The good news of Paradise
The ten promised Paradise
The Prophet ﷺ named ten of his Companions as people of Paradise while they were still alive. They are known as the ten promised Paradise. Here are all ten, with the hadith and a link to each life.
Who are the ten promised Paradise? Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Talhah ibn Ubaydillah, Az-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Sa'id ibn Zayd and Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, may Allah be pleased with them all. In Arabic they are called al-ashara al-mubashshara, the ten who were given glad tidings.
Four of the ten became caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, the Rightly Guided Caliphs. All ten believed in Makkah. Between them they were merchants and commanders: Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf, a wealthy merchant, chose the third caliph; Talhah was the shield of the Prophet ﷺ at Uhud; Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas was the archer whose prayers were answered; and Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah was called the Trustworthy of this ummah.
The hadith
Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf reported that the Prophet ﷺ said that Abu Bakr is in Paradise, and so are Umar, Uthman, Ali, Talhah, az-Zubayr, Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Sa’id ibn Zayd and Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah.
Tirmidhi 3747, sahih (al-Albani)
Sa’id ibn Zayd reports it too, in Abu Dawud 4649 and Ibn Majah 133, where he names the others and then himself. Al-Albani graded both sahih; Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut graded the Abu Dawud report hasan. The good news was given while they were alive, and each of the ten has a full profile here.
At a glance
| Name | Lived | Remembered as |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Bakr as-Siddiq | c. 573 CE to 13 AH (634 CE) | The truthful · first caliph |
| Umar ibn al-Khattab | c. 583 CE to 23 AH (644 CE) | Al-Faruq · the second caliph |
| Uthman ibn Affan | c. 576 CE to 35 AH (656 CE) | Dhun-Nurayn · the third caliph |
| Ali ibn Abi Talib | c. 600 CE to 40 AH (661 CE) | Cousin · son-in-law · fourth caliph |
| Talhah ibn Ubaydillah | Died 36 AH (656 CE) | Shield of the Prophet ﷺ at Uhud |
| Az-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam | Died 36 AH (656 CE) | The Prophet's ﷺ disciple |
| Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf | Died c. 32 AH (c. 652 CE) | The generous merchant |
| Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas | Died c. 55 AH (c. 675 CE) | The archer whose prayers were answered |
| Sa'id ibn Zayd | Died c. 51 AH (c. 671 CE) | Son of the seeker Zayd |
| Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah | Died 18 AH (639 CE) | Trustworthy of this ummah |
The ten, in the order of the hadith
10 peopleAbu Bakr as-Siddiq
The truthful · first caliph
c. 573 CE to 13 AH (634 CE)
أبو بكر الصديقRead profileUmar ibn al-Khattab
Al-Faruq · the second caliph
c. 583 CE to 23 AH (644 CE)
عمرRead profileUthman ibn Affan
Dhun-Nurayn · the third caliph
c. 576 CE to 35 AH (656 CE)
عثمانRead profileAli ibn Abi Talib
Cousin · son-in-law · fourth caliph
c. 600 CE to 40 AH (661 CE)
عليRead profileTalhah ibn Ubaydillah
Shield of the Prophet ﷺ at Uhud
Died 36 AH (656 CE)
طلحة بن عبيد اللهRead profileAz-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam
The Prophet's ﷺ disciple
Died 36 AH (656 CE)
الزبير بن العوامRead profileAbd ar-Rahman ibn Awf
The generous merchant
Died c. 32 AH (c. 652 CE)
عبد الرحمن بن عوفRead profileSa'd ibn Abi Waqqas
The archer whose prayers were answered
Died c. 55 AH (c. 675 CE)
سعد بن أبي وقاصRead profileSa'id ibn Zayd
Son of the seeker Zayd
Died c. 51 AH (c. 671 CE)
سعيد بن زيدRead profileAbu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah
Trustworthy of this ummah
Died 18 AH (639 CE)
أبو عبيدة بن الجراحRead profileMore on How to Muslim
- history.howtomuslim.orgThe Rightly Guided CaliphsAbu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, four of the ten, and the lands they reached.
- guide.howtomuslim.orgWho was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?His life, character and mercy, on the guide.
- nawaraacademy.comLives of the KhulafaaA long lecture series on the four caliphs, free on Nawara Academy.
Questions & answers
Questions about the ten promised Paradise
Short answers from this page, each with a link to read more.
Who are the ten promised Paradise?
They are Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Talhah ibn Ubaydillah, az-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Sa’id ibn Zayd and Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, may Allah be pleased with them all. The Prophet ﷺ gave them the good news of Paradise while they were alive.
Read more: The ten promised Paradise
Which hadith names the ten promised Paradise?
Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf reported that the Prophet ﷺ named the ten one by one as being in Paradise, in Tirmidhi 3747, which al-Albani graded sahih. Sa’id ibn Zayd reports it too, in Abu Dawud 4649 and Ibn Majah 133, where he names the others and then himself.
Read more: The hadith
Which of the ten promised Paradise became caliphs?
Four of them: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, the Rightly Guided Caliphs.
Read more: The Rightly Guided Caliphs, on Athar
Which of the ten promised Paradise died first, and which last?
By the dates on their profiles, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq died first, in 13 AH (634 CE), and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas died last, about 55 AH (c. 675 CE).
Read more: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas