Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 581 [Read full issue]
Paradise Guaranteed
Imam Bukhari records in his Sahih that God's Messenger, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever guarantees to me what is between their lips and what is between their legs, I will guarantee them Paradise."
As speech is one of the greatest favours of God, we should use our tongues only for good and useful acts, such as reciting the Quran, praying, telling the truth, and enjoining good and forbidding evil. We should be modest and well-mannered in our speech, and not engage in lying, profanity, slander, gossip, and so on. Words should be chosen carefully, for, as Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Your word is dependent on you until you utter it; once you utter it, however, you are dependent on it."
Controlling one's sexual lust is very important for attaining human perfection and deserving Paradise. God has endowed us with many faculties and impulses so that we might evolve spiritually by restraining them and, channelling them into good deeds and virtues, attain higher spiritual ranks. By struggling to satisfy desires only in lawful ways, we can attain the rank of sainthood and gain superiority over angels.
Even though it seems at first sight to be too difficult to control our speeches and desires, it will engender great spiritual pleasure, for the pleasure of labour and struggle lies in labour and struggle themselves. Those who are successful will be deserving of Paradise.
Compiled From:
"The Messenger of God: Muhammad" - Fethullah Gulen, p. 110