THEFT, FORNICATION, PARADISE

Some of the material included in certain discussions in the various ahAdIs is not in fact relevant to the nominal topic of the discussion.  This is true, for instance, of ahAdIs 2174 and 2175, which both relate to zakAt but also treat matters that have nothing to do with charity, although in their own way they must be reassuring to believers.  For example, AbU Zarr reports that while he and Muhammad were once walking together, Muhammad left him to go some other place, telling him to stay where he was until he returned.  After a while Muhammad was out of sight but AbU Zarr heard some sounds.  Although he was apprehensive of some possible mishap to the Prophet, he remembered his command and remained where he was.  When Muhammad returned, AbU Zarr sought an explanation for the sounds.  Muhammad replied: �It was Gabriel, who came to me and said: He who dies among your Ummah without associating anything with Allah would enter Paradise. I said: Even if he committed fornication or theft?  He said: Even if he committed fornication or theft� (2174).

author : ram swarup