The Path to Paradise

By Shaykh ‘Alee bin Hasan al-Halabee

Explaining the path to paradise for the righteous [1]:

That is Paradise, whose landmarks are clear, a sure thing detailed and this is the path to it, smooth and easy. It has signs and above it are lights. We are at the beginning of the path, so let us travel hastily to the end of it where the doors of Paradise are pen for the travellers. The path which has been described by the Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) with his comprehensive words:

“Paradise is surrounded by hardship and the Hellfire is surrounded by wishes and desires.” [2]

“All my people will enter Paradise except those who refuse to. Whosoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whosoever disobeys me, then he has refused.” [3]

“Verily I have left you on a clear path, its night is like its day, nobody deviates from it except that he is doomed.” [4]

The Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has explained in these ahaadeeth the path, and described it clearly, for anyone who has an understanding, so let us travel together as loving brothers and co-operating friends.

Verily the path can be described in four words, two negatives and the two positives:

The two negatives - The associating of partners with Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and sins.
The two positives - Faith and righteous deeds.

Thus from these four words consists the path to Paradise, the abode of permanency and honour. Here it has been pointed out by the word tawheed (Oneness of Allaah - there is no deity except Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’aala and that Muhammad sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is the Messenger of Allaah). The first part means that nothing is to b worshipped in truth except Allaah, Oft-Forgiving, Full of love. [5] Then worship Allaah with faith, conviction and obedience to Him (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and be obedient to His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) with complete truth and sincerity. Then the second part means that Prophet Muhammad (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is a special Messenger with the explanation of how to worship Allaah alone in this universe. It is not possible for anyone to worship Allaah without the guidance and explanation of His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Now let us take the path, seeking guidance with these words (None Has The Tight to Be Worshipped Except Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’aala and Muhammad (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’aala):

1. We must believe without doubt, that our Creator is He who created these solar systems, and directs it with His Power and Knowledge, and by His will and His wisdom. In it are the manifestation of the effects of His exalted attributes and His Beautiful Names. Then by His Power the universe came into existence, and by His knowledge the affairs of the universe are regulated to its utmost degree, in an original form.
2. We must believe without doubt that Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has no partners in creating these solar systems, not an administrator with Him, like Him. If there were administrators along with Him, there would appear in the Universe discrepancy and contradiction, then the Universe would have been destroyed and would have become extinct.
3. We must believe without a doubt, that since there was never a partner with Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) in His creation and planning, then there can be no partner with Allaah in obedience and worship. Nor is it ever befitting to worship anyone along with Him (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), be it Angels, the sent Prophets, or other than these from the creations, be it by means of worship of prayer, supplication, fast, sacrifice, charity or vow.
4. We must believe without doubt that this is The Great God - that stands alone in creating and directing and the right of sincere worship belongs to Him (alone). He is The Great God with the attribute of being free from imperfection and His attributes and majestics are complete perfection. Thus we must affirm for Him (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) that which He has affirmed for Himself from the characteristics in His Book. We also affirm in what Allaah has affirmed him (i.e. the Messenger) who knows Allaah better than all His creation, that is our leader Muhammad (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). That is without comparison (ascribing human characteristics to Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’aala), without assimilation (making Allaah’s attributes as human attributes), without distortion (by changing the text), or without seeking to explain how.
5. We must believe without doubt that the need of people for the Messengers to explain to them the path to Paradise, which necessitated for them being sent, and the sending of books to them. From this it is compulsory to have complete believer in the Prophets and to follow them. It is compulsory to believe in the heavenly books, [6] which have been sent by Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) to the Messengers, as it is also obligatory to believe in The Dutiful Angels, The Divine Decree, The Return (i.e. the Hereafter), The Account, and The Rewards.

With these five points consists the correct belief. We already know one-quarter of the path to Paradise, so let’s go to the second quarter which Righteous Deeds.

1. We must stand for prayers, with complete purification, performing the prayer on its time in congregation, performing it well, perfectly fulfilling all the conditions, the compulsory’s (fara’idh), the Sunnah, and the etiquette. Thus conforming with the prayer of the Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
2. We must give Zakaah from our wealth to the people in need of it. From it are the poor, the needy, those in debt and the mujaahideen, and we must take out from it generously the best and the earnest wealth, entirely for Allaah’s sake.
3. We must fast the month of Ramadan, restraining from that which nullifies the Fast. Distancing ourselves from the doubtful (things), and the unlawfulness in speeches, actions, thoughts and intentions.
4. We must perform the Hajj to the house of Allaah, like the Hajj of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), which is marked with blessing, that is by performing it correctly, free from behaving in an obscene manner, immorality and quarrelling. Safeguarded by goodness and increasing in righteousness.
5. We must treat our parents with kindness, by obeying them without disobeying Allaah. By being kind to them, spending on them that which will benefit them and by dealing with them with the best of speech and action. Together with forbearing their wrongs, even if they grieve us, or dissatisfy us.
6. We must establish ties with our relatives by being kind to them and by visiting them, inquiring about them, acquainting ourselves with their welfare, and helping them with what is in our capability and by that which is possible.
7. We must be good to our neighbours, by honouring them, by being good to them, and by refraining from harming them in any manner.
8. We must honour our guest by that which is obligatory upon us and due to him, that is by feeding him and sheltering him.
9. We must honour the believer by affirming his brotherhood that is based on the foundation for providing his rights: greeting him when meeting him, replying (by saying: “May Allaah have mercy on you.”) when he sneezes, accompanying his funeral procession, visiting him when he is sick, and to fulfil his oath if he makes an oath.
10. We must be just in our speech, actions and decisions, since justice is enjoined in all obligations. Thus with it, all the affairs of the religion and the world will be put aright, and the affairs of mankind and the country will be in order.
11. We must adhere to the great Islamic manifestation, because in it lies the reviving of the Sunnah and destruction of the traditions of the disbelievers.

