Hadith ~ The Believer’s Prison

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abu Hurairah (MAPH) reported: the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “The world is the believer’s prison and the infidel’s Jannah”. (Muslim)

Abdullah bin Umar (MAPH) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) took hold of my shoulders and said: “Be in the world like a stranger or a wayfarer”.

Ibn Umar (MAPH) used to say: “When you survive till the evening, do not expect to live until the morning; and when you survive until the morning, do not except to live until the evening (do good deeds) when you are in good health before you fall sick, and (do good deeds) as long as you are alive before death strikes”. (Al-Bukhari)

Commentary Hadith 1: As compared with the pleasures and luxuries, which are in store for a true believer in Jannah in the Hereafter, this world is a prison; and against the ceaseless torture that awaits the disbelievers in Hell, this world is a Jannah for them. It can also mean that the way a Muslim saves himself in life from lusts and desires and leads a pious life with fear of Allah, this world is a prison for him because he is fettered in the chains of rules and regulations, while a disbeliever is free from all kinds of restrictions and is completely given to lusts and desires, and this is how this world is a Jannah for him. The purpose of this Hadith is to induce Muslims for the preparation of Al-akhirah (the Hereafter) and prevent them from unlawful luxuries of this world.

Commentary Hadith 2: A person who will consider this world as a temporary stage will certainly not like that his clothes be entangled in thorny bushes of this world. The greatest fault of man is that he does not understand this status of the world. In spite of the fact that he is not sure of a moment’s life here, he occupies himself in amassing goods and riches which would last for a hundred years.

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection
MAPH: May Allah be pleased with him

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Hadith 1: Chapter 75, Page 158, No 470
Hadith 2: Chapter 75, Page 158, No 471

Ayaat 1-10 ~ Al-Fatir (The Originator)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the (only) Originator [or the (only) Creator] of the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers with wings, – two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Verily, Allâh is Able to do all things.

2. Whatever of mercy (i.e.of good), Allâh may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter. And He is the All­Mighty, the All­Wise.

3. O mankind! Remember the Grace of Allâh upon you! Is there any creator other than Allâh who provides for you from the sky (rain) and the earth? Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turning away (from Him)?

4. And if they belie you, so were Messengers belied before you. And to Allâh return all matters (for decision).

5. O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allâh.

6. Surely, Shaitân (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.

7. Those who disbelieve, theirs will be a severe torment; and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).

8. Is he, then, to whom the evil of his deeds made fair­seeming, so that he considers it as good (equal to one who is rightly guided)? Verily, Allâh sends astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. So destroy not yourself in sorrow for them. Truly, Allâh is the All­Knower of what they do!

9. And it is Allâh Who sends the winds, so that they raise up the clouds, and We drive them to a dead land, and revive therewith the earth after its death. As such (will be) the Resurrection!

10. Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allâh belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allâh (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (the goodly words i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allâh unless and until they are followed by good deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish.

Sura 35. Al-Fatir (The Originator)

Hadith ~ Who is most deserving

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A person came to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) and asked: “Who among people is most deserving of my fine treatment? The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Your mother”. He again asked: “Who next?” “Your mother”, the Prophet (SAWS) replied again. He asked: “Who next?” The Prophet (SAWS) said again: “Your mother.” He again asked: “Then who?” Thereupon the Prophet (SAWS) said: “Then your father.”

In another narration: “O Messenger of Allah! Who is most deserving of my fine treatment?” The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, then your nearest, then nearest”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Commentary: This Hadith tells us that the rights of the mother are three times more important than that of the father.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 40, Page 106, No 316

Hadith ~ Never hit

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) never hit anything with his hand neither a servant nor a woman but of course, he did fight in the Cause of Allah. He never took revenge upon anyone for the wrong done to him, but of course, he exacted retribution for the sake of Allah in case the Injunctions of Allah about unlawful acts were violated. (Muslim)

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 75, Page 207, No 644

Ayaat 27-37 ~ Al-Fatir (The Originator)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

27. See you not that Allâh sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colours, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black.

28. And of men and Ad­Dawâb (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All­Mighty, Oft­Forgiving.

29. Verily, those who recite the Book of Allâh (this Qur’ân), and perform As­Salât (Iqâmat­as­Salât), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a (sure) trade­gain that will never perish.

30. That He may pay them their wages in full, and give them (even) more, out of His Grace. Verily! He is Oft­Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (good deeds and to recompense).

31. And what We have inspired in you, of the Book (the Qur’ân), it is the (very) truth [that you (Muhammad ) and your followers must act on its instructions], confirming that which was (revealed) before it. Verily! Allâh is indeed All­Aware, and All­Seer of His slaves.

32. Then We gave the Book (the Qur’ân) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allâh’s Leave, foremost in good deeds. That (inheritance of the Qur’ân), that is indeed a great grace.

33. ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) will they enter, therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments there will be of silk (i.e. in Paradise).

34. And they will say: “All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, Who has removed from us (all) grief. Verily, our Lord is indeed Oft­Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (good deeds and to recompense).

