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Rabi’ah ibn Ka’b Al-Aslami (radi Allahu anhu) narrated, “I was with the Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) one night, bringing him some water. He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘Ask (for anything you wish).’ I said, ‘I ask for your company in Paradise.’ He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘Ask for anything else besides that.’ I said, ‘That is all I wish.’ The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) then said, ‘Then help me to achieve this for you by devoting yourself to prostration frequently.’”

[Sahih Muslim]

Commentary:

Rabi’ah Ibn Ka’ab (radi Allahu anhu) brought some water for the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) in order to perform ablution, so the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told him to ask for whatever he wished for, and Rabi’ah asked him to make him his companion in paradise (to make dua’a to Allah to make him his companion in paradise).

This was the way of the companions (radi Allahu anhum) whereby their main goal and aim was the hereafter and this world to them was considered to be nothing but a short journey.

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) informed Rabi’ah that in order to achieve this great bounty (the Prophet’s companionship in paradise) one must constantly prostrate to Allah Almighty.

The meaning of prostration here is Salat (prayer) because in the Arabic language one may call Salat Sujood (prostration).

And Allah Knows Best!

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “I guarantee a house in the upper part of Paradise for a person who has good character.”

[Abu Dawud ~ Hadith Sahih]

Commentary:

This hadith is a continuation of the previous two ahadith. This hadith shows the high status of good manners whereby the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) guaranteed the person who has good manners a house in the upper part of paradise.

And Allah Knows Best!

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “I guarantee a house in the middle of Paradise for a person who avoids lying, even if he was joking.”

[Abu Dawud ~ Hadith Sahih]

Commentary:

This hadith is a continuation of the previous hadith. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) here guarantees a house in the middle of paradise for those who avoid lying even if it is a joke. So a Muslim should not prevent himself or herself from this great reward by lying and should strive to always speak the truth.

And Allah Knows Best!

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a person who avoids quarreling, even if he knows he is in the right.”

[Abu Dawud ~ Hadith Sahih]

Commentary:

This hadith shows the virtue of good manners and that the person who has good manners is rewarded with a house in paradise.

So whoever avoids quarreling for the sake of Allah, the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) has guaranteed for them a house in paradise, this is because avoiding quarreling keeps the hearts closer and prevents hatred between the Muslims.

And Allah Knows Best!

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Whoever builds a Masjid for the Sake of Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Commentary:

The Masajid are the houses of Allah and they are the most honourable places in this world. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) showed us that the reward a person receives for building a Masjid for the sake of Allah is that Allah will build for them a house in paradise. The condition of receiving this great reward is sincerity as the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned in the hadith “for the sake of Allah” which means that if a person was to build it for other reasons such as reputation or to be praised by people, they are forbidden from this great reward. The hadith also shows the great bounty which Allah has upon His creation whereby He gives such a great reward for this action.

And Allah Knows Best!

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “He who treads the path in search of (Islamic) knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”

[Sahih Muslim]

Commentary:

We benefit from this hadith the following:

1. The virtue of Islamic knowledge.
2. The virtue of travelling in order to gain knowledge.
3. The hadith is evidence that seeking knowledge is a worship and the scholars mentioned that it is the greatest worship after the compulsory actions. Ibn Abaas (radi Allahu anhu) said “studying throughout the night is more beloved to me than praying the night.

And Allah Knows Best!

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “All my nation will enter the Paradise except those who refuse.” The companions asked, “O Rasulullah! Who would refuse?” He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) then said, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me has indeed refused (to go to Paradise).”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Commentary:

This hadith is evidence for one of the greatest principles in Islam which states that one may not enter paradise unless they follow the path of the Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned that by obeying him one will enter paradise and by disobeying him and following paths other than his path, one has rejected paradise. So from this we benefit that there is no path which leads to paradise except the path of Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as Allah Almighty states:

“Say, (O Muhammad) If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and will forgive your sins; Indeed Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran 3:31]

So Allah tied His love with following and obeying the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) which means that by not following the Prophets Sunnah one may not achieve the love of Allah.

And Allah Knows Best!

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked about that which mostly enters people the paradise so he said “the fear of Allah and good character” and he was asked about that which mostly enters people the hellfire and he said “the mouth and the private parts”.

[At-Tirmidhi – Classed as Hasan by Sh Al-Albaani]

Commentary:

This hadith shows two types of actions which are a reason for one entering the paradise just as it shows two types of actions which are a reason for one entering the hellfire.

The two actions which help one enter paradise are:

1. Taqwah (fear of Allah) – The scholars defined Taqwah as “placing a barrier between yourself and the punishment of Allah by performing that which He ordered and abstaining from that which He prohibited”.
2. Good character – The meaning of this is to have good character towards the creation. The lowest form of good character is not to harm people and its highest form is to do good to those who do bad to you.

The two actions which are a reason for entering hellfire are:

1. The mouth – Speaking that which displeases Allah
2. The private parts – All forms of adultery

And Allah Knows Best!