The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the foremost deed that leads people to Paradise, and he replied: "Fear of Allah and good character
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the foremost deed that leads people to Paradise, and he replied: "Fear of Allah and good character." Then, he was asked about the things that most lead people to Hellfire, and he said: "The tongue and the private parts."
سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ أَكْثَرِ مَا يُدْخِلُ النَّاسَ الْجَنَّةَ، فَقَالَ: «تَقْوَى اللهِ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ»، وَسُئِلَ عَنْ أَكْثَرِ مَا يُدْخِلُ النَّاسَ النَّارَ فَقَالَ: «الْفَمُ وَالْفَرْجُ».
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the greatest means that lead one to Paradise are: Fear of Allah and good character. Fear of Allah (taqwa) is to make wiqāya (shield) between oneself and the punishment of Allah, by observing His commands and prohibitions. Good character: by having a cheerful face, doing good to others, and averting harm from them. And that the greatest causes for a person's entry into Hellfire are: The tongue and the private parts. The sins committed by the tongue include: lying, backbiting, and tale-bearing. The sins committed by the private parts include: adultery, sodomy, etc.
There are causes for entering Paradise related to Allah Almighty, like fear of Him, and causes related to people, like a good character.
The Hadīth highlights the danger of the tongue and that it is one of the causes of entering Hellfire.
It demonstrates the danger of desires and immoralities to people and that they are among the most common causes of entering Hellfire.
Sunan At-Tirmidhi (3/ 536) (2004).
Sunan Ibn Mājah (5/ 318) (4246).
Musnad Ahmad (13/ 287) (7907).
More (8)
توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام.
للبسام (7/ 509).
منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام.
لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 369).
فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام.
لابن عثيمين (6/ 453).
سبل السلام بشرح بلوغ المرام.
للصنعاني (2/ 696).