35. Who, out of His Grace, has lodged us in a home that will last forever; there, toil will touch us not, nor weariness will touch us.”

36. But those who disbelieve, (in the Oneness of Allâh – Islâmic Monotheism) for them will be the Fire of Hell. Neither it will have a complete killing effect on them so that they die, nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!

37. Therein they will cry: “Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do.” (Allâh will reply): “Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition, – could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong­doers, etc.) there is no helper.”

Sura 35. Al-Fatir or Al-Mala’ikah (The Originator or The Angels)

Hadith ~ He who removes from a believer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and he who finds relief for a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him on the Day of Resurrection; he who covers up (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his faults and sins) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother; and he who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah makes that path easy, leading to Jannah for him; the people who assemble in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, learning it and teaching, there descends upon them the tranquillity, and mercy covers them, the angels flock around them, and Allah mentions them in the presence of those near Him; and he who lags behind in doing good deeds, his noble lineage will not make him go ahead.” (Muslim)

Commentary: Besides other advantages mentioned in this Hadith, we learn the following from it:

  1. It is an act of great merit to relieve a Muslim from difficulties (financial or otherwise).
  2. To strive for attaining religious knowledge is a highly meritorious act.
  3. To recite the Noble Quran, make arrangement for its study and teaching, and hold meetings for the understanding and elucidation of the message of the Noble Quran are acts of great distinction and reward.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 29, Page 84, No 245

Ayaat 102-111 ~ An-Nahl (The Bees)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

102. Say: The Pure Spirit (Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel)]) has brought it (the Quran) down from your Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the Faith of) those who believe and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who have submitted (to Allâh as Muslims).

103. And indeed We know that they (polytheists and pagans) say: “It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad (SAWS)).” The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Quran) is a clear Arabic tongue.

104. Verily! Those who believe not in the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, Allâh will not guide them and theirs will be a painful torment.

105. It is only those who believe not in the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, who fabricate falsehood, and it is they who are liars.

106. Whoever disbelieved in Allâh after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allâh, and theirs will be a great torment.

107. That is because they loved and preferred the life of this world over that of the Hereafter. And Allâh guides not the people who disbelieve.

108. They are those upon whose hearts, hearing (ears) and sight (eyes) Allâh has set a seal. And they are the heedless!

109. No doubt, in the Hereafter, they will be the losers.

110. Then, verily! Your Lord for those who emigrated after they had been put to trials and thereafter strove hard and fought (for the Cause of Allâh) and were patient, verily, your Lord afterward is, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

111. (Remember) the Day when every person will come up pleading for himself, and every one will be paid in full for what he did (good or evil, belief or disbelief in the life of this world) and they will not be dealt with unjustly.

Sourate 16. An-Nahl (The Bees)

Ayaat 36-37 ~ Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

36. Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcomed. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.

37. In order that Allâh may distinguish the wicked (disbelievers, polytheists and doers of evil deeds) from the good (believers of Islâmic Monotheism and doers of righteous deeds), and put the wicked (disbelievers, polytheists and doers of evil deeds) one on another, heap them together and cast them into Hell. Those! it is they who are the losers.

Sura 8. Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War)

Commentary ~ Dissatisfaction is a trap of the devil

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

The devil prevails in his subjugation of man most often in two areas: dissatisfaction and desire. In these instances he finds his prey to be extremely vulnerable, particularly when displeasure becomes deep-rooted. At this point, he says, he does, and he thinks that which displeases his Lord. For this explicit reason, the Prophet (SAWS) said upon the death of his son Ibrahim (the Prophet’s (SAWS) son, who the Prophet named Ibrahim and died at a young age):

“The heart is sad, the eye sheds tears, and yet we don’t say anything, except that which pleases our Lord.”

The death of one’s child is something that might lead to resentment in a person’s heart. Hence, the Prophet (SAWS) informed us that, in such a situation, a situation regarding which most people are resentful and which causes them to say or do that which is displeasing to their Lord, they must not say anything except that which pleases their Lord. If one were to keep the following three matters at his fingertips when he is displeased and angry about what has happened to him, then the burden of his calamity will lighten significantly. They are:

  • To know and to believe in the wisdom of Allah, and in the fact that Allah knows best what is good and beneficial for His slaves.
  • To be conscious of the great reward and recompense that Allah promised to the slave who becomes afflicted and is then patient.
  • To know and accept that rulings and judgments are with Allah, while submission and obedience are for His slaves.

Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord?… (Koran 43.32)

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

La Tahzan (Don’t be sad)
By Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Translated by: Faisal ibn Muhammad Shafeeq, 2nd ed. Riyadh 2005
Publisher: International Islamic Publishing House
ISBN Hard Cover: 9960-850-36-6
ISBN Soft Cover: 9960-850-44-7
P357

Commentary ~ The distribution of the Book of Deeds

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

On the Day of Judgement the Book of Deeds will be handed out. The manner in which this happens is that the Books of Deeds will be thrown in the air from a high elevation. Mankind is below, and these books will be thrown from above. At that moment when you see your book coming down and you don’t know if it is going to land in the right hand or the left hand (if it is in the right hand that is a good sign, if it lands in the left hand that is a bad sign) and you know that this is the record of your life upon which you will be judged is one of the moments when the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) says “the hair turns gray”. It is a very difficult and extremely critical moment. Allah (The Exalted) says:

That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of you will be hidden. Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand will say: “Take, read my Record! “Surely, I did believe that I shall meet my Account!” So he shall be in a life, well-pleasing. In a lofty Paradise, The fruits in bunches whereof will be low and near at hand. Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past! (Koran 69.18-24)

That person who receives the Book of Deeds in the right hand says: “Take, read my Record!” That person is willing to show it to everyone. That person is happy and proud. That person understood his/her account would reach them. “Surely, I did believe that I shall meet my Account!” I knew that this day will come. That person will be in a life of bliss. Notice here that Allah is talking about fruits that are low and Allah says “Eat and drink at ease.” It is a very appropriate moment to say “Eat and drink” because at that moment on the Day of Judgement hunger and thirst are at the extreme limits. So the Book will be given and that person will be told that soon you will enter into Jannah (Paradise) and you will eat and drink as you like. Because of the long waiting on the Day of Judgement and extreme hunger and thirst, there is a special value for being told that you will eat and drink for what you did in the days before. This is a very important point; it depends on what you did in the days before. The past will be what you will be held accountable “for that which you have sent on before you in days past!”

Now what about the one who receives the Book in the left hand?

But as for him who will be given his Record in his left hand, will say: “I wish that I had not been given my Record! “And that I had never known, how my Account is? “I wish, would that it had been my end (death)! “My wealth has not availed me, “My power and arguments (to defend myself) have gone from me!” (It will be said): “Seize him and fetter him, Then throw him in the blazing Fire. “Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!” Verily, He used not to believe in Allâh, the Most Great, And urged not on the feeding of Al­Miskîn (the poor), So no friend has he here this Day, Nor any food except filth from the washing of wounds, None will eat except the Khâti’ûn (sinners, disbelievers, polytheists, etc.). (Koran 69.25-37)

This person may have loved life so much but on the Day of Judgement they are saying “I wish I was dead now, I wish I had never existed, and of no profit to me has been my wealth and my power they have perished from me”. My wealth didn’t do me any good and my power did not help me. The two things that we strive and struggle for in dounia, power and wealth on the Day of Judgement they will say it is no good. Money buys you whatever you want in dounia. You could buy a house, buy a fancy car, buy the best food; you could go wherever you want, and so it is a tool that gets you what you want. It fulfills your desire, that’s what money does. On the Day of Judgement money will not buy you anything. Money will not get you anything. It is worthless. Hundred dollar bills are pieces of paper they have no value. Therefore what was wealth one day is now nothing. So the person will say: “My wealth is not doing me any good. That wealth that I worked years and years to acquire now when I need it is worthless. I need to buy happiness now but it is not there for me anymore”. Power is the same thing. Power gives you dominance and opens for you doors of opportunity. When you have power you do whatever you want. On the day of Judgement, the person will be powerless. They will be at the lowest levels, because that person on the Day of Judgement will not even have power over their own limbs. Your hand will speak against you. Your tongue will speak against you. Your feet will speak against you. So you are powerless, you do not even have command over your own body. That person will say: “Why was I fighting for power? I killed people for power, I abused people for power, where is it now? I do not even have command over my own self”. Therefore power and wealth are of no value on the Day of Judgement and we need to realize this right now. If we acquire wealth we acquire it for the sake of Allah, if we acquire power we acquire it for the sake of Allah, not for ourselves.

May Allah let the Book of Deeds land in our right hands on the Day of Judgement. Ameen.

Hadith ~ “Ar-Rayaan”

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Sahl bin Sa’d (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “In Jannah there is a gate which is called “Ar-Rayaan” through which only those who observe Saum (fasting) will enter on the Day of Resurrection. None else will enter through it. It will be called out, “Where are those who observe fasting?” So they will stand up and proceed towards it. When the last of them will have entered, the gate will be closed and then no one will enter through that gate.” (Muslim)

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 217, Page 355, No 1217

Ayaat 164-167 ~ Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

164. Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allâh sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayât (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding.

165. And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allâh as rivals (to Allâh). They love them as they love Allâh. But those who believe, love Allâh more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allâh and that Allâh is Severe in punishment.

166. When those who were followed, disown (declare themselves innocent of) those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them.

167. And those who followed will say: “If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would disown (declare ourselves as innocent from) them as they have disowned (declared themselves as innocent from) us.” Thus Allâh will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire.

Sura 2. Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

Hadith ~ The wealth of his heir

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) asked: “Who of you loves the wealth of his heir more than his own wealth?” The Companions said: “O Messenger of Allah! There is none of us but loves his own wealth more.” The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “His wealth is that which he has sent forward (spending for Judgement Day), but that which he retains belongs to his heir.” (Al-Bukhari).

