Answer
Asalamu Alaikum,
Thank you for contacting About Islam with your question.
Dr. Shabir Ally addresses this question in the video below:
Transcript:
Aisha Khaja: Dr. Shabir, the question for today is someone asking: how do we know if someone is in heaven or Jannah? They say they’re probably hadiths, but is there any Quranic guidance?
Dr. Shabir Ally: In the Quran, we have statements about people who have entered into paradise. For example, in the 36th chapter, there’s a mention of a man who came from the farthest region of the city, calling out to people, saying believe in the messenger.
And then it was said {Quoting Quran in Arabic} it was said to him enter Paradise. So, here’s an example of person was entered paradise.
But this is before the Muslim community evolve under the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). As for that community, there are hadiths stating that there are certain persons who are going to Paradise.
And these came to be classified as the Ashurah Mubashra, that those who are the ten who have been designated for, or given good news that they will enter paradise.
But it looks like these persons were said to be people of paradise by the later community and this somehow got attributed back to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as if he designated these individuals.
Otherwise, you can imagine the scene if the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that this certain person is going to Paradise. Everybody would want to get close to this person, to find out about how this person lives, what he does, and follow him after the Prophet (peace be upon him) very closely.
But we know that after the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the community split behind various leaders. So, one cannot say that there was some certainty that certain individuals were definitely going to Paradise.
And so, the best way for Muslims is to think of these individuals as righteous and good exemplars. But in the end, we leave the final judgment to God.
Aisha Khaja: And can we do anything for people who have passed away?
Dr. Shabir Ally: Yes, of course, we can ask God to forgive them and have mercy on them. We can do good deeds and ask God to give them the credit for those good deeds.
I hope this helps answer your question. Please keep in touch.
Walaikum Asalam.
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