Children in Paradise & Hell on Earth (Ahadith 2876 – 2887)

Bismillah.

Children in Paradise

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 477 :
Narrated by Al-Bara (bin Azib)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), after the death of his son Ibrahim, said, “There is a wet-nurse for him (i.e. Ibrahim) in Paradise.”

Losing a child is one of the toughest things a parent can go through. Nothing in the whole wide world has the power to compensate for such a loss. And while grieving is a natural process, one can find solace in the glad tidings given to such parents in various narrations. For example:

It was narrated that Abu Hassaan said: I said to Abu Hurayrah: Two of my sons have died. Can you narrate to me any hadeeth from the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) which will console us for our loss? He said: Yes: “Their little ones are the little ones (da’aamees) of Paradise. When one of them meets his father – or his parents – he takes hold of his garment – or his hand – as I am taking told of the hem of your garment, and he does not let go until Allaah admits him and his father to Paradise.” [Narrated by Muslim, 2635]

In another narration collected in Bukhari, we find out that those who die in childhood are entered into Paradise and are being looked after by Prophet Ibrahim (`alayhissalaam).

This was narrated in the hadeeth of Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) often used to say to his companions: “Has anyone among you seen a dream?” and whoever Allaah willed would tell him what he had seen. One day he said: “Last night two people came to me and made me get up, and they said to me: ‘Let’s go.’ So I set off with them…” He mentioned things that he had seen, then he said:

“We set off, and we came to a verdant garden, in which were all the colours of spring, where there was a man who was so tall that I could hardly see his head in the sky. Around the man was the largest number of children I had ever seen…” Then among things that the two angels explained to him was: “As for the tall man who was in the garden, that was Ibraaheem. As for the children who were around him, these are all the children who died in a state of fitrah.” One of the Muslims said: “O Messenger of Allaah, what about the children of the mushrikeen?” He said: “And the children of the mushrikeen.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7047).

Related: “Where is My Child?”

Reach for the Stars

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 478 :
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (i.e. a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star far away in the East or in the West on the horizon; all that is because of their superiority over one another (in rewards).” On that the people said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Are these lofty mansions for the prophets which nobody else can reach? The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) replied,” No! “By Allah in whose Hands my life is, these are for the men who believed in Allah and also believed in the Apostles.”

We all appreciate a good view of the stars from down here but one always fantasizes about being among them. At least I do. People talk about reaching for the stars as if it’s possible. Yes, that statement carries a lot of hope and motivation in it, but not everybody who tries succeeds.

In this world, some people might be born with silver spoons in their mouths, but nobody gets lucky in Jannah. You want it, you gotta work for it. Those unreachable lofty mansions won’t fill themselves. ;)

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 479 :
Narrated by Sahl bin Sad (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called Ar-Raiyan through which none will enter but those who observe fasting.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) also said, “If a person spends two different kinds of something (for Allah’s Cause), he will be called from the gates of Paradise.”

Hell on Earth

Just like Paradise, Hell has various levels which will be assigned to people according to the severity of their misdeeds. We already know a lot about Hell from the detailed accounts found in the Quran and Hadith. This sub-chapter of Book of Creation will cover some of them.

No one here has seen Hell so we start off with what we have seen, can relate to and are familiar with: Sun, fire, heat, burning, warmth, fever, pain, hunger, disgust, desperation, hopelessness etc.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 480 :
Narrated by Abu Dhar (radiallaahu `anhu)
While the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was on a journey, he said (regarding the performance of the Zuhr prayer), “Wait till it (i.e. the weather) gets cooler.” He said the same again till the shade of the hillocks extended. Then he said, “Delay the (Zuhr) Prayer till it gets cooler, for the severity of heat is from the increase in heat of Hell (fire).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 481 :
Narrated by Abu Sad (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Delay the (Zuhr) Prayer till it gets cooler, for the severity of heat is from the increase in the heat of hell (fire).

