Once, the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting with his companions in the masjid and a sahaba (RA) heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say,
يَطْلُعُ عَلَيْكُمْ الْآنَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ
Coming upon you now is a man from the people of Paradise
Everyone was very excited and amazed. As the sahaba (RA) stared towards the entrance of the masjid, a man came, and there he was holding his shoes in his left hand and dripping with water from wudhu. He went on his way and began to pray. The next day, the Prophet (ﷺ) made this same comment, so again, the sahaba (RA) watched the entrance, and again, the same man came. He was from the Ansar, meaning the residents of Madinah. In the same condition, he is holding his shoes and is dripping with water from wudhu, and again he goes to pray. The third day, the Prophet (ﷺ) is sitting in the masjid with his companions, and he says the same thing, and just like before, the same man entered. Now, as with anyone, the sahaba (RA) were excited, but also curious as to why this person was so special. One sahabi, Abdullah bin Amr (RA) made up an excuse to go and spend some time with him because he wanted to see what the person’s actions were and what deeds they are committing that gives them admittance to Jannah. He went to the man and said, “I am in a dispute with my father and I have sworn not to enter my home for three days. May I stay with you?” The man said yes.
Abdullah ibn Amr begins to stay at his house and during the day he follows him very closely. During the night, he watches to see when the man gets up. However, each night, Abdullah ibn Amr was surprised to see that this man was not getting up and praying long rakats of tahajjud or making du’a, but rather, when his eyes would wake up, he would do dhikr until it was time for Fajr. He observed him like this for three days, and after these three days, Abdullah ibn Amr was confused. He did not see the man do anything extraordinary or special, so why did the Prophet (ﷺ) confirm his admittance to Jannah? Keep in mind this sahabi who is following the man is known for his great and excessive worship. He used to go to the Prophet (ﷺ) and say, “O prophet of Allah, I would like to read more Qur’an.” He would be told, “Finish the Qur’an once a month.” He said, “No, prophet of Allah; I can do more.” He would be told , “Then finish it in ten days.” Abdullah ibn Amr asked for more, and he was told to finish it in a week.
