First Ummah to enter Jannah

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “We are the last (Ummah to appear), but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection. We will be the first of mankind to enter Jannah.” [Bukhari]

The Muslim Ummah will be the first nation to enter Jannah. This is because they followed Allah’s commands most closely, in particular the command by which He has distinguished them and which is the basis of their excellence:

“You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for (the good of) mankind: you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and you believe in Allah. Now if the followers of earlier revelation had attained to (this kind of) faith, it would have been for their own good; (but only few) among them are believers, while most of them are iniquitous.” [Quran: Surah Al-e-Imran, Ayat 110]

Therefore, encouraging people to do good deeds and trying to prevent them from doing evil deeds, while believing truly in Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), His names and attributes, is what distinguishes Muslims from other nations. It is what makes them worthy of entering Jannah before other nations. It is not the job of a clergy to bring people closer to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), but every Muslim’s job to work in his/her own capacity to connect people with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and His commands.

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) does not group people on the basis of race, colour or ethnicity. People are either His followers or the followers of Shaitaan; even though Shaitaan promises nothing but lies while Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) promises Jannah. Therefore, it is not a particular race or ethnicity that will enter Jannah but those most obedient to Allah’s commands.