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Commentary: This hadith spotlights in a wise fashion the significance and perception of spending in the way of Allah. The real wealth of man is that which he spends in His way and the channels He approves. Only this wealth will stand him in good stead on the Day of Resurrection. Otherwise , what apart from it, will be personally used up by him in the worldly life, and what he leaves behind will fall to the lot of his heirs. It implies that if Allah has bestowed worldly riches upon a man, he should spend them to the maximum in the way to Allah.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 60, Page 178, No 545

Commentary ~ Free the slaves

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Hassan al-Basri was one of the Tabi’en (second generation after the Companions RA). Once, after giving the Friday sermon a group of slaves came to him and said, “Shaykh please, next week, give a speech about freeing the slaves!” Hassan agreed and next week there, waiting anxiously, were the slaves. Hassan ascended the pulpit. His speech moved hearts and brought tears to dry eyes, but he failed to mention anything about freeing slaves? The slaves thought to themselves that the Shaykh must have forgot, thus, once again, the following week they took the 50 yard line seats and waited hoping soon to be free. However, the Shaykh failed to mention anything again? After a number of weeks the slaves were sure that the Shaykh sold them out, gotten cold feet and they began to hold the Shaykh in contempt.

One year passed and the tired slaves entered the Masjid of the Shaykh. They had long since forgotten their request and were taken aback, when suddenly he began to mention the conditions of slaves and the importance of freeing them! Their faces looked like bright lamps as the Shaykh encouraged all to free their slaves in exchange for Allah’s mercy and pleasure.

After the sermon the slaves were freed and they ran to the Shaykh asking why he waited one year to give the speech. Hassan al-Basri responded: “At the time you ask me to give the speech I readily agreed. However, after you left I realised that I had no slave of my own. Being a poor man I had to save some money for around one year’s time in order to purchase a slave. Today, alhumdulillah! I was able to purchase a slave. After I purchased him I went to the market and freed him. Finally, I went to the Masjid and gave my sermon.” Looking baffled the freed men asked, “But why? Why did you go to all this trouble?” The Shaykh responded, “If I gave that speech a year ago I would have been encouraging the people to do something that I had not done. Thus, I decided to wait until I freed a slave so that my actions and words would be equal.”

Commentary ~ The moment of death had arrived

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It was 4 in the morning when the moment of death had arrived.
What is this? The man in a state of shock cried.
The man started to tremble suddenly shaken,
To his sleeping wife he cried out don’t let my soul be taken.

I want to live; I am not yet ready to leave,
My family is dependent on me, can there be no reprieve?

With the order of Allah there is no delay,
Prepare yourself for the grave there is nothing to say.
Why do you fear to die by the Will of Allah?
Come; be content to return to your Lord Allah.

I am ashamed that I never had the time to remember my Lord,
Forgetting this moment, I preferred piling riches into a hoard.
The orders of Allah, I did not obey,
Five times a day I never did pray.
Every year, Ramadan came and Ramadan went,
I never had the time or the will to repent.
The Hajj on me had become an obligation,
But spending of my money was too much of a tribulation.
I ignored giving Zakat and charity taken from my possessions,
But loved giving and taking forbidden interest it was an obsession.
I forgot all my religious duties and obligations,
Being fearful of my company’s managers, bosses and administration.
Of my Faith I felt a hidden shame,
At all times fearful of the disbelievers blame.
The distress of the Muslims always bored me a lot,
Instead the artifices of this world were all that I sought.
I imitated the disbelievers in all of their actions,
Drinking wine and champagne was just one of my distractions,
Not to mention the women, those were always an attraction.
O woe on to me I was really astray,
Can there not be even a little delay?

As you well know, this is your last moment of life,
Every soul will taste death even if you cry, plead or feel strife.
Your parents you neglected time and time again,
You pushed away the hungry and the weak who never were your friends.
Your daughters sang and danced in clubs of the night,
While your sons got lost and trapped with women of vice.
Instead of procreating righteous children as Muslim believers,
You have raised your children instead as ignoble disbelievers,
So rich with wealth and material goods,
But oh so poor with what really would do them some good.
You always ignored the call to the Prayer,
The Koran to you was unknown, a complete stranger.
You never kept your promises, at all times fighting,
Your favourite weapon was defamation and back-biting.
You under-paid your employees whom you targeted,
While from the fruits of their labour you harvested.
Never shared of your wealth with the poor and the orphan,
While running away from the sick with great aversion.

I know, I know, I feel very ashamed.
I have a deep regret and feel very pained.
If I had signs of this imminent death,
I would have changed before my last breath.

O miserable soul, your Creator has provided all the signs that you need,
To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers and to do good deeds.
But to Allah’s Signs you were blind and you were deaf.
The signs there were many for those who reflect,
Your only concern was confined to this passing life.
Since the Koran you have ignored,
Know that it was said by your Lord,
The life of this world is but play and a pastime,
That is nothing compared to what lies in the Hereafter.
You ignored the warnings in the Koran as a traitor,
You will now be returned to your Creator.

