* The Deeds for Which People Will Deserve to Enter Paradise :
~ The Qur'an often states that the people of Paradise are the believers who do righteous deeds, to quote one of many examples:
"But whoever comes to Him as a believer [in tawheed] and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks [in the Hereafter] - 'Adn [Eden] Paradise [everlasting gardens [under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves". (Qur’an, 20:75-76)
~ Believers may earn Paradise through their Imaan (Faith) and Islaam:
"My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve - [you] who believed in Our aayaat and were Muslims, enter Paradise you and your wives in happiness" (Qur’an, 43:68-70)
~ Or because they were sincere in their devotion to Allah, the Exalted:
"Save the chosen slaves of Allah [Al-Mukhliseen]. For them there will be a known provision, fruits and they shall be honoured, in the gardens of delight." (Qur’an, 37:40-43)
~ Or for the strength of their relationship with Allah (swt), their longing for Him and worship of Him:
"Only those who believe in our aayaat who, when they are reminded of them fall down prostrate, and glorify the praises of their rabb, and they are not proud. Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Rabb in fear and hope, and they spend [charity in Allah's Cause] our of what We have bestowed on them". (Qur’an, 32:15-16)
~ Or for their patience and reliance upon Allah (swt):
"..Excellent is the reward of the workers, those who are patient and put their trust [only] in their Rabb" (Qur’an, 29:58-59)
~ Or for their steadfastness in faith:
"Verily those who say "Our Rabb is Allah" and remain firm [on that path], on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the Companions of the Garden dwelling therein: a recompense for their good deeds". (Qur’an, 46:13-14)
~ Or for their humility:
"Verily those who believe and do righteous deeds and humble themselves [in repentance and obedience] before their Rabb - they will be dwellers of Paradise to dwell therein forever" (Qur’an, 11:23)
~ Or for their fear of Allah, the Exalted:
"But for him who fears standing before his Rabb there will be two Gardens" (Qur’an, 55:46)
~ Some aayaat (verses) discuss in detail the righteous deeds for which a person may deserve Paradise; for example, Surah Ar-Ra'd states:
"But it is only the men of understanding who pay heed, those who fulfill the Covenant of Allah and break not the mithaaq, those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined, [i.e. good to relatives and not severing the ties of kinship], fear their Rabb and dread the terrible reckoning, and those who remain patient, seeking their Rabb's Countenance, perform as-Salaat (Prayers), and spend out of that which We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly, and defend evil with good, for such there is a good end 'Adn [Eden] Paradise which they shall enter and [also] those who acted righteously from among their fathers and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate [saying] Salaamun ''alaykum (Peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!" (Qur’an, 13:19-24)
~ And at the beginning of Surah Al-Mu'minoon, Allah, the Exalted, explains that success is for the believers and then described the deeds that will qualify them for success:
"Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their salaah (prayers) with khushoo', and those who turn away from al-laghw [dirty, false, evil, vain talk, falsehood and all that Allah has forbidden], and those who pay the zakah (charity), and those who guard their chastity, except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame; but whoever seeks beyond that then those are the transgressors; those who are faithfully true to their amaanah [all duties that Allah has ordained: honesty, moral responsibility, and trusts] and to their covenants and those who strictly guard their prayers [at the fixed times]. These are indeed the inheritors who shall inherit Al-Firdaws (highest level in Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever" (Qur’an, 23:11)
~ The Prophet, peace be upon him, also said: "The people of Paradise are three: a ruler who is fair and just; a man who is compassionate and gentle towards every relative and Muslim; and a man with a large family who is proud and does not beg"
* The Number of People from This Ummah (Nation) in Paradise :
~ Many people from this ummah (nation) will enter Paradise, but only Allah, the Exalted, knows their exact number. Al-Bukhaari reports from Sa'eed Ibn Jubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "Ibn Abbaas (ra) told me that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "I was shown the nations, and I saw a Prophet passing by with his ummah, another with a band of followers, another with ten followers, another with five, and another who was alone. I looked and saw a huge crowd of people, and I asked, "O Jib reel (Angel Gabriel), are these my ummah?" He said, "No look at the horizon." I looked and saw a vast multitude. He said,"These are your ummah, and the seventy thousand in front will not be brought to account or be punished."
The first crowd which the Prophet, peace be upon him, thought was his ummah was in fact the Children of Israel as is stated in a number of saheeh reports, "I hoped that this would be my ummah, but I was told that this was Musa and his people."
