(WAYS TO GAIN THE TOP RANKS OF JANNAH)
1. Memorising the Qur'an Ibn 'Amr reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: "It will be said to the companion of the Qur'aan after he has entered Paradise, 'Recite, and rise!' For every verse he recites he will rise one level (in Paradise), until he recites the last verse with him (i.e., in his memory)." (Aboo Dawood) Therefore we should memorise as much of the Qur'an as possible in order to elevate our position in the hereafter.
2. Concentrating in Salaah Abu l-Aas (RA) reported that he said,“O Messenger of Allaah, the Shaytaan interrupts me when I pray, and I get confused in my recitation.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “That is a shaytaan whose name is Khanzab. If you sense his presence, seek refuge with Allaah from him, and spit [dry spitting] towards your left three times.” [Abu’l-‘Aas] said: “I did that and Allaah took him away from me.”(Reported by Muslim, no. 2203) Salaah is of the best and most important of all our worship so we must ensure that we pray our Salaah as perfectly as possible as our Salaah is being scrutinised everytime we pray and if we do not pray our Salaah properly and lack concentration then we will not gain the full benefits of our Salaah and instead it will feel like a burden upon us. Therefore we should strive to try and concentrate on our Salaah as much as possible imagining that Allah is watching our every movement in prayer.
3. Men praying Fard Salaah in the Masjid The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I had considered ordering for the prayer to be established, then I would order every man to pray and set loose men who have with them logs of wood upon a people who did not come to the prayer and I would burn their houses with the fire.” (Bukhari, Muslim) This clearly indicates that there is no excuse for men to make a congregation at home if they have a Masjid near them and it is possible for them to pray in one. Honourable place in Jannah: It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and evening, Allaah will prepare for him an honourable place in Paradise every time he goes and comes.” (Bukhaari, 631; Muslim, 669) Therefore it is clear that men should establish a close connection with the house of Allah, pray all of our Salaah on time and our fards in the Masjid:
4. Doing Voluntary Prayers & Fasts Voluntary prayers: Allah says in Hadith Qudsi: ….and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My Protection, I will protect him..." (Bukhari) A Source of Elevation: The Prophet (SallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Ask (anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companion in paradise." The Prophet (SallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Anything else?" Rabi'ah said: "That is it." The Prophet( SallAllahu alayhi wasallam)said to him: "Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)." (Muslim) Therefore we should pray all of the voluntary prayers as the more prostrations we do the more closer we will get to Allah and the more chance we have of being in the company of Rasulallah (SallAllahu alayhi wasallam) in Jannah: Voluntary fasting: Abu Hurairah reported that the most the Prophet, (salla Allahu alaihi wa salam) would fast would be Monday and Thursday. He was asked about that and he said: "The deeds of people are presented to Allah on every Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every Muslim except for those who are deserting each other. He says: "leave them for later." (Ahmad; Hasan) Fasting the white days (3 days in the lunar month, 13th, 14th & 15th): Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari said: "The Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said "O Abu Tharr! if you fast three days of every month, then fast the 13th, the 14th and the 15th [these are call the al-ayaam al-beedh, the white days]". (Ahmad, an-Nasaa'i and at-Tirmithi; Sahih) Intercession for those who fast: “Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: ‘O My Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.’ And the Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him.’ He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘And they will (be allowed to) intercede.’” (Ahmad, at-Tabarani, Al-Hakim, Sahih) So let us get closer to Allah by fasting Mondays & Thursdays or at least 3 days every lunar month on the 13th,14th and 15th. If we leave something for the pleasure of Allah then we will get MUCH more in return!
5. Remember & Glorify Allah night & day Mu`adh ibn Jabal said that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: "The People of Paradise will not regret except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by and in which they made no remembrance of Allah." Narrated by Bayhaqi in Shu`ab al-iman (1:392 #512-513) The highest rank in Jannah for those who remember Allah the most: Abu Sa`id narrates: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was asked, "Which of the servants of Allah is best in rank before Allah on the Day of resurrection?" He said: "The ones who remember him much." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the fighter in the way of Allah?" He answered: "Even if he strikes the unbelievers and mushrikin with his sword until it broke, and becomes red with their blood, truly those who do dhikr are better than him in rank." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Bayhaqi) Therefore we should remember Allah as much as is possible and glorify him night and day for his remembrance is the best of deeds and will surely elevate our position in Jannah:
6. Pray Tahajjud & beg & cry unto Allah for mercy & forgiveness Abu Hurayra (RA) reports that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, “The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” (Muslim) Therefore we should make a habit to pray Tahajjud in the latter portions of the night and beg and cry unto Allah for mercy. The one who prays Tahajjud has their ranks elevated in Jannah. The one who cries unto Allah in the depths of the night will surely be heard for Allah tends to his servants who are crying for his mercy quicker just as a mother tends to her crying baby:
7. Implement FULL Sunnah into daily life Following the Sunnah is a command from Allah: "Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran: 3:31) Surely if we follow the Prophet in every aspect of our life then everything that we do will become a worship even going to the toilet, having a bath, dressing and undressing etc "Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” (Tirmidhi)
8. Giving charity Spending in the way of Allah is of the best of deeds and will save us from the fire: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: “Charity wipes out sins as water extinguishes fire.” (Tirmidhi) Charity should be paid secretly: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: “Righteous deeds protect a person from an evil end; a charity spent in secret extinguishes Allah’s wrath; and maintaining good ties of kinship increases ones lifespan.” (Tabaraani) Removing harmful objects from people’s way is also a charity: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said:“I saw a man enjoying himself in Paradise (simply) because he removed from a road a tree that used to harm people.”(Muslim) Providing for ones family is a charity: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said:“If a man provides for his family hoping for the reward, it will be counted as charity for him.”(Bukhari & Muslim)
9. Dua "Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times, Paradise says: 'O Allah, admit him into Paradise', and whoever seeks deliverance from the Fire three times, the Fire says: 'O Allah, save him from the Fire." (Sunan tirmidhi no 2572) Say: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ (O Allah I ask you for jannah) 3 times and اللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ (O Allah save me from the hellfire) 3 times Al-Bukhaari (2790) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “In Paradise there are one hundred levels that Allah has prepared for those who strive in jihad for the sake of Allah. The distance between each two levels is like the distance between heaven and earth. So if you ask of Allah, then ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is the middle of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise. I think above it is the Throne of the Most Gracious, and from it spring the rivers of Paradise.” May Allah make us amongst those who learn, reflect, and implement good deeds as well as grant us all Guidance to the right path and Jannatul Firdaws. Ameen
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You will be rewarded continually as well, in sha Allah.