In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful!
By performing various good deeds, we will become closer to Allah on the Day of Resurrection and will earn the intercession of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
The first and foremost good deed which serves as the foundation for all other good deeds is to worship Allah alone, sincerely with a pure heart and without associating any partners with Him. The intercession of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) will only be allowed for those who sincerely worshiped Allah.
Abu Huraira (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَسْعَدُالنَّاسِبِشَفَاعَتِييَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِمَنْقَالَلَاإِلَهَإِلَّااللَّهُخَالِصًامِنْقَلْبِهِ
The happiest of people who earn my intercession on the Day of Resurrection are those who say there is no God but Allah sincerely from the heart.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 99, Grade: Sahih
We will be closer to Prophet Muhammad’s (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) gathering if we invoke peace and blessings upon him often.
Ibn Mas’ud (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَوْلَىالنَّاسِبِييَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِأَكْثَرُهُمْعَلَيَّصَلَاةً
The closest of the people to me on the Day of Resurrection are those who invoked the most blessings upon me.
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 484, Grade: Hasan
Whenever we invoke peace and blessings upon the Prophet, Allah will send peace and blessings upon us ten times, thereby filling our records with good deeds.
Abu Huraira (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
مَنْصَلَّىعَلَيَّوَاحِدَةًصَلَّىاللَّهُعَلَيْهِعَشْرًا
Whoever sends blessings upon me once will have Allah send blessings upon him ten times.
Source: Sahih Muslim 408, Grade: Sahih
Good character is one of the heaviest of good deeds upon the Scale in the Hereafter and likewise it will bring us nearer to Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). In contrast, arrogance and bad character will keep us away from him.
Amr ibn Shuaib (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَلَاأُخْبِرُكُمْبِأَحَبِّكُمْإِلَيَّوَأَقْرَبِكُمْمِنِّيمَجْلِسًايَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِأَحْسَنُكُمْخُلُقًا
Shall I tell you about the most beloved to me and the closest to my assembly on the Day of Resurrection? They are those with the best character.
Source: Musnad Ahmad 6696, Grade: Sahih
Jabir ibn Abdullah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
إِنَّمِنْأَحَبِّكُمْإِلَيَّوَأَقْرَبِكُمْمِنِّيمَجْلِسًايَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِأَحَاسِنَكُمْأَخْلَاقًاوَإِنَّأَبْغَضَكُمْإِلَيَّوَأَبْعَدَكُمْمِنِّيمَجْلِسًايَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِالثَّرْثَارُونَوَالْمُتَشَدِّقُونَوَالْمُتَفَيْهِقُونَ
Verily, the most beloved and nearest to my gathering on the Day of Resurrection are those of you with the best character. Verily, the most reprehensible of you to me and the furthest from my gathering on the Day of Resurrection will be the pompous, the extravagant, and the arrogant.
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2018, Grade: Hasan
An essential aspect of good character is to practice justice and fairness in all of our matters. The most beloved people to Allah are those who are just and they will earn a tremendous reward in the Hereafter, whereas those who are oppressive will be the furthest from Him.
Abu Sa’eed (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
إِنَّأَحَبَّالنَّاسِإِلَىاللَّهِيَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِوَأَدْنَاهُمْمِنْهُمَجْلِسًاإِمَامٌعَادِلٌوَأَبْغَضَالنَّاسِإِلَىاللَّهِوَأَبْعَدَهُمْمِنْهُمَجْلِسًاإِمَامٌجَائِرٌ
Verily, the most beloved of people to Allah on the Day of Resurrection and the nearest to Him will be the just leader. The most hated of people to Allah and the furthest from Him will be the tyrannical leader.
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 1329, Grade: Hasan
Closely related to love for the sake of Allah is the virtue of spreading peace among people, by greeting people with peace and encouraging reconciliation.
Abu Huraira (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
لَاتَدْخُلُونَالْجَنَّةَحَتَّىتُؤْمِنُواوَلَاتُؤْمِنُواحَتَّىتَحَابُّواأَوَلَاأَدُلُّكُمْعَلَىشَيْءٍإِذَافَعَلْتُمُوهُتَحَابَبْتُمْأَفْشُواالسَّلَامَبَيْنَكُمْ
You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace between yourselves.
Source: Sahih Muslim 54, Grade: Sahih
Indeed, the closest of the people to Allah are those who greet others with peace first.
Abu Umamah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported: He said, “O Messenger of Allah, when two people meet each other, who should greet with peace first?”
The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَوْلَاهُمَابِاللَّهِ
The one closest to Allah will greet first.
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2694, Grade: Hasan
These are some of the virtues and good deeds we can practice in order to become nearer to Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, on the Day of Resurrection. We ask Allah to make us among those who are blessed with such an honorable gathering.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.