Is the Hadith, "Whoever has four [people] bear witness for him with good, Jannah becomes obligatory for him," to be understood in its absolute sense, such that everyone for whom four people bear witness with good will enter Jannah?

The summary of the answer:

Al-Bukhari narrated a hadith (definition) on the authority of Abu al-Aswad that Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "It is incumbent" to anyone who was praised for good or evil, explaining this with the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Any Muslim for whom four people bear witness to good, Allah will admit him to Paradise." The number then decreased to three, then to two.

Scholars believe that the hadith is absolute in terms of time, and that it is general for anyone among Muslims for whom people bear witness to good, at any time, and regardless of the state of the person for whom the testimony is given. The proof for this is the hadith of Abu al-Aswad himself.

As for its absolute nature for every person testified for, the correct and chosen opinion is that it is general and absolute, and that every Muslim who dies and whom Allah inspires people to praise, this is an indication that he is among the people of Paradise, whether his actions necessitated that or not.

The hadith is qualified in terms of the state of the witnesses: the witnesses must be religious, righteous, and just. The testimony of the wicked or those who have enmity with the deceased is not accepted.