Paradise is Under the Shades of Swords (Hadith No. 2466)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2464 – 2465 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 71 :
Narrated by Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu)
My father’s mutilated body was brought to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and was placed in front of him. I went to uncover his face but my companions forbade me. Then mourning cries of a lady were heard, and it was said that she was either the daughter or the sister of Amr. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Why is she crying?” Or said, “Do not cry, for the angels are still shading him with their wings.” (Al-Bukhari asked Sadqa, a sub-narrator, “Does the narration include the expression: ‘Till he was lifted?’ ” The latter replied, “Jabir may have said it.”)

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 72 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Nobody who enters Paradise likes to go back to the world even if he got everything on the earth, except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah).” Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu’ba (radiallaahu `anhu): Our Prophet told us about the message of our Lord that “Whoever amongst us is killed will go to Paradise.” Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “Is it not true that our men who are killed will go to Paradise and their’s (i.e. those of the Pagan’s) will go to the (Hell) fire?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Yes.”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 73 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Abi Aufa (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords.”

I tried Googling (funny how it sits well as a verb) this hadith to see what results I get. Three kinds of opinions (or people) found:

1. Islam is all about war and killing. Some compared the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) to Hitler.
2. Apologetic Muslims: “Oh this hadith is actually part of a longer one, and it’s being taken out of context (which, by the way, it is!). Islam is peace peace peace.” Some even try to disqualify such ahadith to prove their points. Sigh.
3. Balanced (like me :P). Folks who say it like it is. Yes this hadith is misquoted. But it doesn’t mean it’s not authentic. Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) did say it. But then he also said “Paradise lies under the feet of mothers”. You see, jihad is not the only way to Jannah (Paradise), but it’s certainly one of the best. It’s not unimaginable for someone to say such words to the fighters right before facing a battle to boost their morale and get their intentions straight? Jannah is the ultimate goal after all.

Just FYI, the longer version:

Allah’s Apostle in one of his military expeditions against the enemy, waited till the sun declined and then he got up amongst the people saying, “O people! Do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for safety, but when you face the enemy, be patient, and remember that Paradise is under the shades of swords.” Then he said, “O Allah, the Revealer of the Holy Book, and the Mover of the clouds and the Defeater of the clans, defeat them, and grant us victory over them.”(Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 266l)

Youth

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

السلام علیکم ورحمة اللہ وبرکاته

“We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance: We gave strength to their hearts: Behold, they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity!” (Al-Kahf 18:13-14)

I always believed that youth is a power of any nation. Because it’s the prime time of one’s life. The time when one is energetic, enthusiastic, has hopes, ready to do anything. Just for a moment give a thought about today’s youth, what comes to mind… pretty simple… modern trends of life, loud stereo music, baggy pants, friends, talking about ‘ Hey! I got a new iPhone 4s’ and list goes on and on..aaahhhh.. Youth or young Muslims of today who seems to be indulged entirely into this glittery materialistic world.

Because youth is the peak time of one’s  life, that is why it is very precious to Allaah Subhana’talaah. Allaah has prepared a shade on the Day of Judgement for those people who used to worship Allah in their youth. On that Day, when there will be no other shade except the shade from the throne of Allaah.

Whenever I think about ‘Youth of Islaam’ I find myself thinking of someone, and I start comparing youth of today with that legendary youth. Someone who lies buried in the blood-wet earth of ‘Uhud, feet covered by scented grass and his body covered only by a square woolen sheet that was not even sufficient to cover him completely.

The most ostentatious young man of the Quray’sh, who left a life full of luxuries to gain the pleasure of Allaah. He was Mus’aab bin ‘Umair who was also known as Mus’aab al Khayr.

His journey to Islaam was not easy. He went one night to the house of Al-Arqam Ibn Al-Arqam,yearning and anxious. There, the Prophetﷺ was meeting his Companions, reciting the Quraan to them and praying with them to Allaah the Most Exalted. Mus’ab had hardly taken his seat and contemplated the verses of the Quraan recited by the Prophet ﷺwhen his heart became the promised heart that night. The pleasure almost flung him from his seat as he was filled with a wild ecstasy. In the twinkling of an eye, the youth who had just become Muslim appeared to have more wisdom than his age and determination that would change the course of time.

Mus’ab’s mother was Khunaas Bint Maalik and people feared her almost to the point of terror because she possessed a strong personality. Mus’ab was satisfied with his faith and avoided the anger of his mother who had knowledge of his embracing Islam. Mus’aab bin Umair left his luxurious life and love ones for the sake of Allaah. Wallaahi this was the level of Emaan…

The Prophet  ﷺcommissioned him with the greatest mission of his life, which was to be his envoy to Al-Madinah. His mission was to instruct the Ansar who believed in the Prophet and to call others to Islam, and to prepare Al-Madinah for the day of the great Hijrah. There were among the Companions of the Prophetﷺ at that time who older than Mus’ab and more prominent and nearer to the Prophetﷺ by family relations but the Prophetﷺ chose Mus’ab the Good. Mus’ab was equal to the task and trust which Allah had given him and he was equipped with an excellent mind and noble character. He won the hearts of the Madinites with his piety, uprightness and sincerity. And so they embraced the religion of Allah in flocks. At the time the Prophetﷺ sent him there, only 12 Muslims had pledged allegiance to the Prophetﷺ. During the next pilgrimage season, a few months after that, the Madinite Muslims sent a delegation of 70 believing men and women to Makkah to meet the Prophetﷺ. They came with their teacher and their Prophet’s envoy, Mus’ab Ibn ‘Umair. Mus’ab had proven, by his good sense and excellence, that the Prophetﷺ knew well how to choose his envoys and teachers.

