Question:
Assalamualaikum. I heard that there is a hadith which states, if there is a person who makes du’a after taking ablution, then the gates of paradise will be opened. Is this true?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam w.b.t,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Exactly. This is in accordance with the hadith from Umar RA where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُبْلِغُ - أَوْ فَيُسْبِغُ - الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلاَّ فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَةُ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ
If anyone amongst you performs the ablution, and then completes the ablution well and then says: I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the eight gates of Paradise would be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes
Sahih Muslim (234), Sunan Abu Daud (169), Sunan al-Nasa'ie (148), Sunan Ibn Majah (470) and Jami’ al-Tirmidhi (55)
In interpreting the meaning of gates of paradise will be opened, there are two opinions:
- To ease one to reach the paths towards goodness which at last will lead him to the gates. In other words, Allah equips him with the reasons of good deeds which will lead him to the gates of paradise. This is in accordance with the saying of Allah SWT:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا
And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways.
Surah al-Ankabut (69)
- The meaning of futihat (فُتِحَتْ) “has been opened” means that it will be opened on the Day of Judgement. The usage of fi’il madhi (past tense) in future context is to affirm that the Day of Judgement is inevitable and close. This is part of the ta’bir balaghi like the saying of Allah SWT:
أَتَىٰ أَمْرُ اللَّـهِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ
The command of Allah is coming, so be not impatient for it
Surah al-Nahl (1)
May Allah place us together with the pious which makes us be among the people of His Paradise. Amin.