Question
I watched a Q&A session in which you were asked if we will be with the same family (parents, spouse, etc.) in the afterlife in Jannah. You replied that we would awaken with the same mentality and character as in this life and be with our loved ones. Furthermore, if one of our relatives (such as parents) is at a higher level in Jannah, they will call us to join them, and if we are at a higher level, we can call them to join us. This implies that there is potential for growth in Jannah. Whether or not growth is possible, my question is: Where did you derive this understanding that we can elevate our loved ones to a higher level, and what references from the Quran can you cite to support this?
Answer
Thank you for your question. It is true that if both the parents and the children enter Paradise, they will be united with each other by the grace of God. The Almighty has said:
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ
“Those who have accepted faith, and their children too followed them with any level of faith, We shall unite their children with them [in their level] and not even slightly diminish the reward of their deeds…”
(Surah Toor 52: Aayah 21)
Ustaz Ghamidi commenting on this Aayah writes:
“This is a further glad tiding: if the children of people of faith are worthy of Paradise even if they merit the lowest level, the Almighty in order to complete His favour upon them will grant the children the same level as their parents and both will be united at one place.
It is evident from this that same will be the case when the parents are at some lower level because the love between the parents and the children which is instrumental in uniting the children with the parents, is present in the second case as well.”
Ghamidi; Al-Bayaan, Tr: Dr. Shehzad Saleem)
Answered by: Mushafiq Sultan
Date: 2016-11-21
