Explanation Of The Hadith Of Mu’aadh: Inform Me Of An Act That Will Cause Me To Enter Paradise & Distance Me From The Hellfire

Explanation Of The Hadith Of Mu’aadh: Inform Me Of An Act That Will Cause Me To Enter Paradise & Distance Me From The Hellfire | Abdur-Razzaq Al-Badr

This Hadith is considered one of the ‘Jawaami’ al-Kalim’ (concise and precise speech) of our Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and it shows the eagerness of the companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) towards good, their care for it and their desire to attain it, as well as their questioning the Prophet of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) about his ‘Jawaami’ (concise speech). Thus, we see Mu’aadh (رضي الله عنه)—and he is from the younger companions—asking this magnificent, encompassing question that is indicative of high aspirations, truthfulness in the desire for and eagerness towards good.

“I said: O Messenger of Allaah. Inform me about an act that would cause me to enter Paradise and distance me from Hell-Fire.”

Contained in this is their diligence (رضي الله عنهم) in those matters that necessitate entrance into Paradise and salvation from the Fire and separation from it. It has come in a Hadith that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) asked a man:

“What do you say in ‘Salaah’ (prayer)?” He said: “I read the ‘at-Tashahhud’[1] and say, ‘Allaahumma inni as’aluka al-Jannah wa a’uudhu bika mina al-naar. ‘

(O Allaah I ask of you for Paradise and seek your refuge from the Fire)’, but as for me, I am not proficient in your ‘Dandanah’ (beautiful, elaborate chant), nor the ‘Dandanah’ of Mu’aadh.  So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) replied, “We chant similar to that.” [2]

 Meaning, Mu’aadh, all the Sahaabah (companions) and I chant about Paradise.  And it was by way of this chant concerning the Paradise and Hell-Fire that Mu’aadh (رضي الله عنه) asked this question:
“I said: O Messenger of Allaah. Inform me about an act that would cause me to enter Paradise and distance me from Hell-Fire.”

Like this, every Muslim should continue his life, in his actions, and his acts of obedience chanting about Paradise; searching for the causes that enter one into Paradise, and so he performs them and he searches for the causes that enter one into Hell-Fire, and so he avoids them.  Thus, from this, it becomes known that it is required from the Muslim to understand the reasons for entering Paradise so that he can act upon them and know the reasons for entering the Hell-Fire so that he can avoid them; and it has been said:

“How will he be cautious, he who does now know what he is avoiding?!”

This Hadith (of Mu’aadh) has come as one encompassing this matter: encompassing the knowledge of the causes that enter one into Paradise and Hell-Fire so that one—in light of this—can comply with the reasons for entering Paradise while keeping away from the reasons for entering the Hell-Fire. Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) magnified the affair of this question:

“He said: Surely, you have asked me about a great matter…”

[1] ‘at-Tashahhud’ – is the supplication that is recited in Salaah when one is in the sitting position with his hands resting on his knees and his right index finger sticking out

[2]Reported by Abu Daawood (#792); Authenticated by al-Albaani.