Paradise Attained

Abū Hurairah reports that a bedouin came to the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) and asked, “Guide me to an action which I can perform and enter Paradise.” He (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) replied, “Worship Allāh without associating anything with Him, establish the prescribed prayers, give the obligatory zakāt, and fast the month of Ramaḍān.” He said, “By the One in whose hand is my soul, I will add nothing more to this nor will I detract from it.” When he had left, the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever wants to look at a person from the inhabitants of Paradise, let him look at this man.”[1]

There are many aḥadīth that prove the great principle articulated in this one. They all lend to the meaning that the person who fulfils what is obligatory upon him to do and avoids the unlawful matters deserves to enter Paradise and be saved from the Fire. Whoever has this quality is deserving of being called a Muslim and a Mu’min, indeed he has become one of the Muttaqūn, those mindful of Allāh, one of those traversing the Straight Path.

The next ḥadīth conveys a similar meaning:

Sufyān b. ʿAbdullāh al-Thaqafi reports that he asked,

“Messenger of Allāh, tell me something about Islām that would leave me in no need of ask anyone else after you.” He (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, “Say: I have faith in Allāh, then remain firm upon this.”[2]

This man asked the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) for some succinct, all-encompassing advice that would direct him to goodness and success. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) ordered him to have faith in Allāh which includes all that is necessary to believe and the ensuing acts of the heart, and submission to Allāh, inwardly and outwardly. Then after this, he counselled him to remain steadfast until death, as such this ḥadīth is similar in meaning to His saying,

“The angels descend on those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allāh,’ and then stand firm: ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but rejoice in the Garden you have been promised…’”[3]

So the result of faith and steadfastness is security from all evil, the attainment of Paradise, and the attainment of all that one loves. Many texts of the Book and Sunnah prove that faith is made up of the beliefs of the heart, the acts of the heart (such as hope and fear, the desire for good and hatred of evil), and acts of the limbs. All of this is perfected by remaining firm upon it.

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Notes: Taken from:

Bahjat Qulubi l-Abrar wa Qurratu `Uyuni’l-Akhyar fi Sharh Jawami` al-Akhbar

By; `Abdu’l-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa`di. Translation: Abu Rumaysah
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[1] Bukhārī [#1397] and Muslim [#14]

[2] Muslim [#38]

[3] Al-Qur’ān, 41:30