The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 442
442. Essence of Islām II. Nature of the Blessings of Paradise. In the same way, the source of the comfort of heaven are a person's own actions. If he does not depart from the religion of nature and does not move away from the centre and, as a servant, he lies at the threshold of God and partakes of the lights of Godhead, then he is like the healthy limb which has not moved from its position and is performing the function for which God has created it and he suffers no pain and all is comfort. . A Person's Heaven is Generated within Him. In the Holy Qur'ān, He says: وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّلِحَتِ اَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهرُ 217. Convey to those who believe and act righteously the good news that for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow. . In this verse God Almighty has called faith a garden and righteous actions streams of water. This is the relationship between righteous actions and faith. As no garden can flourish and bring forth fruit without water, in the same way, no faith is helpful which is not accompanied by righteous action. So what is heaven? It is the embodiment of faith and righteous action. Like hell paradise too is nothing external. Indeed, a person's heaven is born within him. . Remember! The blessings that are bestowed there are nothing but the pious which is shaped in the world. True faith resembles a plant and righteous actions are like streams which irrigate that plant and maintain its green217. Al-Baqarah, 2:26 [Publisher]