“I supported the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) against my chest, and he said: “Whoever says lā ilāha illā Allāh (There is no god but Allah) seeking the pleasure of Allah, and his life is sealed with it, shall enter Paradise. Whoever fasts a day seeking the pleasure of Allah, and his life is sealed with it, shall enter Paradise. And whoever gives charity seeking the pleasure of Allah, and his life is sealed with it, shall enter Paradise.’”
Narrated by Aḥmad (no. 23324), the wording is his; al-Bazzār (no. 2854); al-Ṭabarānī in Musnad al-Shāmiyyīn (no. 2449); and al-Bayhaqī in al-Asmāʾ wa-l-Ṣifāt (no. 651), from the ḥadīth of Ḥudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 6224) and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa-l-Tarhīb (no. 985).
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was intensely keen to teach his Companions what would benefit them and to remind them of the means of raising ranks and expiating sins, even during his illness. This is seen in this incident, when Ḥudhayfah ibn al-Yamān (may Allah be pleased with him) supported him against his chest, and he addressed him with these comprehensive words concerning a good end. Among these is that whoever says lā ilāha illā Allāh seeking the pleasure of Allah, with firm conviction in its meaning and sincere devotion to Allah in His oneness—free of ostentation or desire for renown—and is then granted that this statement be the final word with which his life is sealed, this is a sign of goodness and glad tidings of entry into Paradise, either immediately or after being purified of his sins. Likewise, whoever is overtaken by death while fasting or soon after fasting, or while giving charity or shortly after his charity, this is a sign of goodness and glad tidings of Paradise. This is not exclusive to fasting and charity; rather, the ruling applies generally to every act of obedience. Indeed, concluding one's life upon a righteous deed is among the greatest indicators of a 'Good End' (Husn al-Khātimah).
For this reason, the early generations would hope for goodness for one who died while engaged in an act of obedience or shortly after it—such as one overtaken by death during prayer or immediately after it, during pilgrimage or after completing it, and likewise with other righteous deeds.
This ruling does not mean that one whose life is not sealed in this manner is among the people of the Fire; rather, the intent is to clarify the virtue of one who is granted this and that it is a sign of a good end.
The ḥadīth clarifies that sincerity to Allah is what links these deeds to a good end. It also highlights the importance of constancy in obedience—especially those acts that are easy for a servant, such as remembrance and recitation of the Qur’ān—so that if death should come upon him unexpectedly, he is upon an act of obedience or shortly after it, and thus it becomes a glad tiding of goodness by which his life is sealed.