In a Hadith on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d, may Allah be pleased with him, he said that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), said: “Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called Ar-Rayyaan through which none will enter but those who observe fasting.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In another narration, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan, and those who observe fasting will enter from it on the Day of Judgment and none except them will enter from it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasting?’ They will get up, and none except them will enter from it. After their entry, this gate will be closed and nobody will enter from it (after that).” [Al-Bukhari]
In another narration, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan, and those who observe fasting will be invited to it. Whoever is one of those who observe fasting will enter it and whoever enters through it will never again be thirsty.” [At-Tirmithi: Hasan Saheeh Ghareeb]
In a Hadith on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, he said that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Whoever spends a pair two units of property (like spending two dinaars or two camels) or two units of acts of worship (like praying two Rak‘ahs or fasting two days) in the cause of Allah will be called from the gates of Paradise, ‘O slave of Allah! This gate is better for you.’ The one who frequently performs (voluntary) prayers will be called from the Gate of Prayers; and the one who frequently makes Jihad will be called from the Gate of Jihad; and the one who frequently observes (voluntary) fasting will be called from Ar-Rayyaan Gate. The one who frequently gives charity will be called from the Gate of Charity.”
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “O Messenger of Allah, may my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of these gates?’’He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, replied: “Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.’’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Another narration reads: “The gate-keepers of Paradise of each gate will be saying, ‘O so-and-so! Come here.’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In another narration, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “For the doers of every good deed there is a gate in Paradise to be called by the name of their (distinguishing) good deed. For those who observe fasting, there is a gate in Paradise for which they are called to enter Paradise from.” Abu Bakr said: “Will anybody be called from all of these gates?” He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, replied: “Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them, O Abu Bakr.” [Ahmad]
When Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, this, he meant that if a person was called from one gate of these gates, it would be sufficient for him and he would not be in need of being called from all gates because his goal of entering Paradise is achieved. However, will there be anybody to enter from all these gates? The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, replied in the affirmative.
Benefits and rulings:
First: The virtues of fasting because there is a gate of the eight gates of Paradise specifically for those who fast.
Second: The Gate of Ar-Rayyaan is a name of a gate in Paradise. Ar-Rayyaan in Arabic is derived from a root that means quenching thirst. Since the one who observes fasting abstains from drinking water, which is the thing that he needs most, his reward in the Hereafter is to have his thirst quenched forever and never become thirsty again.
Third: The mentioned acts of worship in this Hadith: prayers, Jihad, fasting and charity have gates specified for them in Paradise. The gate is specified for the one whose most plentiful acts of worship are one of these acts.
Fourth: There are gate-keepers of Paradise who will call the doers of certain acts of worship to enter from their gates. This proves that angels like the righteous people and are delighted at receiving them.
Fifth: The virtue of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and that he will be called from all these gates because he did all these acts of worship frequently. The hope of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, indicates that this would definitely happen. It was stated in a Hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, that Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, would be called by all of Paradise - by all the houses and rooms of Paradise. [Ibn Hibbaan; there is weakness in this Hadith but Al-Haythami supported it in Majma‘ Az-Zawaa’id]
Sixth: This Hadith indicates the scarcity of those people who will be called by all the gates of Paradise.
Seventh: This Hadith indicates and refers to those who frequently do these acts of worship voluntarily, not the obligatory acts of worship. For there are many people who combine all these acts of worship, which are obligatory. However, there are few people who voluntarily do all these acts of worship and who will, thus, be called from all the gates of Paradise.
Eighth: It is permissible to praise a person in his presence provided that he is not feared to be stricken by a trial or feel self-conceit.
Ninth: The call from all the gates of Paradise for the one who does all these acts of worship and observes them is an honour for him; however, he will enter from only one gate of them.
Tenth: In most cases, man is not guided to all good deeds and
whoever is guided to one of them, in most cases, cannot perform all the others. Only a few people are guided to all of these good deeds and keep on doing them. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was one of those few people.
Eleventh: Whoever frequently practices a certain act will become known for it and is attributed to it. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “One who frequently performs (voluntary) prayers will be called from the Gate of Prayer.” He meant those who constantly and frequently pray and this matter becomes their attribute, because all Muslims pray.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
