The Hadith

Abu Abdullah Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

A man asked the Messenger of Allah:

“Do you think that if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast Ramadan, consider lawful what is lawful, and consider unlawful what is unlawful, and I do nothing more than that, I will enter Paradise?”

The Prophet said:

“Yes.”  

Reference

Reported by Muslim.  

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Explanation (From Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan)

In this hadith a man asked the Prophet about the actions that would lead him to Paradise.  

The man mentioned that he would perform the obligatory prayers and fast the month of Ramadan, which are among the required acts of worship in Islam.  

He also said that he would:

“consider lawful what is lawful and consider unlawful what is unlawful.”

This means that he would accept what Allah has made lawful and avoid what Allah has made unlawful.  

The man then asked whether performing these obligations and avoiding what is forbidden would be sufficient for him to enter Paradise.  

The Prophet answered:

“Yes.”  

This shows that whoever fulfills the obligations that Allah has required and avoids what He has prohibited will enter Paradise.  

References

The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith: Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan. Dar Makkah International.

Verified on 2026-10-21 against: The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith (Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan), Hadith 22.