The Manner of Entering Paradise | The Key to Paradise
A group of scholars said that the meaning of these ahadith was that the statement, ‘None has the right to be worshipped save Allah,’ is a cause that leads to the entry into Paradise and safety from the Fire, and necessitates this. However causes can only come into effect if their conditions are met and any preventative barriers are absent. This is the opinion of hasan and Wajb ibn Munabbih and it is clear and straightforward.
al-Hasan asked Farazdaq when he was burying his wife, ‘What have you prepared for this day?’ He replied, ‘Seventy years ago, I testified that “none has the right to be worshipped save Allah.'” al-Hasan said, ‘This is indeed an excellent preparation; however this statement has conditions, so beware of accusing chaste women.’
It is also reported that he said to Farazdaq, ‘This is the certain pole but where is the rope to tie it?’
It was said to al-Hasan, ‘People say that whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped,’ shall enter Paradise.’ He said, ‘Whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped save Allah,’ and fulfils its obligations and meets its requirements shall enter Paradise.’
Wahb ibn Munabbih was asked, ‘Is not the testification that “none has the right to be worshipped save Allah” the key to Paradise?’ He replied, ‘Of course, but every key has its teeth: if you bring a key that teeth, the door shall open; but if not, it will not.’
Ahmad recods the hadith, “The key to Paradise is, ‘None has the right to be worshipped save Allah’.” The isnad is munqati.
Mu’adh (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to him, “If the inhabitants of Yemen ask you about the key to Paradise, say: the testification that none has the right to be worshipped save Allah.”
The strength of this opinion can be seen in fact that the Prophet (peace be upon him) linked entry to Paradise to the performance of righteous deeds in many texts. Bukhari and Muslim record on the authority of Abu Ayyub (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Messenger of Allah, inform me of a deed that will ener me into Paradise.’ He said, “That you worship Allah without associating any partners with Him, that you establish prayer, give the wealth-tax, and join the ties of kinship.”
Book Excerpt From: The Key to Paradise
By: Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
Pgs: 31-33
Published By: Dar As-Sunnah
Sold By: The Islamic Book Cafe
