How to Save Oneself From the Fire

 

As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the
way to be saved from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So
the Muslims pray to their Rabb with faith to save them from the
Fire:

"Those who say, "Our Rabb! We have indeed believed,
forgive us then, our sins and save us from the agony of the
Fire". (3:16)

"...Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all]
this, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.
Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with
shame, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers. Our Rabb! We have
heard the call of one calling [us] to faith: "Believe in your Rabb,"
and we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out
from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the
company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant us what You
did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame
on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise".
(3:191-194)

Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and
describe the deeds that will protect one from the Fire, for example,
love of Allah (swt). In al-Haakim's al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad's
al-Musnad, a report from Anas ibn Maalik (ra) states, "The Messenger
of Allah (saw) said, "By Allah (swt), Allah will never
thrown one whom He loves into the Fire" (sahih, See Sahih
al-Jaami' 6/104)

Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as
Ahmad reports in al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Imaan, with a
hasan isnaad from Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah: "The Prophet (saw) said,
"Allah (swt) says, "Fasting is a shield with which one may
protect oneself from the Fire". (Sahih al-Jaami,
4/114)

In Shu'ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from 'Uthmaan ibn
Abil-Aas that the Prophet (saw) said, "Fasting is a shield
from the punishment of Allah (swt)" It was reported by
Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is
saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami' 3/264).

If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against
the enemy, then that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu
Sa'eed al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
"Whoever fasts for one day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake
of Allah, Allah will remove him [lit. his face] seventy years
distance from the Fire". (Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim,
at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee - Sahih al-Jaami' 5/310)

Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allah
and jihaad for His sake:

"But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb,
there will be two gardens [ie in Paradise]" (55:46)

at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee reported from Abu Hurayrah
(ra) that the Messenger of Allah(saw) said: "No one who weeps
out of fear of Allah will enter Hell until the milk goes back into
the breast [i.e. never] and a man will never have both the dust from
fighting in the way of Allah (swt) and the smoke of Hell".
(Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is
sahih)

al-Bukhaari reports from Abu 'Abs that the Messenger of
Allah (saw) said, "No two feet that get dusty for the sake of
Allah (swt) will never meet in the Fire of Hell". (Mishkaat
al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3794)

Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger
of Allah (saw) said, "A Kaafir and the one who kills him will
never meet in the Fire of Hell." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh,
2/349, no. 3795)

We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking
protection with Allah from it:

"Those who say, "our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of
Hell, for its wrath is indeed an affliction grievous." Evil indeed
is it as an abode and as a place to rest in".
(25:64-65)

Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with
a sahih isnaad from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah (saw)
said, "No one asks Allah (swt)) for Paradise three times, but
Paradise will say, "O Allah (swt) admit him to Paradise". And no
Muslim asks Allah for protection from Hell three times, but Hell
will say, "O Allah save him from me"" (Sahih al-Jaami,
5/145, no.5506)

al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that
when the Prophet (saw) was discussing the angels who seek out
gatherings of dhikr he said, "Allah (swt) asks them and He
knows best, "What are they seeking protection from?" They tell Him,
"From the Fire". He asks, "And have they seen it." They say, "No, by
Allah, O Rabb, They have not seen it." He says, "How would it be if
they had seen it?" They say, "They would be even more afraid and
anxious to escape it". He (swt) says, "Bear witness that I have
forgiven them"". (Sahih al-Jaami', 2/233, no.
2169)