Ramadan is less than a month away, plan your entry into Jannah now.
With less than 30 days until Ramadan, it’s time to focus our time in the dunya on achieving our goals in Jannah.
The eight gates of Jannah lay out a beautiful framework for how a life of piety can be rewarded. But what are these 8 gates and how can we work this Ramadan to be among the blessed to enter through them in the hereafter.
Bab al-Salah – The Gate of Prayer
Those who spend their lives dedicated to focused, on-time, and striving prayer, especially those who perform additional sunnah prayers can hope to enter through this door.
I really want to enter Jannah through Bab al-Salah, what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Prepare for Ramadan by making sure all your obligatory prayers are performed on time. Begin to add in any sunnah prayers, adding them gradually. Witr is a good prayer to start with.
In Ramadan: By the time you reach Ramadan you’ll be performing all your fard and sunnah prayers, now you can add in other sunnahs, such as a prayer when you enter a mosque, tahajjud, or prayers for sincere repentance.
Bab al-Jihad – The Gate of Striving
Muslims who have spent a life of sacrificing for the cause of Allah, or even made a single, significant, life-changing sacrifice purely for the sake of Allah – be it their wealth, their life, or their livelihood – they may enter through this Gate.
I really want to enter Jannah through Bab al-Jihad, what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Set the intention that you wish to enter through this gate and look for opportunities to give up some of your comfort for the sake of Allah.
In Ramadan: Pray that Allah gives you the opportunity to strive in his way, and look for ways to serve Islam and the ummah. If someone comes to you for dawah, put time, effort and sacrifice into it. If opportunities come to you to support oppressed people, take it. If you’re forced to choose between your principles and your job, take that sacrifice for the sake of Allah. You can even volunteer at centres for refugees, lend your language skills to help Muslims who have just arrived in the UK. All of these are ways of striving and sacrificing with the aim of pleasing Allah.
Bab al-Rayyan (The Gate of Fasting)
Bab al Rayyan is promised to those who fast regularly and with sincerity.
I really want to enter Jannah through Bab al-Rayyan, what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Prepare your body for Ramadan. Fast the sunnah fast days of Monday and Thursday, building up your capacity for Ramadan.
In Ramadan: Fast, of course. But fast with the intention that Ramadan will be the catalyst for your next year to be filled with sawm. When Ramadan ends, fast your 6 days of shawwal, and continue to fast at once a week for the next year, when you are in good health and not compromised by travel or extreme circumstance.
Bab al-Sadaqah (The Gate of Charity)
Charity is a cornerstone of our religion, and is highly rewarded. We consider it a great gift from Allah as it is something that is easy to do.
I really want to enter Jannah through Bab al-Sadaqah, what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Work on budgeting your finances, find one thing you can cut out per month to be able to give regularly in charity, even if it’s just £2. If you’re unable to give money, look around your community at places that might need volunteers – your local mosque, a soup kitchen, or a refugee charity.
In Ramadan: Donate to a charity each day, and continue donating each month after Ramadan. To have even more impact and blessings, give or one donation at the start of Ramadan to The Waqf Fund and your charity will continue to bless you with the reward of charity for the rest of your life – since waqf donations work to help people forever.
Bab al Hajj (The Gate of Pilgrimage)
This gate is for those who have completed Hajj with pure intentions and focus and had their pilgrimage accepted from Allah.
I want to enter Jannah through Bab Al Hajj, what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Set your intention to perform Hajj in the next 1-5 years, as you see fit. Start a monthly budget, no matter how small that you save away for Hajj costs. Pray to Al-Samee, the one who hears that he makes this pass possible for you, and that he sustains your life until you can perform the Holy Pilgrimage.
In Ramadan: Take advantage of the power of Ramadan by praying consistently with the belief that your prayer will be answered. Continue saving money and praying to be able to attend Hajj. Once you complete your Hajj, it’s a beautiful idea to donate money to others to be able to complete it too, showing your dedication to this beautiful pillar of Islam.
Bab Al-Kaazimeenal Ghaiz Wal Aafina Anin Naas (The Gate of Withheld Anger and Forgiveness)
This gate is for those who restrained their anger (even when they were in the right) and chose to forgive others. It is the gate for those who practiced patience even in difficulty.
I want to enter Jannah through Bab Al Kaazimeen what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Make an effort to be mindful of your anger. Think about the situations that make you respond with aggression and try to practice responding in a different way.
In Ramadan: Put into practice the concept of kindness in the face of anger. If someone shouts at you or cuts you off when you’re driving, simply smile and wave. Once it becomes a habit, you’ll be accruing reward every single day, and inshallah entry to Jannah via the Door of Withheld Anger
Bab al-Tawbah – The Gate of Repentance
Allah’s mercy is greater than the foam in the sea. He loves to forgive and He loves those who ask for forgiveness. This gate of Jannah is for those who show a deep commitment to tawbah.
I want to enter Jannah through Bab Al Tawbah what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Don’t delay, begin making tawbah immediately. Ask Allah to make clear to you any forgotten sins so that you may repent and request that He allows you to continue to repent during and after Ramadan.
In Ramadan: Seek forgiveness at all times of the day for you sins, seen and unseen, known and forgotten. Do istighfar and use the dua that is often repeated while seeking Laylatul Qadr:
اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعفُ عني
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni
O Allah, you are Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness so forgive me.
Bab al Dhikr – The Gate of Remembrance of Allah
Those who constantly remembered Allah and engaged in dhikr consistently may enter through this gate.
I want to enter Jannah through Bab Al Dhikr what should I do this Ramadan?
Now: Adjust your lifestyle around dhikr. Look at your week and decide where adkhar can be easily added.
In Ramadan: Increase your adhkar. Read the morning, evening and night adhkar each day. Integrate adhkar into your walking, commute, even your gym time. After one month, you’ll be able to continue doing many of these after Ramadan, inshallah.
Pro tips!
Pray to Allah throughout Ramadan that you can continue striving in these ways after Ramadan ends. Make sure to appeal to Him using His beloved names. Ask Al-Afw to accept your tawbah, ask Al Musawwir to ease your path to Hajj.
Don’t forget to increase all of these 8 acts of worship in the last 10 days, and to pray for The Most Merciful to allow you to enter Jannah through these gates.
May Allah grant you a renewing, powerful Ramadan that is a catalyst for increased piety for the rest of your life.
