As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell,
the way to be saved from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So the
Muslims pray to their Rabb with faith to save them from the Fire:
"Those who say, "Our Rabb! We have indeed
believed, forgive us then, our sins and save us from the agony of the
Fire". (3:16)
"...Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all]
this, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. Our Rabb!
Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never will
wrongdoers find any helpers. Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling
[us] to faith: "Believe in your Rabb," and we have believed. Our
Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out from us our inequities, and take to
Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant
us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame
on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise". (3:191-194)
Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and describe
the deeds that will protect one from the Fire, for example, love of Allah
(swt). In al-Haakim's al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad's al-Musnad, a report from Anas
ibn Maalik (ra) states, "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "By Allah
(swt), Allah will never thrown one whom He loves into the Fire" (sahih,
See Sahih al-Jaami' 6/104)
Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as
Ahmad reports in al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Imaan, with a hasan
isnaad from Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah: "The Prophet (saw) said, "Allah
(swt) says, "Fasting is a shield with which one may protect oneself from
the Fire". (Sahih al-Jaami, 4/114)
In Shu'ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from 'Uthmaan ibn
Abil-Aas that the Prophet (saw) said, "Fasting is a shield from the
punishment of Allah (swt)" It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn
Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami' 3/264).
If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against the
enemy, then that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa'eed
al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "Whoever fasts for one
day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake of Allah, Allah will remove him
[lit. his face] seventy years distance from the Fire". (Ahmad,
al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee - Sahih al-Jaami' 5/310)
Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allah and
jihaad for His sake:
"But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb,
there will be two gardens [ie in Paradise]" (55:46)
at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra)
that the Messenger of Allah(saw) said: "No one who weeps out of fear of
Allah will enter Hell until the milk goes back into the breast [i.e. never] and
a man will never have both the dust from fighting in the way of Allah (swt) and
the smoke of Hell". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is
sahih)
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu 'Abs that the Messenger of
Allah (saw) said, "No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allah (swt)
will never meet in the Fire of Hell". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no.
3794)
Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of
Allah (saw) said, "A Kaafir and the one who kills him will never meet in
the Fire of Hell." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3795)
We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection
with Allah from it:
"Those who say, "our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath
of Hell, for its wrath is indeed an affliction grievous." Evil indeed is
it as an abode and as a place to rest in". (25:64-65)
Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with a
sahih isnaad from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "No one
asks Allah (swt)) for Paradise three times, but Paradise will say, "O
Allah (swt) admit him to Paradise". And no Muslim asks Allah for
protection from Hell three times, but Hell will say, "O Allah save him
from me"" (Sahih al-Jaami, 5/145, no.5506)
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that
when the Prophet (saw) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of
dhikr he said, "Allah (swt) asks them and He knows best, "What are
they seeking protection from?" They tell Him, "From the Fire".
He asks, "And have they seen it." They say, "No, by Allah, O Rabb,
They have not seen it." He says, "How would it be if they had seen
it?" They say, "They would be even more afraid and anxious to escape
it". He (swt) says, "Bear witness that I have forgiven
them"". (Sahih al-Jaami', 2/233, no. 2169)
Source: Al-Jannah Wa An-Naar by 'Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar
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