinked they would vanish, his wonderful pieces gone, and he would start again with something new.
But one day as the darkness was just as far as the eye could see, coming much closer then ever before, tears filled his eyes and he drew. The blues and greens spilling from his fingertips enchanted the floor beneath. As he wiped his eyes he realized that these pictures wouldn’t disappear as he looked away or blinked, they stayed in view no matter how long he looked away. Oliver used his skills to build a new world, forcing the darkness far away. He drew grass and fences and small cream houses, buildings with dome roofs and gardens with yellow roses. He wouldn’t stop until he was finished, finished painting the windows to each house, the locks on each door, the lace curtains for each golden window sill, the spilling fountains made of only the finest stone.
As Oliver grew, so did his art, becoming more and more real. The waterfalls crashing in to the water below splashing rainbows in the sprinkling mist, the wind brushing against the shutters veering the silence from his ears, developing into reality. Oliver made birds that sung sweet lullabies and fish that had scales that turned all colors as the sun rose into and left the blue sky.
Though, as Oliver grew and his hearing of the birds singing and the water splashing faded and the smell of bread roasting and the rainbows that grew across the sky became dull, Oliver felt something was missing. No matter how many roses he added to an ivy wall or how ever many golden brown buttered rolls he drew just barely coming out of the roaring stove fire he couldnt fill it. Oliver grew old, seeking vigurously for the thing he needed, drawing anything that came to mind to perfect his world. Soon all that was left of poor Oliver was the wrinkled man sitting in a large detailed arm chair pulstered with blue silk cushion in front of what was left of a roaring flame. The embers crackled just loud enough for his old ears to pick up and the roasting smell just barely lingered in his drooping nose. His mind thinking, though too jumbled to make any sense, as his pointer carved a deep hole into his chair. No color came, just the dull scraping of his fingernail.
That was it.

MORE INFO
gotta ask, i was confused. In the begining, right? it says came… should that be come? and like the birds who sung … should that be sang? idk … im bad at that sorta thing. and with that whole than then thing. little help with that.
This is an intro to like a fantasy more as story and this is the story of how they came to be, like a kids story. And this girl finds that darkness is comeing back… somthing like that…
YOU DONT HAVTA READ IT ALL!!!! really. just comment on however much [i just put up all i wrote cause like… sometimes people always ask why io stopped where i did. so i just added it all.

I know we got off the metro at Les Halles (4), and it seemed a sort walk to here…. It’s definetely around the Latin Quarter….

The area was very popular, with lots of Parisians sitting around enjoying lunch…. It seemed kind of tucked away, and we were the only tourists…

Please help me! Thanks