Heaven and Hell

The descriptions of Heaven and Hell throughout the Quran are allegorical. And the Quran tells us so whenever such descriptions occur as independent statements, not within a general subject. See 2:24–26, 13:35, and 47:15. The word Mathal(allegory) is used in these verses. Linguistically, the word “Mathal” in these verses can be removed and we still have perfect sentences — but it is there because the descriptions of Heaven and Hell are allegorical.

What Heaven and Hell are really like is far beyond our comprehension, hence the need for allegory. How can one describe, for example, the taste of chocolate to a person who has never tasted chocolate? Allegory must be used. The person has to wait to actually taste chocolate to know what it is like. Whatever allegory we use can never approximate the real thing.

Heaven already exists, since Adam and Eve were placed in it during their days of innocence (2:35). We learn from Sura 55 that there are two “High Heavens” — one for the humans and one for the jinns — and two “Lower Heavens” — one for the humans and one for the jinns (see Appendix 11 for more details).

Hell is not created yet. It will be created on the Day of Judgment (69:17 & 89:23). More details are given in Appendix 11.

There are profound allegorical differences between the High Heaven and the Lower Heaven described in Sura 55:

Yet even the Lower Heaven is an incredibly fantastic prize for those fortunate enough to escape Hell (3:185). People who depart this life before reaching their 40th birthday, and did not sufficiently develop their souls, will go to the Lower Heaven (46:15, Appendix 11 & 32). The High Heaven is reserved for those who believed, led a righteous life, and developed their souls sufficiently.