Paradise is nearer to one of you than his shoelaces, and so is Hellfire
Authenticعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: «الْجَنَّةُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ شِرَاكِ نَعْلِهِ، وَالنَّارُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ».
Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Paradise is nearer to one of you than his shoelaces, and so is Hellfire."
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that Paradise and Hellfire are so close to people like their shoelaces, which lie above their feet. This is because a person may perform a good deed that pleases Allah Almighty and causes him to enter Paradise or commit a sin that leads him to Hellfire.
Benefits
- This encourages us to do good, even if it's a little, and warns us against evil, even if it's a little.
- In his life, a Muslim should combine hope and fear and constantly implore Allah Almighty to make him steadfast to the truth, so that he can be safe and keep away from self-conceit.
Source · Narrated by Al-Bukhāri
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).