I was sitting in a circle in the mosque of Medina and there was an old man, quite handsome. He was 'Abdullah b. Salim. He was telling good things to them (to the people sitting in that company). As he stood up (to depart) the people said: He who is desirous of looking at a person from amongst the people of Paradise should see him. I said: By Allah, I will follow him, and would try to know his residence. So I followed him and he walked on until he reached the outskirts of Medina. He then entered his house. I sought permission from him to get in, and he granted me the permission, saying: My nephew, what is the need (that has brought you here)? I said to him: As you stood up, I heard people say about you: He who is desirous of seeing a person from among the people of Paradise should look at him. So I became desirous of accompanying you. He ('Abdullah b. Salim) said: It is Allah Who knows best about the people of Paradise. I would, however, narrate to you as to why they said like it. (The story is) that while I was asleep (one night) there came to me a person (in the dream) who asked me to stand up. (So I stood up) and he caught hold of my hand and I walked along with him, and, lo, I found some paths on my left and I was about to set out upon them. Thereupon he said to me Do not set yourself on (them) for these are the paths of the leftists (denizens of Hell-fire). Then there were paths leading to the right side, whereupon he said: Set yourself on these paths. We came across a hill and he said to me: Climb up, and I attempted to climb up that I fell upon my buttocks. I made several attempts (but failed to succeed). He led until he came to a pillar (so high) that its upper end touched the sky and its base was in the earth. And there was a handhold at its upper end. He said to me Climb over it. I said: How can I climb upon it, as its upper end touches the sky? He cought hold of my hand and pushed me up and I found myself suspended with the handhold. He then struck the pillar and it fell down, but I remained attached to that handhold until it was morning (and the dream was thus over). I came to Allah's Apostle ﷺ and narrated it to him. He said: So far as the paths which you saw on your left are concerned, these are paths of the leftists (denizens of Hell) and the paths which you saw on your right, these are the paths of the rightists (the dwellers of Paradise) and the mountain represents the destination of the martyrs which you would not be able to attain. The pillar implies the pillar of Islam. and so far as the handhold is concerned, it implies the handhold of Islam, and you would hold to it fastly until you would meet death.  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا فِي حَلْقَةٍ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ وَفِيهَا شَيْخٌ حَسَنُ الْهَيْئَةِ وَهُوَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ يُحَدِّثُهُمْ حَدِيثًا حَسَنًا قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَامَ قَالَ الْقَوْمُ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لأَتْبَعَنَّهُ فَلأَعْلَمَنَّ مَكَانَ بَيْتِهِ قَالَ فَتَبِعْتُهُ فَانْطَلَقَ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ قَالَ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لِي فَقَالَ مَا حَاجَتُكَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ سَمِعْتُ الْقَوْمَ يَقُولُونَ لَكَ لَمَّا قُمْتَ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا فَأَعْجَبَنِي أَنْ أَكُونَ مَعَكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ مِمَّ قَالُوا ذَاكَ إِنِّي بَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ إِذْ أَتَانِي رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لِي قُمْ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُ قَالَ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِجَوَادَّ عَنْ شِمَالِي قَالَ فَأَخَذْتُ لآخُذَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لِي لاَ تَأْخُذْ فِيهَا فَإِنَّهَا طُرُقُ أَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ قَالَ فَإِذَا جَوَادُّ مَنْهَجٌ عَلَى يَمِيِنِي فَقَالَ لِي خُذْ هَا هُنَا فَأَتَى بِي جَبَلاً فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ قَالَ فَجَعَلْتُ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَصْعَدَ خَرَرْتُ عَلَى اسْتِي قَالَ حَتَّى فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا قَالَ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِي حَتَّى أَتَى بِي عَمُودًا رَأْسُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَأَسْفَلُهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فِي أَعْلاَهُ حَلْقَةٌ فَقَالَ لِيَ اصْعَدْ فَوْقَ هَذَا قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْعَدُ هَذَا وَرَأْسُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَلَ بِي قَالَ فَإِذَا أَنَا مُتَعَلِّقٌ بِالْحَلْقَةِ قَالَ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ الْعَمُودَ فَخَرَّ قَالَ وَبَقِيتُ مُتَعَلِّقًا بِالْحَلْقَةِ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الطُّرُقُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتَ عَنْ يَسَارِكَ فَهِيَ طُرُقُ أَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ قَالَ وَأَمَّا الطُّرُقُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَهِيَ طُرُقُ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ وَأَمَّا الْجَبَلُ فَهُوَ مَنْزِلُ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَلَنْ تَنَالَهُ وَأَمَّا الْعَمُودُ فَهُوَ عَمُودُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ فَهِيَ عُرْوَةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَلَنْ تَزَالَ مُتَمَسِّكًا بِهَا حَتَّى تَمُوتَ  

“I came to Al-Madinah and sat with some old men in the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ. Then an old man came, leaning on his stick, and the people said: ‘Whoever would like to look at a man from among the people of Paradise, let him look at this man.’ He stood behind a pillar and prayed two Rak’ah. I got up and went to him, and said to him: ‘Some of the people said such and such.’ He said: ‘Praise is to Allah. Paradise belongs to Allah and He admits whomsoever He wills to it. At the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ I saw a dream in which a man came to me and said: “Let’s go.” So I went with him and he took me along a great road. A road was shown to me on the left and I wanted to follow it, but he said: “You are not one of its people.” Then a road was shown to me on the right, and I followed him until I reached a slippery mountain. He took me by the hand and helped me up. When I reached the top I could not stand firm. There was an iron pillar there with a golden ring at the top. He took my hand and helped me up until I reached the handhold, then he said: “Have you gotten a firm hold?” I said: “Yes.” Then he struck the pillar with his foot and I held tight to the pillar. I told this to the Prophet ﷺ and he said: "You have seen something good. The great road is the plain of gathering (on the Day of Resurrection). The road that you were shown on your left is the way of the people of Hell, and you are not one of its people. The road which you were shown on your right is the way of the people of Paradise. The slippery mountain is the place of the martyrs, and the handhold that you held on tight to is the handhold of Islam. Hold on tight to it until you die." I hope to be one of the people of Paradise,' and he was 'Abdullah bin Salam."  

قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى أَشْيِخَةٍ فِي مَسْجِدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَجَاءَ شَيْخٌ يَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَى عَصًا لَهُ فَقَالَ الْقَوْمُ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا فَقَامَ خَلْفَ سَارِيَةٍ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلَّهِ يُدْخِلُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ رُؤْيَا رَأَيْتُ كَأَنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَانِي فَقَالَ لِيَ انْطَلِقْ فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُ فَسَلَكَ بِي فِي مَنْهَجٍ عَظِيمٍ فَعُرِضَتْ عَلَىَّ طَرِيقٌ عَلَى يَسَارِي فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْلُكَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا ثُمَّ عُرِضَتْ عَلَىَّ طَرِيقٌ عَنْ يَمِينِي فَسَلَكْتُهَا حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى جَبَلٍ زَلَقٍ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَلَ بِي فَإِذَا أَنَا عَلَى ذُرْوَتِهِ فَلَمْ أَتَقَارَّ وَلَمْ أَتَمَاسَكْ وَإِذَا عَمُودٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ فِي ذُرْوَتِهِ حَلْقَةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَّلَ بِي حَتَّى أَخَذْتُ بِالْعُرْوَةِ فَقَالَ اسْتَمْسَكْتَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَضَرَبَ الْعَمُودَ بِرِجْلِهِ فَاسْتَمْسَكْتُ بِالْعُرْوَةِ فَقَالَ قَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ رَأَيْتَ خَيْرًا أَمَّا الْمَنْهَجُ الْعَظِيمُ فَالْمَحْشَرُ وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي عُرِضَتْ عَنْ يَسَارِكَ فَطَرِيقُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَلَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي عُرِضَتْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَطَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَمَّا الْجَبَلُ الزَّلَقُ فَمَنْزِلُ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ الَّتِي اسْتَمْسَكْتَ بِهَا فَعُرْوَةُ الإِسْلاَمِ فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِهَا حَتَّى تَمُوتَ فَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا هُوَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ  