The man’s face was now frozen in its deathly slumber.
His body couldn’t express the pain of the soul, leaving the body in a tumble.
Life, at times, does have its surprises, but never death. Why?
Because everybody knows that we are born and that one day we will die.

Hadith ~ If he dislikes one of her characteristics

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “A believer must not hate (his wife) believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics he will be pleased with another”. (Muslim).

Commentary: This Hadith also contains a very wise counsel for a happy married life. It tells us that every person has certain good qualities as well as some shortcomings. Man has been advised here to overlook the shortcomings that he does not like in his wife and appreciate her good qualities. Similarly, a woman is advised to ignore the shortcomings of her husband and admire his good qualities.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 34, Page 95, No 275

Commentary ~ Today is all you have

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening — live as though today is all you have. Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life’s span is but one day, as if you were born in it and will die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty. Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart, recite the Quran with understanding, and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs, satisfied with your allotted portion, concerned with your appearance and health.

Organize the hours of this day, so that you make years out of minutes and months out of seconds. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, remember Him, prepare for the final parting from this world, and live today happily and at peace. Be content with your sustenance, your wife, your children, your work, your house and your station in life.

…So hold that which I have given you and be grateful. (Quran 7:144)

Live today free from sorrow, bother, anger, jealousy, and malice.

You must engrave onto your heart one phrase: Today is my only day. If you have eaten warm, fresh bread today, then what do yesterday’s dry, rotten bread and tomorrow’s anticipated bread matter?

If you are truthful with yourself and have a firm, solid resolve, you will undoubtedly convince yourself of the following: Today is my last day to live. When you achieve this attitude, you will profit from every moment of your day, by developing your personality, expanding your abilities, and purifying your deeds. Then you say to yourself:

Today I shall be refined in my speech and will utter neither evil speech nor obscenity. Also, I shall not backbite.

Today I shall organize my house and my office. They will not be disorderly and chaotic, but organized and neat.

Today I will be particular about my bodily cleanliness and appearance. I will be meticulous in my neatness and balanced in my walk, talk, and actions.

Today I will strive to be obedient to my Lord, pray in the best manner possible, do more voluntary acts of righteousness, recite the Qur’an, and read beneficial books. I will plant goodness into my heart and extract from it the roots of evil — such as pride, jealousy, and hypocrisy.

Today I will try to help others — to visit the sick, to attend a funeral, to guide the one who is lost, and to feed the hungry. I will stand side by side with the oppressed and the weak. I will pay respect to the scholar, be merciful to the young, and reverent to the old.

O’ past that has departed and is gone, I will not cry over you. You will not see me remembering you, not even for a moment, because you have traveled away from me never to return.

O’ future, you are in the realm of the unseen, so I will not be obsessed by your dreams. I will not be preoccupied about what is to come because tomorrow is nothing and has not yet been created.

« Today is my only day » is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendour and brilliance.

La Tahzan (Don’t be sad)
By Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Translated by: Faisal ibn Muhammad Shafeeq, 2nd ed. Riyadh 2005
Publisher: International Islamic Publishing House
ISBN Hard Cover: 9960-850-36-6
ISBN Soft Cover: 9960-850-44-7
P31

Ayaat 168-172 ~ Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

168. O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy.

169. [Shaitân (Satan)] commands you only what is evil and Fahshâ (sinful), and that you should say against Allâh what you know not.

170. When it is said to them: “Follow what Allâh has sent down.” They say: “Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following.” (Would they do that!) Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?

171. And the example of those who disbelieve, is as that of him who shouts to the (flock of sheep) that hears nothing but calls and cries. (They are) deaf, dumb and blind. So they do not understand.

172. O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh – Islâmic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allâh, if it is indeed He Whom you worship.

Sura 2. Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

Commentary ~ Allah is Most Kind to His slaves

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

A high-ranking member of the Riyadh community related to me that in 1376 Hijri, a group of fishermen from the town of Jubayl set out for the ocean, and after spending three days and three nights fishing, they did not manage to catch even a single fish. Meanwhile, a group of nearby fishermen caught many fish. They were surprised, not merely from the disparity between their failure and the other group’s success, but because they were performing the five daily prayers and failed while the other group was not praying and succeeded. One of them said, “How perfect is Allah! We prayed to Allah every single prayer and we didn’t get anything; the other group did not prostrate to Allah even once over the last few days and look at all they managed to get!” In this way, the Shaytaan (Devil) whispered evil suggestions to them and advised them to abandon the prayer. The next morning, they did not wake up for Fajr (the Morning Prayer). They also neglected to perform the Dhuhr (Noon) and Asr (Afternoon) Prayers. Before nightfall, they set out for the ocean; they caught a fish and upon slitting it open they found a pearl in its stomach — a very expensive pearl. One of them took the pearl in his hand, stared at it, and said, after reflecting, “How perfect is Allah! When we obeyed Him we got nothing, and when we disobeyed Him this is what we got! Indeed, this sustenance before us is of a doubtful nature.” Then he took hold of the pearl and hurled it into the ocean, saying immediately afterwards, “Allah will recompense us with better than this. By Allah, I will not take it, for we acquired it after abandoning the prayer. Come with me, and let us leave this place wherein we disobeyed Allah.” They traveled three miles before camping for the night. Shortly afterwards they went fishing again, and they caught a fair-sized fish. When they slit it open, they found the same valuable pearl inside its stomach. They said, “All praise is due to Allah, Who has provided us with good sustenance.” They caught the fish after praying, remembering Allah, and asking for His forgiveness, so this time they kept it.

