10 Deeds That Build Houses in Jannah | Ep. 6 | #JannahSeries with Dr. Omar Suleiman

Summary

This transcript highlights the immense rewards associated with acts of worship and good character that lead to homes in Jannah (Paradise). It discusses ten deeds that can result in palaces in Jannah, emphasizing prayers, charity, patience, and excellent character. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shared that building a mosque, praying extra rak'ahs, reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas, and making supplications before sleep can all earn homes in Jannah. Furthermore, cultivating gratitude, fasting, night prayers, and excelling in character help believers secure elevated dwellings in the hereafter.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The homes in Jannah (Paradise) are earned through specific good deeds, and they represent incredible rewards for acts of worship and patience.
• 🕌 Building a masjid for Allah, even contributing a small amount, results in Allah building a home in Paradise for the contributor.
• 🙏 Praying 12 extra rak'ahs (optional units of prayer) daily, apart from obligatory prayers, guarantees a home in Paradise.
• 📜 Reciting 'Qul HuwaAllahu Ahad' (Surah Ikhlas) 10 times results in Allah building a palace in Jannah.
• 💤 Performing wudhu (ablution) before sleep, reciting a specific dua, and sleeping on the right side earns a home in Jannah.
• 🛒 Reciting a specific dhikr (remembrance of Allah) when entering a marketplace can result in immense rewards, including a home in Paradise.
• 🍴 Feeding the poor, consistently fasting, and praying at night while others sleep are actions that build special dwellings in Jannah.
• 😌 Avoiding arguments, even when right, and abstaining from lying, even in jokes, results in a home in Paradise.
• 🌟 The highest reward in Jannah is for those who excel in their character, with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) guaranteeing a place in the highest part of Paradise.
• 🤝 Those who excel in character not only secure a beautiful home in Jannah but are promised to be close to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the hereafter.

Q & A

What is the first type of home mentioned in Jannah, and how is it built?

The first type of home in Jannah is built with patience (sabr). Examples include homes built for Asiyah, Khadijah, and the 'ibadur-Rahman (servants of the Most Merciful). These homes are considered the best ones in Jannah.

What reward is associated with building a masjid for Allah?

Whoever builds a masjid for Allah will have a home built for them in Paradise by Allah, even if the contribution is small. This reflects Allah's generosity in rewarding efforts to build places of worship.

How can one earn a home in Jannah through extra prayers?

Praying 12 extra rak'ahs (sunnah prayers) a day, such as two before Fajr, four before Dhuhr, two after Dhuhr, two after Maghrib, and two after Isha, earns a home in Jannah. These prayers should ideally be prayed at home.

What is the significance of reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul HowaAllahu Ahad) 10 times?

Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas 10 times results in Allah building a palace in Jannah. This reward is tied to the sincerity expressed in the surah, which is an elaboration of the declaration of faith (La ilaha illa Allah).

What is the benefit of reciting the dua before sleeping as taught by the Prophet (PBUH)?

Reciting the dua before sleeping, which includes entrusting oneself to Allah and affirming belief in the Qur'an and the Prophet (PBUH), results in either dying on the fitrah (natural disposition) or having a home built in Jannah.

What reward is mentioned for reciting a specific dua when entering the marketplace?

Reciting a specific dua when entering the marketplace wipes away a million sins, grants a million good deeds, elevates the person by a million degrees, and results in a home being built in Paradise.

Who are the 'ibadur-Rahman, and why are they given high places in Jannah?

'Ibadur-Rahman are the servants of the Most Merciful who exhibit exceptional worship and character. They are patient and bear the difficulties of life with faith in Allah. They are promised high dwellings in Jannah because of their patience and devotion.

What are the three practices of the 'ibadur-Rahman mentioned by the Prophet (PBUH) that lead to a palace in Jannah?

The three practices are feeding the poor (a practice of gratitude), fasting consistently (a practice of patience), and praying at night while others sleep (a practice of excellence). These acts lead to a palace in Jannah.

