THE DOORS OF JANNAT
Allah Ta’ala states: “And those who fear their Rabb (i.e. they have Taqwa) will be dispatched to Jannat in groups (and) when they reach Jannat and its doors will be open (from before) and its guard (angel) will say (out of honour) ‘Assalaamu Alaykum. Live in enjoyment. So enter it (i.e. Jannat) to live in there forever.” (Surah Zumar – Aayat 73)
Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “Jannat has eight (8) doors.”
THE NAMES OF SOME DOORS & THE VIRTUE OF HAZRAT ABU BAKR RADHIYALLAHU ANHU
Hazrat Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “He who spends pairs (of things) from his wealth in the Path of Allah, will be called (to enter) from (all) the doors of Jannah.”
(Explanation: ‘Pairs’ in the context of this Hadith could refer to gold and silver, or to two camels or two oxen, or to double in measure, or to spending in abundance, or to spending during the day and the night.)
“And Jannah has several doors:
So those who will be from amongst the Ahlus Salaah (The People who performed and guarded their five times Salaah – Namaazis), will be called from Baabus Salaah.
And those who will be from amongst the Ahlus Siyaam (Those who kept fasts– Saa-imeen), will be summoned from Baabur Rayyaan.
And those who will be from amongst the Ahlus Sadaqah (The People who gave Sadaqah/charity), will be called from Baabus Sadaqah.
And those who will be from amongst the Ahlul Jihaad (Those who waged Jihaad/war), will be summoned from Baabul Jihaad.
So Hazrat Abu Bakr Radhiyallahu Anhu said: “May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Rasulullah! There is no need for anyone to be called from all of these doors, yet, will there be anyone who will be called from all the Doors?” Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “Yes. And I hope you (i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr) will be from amongst them (those who would be summoned from all the doors of Jannat).”
By this statement, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu anhu) meant that due to the beauty and splendour of all the Doors of Jannat, a person will simply be overwhelmed by the wonder and marvel of these doorways of Jannat, hence entry by just any door will also be more than adequate.
Thus, entry by specific doors to which people will be called will in reality indicate their lofty status. People who enter in Jannat will be of differing status, hence entry by one door will signify a status. A person being called to enter by all the doors – that is any one he chooses – will indicate that his status is the loftiest.
It is indisputable that this wish of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would be fulfilled. May Allah make us from amongst those who do a variety of good deeds and from those who spend two things at the same time in the Path of Allah. Aameen.
YOUR FATHER – THE CENTRE DOOR TO JANNAH
Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Your father is the centre portal/ doorway of (your) Jannat. Now if you wish; destroy it or preserve it.”
THE WIDTH OF THE DOORS OF JANNAH
Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Certainly, from my ummat 70 000 people (or 700 000 – the narrator doubted one of the two figures) will enter Jannat together. Some will be holding hands with others. The first from amongst them will not enter jannat until the last of them enters Jannah whilst their faces will be (shining and radiant) like the 14th moon.”
From this Hadith we understand that 70 000 or 700 000 Jannatis will enter together through the door of Jannat. One may just imagine the width of the door of Jannat that from one door up to 700 000 people are capable of entering through at one and the same time. Subhaan-Allah!
It is mentioned in authentic Ahaadeeth that for every good deed, there is a door amongst the doors of Jannat from which a person will be called by virtue of that good Amal (deed). Abstention from sin and doing good deeds such as pleasing and obeying one’s parents is thus imperative (as long as we do not violate the Shariah). There is no obedience unto creation which entails disobedience unto Allah. The path to Jannat is to always be in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala.