Commentary ~ Qutaibah and His Prisoner

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

Abu ‘Ubaidah relates that a number of people were presented to Al-Hajjaj; they were all accused of rebelling against him, and so he ordered that they all be executed. Because the time of prayer had arrived, there remained one from them who was still not executed. Al-Hajjaj said to Qutaibah bin Muslim, “He shall remain with you and you will bring him to us early tomorrow.”

Qutaibah said: I went and took the man with me, and as we were on our way, he said, “Qutaibah, do you wish to do a good deed?” I asked, “And what is that?” He said, “I have things that were trusted to me by people, and your companion, Al-Hajjaj, will surely kill me. Let me go free so that I may return each item to its rightful owner. And Allah is my Guarantor that I will return to you tomorrow.” I was amazed at what he said, and I laughed at him. He then repeated for a second time the same words and said, “By Allah, I will return to you.” He continued and persisted in the same manner, until finally, I said, “Go.” When he left, and when I could no longer see him, I returned to my senses and said: ‘What did you do to yourself, O Qutaibah?’ I returned to my family and spent the night, which seemed to last forever. In the morning, there was a man knocking at our door, and when I went to open it, there stood before me the same man from the day before. I said, “You have returned?” He said, “I made Allah as a Guarantor and then why should I not return?” I took him with me, and when Al-Hajjaj saw me, he said, “Where is the prisoner, Qutaibah?” I said, “He is at the door.” I brought him before the ruler and I informed him of the story. Al-Hajjaj gave him many piercing glances, and then said to me, “I give him to you as a gift.” I left with him and when we had exited from the building, I said to him, “Go wherever you please.” The man raised his head to the sky and said, “O Allah, all praise is for You.” He said nothing more and left.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
P203

Hadith ~ A person who used to loan money

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: “There was a person who used to loan money to the people and he used to say to his servant: “When an insolvent person comes to you, show him leniency so that Allah may forbear our faults.” So when he met Allah (i.e., when he died), Allah forgave him.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 240, Page 393, No 1370

Hadith ~ Which charity is the most rewardable?

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

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: There came a man to the Prophet (SAWS) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the most rewardable?” The Prophet (SAWS) said: “That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and stingy and fear of poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to such a length) that you are about to die and would be saying: “This is for so-and-so, and this for so-and-so.” Lo! It has already come into (the possession of) so-and-so”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Commentary: Charity in the real sense is that which a person gives when he is healthy. If a person gives charity when he is facing death, it does not have much value before Allah. This injunction is an inducement for people to hurry in doing good deeds, especially in the matter of alms and charity. In fact, he should do it without delay.

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

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 10, Page 35, No 90

Ayaat 7-29 ~ At-Tur (The Mount)

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

7. Verily, the Torment of your Lord will surely come to pass,

8. There is none that can avert it;

9. On the Day when the heaven will shake with a dreadful shaking,

10. And the mountains will move away with a (horrible) movement.

11. Then woe that Day to the beliers;

12. Who are playing in falsehood.

13. The Day when they will be pushed down by force to the Fire of Hell, with a horrible, forceful pushing.

14. This is the Fire which you used to belie.

15. Is this magic, or do you not see?

16. Taste you therein its heat, and whether you are patient of it or impatient of it, it is all the same. You are only being requited for what you used to do.

17. Verily, the Muttaqûn (pious – see V.2:2) will be in Gardens (Paradise), and Delight.

18. Enjoying in that which their Lord has bestowed on them, and (the fact that) their Lord saved them from the torment of the blazing Fire.

19. “Eat and drink with happiness because of what you used to do.”

20. They will recline (with ease) on thrones arranged in ranks. And We shall marry them to Houris (female, fair ones) with wide lovely eyes.

21. And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith, to them shall We join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned.

22. And We shall provide them with fruit and meat, such as they desire.

23. There they shall pass from hand to hand a (wine) cup, free from any Laghw (dirty, false, evil vague talk between them), and free from sin.

24. And there will go round boy-servants of theirs, to serve them as if they were preserved pearls.

25. And some of them draw near to others, questioning.

26. Saying: “Aforetime, we were afraid with our families (from the punishment of Allâh).

27. “But Allâh has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire.

28. “Verily, We used to invoke Him (Alone and none else) before. Verily, He is Al­Barr (the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), the Most Merciful.”

29. Therefore, remind and preach[1]. By the Grace of Allâh, you are neither a soothsayer, nor a madman.

Sura 52. At-Tur (The Mount)

[1]: Therefore, remind and preach: mankind, O Muhammad (SAWS) of Islâmic Monotheism

Hadith ~ If a single person is guided

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

Sahl bin Sa’d (MAPH) reported: The Prophet (SAWS) said to Ali (MAPH), “By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be better for you than a whole lot of red camels.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Hurairah (MAPH) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “He who calls others to follow the Right Guidance will have a reward equal to the reward of those who follow him, without their reward being diminished in any respect on that account.” (Muslim)

Commentary: “Better for you than red camels” is an allegory for everything that is better than anything else. Red camels used to be precious in Arabia, and their reference here is to highlight the value of guidance. Thus, this Hadith brings into prominence the importance of calling people towards Allah. But before calling others to the path of Allah, one must himself know it, and for this purpose, the knowledge of the Quran and Hadith is essential because one cannot provide any guidance in this respect without this knowledge.

The second Hadith has glad tidings for those who learn knowledge of religion, teach it and impart it to others.

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 241, Page 395, No 1379
Hadith 2: Chapter 241, Page 396, No 1382

Commentary ~ Retribution

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

Allah the Exalted, while promising that the retribution of good and evil will happen on the Day of Judgment, in fact, however, sends a small sample of that retribution here, at every instance and at every moment. If man discovers joy in his heart, he is being rewarded for making someone happy; if he is sad, it is that he has made someone sad. These rewards are presents from the other world and signs of the Day of Retribution, so that we may understand, with so little that which is great. We are being shown from a large warehouse, a small handful of wheat.

So that you know and remember that all discomfort, all darkness, all depressions that befall you, are the bitter fruit of sin and the pain you yourself have caused, even though you do not remember the evil that you have done through negligence, or ignorance, or because of a bad companion with no Iman (faith) who downplayed the sins in your eyes, to the point where you no longer considered them sins. Think of the reward: what is the level of your fulfillment and what is the degree of your depression? Certainly, depression is the punishment of sin and fulfillment is the reward of submission to Allah.

Hadith ~ An expiation for his past sins

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

Abu Hurairah (MAPH) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “The five (daily) Salat (prayers) and the Friday (prayer) to the Friday (prayer) expiate whatever (minor sins) may be committed in between, so long as major sins are avoided.” (Muslim)

Uthman bin Affan (MAPH) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) saying: “When the time for a prescribed Salat is due and a Muslim performs its Wudu’ and its acts of bowing and prostration properly, this Salat will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he does not commit major sins, and this applies for ever.” (Muslim)

Commentary: The first Hadith elucidates that the minor sins committed during the interval of the five prescribed Salat and in the period intervening between one Jumu’ah and the other are pardoned with the performance of the five-time prescribed Salat and the Jumu’ah prayer, provided one does not commit major sins which are not forgiven without repentance. Sins like Shirk (associating someone with Allah in worship), disobedience of parents, false oath, false evidence, encroachment on an orphan’s property, calumny against chaste women, etc., fall in the category of major sins and will not be forgiven by means of Salat only.

The second Hadith stresses the importance of performing Salat with all its essential prerequisites, i.e. Wudu’ and concentration of mind. Such a Salat will expiate the sins.

