How to Reach Jannat (1/2)

The importance of praying for Jannah

Abu Hurayrah (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "When a person seeks refuge from Hell seven times, Hell says to Allah, 'O my Lord, Your slave so-and-so sought refuge from me, so give him refuge.' When a person asks for Jannah seven times, Jannah says to Allah, 'O my Lord, Your slave so-and-so asked for me, so enter him into Jannah.'"[1]

Abu Salih Dhakwan (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrates from one Sahabi that Rasulullah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) asked a person, "How do you make dua' in salah?" He said, "I make tashahhud and I say, 'O Allah, I ask you for Jannah and I seek refuge with you from Hell.'"[2]

We should try to learn this simple dua' and use it to ask for Jannah. There will be more blessing in this dua’ because it narrated from a Sahabi who recited in front of Rasulullah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The importance of working towards Jannah

No one from amongst us has a guarantee that he will reach Jannah. One hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim mentions that a person will do the actions of the people of Jannah until he is only a hand-span away from Jannah. Then, what is written for him will overtake him and he will do the actions of the people of Hell until he enters into hell. It is true that Allah has guaranteed to eventually enter into Jannah anyone who recites the Kalimah with sincerity, but no believer has a guarantee I hat he will leave this world in a state of iman. Therefore, it is necessary for every believer to constantly work to please Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) - in order to die with iman.

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says,

"And for this let all those strive who want to strive."[3]

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) also says,

"And hasten towards forgiveness from Your Lord, and for a Jannah prepared for the pious, as wide as the heavens and the earth."[4]

Price of Jannah

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says,

"Definitely, Allah has purchased the lives and wealth of the believers for the price of Jannah. They fight in the path of Allah, so they kill the enemy or are killed. Allah has made this promise with truth in the Torah, Gospel, and the Quran. Who can be more true to his promise than Allah? Be happy with the transaction which you have completed. This [transaction] is the true success."[5]

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has made Jannah the price for the lives and wealth of the believers, i.e. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is the buyer with Jannah as His price and we are the sellers of our lives and wealth. When we spend both in the path of Allah, we will deserve this price.

Fulfilling one's desires in Jannah can be achieved only by controlling one's desires in this world

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says, "And Jannah will be the place of residence for that person who fears standing in front of his Lord and restrains himself from evil desires and lust."[6]

Sahl bin Sa'd (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "He who guarantees me that he will protect his tongue and private parts (by protecting them from evil and fulfilling his desires lawfully), I will guarantee him Jannah.”[7]

The great reward for controlling one's sexual desires in this world

Ibn Abbas (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "The person who falls in love, remains chaste, conceals this [from others], and dies is a shahid."

Munawi (Rahimahullah) explains that the love mentioned in the above hadith refers to a love with a woman with whom marriage is possible and it is such a severe love, which affects all the body parts. Although this love could occur because of looking and hearing, this is not necessary because Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) can place this love in a person's heart without any apparent cause. The person who remains chaste despite being afflicted by this severe love and thereafter dies will receive the reward of a shaheed in the hereafter. The rank of a person who remains chaste is similar to the rank of a person who dies fighting in the path of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) because both have sacrificed their pleasure for the sake of Allah. Just as a fighter sacrificed his life for the uplifment of the religion of Allah, the chaste person strived against his desires for the sake of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). [8]The youth especially should strive to remain chaste in order to gain this virtue.

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