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 482 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The (Hell) Fire complained to its Lord saying, ‘O my Lord! My different parts eat up each other.’ So, He allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in summer, and this is the reason for the severe heat and the bitter cold you find (in weather).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 483 :
Narrated by Abu Jamra Ad-Dabi
I used to sit with Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) in Mecca. Once I had a fever and he said (to me), “Cool your fever with Zam-zam water, for Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said: ‘It, (the Fever) is from the heat of the (Hell) Fire; so, cool it with water (or Zam-zam water).”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 484 :
Narrated by Rafi bin Khadij (radiallaahu `anhu)
I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, “Fever is from the heat of the (Hell) Fire; so cool it with water.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 485 :
Narrated by Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Fever is from the heat of the (Hell) Fire, so cool it with water.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 486 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Fever is from the heat of the (Hell) Fire; so abate fever with water.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 487 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Your (ordinary) fire is one of 70 parts of the (Hell) Fire.” Someone asked, “O Allah’s Apostle This (ordinary) fire would have been sufficient (to torture the unbelievers),” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The (Hell) Fire has 69 parts more than the ordinary (worldly) fire, each part is as hot as this (worldly) fire.”

To say that Hell has a part to play in the ups and downs of weather on this Earth might seem illogical and far from science, but it’s what we believe in because it’s what we’ve been told in the Sacred texts. Hell is usually thought to be hot. Very hot. But it might come as a surprise to some people that it has cold areas as well, known as Zamhareer. Cold as in severe cold that burns, not cool and breezy where people get to take a break from constant heat and burning.

Question: why does it matter if summer happens when Hell-fire exhales and winter when it inhales, and why does it matter if fever is from the heat of Hell-fire? Yes, we believe it even if it goes against whatever Geography and Biology we have studied, but what does it matter? My point is, all these parables and examples are given so we can visualize the severity of punishment and find motivation to stop ourselves from disobeying Allah, and to seek refuge from it.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 488 :
Narrated by Yali (radiallaahu `anhu)
That he heard the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) on the pulpit reciting: “They will cry: “O Malik!’ (43.77) (Malik is the gate-keeper (angel) of the (Hell) Fire.)

Paradise and its Purity (Ahadith 2867 – 2875)

Bismillah.

The chapter on description of Jannah continues in this post. This is probably my favorite chapter in Bukhari so far! <3

An important point to be derived from this chapter is that Jannah has already been created. Some people might believe that it’ll be created after the hisaab on the Day of Judgement, but these narrations prove otherwise.

The VIPs of Jannah

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 468 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The first group (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the moon when it is full. They will not spit or blow their noses or relieve nature. Their utensils will be of gold and their combs of gold and silver; in their centers the aloe wood will be used, and their sweat will smell like musk. Everyone of them will have two wives; the marrow of the bones of the wives’ legs will be seen through the flesh out of excessive beauty. They ( i.e. the people of Paradise) will neither have differences nor hatred amongst themselves; their hearts will be as if one heart and they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and in the evening.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 469 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like a full moon; and those who will enter next will be (glittering) like the brightest star. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have no enmity amongst themselves, and everyone of them shall have two wives, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the flesh. They will be glorifying Allah in the morning and evening, and will never fall ill, and they will neither blow their noses, nor spit. Their utensils will be of gold and silver, and their combs will be of gold, and the fuel used in their centers will be the aloes-wood, and their sweat will smell like musk.”

The life of an average person in Jannah will be better than any king of this world. What, then, can be said about the VIPs – the crème de la crème of humanity? Imagine a life of no filth, whether physical or mental or any other kind. They’ll be as pure as one can get. Jannah personifies purity. Purity of hearts, purity of minds, purity of wealth, purity of environment.. something we can only dream of in this world!

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 470 :
Narrated by Sahl bin Sad (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Verily! 70,000 or 700,000 of my followers will enter Paradise altogether; so that the first and the last amongst them will enter at the same time, and their faces will be glittering like the bright full moon.”

