Paradise is surrounded by hardships...

Anas bin Malik رضي اللّه عنـه reported:

“Paradise is surrounded by hardships and the Hell-Fire is surrounded by temptations!”

حُفَّتِ الْجَنَّةُ بِالْمَكَارِهِ وَحُفَّتِ النَّارُ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ

{Ref: Sahih Muslim 2822}

The scholars said:

This beautiful analogy is from the exquisite, eloquent and comprehensive speech which was bestowed on the prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم). It means that nothing will help you to reach al-Jannah except going through hardships, and nothing will lead you to the Hell-fire except whims and desires. Both are veiled as described, so whoever tears down the veil will reach what is hidden behind it. So the veil of al-Jannah is torn down by going through hardships, and the veil of the Hell-fire is torn down by giving in to whims and desires. And hardships include striving in ‘ibaadah (worship) and persevering upon that,and sabr in the face of hardships, and restraining one’s anger, forgiving and having long-suffering (hilm), giving voluntary charity, having ihsaan (excellent behavior) with those who mistreat you, having sabr against desires, and so on.

People of Paradise and Hell-Fire!

 

Narrated Haritha bin Wahb Al-Khuzai (رضي اللّه عنـه):

I heard the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم saying. "May I tell you of the people of Paradise? They are every weak, poor and obscure person whom the people look down upon but when he takes an oath to do something, his oath is fulfilled by Allaah. And may I inform you of the people of the Hell-Fire? They are all those violent, arrogant and stubborn people."

{Bukhari Vol. 6 : No. 440}