I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "From my followers there will enter Paradise a crowd, seventy thousand in number, whose faces will glitter as the moon does when it is full." On hearing that, 'Ukasha bin Mihsan Al-Asdi got up, lifting his covering sheet, and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Invoke Allah that He may make me one of them." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Allah, make him one of them." Another man from the Ansar got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Invoke Allah to make me one of them. "The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), "'Ukasha has preceded you."
The Excellence of the Seventy Thousand
This blessed hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (6542) in the Book "To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)" describes a magnificent group from the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) who shall enter Paradise without reckoning. Their faces shall shine with the radiance of the full moon, a light born from the purity of their faith and their freedom from burdensome sins.
The Nature of This Chosen Group
The scholars, such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari, explain that these seventy thousand are distinguished by their avoidance of major sins like sorcery, fortune-telling, and usury (riba). They do not seek ruqya (incantations) from others, placing their complete trust (tawakkul) in Allah alone.
Their shining faces are a manifest sign of the inner light of Iman (faith) and the absence of the spiritual stains of disobedience. They are the forerunners, the ones who attain the highest stations without the hardship of the Final Reckoning.
The Zeal of the Companions & The Prophetic Response
The immediate action of 'Ukasha (may Allah be pleased with him) demonstrates the profound desire of the Companions for excellence in the Hereafter. He did not hesitate to ask the Prophet (ﷺ) for a specific supplication, understanding the value of the Prophet's du'a.
The Prophet's (ﷺ) response, "O Allah, make him one of them," is a testament to his immense compassion and the acceptability of 'Ukasha's request. When the Ansari man made the same request, the Prophet (ﷺ) informed him that 'Ukasha had preceded him, teaching the Ummah the virtue of hastening to do good deeds and the importance of spiritual precedence.
Spiritual Lessons for the Ummah
This narration instills hope and spurs competition in righteousness. It teaches us to aspire for the highest ranks in Paradise and to beseech Allah for them with sincerity.
It also underscores the principle of divine decree (qadar) and that blessings are granted by Allah's will. While we must strive and ask, the ultimate bestowal is from Him. The story is a timeless lesson in spiritual ambition, the power of du'a, and the boundless mercy Allah has prepared for His pious servants.