PARADISE ... 3
Ways that lead to Paradise
Belief and Righteous Deeds are two of the best routes to
Jannah (Paradise). The door of righteous deeds is wide and the
ways of obtaining rewards are vast, as Allah says, "And those
who believe and do good deeds they are the inhabitants of
Paradise, in it they shall abide." [2:82]
Taqwa is the fear of the Most Merciful, and acting in
accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Messenger of
Allah, sallallahu alayhi wasallam. That is, hoping for the
reward of Allah and avoiding disobedience of His Guidance and
fearing His Punishment. For Allah says, "Surely those of taqwa
shall be in the midst of Gardens and fountains." [15:45] The
Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, also said, "The most
common thing which leads people to Paradise is taqwa of Allah
and good conduct, and the most common thing which leads people
to the Hell Fire is the mouth and the private parts." (Tirmithi)
Obedience of Allah and His Messenger is a sure way to
Paradise. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says, "And whoever obeys
Allah and His Messenger, He will cause him to enter Gardens
beneath which rivers flow, and whoever turns back, He will
chastise him with a painful chastisement." [48:17] Allah's
Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, also said, "All of my
followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse." It was
asked, "O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?" He said, "He
who obeys me enters Paradise and he who disobeys me has
refused." (Bukhari)
Fighting in the Path of Allah with one's goods and soul.
For Allah says, "O you who believe, shall I lead you to a
merchandise which may deliver you from a painful chastisement?
You shall believe in Allah and His Messenger, and struggle
hard in Allah's Cause with your property and your lives; that
is better for you, if you but knew! He will forgive you your
sins and cause you to enter Gardens beneath which rivers flow,
and goodly dwellings in Gardens of perpetuity; that is the
mighty achievement." [61:10-12]
Repentance erases what came before it as the Prophet,
sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, "The one who repents form
sin is like the one who never sinned." (Sahih Al-Jami) And
Allah says, "Except such as repent and believe and do good,
these shall enter the Garden, and they shall not be dealt with
unjustly in any way." [19:60]
There are countless other means, from building a mosque to
seeking Islamic knowledge to obeying our husbands and raising
righteous children. All it takes is our time and sincere
efforts. With all that Allah has described, it may seem
daunting to us at times, that we will ever make it. Eman rises
and falls, and with it our good deeds. But we should never
lose hope in Allah, for the only one who loses hope in Allah
is the one who disbelieves. So even though we may feel that we
are at the bottom of the pile, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe
wasallam, gives us hope. He said, "Mousa, alayhes salam, asked
his Lord, 'Who amongst the inhabitants of Paradise will be the
lowest in rank?' He, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said, ‘He is a man
who will come after the people have entered Paradise and it
will be said to him: Enter Paradise.' He will say, 'How my
Lord? Indeed, the people have settled in their apartments and
taken their shares.' It will be asked of him, 'Would you be
pleased if there was a kingdom for you like the kingdoms of
the earth?' He will say, 'I would be pleased, my Lord.' He
will say, 'And for you is the like of that, and the like of
it, and the like of it.' He will say at the fifth time, 'I am
pleased, my Lord.' He will say, 'This is for you and ten times
like it, and for you is what you desire for your self and what
is pleasurable to your eye.' He will say, "I am pleased my
Lord." (Muslim)
This is what Allah has for the least among us. But despite
all the glorious castles, the beautiful clothes and mates we
will posses, insha Allah, He still has in store for the
believers the greatest honor awaiting them in Paradise. Suhaib
ibn Sinan narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe
wasallam, said, "When the inmates of Paradise enter Paradise
and the inmates of Hellfire will enter Hell, the announcer
will say, 'O people of Paradise, verily you have a promise
with Allah and He wishes to fulfill His promise to you.' They
will ask, 'What is His promise? Has He not made our balances
heavy (with good deed), whitened our faces, admitted us into
Paradise, and delivered us from the Hellfire?' Then the screen
will be removed and they will look towards Him. By Allah He
will not give them a thing more beloved to them and more
comforting to their eyes, than the gaze of Himself." (Sahih
al-Jami)
We were created in
Paradise, we came out of it and we will insha Allah go back to
it. It is our destination and we shall reach it. But we have
to do what Allah has asked us to do, for Paradise is not
cheap. The price is true eman that is shown in obedience to
Allah according to the sunnah of his Prophet, sallallahu
alayhe wasallam. The companions understood that. Their efforts
were all for the life of the Hereafter and they gave only what
was necessary to this worldly life. As Muslims, everything we
do, can be, and should be worship of Allah. Whether we're
working at the office to provide for our families; cooking a
meal; raising our children, or simply resting, through
remembrance of Allah and supplication, we can transform these
earthly necessities into fruits that will bear for us in the
life of the Hereafter. So let us keep our eyes on the prize,
and strive hard for it, for Allah says, "And (as for) those
who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in
Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good."
[29:69]
Last modified:
July 19, 2007
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