Gates of Paradise Fatwa No: 84473
- Fatwa Date:9-7-2002
What are the names of the doors of Paradise?
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Paradise has eight doors as mentioned in many Islamic texts.
Ubaadah narrated that the Prophet said: “If anyone testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger, and that Jesus is Allah's slave and His Messenger and His word which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit created by Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise through any of its eight gates he wishes.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
There are other gates that have their own names as confirmed in Islamic texts, such as the Gate of al-Salah (prayer), the Gate of al-Jihaad, the Gate of as-Sadaqah (charity), the Gate of ar-Rayyan, the Gate of al-Ayman and the Gate of Al-Kaathimeen Al-Ghayth (i.e. those who repress anger).
There are some other names pointed out by some scholars based on the indications mentioned in the texts such as gate of at-Tawbah, (repentance), ath-Thikr (remembrance of Allah), al-Ilm (the knowledge), ar-Radheen (persons who are content with the Decree of Allah), and al-Hajj.
The evidence for the first four names is the following Hadeeth that the Prophet said: “Whoever gives two kinds (of things or property) in charity for Allah's Cause, will be called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed, 'O slaves of Allah! Here is prosperity'. So, whoever was amongst the people who used to offer their prayers, will be called from the gate of the prayer; and whoever was amongst the people who used to participate in Jihad, will be called from the gate of Jihad; and whoever was amongst those who used to observe fasts, will be called from the gate of Ar-Rayyan; whoever was amongst those who used to give in charity, will be called from the gate of charity.” . [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The evidence for the fifth name, i.e. al-Ayman, is the Hadeeth of intercession which includes “… Allah Says to the Prophet “O Muhammad! Let those of your followers who have no accounts, enter through the Gate of al-Ayman, (a gate of the gates of Paradise that lies on the right); and they will share the other gates with the people.”
The evidence for the sixth name Al-Kaathimeen Al-Ghayth, is a Mursal Hadeeth reported from al-Hasan that he said: “There is a Gate in Paradise that none will enter by except the one who forgives others' injustice.” [Ahmad as quoted by Ibn Hajr in al-Fath]
Know that the scholars of Hadeeth are agreed upon the first four names only and they disagree regarding the other names. Imam an-Nawawi quoted from al-Qadi as saying: ‘There are other Ahadeeth mentioning other names of Gates of Paradise, such as at-Tawbah, the Gate of those who repress anger and pardon others, and ar-Radheen. These are seven names. There is a Hadeeth on the subject of intercession proving a Gate is named al-Ayman, it may be the name of Gate number eight.’
Ibn Hajar said: ‘The sound Hadeeth mentioned four names of the Gates of Paradise; no doubt there will be a Gate with the name al-Hajj since it is one of the fundamentals of Islam, and there are other names mentioned in different Ahadeeth, and then he mentioned the above names.’
For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 17317.
Allah knows best.