Many verses of the Holy Quran make mention of the fact that the level and rank of the Believers in Jannah will differ:
1) Allah Ta’ala says:
“Each person will have ranks by virtue of their actions and Your Rabb is not unaware of what they do” (Surah An’am, Verse: 132)
2) Allah Ta’ala says:
“Look how We favour some of them over others. But the Hereafter has
higher ranks and greater favours” (Surah Bani Israil, Verse: 21)
There are also numerous Hadiths which explain that Jannah has a few levels. Among them are the following:
1) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whomsoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, establishes Salah
and fasts Ramadan, Allah will admit him in to Jannah, whether he strives
in the Way of Allah or remains in the land where he was born.” The
Sahabah asked, “O Rasulullah, shall we give the people the good news?”
He said, “In Jannah there are one hundred levels
which Allah has prepared for those who strive in his way. Between each
level is the space between the sky and earth. When you ask Allah, ask
Him for Firdaws which is the [best] part of Jannah…” [Therefore people
should strive to attain the higher ranks of Jannah and not be content
with whatever little they are carrying out]
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2790)
2) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“In Jannah there are one hundred levels. The distance between each level is a hundred years”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2529. Declared authentic by Imam Tirmidhi.
Also see At Tadhkirah Fi Ahwalil Mawta Wa Umuril Akhirah, vol. 2 pg.
391)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
