How to Save Oneself From the Fire
As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So the Muslims pray to their Rabb with faith to save them from the Fire:
“Those who say, “Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, forgive us then, our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire “. (3:16)
“. ..Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all] this, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers. Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling [us] to faith: “Believe in your Rabb,” and we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise “. (3:191-194)
Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and describe the deeds that will protect one from the Fire, for example, love of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala). In al-Haakim’s al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad’s al-Musnad, a report from Anas ibn Maalik (Radiallaahu Anhu) states, “The Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said, ” By Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala), Allah will never thrown one whom He loves into the Fire ” (sahih, See Sahih al-Jaami’ 6/104)
Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as Ahmad reports in al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Imaan, with a hasan isnaad from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah: “The Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said, “Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) says, ” Fasting is a shield with which one may protect oneself from the Fire “. (Sahih al-Jaami, 4/114)
In Shu’ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from ‘Uthmaan ibn Abil-Aas that the Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said, ” Fasting is a shield from the punishment of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala)” It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami’ 3/264).
If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against the enemy, then that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: ” Whoever fasts for one day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake of Allah, Allah will remove him [lit. his face] seventy years distance from the Fire “. (Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa’ee – Sahih al-Jaami’ 5/310)
Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allah and jihaad for His sake:
” But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will be two gardens [ie in Paradise]” (55:46)
at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa’ee reported from Abu Hurayrah (Radiallaahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah(Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: “ No one who weeps out of fear of Allah will enter Hell until the milk goes back into the breast [i.e. never] and a man will never have both the dust from fighting in the way of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) and the smoke of Hell”. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is sahih)
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu ‘Abs that the Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said, ” No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will never meet in the Fire of Hell” .(Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3794)
We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection with Allah from it:
” Those who say, “our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath is indeed an affliction grievous.” Evil indeed is it as an abode and as a place to rest in “. (25:64-65)
Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with a sahih isnaad from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said, ” No one asks Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala)) for Paradise three times, but Paradise will say, “O Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) admit him to Paradise”. And no Muslim asks Allah for protection from Hell three times, but Hell will say, ” O Allah save him from me “” (Sahih al-Jaami, 5/145, no.5506)
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (Radiallaahu Anhu) that when the Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of dhikr he said, ” Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) asks them and He knows best, “What are they seeking protection from?” They tell Him, “From the Fire”. He asks, “And have they seen it.” They say, “No, by Allah, O Rabb, They have not seen it.” He says, “How would it be if they had seen it?” They say, “They would be even more afraid and anxious to escape it”. He (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) says, ” Bear witness that I have forgiven them “”. (Sahih al-Jaami’, 2/233, no. 2169)