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 187, Page 310, No 1045
Hadith 2: Chapter 187, Page 310, No 1046

Ayaat 55-60 ~ Adh-Dhariyat (The Winds that Scatter)

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

55. And remind for verily, the reminding profits the believers.

56. And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).

57. I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me.

58. Verily, Allâh is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.

59. And verily, for those who do wrong, there is a portion of torment like to the evil portion of torment (which came for) their likes (of old), so let them not ask Me to hasten on!

60. Then, woe to those who disbelieve (in Allâh and His Oneness Islâmic Monotheism) from (that) their Day which they have been promised (for their punishment).

Sura 51. Adh-Dhariyat (The Winds that Scatter)

Commentary ~ Nothing is more Precious

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

Nothing, it has been said, is more precious than intelligence used in the service of a good and firm management that itself is nourished by the reverential fear of Allah (Taqwa). There is no good neighborliness without evenness of temper; it is based upon the good education that the behavior of each will be judged; without Divine assistance, there is no success to be expected. Similarly, trade with others only profits where, based on virtue, it aspires for sole compensation the Supreme Reward. There is no better Piety than adherence to the limits set by Islam, there is no better Science than that of reflection; there is no better devotion than fulfilling the obligations of Divine institution; there is no better demonstration of Faith than that which is done in discretion; there is no better merit than humility and no nobility except that which comes with Knowledge. Fair share must be made for what the body feels with, always in mind, the idea of the precariousness of things and of Death.

Hadith ~ Do not desert (stop talking to) one another

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

Anas bin Malik (MAPH) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Do not desert (stop talking to) one another, do not nurse hatred towards one another, do not be jealous of one another, and become as fellow brothers and slaves of Allah. It is not lawful for a Muslim to stop talking to his brother (Muslim) for more than three days.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Commentary: “Hijran” means to terminate contacts and speech. All the things mentioned in this Hadith are prohibited for the reason that they go against the spirit of Muslim brotherhood. Muslims are ordained to maintain the bond of Islamic fraternity.

Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (MABP) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to desert (stop talking to) his brother beyond three nights, the one turning one way and the other turning to the other way when they meet, the better of the two is one who is the first to greet the other.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Commentary:
1. Since Islam is a religion based on the nature of man, it has a suitable concession in all his natural affairs. When there occurs a dispute between two Muslims then unpleasantness and contraction of mind are bound to result from it. In such a situation they naturally do not like to speak or maintain contact with each other. Islamic Shari’ah has acknowledged the validity of this reaction and granted permission to the party to suspend speech for three days. Since longevity of suspension of contact leads to severe hatred and animosity which increases dissension in society, creates obstruction in family relations and injures the bond of friendship, Muslims have been ordered not to let this temporary unpleasantness and turbidity go beyond a period of three days.
2. By highlighting the merit of Salam (salutation), this Hadith has prescribed an easy way for resuming the relations because Salam increases mutual love and paves the way for conversation and reconciliation.

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 280, Page 460, No 1591
Hadith 1: Chapter 280, Page 460, No 1592

Hadith ~ Two imperatives which lead to Jannah or Hell

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

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A bedouin came to the Prophet (SAWS) and asked him: “O Messenger of Allah, what are the two imperatives which lead to Jannah or Hell”. The Prophet (SAWS) replied: “He who dies without associating anything with Allah will enter Jannah, and he who dies associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire”.

Commentary:
This Hadith may mislead some inveterate sinners who believe themselves to be sure to enter Paradise because, according to them, they believe in Allah without associating anything to Allah.

But there is obvious associating/idolatry and hidden associating/idolatry.

Whoever lets himself be guided by his passions has given in to a god other than Allah, or one who serves or approves critics of Islam and those who deny its laws and legislation.

A Hadith says that he who dies while committing a major sin such as theft or fornication or drunkenness, dies an unbeliever. So we must be wary from the temptations of the deceiver who gives false hopes to the unrepentant in believing they can say they are believers while continuing to flout the rule of Islam and do everything that brings unto them the wrath of Allah.