In the battle of Uhud, Mus’ab-bin-Umair held the flag of Islam. When the Muslims on meeting defeat were dispersing in confusion, Mus’ab-bin-Umair held the flag and stood at his post like a rock. An enemy soldier came and cut off his hand with a sword, so that the flag might fall down and proclaim defeat for the Muslims. Mus’ab-bin-Umair at once grabbed the flag in the other hand. The enemy soldier then slashed the other hand. Mus’ab-bin-Umair still stood clinging the flag to his bosom with the help of his bleeding arms. Lastly, an enemy arrow pierced through him, and Musab-bin-Umair fell dead on the battlefield. But as long as he was alive, he did not let the flag go down. Immediately, another Muslim ran and took over the flag.

The great hero, thus fell to the ground reciting the following verse of Quraan

 “And Muhammad (peace be upon him) is only a prophet of Allah.  Many other Prophets have passed away before him. (Aal-Imraan)

When the battle came to an end the Holy Prophet ﷺ stood by the dead body of  Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umair and recited the verse:

“There are some persone among the devoted Muslims (momeneen) who kept ther promise made to Allah.” (Ahzaab)

Then the Holy Prophetﷺ addressed the dead body thus

“When I saw you for the first time in Mecca there was nobody more handsome and well-dressed than  you.  But, I see that today your hair is uncombed and only a sheet of clothe covers your body!”

At the time of his burial, Mus’ab-bin-Umair had only one sheet to cover his body. This sheet was too short for his size. When it was drawn to cover his head, the feet remained exposed and vice versa. The Holy Prophetﷺ said:

“Cover his head with the sheet, and his feet with the Azkhar’ leaves.”

Such was the end of a youth who was brought up in luxury and comfort. Once an individual develops faith, it makes the individual forget everything else, whether be it wealth, luxury or life itself. Musab-bin-Umair a true youth of Islaam  شباب الاسلامیهand one of the great martyrs.

May Allaah Subhaana’talaa bless us to follow the path of righteous people.. Aameen

السلام علیکم ورحمته اللہ وبرکاته

The Lucky Seven (Hadith No. 629)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Hadith no. 627 is a repeat. Read it here.
Hadith no. 628 is also a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 629:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, “Allah will give shade to seven on the Day when there will be no shade but His. (These seven persons are) a just ruler, a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (i.e. worships Allah sincerely from childhood), a man whose heart is attached to the mosques (i.e. to pray the compulsory prayers in the mosque in congregation), two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only, a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah, a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity), and a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears.”

[Colorful, eh? :P]

I can’t help but say, I love this Hadith. Whenever I read it, I try to find the category that I fit in. You have to find one, wait, more than one categories for yourself as well! After all, we’ll desperately need a shade on the day when there will be no shade but His. :(

A just ruler: it doesn’t have to be a king or a president only. Everyone in their own circle is a ruler according to another Hadith of the Prophet (SAW). You’re a ruler/leader if you’re a mother/father/brother/sister/head of an organization/Imam of a masjid/pet owner/friend etc. Each one of us is a leader/ruler and we all have responsibilities. It’s up to us if we do justice to those under us or not. Do we fit in this category or not?

A youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah: YOU! You’re young. You have energy, time, skills, health and the good life. You can be under His shade on the Day of Judgement. All you have to do is worship Allah sincerely. NOW! Not later, when you get older and weaker. Now is the time. The time you have is precious. Spend it in Allah’s worship. Obey Him. Please Him. Love Him. He’ll value it. He’ll reward you for it. And no one can give you a better return than His.

A man whose heart is attached to the mosques: a man who loves going to the masjid to pray. He does not find it hard to leave all his important work for Allah’s sake. He spends time in the masjid. He prays Salah, he recites Qur’an, he remembers Allah (dhikr), he socializes with fellow Muslims, he seeks knowledge and he indulges in other religious activities. He loves it all. His heart is attached to the mosques/masajid (places where people bow down/make sujood to Allah).

Two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only:  this one initially seemed the easiest to me, but actually it’s quite hard. Despite all our efforts, I don’t remember a gathering where I met people only for Allah’s sake and His cause, and where nothing went wrong. Where we didn’t backbite/cheat/lie/ignore a Sunnah/waste time in laghw. It’s easy to meet people for Allah’s sake. But to make sure all you do is please Allah in that meeting and part with His cause as well, it’s really hard. (Any tips for me?)
May Allah forgive our shortcomings and accept all our efforts and meetings for His sake.

A man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah: what a man that’d be! Remember Yusuf (AS)? Yeah, he had the taqwa. And with Allah’s help, he rejected the beautiful wife of ‘Aziz. Reference: Surah Yusuf.
Anyhow, it’s quite easy to indulge in haraam these days. Equally for men and for women. It always starts with a small step. All women don’t come on strong like Aziz’s wife. Neither do men. So beware of that first glance.

A man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given: secret charity, only for Allah’s sake. Not to show off or anything. And the level of secrecy is clear enough by the phrase used in the Hadith.

A person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears: he whispers to Allah in seclusion. He prays for forgiveness. He repents over his mistakes and sins. He begs for His Mercy. He hopes for Paradise. His heart fills with Allah’s love. His eyes flood with tears on remembering Him.
Do you do it often? If not, you should. It’s only the best feeling in the world.

I hope you found more than one categories that you fit in. If not, make it a target, rather a mission, to be listed among these lucky seven. The struggle will be worth it, inshaAllah. :)

Wassalam.