Illiyin or Illiyun (Arabic: عِلِّيِّين, عِلِّيُّون, romanizedʿilliyyīn, -ūn literally: Heaven, Upperworld) is a Quranic term referring to either the "most high" and "supreme" places above Jannah, i.e. the Garden of Eden or Paradise, in the seventh Heaven closest to the Throne of God (al-ʿArsh),[1][2] or, according to a different interpretation, a register for the blessed or record of the righteous,[3][4] which is mentioned in Verses 83:18–20[5] of the Quran. It is also understood as the abode of the believers before Resurrection.[6]: 21  The antithesis of Illiyin is Sijjin.[7]

Etymology

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The word as an adjective, apparently pronounced in such a way to parallel with sijjīn (a commonly seen aspect of the Quran), is a plural of ʿaliyy (Arabic: عَلِيّ) meaning "high, exalted, lofty, excellent" from the very common root ʿ-L-W (ع ل و) related to exalting, becoming high or elevating. The very similar-sounding Hebrew word ʿelyṓn (עֶלְיוֹן) meaning "upper, top, uppermost" or "Most High" as an epithet of God, derives from an equivalent root but is however not a direct cognate since Hebrew plurals end in "-im".

Shia tradition

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According to some Shia traditions, the Ahl al-Bayt were created from the earth of Illiyin.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Abdul-Rahman, Muhammad Saed (2009). Tafsir Ibn Kathir Juz' 22 (Part 22): Al-Ahzab 31 To Ya-Sin 27. MSA Publication Limited. ISBN 9781861796141. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  2. ^ Tafsir Ibn Kathir all 10 volumes. IslamKotob. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  3. ^ Imani, Sayyid Kamal Faqih (4 November 2015). An Enlightening Commentary Into the Light of the Holy Qur'an. Tehran, Iran: Imam Ali Foundation. ISBN 9781519112446. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  4. ^ Patrick Hughes, Thomas Patrick Hughes. Dictionary of Islam. Asian Educational Services. 1995. ISBN 978-8-120-60672-2. p. 200.
  5. ^ (83:18–20)
  6. ^ Lange, Christian (2016). Paradise and Hell in Islamic Traditions. Cambridge United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-50637-3.
  7. ^ Abdul-Rahman, Muhammad Saed (2018). Tafsir Ibn Kathir Part 30 of 30: An Nabaa 001 to An Nas 006. Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  8. ^ Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism: The Sources of Esotericism in Islam SUNY Press 2016 ISBN 978-0-791-49479-0 page 166