I was sitting in a circle in the mosque of Medina and there was an old man, quite handsome. He was 'Abdullah b. Salim. He was telling good things to them (to the people sitting in that company). As he stood up (to depart) the people said: He who is desirous of looking at a person from amongst the people of Paradise should see him. I said: By Allah, I will follow him, and would try to know his residence. So I followed him and he walked on until he reached the outskirts of Medina. He then entered his house. I sought permission from him to get in, and he granted me the permission, saying: My nephew, what is the need (that has brought you here)? I said to him: As you stood up, I heard people say about you: He who is desirous of seeing a person from among the people of Paradise should look at him. So I became desirous of accompanying you. He ('Abdullah b. Salim) said: It is Allah Who knows best about the people of Paradise. I would, however, narrate to you as to why they said like it. (The story is) that while I was asleep (one night) there came to me a person (in the dream) who asked me to stand up. (So I stood up) and he caught hold of my hand and I walked along with him, and, lo, I found some paths on my left and I was about to set out upon them. Thereupon he said to me Do not set yourself on (them) for these are the paths of the leftists (denizens of Hell-fire). Then there were paths leading to the right side, whereupon he said: Set yourself on these paths. We came across a hill and he said to me: Climb up, and I attempted to climb up that I fell upon my buttocks. I made several attempts (but failed to succeed). He led until he came to a pillar (so high) that its upper end touched the sky and its base was in the earth. And there was a handhold at its upper end. He said to me Climb over it. I said: How can I climb upon it, as its upper end touches the sky? He cought hold of my hand and pushed me up and I found myself suspended with the handhold. He then struck the pillar and it fell down, but I remained attached to that handhold until it was morning (and the dream was thus over). I came to Allah's Apostle ﷺ and narrated it to him. He said: So far as the paths which you saw on your left are concerned, these are paths of the leftists (denizens of Hell) and the paths which you saw on your right, these are the paths of the rightists (the dwellers of Paradise) and the mountain represents the destination of the martyrs which you would not be able to attain. The pillar implies the pillar of Islam. and so far as the handhold is concerned, it implies the handhold of Islam, and you would hold to it fastly until you would meet death. (Using translation from Muslim 2484c)   

فَجَعَلَ يُحَدِّثُهُمْ حَدِيثًا حَسَنًا فَلَمَّا قَامَ قَالَ الْقَوْمُ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا قُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لَأَتَّبِعَنَّهُ فَلَأَعْلَمَنَّ مَكَانَ بَيْتِهِ فَتَبِعْتُهُ فَانْطَلَقَ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لِي فَقَالَ مَا حَاجَتُكَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي؟ قُلْتُ لَهُ سَمِعْتُ الْقَوْمَ يَقُولُونَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَعْجَبَنِي أَنْ أَكُونَ مَعَكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ مِمَّا قَالُوا قَالُوا ذَلِكَ إِنِّي بَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ إِذْ أَتَانِي رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لِي قُمْ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِجَوَادٍ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَأَخَذْتُ لِآخُذَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لِي لَا تَأْخُذْ فِيهَا فَإِنَّهَا طَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الشِّمَالِ فَإِذَا جَوَادٌ مُنْهَجٌ عَنْ يَمِينِي فَقَالَ لِي خُذْ هَا هُنَا فَإِذَا أَنَا بِجَبَلٍ فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ قَالَ فَجَعَلْتُ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَصْعَدَ خَرَرْتُ عَلَى إِسْتِي قَالَ حَتَّى فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا قَالَ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ حَتَّى أَتَى بِي عَمُودًا رَأْسُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَأَسْفَلُهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ فِي أَعْلَاهُ حَلْقَةٌ فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ فَوْقَ هَذَا قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْعَدُ وَرَأْسُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَلَ بِي فَإِذَا أَنَا مُتَعَلِّقٌ بِالْحَلْقَةِ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ «أَمَا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتَ عَنْ يَسَارِكَ فَهِيَ طَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الشِّمَالِ وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَهِيَ طَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ فَهِيَ عُرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ فَلَنْ تَزَالَ مُتَمَسِّكًا بِهَا حَتَّى تَمُوتَ»  

