How to Achieve the Prophet’s Company in Paradise According to Islam
ATTAINING THE PROPHET’S CLOSE PROXIMITY IN PARADISE
ALLĀH said,
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـيِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـيِكَ رَفِيقًا
And whoever obeys ALLĀH and the Messenger will be in the company of those blessed by ALLĀH of the Prophets, the strong and true in faith, the martyrs and the righteous; what excellent companions these are!
Consequently, whosoever implements what ALLĀH and HIS Messenger have commanded him and avoids what ALLĀH and HIS Messenger have prohibited, then ALLĀH will grant him a dwelling in the Residence of Honor.
There, ALLĀH will place him in the company of the Prophets, and those who are lesser in grade, the true believers, then the martyrs and then the righteous, who are righteous inwardly and outwardly.
ALLĀH then praised this company,
وَحَسُنَ أُولَـيِكَ رَفِيقًا
And how excellent these companions are!
THE REASON BEHIND REVEALING THIS HONORABLE AYAH
Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah recorded from Aishah, who said; “A man came to the Prophet and said to him, O Messenger of ALLĀH! You are more beloved to me than myself, my family and children. Sometimes, when I am at home, I remember you, and I cannot wait until I come and look at you. When I contemplate my death and your death, I know that you will be with the Prophets when you enter Paradise. I fear that I might not see you when I enter Paradise.’
The Prophet did not answer him until the Ayah,
وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـيِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـيِكَ رَفِيقًا
And whoever obeys ALLĀH and the Messenger will be in the company of those blessed by ALLĀH of the Prophets, the true believers, the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!
was revealed to him.”
This was collected by Al-Hafiz Abu Abdullah Al-Maqdisi in his book, Sifat Al-Jannah, he then commented: “I do not see problems with this chain.”
And ALLĀH knows best.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Amr bin Murrah Al-Juhani said: “A man came to the Prophet and said, `O ALLĀH’s Messenger! I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except ALLĀH and that you are the Messenger of ALLĀH, pray the five (daily prayers), give the Zakah due on my wealth and fast the month of Ramadān.’
The Messenger of ALLĀH ﷺ said: “Whoever dies in this state will be with the Prophets, the truthful and martyrs on the Day of Resurrection, as long as – and he raised his finger – he is not disobedient to his parents.”
Only Ahmad recorded this Hadith.
Greater news than this is in the authentic Hadith collected in the Sahih and Musnad compilations, in Mutawatir form, narrated by several Companions that the Messenger of ALLĀH ﷺ was asked about the person who loves a people, but his status is not close to theirs.
The Messenger ﷺ said: “One is with those whom he loves.”
Anas commented: “Muslims were never happier than with this Hadith.”
In another narration, Anas said: “I love the Messenger of ALLĀH, Abu Bakr and Umar, and I hope that ALLĀH will resurrect me with them, even though I did not perform actions similar to theirs.”
{Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged)}
#ibnkathir #Nisa (4:69)