What is the degree of authenticity of the hadith in which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A group of people will enter Paradise whose hearts and innermost selves are like the hearts of birds,” and what is its meaning?
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The questioner : We want to know the degree of authenticity of this hadith, O honorable one.The Shaykh : The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: What is the meaning of this hadith in detail, and is it authentic?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Before I answer this question, I would like to point out that if the one speaking about a hadith does not know its authenticity regarding the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), he should not assert its attribution to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, he should say, “What is the degree of authenticity of what is mentioned regarding the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him),” or “what is narrated regarding the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family),” so that he is safe from asserting the attribution of the hadith to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) while he does not know whether it is authentic from him or not.
As for the meaning of this hadith, it is that when the people of Paradise wish to enter Paradise, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) holds them back at a bridge between Paradise and the Fire, meaning He stops them at a bridge between Paradise and the Fire after crossing the Sirat. Then He takes retribution from some of them for what they did to others until He removes what is in their chests of resentment. Then they enter Paradise, and their innermost selves are like the hearts of birds, containing no hatred or resentment, but rather they are innocent, pure, and clean hearts. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Al-Hijr 15:47-48] As for the authenticity of the hadith, it requires review.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
A group of people will enter Paradise whose hearts and innermost selves are like the hearts of birds.
يدخل الجنة أقوام قلوبهم وأفئدتهم، مثل أفئدة الطيرThe Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Before I answer this question, I would like to point out that if the one speaking about a hadith does not know its authenticity regarding the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), he should not assert its attribution to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, he should say, “What is the degree of authenticity of what is mentioned regarding the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him),” or “what is narrated regarding the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family),” so that he is safe from asserting the attribution of the hadith to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) while he does not know whether it is authentic from him or not.
As for the meaning of this hadith, it is that when the people of Paradise wish to enter Paradise, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) holds them back at a bridge between Paradise and the Fire, meaning He stops them at a bridge between Paradise and the Fire after crossing the Sirat. Then He takes retribution from some of them for what they did to others until He removes what is in their chests of resentment. Then they enter Paradise, and their innermost selves are like the hearts of birds, containing no hatred or resentment, but rather they are innocent, pure, and clean hearts. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
(47) And We will remove whatever is in their breasts of resentment, [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing each other. (48) No fatigue will touch them therein, nor from it will they [ever] be removed.
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَى سُرُرٍ مُتَقَابِلِينَ * لا يَمَسُّهُمْ فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَمَا هُمْ مِنْهَا بِمُخْرَجِينَThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.