I was sitting in a circle in the mosque of Medina and there was an old man, quite handsome. He was 'Abdullah b. Salim. He was telling good things to them (to the people sitting in that company). As he stood up (to depart) the people said: He who is desirous of looking at a person from amongst the people of Paradise should see him. I said: By Allah, I will follow him, and would try to know his residence. So I followed him and he walked on until he reached the outskirts of Medina. He then entered his house. I sought permission from him to get in, and he granted me the permission, saying: My nephew, what is the need (that has brought you here)? I said to him: As you stood up, I heard people say about you: He who is desirous of seeing a person from among the people of Paradise should look at him. So I became desirous of accompanying you. He ('Abdullah b. Salim) said: It is Allah Who knows best about the people of Paradise. I would, however, narrate to you as to why they said like it. (The story is) that while I was asleep (one night) there came to me a person (in the dream) who asked me to stand up. (So I stood up) and he caught hold of my hand and I walked along with him, and, lo, I found some paths on my left and I was about to set out upon them. Thereupon he said to me Do not set yourself on (them) for these are the paths of the leftists (denizens of Hell-fire). Then there were paths leading to the right side, whereupon he said: Set yourself on these paths. We came across a hill and he said to me: Climb up, and I attempted to climb up that I fell upon my buttocks. I made several attempts (but failed to succeed). He led until he came to a pillar (so high) that its upper end touched the sky and its base was in the earth. And there was a handhold at its upper end. He said to me Climb over it. I said: How can I climb upon it, as its upper end touches the sky? He cought hold of my hand and pushed me up and I found myself suspended with the handhold. He then struck the pillar and it fell down, but I remained attached to that handhold until it was morning (and the dream was thus over). I came to Allah's Apostle ﷺ and narrated it to him. He said: So far as the paths which you saw on your left are concerned, these are paths of the leftists (denizens of Hell) and the paths which you saw on your right, these are the paths of the rightists (the dwellers of Paradise) and the mountain represents the destination of the martyrs which you would not be able to attain. The pillar implies the pillar of Islam. and so far as the handhold is concerned, it implies the handhold of Islam, and you would hold to it fastly until you would meet death. (Using translation from Muslim 2484c)   

أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا قَالَ قُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لَأَتْبَعَنَّهُ فَلَأَعْلَمَنَّ بَيْتَهُ قَالَ فَتَبِعْتُهُ فَانْطَلَقَ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لِي فَقَالَ مَا حَاجَتُكَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي؟ قُلْتُ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ الْقَوْمَ يَقُولُونَ لَمَّا قُمْتَ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا فَأَعْجَبَنِي أَنْ أَكُونَ مَعَكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَسَأُخْبِرُكَ مِمَّا قَالُوا ذَلِكَ إِنِّي بَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أَتَانِي رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِجَوَادٍ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَأَخَذْتُ لِآخُذَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لِي لَا تَأْخُذْ فِيهَا فَإِنَّهَا طُرُقُ أَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ قَالَ وَإِذَا جَوَادٌ مَنْهَجٌ عَنْ يَمِينِي قَالَ لِي خُذْ هَاهُنَا فَأَتَى بِي جَبَلًا فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ فَوْقَ هَذَا فَجَعَلْتُ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَصْعَدَ خَرَرْتُ عَلَى اسْتِي حَتَّى فَعَلْتُهُ مِرَارًا ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ حَتَّى أَتَى بِي عَمُودًا رَأْسُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَأَسْفَلُهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَاهُ حَلْقَةٌ فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ فَوْقَ هَذَا فَقُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْعَدُ فَوْقَ هَذَا وَرَأْسُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ؟ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَحَلَ بِي فَإِذَا أَنَا مُتَعَلِّقٌ بِالْحَلْقَةِ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ الْعَمُودَ فَخَرَّ وَبَقِيتُ مُتَعَلِّقًا بِالْحَلْقَةِ حَتَّى أَصْبَحْتُ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ «أَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتَ عَلَى يَسَارِكَ فَهِيَ طَرِيقُ أَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَهِيَ طَرِيقُ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ وَالْجَبَلُ هُوَ مَنَازِلُ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَلَنْ تَنَالَهُ وَأَمَّا الْعَمُودُ فَهُوَ عَمُودُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ فَهِيَ عُرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَلَنْ تَزَالَ مُسْتَمْسِكًا بِهَا حَتَّى تَمُوتَ»  

[Machine] I arrived in the city and sat with a sheikha in the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ . Then, an old man leaned on a staff came and some people said to him, "This is a man from the people of Paradise." He stood behind a pillar and prayed two units of prayer. I approached him and said, "Some people claim that you are a man from the people of Paradise." He replied, "Paradise belongs to Allah, He admits whomever He wills. I had a vision during the time of the Prophet ﷺ . I saw a man who told me to follow him, so I went with him. He took me on a great journey and a path appeared to me on my left, and I wanted to take it. He said, 'You are not from its people.' Then, another path appeared to me on my right, and I followed it until I reached a slippery mountain. He held my hand and shook me. Suddenly, I found myself on the edge of the mountain, without feeling any fear or lose my balance. Then, I saw a golden pillar at its highest point. He held my hand and shook me until I grabbed the pillar. I narrated this story to the Prophet ﷺ and he said, 'You have seen good. As for the great journey, it is the Day of Resurrection. As for the path that appeared to you on your left, it is the path of the people of Hell, and you are not from its people. As for the path that appeared to you on your right, it is the path of the people of Paradise, and you are from its people. As for the slippery mountain, it is the place of martyrs. As for the pillar you held onto, it is the pillar of Islam, and you are holding onto it by the will of Allah until you die. I hope that I will be one of the people of Paradise.' And he was Abdullah ibn Salam."  

قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى شِيَخَةٍ فِي مَسْجِدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَجَاءَ شَيْخٌ يَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَى عَصًا فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ هَذَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَقَامَ خَلْفَ سَارِيَةٍ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ زَعَمَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ أَنَّكَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَقَالَ الْجَنَّةُ لِلَّهِ يُدْخِلُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رُؤْيَا عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ رَأَيْتُ كَأَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَانِي فَقَالَ لِي انْطَلِقْ فَذَهَبَ بِي فَأَخَذَنِي مَنْهَجًا عَظِيمًا فَعُرِضَتْ لِي طَرِيقٌ عَنْ يَسَارِي فَأَرَدْتُ أَسْلُكَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا ثُمَّ عُرِضَتْ لِي طَرِيقٌ أُخْرَى عَنْ يَمِينِي فَسَلَكْتُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى جَبَلٍ زَلَقٍ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَّلَ بِي فَإِذَا أَنَا عَلَى ذِرْوَتِهِ فَلَمْ أَتَقَارَّ وَلَمْ أَتَمَالَكْ وَإِذَا أَنَا بِعَمُودٍ فِي أَعْلَاهُ عُرْوَةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَّلَ بِي حَتَّى أَخَذْتُ بِالْعُرْوَةِ فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «رَأَيْتُ خَيْرًا أَمَا الْمَنْهَجُ الْعَظِيمُ فَالْمَحْشَرُ وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي عُرِضَتْ لَكَ عَنْ يَسَارٍ فَطَرِيقُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَلَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي عُرِضَتْ لَكَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَطَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَمَّا الْجَبَلُ الزَّلَقُ فَمَنْزِلُ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ الَّتِي اسْتَمْسَكْتَ بِهَا فَعُرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَنْتَ مُسْتَمْسِكٌ بِهَا إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ وَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ» وَهُوَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ سَلَامٍ  