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

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 51, Page 140, No 414

Commentary ~ A Pious Man

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

A pious man is of unshakable faith. His faith is strong and accompanied by conviction. He yearns for knowledge. He is independent, but moderate. He submits completely to Allah when he prays. He remains noble even when poor. He shows patience in times of difficulty. He always seeks legal (halal) sustenance. He is full of enthusiasm for the straight path. He is careful not to be stingy. He has no reprehensible desires. He controls his anger. Everyone expects him to be good to them, and no one can think he wants to hurt them. He does not speak unkindly. He speaks softly. He does nothing reprehensible. All that he does is desirable. He is calm even in times of disturbance. If he is at ease, he is grateful to Allah. He does not commit a sin for the love of a friend. He does not offend others by insulting or defaming them. He does not harm his neighbor. He suffers difficulties, but others have nothing to fear from him. He strives to obtain salvation in the Afterlife, but he does not harm anybody. If he approaches someone, it is because he has affection and kindness for that person. He doesn’t avoid another person by vanity, nor does he befriend another person to fool him.

Ayaat 66-80 ~ Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)

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

66. Do they only wait for the Hour that it shall come upon them suddenly, while they perceive not?

67. Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except Al-Muttaqûn (pious – see V.2:2).

68. (It will be said to the true believers of Islâmic Monotheism): My worshippers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve,

69. (You) who believed in Our Ayât (proofs, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and were Muslims (i.e. who submit totally to Allâh’s Will, and believe in the Oneness of Allâh – Islâmic Monotheism).

70. Enter Paradise, you and your wives, in happiness.

71. Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them, (there will be) therein all that the one’s inner-selves could desire, all that the eyes could delight in, and you will abide therein forever.

72. This is the Paradise which you have been made to inherit because of your deeds which you used to do (in the life of the world).

73. Therein for you will be fruits in plenty, of which you will eat (as you desire).

74. Verily, the Mujrimûn (criminals, sinners, disbelievers, etc.) will be in the torment of Hell to abide therein forever.

75. (The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein.

76. We wronged them not, but they were the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.).

77. And they will cry: “O Malik (Keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us.” He will say: “Verily you shall abide forever.”

78. Indeed We have brought the truth, to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth.

79. Or have they plotted some plan? Then We too are planning.

80. Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsel? (Yes We do) and Our Messengers (appointed angels in charge of mankind) are by them, to record.

Sura 43. Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)

Hadith ~ A Man Persists in Speaking the Truth

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

Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “Truth leads to piety and piety leads to Jannah. A man persists in speaking the truth till he is enrolled with Allah as a truthful. Falsehood leads to vice and vice leads to the Fire (Hell), and a person persists on telling lies until he is enrolled as a liar”. (Agreed upon)

Commentary: Siddiq (veracious) and Kadhdhab (liar) both are adjectives of intensive degree. That is to say, the words stand respectively for someone whose truth has become his second nature; and in the opposite case, one is a liar who is in the habit of telling lies. As one acquires a reputation in this world for his good or bad deeds similar is his position before Allah. One who is ranked among the truthful with Allah is entitled to reward, and if one is a liar, he has to suffer retribution for it. This Hadith provides incentive for truthfulness because it is a source of every good deed and contains a warning against lying as it gives rise to all kinds of mischief.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 4, Page 23, No 54

Commentary ~ Between two good deeds

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

Mou’awia Ben Qourra reported that Mou’adz Ben Jabal said to his son: “O son! When you do the prayer, make ​​it as if it were your last prayer without any hope that you will make another after it. Know my son, that the believer dies between two good deeds one that he has advanced (completed) and another that he has delayed. “(Abu Na’im).

The Compagnons of the Prophet (Hayat-Assahaba)
By Mouhammad Youssef Al-Kandahlawi – Volume II
Translated by Fawzi Chaaban
Editor: Dar El Fikr – Beyrouth/Liban
Page 339

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 ~ 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

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