The seven heavens are mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Is Paradise in those seven heavens?

Firstly, according to what Allah has mentioned in His Book and upon the tongue of His Messenger (ﷺ), He created the earth and the heavens in six days. Allah says:

“Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne.” [1]

 The number of heavens is seven, as Allah says:

“It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them.” [2]

 The first of these heavens is referred to as as-sama’ ad-dunya (the nearest heaven).

Allah says:

 “And We adorned as-sama’ ad-dunya (the nearest heaven) with lamps and as protection.” [3]

So the nearest heaven that Allah refers to includes all the planets and stars that modern science has discovered until today. Hence, what scientists refer to as the “universe” is the earth along with the nearest heaven that Allah refers to in the above verse. That means there are six more heavens which exists beyond this universe that we have not discovered till now. The last of the heavens is referred to as the seventh heaven. Above it is the Throne of Allah. Abdullah ibn Abbas (radhiyallahu anhu) said:

A man from among the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), one of the Ansar, told me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “… But when our Lord, may His name be blessed and exalted, decrees something, the bearers of the Throne glorify Him, then the inhabitants of the heaven that is closest to them (the seventh heaven) glorify Him, until the tasbeeh reaches this nearest heaven (as-sama’ ad-dunya). Then those who are closest to the bearers of the Throne say to the bearers of the Throne: ‘What did your Lord say?’ So they tell them what He said. Then the inhabitants of the heavens ask one another until the news reaches this nearest heaven (as-sama’ ad-dunya).” [4] This very clearly indicates that the Throne and its bearers are above all the heavens. In another narration, Ibn Mas’ud (radhiyallahu anhu) said:

“The thickness of each heaven is a distance of five hundred years marching. Between the seventh heaven and the Footstool (al-Kursy) is a distance of five hundred years. Between the Footstool and the water is a distance of five hundred years. The Throne is above the water and Allah is above the Throne, and none of your deeds are concealed from Him.” [5]

Hence, the Throne is the greatest of created things, as it covers all of creation. It is above the entire creation and is the roof of creation. So if the Throne is the highest of creation, and the seven heavens are beneath it, where is Paradise located? There are differing opinions among the scholars regarding the location of Paradise among the vast creation of Allah. However, the most correct opinion that confirms with the various texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah is the opinion of the majority of scholars, that is, “Paradise is above the seventh heaven and beneath the Throne.” This opinion is backed up by the statements of various companions, keeping in mind that the location of Paradise is from among the matters of the unseen that require evidence from revelation. Hence, the companions did not speak on this issue from mere opinion; rather they had knowledge from the Qur’an and Sunnah regarding this issue. Among the salaf who chose this opinion are: Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas’ud, Anas ibn Malik, Abdullah ibn Salam, Mujahid, Qatadah, al-Hasan al-Basri and Malik ibn Anas. Al-Baghawi mentions in his Tafseer:

Anas ibn Malik (radhiyallahu anhu) was asked about the location of Paradise whether it is in the heaven or on this earth. He responded by saying: “Which heaven or earth could encompass Paradise?” So he was asked: “Where is it then?” He answered by saying: “It is above the seven heavens underneath the Throne.” And Qatadah said: “They (the companions) used to view that Paradise which is above the seven heavens, and that Hellfire is below the seven earths.” [6] What further strengthens this opinion is the hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (radhiyallahu anhu), who said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Paradise has one-hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahidin who fight in His Cause. The distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the Earth. So, when you ask Allah, ask for al-Firdaus which is the best and highest part of Paradise. Above it (i.e. al-Firdaus) is the Throne of ar-Rahman, and from it originates the rivers of Paradise.” [7]

Hence, Paradise is located above the heavens and beneath the Throne of Allah. And Allah knows the best indeed.

References:

[1] Surah al-A’raf ,7:54

[2] Surah at-Talaq, 65:12

[3] Surah Fussilat, 41:12

[4] Muslim in his Saheeh: 4136

[5] Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh (9105) and in his Kitab al-Tawheed (no. 594;  it was classified as saheeh by al-Dhahabi in al-‘Alw (p. 64) and by Ibn al-Qayyim in Ijtimaa’ al-Juyoosh al-Islamiyyah, (p. 100)

[6] Tafseer al-Baghawi, 2/104

[7] Bukhari in his Saheeh (2987)