You should notice one important difference: the object was one and the same, but it was filthy when they acquired it while they were disobeying Allah, and it was pure when they acquired it while obeying Him.

Would that they were contented with what Allâh and His Messenger gave them and had said: “Allâh is Sufficient for us. Allâh will give us of His Bounty, and (also) His Messenger (from alms, etc.). We implore Allâh (to enrich us).” (Quran 9:59)

Verily, it is Allah’s kindness. So whenever somebody abandons something for Allah, Allah provides him with something that is better.

This reminds me of a story of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). One morning, he entered Masjid al-Koofa to pray two voluntary units of prayer. Before entering, he found a boy standing at the door. He said to him. “O boy, restrain for me my mule until I finish praying.” As Ali was entering the Mosque, he made an intention to reward the boy with a dirham for his services. Meanwhile, the boy removed the noseband from the mule and rushed off to the marketplace to sell it. When Ali came out of the Masjid, he found no boy, but only his mule without its noseband. He commissioned a man to go after the boy and ordered him to go to the marketplace since it was more than likely that the boy would go there to sell the noseband. The man found the boy auctioning it in the market and he bought it from him for a dirham. He returned to Ali and informed him of what happened. After hearing what occurred, Ali said, “How perfect Allah is! By Allah, I intended to give him a lawful dirham, but he refused to take it other than in an unlawful way.”

Whatever you may be doing, and whatever portion you may be reciting from the Qur’ân, – and whatever deed you (mankind) may be doing (good or evil), We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it. And nothing is hidden from your Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in the heaven. Not what is less than that or what is greater than that but is (written) in a Clear Record. (Quran 10:61)

La Tahzan (Don’t be sad)
By Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Translated by: Faisal ibn Muhammad Shafeeq, 2nd ed. Riyadh 2005
Publisher: International Islamic Publishing House
ISBN Hard Cover: 9960-850-36-6
ISBN Soft Cover: 9960-850-44-7
P416

Ayaat 80-84 ~ Al-A’raf (The Heights)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

80. And (remember) Lout (Lot), when he said to his people: “Do you commit the worst sin such as none preceding you has committed[1] in the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinns)?

81. “Verily, you practise your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds (by committing great sins).”

82. And the answer of his people was only that they said: “Drive them out of your town, these are indeed men who want to be pure (from sins)!”

83. Then We saved him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind (in the torment).

84. And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). Then see what was the end of the Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.).

Sura 7. Al-A’raf (The Heights)

[1]: such as none preceding you has committed: To learn more about the Prophet Lut (Lot) (peace be upon him) and the sins that his nation committed (i.e. homosexuality, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy, etc.) there is an excellent series on the lives of the Prophets here and a 2nd series specifically on the characteristics of perished nations here.

Ayaat 152-157 ~ Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

152. Therefore remember Me [1]. I will remember you, and be grateful to Me [2] and never be ungrateful to Me.

153. O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salât (the prayer). Truly! Allâh is with As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.).

154. And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh, “They are dead.” Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not.

155. And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.).

156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”

157. They are those on whom are the Salawât [3] from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.

Sura 2. Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

[1]: remember Me: by praying, glorifying, etc.
[2]: grateful to Me: for My countless Favours on you
[3]: Salawât: i.e. blessings, etc. i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven

Hadith ~ Will be equivalent

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect, and if anyone invites others to follow error, the sin, will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect”. (Muslim)

Commentary: ‘Invitation’ and ‘Call’ stand to mean here that someone induces others to virtue or seduces to sin by means of his speech or action. We come to know from this Hadith that one who becomes a medium for either of them is given a reward or punishment respectively by Allah (SWT).

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 20, Page 64, No 174

Commentary ~ Why have you come here?

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

During the reign of the just Khalifah Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RadiAllahu Anhu), one of the many battles that ensued was the wars against the Persian Empire.

One of the great military commanders and heroes of the Muslim armies, Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (RadiAllahu Anhu), sent one of his messengers to meet with Roostum, the leader of the Persian army. That man was Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu).

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) was a very poor man, who came riding to see Roostum on a short legged, hairy horse. His sword was wrapped in an old piece of cloth, as he could not even afford a proper sheath for it. In fact his whole attire was very modest, humble and inexpensive.

The Persians, having received word that a representative of the Muslim general was coming to meet them, prepared for this meeting as they would according to their custom. Rich and luxurious carpets were laid out. Heavily embellished cushions and rugs were spread, rich brocades and robes. Royal guards stood to attention in the court of Roostum, along with his advisors and delegates. It was indeed the proper preparation for such a high level meeting as was customary for the Romans and the Persians.

