The Gates of Paradise
Scholars unanimously agree that Paradise is comprised of eight gates, a fact supported by numerous traditions from the Prophet Muhammad. As narrated by Abu ‘Abdullah, the Prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever bears witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, that Jesus is Allah’s servant, and His word which He bestowed upon Mary, and a spirit from Him; and that Paradise is true, Hellfire is true, and the Day of Resurrection is true, Allah will admit him to Paradise, according to his deeds, through whichever gate of Paradise he desires.” Among these gates are those mentioned explicitly in religious texts, such as the Gate of Prayer, the Gate of Jihad, the Gate of Ar-Rayyan (for those who fast), and the Gate of Charity. Others have been derived by scholars, such as the Gate of Those Who Restrain Their Anger and Forgive Others, the Gate of Repentance, the Gate of Contentment, and the Gate of Hajj. Ibn Hajar stated, “The Prophet mentioned four gates to Paradise in the hadith, all of which relate to the pillars of Islam. As for the remaining pillars, they also have respective gates, such as Hajj, the Gate of the Reliant Ones, and the Gate of Remembrance.” Imam Nawawi proposed that the eighth gate is designated for the seventy thousand who will enter Paradise without accountability or punishment, which is the rightmost gate of Paradise.
Characteristics of Those Who Enter Paradise
There are several deeds that lead a person to enter Paradise, including:
- God-consciousness (Taqwa): The righteous individuals are those who remain vigilant about their actions and words, engaging in acts of obedience while avoiding sins.
- Truthfulness: God has highlighted that honesty is beneficial on the Day of Judgment, as it results in significant rewards accompanied by divine honor.
- Sincerity in worshiping Allah, along with kindness towards His servants, by emulating the Prophet in both private and public.
- Humility in prayer, turning away from frivolity, performing zakat (charity), and safeguarding trusts and promises.
- Repentance: It is from Allah’s mercy towards His servants that He accepts repentance from sinful individuals and admits them to Paradise.
The Bliss of the Inhabitants of Paradise
Allah has personally crafted Paradise for His obedient servants and prepared for them an abundance of everlasting bliss, which includes:
- The fact that Paradise yearns for certain believers; the Prophet informed that Paradise longs for Ali, Ammar, and Salman.
- Allah has prepared therein what no eye has seen, ensuring that the believer’s heart finds joy in the vastness of bounties.
- Paradise is a vast and fertile land, where its flora can flourish through the remembrance of Allah.