How do we ensure access to heaven? Most of us care less about such questions. According to google trends, most searches are about satisfying immediate self needs instead of searching for heaven or paradise. Tangible over intangible.
And a few conscious ones leave such matters to God to take care of our final home. And most of those will try compare their virtuous deeds with others and think that they will be more eligible to get easy access to heaven. Then how do we ensure access to heaven factually? Any assurance?
Seek Guidance
Does seeking guidance ensure us access to heaven?
God does ONLY good for us. He created Adam with His hands, gave the title fil ardli khalifa, blown His spirit unto Adam and made the angels bow down to him except Iblis. And Iblis whispered to Adam and slipped them both (Adam and Eve) out from the Garden to earth.
20: 123 He said: "Descend from this, all of you, for you are enemies to one another. So, when MY GUIDANCE comes to you, then, whoever follows MY GUIDANCE, he will not go astray nor suffer."
Therefore, the first step to ensure access to heaven is to follow Guidance, and:
7:40 Those who have denied Our verses, and became arrogant towards them, the gates of the heavens will not open for them, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of a needle. It is such that We recompense the guilty.
And to whom does the Guidance serve as a guide? 2.2 That is the book, which is without doubt a guide for the righteous (mutaqeen). And who are the mutaqeen? They are people who have special characteristics.
3:133 And race towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the width of the heavens and of the earth; it has been prepared for the righteous (mutaqeen)
3:134 The ones who spend in prosperity and hardship, and who repress anger, and who pardon the people; God loves the good doers.
3:135 And those who, if they commit immorality, or wrong themselves, they remember God and seek forgiveness for their sins. And who forgive the sins except God? And they do not persist in what they have done while they know.
In summary the characteristics of a mutaqeen as follows:
Those who spend in prosperity and hardship
Those who swallow anger
Those who pardon people
Those who immediately remember God if they commit immorality
By comparing the above characteristics to us, we can ensure access to heaven. But the sad news is this:
7:27 O Children of Adam, do not let the devil seduce you as he evicted your parents from paradise; he removes from them their garments to show them their bodies. He and his tribe see you from where you do not see them. We have made the devils as allies for those who do not believe
Satan seduced Adam and Eve with deception, evicted them from the Garden to this earth. And we are on earth. Are we not an easy target for Satan to block our access to heaven?
7.22 use the word بِغُرُورٍ " bighurur " which translates as follows:
guile
trickery
foul play
cunning
deception
stab in the back
dirty work
فَدَلَّاهُمَا بِغُرُورٍ
fadallahuma bighurur He spoiled them with arrogance.
Sure, we are an easy target, and Satan will attack us from all corners as mentioned in 7.17. He uses our own nafs or self as his tool!
7:23: Qala rabbana thalamna anfusana wain lam taghfir lana watarhamna lanakoonanna mina alkhasireena
They said: "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, then we will be of the losers!"
Therefore, the devil uses our NAFS as a TOOL to prevent us from accessing heaven. The devil said to God:
7:17 "Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]" TARGETTED ATTACK!
How then to ensure access to heaven? Simply seek guidance.
What will prevent us from Guidance?
If seeking guidance ensures us access to heaven, what can prevent us from it?
Our own nafs will prevent us from guidance. The basis of piety is from our own nafs. I will only mention the two nafs from the Quran:
Nafs Lawwaammah (not acceptable) 75:2
Nafs Mutmainna (acceptable)
75:1 I do swear by the Day of Resurrection.
75:2 And I do swear by the soul which is self-blaming.
75:3 Does the human being think that We will not gather his bones?
75:4 Indeed, We were able to make his fingertips.
Nafs Lawwammah characteristics as follows:
sneers
blames
belittles
insults
ridicules
laugh at
If we are in this state, the devil will not leave us. But he places whispers (waswasa) onto our nafs and always trick us to do that God forbids. We need to be aware of this and make amendments daily.
We may think that we are not in nafs Lawwammah. But according to 75.2 and 75.3 all human beings have this nafs Lawwammah which sneers God's Message! The question is still open.
75.4 Indeed, We were able to make his fingertips
75.40 Is One as such then not able to resurrect the dead? You need to answer God.
In 75, once guidance is recited, we need to accept that, must believe that is the truth, and be conditioned by it.
56.47 And they used to say: "After we die and turn to dust and bones, we will get resurrected?"
You can doubt other source of knowledge but not God's Message! Be wary. As our nafs is in the state of Lawwammah perpetually - it will sneer and reject God's Guidance (Quran). And we will never understand and be conditioned by it unless due regard is given to Guidance as THE TRUTH!
75.31
فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّىٰ
Falasaddaqa walasalla
for he did not regard truth, nor was he conditioned by it. And he turns away.
75.32 But he denied and turned away.
And he goes on with his daily life as usual.
75.33 The he went to his family full of pride.
75.34 Nearer to you and nearer
75.35 Again nearer to you and nearer
What is nearer? Of course, Judgment Day is nearing, and his soul is still in Lawwammah state! And during the questioning by God, 75.14 Indeed, the human being will testify against himself. 75.15 Even though he puts forth his excuses. Which means trouble for him!
This is what is happening to us daily. We live in denial of the truth and thinking that we are on the right path. If we don't manage our own nafs, the devil will use it to deceive us and stop us from reaching heaven.
The following illustrations show how Nafs Lawwammah reduces the space area of good deeds compared with when it upgrades itself to Nafs Mutmainna (through saddaqa walasalla that is undertanding the guidance and be conditioned by it).
