(216) Chapter: The Excellence and Obligation of the Payment of Zakat

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A bedouin came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Direct me to a deed by which I may be entitled to enter Jannah." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Worship Allah, and never associate anything with Him, establish Salat, pay the Zakat which has been enjoined upon you, and observe Saum of Ramadan." He (the bedouin) said: "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I will never add anything to these (obligations)." When he turned his back, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who wants to see a man from the dwellers of Jannah, let him look at him (bedouin)."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:
1. The bedouin mentioned in this Hadith was a new Muslim and for this reason the Prophet (PBUH) told him some essential obligations of Islam so that he did not feel over-burdened with exhortation. Imam At-Tabarani said: "This Hadith and its like was addressed to bedouins who were newly -- converted to Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) told them no more than to fulfill the main obligatory acts of Islam so that they would not feel over-burdened, and therefore bored.'' Following the Divine injunctions in a gradual manner is very important. For once the hearts of the newly converted start to open to the understanding of the Divine injuctions, they will automatically start practising the optional and voluntary acts of devotion with a view to gain Allah's reward and pleasure.

2. There are two categories of people who have been granted Jannah. First, those who are called Al-`Asharah AlMubashsharah. They are ten most distinguished of the Prophet's followers whose entrance into Jannah was foretold by the Prophet (PBUH) himself. Second, some other persons who were given glad tidings of Jannah by the Prophet (PBUH). The bedouin mentioned in this Hadith is a case in point. The Prophet (PBUH) also declared Hasan and Hussain, the two sons of `Ali (May Allah be pleased with them), the chiefs of young-men of Jannah and also gave glad tidings of Jannah to his wives and his daughter Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with him).