What they envisioned from the representative of the Muslims was that he would come in a similar fashion. What actually happened was not what the Persians expected.

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) comes straight into the hall, without permission, onto the rugs and carpets while still mounted on his horse. The delegates cry out and try to stop him, but he ignores them and carries on. He then dismounts, with his weapons at which point the Persian guards try to stop him. They tell him that he is not to enter with his weapons. So he replies to them:

“Well, you are the ones who invited me. So you either let me in, with my arms, or I am going to leave.”

The guards are told by Roostum to allow him to enter, so Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) strides forward, with his weapon blades poking holes into the rugs as he walks over them, leaving gashes and marks upon them.

Roostum asked, “Why have you (The Muslims) come here (Persia)?”

This poor Bedouin Muslim replied with the following, timeless and enthralling words:

“Allah the Most Glorious the Most High has sent us, to deliver you, from worshipping the creation, to worshipping the Creator of the creation; and deliver you from the constriction of this world, to the vastness of this world and the Afterlife; and from the oppression of religions to the justice of Islam.”

The effect of his words, on the laymen people surrounding Roostum, was deep and profound.

Rabi Ibn Aamir (RadiAllahu Anhu) was saying that we (The Muslims) have come to remove your people from being the slaves of each other to being the slaves of the Lord of the Universe and all Creation. To remove you from servitude of this human king (you are all sitting on the floor and he is sitting on a throne), to serving the One whose Throne extends across the Heavens and the Earth.

Hadith ~ Returns the rights of others

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It was related that Abu Huraira (May Allah be satisfied with him) said: “A man came to the Prophet (SAWS) demanding his debts in a rude manner. The companions of the Prophet (SAWS) wanted to deal with him severely but the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Leave him alone, the creditor has a right to speak.’ Then the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: ‘Give him a camel of the same age as the one he had.’ The people said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! The only camel we have is older than his.’ The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Give it to him, the best of you is the one who returns the rights of others in a better way’.” (Bukhari)

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Sahih Al-Bukhari
Text and Translation by
Dr Ahmad Zidan and Mrs Dina Zidan
Publisher Islamic Inc. Publishing
ISBN: 977.265.234.0
Chapter 46, Page 522, No 1019

Commentary ~ A Manifestation of Justice

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It has been related that one of the sons of ‘Amr bin Al-‘As (May Allah be satisfied with him), the governor of Egypt, struck a young Christian Egyptian with his whip. This young Egyptian complained to the Leader of the Believers, ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (May Allah be satisfied with him), who in turn wrote to the governor and asked his immediate presence along with his son. ‘Umar also invited the young man who had been stricken. When they all gathered in Umar’s chamber where he issued rulings, Amr’s son admitted that he had wronged the young man. The Leader of the Believers handed his whip to the Christian boy and said to him, “Strike this son of the most noble!” The boy raised his whip and struck the son of the governor. ‘Umar said, “Strike Amr’s forehead as well.” The boy responded, “O Leader of the Believers, I have already stricken the one that struck me.” ‘Umar said, “By Allah, had you stricken him, I would not have prevented you, for this son of ‘Amr only hit you under the authority of his father.” Turning to ‘Amr, ‘Umar related a renowned saying to him: “When have you taken people for slaves, when their mothers have borne them as ones that are free?”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 52

Hadith ~ Envy in two cases

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It was related that Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be satisfied with him) said that The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “Do not envy others except in two cases. The first is a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously and the second is the one whom Allah has given wisdom and he acts upon it and teaches it.” (Bukhari)

Sahih Al-Bukhari
Text and Translation by
Dr Ahmad Zidan and Mrs Dina Zidan
Publisher Islamic Inc. Publishing
ISBN: 977.265.234.0
Chapter 3, Page 41, No 65

Hadith ~ A Guardian

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects. The ruler is a guardian and responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian of his family; the woman is guardian in her husband’s house and responsible for her wards; a servant is guardian of his master’s property and responsible for his ward. So all of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 38, Page 101, No 300

Commentary ~ A Difficult Predicament Indeed

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

One of our pious predecessors, Thabit bin Nu’man, was hungry and tired as he was passing through a garden that bordered a river. He was so hungry that he could hear his stomach growling, and so his eyes became fixated on the fruits he saw on the various trees of the garden. In a fit of desperation, he forgot himself and extended his hand to an apple that was within reach. He ate half of it and then drank water from the river. But then he became overcome by guilt, despite the fact that he had only eaten because of dire need. He said to himself, “Woe unto me! How can I eat someone else’s fruits without his permission? I make it binding upon myself to not leave this place until I find the owner of this garden and ask him to forgive me for having eaten one of his apples.” After a brief search, he found the owner’s house. He knocked on the door, and the owner of the garden came out and asked him what he wanted.

Thabit bin Nu’man said, “I entered your garden that borders the river, and I took this apple and ate half of it. Then I remembered that it does not belong to me, and so I ask you now to excuse me for having eaten it and to forgive me for my mistake.” The man said, “On one condition only will I forgive you for your mistake.” Thabit bin Nu’man asked, “And what is that condition?” He said, “That you marry my daughter.” Thabit said, “I will marry her.” The man said, “But heed you this: indeed my daughter is blind, she does not see; mute, she does not speak; deaf, she does not hear.” Thabit began to ponder over his situation; a difficult predicament indeed did he find himself to be in now; what should he do? Not get out of it, thought Thabit, for he realized that to be tested by such a woman, to take care of her, and to serve her, are all better than to eat from the foul matter of the Hellfire as a reward for the apple that he ate. And after all, the days of this world are few and limited.

And so he accepted the condition to marry the girl, seeking his reward from Allah, Lord of all that exists. He was nonetheless somewhat anxious in the days prior to the marriage. He thought, “How can I have relations with a woman who neither speaks nor sees nor hears?” So miserable did he become that he almost wished for the earth to swallow him up before the appointed date. Yet despite such apprehensions, he placed his complete trust upon Allah, and he said, “There is neither nor power except with Allah. Indeed to Allah do we belong, and to Him do we return.” On the day of his marriage, he saw her for the first time. She stood up before him and said, “Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.” When he saw her grace and beauty, he was reminded of what he would see when he would imagine the fair maidens of Paradise. After a brief pause, he said, “What is this? She indeed speaks, hears, and sees.” He then told her what her father had said earlier. She said, “My father has spoken the truth. He said I was a mute because I do not speak any forbidden word, and I have never spoken to a man who is not lawful to me. And I am indeed deaf in the sense that I have never sat in a gathering in which there is backbiting, slander, or false and vain speech. And I am blind in the sense that I have never looked upon a man who is not permissible for me.”

Noble reader, reflect on and learn a lesson from the story of this pious man and this pious woman and of how Allah brought them together. The fruit of this noble marriage was the birth of a child who grew up to fill the earth with knowledge; yes, their son was Imam Abu Hanifah An-Nu’man, may Allah have mercy on him.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 261

Commentary ~ Love of Allah

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said that there are ten things that bring about the love of Allah:

1) Recitation of the Quran with reflection and with understanding of its meanings.

2) Seeking closeness to Allah by performing voluntary deeds after having performed obligatory ones, for that leads one to the highest levels of love.

3) Remembering Allah during every situation – with one’s time, heart and deeds… one’s share of that love is to the degree of one’s share in that remembrance.

4) Preferring what He loves to what you love when your desires are strong.

5) Allowing your heart to reflect on His Names and Attributes.

6) Reflecting on His many favors and blessings, both the apparent ones and hidden ones, for that leads to His love.

7) Having your heart softened as it is worshipping Allah.

8) Being alone with Him in worship when He descends during the last third of the night. And this means to invoke Him, to recite His Speech, to stand with all sincerity and with good manners and with good submission, and to end that with repentance and with seeking His forgiveness.

9) Sitting with those who are truthful in their love of Allah.

10) Staying away from all that creates barriers between the heart and Allah.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 22

Hadith ~ He intended to repay his debt

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

The following story is related in Sahih Al-Bukhari from Abu Hurairah (May Allah be satisfied with him) from Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection): A man from the Children of Israel asked another man from the Children of Israel to lend him 1000 dinars, and he answered, “Bring witnesses who will bear witness (to this transaction).” The first man said, “Allah is enough as a Witness.” He said, “Then bring me a guarantor.” He said, “Allah is enough as a Guarantor.” The man said, “You have spoken the truth.”

He gave him the money for a fixed term. The debtor traveled by sea and when he fulfilled the purpose of his journey, he was looking for a ship that he could board and return on to pay the debt at the appointed time. However, he was not able to find a ship, so he took a piece of wood, pierced it, and thrust into it 1000 dinars along with a letter to the creditor. Then he took it to the ocean.

He said, “O Allah, You know that I borrowed 1000 dinars from such and such person, and he asked me for a guarantor. I said: Allah is enough as a Guarantor. He was pleased with You, and he also asked for a witness. I said: Allah is enough as a Witness, and he was pleased with You (as a Witness). And I have not been able to find a ship on which I could send him that which is due to him, so indeed I trust it to you.”

He threw the piece of wood into the ocean until it was swallowed by it, and then he went away. He then continued to search for a boat on which he could return to his country. The creditor went out looking – perhaps a boat would come with his wealth. He found a piece of wood – in which was the money – and he took it to his family as firewood. When he broke the wood open, he found the money and the letter.

Then the debtor returned, bringing with him 1000 dinars. He said, “By Allah, I continued to search for a boat in order to return your wealth to you, but I did not find one until I found the one that I came on now.” The other man asked, “And did you send anything to me?”… “For indeed, Allah paid for you through the wood that you sent.”

Note:
An excellent audio lecture on this hadith as well as other hadiths can be found here:
Part 1 |
Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 175