What is the reward for avoiding arguments, even when one is right?

The Prophet (PBUH) guarantees a home in the outskirts of Paradise for the one who avoids arguing even when they are right. This practice reflects forbearance (hilm).

What is the significance of excelling in character according to the Prophet (PBUH)?

Excelling in character guarantees a home in the highest part of Paradise. The Prophet (PBUH) said that those who excel in character will be the closest to him in Jannah, making it one of the most valuable qualities a person can have.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Earning a Home in Paradise through Patience and Worship

The speaker begins by asking what one considers a 'good day' of work, imagining earning a home in Jannah every day. The first type of home in Paradise is built with patience (sabr), citing examples like Asiyah, Khadijah, and the righteous servants of Allah. The second type is earned through specific good deeds, particularly acts of worship. These deeds are outlined, starting with building a masjid for Allah, for which He rewards by building a home in Paradise. Even small contributions to a masjid can result in a grand palace in Jannah. Praying 12 extra rak'ahs daily is another deed that earns a home in Paradise, particularly when performed at home. This can include the regular sunnah prayers that the Prophet (PBUH) consistently observed. Despite the busyness of daily life, performing these sunnah prayers offers immense rewards.

05:00

🙏 The Rewards of Sunnah and Recitation

The speaker continues to emphasize the rewards of sunnah prayers, mentioning additional narrations where praying specific rak'ahs, such as the four rak'ahs of Ishraq and those before Dhuhr, guarantees a house in Paradise. Another simple deed is the recitation of Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul HowaAllahu Ahad) ten times, which results in a home in Jannah. This chapter encapsulates the core of Islamic monotheism, La ilaha illa Allah. Repeating it multiple times can multiply the reward. Additionally, saying a specific dua before sleeping, after performing wudhu, brings the reward of either dying in a state of fitrah or earning a home in Paradise. This dua expresses complete submission to Allah and trust in His protection.

10:01

🛍️ The Blessings of Dhikr in Daily Life

The speaker highlights the benefits of dhikr, especially when entering the marketplace. By reciting a specific dhikr (La ilaha illa-Allah, Wahdahu la sharika lah…), Allah grants enormous rewards: a million sins wiped away, a million good deeds added, and a million levels elevated, along with a house in Paradise. The speaker encourages the audience to prioritize this dhikr while engaging in routine activities such as shopping, reminding them that the rewards from Allah outweigh material possessions. These acts of remembrance bring immense blessings and are effortless to incorporate into daily life.

Keywords

💡Jannah

Jannah refers to Paradise in Islamic belief, a place of eternal peace and happiness. In the video, Jannah is described as having different 'homes' or 'palaces' that are earned through good deeds. It symbolizes the ultimate reward for a faithful Muslim, and the video explores various ways to build a home in Jannah through acts of worship and good character.

💡Sabr (Patience)

Sabr means patience or perseverance in facing challenges and hardships. The video emphasizes that homes in Jannah can be built through sabr, using examples of revered figures like Asiyah and Khadijah. Patience is portrayed as a key virtue that leads to the highest rewards in the afterlife.

💡Sunnah

Sunnah refers to the practices and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The video highlights the importance of praying the 12 extra rak'ahs (units of prayer) as part of Sunnah, which can lead to the building of a home in Paradise. The Sunnah is closely tied to acts of worship and is seen as a way to gain spiritual rewards.

💡Masjid

A Masjid is a mosque, a place of worship for Muslims. The video states that whoever builds a masjid for Allah, even a small part of it, will be rewarded with a home in Jannah. This emphasizes the communal and spiritual importance of supporting places of worship as an act of devotion.

💡Dhikr

Dhikr is the remembrance of Allah through repeated phrases or prayers. The video mentions that reciting certain phrases, like 'La ilaha illa Allah,' in a marketplace can lead to a home in Jannah. Dhikr is portrayed as an easy yet profound way to gain spiritual rewards and strengthen one's connection with God.

