The 8 Gates of Jannah: Who Will Be Called From Each
Imagine being called by name to enter Paradise, through a gate that matches the deed you loved most. The Prophet ﷺ described exactly that. This article gathers what the authentic hadith say about the 8 gates of Jannah: how many there are, the gate called ar-Rayyan, who is called from which gate, and the one man the Prophet ﷺ hoped would be called from all of them.
In this article:
- How many gates Paradise has, and the gate kept for those who fast
- The gates of prayer, jihad, fasting and charity
- What the authentic hadith do and do not tell us about the names of all eight
At a glance
- Hadith: 3 authentic narrations, plus 1 Quran verse
- Collections: Sahih al-Bukhari (also in Sahih Muslim)
- Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)
- Topic: The gates of Paradise
- Do one thing today: Choose one deed to make your own: salah, fasting or charity
1. Paradise has eight gates
فِي الْجَنَّةِ ثَمَانِيَةُ أَبْوَابٍ، فِيهَا باب يُسَمَّى الرَّيَّانَ لاَ يَدْخُلُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّائِمُونَ
“Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called Ar-Raiyan through which none will enter but those who observe fasting.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3257 · Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d · Translation from Sunnah.com
Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this. The number is stated plainly: eight gates. One of them is named, and it is kept for one group of people.
Try this: learn the number and the name. When you hear “the eight gates of Paradise”, remember that the Prophet ﷺ named ar-Rayyan himself.
2. Ar-Rayyan: the gate for those who fast
إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ، يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ فَيَقُومُونَ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ، فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ
“There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?’ They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1896 · Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d · Translation from Sunnah.com
The Encyclopedia of Translated Prophetic Hadiths quotes an-Nawawi that this shows the virtue of fasting and the honor given to those who fast. It also cites as-Sindi that the call is for those who fasted regularly, not someone who fasted once, and notes a view that the name ar-Rayyan comes from quenching thirst, a fitting reward for those who went thirsty while fasting (HadeethEnc 3738).
Try this: beyond Ramadan, keep a voluntary fast you can sustain, such as some Mondays and Thursdays, so you are among those who “used to fast”.
3. Called from the gate of your best deed
مَنْ أَنْفَقَ زَوْجَيْنِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ نُودِيَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ، هَذَا خَيْرٌ. فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّلاَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الصَّلاَةِ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجِهَادِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الْجِهَادِ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصِّيَامِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الرَّيَّانِ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّدَقَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الصَّدَقَةِ. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا عَلَى مَنْ دُعِيَ مِنْ تِلْكَ الأَبْوَابِ مِنْ ضَرُورَةٍ، فَهَلْ يُدْعَى أَحَدٌ مِنْ تِلْكَ الأَبْوَابِ كُلِّهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ. وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ
“Whoever gives two kinds (of things or property) in charity for Allah’s Cause, will be called from the gates of Paradise and will be addressed, ‘O slaves of Allah! Here is prosperity.’ So, whoever was amongst the people who used to offer their prayers, will be called from the gate of the prayer; and whoever was amongst the people who used to participate in Jihad, will be called from the gate of Jihad; and whoever was amongst those who used to observe fasts, will be called from the gate of Ar-Raiyan; whoever was amongst those who used to give in charity, will be called from the gate of charity.” Abu Bakr said, “Let my parents be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Messenger! No distress or need will befall him who will be called from those gates. Will there be any one who will be called from all these gates?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Yes, and I hope you will be one of them.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1897 · Narrated by Abu Hurairah · Translation adapted from Sunnah.com
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this. Four gates are named here: prayer, jihad, ar-Rayyan for fasting, and charity. Each person is called by the deed they were known for, the deed they made their own. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked if anyone would be called from all of them, and the Prophet ﷺ said yes, and that he hoped Abu Bakr would be one.
Try this: ask yourself which gate you would be called from today. Then pick one deed to become “your” deed.
What we know about the names of all eight
Lists of all eight gate names are shared widely online, but no single authentic hadith names all eight. The authentic narrations above name the gates of prayer, jihad, fasting (ar-Rayyan) and charity. Where a list goes further, check its source before passing it on. We also know from Sahih Muslim 234a that whoever makes wudu well and then says the shahadah will have all eight gates opened for him, to enter by whichever he wishes; we cover that dua in How to Make Wudu.
What it takes: the gates will be opened
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَـٰلِدِينَ
“But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, “Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein,” [they will enter].”
Surah Az-Zumar 39:73 · Translation: Saheeh International, from Quran.com
Reflection: the verse describes those who feared their Lord arriving to find the gates already open and the keepers greeting them with peace. The gates are not reached by knowing their names but by the deeds behind them: salah, fasting, charity and striving for Allah. More on those deeds is in Deeds That Lead to Jannah.
Questions people ask
How many gates does Jannah have?
Eight. The Prophet ﷺ said that Paradise has eight gates, one of which is called ar-Rayyan (Sahih al-Bukhari 3257).
What is the ar-Rayyan gate?
It is the gate of Paradise kept for those who fast. Only they will enter through it, and once they have entered it will be closed (Sahih al-Bukhari 1896).
What are the names of the 8 gates of Jannah?
Authentic hadith name the gates of prayer, jihad, fasting (ar-Rayyan) and charity (Sahih al-Bukhari 1897). No single authentic hadith lists the names of all eight, so check the source of any full list.
Key lessons
- Paradise has eight gates.
- Ar-Rayyan is for those who fast, and it closes after they enter.
- People are called from the gate of the deed they were known for.
- Some will be called from every gate; the Prophet ﷺ hoped Abu Bakr would be one of them.
- No single authentic hadith names all eight gates.
Eight gates, and each one has a deed behind it. May Allah make us among those called to enter from them.
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