The deed that admits to Paradise

On the authority of Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed that will admit me to Paradise and keep me far from the Fire.” The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "You have asked about a great matter, yet it is easy for the one whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, establish the prayer, pay the zakat, fast Ramadan and make the pilgrimage to the House.” Then he said: “Shall I not guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield; charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire; and the prayer of a man in the depth of the night.” Then he recited: “Their sides forsake their beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend of what We have provided them. No soul knows what comfort is kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do.” Then he said: “Shall I not tell you of the head of the matter, its pillar and its summit?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and its summit is jihad in the way of Allah.” Then he said: “Shall I not tell you of what holds all of that together?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” So he took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain this.” I said: “O Prophet of Allah, will we be held to account for what we say?” He said: “May your mother be bereaved of you, Mu'adh! Is there anything that topples people on their faces into the Fire other than the harvest of their tongues?"

Related by at-Tirmidhi, who said: “A hasan sahih hadith.”

[at-Tirmidhi 2616; Ibn Majah 3973]