... often mask subtle messages behind the brightly colored facade presented to their audiences. One such film is the 1999 Iranian masterpiece The Color of Paradise. Written and directed by Majid Majidi, not only does this film present a easily understood and emotional plot but it also contains numerous subtle ... Iranian culture and finally to direct critiques of the current Iranian administration. Without even delving beneath the surface, the plot of The Color of Paradise is an emotional, heart wrenching one. The story revolves around a widower named Hashem and his blind son Mohammad who is ...

• Word Count: 1998
• Approx Pages: 8

... to be human minefield sweepers, were given keys to wear around their necks. Those keys, they were promised, would open the doors of paradise. Necrophiliac fervor at first seemed confined to Shiites (not just Iranians but the Lebanese factions that drove vehicles laden with explosives into the American ... Ismail. His father, a glazier, had a haunted look as he told how the community had turned out to congratulate him on his son's advent in paradise. His wife, completely covered except for her hands and her resolutely cheerful countenance, betrayed not a hint of sadness as she spoke of ...

• Word Count: 7424
• Approx Pages: 30
• Grade Level: High School

... the Jews and Christianity and affirm the great resurrection with consequence of heaven and hell. Muslims that follow the straight path of Islam look forward to paradise The Qur"an and that Hadith (Islam bibles) present paradise as a place of extreme beauty, sinless with no presence of pain or sorrow and ample physical fulfillment. Satan is banished forever Muslims will enjoy the ... eternal presence of Allah. Traditions observe that only Muslims will go to paradise. The people of the book (Jews and Christians are not admitted into heaven. "None will enter Paradise but a Muslim Soul, and...

• Word Count: 1806
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... general and will extend to all creatures from the angels and jinns to the men and brutes. The torments of hell and the pleasures of Paradise, but especially the latter, are believed to be proverbially crass and sensual. Hell is separated into seven regions: Jahannam, reserved for faithless Mohammedans; ... for all the damned except Moslems. Moslems, who have the true religion, will be delivered up to heaven after paying for their crimes. Paradise will be filled with Joys and glories almost as fantastic and sensual as the lascivious Arabian mind could imagine. "As Plenty of water is ......

• Word Count: 9202
• Approx Pages: 37
• Grade Level: High School

... be able to recognize one should the occasion and necessity arise. The final view and reward or punishment in Islam is the entry of a person into either paradise or hell. It is described as a perfect garden, possessing of more attributes than the Garden of Eden, with everything imbued with the all-loving presence of ... The attributes of each are not described as much as the comparison between the two. It is a constant refrain to demonstrate the greatness that is in paradise at Allah's side and the shame, regret and pain of those who are forced to endure the pits of hell. The concept of th...

• Word Count: 3357
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... religions is to ultimately get to a place called heaven. Heaven can be described as a place that believers go after death where God abides in a righteous state of being. In Islam, paradise or "the garden" is a place of physical as well as spiritual delights for the saved. In Judaism, it is believed that heaven is to abide with the Hebrew God Yahweh ... lineage to Abraham, and each believes in a judgment day followed by an afterlife spent in either Heaven or Hell. In the Koran the description of the joys and glories of Paradise are as fantastic and sensual as the Arabian mind could possi...

• Word Count: 872
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... humans have a spirit or soul that is everlasting, even after death. Both religions agree that this soul or spirit wind up in paradise/heaven or hell, based on a person" s lifestyle on earth. Nevertheless, Muslims believe that any person may enter paradise as long as they are righteous; it's not restricted to a certain religion, whereas Christians believe that a person may only enter heaven ... , ultimate in power, which created and rules the world. Time is not repeated, as a result, there are rewards or punishments for the good and evil souls after death, either eternal paradise or hell....

