Highway to Jannah

Jannah is every Muslims ultimate dream. Only *one* highway escorts us to our most desired
destination.

Here are 13 signposts that guide you on the ride to Jannah!

1) Sincerely repent to Allaah. Raise your hands and beg Allaah for forgiveness and assistance
in cleansing all your ill habits and then strive hard on correcting them!

2) Broaden your horizons with daily reflection on the divine words of Allaah. Savor each
moment with the Quran and submit to its every commandment.

3) Spice up your routine chores by moistening your tongue with the remembrance of
Allaah.. Recite simple dhikr such as Takbeer ("Allaahu akbar"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah"),
Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allaah") and Tasbeeh ("Subhaan Allaah") everywhere you go. It is light on the
tongue but most beloved to Allaah.

4) Cleanse yourself with perfect ablution and then offer two rakahs. The Prophet (Peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever makes wudhu and makes it well, then prays
two rakahs concentrating therein with his heart and his face-then paradise is obligatory on him.

5) Perform the five daily prayers with submissiveness and devotion. Heartfelt prayer is
the delight of the heart, coolness to the eyes and the key to jannah.

6) Offer the additional prayers. The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Allaah will build a dwelling in paradise for anyone who prays twelve supererogatory prayers daily
in addition to the compulsory prayers." (Muslim). Enliven the darkest hours of your nights with
qiyam and earnest duas.

7) Purify yourself with daily charity - even if it is only a dirham a day. Make it a habit to offer
two rakahs Salat ud-Duha- This is equal to offering charity for the 360 joints of the body.

8) Spread the salaam. Experience true love and unity amongst your fellow Muslims by
spreading the salaam, even to those whom you dont know.

9) Be dutiful and respectful to parents. Next time you feel the urge to disobey them, recall
the profound words of our beloved Gibril (Peace be upon him) who said, May he be cursed the
one whose parents attain old age- one or both of them- while he is alive and they (parents) did
not cause him to enter Paradise (because he was undutiful to them). (Sahih at-targhib wat-
Tarhib)

10) Make someones day by your warm smile, a kind word or a humble gesture of compassion.
Remember that if you help someone in times of hardship, Allaah will ease matters for you on the
Day of Judgment!

11) Guard your tongue. Be truthful in speech, offer useful advice, enjoin goodness and refrain
from vain talk. "Whoever gives me surety to safeguard what is between his jaws (i.e. the tongue)
and what is between his legs (i.e. the private parts), I guarantee for him (entrance into)
Paradise. (Muslim)

12) Lower your gaze. If you are tempted to let your eyes wander then know that a lustful look
is a poisoned arrow from Satan and a barrier to jannah.

13) Make fasting a habit. Taste the sweetness of fasting on recommended days such as
Mondays and Thursdays and the middle three days of every Islamic month.