Throughout our lives, we strive to believe in and serve Allah, with the ultimate goal of being admitted to heaven (jannah). We hope that our eternal lives will be spent there, so of course people are curious about what it is like. Only Allah knows, but He describes some of it for us in the Quran. What will heaven be like?

Pleasure of Allah

Of course, the greatest reward in Heaven is receiving Allah's pleasure and mercy. This honor is saved for those who believe in Allah and strive to live in accordance with His guidance. The Quran says:

"Say: Shall I give you glad tidings of things Far better than those? For the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord... and the good pleasure of Allah. For in Allah's sight are (all) His servants" (3:15).
"Allah will say: This is a day in which the truthful will profit from their truth. Theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath - their eternal Home. Allah is well-pleased with them, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation" (5:119).

Those who enter Heaven will be greeted by angels with words of peace. In Heaven, one will have only positive emotions and experiences; there will be no hatred, anger, or upset of any kind.

"And We shall remove from their breasts any hatred or sense of injury" (Quran 7:43).
"Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring. Angels shall enter from every gate (with the salutation): 'Peace be with you, that you persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!" (Quran 13:23-24).
“They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin. But only the saying of: 'Peace! Peace!'" (Quran 56:25-26).

Gardens

The most significant description of heaven is as a beautiful garden, filled with greenery and flowing water. In fact the Arabic word, jannah, means "garden."

"But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is gardens, beneath which rivers flow" (2:25).
"Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous" (3:133)
"Allah hath promised to Believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme felicity" (9:72).

Family / Companions

Both men and women will be admitted to Heaven, and many families will reunite.

"... Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are members, one of another..." (3:195).
"Gardens of perpetual bliss: They shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring. Angels shall enter to them from every gate (with the salutation): 'Peace be with you because you persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!'" (13:23-24)
"And whoever obeys God and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom God has bestowed favor – of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions!" (Quran 4:69).

Thrones of Dignity

In Heaven, every comfort will be afforded. The Quran describes:

"They will recline (with ease) on Thrones (of dignity) arranged in ranks..." (52:20).
"They and their associates will be in groves of (cool) shade, reclining on Thrones (of dignity). Every fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for" (36:56-57).
"In a lofty Paradise, where they shall neither hear harmful speech nor falsehood. Therein will be a running spring. Therein will be thrones raised high, and cups set at hand. And cushions set in rows, and rich carpets (all) spread out" (88:10-16).

Food / Drink

The Quran's description of Heaven includes plentiful food and drink, without any feelings of satiation or intoxication.

"... Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: 'Why, this is what we were fed before,' for they are given things in similitude..." (2:25).
"Therein you shall have (all) that your inner‑selves desire, and therein you shall have all for which you ask. An entertainment from Allah, the Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” (41:31-32).
“Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent forth (good deeds) in days past!” (69:24).
“... rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes...” (Quran 47:15).

Eternal Home

In Islam, Heaven is understood to be a place of everlasting life.

"But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the garden. Therein shall they abide forever" (2:82).
"For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath - an eternal dwelling. How excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)!" (3:136).

All Muslims hope to spend their eternal lives in Heaven (jannah), but many will fall short. Disbelievers and evil-doers face another destination: Hell-Fire (jahannam). The Quran contains many warnings and descriptions of the severity of this eternal punishment.

Blazing Fire

The consistent description of Hell in the Quran is as a blazing fire which is fueled by "men and stones." It is thus often called "hell-fire."

"...fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones,- which is prepared for those who reject Faith" (2:24).
"...Enough is Hell for a burning fire. Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire... For Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise" (4:55-56).
"But he whose balance (of good deeds) is found to be light, will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit. And what will explain to you what this is? A Fire blazing fiercely!" (101:8-11).

The worst punishment for disbelievers and wrongdoers will be the realization that they have failed. They did not heed Allah's guidance and warnings, and thus have earned His wrath. The Arabic word, jahannam, means "a dark storm" or "a stern expression." Both exemplify the seriousness of this punishment. The Quran says:

"Those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,- on them is Allah's curse, and the curse of angels, and of all mankind. They will abide therein: Their penalty will not be lightened, nor will they receive respite" (2:161-162).
"They are (men) whom Allah hath cursed: And those whom Allah Hath cursed, thou wilt find, have no one to help" (4:52).

Boiling Water

Normally water brings relief and puts out a fire. The water in Hell, though, is different.

"...Those who deny (their Lord), for them will be cut out a garment of Fire. Over their heads will be poured out boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins. In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them. Every time they wish to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be forced back, and (it will be said), "Taste the Penalty of Burning!" (22:19-22).
"In front of such a one is Hell, and he is given, for drink, boiling fetid water" (14:16).
"In its midst and in the midst of boiling hot water will they wander round!" (55:44).

Whereas the rewards of Heaven include plentiful, fresh fruits and milk, the inhabitants of Hell will eat from the Tree of Zaqqum. The Quran describes it:

"Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum? For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers. It is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-Fire. The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils. Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water. Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire" (37:62-68).
"Verily, the tree of deadly fruit will be the food of the sinful. Like molten lead will it boil in the belly, like the boiling of burning despair" (44:43-46).

No Second Chances

When they are dragged into Hell-Fire, many people will instantly regret the choices they made in their lives, and will beg for another chance. The Quran warns such people:

"And those who followed would say: 'If only We had one more chance...' Thus will Allah show them (the fruits of) their deeds as (nothing but) regrets. Nor will there be a way for them out of the Fire" (2:167)
"As to those who reject Faith: if they had everything on earth, and twice repeated, to give as ransom for the penalty of the Day of Judgment, it would never be accepted of them. Theirs would be a grievous penalty. Their wish will be to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out. Their penalty will be one that endures" (5:36-37).