How many will enter Paradise?
Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid
A fruitful answer that demonstrates the issue of the seventy thousand who will enter Paradise without being brought to account.
- Categories: Hereafter -
In Sahih Bukhari, it is mentioned that ...70,000 of all mankind will enter paradise(!!!)
The first three generations of muslims alone probably amounts to 70,000.
Is there another explanation to this hadith?
Praise be to Allah.
Perhaps you are referring to the Hadeeth about the seventy thousand who will enter Paradise without being brought to account, which was reported by the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim), Ahmad and others from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). If you study this Hadeeth and think about it, then in sha Allah the confusion you describe in your question will be resolved.
Imaam al-Bukhaari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated in his Saheeh from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «
» (Al-Bukhaari).What the hadeeth means is that there is a group of this ummah who will enter Paradise without being brought to account, not that the number of inhabitants of Paradise from this ummah is seventy thousand. The seventy thousand referred to in this hadeeth are of a high status in this ummah because of some special qualities that they have, as mentioned in the hadeeth: «
»The reason why they will enter Paradise without being brought to account and without being punished is stated clearly in another report narrated by al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) from Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «
‘Ukhaashah ibn Mihsan stood up and said: ‘Pray to Allaah to make me one of them!’ He [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] said, » (Saheeh al-Bukhaari: [6059]).They are described further in another hadeeth, narrated by Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «
» (Al-Bukhaari).Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: «
» (Al-Bukhaari).Muslim also reported about them in his Saheeh from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah: «
» (Muslim).There is good news for all of us Muslims in this hadeeth and others. There is more information in a report narrated in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad and the Sunan of al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah, where Abu Umaamah is reported to have said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «
»; We ask Allah to make us among them. Just imagine: seventy thousand, with each thousand of whom is another seventy thousand – how great will be the total number of people who will enter Paradise without being brought to account? How many will be in each handful “scooped up” by the Merciful, Compassionate, Generous Almighty Lord? We ask Allaah to make us among that number.The second item of good news is that the number of inhabitants of Paradise from this ummah will be two thirds of the total number. More people will enter Paradise from the ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) than from all the previous nations combined. This good news comes from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the hadeeth in which he said to his Companions one day: «
They said, “Yes.” He said: They said, “Yes.” He said: They said, “Yes.” He said: » (al-Bukhaari).The final part of the good news comes in another saheeh Hadeeth, in which he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: «
» (Al-Tirmidhi ; he said this is a hasan hadeeth).We praise Allaah for His blessings and ask Him for His grace and mercy, and to make us dwell in Paradise by His mercy and kindness. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.