One time a man came to the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. When he reached the prophet he said O prophet of Allah, I want you to counsel me and tell me something to do and practice in order to enter paradise.
The prophet asked, do you believe in Allah?
The man said, about myself I bare witness that there is no God but Allah and you are the messenger of Allah.
Then upon hearding that the prophet asked him to offer the prayer five times a day, then to give the zakah (the poor due), fast the holy month of Ramadan and to go to hajj once in his life.
The man asked the prophet, is there anything else I should do to enter paradise?
The prophet said, no.
The man took off and he said, I swear by Allah I'm going to practice them, I'm not going to increase and I'm not going decrease from what the prophet said.
Then the prophet said, if anyone of you would like to see a man from the dwellers of paradise let him look at that man.
In other words we are required to obey the five pillars of Islam, these are the foundation of the religion.
The man left and he was glorifying Allah saying Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar on his camel off into the distance until he could no longer be seen.
Look at this man, he is from those who the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said will be in paradise and that's due to just the actions he said he would do. What about you and I? We are capable of doing much more than that, a lot more than that, and get to an even higher level in paradise. Paradise is one hundred degrees, our aim should be nothing less than the top, glory be to Allah who has made it so easy for us!!
- Shaykh Musa Jibril حفظه الله