So far we have completed half the path, and not much remains except the last half. That is leaving of Shirk (the associating of partners with Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and the leaving of Sins. So let us continue the journey without exhaustion, impatience, and we must leave Shirk and the following:

1. We must not believe that any of the creations in existence - whosoever it might be - controls for its self or others, harms or benefits, without the will and permission of Allaah. We must restrain our aspirations for Allaah’s (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) sake alone. We must not ask the creation, nor must we seek intercession, or appeal for aid from other than Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). Since Allaah alone can provide and give aid. We must limit our aspirations and have awe and fear of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala).
2. We must not dedicate any of the worship of Allaah, to other than Him, nor must we swear by other than Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), nor sacrifice upon graves – whosoever grave it may be! - We do not pledge a vow other than by Allaah, nor do we call upon other than Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). We must not seek the aid like we seek aid with Him.
3. We must not wear a talisman (i.e. a piece of string with a little pouch in which some verses of the Qur’aan, or other things that are written in it, which is worn like a necklace or a bangle). Or bangles (worn on the forearm or on the wrist, sometimes verses of the Qur’aan written in it) expecting these to ward off the evil eye or remove harm, for nothing can repel the evil eye nor can it remove harm , except Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala).
4. We must not believe in what the soothsayers, fortune-tellers or astrologers inform us with, claiming knowledge of the unseen. Since the knowledge of unseen is with none except with Allaah.
5. We must not obey rulers, scholars, our fathers or elders in disobedience to Allaah. Since obeying other than Allaah - in prohibiting what Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has made lawful, or making lawful what Allaah has forbidden - is from Shirk.

With these five points we know three quarters of the path to Paradise, and all that remains is the last quarter, that is leaving of sins, after which we will proceed to the door of Paradise, and enter it with the will of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), together with the rest of those who enter it.

1. We must safeguard our minds: we must not think of thoughts in which there is harm, nor that which will encourage corruption or evil.
2. We must safeguard our ears: we must not listen to futile talks in which there is sin or obscenity, lies, music, slander or defamation, or blasphemy or talks that separates us from our loved ones or talks of disbelief.
3. We must safeguard our eyes: we do not freely gaze at which is not lawful to look at, be it strange women, [7] Muslim woman, or a disbelieving woman whether she is virtuous or adulteress.
4. We must safeguard tongues: we must not utter words of abhorrence, obscenity, inequity, evil, lies, falsehood, slander, backbiting or defamation, curse or revile anyone.
5. We must safeguard our stomachs: we must not put into it that which is haraam - be it food or drink - nor must we eat from usury, carrion, swine, nor drink intoxicants, smoke tobacco or other intoxicant (i.e. drugs).
6. We must safeguard our private parts: we must not have sexual intercourse with other than our wives in Islam, or that which our right hand possesses, from what Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has allowed and made lawful for us.
7. We must safeguard our hands: we do not harm anyone by striking or killing them, nor must we take with them unlawful property, nor must gamble, nor use them for corruption or futility.
8. We must safeguard our legs: we do not go towards futility nor towards temptations, immoralities, or evil.
9. We must safeguard the oaths, witnesses and trusts: we do breach our contract nor break our pledge knowingly. We do not exceed our agreement, testify to falsehood nor do we betray our trusts.
10. We must safeguard our wealth: we must nit squander it, nor must we be extravagant with it, likewise nor should we neglect it nor spend it uselessly, neither must we leave it without advancing or improving it.
11. We must safeguard our families and children in regards to their thinking, their manners and their beliefs: we must ward off from them that which is harmful, damaging or that which may corrupt their souls or their minds, and all that is strange, which hurts, ruins or grieves them.

This is the complete path, but we must prepare to benefit from this by applying it in our lives, and this will not be possible except with correct authentic knowledge, which is built upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Footnotes:

[1] Refer to Rasaaeel-Jazaa’iree, 634-639
[2] Saheeh al-Jami’, 3142
[3] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree
[4] Saheeh Taghreeb wat-Tarheeb, 58
[5] See Masru as-Shirk wal-Karafa, 17-34
[6] The Torah, Injeel, Zaboor, and the Qur’aan
[7] I.e. those who are unlawful for men to marry

Taken from: Paradise - The Bliss & the Path to it, Pgs. 30-40, by Shaykh ‘Alee bin Hasan al-Halabee, Translated by Abu Hafs Mahfuz ‘Abdur-Rahmaan, Published by Message of Islam