by OwhSoMuslim.com TITLE: WAYS TO ENTER PARADISE (pt 1) ARTICLE 04 31/10/2010 CATEGORY: GOOD DEEDS Please spread and share this article! Please go to ww.owhsomuslim.com for further details on sharing policies. :) DO NOT RE-PRINT FOR PERSONAL PROFIT MAKING OR FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES. Illy Muzliza & Ummu Nana / Owh So Muslim
01 : To avoid committing shirk at ALL costs Shirk is the MOST dangerous sin anyone could ever commit, and it must be AVOIDED! Shirk happens when one associate Allah the Al-Mighty with other beings or items. Allah has said that He forgives all sins committed by humans, but not shirk. And beware; shirk-doers will enter Hell-fire (nauzubillah), IF they do not repent (taubah). Related verse from the Quran: Allah will not forgive the sin of considering something equal to Him (shirk), but He forgives the other sins of whomever he wants [ An-Nisa 4:116] Related hadith: Narrated by Jabir (r.a): The Prophet (s.a.w) said : Whoever meets Allah (on the day of Judgement) not having associated anyone with Him (in worship), shall enter Jannah / Paradise; and whoever meets Him having committed shirk in any way, will enter Hell-Fire [ Muslim ]
02: Seek knowledge Seeking knowledge of the Deen is a duty upon every Muslim and it s a key to God s beautiful Paradise! With the power of knowledge, we as righteous Muslims are able to perform our duties in obedience to Him. Related hadith: The Prophet (pbuh) said: Whoever goes down a path / road searching for knowledge, Allah will make it easy for him to Jannah (Paradise). [Sahih Muslim Vol. 03, # 527 ] Knowledge is the Road to Jannah, Islam is the vehicle that takes you to the destination, Quran and Sunnah are our maps, Our scholars are the ones who give directions, To get to our ultimate final destination JANNAH
03: Ask for forgiveness from Allah (taubah) Nobody is perfect, and everybody makes mistakes. In order to purify ourselves, there s only one way Taubah (Repentance)! Ask for forgiveness from Allah anywhere and at anytime, insyallah, He is always there to listen to us and that will take us to Paradise. Take note that there are 3 conditions to observe in order for your taubah to be accepted by Allah: 1) To stop committing it (the sin) 2) To feel sorry for committing it (regret) 3) To decide / promise to recommit it Related verse from the Quran: O you believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance, (ie: never repeating the same sin) in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your evil deeds and admit you to Paradise beneath which rivers flow [At-Tahrim 66 : 8 ] Related hadith: Narrated by Abu Hurairah (r.a ): The Prophet (s.a.w.) When a believer commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents, and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished clean, but if he commits more sins, the spot increases until his heart is covered with it [Al-Tarmidhi # 3334 ]
04: Give salaam (greetings) Giving salaam of peace to fellow Muslims may grant you a place in Paradise! So whoever or wherever it may be, smile, and say Assalamualaikum! Practice this in your everyday life and insyallah, it ll be more joyous for you. Related vers from the Quran: When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what Is better than it, or (at least) return it equally [An-Nisa 4:86 ] Related hadiths: The Prophet (s.a.w.) said You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not guide you to something, which if you do it, will make you love one another? Spread greetings of peace among yourselves [ Muslim, Riyadhus Salilhin, chapter 131 # 848 ] Narrated by Abu Hurairah (r.a) : In which a man passed by the Prophet (pbuh) and said Assalamualaikum. The Prophet (pbuh) said: 10 good deeds (written for him). Another man passed by and said Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah, and the Prophet (pbuh) said 20 good deeds. Another man passed by and said Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaathu, and the Prophet said 30 good deeds for him [ Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Al-Bukhari # 986 ]
05: Love and have mercy on animals Animals are beautiful and magnificent creations of Allah and they too, posses feelings! As righteous Muslims, we are taught to take care, love and have mercy on ALL kinds of animals; cats, goats, dogs and even small insects! So the next time you see a starving, meowing cat by the sidewalk, why not offer some food for it? With that minor action, Allah might just grant you Paradise, insyallah. Related hadiths: Narrated by Abdul Rahman bin Abudllah bin Mas ud : We were on a journey with the Prophet (pbuh), and he left us for a while. During his absence, we saw a bird called hummara and we took the eggs. The mother bird was circling above us in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet came back and said: Who has the feelings of this bird by taking its young (eggs)? Return them out of mercy to her [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Al-Bukhari #382 ] The Prophet (s.a.w.) said While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The main said, This dog is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he went down the well, filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his good deeds and forgave him The Prophet (pbuh) were asked: Is there a reward for us in serving the animals? He replied Yes, there is a reward for serving any animal [ Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Al-Bukhari # 378 ]
06: Recite/ Zikir Laa hawlaa wa laa quawatta illah billah (there is no power or strength but in Allah) Reciting the above zikir is a person s admission that he or she in unable to do anything without the help and support of Allah. So recite La hawlaa wa laa quawatta illah billah anytime (especially in distress, etc) and believe in Allah s help and guidance. According to a hadith from Imam Ahmad, this zikir is one of the treasures of Paradise. Related verse from the Quran: Remember Me and I shall remember you [Al-Baqara 2:152 ] Related hadith: Narrated by Abu Dzarr (r.a): My beloved friend The Prophet (pbuh) has commanded me to recite much of the kalimah: Laa hawalaa wa laa quawatta illah billah (there is no power or strength but in Allah) for it is one treasure of the unlimited treasures of Paradise. [Imam Ahmad V/159]
07: Give sadaqah In Islam, giving sadaqah is HIGHLY noble and is always emphasized on, especially if you are granted with more wealth from others. It helps the needy, the poor, the orphans, etc AND it gives you a place in Paradise! Remember: The more you give, the more you will get from Allah and masyallah that is very true :) Related verse from the Quran: And whatsoever you spend on anything (in Allah s cause), He will replace it [Saba 34:39 ] Related hadiths: Narrated by Abu Hurairah (r.a): The Prophet (pbuh) said: Every good deed that the son of Adam performs will be multiplied ten folds, to seven hundred folds, to many folds, to as much as Allah wills [ Imam Ahmad ] Narrated by Adi bin Hatim (r.a): The Prophet (pbuh) said: Protect yourself from Hell-fire by giving a piece of date as charity [ Bukhari & Muslim]