The Gates of Paradise
Dr. `Abdullah al-Shimemeri
Descriptions of Paradise from the Qur'aan and Hadeeth
"Gardens of perpetual bliss - they shall enter them, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. And angels shall enter upon them every gate." [ar-Ra`d, 13:23]
"This is a reminder. Verily, for the righteous is a beautiful place of [final] return - gardens of eternity, whose doors will [always] be open to them." [Saad, 38:49-50]
"And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds, until behold, they arrive there. Its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say, 'Peace be upon you!' Well have you done, do enter it, abiding [in it] eternally." [Az-Zumar, 39:73]
Sahl bin Sa`d reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called ar-Rayyaan, through which none will enter but those who observe fasting." [al-Bukhaari]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever spends two things in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed, 'Oh slave of Allah, here is prosperity!' So whoever was among the people who used to offer their prayers will be called from the gate of the prayer; and whoever was among the people who used to participate in jihaad will be called from the gate of jihaad; and whoever was among those who used to observer fasts will be called from the gate of ar-Rayyaan; and whoever was among those who used to give charity will be called from the gate of charity." Abu Bakr said, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you, oh Allah's Apostle! No distress or need will befall him who will be called from those gates. Will there be anyone who will be called from all these gates?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "Yes, and I hope you will be one of them." [al-Bukhaari]
`Uqba ibn `Aamir said:
"We were entrusted with the task of tending the camels. On my turn, when I came back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I found Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) stand and address the people. I heard these words of his, 'If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak`ahs, setting about them with his heart as well as his face, Paradise will be guaranteed to him.' I said, 'What a fine thing this is!' A narrator who was before me said, 'The first was even better than this.' When I cast a glance, I saw that it was `Umar who said, 'I see that you have just come and observed. If anyone among you performs the ablution, completes the ablution well and says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger," then the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes." [Muslim]
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
"The gates of Paradise will be opened on Monday and on Thursdays, and every servant [of Allah] who associates nothing with Allah will be forgiven, except for the man who has a grudge against his brother. [About them] it will be said, 'Delay these two until they are reconciled. Delay these two until they are reconciled. Delay these two until they are reconciled.'" [Muslim, Maalik, Abu Dawood]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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