Huge doors, eh? :D

Sa’d ibn Mu’adh

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 471 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
A silken cloak was presented to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and he used to forbid the usage of silk (by men). When the people were fascinated by the cloak, he said, “By Allah in Whose Hands the life of Muhammad is, the handkerchiefs of Sad bin Mu’adh in Paradise are better than this.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 472 :
Narrated by Al-Bara bin Azib (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was given a silken garment, and its beauty and delicacy astonished the people. On that, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No doubt, the handkerchiefs of Sad bin Muadh in Paradise are better than this.”

Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (radiallaahu `anhu) is a well-known Companion of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). He’s famous for the decision he made in the matter of Banu Quraydhah and his funeral being witnessed by angels, among other things. So his handkerchiefs being better than a fine silk robe symbolizes the magnitude of his rewards in the Hereafter.

Jabir narrated, I heard the Prophet [pbuh] say: “The Throne shook at the death of Sa‘d ibn Mu‘aadh.” [Bukhari]

Ibn Umar narrated that the messenger of Allah [pbuh] said: “This is a righteous servant for whom the Throne shook and for whom the gates of heavens were thrown open and whose funeral was witnessed by 70,000 angels who had never descended to the earth until that day.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 473 :
Narrated by Sahl bin Sad Al-Saidi (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “A place in Paradise equal to the size of a lash is better than the whole world and whatever is in it.”

The Huge Tree

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 474 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) if a rider travels in its shade for one hundred years, he would not be able to cross it.”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 475 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said “There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) a rider could travel in its shade for a hundred years. And if you wish, you can recite:- ‘In shade long extended..’ (56. 30) and a place in Paradise equal to an arrow bow of one of you, is better than (the whole earth) on which the sun rises and sets.”

For perspective, shown below is an image of the Great Banyan tree in India, which has the widest spread of shade. It covers an area of about 4 acres, has a circumference of 486 m and hence diameter of about 155 m. To get from one point to another on a cantering horse (since Hadith said ‘rider’) of average speed 20 km/h, it’ll take about 28 seconds. (Math game strong! )

So imagine a tree that almost never ends. Imagine its branches of gold and its variety of fruits. The point is, Paradise is huge and it contains ginormous things. Not just for show, but for our possession and use – if we’re willing to work for it.

Unity in Jannah

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 476 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the full moon, and the batch next to them will be (glittering) like the most brilliant star in the sky. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have neither enmity nor jealousy amongst themselves; everyone will have two wives from the houris, (who will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that) the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the bones and the flesh.”

Unity is one of the unique characteristics of Jannah. A lot of ahadith mention this about the people of Paradise, that there’ll be no differences or hatred among them. As a general rule, I understand, but no jealousy or enmity among co-wives? I’m baffled! It’s true, then, what is said about Paradise: no heart has ever perceived it. :P

The Who’s Who of Paradise (Ahadith 2861 – 2866)

Bismillah.

This narration is the last one from the chapter of Angels. It mentions the guard of hell-fire, Maalik, and the angels that guard Madinah so Dajjal can’t enter it.

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 462 :
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “On the night of my ascent to the Heaven, I saw Moses who was a tall brown curly-haired man as if he was one of the men of Shan’awa tribe, and I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me.” (The Prophet then recited the Holy Verse): “So be not you in doubt of meeting him (i.e., when you met Moses during the night of Mi’raj over the heavens)… (32.23)
Narrated Anas and Abu Bakra: The Prophet said, “The angels will guard Medina from Ad-Dajjal (who will not be able to enter the city of Medina).”

Chapter of Paradise and its characteristics starts here. Don’t stop your imagination from going wild from this point forward. :)

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 463 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When anyone of you dies, he will be shown his destination both in the morning and in the evening, and if he belongs to the people of Paradise, he will be shown his place in Paradise, and if he is from the people of Hell, he will be shown his place in Hell.”

Longing for Jannah is possibly the most beautiful concept ever. Reading its vivid descriptions and looking at it through the camera of the mind, the heart is flooded by feelings and emotions that I fail to describe as anything but ‘sweet’. The heart longs for a lot of people and a lot of things, but it doesn’t yearn for anything as it yearns for Jannah. If home is where heart is, then I’d like a one-way ticket to mine please! <3

 

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 464 :
Narrated by ‘Imran bin Husain (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women.”

