Who doesn’t enter paradise?

Over the past three weeks the reminder was on ways to enter Paradise. This week the reminder switches to speak of those to whom Paradise will not the final abode.

We need to be over hopeful of the mercy of Allah SWT but also to be fearful that we do not fall into the cursed group of those who have been mentioned in the Quran and the Hadith as those who will not go to Paradise.

The first step to avoiding these groups is to recognize what groups these are. The reminder today highlights these groups so that we can recognize the danger and avoid them.

Firstly, the imam reminded us of the 40th ayat of Sura Al-A’far. This is translated to say:

Surely the gates of Heaven shall not be opened for those who reject Our signs as false and turn away ‘ from them in arrogance; nor shall they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. Thus do We reward the guilty ones.

Dear brothers and sisters, this ayat informs us that the cursed group is that who rejected the signs from Allah SWT due to their arrogance and died in disbelief. Further on this surah, in the 50th ayat, Allah SWT warns us again by saying:

The people of the Fire will call out to the people of Paradise, “Pour on us some water, or some of what Allah has provided you.” They will say, “Allah has prohibited these for disbelievers,

And so, dear brothers and sisters, the declaration of faith and the requirement to believe in Allah SWT is not only rewarded with Paradise but it’s denial is the destination of Hellfire.

The second group as mentioned in todays reminder is best illustrated by mentioning two hadith of the Prophet SAWS. They are translated to say:

He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.

And

“He who has, in his heart, an ant’s weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah.” Someone said: “A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?” Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people.”

Dear brothers and sisters, we need to be mindful that we are not displaying the traits of arrogance or pride. Also, we should put ourselves in the shoes of those around us and make sure that how we conduct ourselves doesn’t come across as arrogant as this is a possible error that could cost us dear. It’s worth that extra level of mindfulness and worth doing from time to time.

The third group are those who associate partners with Allah SWT. Allah SWT warns us of this in Sura Al-Maeda, ayat 72 which is translated to say:

They do blaspheme who say: “Allah is Christ the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord, and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with Allah―Allah will forbid him the Garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.

Dear brothers and sisters, we need to have respect, reverence and love for all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah SWT, but at the same time, be absolutely clear in the distinction between them and the only one that is worthy of our worship and that is Allah SWT.

Lastly, the group mentioned in today’s reminder is highlighted by the following hadith by the imam. It is translated to say:

Two are the types of the dwellers of Hell whom I did not see: people having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they would not smell its odour whereas its odour would be smelt from such and such distance.

Dear brothers and sisters, first sub-group here is that those who beat people. It can be argued that this is all types people who oppress and we need to be careful that if we are in positions of power, in both our families and in our workplace, that we are not guilty of oppressing others as this is a dangerous trait to have.

The second sub-group here are women who are dressed inappropriately despite being clothed. Examples could be tight-fitting clothes or clothes that are so thin, they are almost transparent.

We need to understand here that the beauty of a woman is a powerful thing and that the responsibility is on both the woman to dress appropriately but also on the men to encourage their wives with kindness and love. They are the heads of their families and they have the responsibility of teaching the manners and morals of our faith to everyone in their family.

We live in a day and age where the role of the man in the home is often diluted with western concepts of what a man’s role is in the home. However, this hadith outlines that we also hold a responsibility with our wives to teach them but to teach them through love, compassion, kindness and empathy. Remember, our Prophet SAWS was known for his beautiful conduct with his wives and so we should emulate this when we are in our own homes.

Dear brothers and sisters, we should take todays reminder as an opportunity to take stock of our lives and ensure that we do not fall into any of the cursed groups that were mentioned today.

Read More

Punishment of Hellfire

Dear brothers and sisters, we follow on from last weeks khutba which spoke of the slaves of Allah SWT, the next two ayats are mentoned in this reminder from Sura Al-Furqan. This week it’s ayat 65 and 66 which are translated to say:

And those who say, “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever lasting;

Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence.”

Dear brothers and sisters, if we look into the definition of the slaves of Allah SWT as mentioned last week, it spoke of their mannerisms and their actions, namely the night prayer. One could argue that this in itself is worthy of escaping punishment but then it is followed up with these two ayats.

