Who Was Shaddad: Who Made Heaven on Earth: Shaddad, a Kafir king, governed the entire world centuries ago. Being rebellious, he developed a definite plan to create a Paradise in this world after he learned about Paradise and its distinctive and special qualities through several blessed Ambiya.
Who Was Shaddad: Who Made Heaven on Earth
The ruler of the long-since vanished Arabian city known as Iram of the Pillars was Shaddad bin Aad. Shaddad used gold, silver, and diamonds to build his paradise, but he passed away before ever setting foot inside.
The Tales of the Arabian Nights’ 277th through 279th nights contain his story. According to the legend, he created the city of gold and was a global king who ruled over the entire planet.
People of Aad
Two boys, Shaddad and Shadeed, were left behind when ‘Aad’ passed away. After a while, Shadeed also passed away, and Shaddad took over as monarch. He is reputed to have controlled a thousand Adite tribes. The city of idols is referred to as Iram of the Pillars. To lead the people of Aad down the correct road, Allah sent the Prophet Hud.
Prophet Hud and Shaddad
When the Prophet Hud revealed the message of Allah to Shaddad, he questioned what benefits he would receive in return for accepting Islam. He was informed by Prophet Hud that he will receive paradise.
Shaddad grew increasingly curious about the Jannah and began to ask more questions. Shaddad claimed that it is nothing because he can also make such a paradise after learning the specifics.
Iram of the Pillars
Iram, also known as Iram of the Pillars, is a mythological city that endured the onslaughts of divine wrath that were sent as retribution against the inhabitants of Aad. It took place as a result of the populace ignoring a prophet’s exhortation to follow the way of one God. Because of their disobedience, they had to endure a sandstorm for eight days and seven nights, which caused their entire city, complete with its tall pillars, to become completely covered in sand. Later, this extinct civilization made an appearance in the folklore of many other nations. Others think it has a connection to the “Lost city of Atlantis,” despite the fact that historians have long disputed the existence of such a metropolis.
This also includes the account of Shaddad, a cruel king who was Aad’s son. Shaddad hesitated to accept the prophet’s invitation to the Islamic faith because he was completely inebriated by his power and pelf. Instead, he asserted that he was the only god and that he was a god in his own right. He had a beautifully decked heaven created in opposition to the prophet’s prophesied heaven. When his heaven was complete, he finally headed out to see it, but the angel of death suffocated his soul en route, preventing him from getting there. The Quran (Sura 89) uses this account of his misguided pride as a warning to unbelievers.
The paradise of Shaddad
After that, Shaddad began constructing a paradise with the following features using the resources of his entire Kingdom:
- This city was made of bricks of gold and silver.
- The pillars were erected with pure gemstones such as Ruby and Emerald.
- Jewels were used to make the floors and the pathways.
- Pebbles were not used to enhance the beauty, rather pearls were laid on the floor.
- Beautiful trees were planted to enhance paradise’s beauty and provide shade.
Opening ceremony of the paradise
Shaddad finished the paradise in 300 years. Finally, after it was finished, he instructed everyone to proceed to the walls of the glittering city of tall, majestic pillars, which is also mentioned in the Holy Quran.
Did you not see how your Lord dealt with Aad, the people of Iram—with ˹their˺ great stature? – Al Fajr 89:6-7
Shaddad first encountered a deer with a trunk and legs made of gold and silver while traveling to his paradise. He chose to ride after it while fleeing from his army.
Death of Shaddad
He came into a terrifying horseman who said, “Oh Shaddad! After entering this artificial paradise on earth, you had the impression that you would be spared from death and live forever.
Shaddad shook when he heard this and asked, “Who are you?” The response was, “I am the angel of death.”
Shaddad questioned, “What do you want, and why are you in my way? He responded, “I’ve come to steal your soul.
Shaddad begged the angel of death to allow him to enter the paradise he had created in 300 years, but the angel of death denied since he did not have Allah’s consent. Then he passed away without ever setting foot in his paradise.
Was his paradise discovered?
In the era of the companion of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, camel of a pious saint Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qilabah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ went missing in the desert of Adan, a city near Yemen. While searching for the camel in the desert, he discovered the Paradise of Shaddad and beheld its beauty. There was no person present over there. He took some jewels from there and returned. When Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ came to know about it, he called Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qilabah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and asked about this matter. After listening to the complete details, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ went to Sayyiduna Ka’b-ul-Ahbaar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and asked: ‘Does any such and such type of city also exist in the world?’ Sayyiduna Ka’b-ul-Ahbaar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ replied: ‘Yes!’ Thereupon, he mentioned the complete story of Shaddad and said: ‘In your era, a Muslim will enter this city while searching for his camel. His colour will be red and eyes will be blue; he will have a short height and a mole on the eyebrows.’ Upon seeing Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qilabah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ afterwards, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said: ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! He is the same person.’
