The first and the last of them will enter (Paradise) at the same time

2-11-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Can you please explain the below hadith? What is meant when it's said" "Verily! 70,000 or 700,000 of my followers will enter Paradise altogether; so that the first and the last amongst them will enter at the same time," Does it mean at one time or is that the total number of people who will enter paradise and not any more? Below is the full hadith for reference. Narrated Sahl bin Sad (Radi-Allahu 'anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, "Verily! 70,000 or 700,000 of my followers will enter Paradise altogether; so that the first and the last amongst them will enter at the same time, and their faces will be glittering like the bright full moon." Bukhari Vol. 4 : No. 470 Jazak Allah Khairan.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ): “…the first of them will not enter till the last of them would have entered.” is that all of them will enter at the same time in one row and in one go, but it does not mean that other people than them would not enter. The narration by Al-Bukhari reads: “holding on to one another.”

Ibn Hajar may Allaah have mercy upon him said in “Fat’h Al-Baari”: “It means that they will enter in one row, so all of them will enter in one go, and describing them by the first and the last is according to the time at which each of them has crossed the Siraat Bridge, and this indicates that the door through which they will enter Paradise is so vast.” Besides, Iyaadh may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “The meaning that they hold on to one another refers to sedateness so no one would try to compete with the other when entering; rather, they will all enter together (in one go).”

An-Nawawi may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “It means that they will enter in one row (horizontally) one beside the other.”

Allaah Knows best.

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