💡Ibadah (Worship)

Ibadah refers to acts of worship and devotion to Allah. The video categorizes several deeds—like praying, fasting, and reciting Quranic verses—as forms of Ibadah that can lead to the building of a home in Jannah. Worship is depicted as central to earning a place in Paradise, with different forms of Ibadah offering different rewards.

💡Tahajjud

Tahajjud is the night prayer, performed after waking up in the middle of the night. The video explains that praying Tahajjud is an act of 'Ihsan' (excellence) and can lead to a literal palace in Jannah. It is considered one of the most intimate and sincere forms of worship, offering spiritual and eternal rewards.

💡Ihsan (Excellence)

Ihsan means excellence in both worship and character. In the video, it is linked to acts like praying Tahajjud, which demonstrate a deep connection with Allah. Ihsan represents going beyond the minimum requirements of faith, striving for the highest level of devotion, which in turn earns the greatest rewards in the hereafter.

💡Fitrah (Natural Disposition)

Fitrah refers to the natural, pure state in which humans are created, aligned with belief in and submission to Allah. The video mentions that reciting a specific dua before sleep can ensure that a person dies in a state of fitrah. This highlights the importance of returning to one's innate spiritual state through constant remembrance of God.

💡Hilm (Forbearance)

Hilm means patience and restraint, especially in difficult situations. The video describes how avoiding arguments, even when one is right, can earn a home in Paradise. Hilm is shown as a character trait that helps a person gain spiritual rewards by prioritizing peace and humility over winning arguments or conflicts.

Highlights

Homes in Paradise are built with sabr (patience), and the best homes are for individuals like Asiyah and Khadijah.

Building a masjid for Allah results in a home being built for the person in Jannah.

Whoever prays 12 extra rak'ahs a day, Allah will build for them a home in Paradise.

Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul HowaAllahu Ahad) 10 times builds a home in Paradise.

Performing wudhu, saying a specific dua before sleep, and sleeping on one's right side guarantees a home in Paradise.

Reciting a specific dua when entering a marketplace erases a million sins, grants a million good deeds, and builds a home in Paradise.

The highest dwellings in Jannah are reserved for those who demonstrate patience, worship, and excellent character.

A special dwelling in Paradise is prepared for those who feed the poor, fast regularly, and pray at night while others sleep.

A specific gate in Paradise, Al-Rayyan, is reserved for those who consistently fast.

Praying Tahajjud at night connects a person to Allah and results in a palace in Paradise.

Avoiding arguments, even when right, guarantees a home in the outskirts of Paradise.

Avoiding lying, even in jest, guarantees a home in the middle of Paradise.

The Prophet (PBUH) guarantees a home in the highest part of Paradise for the one who excels in character.

The closest to the Prophet (PBUH) in Jannah will be those who have the best character.

Reciting specific forms of dhikr and dua in daily life are simple, yet profound, ways to build a home in Paradise.

Transcripts

- So what would you consider

a good day worth of work?

Imagine if every day you earned a home

in the most prized neighborhood in the world.

What is the real estate of Jannah

worth to you right now?

(mystical music)

(mystical music)

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So as we said, the first genre

of homes in Paradise

are those that are built

with sabr, with patience.

And they are the best ones,

just like the homes that are mentioned

for Asiyah 'Alayha Salaam,

Khadijah radiAllahu Anha

and 'ibadur-Rahman,

the servants of the most merciful.

The second genre of homes are the ones that are built

with specific good deeds.

And so we're gonna break down

these good deeds insha'Allah Ta'ala into 10.

And the first five actually have to do

with deeds that surround 'Ibadah,

that are acts of worship.

So the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

whoever builds a masjid for Allah

Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la

will build for them a home in Paradise.

So basically Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la

repays the favor.

