The People of Paradise: The Deeds for Which People Will Deserve to Enter Paradise

The People of Paradise: The Deeds for Which People Will Deserve to Enter Paradise

The People of Paradise: The Deeds for Which People Will Deserve to Enter Paradise


The people of Paradise are the believers and strict monotheists. All those who associate others with Allah or disbelieve in Him, or deny any of the principles of faith will not be allowed to enter Paradise. Their destination will be Hellfire.

The Qur'an often states that the people of Paradise are the believers who do righteous deeds, to quote one of many examples:


"But whoever comes to Him as a believer [in tawheed] and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks [in the Hereafter] - 'Adn [Eden] Paradise [everlasting gardens [under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves". [20:75-76]


* Believers may earn Paradise through their eemaan and Islaam:



"My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve who believed in Our aayaat and were Muslims, enter Paradise you and your wives in happiness" [43:68-70]

* Or because they were sincere in their devotion to Allah:


"Save the chosen slaves of Allah [al-Mukhliseen] . For them there will be a known provision, fruits and they shall be honoured, in the gardens of delight." [37:40-43]



* Or for the strength of their relationship with Allah, their longing for Him and worship of Him:


"Only those who believe in our aayaat who, when they are reminded of them fall down prostrate, and glorify the praises of their rabb, and they are not proud. Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Rabb in fear and hope, and they spend [charity in Allah's Cause] our of what We have bestowed on them". [32:15-16]



* Or for their patience and reliance upon Allah:


"..Excellent is the reward of the workers, those who are patient and put their trust [only] in their Rabb" [29:58-59]



* Or for their steadfastness in faith:


"Verily those who say "Our Rabb is Allah" and remain firm [on that path], on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the Companions of the Garden dwelling therein: a recompense for their good deeds". [46:13-14]



* Or for their humility:


"Verily those who believe and do righteous deeds and humble themselves [in repentance and obedience] before their Rabb - they will be dwellers of Paradise to dwell therein forever" [11:23]



* Or for their fear of Allah:


"But for him who fears standing before his Rabb there will be two Gardens" [55:46]



* Or for their hatred of the kuffaar and mushrikeen and their refusal to befriend them:


"You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His messenger, even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred [people]. For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Ruh [proof, light and guidance] from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein [forever]. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him". [58:22]


Some aayaat discuss in detail the righteous deeds for which a person may deserve Paradise; for example, Surah ar-Ra'd states:


"But it is only the men of understanding who pay heed, those who fulfill the Covenant of Allah and break not the mithaaq, those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined, [i.e. good to relatives and not severing the ties of kinship], fear their Rabb and dread the terrible reckoning, and those who remain patient, seeking their Rabb's Countenance, perform as-Salaat, and spend out of that which We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly, and defend evil with good, for such there is a good end 'Adn [Eden] Paradise which they shall enter and [also] those who acted righteously from among their fathers and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate [saying] Salaamun ''alaykum for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!" [13:19-24]


And at the beginning of Surah al-Mu'minoon, Allah explains that success is for the believers and then described the deeds that will qualify them for success:


"Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their salaah with khushoo', and those who turn away from al-laghw [dirty, false, evil, vain talk, falsehood and all that Allah has forbidden], and those who pay the zakah, and those who guard their chastity, except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame; but whoever seeks beyond that then those are the transgressors; those who are faithfully true to their amaanah [all duties that Allah has ordained: honesty, moral responsibility, and trusts] and to their covenants and those who strictly guard their prayers [at the fixed times]. These are indeed the inheritors who shall inherit al-Firdaws. They shall dwell therein forever" [23:11]


The Prophet (saw) also said, "The people of Paradise are three: a ruler who is fair and just; a man who is compassionate and gentle towards every relative and Muslim; and a man with a large family who is proud and does not beg" [Muslim, see Sharh an-Nawawi 'alaa Muslim, 17/198]