Muhammad’s nation a majority in Paradise
📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2546
Buraydah reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, The people of Paradise are lined up in one hundred and twenty rows. Eighty of them are from this nation, and forty are from the rest of the nations.”
Description:
This hadith shows the sheer number and honor of followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ compared to earlier nations. Despite thousands of years passing with many prophets before him — including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus — the final Ummah will make up the majority of Paradise. This isn’t because earlier nations were lacking in prophets, but because the final message reached more people, lasted longer, and came with completion of guidance (📖Quran 5:3).
The other 40 rows are likely the true followers of earlier prophets — those who worshipped Allah alone and submitted to His will before the coming of Islam:
- Followers of Noah who remained patient in hardship.
- Followers of Abraham who rejected idols and stood for Tawheed.
- Followers of Moses who obeyed the Torah without distortion.
- Followers of Jesus who upheld monotheism and didn’t call him divine.
📖Quran 56:10-11
And the forerunners, the forerunners – those are the ones brought near [to Allah].
This includes the foremost believers from past generations and the early Muslims – those who led in faith, sacrifice, and devotion.
📖Quran 4:125
And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth?
Shows that salvation was always linked to true monotheism – not distorted belief systems.
📖Quran 2:62
Indeed, those who believed, and those who were Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians—whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteousness—will have their reward with their Lord.
Refers to true believers before the final message of Islam. Once Islam came, they were required to follow Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to remain on the straight path.
This hadith and verses emphasize that the final Ummah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be the majority in Paradise due to the clarity, reach, and completeness of Islam – but righteous people from earlier nations are not forgotten. Those who followed earlier prophets faithfully without innovation or distortion are still rewarded.