You build His home here,

even though He doesn't need you to increase His kingdom

and He builds your home there

and you have no kingdom without the king of all kings.

And while building an entire masjid is impossible

for most, even a small spot

of a masjid here can turn out as a palace for you

there in Jannah.

The second one is whoever prays 12 extra rak'ahs a day.

And the connotation here is that a person prays these 12

rak'ahs in their home

because the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam generally

used to pray his sunnahs at home.

So your sunnahs at home

and a home in Paradise in return.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said though,

in the broadest sense

whoever prays 12 rak'ahs for the sake of Allah apart

from the fard, apart from the obligatory prayers

Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la will build

a home in Paradise for that person.

And of course the most beautiful 12 rak'ahs that you could

pray are the ones that the prophet

SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam

was most consistent with.

So he would pray SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam,

two before Fajr, four before Dhuhr,

two after Dhuhr, two after Maghrib,

and two after Isha.

But the reward here

in this hadith isn't actually restricted to just those 12.

Now if you think about what stops us from praying sunnah

usually a person would say, maybe I'm busy

and I just can't really allot that much time for it.

And sometimes it feels

like we can barely even get the fard in.

We can barely even get the obligatory prayers in

because we've got work to do.

But think of it this way

is a good day's work in this dunya building an entire home?

Like would that be a salary that you're pleased

with if you came home every day and you had a new home?

What about building a home in Jannah?

And SubhanAllah, the hardest Sunnah to pray

is the one in the middle of the workday

and there's so much more reward to it.

We also have another narration which shows

the breadth of this reward.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

whoever prays the four rak'ahs of Ishraq, of sunrise,

and then four rak'ahs before the Dhuhr salah

Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.

So those are the sunnah prayers.

The next one is so easy

and it can be done at any time of the day.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

man qara'a Qul HowaAllahu Ahad

whoever reads Qul HowaAllahu Ahad

10 times

bana Allahu lahu baytan fil-Jannah

Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la will build that person

a home in Jannah.

SubhanAllah the reward of this surah

which is the surah that elaborates

on the key to Jannah, which is Kalimatul-Ikhlas

the statement of sincerity.

La ilaha illa Allah

Qul HowaAllahu Ahad is basically an elaboration

of La ilaha illa Allah and you read the surah 10 times

and it's not something that you can only do once a day

and it could be done in a couple of minutes.

And Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la

builds you a palace in Jannah.

So what if you read it 20 or 30 or 40 times a day?

Then the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam mentioned

the dua before sleep.

And there are a few duas before we go to sleep.

But this one is specific to the reward.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

whoever does wudhu and then goes to sleep

on their right side and says

Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilayk

wa fawwadhtu amri ilayk

wa wajjah-tu wajhi ilayk

wa alja'tu dhahri ilayk

ragh-batan wa rah-batan ilayk

Oh Allah, I submit myself to You

I entrust my affairs to You

I turn my face to You and I lay myself down

depending upon You, hoping in You and fearing in You.

la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilayk

aamantu bi kitabika-allathi anzalt

wa bi nabiyyik-allathi arsalt

There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You.

I believe in Your book the Qur'an that You revealed,

and I believe

in the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam

that you have sent

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

whoever says this before sleeping

in one narration

he said, SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam

that this person dies on the fitrah.

They die on their natural disposition.

In another narration

the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

a home will be built

for that person in Paradise.

The gem here is that you are saying there is no refuge

or shelter from You, Oh Allah, except to You.

So Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la gives you shelter

in the form of what?

A palace in Paradise.

What a great shelter to have SubhanAllah

from the storm of this dunya.

Now the last of this genre is a form

of dhikr that you would say when entering

into the souk or any marketplace.

So even if you're logging onto like an online marketplace

say this dua, you never know Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la

might give you the reward.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said

that whoever enters into the souk and says

la ilaha illa-Allah

wahadahu la shareeka lah

lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd

yuhyee wa yumeet, wa huwa hayyun la yamut

bi yadihil-khair

wa huwah 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer

That none has the right to be worshiped except Allah alone.

