Prophet Muhammad said: When Allah created Paradise, He said to Jibreel (AS), ‘Go and look at it.’ Jibreel (AS) went, and returned, saying, ‘O Lord! By Thy might, no one who hears of it will fail to enter it.’
Allah then surrounded it with disagreeable things, and said, ‘Go and look at it now.’ Jibreel (AS) went, and returned, saying, ‘O Lord! By Thy might, I am afraid that no one will enter it.’
When Allah created Hell, He said to Jibreel (AS), ‘Go and look at it.’ Jibreel (AS) went, and returned, saying, ‘O Lord! By Thy might, no one who hears of it will enter it.’
Allah then surrounded it with desirable things, and said, ‘Go and look at it now.’ Jibreel (AS) went, and returned, saying, ‘O Lord! By Thy might, I am afraid that no one will remain who does not enter it.’

– Abu Daud.

Hellfire is surrounded by tempting things that will be attractive to us. On the other hand, Paradise is surrounded by difficult things that we often times find personally challenging. However, the test of virtue is remaining true to one’s beliefs in the face of all adversity, such as Prophet Job . After all, it is not worth being given eternal life and eternal happiness in the next life if we do not strive for it in this one, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Related posts:

1. Spreading the Message in Mecca
2. Losing Weight Through Islam
3. Supplication: the Weapon of the Believer
4. To Eat the Flesh of His Dead Brother