[Machine] If a man from the people of Paradise could be seen, then let him look at this. I said, "By Allah, I will definitely follow him and take note of where his house is." He said, "Then I followed him until he almost left the city. Then he entered his house and I sought permission to enter, and he allowed me. He said, "What is your need, O nephew?" I said, "I heard people say that when you stood, it pleased them to look at a man from the people of Paradise, so let them look at this." I was amazed at being with him. He said, "Only Allah knows the people of Paradise, and shall I inform you who says that? While I was sleeping, someone came to me and said, "Get up." Then he took me by the hand and I went with him. Suddenly, I found myself on a white horse on my left. I went to take it, and he said to me, "Take it. It is the mount of the people of the left." Then I found a horse on my right, and he said to me, "Take it. It is the mount of the people of the right." We came to a mountain, and he said, "Climb up." Whenever I wanted to climb up, I slid down onto my people. I did that repeatedly until he took hold of me, threw me forward, and I found myself clinging to the ring of the opening of the Heaven. The pillar was in the sky, and its base was on the ground. He said to me, 'Climb up.' I said, 'How can I climb up when my head is in the sky?' So he took hold of my hand and pulled me up until I was suspended by the ring, and the pillar was removed, and it fell down. Then he left me until the morning, and I came to the Prophet ﷺ and told him what had happened to me, and I described it to him. He said, 'As for the paths that you saw on your left and right, they are the paths of the people of the left and right. As for the mountain, it is the abode of the martyrs, and you will not attain it. As for the pillar, it is the pillar of Islam, and as for the rope, it is the rope of Islam, and it will continue to cling to it until you die.' Then he said to me, 'Do you know how Allah created creation?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Allah created Adam. Then He said to him, 'Tell,' and Adam told. Then He said to him, 'Tell these.' And he told them. And his allotted life span and his deeds and his provision were determined. And he said, 'Then it is blown into him the soul..."  

أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا قُلْتُ وَاللهِ لَأَتَّبِعَنَّهُ فَلَأَعْلَمَنَّ مَكَانَ بَيْتِهِ قَالَ فَتَبِعْتُهُ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ فَأَذِنَ لِي فَقَالَ مَا حَاجَتُكَ يَا ابْنَ أَخٍ؟ قُلْتُ لَهُ سَمِعْتُ الْقَوْمَ يَقُولُونَ لَكَ لَمَّا قُمْتَ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا فَأَعْجَبَنِي أَنْ أَكُونَ مَعَكَ قَالَ اللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ مِمَّنْ قَالُوا ذَلِكَ؟ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ إِذْ أَتَانِي آتٍ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِجَوَادٍ عَلَى شِمَالِي فَذَهَبْتُ لِآخُذَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لِي لِتَأْخُذْ فِيهَا فَإِنَّهَا طَرَفُ أَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ وَإِذَا جَوَادٌ عَلى يَمِينِي فَقَالَ لِي خُذْ هَهُنَا فَأَتَيْنَا جَبَلًا فَقَالَ اصْعَدْ فَوْقَ هَذَا فَجَعَلْتُ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَصْعَدَ خَرَرْتُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِي حَتَّى أَتَى بِي عَمُودًا رَأْسُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَأَسْفَلُهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ فِي أَعْلَاهُ حَلْقَةٌ فَقَالَ لِي اصْعَدْ إِلَى فَوْقَ هَذَا قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْعَدُ فَوْقَ هَذَا وَرَأْسِي فِي السَّمَاءِ؟ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَّلَ بِي فَإِذَا أَنَا مُتَعَلِّقٌ بِالْحَلْقَةِ ثُمَّ صَرْفَ الْعَمُودَ فَخَرَّ وَبَقِيَتُ مُتَعَلِّقًا بِالْحَلْقَةِ حَتَّى الصُّبْحِ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ «أَمَّا الطُّرُقُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِكَ فَهِيَ طُرُقُ أَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ وَأَمَّا الطُّرُقُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَهِيَ طُرُقُ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ وَأَمَّا الْجَبَلُ فَهُوَ مَنْزِلُ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَلَنْ تَنَالَهُ وَأَمَّا الْعَمُودُ فَهُوَ عَمُودُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ فَهِيَ عُرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَلَنْ تَزَالَ مُتَمَسِّكًا بِهَا حَتَّى تَمُوتَ» ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي «أَتَدْرِي كَيْفَ خَلَقَ اللهُ الْخَلْقَ؟» قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ خَلَقَ اللهُ آدَمَ فَقَالَ تَلِدُ فُلَانًا وَيَلِدُ فُلَانٌ فُلَانًا وَيَلِدُ فُلَانٌ فُلَانًا وَيَلِدُ فُلَانٌ فُلَانًا أَجَلُهُ كَذَا وَعَمَلُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَرِزْقُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ  

