[جواهر]

ATTRIBUTES OF THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE

Allah has told us that the people of paradise will be brought near to it and they will have four qualities

They are sincere in repentance
Ubaid Ibn Umair said : The repentant is the one who
remembers his sins and asks for forgiveness for them
Said Ibn Al Musayib said : He is the one who commits sins, repents, commits again and repents again

They preserve their covenant with Allah
Ibn Abbas said : Whatever Allah orders him to do, he does it
Qatadah said : It is he who preserves the rights and blessings granted to him by Allah

The soul has two special abilities : the power to ask and the power to preserve. The repentant person uses the power of asking to ask for forgiveness from Allah, to return to him and seek his pleasure and obey Him. The power of preserving is keeping away from all that leads to sin

The repentant person comes nearer to Allah by obeying Him

Fearing Allah In This Life Before Seeing & Meeting Him
Who feared the most beneficent (Allah) in the unseen

من خشي الرحمن بالغيب
(Qaf 50:33)

Having A Heart Turned In Repentance
And brought a heart turned in repentance

وجاء بقلب منيب
(Qaf 50:33)

A heart absolutely free from any kind of polytheism
Ibn Abbas said : He is far from sins and rushes to obey Allah. The reality of repentance is to devote the heart to obedience, love and striving to be near to Allah

Extracted from Al-Fawaid by Ibn Al Qayyim - rahimahullah