Are the pleasure of Allaah and Paradise Muslim’s greatest aspirations? Is there any contradiction between them?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

The highest aspiration any wise person can hope for is to enter Paradise, the abode of happy people, and to be saved from Hell, the abode of the wretched. Thus, the supplications of the Prophet generally revolved around these two wishes.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that his supplications at the end of his prayers were either asking to enter Paradise or seeking refuge from Hell. [Abu Daawood, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah]

The Companions of the Prophet used to have the same aspirations and their supplications were generally about asking to enter Paradise and being saved from Hell. Also, the highest wish of all the righteous and pious people was to enter Paradise. Thus, they always implored Allaah to admit them into Paradise and they sought refuge with Him from Hell.

In a narration on the authority of Abu Hurayrah the Prophet said that Allaah summoned the angels to witness that He forgave people who gathered and glorified Allaah, asked Him for Paradise and sought refuge with Him from Hell. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

As for the pleasure of Allaah, one can gain once he enters Paradise, because it is then that Allaah will grant him His Pleasure. In a narration on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri the Prophet stated that Allaah will be pleased with the people of Paradise and He will never be discontent with them. This will be better for them than any bliss they experience. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In conclusion, entering Paradise and being saved from Hell are the highest aspirations that a person can wish for. There is no contradiction between entering Paradise and attaining the Pleasure of Allaah, for they are inseparably connected. We implore Allaah to grant us all Muslims Paradise and save us from Hell.

Allaah Knows best.