A Pictorial Summary of how Paradise is NOT attained

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum.

How is Paradise NOT attained, you ask?

Well, it is NOT attained through:

Allah says:

“But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds – We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allah , [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement.” [Surah An-Nisaa (4) : 122]

“(Paradise) is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a helper.” [Surah An-Nisaa (4) : 123]

So, Paradise is not attained through wishful thinking. So how is it attained?

Well, as Allah explains in the first ayah (verse), it is obtained through iman (faith) and righteous deeds.

Note #1: I usually use the Muhsin Khan translation but sometimes, like in today’s post, I use the Saheeh International translation if it is easier to understand.

Note #2: Aren’t the Quranic ayaat (verses) clearer in this post? I used this website for it. The Quran grammar part seems to have been done by a non-Muslim though so keep your eyes open.

Note #3: You may read the explanation of the second ayah from Tafsir ibn Kathir here.

Note #4: My apologies for not having replied to your comments yet. It seems that I’m as bad in replying to comments as I am at replying to emails or picking up the phone…