Of what benefit is wealth if it can’t get you to Jannah? What you wear determines your class and rank in society today and what you do will determine your rank in the Hereafter. Yes, there’s a difference between Chanel and Zara (duh?), but there’s also a difference between praying and not praying. Let’s say praying tahajjud could be your Hermès and irregular prayers could be Forever 21. Make sense? :P

Bottom line: the Guccis and Pradas will stay here but our good deeds, our real wealth, will go with us.

With regard to the reason for this, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about it and he explained the reason.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are women.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Because of their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allah?” He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I have never had anything good from you.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1052)

Another reason is explained in the following hadith:

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are two types of the people of Hell that I have not seen yet: men with whips like the tails of cattle, with which they strike the people, and women who are clothed yet naked, walking with an enticing gait, with something on their heads that looks like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will never enter Paradise or even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from such and such a distance.” (Narrated by Ahmad and by Muslim in al-Saheeh)

I always ask myself this before leaving the house: can anything about me entice a man? Works every time!

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 465 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
While we were in the company of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), he said, “While I was asleep, I saw myself in Paradise and there I beheld a woman making ablution beside a palace. I asked, “To whom does this palace belong?” She said, “To ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab”. Then I remembered ‘Umar’s Ghaira (concerning women), and so I quickly went away from that palace.” (When ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) heard this from the Prophet), he wept and said, “Do you think it is likely that I feel Ghaira because of you, O Allah’s Apostle?”

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 466 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Qais Al-Ashari (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “A tent (in Paradise) is like a hollow pearl which is thirty miles in height and on every corner of the tent the believer will have a family that cannot be seen by the others.”
(Narrated Abu Imran in another narration, “(The tent is) sixty miles (in height)”.)

If that’s how tents are in Paradise, I wonder what palaces would look like!

On a side note, who wouldn’t like to go camping in Jannah? :D

For perspective: shown above is the Pearl of Lao Tzu (also referred to as Pearl of Lao Tze), the largest known pearl in the world. It is not a gem-quality pearl, but is instead what is known as a “clam pearl” or “Tridacna pearl” from a giant clam. It measures 24 centimeters in diameter (9.45 inches) and weighs 6.4 kilograms (14.1 lb).

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 467 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Allah said, “I have prepared for My pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being.” If you wish, you can recite this Verse from the Holy Quran:-“No soul knows what is kept hidden for them, of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (32.17)

Entering Paradise in Chains! (Hadith No. 2650)

Bismillah.

Back again!

Ahadith 2648 – 2649 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 252 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
When it was the day (of the battle) of Badr, prisoners of war were brought including Al-Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) who was undressed. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) looked for a shirt for him. It was found that the shirt of ‘Abdullah bin Ubai would do, so the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) let him wear it. That was the reason why the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) took off and gave his own shirt to ‘Abdullah. (The narrator adds, “He had done the Prophet some favor for which the Prophet liked to reward him.”)

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 253 :
Narrated by Sahl (radiallaahu `anhu)
On the day (of the battle) of Khaibar the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Tomorrow I will give the flag to somebody who will be given victory (by Allah) and who loves Allah and His Apostle and is loved by Allah and His Apostle.” So, the people wondered all that night as to who would receive the flag and in the morning everyone hoped that he would be that person. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked, “Where is ‘Ali?” He was told that ‘Ali (radiallaahu `anhu) was suffering from eye-trouble, so he applied saliva to his eyes and invoked Allah to cure him. He at once got cured as if he had no ailment. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) gave him the flag. ‘Ali (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “Should I fight them till they become like us (i.e. Muslim)?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Go to them patiently and calmly till you enter the land. Then, invite them to Islam, and inform them what is enjoined upon them, for, by Allah, if Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels.”

Today’s Hadith:

In his well-known book, Al-Hikam (Words of Wisdom), sheikh Ahmad Ibn `Ataa’illah As-Sakandari says:

He knew that people will mostly not come voluntarily to Him, so He mandated obedience, and thus led them to Him in the chains of obligation. The Lord wonders about people, driven into heaven through chains.

