A man said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Inform me of a deed which will make me enter Paradise." The people said, "What is the matter with him? What is the matter with him?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "He has something to ask (what he needs greatly)." The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), (In order to enter Paradise) you should worship Allah and join none in worship with Him: You should offer prayers perfectly, give obligatory charity (Zakat), and keep good relations with your Kith and kin." He then said, "Leave it!" (The sub-narrator said, "It seems that the Prophet (ﷺ) was riding his she camel."
Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)
Sahih al-Bukhari 5983
Hadith Text
A man said, "O Allah's Messenger! Inform me of a deed which will make me enter Paradise." The people said, "What is the matter with him? What is the matter with him?" Allah's Messenger said, "He has something to ask (what he needs greatly)." The Prophet said (to him), (In order to enter Paradise) you should worship Allah and join none in worship with Him: You should offer prayers perfectly, give obligatory charity (Zakat), and keep good relations with your Kith and kin." He then said, "Leave it!" (The sub-narrator said, "It seems that the Prophet was riding his she camel."
Commentary on the Question
The questioner demonstrates profound spiritual yearning, seeking the direct path to Paradise. The companions' astonishment reveals this was not a common question, indicating the man's exceptional sincerity. The Prophet's recognition that "he has something to ask greatly" shows his divine insight into the questioner's pure intention and urgent need for spiritual guidance.
The Four Pillars of Salvation
Tawhid (Monotheism): "Worship Allah and join none with Him" - This establishes the foundation of all righteous deeds. Without pure monotheism, no deed is accepted.
Prayer: "Offer prayers perfectly" - Emphasizes both the outward observance and inward presence of heart in salah, which is the pillar of Islam.
Zakat: "Give obligatory charity" - Purifies wealth and soul, demonstrating social responsibility and detachment from worldly attachments.
Family Ties: "Keep good relations with your kin" - Highlights that salvation requires both rights of Allah and rights of creation, starting with the closest relatives.
Prophetic Wisdom in Brevity
The Prophet's concise response demonstrates his ability to distill vast spiritual truths into essential principles. His command "Leave it!" after listing these four pillars indicates their sufficiency - if perfected, they encompass the path to Paradise without need for exhaustive details.
Practical Implementation
Scholars explain that these four encompass the rights of Allah (Tawhid, Prayer, Zakat) and rights of creation (family ties). Perfecting them leads to perfection in all other aspects of faith. The hadith teaches that the path to Paradise lies in fulfilling fundamental obligations with excellence rather than seeking extraordinary acts of worship.