This serves an important lesson and that is one of complacency. That is, their worship has not made them vain and proud to presume that they are the beloved ones of Allah SWT and that the Fire of Hell will not touch them.

Instead, in spite of all their worship and good deeds, they are so filled with the fear of the torment of Hell that they pray to their Lord to save them from it, for they do not depend upon their own work for success in the Hereafter but upon the mercy of Allah.

Dear brothers and sisters, no one should ever think that he deserves Heaven by his or her deeds. One can never pay back a small portion of the blessings of Allah SWT in this life only, even if he spent all his life in worship.

 

This is emphasised in a hadith of the Prophet SAWS in which he is quoted to have said:

 

“No one shall enter Heaven by his deeds”. When his companions replied “even you, o messenger of Allah” he said “even me; unless Allah bestow his mercy on me”.

 

We need to remind ourselves that it is the mercy of Allah SWT that will save us from the punishment of Hellfire. And we can only achieve this by asking him to be merciful towards us.

 

And the Prophet SAWS further emphasised the point on hellfire in which the hadith of the Prophet SAWS:

 

Abu Huraira reported: We were in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that we

heard a terrible sound. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Do you know what

(sound) is this? We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he said: That

is a stone, which was thrown seventy years before in Hell and it has-been constantly

slipping down and now it has reached its base.

 

Dear brothers and sisters, it is clear that the message of todays reminder is of the warning of the hellfire but alongside that is the warning of complacency.

 

The slaves of Allah SWT were not complacent and followed the Sunnah in that they still prayed for the mercy of Allah SWT.

 

Allah SWT repeatedly mentions His mercy upon us, during this life that we are living and on the Day of Judgement. However, the sin of complacency is one that we are at risk of being easily trapped into.

 

After all, we know that Shaytaan will first try to get us on the major sins, failing that he will try to trap us in the minor sins and then failing that he will try to corrupt us on the good deeds that we are doing.

 

One example of complacency is the delay of prayers. To pray them late and to think that Allah SWT is merciful is complacent. Another example is the hurrying of the ablution or wudu because we think ‘well, the intention is to do it so insh’Allah it will be accepted’. This is an example of the corruption in the good deeds that we are being trapped in by Shaitaan and we need to recognise this so that we are not of those who are complacent in our faith.

 

Therefore this reminder concludes with two practical tips we can all do to avoid falling into this trap:

 

  1. We need to repeatedly alert ourselves to the lazy voice in our head that says statements along the lines of “it’s ok, the intention was there” or “that’ll do insh’Allah”. As slaves of Allah SWT, our existence isn’t one of “that’ll do”. Our existence as slaves of Allah SWT should be “was that good enough?” Unfortunately, we live in a society of “that’ll do” but that’s the test we live in this time and place. It’s an obligation on us to be the people that set the standard for ourselves first and foremost and as a role model for the rest of society to achieve.

 

  1. We need to recognise the gravity of complacency. It’s not enough to recognise that we were lazy in an act of worship and hope for Allah SWT’s mercy. It’s our duty to actively seek forgiveness from Allah SWT in our supplications to Him. And not just a blanket “sorry” either. Recognize within ourselves each act that fell into this category and seek forgiveness for each and every one. This, in turn, will make the number of acts that fall into this category, less and less over time.

 

Dear brothers and sisters, we are reminded repeatedly about the Hellfire from Allah SWT and his Messenger SAWS. We are also reminded of the mercy of Allah SWT. Allah SWT has created us to worship Him but He in turn is our Lord to provide us with his infinite mercy.

 

We are reminded though that the true slaves of Allah SWT, a group to which each and every one of us wishes they belong to, is defined by their active pursuit of Allah SWT mercy. Let’s keep that mindset so that we do not fall into the trap of assuming His mercy and instead actively work to earning it as true Ibad-ur-Rahman or slaves of Allah.

 

May Allah SWT protect us from complacency in our worship.  May Allah SWT protect us from complacency in seeking forgiveness. And may Allah SWT rewards us for our efforts in becoming Ibad-ur-Rahman.

Read More