Whoever is pleased with Allah as their Lord, with Islam as their religion, and with Muhammad as their Messenger, Paradise is guaranteed for him

Whoever is pleased with Allah as their Lord, with Islam as their religion, and with Muhammad as their Messenger, Paradise is guaranteed for him

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever is pleased with Allah as their Lord, with Islam as their religion, and with Muhammad as their Messenger, Paradise is guaranteed for him." Abu Sa‘īd was full of wonder at that, so he said: "O Messenger of Allah, repeat that to me." He did so and then said: "There is something else by means of which Allah shall raise the slave a hundred degrees in Paradise; the distance between each two degrees is like that between the heavens and earth." He said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is it?" He said: "Jihad in the cause of Allah, Jihad in the cause of Allah."

[Authentic hadith] [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

This Hadīth means that whoever believes in Allah as their Lord, in Islam as their religion, and in Muhammad as their Messenger, Paradise will be due to him. A narration of Ahmad reads: "O Abu Sa‘īd, there are three things, whoever says them will be admitted into Paradise." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what are they?" He said: "Whoever is pleased with Allah as their Lord, with Islam as their religion, and with Muhammad as their Messenger." On hearing such words from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) expressed his wonder and asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to repeat that to him once more, which he did. Then he said that there was something else, an act of righteousness and obedience, by means of which Allah would raise the slave a hundred degrees in Paradise, and that the distance between each two degrees is like that between the heavens and earth. So the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started by mentioning the reward of such a deed and did not mention the deed itself from the beginning in order to arouse the curiosity of Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) so he would ask about it, and it would have a stronger effect on him that way. He asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what is it?" The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) answered: "Jihad in the cause of Allah, Jihad in the cause of Allah." The Mujāhid beside being from the dwellers of Paradise, has a rank that is superior to the rank of those who were pleased with Allah as their Lord, with Islam as their religion, and with Muhammad as their Messenger, but who did not strive for the sake of Allah, the Almighty. This is a favor and honor that Allah, the Almighty, has conferred upon those who strive for His sake. They sacrifice themselves for His sake, and that is why He will honor them and grant them the best abodes and the highest degrees for, indeed, one reaps what he sows.

Categories

Descriptions of Paradise and Hell, Excellence of Jihad