Question

Assalamualaikum,
Hope you are well by the infinite mercy of Allah.
My question is, some brothers claim that those whom the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not declare to be in Paradise cannot be called certain in Paradise.
In this case, can we call Umm al-Muminin Hazrat Ayesha (ra) a sure paradise? Since it is a matter of the unseen. If there was any hadith about her being in Paradise, I would have benefited a lot. Zajakallah ….

Answer

There are certain companions whom the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) declared to be in paradise explicitly. This does not mean that those who were not named may not enter paradise. In fact, if we look at the Qur’an there are verses which indicate that all the companions of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) will be in Paradise.

In surah 9 verse 100 Allah the Almighty states:

“And the  forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajirin (migrants) and the Ansar (helpers) and those who followed them with good conduct – Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.”

This verse informs us that all companions of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) will enter into Paradise.

In surah 57 verse 10 he states:

“And why do you not spend in the cause of Allah while to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest [of Makkah] and fought [and those who did so after it]. Those are greater in degree than they who spent afterwards and fought. But to all Allah has promised the best [reward]. And Allah , with what you do, is Acquainted.”

The ‘best reward’ promised at the end is referring to Paradise as stated by scholars of tafsir such as Imam Baydawi. Hence, this verse also informs us that all the companions will enter Paradise. Therefore, there should be no doubt that A’isha (may Allah be please with her) will also be in Paradise.

تفسير البيضاوي = أنوار التنزيل وأسرار التأويل (5/ 186)
وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنى أي وعد الله كلا من المنفقين المثوبة الحسنى وهي الجنة

تفسير ابن كثير ت سلامة (4/ 203)
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الأوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الأنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (100) }
يُخْبِرُ تَعَالَى عَنْ رِضَاهُ عَنِ السَّابِقَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالتَّابِعِينَ لَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ، وَرِضَاهُمْ عَنْهُ بِمَا أعدَّ لَهُمْ مِنْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ، وَالنَّعِيمِ الْمُقِيمِ

Also see: Ma’ariful Qur’an 4:452

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel