Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Seventy thousand or seven hundred thousand of my followers will enter Paradise. (Abu Hazim, the sub-narrator, is not sure as to which of the two numbers is correct.) They will be holding on to each other, the first will not entering the last one does, their faces like the moon on a full moon night."
Hadith Text and Context
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 6554, found in the book "To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)", describes the immense multitude of the Prophet's followers who will attain Paradise without reckoning.
The uncertainty in the number (70,000 vs 700,000) reported by Abu Hazim demonstrates the scrupulous honesty of early transmitters in preserving exact wording, even when uncertain.
Scholarly Commentary on the Numbers
Classical scholars reconcile the differing numbers by explaining that 70,000 refers to the vanguard who enter first, while 700,000 includes those who follow them - each group holding to the next like a continuous chain.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that these are the ones who will enter Paradise without reckoning, as mentioned in other authentic narrations, due to their complete avoidance of major sins and reliance solely on Allah.
Significance of "Holding On to Each Other"
The imagery of holding to one another signifies the unity of the Muslim community and the interconnectedness of believers in faith and good deeds.
Al-Qurtubi explains this demonstrates how the righteous predecessors pave the way for those who follow, with each generation benefiting from the spiritual achievements of the previous one.
The Luminous Faces
The comparison to the full moon indicates the purity, radiance, and joy that will illuminate the faces of the believers in Paradise.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali comments that this brilliance reflects the inner light of faith that guided them in worldly life, now manifested outwardly in the Hereafter.
Spiritual Lessons
This hadith offers tremendous hope and encouragement to believers, assuring them of Allah's vast mercy and the Prophet's intercession for his ummah.
It inspires Muslims to strive for the qualities that characterize these blessed groups: avoidance of prohibited matters, trust in divine decree, and sincere devotion to Allah alone.