• Word Count: 1086
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... a Muslim martyr and Christian martyr. And prove to the reader that there is a big difference. When a Muslim is martyred by sacrificing his life for his land he then lives for paradise of seventy two virgins and seventy wives . The religious mindset of the terrorists Translation of a letter left by some of the terrorists of Sept 11. Which read Read the Chapter ... , and burn their remains," Al-Hutari wrote. "Call out in joy, oh my mother; distribute sweets, oh my father and brothers; a wedding with 'the black-eyed' awaits your son in Paradise."(14) Al Risala, the Hamas mouthpiece, publish...

• Word Count: 903
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... religions is to ultimately get to a place called heaven. Heaven can be described as a place that believers go after death where God abides in a righteous state of being. In Islam, paradise or "the garden" is a place of physical as well as spiritual delights for the saved. In Judaism, it is believed that heaven is to abide with the Hebrew God Yahweh ... lineage to Abraham, and each believes in a judgment day followed by an afterlife spent in either Heaven or Hell. In the Koran the description of the joys and glories of Paradise are as fantastic and sensual as the Arabian mind could possi...

• Word Count: 873
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... of the Holy City (Jerusalem)' and appointed them to the Holy Shrine of Mecca. Another notable Muslim city is Damascus. Spanish Muslim traveler and geographer Ibn Jubayr called the place a paradise of the east and the rising place of its radiant beauty (Doc. 1). He described how the place was decorated with gardens and the abundant water that entwined the city. Allah ... once stated, "If Paradise be on earth, Damascus must be I; if it is in Heaven, Damascus can parallel and match it. Spanish historian Al-Hijari wrote about the city of Cordoba. After the Arab ... ...

• Word Count: 998
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... , right speech, right thoughts, and right pleasures, in order to reach -1- Nirvana (Stavrianos 84). The word Nirvana literally meant "emptiness." However, it was later changed to mean " an afterlife in paradise". This change was done in order for the laypeople to be able to obtain salvation through faith and good works that helped others. Through this thinking came the Mahayana Buddhism ... that Buddhism began to change from a scholastic institution supported by the elite, into a religion of true popularity. During the thirteenth century Buddhism came close to evolving into a monotheisti...

• Word Count: 1127
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child." And he also said, "Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years." Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbid punishment with fire. He once listed murder as the second of the major sins ... of the monotheistic religions teach people to be criminals, yet religion cannot prevent immoral behavior. All religion can do is show people the right way to live and promise them a paradise in the hereafter as long as they follow ...

• Word Count: 1105
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . The Quran does not justify those types of actions; instead it condemns those who act in a terrorist manner. Killing innocent bystanders, especially women and children can lead to banishment from paradise according to the Prophet Muhammad. Therefore, if Alonso, Vanezza one rogue Muslim were to condone and act upon such violence he would break the Islamic code and be exempt from ... paradise, not be rewarded as we have been led to believe. The Islamic principles make it a religion worth believing in. The moral code of Islam strives for man to find a virtuous ... ...

• Word Count: 703
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... first drop of a martyr's blood is spilled, he does not feel the pains of the injury and he is absolved of all his sin and he sees his place in Paradise. He is saved from the torture of the grave and from fear of the Day of Judgment. He is awarded his allotment of beautiful virgins to cater forever to his ... every need. He becomes an advocate for seventy of his relatives to reach paradise and he earns the Crown of Glory, whose precious stone is better than this entire world and everything in it. Besides the commands of the Koran to destroy their enemies ... ...

• Word Count: 1051
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ." (Qur'an 81:8-9). "Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, God will enter him into Paradise."" (Ibn Hanbal, No. 1957). The Qur'an clearly indicates that marriage is sharing between the two halves of the society, and that its objectives, beside perpetuating human life, are emotional ... of mothers: "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him, and that you be kind to your parents . . ." (Qur'an 17:23). A famous saying of The Prophet is "Paradise is at the feet of mothers." (In Al'Nisa'I, Ibn Majah, Ahmad...

• Word Count: 5120
• Approx Pages: 20

... , Iblis, referred to in this context as shaytan, entered the Garden of Eden and tempted Eve to eat of the tree of immortality, causing both Adam and Eve to forfeit paradise. Note that Iblis has long been a figure of discussion among Muslim scholars, who have been trying to explain the ambiguous identification of Iblis in the Qur`an as either angel ... not prostrate, when I commanded you?" Iblis said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay. Allah said: "O, Iblis, get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, f...