He has no partner;

to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise.

He gives life and causes death.

And He is ever-living and does not die.

In His hand is all good and He has power over all things.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

Allah will wipe a million sins

from his record and grant him a million good deeds

and elevate him by a million degrees

and Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la

will build for that person a home in Paradise.

Ask yourself, what would you buy in the marketplace?

More precious than that home in Paradise.

So remember the dua next time you go shopping.

So these are the first five deeds that build the home

in Paradise and they're in the realm

of dua and dhikr; acts of worship and remembrance.

The next set of deeds surround a deep transformation

of character through worship.

Now, if you remember the description

of those who have a high place in Paradise

they are 'ibadur-Rahman

the servants of the most merciful.

They are people of both exceptional worship and character.

This group of people is able to

bear the difficulties that come

with dealing with people in this world precisely

because of how deeply connected they are

to Allah Subh'anahu Wa Ta-A'la

so 'ibadur-Rahman

have a special place from Ar-Rahman.

They are servants

of the most merciful, who will be rewarded generously

by the most merciful.

Ula'ika yujzawnal-ghurfata bima sabaru

They will be rewarded

with high dwellings because of their patience.

So recall the verses in surah Al-Furqan

about them

and then the narration of Abu Malek Al-Ash'ari

radiAllahu Anhu

when he said that the prophet

SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said

that there are dwellings in Paradise

the inner of which is seen

from the outside and the outside from inside.

Who are they for ya Rasulullah?

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

Allah has prepared them

for the one who feeds the poor

the one who fasts consistently

the one who prays at night when other people are sleeping.

So these are people of prayer

fasting and charity that ignore the harms

of the people of this world fearing the harm

of the hereafter and seeking its highest reward.

But if you break them down into categories,

the first category that is here

is the one who feeds the poor

and this is the practice of shukr

the practice of gratitude.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

afshus-Salaam wa at'imut-ta'am

spread Salaam and feed the people.

Then the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said

the one who fasts consistently

and this is the practice of sabr, of patience.

The prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam mentioned

a special gate in Paradise

for those who fast and a huge distance

of a journey of 70 years placed

between you and hellfire for every day that you fast.

So the more distant you are from hellfire

the higher you are in Paradise.

Then he said, SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam,

The one who prays at night while others sleep.

And this is the practice of ihsan, of excellence.

Now, this is at the core of it.

This is what gives you the strength

and sincerity to continue.

It's standing up at night in the privacy of your home

connecting to your Lord

Tahajjud is where the Jannah of the heart is.

And now tahajjud gets you a literal palace in Jannah.

Now in another narration

the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam also said,

I guarantee a home

in the outskirts of Paradise, the suburbs of Paradise

for the one who avoids arguing even when they are right.

And this is the practice of hilm, forbearance.

You know, it takes so much

to restrain yourself in an argument

especially when you know you can win the argument

but you choose to be patient with people

and win a home in Paradise

instead of winning the argument.

Then he said, SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam,

a home in the middle of Paradise

for the one who avoids lying even when joking.

And this is the practice of wara', being cautious.

You know, truthfulness is the highest virtue

and you don't want to sacrifice your place in Paradise

as the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said

that truthfulness leads to Jannah.

And here specifically being truthful

even when it's convenient to not be truthful,

grants you a home in Paradise.

And in summary of it all

and it's not just one quality

the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said,

and I guarantee a home in the highest part

of Paradise for the one who excels in character.

Because if you are seeking to excel in your character

Allah is going to unlock all

of these good qualities for you.

And the prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam, who excelled

in every good quality said that the closest

to me in Jannah are the people with the best character.

So when you excel in your character

you don't just build a beautiful home for yourself.

You also guarantee the most beautiful neighbor

in Jannah that you could possibly have.

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