Goodness in this life & the next

“مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ اللَّهِ ثَوَابُ الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ “

“Whoever desires a reward in this life of the world, then with Allah (Alone and none else) is the reward of this worldly life and of the Hereafter. And Allâh is Ever All¬Hearer, All¬Seer.” An-Nisa:134

Ibn Kathir commentary: O those whose ultimate desire is this life, know that Allah owns the rewards of this life and the Hereafter. Therefore, if you ask Allah for both, He will enrich you, award you and suffice for you.

“فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَـسِكَكُمْ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ – وِمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الاٌّخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ أُولَـئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا كَسَبُواْ… “

“So when you have accomplished your Manasik (holy rites) remember Allâh as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. But of mankind there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us (Your Bounties) in this world!” and for such there will be no portion in the Hereafter. (200) And of them there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!” (201) For them there will be alloted a share for what they have earned…(202)” Al-Baqarah

Sahih Muslim Book 035, Number 6501:

“Anas reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) visited a person from amongst the Muslims in order to inquire (about his health) who had grown feeble like the chicken. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Did you supplicate for anything or beg of Him about that? He said: Yes. I used to utter (these words): Impose punishment upon me earlier in this world, what Thou art going to impose upon me in the Hereafter. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Hallowed be Allah, you have neither the power nor forbearance to take upon yourself (the burden of His Punishment). Why did you not say this: O Allah, grant us good in the world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of Fire. He (the Holy Prophet) made this supplication (for him) and he was all right.”

Sahih Muslim Book 035, Number 6507:

“Anas reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to supplicate (in these words):” Our Lord, grant us the good in this world and the good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of Hell Fire.””

Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 47:

“Narrated Anas :

The Prophet used to say, “O Allah! Our Lord! Give us in this world that, which is good and in the Hereafter that, which is good and save us from the torment of the Fire.” (2.201)”

Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 75, Number 398:

“Narrated Anas:

The most frequent invocation of The Prophet was: “O Allah! Give to us in the world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire.” (2.201)”

~

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةً۬ وَفِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً۬ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

“Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil ‘akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar”

“Our Lord, grant us the good in this world and the good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of Hell Fire.”

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The Stranger

In doing ibadaah (worship) and following the commandments of Allah The Glorious and High, let us not worry of what others would think and say. For what we are doing will never appeal to them. Further, the hadith informs:-

Sahih Muslim Book 1 Number 270

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Islam initiated as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position) of being strange. so good tidings for the stranger.

Let us be the stranger.

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Lend a hand

Sahih Bukhari

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624:

Narrated Anas:

Allah’s Apostle said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.”

Indeed beautiful is the teaching of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which Allah has blessed and taught him with. Surely the above hadith don’t need much explanation. We are informed to help those oppressed:-

Sahih Bukhari

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 625:

Narrated Muawiya bin Suwald:

I heard Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib saying, “The Prophet orders us to do seven things and prohibited us from doing seven other things.” Then Al-Bara’ mentioned the following:–

(1) To pay a visit to the sick (inquiring about his health),

(2) to follow funeral processions,

(3) to say to a sneezer, “May Allah be merciful to you” (if he says, “Praise be to Allah!”),

(4) to return greetings,

(5) to help the oppressed,

(6) to accept invitations,

(7) to help others to fulfill their oaths. (See Hadith No. 753, Vol. 7)

And Allah Almighty stated in the Quran:-

“They ask thy instruction concerning the women. Say: Allah doth instruct you about them: and (remember) what hath been rehearsed unto you in the Book, concerning the orphans of women to whom ye give not the portions prescribed and yet whom ye desire to marry, as also concerning the children who are weak and oppressed: that ye stand firm for justice to orphans. There is not a good deed which ye do, but Allah is well-acquainted therewith. (127)” An-Nisa

“Whatever ye are given (here) is (but) a convenience of this Life: but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting: (it is) for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord; (36) Those who avoid the greater crimes and shameful deeds, and, when they are angry even then forgive; (37) Those who harken to their Lord, and establish regular prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance; (38 ) And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed but) help and defend themselves. (39) The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due, from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong. (40) But indeed if any do help and defend himself after a wrong (done) to them against such there is no cause of blame. (41) The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a Penalty grievous. (42) But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs. (43)” Ash-Shu’ara

Helping the oppressors in terms of preventing them from oppressing others.

Similarly if someone does wrong, we help them by correcting their mistake and showing them the right way (with patience inshaAllah).

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The trials of life?

“He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving―”Al Mulk:2

The above verse explains: the trials of this life are test to see those who would strive for the best in good deeds. To do the most in good deeds or to do the best in goods? A question we need to ask ourselves. We often would rush to do many good deeds, but we we forget to do the best in each deed. Lets take example,.dzikrullah (remembrance of Allah). We often would do dzikr as much as we can but sometimes forgot to understand deeply to what we are saying. Like saying “subhanAllah (Glory be to Allah)” 33 times. We would rush into saying it 33 times but forgot as to why we are saying it that is to glorify Allah. Hence, it doesn’t mean much if we do many good deeds but not doing the best of it. Another example is donation. One can donate as much and many times one wants but the most important that counts is one’s intention to it. Hence the above verse applies to everything we do. Let us do the best of good deeds rather than the most of good deeds. But doing both is so much better. =) Lets have the best of intention when doing anything, that is for the sake of Allah and understand what we are doing. As the common quote goes, “May the best man wins.” [A reminder to myself]

Ibn Kathir commentary (www.tafsir.com):

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin `Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say “which of you does the most deeds.” Allah then says, (And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses.

Virtues of Surah Al-Mulk (Chapter 67 of the Holy Quran)

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah’s Messenger said,

«إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتْى غُفِرَ لَهُ:

[تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ]»

(Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur’an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan Compilers. At-Tirmidhi said concerning it, “This is a Hasan Hadith.” At-Tabarani and Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya’ Al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas that the Messenger of Allah said,

«سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتْى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ:

[تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ]»

(There is a chapter of the Qur’an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.))

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