• Word Count: 981
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... if possible; and last is giving "alms" also called a zakat to the poor and unfortunate. Those who were faithful and abided by these laws were guaranteed a place in an eternal paradise with the sensuous delights, which was everything that was none existent in the Arabian Desert. In addition to the "five pillars," the Islamic faith forbids the use of alcohol beverages ... and do good works to gardens watered by running streams. The unbelievers take their fill of pleasure and eat as the beasts eat: but Hell shall be their home ." The Paradise awaiting the good consists of rivers with unpol...

• Word Count: 735
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... ) from the evil in our souls and from our sinful deeds. It is the goal of each and every Muslim to earn a place amongst the fortunate ones; the dwellers of Paradise. For this purpose we all strive, some harder than others, and today, Muslims around the world anxiously await the month of Ramadhan. It is this prized month in which the ... punishments and this world the place of efforts, troubles and earnings. Earning is not the aim of human life but rather it is the hereafter and the door to enter Paradise is what we seek. The object of trade and commerce is to either gain necessary liveli...

• Word Count: 715
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... universe and these are the things that no man has ever seen, heard or thought of. Every thing is for our pleasure and enjoyment. This place is called Heaven (Islamic Paradise). "I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve me" (Ali 51:56). In this passage, serving Allah or God means that if we lead our lives according to ... the amount of blessings in Heaven, there is no limit to the punishment in Hell. There are no words to explain, how fierce the punishment will be in hell (Islamic Paradise). It is a place, where death will come to a person from all sides but the person will...

• Word Count: 1063
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Fattouma's journey takes him from place to place in search of the land of Gebel, a legendary paradise that all speak of but have never found. His is fascinated with this world that his teacher often talks about putting images in his head about how it should be. ... obtain knowledge but also there may be an underling meaning as to why he wants to go on this journey. What is known is that it is the ever-elusive Paradise or Nirvana or Shangri-La that everyone, especially Ibn Fattouma, is searching for. Gebel is a symbol or what man wants to be and that is God like. Gebel symbol is ... ...

• Word Count: 2213
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... allowed in heaven. The first person believing in both a non-biased divinity and that his actions reflected his good heart stated "Only If I can go, anyone else can go inside Paradise." The second man, angry, reiterated this statement as he believed that he was in no way inferior to his friend. The third man stated, "You are both correct. If only ... the "I" (pure expression of the self) goes, you can enter paradise." His two friends agreed that one's heart must be of a pure essence to please Allah and that one has to purify oneself about the thought of the self in order ... ...

• Word Count: 1441
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... also would be surprised about believing in heaven and hell. And about the fact that if you believe in the one and only God you will prosper and live in paradise and if you do not believe in the one God you will suffer in hell and get punished for it. The main idea of the Bible and the Koran is ... ...

• Word Count: 1951
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... the films I have seen, I can see the big differences between the Vikings' and Arabs' funerals and cultures. They have one thing in common: they believe that they will come to paradise after they die. Scene 2 (08:01 – 09:28) One can see on Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan's face that he reacts strongly when he sees how the Vikings wash their faces ... ...

• Word Count: 805
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... . they cite Quranic verses that they say stress women's equality. For example, Sura 4:124 states, "And whosoever does deeds of righteousness, be it male or female, believing--they shall enter Paradise and not be wronged," However, other verses have a different message. Sura 2:228 declares, "Men stand a step above them." In marriage, women should show obedience to their husbands and in some ... ...

• Word Count: 2952
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... in order to not become like them even if he does not himself commit shirk. Qadhi also explains that those who think that Jews and Christians are going to enter paradise are wrong. A true Muslim cannot be upon tawhid until he acknowledges, realizes, and accepts that every other religion other than Islam is falsehood. He notes that Jews and Christians took ... ...

• Word Count: 1668
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate