Inscriptions of the Gates of Paradise & Hell
With Isnad* that is traced back to Abdullah bin Mas’oud, he said: The Apostle of Allah said (s):
“When I was led in ascension into heaven, Gabriel (A) said to me: Paradise and Hell have been commanded to come before you. He (the Prophet (S)) said: I saw Paradise and what it contains from blessings and I saw Hell and what it consists from torment.
Paradise has 8 gates. On each gate there are 4 words. Each word is worth more than this world and what is therein, only for those who appreciate (their meaning) and puts them into practice. While Hell has 7 gates, on each gate there are 3 words. Each word is worth more than this world and what is therein, only for those who appreciate (their meaning) and puts them into practice.
Gabriel (A) said to me: O Muhammad read what is written on the gates, I thus read.
As for the gates of Paradise, it is written on the first of its gates: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah. For everything there is a trick, and life’s trick consists of four qualities: To have contentment, to sacrifice for the truth, to refrain from malice and to be in the company of virtuous people.
On the second gate, it is written: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah. For everything there is a trick, and the trick for happiness consists of four qualities: To wipe over the head of orphans, to show affection towards the widows, to strive in fulfilling the needs of believers, and to check on the poor and the needy.
On the third gate it is written: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah. For everything there is a trick, and the trick for good health in this world consists of four qualities: to speak little, sleep little, walk little and eat little.
On the fourth gate it is written: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah. Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be hospitable towards his guest. Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day, be generous towards his neighbor. Let him who believes in Allah and the last Day, be kind towards his parents. Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day, either speak good or remain silent.
On the fifth gate it is written: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah. Let him who does not want to be oppressed, not oppress others. Let him who does not wish to be slandered, not slander others. Let him who does not want to be humiliated, not humiliate others and let him who wishes to hold fast to the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks, in this world and the Hereafter, say: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah.
On the sixth gate it is written: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah. Let him who wishes to have his grave wide and broad, build mosques. Let him who does not wish to be eaten by earth worms attend the mosques. Let him who wants his body to remain soft, tender and never be decomposed, sweep the (floors) of the mosques and let him who wants to witness his place in Paradise, cover the (floors) of mosques with rugs.
On the seventh gate it is written: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah. The purity of the heart is found in four qualities: In visiting the sick, participating in funerals, in purchasing shrouds and repaying loans.
On the eighth gate it is written: There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah: Let him who wishes to enter from these gates, hold fast to four qualities: generosity, good manners, charity and abstention from harming the servants of Allah.
And I saw written on the gates of Hell:
On the first gate, three words are written: Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure will find happiness and whoever fears Allah will find peace while the one who is conceited and at loss is he who implores and fears other than Allah.
On the second gate: Let him who does not wish to be unclothed on the Last Day, clothe the bare skins in this world. Let him who does not wish to be thirsty on the Last Day, give water to the thirsty ones in this world, and let him who does not wish to be hungry on the Last Day, feed the hungry bellies of this world.
On the third gate it is written: Allah’s curse is on those who do not speak the truth. Allah’s curse is on the greedy ones. Allah’s curse in on the oppressors.
On the fourth gate three words are written: Allah humiliates whoever insults Islam. Allah humiliates whoever belittles The Prophet’s Household. Allah humiliates whoever assists the tyrants in their oppression of people.
On the fifth gate three words are written: do not follow (your) desires for desires are contrary to belief, do not speak about what concerns you not, for you may lose Allah’s mercy and never rally to be among the supporter of tyrants.
On the sixth gate it is written: I have been made unlawful on those who are diligent (in their worship), I have been made unlawful on those who are charitable and I have been made unlawful on those who performed fasting.
On the seventh gate three words are written: Bring yourself to account before you are brought to account. Reprimand your own selves before you will be reprimanded and invoke Allah now before you are brought before Him where you are then unable to invoke Him.
Source: [Bihar Al-Anwar, V.8, P.144] Verily, His gracious Prophet spoke the truth.
*Isnad: is an ascription (of an Islamic tradition) where an uninterrupted chain of authorities are traceable in an ascending order of traditionaries, to the first authority.
Links: www.ihic.org.au
Other Links:
The Source of Loving Imam Ali (a.s)
Importance of Knowledge in Islam
Prophet Muhammad: A Divine Mercy for the Worlds
