One hundred levels in Paradise beneath the Throne

📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2530
Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan, performs the prayers, and makes the Hajj pilgrimage to the House, it is a duty upon Allah to forgive him whether he emigrates in the path of Allah or remains in the land of his birth. Mu’adh said, “Shall I not tell the people? The Prophet ﷺ said, “Leave them to work. Verily, there are one hundred levels in Paradise, the distance between them like the heavens and the earth. Al-Firdaws is the highest and most ideal level, for above that is the Throne of the Most Merciful and from it flow the rivers of Paradise. When you ask from Allah, ask for Al-Firdaws.”

Explanation
This hadith shows the great reward for fulfilling the pillars of Islam – fasting Ramadan, praying, and performing Hajj. However, the Prophet ﷺ told Mu’adh not to announce it widely so people would not become lazy, thinking a few acts alone guarantee Paradise.

The description of Paradise levels – with a distance “like the heavens and the earth” – shows the vastness of Allah’s reward. While exact measurement is unknown to us, the Qur’an says the heaven and earth are separated by distances far beyond human comprehension (light itself would take billions of years to cross). This gives us a glimpse of how unimaginable the beauty and scale of Paradise is.

Importantly, this hadith does not mean a person can pray, fast, and do Hajj but also commit evil like murder, rape, theft, or adultery and still expect Paradise. Persistent major sins without repentance erase reward and bring Allah’s punishment.

📖Quran 18:107-108
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging, wherein they will remain forever.

• Faith must be accompanied by righteous deeds, not by major sins.

📖Quran 17:19
But whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as it should be striven for while he is a believer – it is they whose striving will be appreciated.

• Simply performing rituals is not enough; the effort must be sincere and continuous.

📖Quran 2:81
But whoever earns an evil deed and his sin has encompassed him — it is they who are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.”

• Major sins without repentance can lead to eternal loss, even if rituals were done.