The Prophet (ﷺ) 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."
Beginning of Creation - Sahih al-Bukhari 3247
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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."
Commentary on the Numbers
The variation between 70,000 and 700,000 indicates either that the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned both figures on different occasions, or that the smaller number represents the leaders while the larger includes their followers. Scholars note that these numbers are not exhaustive but represent specific groups granted this honor without reckoning.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains that these are the ones who will enter Paradise without being subjected to the Final Accounting, as mentioned in other authentic narrations. They are those who did not seek ruqya (healing through Qur'an), nor believe in bad omens, nor use cauterization, but put their complete trust in Allah.
Significance of Collective Entry
The simultaneous entry of the first and last demonstrates Allah's immense mercy and the honor bestowed upon this special group. It eliminates any sense of precedence or delay, granting them equal honor despite differences in their time periods or merits.
Al-Qurtubi notes that this collective entry reflects the unity of the Muslim ummah and the ultimate justice of Allah, where this particular group receives this distinguished treatment as a manifestation of divine grace beyond ordinary recompense.
Metaphor of the Full Moon
The comparison to the bright full moon signifies the radiance and purity of their faces, reflecting the light of faith and the joy of attaining Paradise. The full moon represents perfection, beauty, and illumination - qualities that will characterize their appearance in the Hereafter.
Ibn al-Jawzi comments that this brilliance comes from the light of their deeds and the purity of their tawhid (monotheism), which will manifest physically in the Next World, just as the darkness of sins would manifest as physical darkness for others.