leads people into Hell?” He replied, “The two hollow organs: the mouth and the private parts.” Al-Tirmidhī graded it sound and authentic.

It is also reported from him that he said, “What I fear most for you is the wayward desires of your bellies and private parts, and trials that lead you astray.”

In the Sahīh, Abū Hurayrah reports that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Hell is screened by desires, and Paradise is screened by hardships.” Muslim’s version has “surrounded” in place of “screened.”

Since Hell is screened and surrounded by desires, no one enters Hell except through them. And since Paradise is screened and surrounded by hardships, no one enters Paradise except through them.