Concerning the words "a vast multitude" Ibn Hajar said, "A report from Sa'eed Ibn Mansoor says, "huge" [Adheem] and adds, "It was said to me, "look at the horizon" So I looked and I saw a huge multitude. Then I was told, "Look at the other horizon, it is just like the first one."" According to a report given by Ibn Faadil, "[I saw] a multitude that filled the horizon and it was said to me "Look here and here, all across the horizon". According to a version narrated by Ahmad, "I saw my ummah filling the plains and the mountains, and I was amazed at the numbers and their appearance. I was asked, "Are you pleased O Muhammad?" and I said, "Yes O Rabb.""
Some hadiths state that along with every thousand of the seventy thousand will be another seventy thousand plus three handfuls added by Allah.
Our Prophet, peace be upon him, hoped that this ummah would constitute half of the population of Paradise. In a hadith whose authenticity is agreed upon, Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (ra) said that when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was speaking about who would be sent to hell, he said, "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise. Among the people you are no more than a black hair on the hide of a white bull.."
Some hadith state that this ummah will constitute two thirds of the population of Paradise. At-Tirmidhi reports with a hasan isnaad and Ad-Daarimee and Al-Bayhaqee also report, from Buraydah (ra), that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "The people of Paradise are one hundred and twenty ranks, eight from this ummah and forth from the rest of the nations."
Muslim reports from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "I will be the first intercessor in Paradise. No Prophet was believed in as I was believed in. Among the Prophets is one who was believed in by only one man."
The reason why so many people of this ummah believed is because of the great miracle of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, which was a recited revelation which is addressed to hearts and minds. It is a miracle that is preserved and will remain until the Day of Judgement. Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"There is no Prophet who was not given a sign [or miracle] in which people believed and followed him. That which I have been given is a Revelation from Allah and I hope that I will have the greatest number of followers on the Day of Resurrection."
* The Leaders of the People of Paradise :
~ (i) The Leaders of the Men:
A number of the Sahaabah (companions), including Ali ibn Abi Taalib, Anas Ibn Maalik, Abu Hudhayfah, Jaabir Ibn Abdullaah, and Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with them, reported that the Messenger, peace be upon him, said: "Abu Bakr and Umar will be the leaders of men of Paradise from the earlier and later generations."
~ (ii) The Leaders of the Youth:
At-Tirmidhi, Al-Haakim, At-Tabaraani, Ahmad and others reported that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (ra) said, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Hasan and Husayn are the leaders of the youth of Paradise".
~ (iii) The Leaders of the Women:
"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, drew four lines and said: "Do you know what these are?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "The best women of Paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid (the wife of the Prophet), Faatimah bint Muhammad (the daughter of the Prophet and Khadeejah), Maryam bint Imraan (Mary, the mother of Prophet Jesus) and Aasiyah bin Muzahim, the wife of Fir'awn (the Pharaoh)"
Maryam (Mary) and Khadeejah are the best of the four - "The best of its women is Maryam and the best of its women is Khadeejah" [from Ali (ra) in Al-Bukhaari] - and Maryam is the "First Lady" - "The leaders of the women of Paradise, AFTER Maryam bint 'Imraan will be.."
~ The reason why Maryam (the Virgin Mary) is considered the best of all women is clearly stated in the Qur'an:
"Behold! the angels said, "O Maryam! Allah has chosen you and purified you, chosen you above the women of all nations." (Qur’an, 3:42)
How could she not be the best of women when Allah, the Exalted, has clearly stated that,
"..her Rabb accepted her with a goodly acceptance. He made her to grow in a good manner". (Qur’an, 3:37)
~ These four women are beautiful examples of perfect, righteous women. Maryam, the daughter of Imraan, is praised by Allah in the Qur'an:
"And Maryam (Mary), daughter of Imraan, who guarded her chastity; and We breather into [the sleeve of her shirt/garment] through Our Ruh [i.e. Jibreel (Angel Gabriel)] and she testified to the truth of the Words of her Rabb, and [also believed in] His Scriptures and she was one of the Qaaniteen [obedient to Allah]" (Qur’an, 66:12)
~ Khadeejah As-Siddeeqah believed in the Messenger, peace be upon him, without hesitation; she consoled him and supported him in every way. Her Rabb gave her the good news, during her lifetime, of a place in Paradise in which there would be no noise or exhaustion.
~ Aasiyah the wife of Fir'awn (the Pharaoh), despised the power and luxuries of this world and rejected Pharaoh and his false claims of divinity, so her husband tortured her until her soul departed to her Creator:
"And Allah sets forth an example for those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Rabb! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his works, and save me from the Dhaalimoon [those that do wrong]" (Qur’an, 66:11)
~ Faatimah Az-Zahraa, the daughter of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was patient and forbearing, and feared Allah, the Exalted. She was a branch from the pure tree, brought up by the educator of humanity.
* The Ten Who Were Given Glad Tidings of Paradise :
~ The Messenger, peace be upon him, clearly stated that ten of his Companions would be in Paradise:
"Abu Bakr will be in Paradise, Umar will be in Paradise, Uthmaan will be in Paradise, Ali will be in Paradise, Talhah will be in Paradise, Az-Zubayr will be in Paradise, Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Awf will be in Paradise, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas will be in Paradise, Sa'eed Ibn Zayd will be in Paradise and Abu Ubaydah Ibn Al-Jarraah will be in Paradise."
~ The Books of the Sunnah tell us that one day the Prophet, peace be upon him, was sitting at the well of 'Arees, with Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (ra) acting as his gatekeeper. Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (ra) came and asked permission to see him, and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Let him in, and give him the glad tidings of Paradise". Then Umar (ra) came and he said, "Let him in and give him the glad tidings of Paradise". Then Uthmaan (ra) came and he said, "Let him in, and give him the glad tidings of Paradise because of an affliction that will befall him"
~ Ibn Asaakir reported with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn Mas'oud (ra) that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "My successor will be in Paradise, his successor will be in Paradise, and the third and fourth will be in Paradise." [namely, the Khulafaa Rashidoon (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali)]
* Others Whom It Was Reported Will Be In Paradise :
~ Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib (ra) and Hamzah Ibn Abdul-Muttaalib (ra):
Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said "I saw Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib flying like an angel with his two wings in Paradise"
In a saheeh hadith the Prophet , peace be upon him, said: "The leader of the martyrs is Hamzah Ibn Abdul-Muttaalib"
~ Abdullaah Ibn Salaam (ra):
From Mu'aadh (ra) that the Messenger of Allah, said: "Abdullaah ibn Salaam is the tenth of the first ten to enter Paradise"
~ Zayd Ibn Harithah (ra):
Ar-Rawayanee and Ad-Diyaa reported from Buraydah (ra) that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "I entered Paradise and I was welcomed by a young girl. I asked, "Who do you belong to?" She said, "To Zayd Ibn Harithah"
~ Zayd Ibn Amr Ibn Nufayl (ra):
From Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "I entered Paradise and I saw that Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl had two levels."
This Zayd used to preach tawheed at the time of Jaahileeyyah (before Islam); he was a Haneef, a follower of the way of Ibraaheem (Abraham).
~Harithah Ibn Al-Nu'maan (ra):
At-Tirmidhi and Al-Haakim narrated from Aa'ishah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "I entered Paradise and I heard someone reciting. I asked, "Who is that?" They said, "Harithah Ibn Al-Nu'maan; this is the righteous man"
~ Bilaal Ibn Abi Rabah (ra):
At-Tabaraani and Ibn 'Adiyya report with a saheeh isnaad from Abu Umamah (ra) that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "I entered Paradise, and heard footsteps ahead of me. I asked, "What is this sound?" I was told, "This is Bilaal, walking in front of you""
~ Abud-Dahdah (ra):
Muslim, Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi and Ahmad reported from Jaabir Ibn Samurah that the Messenger, peace be upon him, said: "How many bunches of dates are hanging for Abud-Dahdah in Paradise!"
This is the one who gave his garden called Bayrahaa, the best garden in Madinah, in charity when he heard that Allah, the Exalted, had revealed:
"Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times?" (Qur’an, 2:245)
~ Waraqah Ibn Nawfal (ra):
Al-Haakim reported with a saheeh isnaad from Aa'ishah (ra) that the Messenger, peace be upon him, said: "Do not slander Waraqah Ibn Nawfal for I have seen that he will have one or two gardens in Paradise"
Waraqah believed in the Prophet when Khadeejah brought him to him at the beginning of his Call; he had asked Allah to let him live until he sees His Messenger so that he could support him.
May Allah be pleased with them all and all the family and companions of the Prophet and help us to be on their path and the path of His Messenger, peace be upon him.
Amin.
* Source: http://www.kalamullah.com/ (Based on the Book by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar).
* Image: http://www.jimwarren.com/site/
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