“I came to Al-Madinah and sat with some old men in the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ. Then an old man came, leaning on his stick, and the people said: ‘Whoever would like to look at a man from among the people of Paradise, let him look at this man.’ He stood behind a pillar and prayed two Rak’ah. I got up and went to him, and said to him: ‘Some of the people said such and such.’ He said: ‘Praise is to Allah. Paradise belongs to Allah and He admits whomsoever He wills to it. At the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ I saw a dream in which a man came to me and said: “Let’s go.” So I went with him and he took me along a great road. A road was shown to me on the left and I wanted to follow it, but he said: “You are not one of its people.” Then a road was shown to me on the right, and I followed him until I reached a slippery mountain. He took me by the hand and helped me up. When I reached the top I could not stand firm. There was an iron pillar there with a golden ring at the top. He took my hand and helped me up until I reached the handhold, then he said: “Have you gotten a firm hold?” I said: “Yes.” Then he struck the pillar with his foot and I held tight to the pillar. I told this to the Prophet ﷺ and he said: "You have seen something good. The great road is the plain of gathering (on the Day of Resurrection). The road that you were shown on your left is the way of the people of Hell, and you are not one of its people. The road which you were shown on your right is the way of the people of Paradise. The slippery mountain is the place of the martyrs, and the handhold that you held on tight to is the handhold of Islam. Hold on tight to it until you die." I hope to be one of the people of Paradise,' and he was 'Abdullah bin Salam." (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3920)   

قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى أَشْيِخَةِ مَسْجِدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَجَاءَ شَيْخٌ يَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَى عَصًا لَهُ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَقَامَ خَلْفَ سَارِيَةٍ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلَاتَهُ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ يَا هَؤُلَاءِ إِنَّكُمْ يَعْنِي أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ فَقَالَ الْجَنَّةُ لِلَّهِ يُدْخِلُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ رُؤْيَا رَأَيْتُ كَأَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَانِي فَقَالَ انْطَلِقْ فَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُ فَدَخَلَ بِي فِي مَنْهَجٍ عَظِيمٍ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي إِذْ عَرَضَ لِي طَرِيقٌ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْلُكَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَتْ لِي طَرِيقٌ عَنْ يَمِينِي فَسَلَكْتُهَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى جَبَلٍ زَلِقٍ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَدَخَلَ بِي فَإِذَا أَنَا عَلَى ذُرْوَتِهِ وَإِذَا عَمُودٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ فِي أَعْلَاهُ عُرْوَةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَزَجَلَ بِي حَتَّى أَخَذْتُ بِالْعُرْوَةِ فَقَالَ اسْتَمْسِكْ بِالْعُرْوَةِ فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «خَيْرًا أَمَّا الْمَنْهَجُ الْعَظِيمُ فَالْمَحْشَرُ وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي عَرَضَتْ عَنْ شِمَالِكَ فَطَرِيقُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَلَسْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا وَأَمَّا الطَّرِيقُ الَّتِي عَرَضَتْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ فَطَرِيقُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَمَّا الْجَبَلُ الزَّلِقُ فَمَنْزِلَةُ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ الَّتِي اسْتَمْسَكْتَ بِهَا فَعُرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِهَا حَتَّى تَمُوتَ» فَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا