Seventh Heaven

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This article is about Heaven. For other uses, see Seventh Heaven (disambiguation)

In ancient astronomy, before the telescope was invented, people referred to the Sun, Moon, and the five planets visible with the naked eye as the seven heavenly objects. Each had its own layer of heaven or sky assigned to it, and each was considered to be further and further away from Earth. Today we refer to the layers as the orbit of the object around the Sun.

It was believed by many cultures, and still is by some today, that when people die, their souls float into the sky, visiting each of the Seven Heavenly Objects as they travel to the outermost layer of heaven. When they reach that outermost layer, they are believed to actually meet God, who was/is supposed to exist just above the last layer of heaven, just above the orbit of the planet we currently call Saturn.

Contents

[edit] Judaism

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According to Jewish mysticism, Heaven is divided into seven realms.[citation needed] In order from lowest to highest, the seven Heavens are listed alongside the angels who govern them and any further information:

  1. Shamayim: The first Heaven, governed by Archangel Gabriel, is the closest of heavenly realms to the Earth; it is also considered the abode of Adam and Eve.
  2. Raquia: The second Heaven is dually controlled by Zachariel and Raphael. It was in this Heaven that Moses, during his visit to Paradise, encountered the angel Nuriel who stood "300 parasangs high, with a retinue of 50 myriads of angels all fashioned out of water and fire." Also, Raquia is considered the realm where the fallen angels are imprisoned and the planets fastened.[1][not in citation given]
  3. Shehaqim: The third Heaven, under the leadership of Anahel, serves as the home of the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life; it is also the realm where manna, the holy food of angels, is produced.[2][not in citation given] The Second Book of Enoch, meanwhile, states that both Paradise and Hell are accommodated in Shehaqim with Hell being located simply " on the northern side."
  4. Machonon: The fourth Heaven is ruled by the Archangel Michael , and according to Talmud Hagiga 12, it contains the heavenly Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Altar.
  5. Machon: The fifth Heaven is under the administration of Samael, an angel referred to as evil by some, but who is to others merely a dark servant of God.
  6. Zebul: The sixth Heaven falls under the jurisdiction of Zachiel.
  7. Araboth: The seventh Heaven, under the leadership of Cassiel, is the holiest of the seven Heavens provided the fact that it houses the Throne of Glory attended by the Seven Archangels and serves as the realm in which God dwells; underneath the throne itself lies the abode of all unborn human souls. It is also considered the home of the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Hayyoth.

[edit] Islam

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Islamic tradition recognizes heaven and paradise as separate places.[citation needed] The heavens (as-samawat) are seven levels, the first and lowest level of which is known as Dunyah.[citation needed] Dunyah encompasses the entire universe as we know it, including the Earth, stars, and other planets as described in the Qur'an:[improper synthesis?]

"See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, and made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun a Lamp?" (Surat Nuh 71:15–16)
"Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is able to do all things. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving; Who has created the seven heavens one above another; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. (Surat Al-Mulk 67:1–3).

As-Samawat (the Heavens) are not the same as Al-Jannah (the Paradise). Jannah is the final place for all of God's creations who: believed there is only one God, did not associate others with Him, obeyed God's commandments, followed the Messengers of God, and who did good deeds in their lives. Only these people enter the gates of Jannah with the mercy and forgiveness of Allah (God).[citation needed]

Jannah has seven levels. On Muhammad's journey to the heavens, known as Isra and Mi'raj, he saw the seven Heavens and met different prophets at different levels.[citation needed]

This belief is further supported by the traditions (hadith) of Muhammad:[improper synthesis?]

"The best of the shuhada’ are those who fight in the first rank and do not turn their faces away until they are killed. They will have the pleasure of occupying the highest dwellings in Paradise. Your Lord will smile at them, and whenever your Lord smiles upon any of His slaves, that person will not be brought to account." [Musnad Ahmad, Kitab al-zuhd, 2/286, hadith no. 2982]
"The one who sponsors an orphan, whether from his own wealth or from the orphan’s wealth, I and he will be like these two in Paradise." – and Malik (the narrator) gestured with his forefinger and middle finger."
"Allah will raise the status of His righteous slave in Paradise, and he will say, ‘O my Lord, how could I deserve this?’ He will say, ‘Because your child sought forgiveness for you.’"

The highest level in Jannah is al-Wasilah. This is also narrated in a hadith narrated by Bukhari from Jabir ibn Abdullah, according to which Muhammad said:

"Whoever says, when he hears the call to prayer: ‘Allahumma Rabba haadhihi’d-da`wati’t-taammah, wa’s-Salati’l-qaa’imah aati Muhammadan al-wasiilah wa’l-faDiilah, wab`athhu maqaaman maHmoodan alladhii wa`adtah (O Allah, Lord of this perfect Call, and the prayer to be offered, grant Muhammad al-Wasilah [the highest position in Paradise], and also the eminence, and resurrect him to the praised position You have promised),’ intercession for him will be granted on the Day of Resurrection."[cite this quote]

The Sahabah asked Muhammad, "What is al-Wasilah?" He said, "It is the highest level of Paradise, which only one man will reach, and I hope that I will be the one." This was reported by Ahmad from Abu Hurayrah; Ahmad also reported from Abu Sa`id that Muhammad said:

"Al-Wasilah is a rank above which there is no other in the sight of Allah. Ask Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah." [See Ibn Kathir, Al-Nihayah, 2/2332]
"When you pray ask for Firdaws, for it is in the middle of jannah and is higher in grade than the Jannah and above Firdaws is Allah’s throne, moreover the rivers of jannah flow from Firdaws." (Bukhari)[not specific enough to verify]

[edit] Popular culture

Colloquially, among English-speakers, it expresses bliss or happiness (i.e., "I am in seventh Heaven")

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The Legends of the Jews I, 131, and II, 306.
  2. ^ The Legends of the Jews V, 374.

[edit] References

  • Quranic translations by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
  • Davidson, Gustav. Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels. New York: The Free Press, 1967 (reprinted 1994). ISBN 002907052X.
  • Ginzberg, Louis. Henrietta Szold (trans.). The Legends of the Jews. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1909–38. ISBN 0801858909.
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