He wants us to reach Paradise; He wants us to return back to our initial abode.
He wants us to reach Paradise; He wants us to return back to our initial abode.
This Ramadhan I set myself a number of goals. One of them was to learn more Du’as to read throughout my day, including the daily morning and evening adhkar (supplications). I thought this was one of the ways I could gain taqwa (God-consciousness). I opened up my pocket sized Daily Dua book and the first dua (supplication) I wanted to learn was what to say after you put on your clothes. It read ‘All praise is to Allah Who has clothed me with this garment and provided it for me, without any power or might on my part’. It’s a simple dua to learn, but the reward for saying it left me amazed. The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘If anyone puts on a garment and says (the above), his/her past and future sins will be forgiven’. [Abu Dawud]
The next dua I learned was what to say after eating. It read ‘Praise be to Allah who has fed me this and provided me with it without any power and might from me’. The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘Whosoever eats food and says (the above) at the end, all his/her past sins will be forgiven’. [Tirmidhi]
After learning these duas I was somewhat confused as to how reading such short supplications could wipe away my previous and future sins. But that’s when I realised: It’s so easy to get to Paradise, and that it is by God’s mercy that he gives us these opportunities to gain a never-ending reward. He wants us to reach Paradise; He wants us to return back to our initial abode.
One of the duas I also starting reading in the morning and evening was:
‘O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I am under Your covenant and pledge (to fulfill it) to the best of my ability. I seek Your protection from the evil that I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I admit my sins. Forgive me, for none forgive sins but You’.
The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘The most superior manner of seeking forgiveness is (the above). Whoever says it during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same say before evening, he/she will be from the people of Paradise. And if anyone says it during the night with firm belief in it and dies before morning, he/she will be from the people of Paradise’. [Bukhari]
There are so many more duas that will testify for a person to enter Paradise, but these are the few that really struck me. The three duas I have mentioned recognise the power of God that ‘there is no strength or might except by Him’. In turn, this humbles us making us realise how weak we are without the help of God. We acknowledge the fact that our sustenance, whether it is our clothes, food or wealth are all from God’s provision. We are not self-sufficient: ‘there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage.’ [Qur’an, 11:06]
Notice that the prophet Muhammad did not say that so and so person ‘may’ be forgiven or ‘perhaps’ a person will be entered into Paradise, he used the affirmative that he/she ‘will’ be forgiven and he/she ‘will’ enter Paradise. So have no doubt that these Duas can be your entry into Paradise
Whenever you feel that you will not be able to reach the gates to paradise because you think it is only reserved for the prophets, their successors or the learned scholars of the past remind yourself ‘it’s so easy to get to paradise’. Our Lord is the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Every day in our prayers we read ‘guide us to the straight path’ (1:6), that ‘path’ we pray for is not one that is small and narrow, but one that is vast and all encompassing. We can all be on that path if we keep reminding ourselves that there are numerous ways to get to Paradise. Some will enter it because of their Salah, another because he/she was extremely generous, others because they went to sleep every night forgiving all those who wronged him/her. And some of us will get to Paradise just by reading the duas aforementioned. The list is endless, and God’s mercy is infinite so do not think that Paradise is unattainable!
Most importantly, we should have a good opinion of God. He has set up so many opportunities for us to attain Paradise so we should rush to take advantage of them. Be kind. Be generous. Be mindful of your prayers. Love your parents. Maintain relationships with all. Make dua. Spread peace. Feed the poor. And always remember that Islam is simple, and attaining Paradise is so easy. I sincerely hope that one day I have the chance to meet all those who have read this article in Paradise.
“And those foremost (in Tawheed and obedience to Allah and His Messenger in this life) will be foremost (in Paradise). They will be those nearest to Allah in the Gardens of Delight. A multitude of those will be from the first generation (who embraced Islam) and a few of those will be from the later (generations). They will be reclining, face to face, on thrones woven with gold and precious stones. They will be served by immortal boys, with cups and jugs, and a glass of the flowing wine, from which they will have neither any headache nor any intoxication. They will have fruit from which they may choose, and the flesh of fowls that they desire. There will be Houris with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for the pious), like preserved pearls, a reward for deeds that they used to do. They will hear no vain or sinful speech but only the saying of: peace, peace. And those on the Right Hand, who will be those on the Right Hand? They will be among thornless lote-trees among Talh (banana trees) with fruits piled one above another, in a long-extended shade, by constantly flowing water, and fruit in plenty, whose season is not limited, and their supply will not be cut off. They will be on couches or thrones raised high. Verily, We have created for them (maidens) of equal age, loving (their husbands only). For those on the Right Hand.” [Quran, 56:10-38]