Nafs Lawammah score: 35/100 Failed
Nafs Mutmainnah score: 100% - eligible to enter heaven
The second step is to manage your own nafs to understand and be conditioned by Guidance (Quran).
Another crucial step to check to ensure access to heaven is by gauging our own faith.
Are we in Monotheism?
Does our faith in monotheism ensure us access to heaven?
According to God 12.106 "And most of them do not believe in God unless they associate others"
Even at this very moment, the above observation of God still applies. We need to take a moment to contemplate on this verse and see where we stand in our faith in ONE GOD. Are we within the ambit of monotheism?
The pagans and the idol worshippers were no different. They had the same belief.
They used to believe that God is the provider, giver of life and death, the creator, facilitator of their affairs. But they associated others with Him through invoking them.
46.5 And who is more astray than he who calls on others besides God that do not respond to him even until the Day of Resurrection? And they are totally unaware of the calls to them!
If we go back to Prophet's time, the pagans will not say that he believes that the idol creates, takes life, gives rain, and facilitates their affair as they know all these are the works of God.
23.84 Say: "To whom is the earth and whoever is in it if you know?
23.85 They will say: "God." Say: " Will you then not remember!"
23.86 Say: " Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the great Throne?"
23.67 They say: "God". Say: " Will you then not take heed?"
23.88 Say: " In whose hand is the sovereignty of all things, and He protects while there is no protector against Him, if you know?"
23.89 They will say: " God". Say: " Then why are you deceived?"
4.48 God does not forgive that partners be set up with Him, and He forgives other than that for whom He pleases. Whoever sets up partners with God has indeed invented a great sin.
Therefore, monotheism ensures us access to heaven.
Follow Guidance
Does following guidance ensure us access to heaven?
To God the most important event is the Al Qiamah or The Resurrection Day. This is where the progeny of Adam (A.S) will either go to heaven or hell. And God mentioned who will be saved:
2.62 Surely those who believe; and those who are Jewish, and the Nazarenes, and the Sabians, whoever of them believes in God and the Last Day and does good works; they will have their recompense with their Lord, and there is no fear upon them, nor will they grieve.
This is the step where you practice what you read. And do not be quick in reading. As mentioned, understand it and be conditioned.
75.16 Do not move your tongue with it to hasten it.
7.204 And if the Quran is being read, then listen to it and pay attention, that you may receive mercy.
7.203 And because you do not bring them a sign, they say: "If only you had brought one." Say" " I ONLY FOLLOW what is inspired to me from my Lord. This is an evidence from your Lord, and a guide and mercy to a people who believe."
The Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon him) followed ONLY the Quran. As with other Prophets, his job is only to deliver the message.
42.48 But if they turn away, then We did not send you as their guardian. You are only required to deliver...
46.9 Say: " I am no different from the other messengers, nor do I know what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what is inspired to me. I am no more than a clear warner."
5.105 O you believe, you are responsible for yourselves; none who are misguided can harm you if you are guided. To God is your return, all of you, and then He will inform you of what you have done.
We are responsible for our own entry to heaven. It's our responsibility! The entire world has moved away from guidance, so much so that in the Day of Judgment Prophet himself firstly will lodge a complaint to God about this:
25.30 Then the messenger will say: " My Lord, my people have deserted the Quran."
The word used here is "mahjooran" مَهْجُورًا . It comes from the word "muhajir". In history, Muhajirun were the first converts to Islam and the Islamic Prophet's advisors and relatives, who emigrated with him from Mecca to Medina, the event known in Islam as the Hijra (Ref Wikipedia).
9.117 Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirun (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful.
Life for the followers of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) became miserable after they openly declared the new faith. The unbelievers of Mecca oppressed and tormented them and, surprisingly, killing them. In addition, the non-believers restrained trading with them.
As the situation became unbearable, with God consent Prophet migrated to Medina. Those who migrated with him were named 'Muhajirun'.
The reason for this exodus wasn’t to look for a little excursion or touring. It was a planned run away from the evil encompassing them in Mecca. Their life and family were at risk. They could not tolerate living in Mecca.
Therefore, "mahjooran" to be understood that as something cannot be hold onto. It needs to be laid- off, ejected, expelled, ousted, freed etc. The word 'deserted' is a weaker form of showing the intent of the word "mahjooran" مَهْجُورًا. Therefore, running away from guidance will not prevent us from access to heaven.
Then how do we ensure access to heaven? Supplication to God.
Supplicate to God
Does supplicating to God ensure us access to heaven?
Prophets supplicate to God every time of their lives.
3.37 .... Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the enclosure, he found provisions with her. He said: " O Mary, from where did you get this?" She said:" It is from God, for God provides from whom He wishes without reckoning."
3.38 It was then that Zechariah implored his Lord; he said: " My Lord, grant me from You a good progeny. You are the Hearer of prayer."
God reprimands us for not doing supplication.
40.60 And your Lord said: " Call on Me and I will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to serve Me, they will enter Hell, humbled."
That is part of worship in our daily salat.
1.5 You alone we serve, and You alone we seek for help.
1.6 Guide us to the straight path.
Supplication is the link to God. What we are to God without supplication. It is worship.
25.77 Say, " What are you to my Lord without your prayers (dua or الدُّعَاءِ ). You have denied the truth, and the inevitable will happen."
In 3.38 Prophet Zechariah observed something miracle was happening within Mary's chamber. So he immediately supplicated to God " My Lord, grant me from You a good progeny" God gave him a good news of a son John.(Yahya).
Those are the steps to take to ensure access to heaven.
We suggest reading this article repeatedly to have a good understanding of the steps needed to ensure access to heaven. That is where we all belong to.
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