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:
- 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”.
- 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:
- The mouth – Speaking that which displeases Allah
- The private parts – All forms of adultery
And Allah Knows Best!