In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
It is Paradise.
Righteous deeds that lead to Paradise.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad.
And upon all his family and his Companions.
To proceed:
There are deeds for which Allah has made Paradise the reward.
Among these deeds is:
Supplication (du'a).
It is narrated from 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,
that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
taught her this supplication:
"O Allah, I ask You for all that is good, in the present and in the future,
of what I know and what I do not know.
And I seek refuge in You from all evil, in the present and in the future,
of what I know and what I do not know.
O Allah, I ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet asked You for,
and I seek refuge in You from the evil that Your servant and Prophet sought refuge from.
O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and whatever brings one closer to it, in word or deed,
and I seek refuge in You from the Fire and whatever brings one closer to it, in word or deed.
And I ask You to make every decree that You have ordained for me a good one."
And from Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times,
Paradise will say: 'O Allah, admit him into Paradise.'
And whoever seeks refuge from the Fire three times,
the Fire will say: 'O Allah, protect him from the Fire.'"
Among these deeds is also seeking knowledge.
It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge therein,
Allah will facilitate for him a path to Paradise."
And no group of people gathers in one of the houses of Allah,
reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves,
but that tranquility descends upon them,
mercy covers them, the angels surround them,
and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him.
And from Kathir Ibn Qays, who said:
I was sitting with Abu al-Darda' in the mosque of Damascus,
when a man came to him and said, "O Abu al-Darda',
I have come to you from Medina, the city of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
for a hadith that reached me which you narrate from the Prophet, peace be upon him."
He asked, "Have you come for trade?"
He said, "No."
He asked, "Have you come for any other purpose?"
He said, "No."
He said, "Then I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say:
'Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge therein,
Allah will facilitate for him a path to Paradise.
Indeed, the angels lower their wings in contentment for the seeker of knowledge.
Indeed, the seeker of knowledge is prayed for by those in the heavens and the earth,
even the fish in the water.
And the superiority of the scholar over the worshiper
is like the superiority of the moon over all the stars.
Indeed, the scholars are the heirs of the prophets.
The prophets did not leave behind gold or silver coins,
but they left behind knowledge.
So whoever takes it has taken a bountiful share.'"
Among these deeds is also:
Enumerating the Beautiful Names of Allah.
It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,
that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names,
one hundred minus one.
Whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise."
The meaning of enumerating them is:
Memorizing them, understanding their meanings,
acting according to the requirements of those meanings,
and calling upon Allah, the Exalted, by them.
Among these deeds is also:
Sincerity in Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah).
It is narrated from Mu'adh Ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever testifies that there is no god but Allah,
sincerely from his heart,
will enter Paradise."
It was said to al-Hasan:
"Some people say:
'Whoever says there is no god but Allah
will enter Paradise.'"
He replied:
"Whoever says there is no god but Allah,
and fulfills its rights and obligations,
will enter Paradise."
It was said to Wahb Ibn Munabbih:
"Is 'there is no god but Allah' not the key to Paradise?"
He said, "Yes, but there is no key that does not have teeth.
If you bring a key with teeth, it will be opened for you;
otherwise, it will not be opened for you."
Among these deeds is also dying upon Tawhid.
It is narrated from Mu'adh Ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say:
"Whoever's final words are 'there is no god but Allah,'
Paradise becomes mandatory for him."
Among these deeds is also one whose life ends with a righteous deed.
For the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"If Allah desires good for a servant, He 'sweetens' him."
It was asked, "What is 'sweetening' him?"
He said, "Allah opens for him a righteous deed before his death,
then He takes his soul while he is upon it."
Among these deeds is also constant attachment to the Noble Qur'an,
through recitation, memorization, reflection, and action.
It is narrated from 'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him,
from the Prophet, peace be upon him, who said:
"It will be said to the companion of the Qur'an:
'Recite, ascend, and chant as you used to chant in the world,
for your station will be at the last verse you recite.'"
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“Lo! those who read the Scripture of Allah, and establish worship, and spend of that which We have bestowed on them secretly and openly, they look forward to imperishable gain,” (35:29)
And spend from what We have provided them, secretly and publicly.
“Lo! those who read the Scripture of Allah, and establish worship, and spend of that which We have bestowed on them secretly and openly, they look forward to imperishable gain,” (35:29)
Among these deeds is also reciting Ayat al-Kursi
after every prayer.
It is narrated from Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prayer,
nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death."
Among these deeds is also:
Glorifying (Tasbih), praising (Tahmid), and magnifying (Takbir) Allah after the prayers.
It is narrated from 'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"There are two qualities that no Muslim man maintains except that he will enter Paradise;
they are easy, yet those who act upon them are few:
The five prayers.
One of you should glorify Allah (saying SubhanAllah) after every prayer ten times,
praise Him (saying Alhamdulillah) ten times, and magnify Him (saying Allahu Akbar) ten times.
That is one hundred and fifty on the tongue,
and one thousand five hundred on the scale."
Among these deeds is also:
Reciting Surah al-Mulk.
It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,
from the Prophet, peace be upon him, who said:
"Indeed, a surah in the Qur'an, consisting of thirty verses,
interceded for its companion until he was forgiven."
“Blessed is He in Whose hand is the Sovereignty, and, He is Able to do all things.” (67:1)
'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
"Whoever recites 'Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion' (Surah al-Mulk) every night,
Allah will protect him through it from the punishment of the grave.
We used to, in the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
call it 'The Protector'."
Among these deeds is also:
Reciting Surah al-Ikhlas.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said
to a man who was persistent in reciting it out of love for it:
"Your love for it will admit you into Paradise."
And from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
I came along with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
and he heard a man reciting:
“Say: He is Allah, the One!” (112:1)
"Allah, the Eternal Refuge."
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"It has become mandatory."
I asked, "What has become mandatory?"
He said, "Paradise."
Among these deeds is also:
Frequent prostration to Allah, the Exalted.
It is narrated from Rabi'ah Ibn Ka'b al-Aslami, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
I used to spend the night with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
and one day I brought him his water for ablution and his needs.
He said to me, "Ask."
I said, "I ask for your companionship in Paradise."
He said, "Or something else?"
I said, "That is it."
He said, "Then help me against your own self by frequent prostration."
Among these deeds is also:
Following the Mu'adhdhin (caller to prayer).
It is narrated from 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"If the Mu'adhdhin says:
'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,'
and one of you says:
'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,'
then he says: 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,'
he says: 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,'
then he says: 'I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,'
he says: 'I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,'
then he says: 'Hayya 'ala al-salah' (Come to prayer),
he says: 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' (There is no power nor strength except by Allah),
then he says: 'Hayya 'ala al-falah' (Come to success),
he says: 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah,'
then he says: 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,'
he says: 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,'
then he says: 'La ilaha illa Allah,'
he says: 'La ilaha illa Allah' from his heart, he will enter Paradise."
Among these deeds is also maintaining the five prayers.
It is narrated from Hanzalah al-Katib, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say:
"Whoever maintains the five prayers, their bowing and prostration,
their ablution and their appointed times,
and knows that they are the truth from Allah, will enter Paradise,"
or he said, "Paradise becomes mandatory for him."
And from 'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them,
from the Prophet, peace be upon him,
that he mentioned prayer one day and said:
"Whoever maintains it, it will be for him a light, a proof,
and a salvation on the Day of Resurrection."
Among these deeds is also maintaining the two cool prayers (al-Bardayn).
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever prays the two cool prayers will enter Paradise."
The two cool prayers are the Fajr prayer and the 'Asr prayer.
Among these deeds is also the remembrance after ablution.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"There is no one among you who performs wudu,
and performs it thoroughly or perfectly,
then says: 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,
and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger,'
but the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him,
so that he may enter through whichever of them he wishes."
Among these deeds is also maintaining the Sunnah of wudu.
For it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,
that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
said to Bilal at the time of the dawn prayer:
"O Bilal, tell me of the most hopeful deed you have performed in Islam,
for I heard the sound of your footsteps in front of me in Paradise."
He replied, "I have not performed any deed more hopeful to me
than the fact that I never performed wudu
at any hour of the night or day,
but I prayed with that wudu whatever was decreed for me to pray."
Among these deeds is also going to the mosque for worship.
For it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,
that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"Whoever goes to the mosque or returns from it,
Allah prepares for him a dwelling in Paradise every time he goes or returns."
Among these deeds is also
obeying the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
For it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,
that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"All of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse."
They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, and who would refuse?"
He said, "Whoever obeys me enters Paradise,
and whoever disobeys me has refused."
Among these deeds is also
spreading the greeting of peace (salam).
For it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"You will not enter Paradise until you believe,
and you will not believe until you love one another.
Shall I not direct you to something that, if you do it, you will love one another?
Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves."
Among these deeds is also
refraining from anger.
For it is narrated from Abu Darda', may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
I said, "O Messenger of Allah,
guide me to a deed that will cause me to enter Paradise."
He said, "Do not become angry, and Paradise will be yours."
Among these deeds is also
suppressing rage.
For it is narrated from Mu'adh Ibn Anas,
from his father, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
said:
"Whoever suppresses his rage while he is able to act upon it,
Allah will call him before the heads of all creation on the Day of Resurrection,
until He gives him the choice of whichever of the houris he wishes."
This is the reward for suppressing rage;
how much greater would it be if it were accompanied by forgiveness and kindness?
Among these deeds is also
the master of seeking forgiveness (istighfar).
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"Learn the master of seeking forgiveness."
From Shaddad Ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who said:
"The master of seeking forgiveness is to say:
'O Allah, You are my Lord;
“And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no Allah save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.” (21:87)
You created me and I am Your servant,
and I am upon Your covenant and promise as much as I am able.
I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done.
I acknowledge Your favor upon me,
and I acknowledge my sin,
so forgive me,
for none forgives sins except You.'"
He said:
"Whoever says this during the day with firm belief in it,
and dies that same day before evening,
he is among the people of Paradise.
And whoever says it at night with firm belief in it,
and dies before morning,
he is among the people of Paradise."
O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and its bliss,
and we ask You for the highest level of Paradise,
without reckoning or punishment.
O Allah, amen.
The journey continues.
It is Paradise.