This means that Allah the Almighty, Glory be His, knew that people will mostly not come voluntarily to Him to perform obedience of their own will, so He mandated obedience compulsorily, by threatening them punishment if they do not, and thus led them to Him in the chains of obligation and intimidation. He thus gradually led them to what guides them to eternal pleasure and elevates them to high levels.

In other words, according to Ibn `Ataa’illah, Allah the Almighty knew that most people cannot see what is good for them and what may make them happy because of their psychological desires and instinctive needs. He also knew that if He leaves them to the guidance of their reason and the incentives of their natural disposition (i.e. fitrah) which are inherent in their human entities, they would be overcome by their whims and lustful desires.

In the same vein, they would turn away from contemplating over what is dictated by sound reason and what is ordained by beneficial knowledge. Therefore, out of the Mercy and Kindness of the Almighty Lord, He drove them to the path of guidance and happiness through orders and ordainments and pushed them towards what is beneficial for them through commitment and obligation.

This is similar to the father who disciplines a child and obliges him to unpleasant difficult tasks that are to his disliking, and only when he grows up does he discover their value. He discovers that only when his own immature mental faculties failed to realize what was good for his own self his father turned his words of guidance and pieces of advice into orders and obligations.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 254 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains.”

This hadith refers to the prisoners of Badr from among the polytheists who were captured and then, when they had the chance to know Islam and interact with Muslims, reverted to Islam. As they did not know anything about the goodness and blessing that were awaiting them through staying for a while amidst the Muslims and under the protection of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him); a matter which eventually led them to embrace Islam and become faithful believers in Allah the Almighty and His blessed Messenger.

Remarkably, one should realize that the said chains of obligation are not restricted only to the compulsory rulings that are mandated by Allah the Almighty upon His servants. Rather, these chains of obligation may be represented in trials and calamities that may drive those who are afflicted with them to an end of happiness and welfare which they would have never reached or gained access to except through the scourges of such calamities.

Indeed, the Battle of Badr to which Muslims were brought step by step is a typical example of these chains of obligation which are mentioned in the above hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Eventually, the end result of these chains was nothing but a unique victory which led to many other great victories in the battles that followed. In these battles, Muslims gained spoils many times as much as the spoils they had desired to seize from the caravan which they set out in the first place to intercept and which managed to evade capture as is indicated in the books on earlier Muslim history. In this connection, Allah the Almighty says in the Ever-Glorious Qur’an what may mean,

{Yet, behold! God had promised you [believers], then that one of the two hosts that you had come upon would fall to you. And you wished that the unarmed one, the trade caravan, would be yours. Yet God intended to establish the religion of truth [in the land] – in accordance with His words – and to cut off the very last remnant of the disbelievers.} (Al-Anfal 8:7)

Accordingly, as true Muslims, we have to obey Allah the Almighty and carry out all His obligations and ordinances out of certainty that only through this we will pursue our interests and find our happiness. We have to realize that all we are ordered to do and/or forbidden from is meant only to guarantee our happiness and welfare in this present life as well as the Hereafter.

Then, Ibn `Ataa’illah gave emphasis to this through the following word of wisdom which reads,

He has obligated you to serve Him but in doing so He has only obligated you to enter His Paradise.

This means that Almighty Allah apparently obliged you to serve Him, and in reality is only obliging you to enter His heaven, for He made deeds cause for entry to heaven. What is meant here and in the aforementioned word of wisdom is stating that Allah is Rich beyond His creation: their obedience does not benefit Him, and their disobedience does not harm Him. All orders and mandates in reality bring benefit to them, and He is the Most Wealthy, the Most Gracious.

Allah Almighty says in His Ever-Glorious Qur’an what may mean,

{…For it is God alone Who is the Self-Sufficient. And it is you who are the poor.} (Muhammad 47:38)

and,

{O mankind! It is you who are the poor, utterly in need of God. And it is God alone Who is the Self-Sufficient, the All-Praised.} (Fatir 35:15)

Finally and to sum up, the above two words of wisdom by Ibn `Ataa’illah As-Sakandari mean that Allah the Almighty knew that most of His slaves are not self-motivated in seeking Him; so, He obligated for them obedience to Him. He pushed them towards Him with the chains of obligation. And that He, Glory be His, has obligated them to serve Him but in doing so He has only obligated them to go to His everlasting Heaven.

