Those Who Will Enter Paradise Without Being Called to Account
The first group of this ummah who will enter Paradise will be those who were pre-eminent in their imaan, taqwaa, righteous deeds and adherence to the true religion.
Al-Bukhaari reports from Abu Hurayrah (Radiallaahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said:
” The first group to enter Paradise will be as beautiful as the full moon. They will not spit, blow their noses or excrete. Their vessels will be fo gold, their combs of gold and silver, their incense of aloe, and their sweat of musk. Each of them will have two wives, the marrow of whose leg-bones will be visible through their flesh because of their extreme beauty. There will be no differences or hatred among them (the people of Paradise); their hearts will be as one, and they will glorify Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) morning and evening” . (Muslim, at-Tirmidhi)
al-Bukhaari reports from Sahl ibn Sa’d (Radiallaahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: ” Seventy thousand – or seven hundred thousand – of my ummah will enter Paradise; the first of them will not enter until the last of them does so, and their faces will look like the full moon” . (Fath al-Baari, 6/319)
It is true that with each one of these seventy, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will give His Prophet seventy thousand. The Messenger of Allah (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said:
“I have been given seventy thousand of my ummah, who will enter Paradise without being called to account. Their faces will be like the full moon, and their hearts will be as one. I asked my Rabb, may He be glorified, for more, and He gave me, along with each of them, seventy thousand more”. (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1/350, no. 1068)
The Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) described the characteristics of these seventy thousand.
The Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said, “ I was shown the nations, and I saw a Prophet pass by with a group of his people, and another with a band of his people, another with only ten, another with five, and another on his own (with no followers). Then I looked and saw a large crowd of people. I asked, “O Jibreel, are these my ummah?” He said, “No, but look at the horizon.” So I looked, and saw a huge multitude of people. Jibreel said, “These are your ummah, and those seventy thousand in front will not be called to account or punished.” I asked, “Why?” He said, “They did not treat themselves with branding (cauterisation) or with ruqyaa (charms) and they did not see evil omens in things (i.e they were not superstitious): they put their trust only in their Rabb””.’Ukaasha ibn Mihsan stood up and said, “Pray to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) to make me one of them”. The Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said, “O Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) make him one of them”. Then another man stood up and said, “Ask Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) to make me one of them”. The Prophet (Salallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said,’Ukaasha has preceded you”. (Saheeh al-Bukhaari)