How to be among the people of heaven?
By sheikh Hosny Ebrahim
Many of us have goals and work hard to achieve them. For example:
-Students study hard to get their degrees, work in their fields and have a good life.
-A person who loves money works hard to earn and save his money in hopes of becoming rich.
- Likewise, the believers yearn to attain paradise, work hard and sacrifice in hopes of entering it in the hereafter.
What is paradise? What is its description in the Quran and in the Sunna of the prophet (SAW); and how can we become among the people of paradise?
The answers will be in today's Khutba in sha Allah.
Paradise is the place that Allah created and prepared for His sincere servants in the hereafter. Allah (SWT) said in the holy hadith: Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah, the Exalted, has said: 'I have prepared for my righteous slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has conceived.' If you wish, recite the saying of Allah:
'No person knows what joy is kept hidden from them as a reward for what they used to do." (32:17) [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Allah and His messenger described paradise with many descriptions, for example:
The example of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade. That is the consequence for the righteous, and the consequence for the disbelievers is the Fire.. (13-35) Also Allah (SWT) says: (the example of Paradise; that the righteous have been promised with rivers of pure water, and rivers of milk whose taste does not change, and rivers of wine that are delicious for the drinkers, and rivers of strained honey, and for them in it are all kinds of fruits, and a forgiveness from their Lord like that of those who abide in the Fire, and are given to drink boiling water that cuts-up their intestines?
The prophet (SAW) says: (Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Among the inmates of Hell, is a person who led the most luxurious life in this world, he will be brought up on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Fire and will be asked: 'O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you lead a life of luxury?' He will reply: `By Allah, no, my Rabb.' Then one of the people of Jannah who had experienced extreme hardship in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah. Then he will be asked: 'O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?' He will say: "By Allah, no my Rabb, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship". [Muslim].
How can we be among the people of Jannah:
- Strive to be like Abo Bakr. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Who has observed fast among you today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: It is I. He (the Holy Prophet again) said: Who among you followed the bier today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: It is I. He (the Holy Prophet again) said: Who among you fed a poor man today? Abu Bakr (Allah he pleased with him) replied: It is I. He (again) said: Who among you visited the sick today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) said: It is I. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly, enter paradise.
- Strive to be like Othman may Allah be pleased with him. The city of Medina had no pure water but the well of Romah, then the prophet said to his companions whoever buys this well for Muslims will certainly have better than it in paradise? Othman did.
When the mosque of the prophet became too small for Muslims the prophet encouraged his companions by stating, whoever buys a house next to the mosque to extend the Masjid, will gain a house better than it in Jannah. Othman bought the house and donated it for the sake of Allah. - pray two Rak'a after Wodo'. Narrated Abu Huraira:
At the time of the Fajr prayer the Prophet asked Bilal, "Tell me of the best deed you did after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise." Bilal replied, "I did not do anything worth mentioning except that whenever I performed ablution during the day or night, I prayed after that ablution as much as was written for me). - Build a masjid for the sake of Allah.
Othman narrated that the prophet (SAW) says: (whoever builds a Mosque for the sake of Allah, Allah will grant him a house in Jannah). Omar reported that the prophet (SAW) said: (whoever builds a Mosque for the sake of Allah for the name of Allah to be remembered; Allah will build a house for him in Jannah). - Practice the pillars of Islam especially the five daily prayers. Abo Addarda' narrated that the prophet (SAW) said: there are five pillars, whoever practices them with belief will enter paradise:
- the believer who prays the five prayers and perfect its Wodo',
its Rokoo', its Sojood and pray them on time. - the believer who observes the fast of Ramadan.
- the believers who performs hajj when he is able.
- the believer who gives Zakat for the sake of Allah with satisfaction.
- the believer who perfects his trust (Amanah). People asked Abo Addarda' may Allah be pleased with him: what does that mean? Abo Addarda' answered to take a shower after Janabah (after a wet dream or an intercourse with wives).
Read more:
- the believer who prays the five prayers and perfect its Wodo',
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