Source: OnIslam.Net

Parents – The Best of Jihad (Hadith No. 2644)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2642 – 2643 (below) are repeats. Read the related post here.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 246 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Umar bin Al-Khattab (radiallaahu `anhu) gave a horse to be ridden in Allah’s Cause and then he found it being sold. He intended to purchase it. So, he consulted Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who said, “Don’t buy it and don’t take back your gift of charity.”

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 247 :
Narrated by Aslam
I heard ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (radiallaahu `anhu) saying, “I gave a horse to be ridden in Allah’s Cause and the person who got it intended to sell it or neglected it. So, I wanted to buy it as I thought he would sell it cheap. I consulted the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who said, “Do not buy it even if for one Dirham, because he who takes back his gift is like a dog swallowing its vomit.”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 248 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (radiallaahu `anhu)
A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asking his permission to take part in Jihad. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked him, “Are your parents alive?” He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to him, “Then exert yourself in their service.”

Many things can be said about this, evidences brought from Quran and Sunnah to prove further importance of this hadith.. but I’ll mention here a story or two of the sahabah and their way of honoring and serving their parents. We hope and wish to be as dutiful as they were. May Allah make us more like them in all aspects of the deen.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Dinaar from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar that a man from among the Bedouins met him on the road to Makkah. ‘Abd-Allaah greeted him with salaam, seated him on the donkey that he was riding and gave him a turban that he had been wearing on his head. Ibn Dinar said: We said to him: May Allaah guide you, they are just Bedouins and they would be content with little. ‘Abd-Allaah said: The father of this man was a friend of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab and I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “The best act of kindness is for the son to uphold ties (of friendship) with those who were his father’s friends.” Narrated by Muslim, 2552.

According to another report narrated by Ibn ‘Umar: when he went out to Makkah, he had a donkey which he would ride when he got tired of riding his camel, and a turban which he tied around his head. One day whilst he was riding that donkey, a Bedouin passed by him. He said: Are you not So and so, the son of So and so? He said: Yes. He gave him the donkey that he was riding and said: Ride it. And he gave him the turban that he had been wearing on his head, and he said: Tie it around your head. Some of his companions said: May Allaah forgive you, you have given this Bedouin a donkey that you used to ride when you got tired of riding your camel and a turban that you used to wear on your head. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “The best act of kind of kindness is for a man to honour his father’s friend after he has died,” and (this man’s) father was a friend of ‘Umar.

Abu Hurayrah was appointed in charge of Madeenah by Marwaan. He lived in Dhu’l-Hulayfah (approximately ten kilometers from Madeenah) and his mother lived in one house and he lived in another. When he wanted to go out he would stand at her door, and say: Peace be upon you, O my mother, and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings. And she would say: And upon you, O my son, and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings. And he would say: May Allaah have mercy on you, as you brought me up when I was young. And she would say: May Allaah have mercy on you as you took care of me when I grew old. Then when he wanted to come in, he would do likewise.

[Taken from IslamQA]

Most of us, if not all, have parents alive today whom we take for granted. We think they’ll always be there to listen to our rants and tantrums, give in to our wishes sacrificing their own and make life better for us in every way possible. What we fail to do is imagine a world without them, to realize that there’ll come a time when they won’t be there anymore.. their comforting voice, their soothing touch and their reassuring presence – all gone. Yes, we’ll probably live to see that day when they’ll breathe their last. We might even be there holding their hand at that moment feeling devastated but unable to do anything about it. We fail to imagine all that and so we fail to serve our parents to the fullest while they’re alive and with us. We fail to honor them and to be dutiful to them as they deserve to be honored and obeyed. And hence we fail to succeed in the best of all jihads: parents.