Lu'lu' wal-Marjan

Sayyiduna ‘Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Whoever testifies that there is no deity except Allah, He is alone, He has no partner, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is His servant and Messenger, and that ‘Isa is His servant and Messenger and His word which He conveyed to Maryam, and a spirit from Him, and that Paradise is true and Hellfire is true, then whatever deeds he may have done (in the end) Allah will admit him into Paradise. One of the narrators in the chain added these words: He will be admitted through whichever of the eight gates of Paradise he wishes.

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that I was riding behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on his mount, and between me and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) there was nothing except the rear wooden part of the saddle. In this state, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "O Mu'adh!" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah, I am present and ready to obey you." Then he continued to ride for a while, and after that he said, "O Mu'adh!" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah, I am present and ready to obey you." Then he continued to ride for a while, and after that he said, "O Mu'adh!" I replied, "I am present, O Messenger of Allah, ready to obey you." After that, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Do you know what right Allah has over His servants?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah's right over His servants is that they worship Him alone and do not associate anything with Him." Then he continued to ride for a while, and after that he said, "Mu'adh!" I replied, "I am present, O Messenger of Allah, ready to obey you." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Do you know what right the servants have over Allah when they do this?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Then the servants' right over Allah is that He does not punish them."

Sayyiduna Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that I was riding behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on a donkey, whose name was ‘Ufair. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O Mu’adh, do you know what Allah’s right is upon His servants, and what the servants’ right is upon Allah?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “Allah’s right upon His servants is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, and the servants’ right upon Allah is that He does not punish anyone who does not associate anything with Him.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I not give this glad tidings to the people?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not give them this glad tidings, lest they rely on it (and neglect good deeds).”

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that (on one occasion) Sayyiduna Mu’adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on a mount. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O Mu’adh!” He replied, “At your service, O Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (again) said, “O Mu’adh!” He replied, “At your service, O Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (for the third time) said, “O Mu’adh!” He replied, “At your service, O Messenger of Allah.” This happened three times. (After that) the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever testifies with a sincere heart that there is no deity except Allah, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the true Messenger of Allah, Allah makes the (Hell) fire forbidden for him.” (Sayyiduna Mu’adh) said, “O Messenger of Allah! Should I inform the people of this so that they may rejoice?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “(If you inform them of this) they will rely on it (and abandon good deeds).” Sayyiduna Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated this hadith at the time of his death, fearing that he might be questioned in the Hereafter for concealing the saying of the Messenger.