Who will be the first to enter Jannah?
According to the hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be the first to enter Jannah, and his followers will be the first among the nations. Among his followers, Abu Bakr is named as the first, and the poor believers will enter before the rich. Everyone enters by Allah's mercy.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ said that he will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and ask for it to be opened. The keeper will ask who he is, and when he says "Muhammad," the keeper will reply, "It is for you that I have been ordered not to open it for anyone before you" (Sahih Muslim 197). This honour reflects his special status with Allah. Muslims also believe he will intercede for believers on that Day. See What is intercession in Islam?
His community, among all nations
The Prophet ﷺ said that although his community came last, it will be first on the Day of Resurrection, and the first to enter Paradise (Sahih Muslim 855). Other prophets and their followers will enter too, of course. This hadith is simply about the order in which people are admitted.
Scholars add that this is a sign of Allah's favour to this community, which was given the Quran after earlier scriptures and was guided to the truth.
Within the Muslim community
- Abu Bakr. After Gabriel showed the Prophet ﷺ the gate through which his people will enter, the Prophet ﷺ told Abu Bakr, "You will be the first of my people to enter Paradise" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4652).
- The poor. The Prophet ﷺ said that the poor will enter Paradise before the rich by five hundred years, "half a day" (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2353). This is a comfort for those who struggled with hardship in this life.
- A shining first group. The first group will have faces like the full moon, and their hearts will be like the heart of one man, with no enmity or jealousy among them (Sahih al-Bukhari 3254).
Does being first mean being better?
Not necessarily. Entering first is an honour, but every believer who enters Jannah has been granted Allah's mercy, and there are many levels within it. Only Allah decides who deserves what. See What are the levels of Jannah?
For the basics of what Jannah is, see What is Jannah?
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be the first to enter, before any other (Sahih Muslim 197).
- His community will be the first among the nations (Sahih Muslim 855).
- Abu Bakr is named as the first of his people (Sunan Abi Dawud 4652).
- The poor enter before the rich (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2353).
People also ask
Will death be painful for a believer?
It depends: Islam does not promise a painless death, but believers receive good news from the angels. See what the Quran and hadith say.
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