ENDURING FATIGUE IN ORDER TO EARN ONE’S LIVELIHOOD
On the authority of Sayyidah Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها: Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Whoever spends his evening tired because of the work he did by his own hands, spends the evening in a state in which he has been forgiven.”
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BEGINNING AND ENDING ONE’S DAY WITH GOODNESS
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Busr رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When anyone begins the day with goodness and concludes it with goodness, then Allah the Most High says to His angels: ‘Do not write any of the sins he had committed in between.'”
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CONCLUDE DEEDS WITH GOODNESS
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has said; “Whoever does good during the remaining portion of his life, shall be forgiven for whatever has passed. And whoever does evil during the remaining portion of his life shall be taken to task for whatever has passed and whatever is left.” (Tabrānī)
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VISITING THE GRAVE OF ONE’S PARENTS ON FRIDAYS
Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Whoever visits the graves of his parents or one of them every Friday, shall be forgiven and recorded as obedient and dutiful.” (Tabrānī)
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PLEASANT MANNERS…
Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Pleasant manners cause sins to melt away just like the sun causes snow to melt.”
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DOING GOOD AND GIVING UP EVIL
Once a person came to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and said; “What do you think, is there any way a person who has committed all sins, and not even spared the pilgrims on their journey to the Holy House and their return from there (ie who robbed even pilgrims) can repent?”
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم asked; “Did you accept Islam?”
The person replied; “Well, I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and you are the Messenger of Allah.”
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Do good deeds and give up evil deeds. Allah will convert all your deeds into good deeds.”
The man then enquired; “Even my betrayals and all sorts of absurdities committed?”
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم responded; “Yes.”
The man said الله اكبر, and kept repeating it until he was out of sight.
NEVER BECOME DESPONDENT! Many commit the error of reflecting on their sins and have no hope in attaining forgiveness. We must understand that notwithstanding the amount of sins; they can be quantified whereas the mercy of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله is limitless.
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REFRAINING FROM A SIN AFTER HAVING RESOLVED TO COMMIT IT
Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has related the following from his Lord: “Allah wrote the good deeds and the evil deeds, thereafter He made them manifest. So who intends to do a good deed but does not do it, one virtue shall be recorded for him. And if he does it (perform the good deed), then ten to seven hundred, rather even many more virtues are recorded for him. And whoever intends to do an evil deed but does not do it, one virtue shall be recorded for him. And if he does it (perform the evil deed), one vice shall be recorded for him. And in one tradition it comes; “Or He, (in His infinite Mercy) wipes it out. And only such person shall perish who is doomed to perish.” (Bukhāri, Muslim)
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THE BLESSINGS OF A GLANCE
A Sahabi رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Five kinds of glances are an act of worship: a glance at the Holy Qur’ān, a glance at the Ka’bah, a loving glance at one’s parents, a glance at the well of Zam Zam, a glance at the face of a scholar. Such glances are an expiration for sins.”
SHAKING HANDS WITH ONE’S BROTHER
Hazrat Al Baraa ibn Azib رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When two Muslims meet and shake hands with each other, then Allah forgives them before they depart from each other.”
(Tirmidhi)
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TWO BROTHERS MEETING
On the authority of Hazrat Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه who has reported Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم as having said; “There are no two bondsmen who love each other, one of them coming to the other, and then both invoke blessings upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم , but they shall be forgiven their past and future sins, even before they part.”
(Abu Dawood)
On the authority of Hazrat Salmān al-Fārsī رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When a Muslim meets his brother and takes his hand, then their sins fall off them just like leaves that fall off a dried up tree on a stormy day, and they shall be forgiven even though their sins are equal to the foam on the sea.”
(Tabrānī)
We learn from various Ahādith that meeting with fellow Muslims increases love and removes malice. By interacting with respect and politeness earns the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله. How sad a situation today where the bond of brotherhood is broken for flimsy arguments.
Ramadaan is a month of mercy; let us thus earn the mercy of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله by forging ties with our brothers and overlooking each others shortcomings.
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GRIEF OVER SINS
Hazrat Hasan رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Indeed, a Muslim commits a sin and enters Paradise because of that. His sin always remains in front of his eyes, and he keeps repenting, fleeing (towards Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله ) until he enters Paradise.”
(أخرجه ابن المبارك)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Truly, a Muslim commits a sin, and when he remembers it, it grieves him. Then when Allah sees that his sin grieves him, He forgives him, even before he does anything to expiate his sin, without any prayer or fast.”
(أخرجه أبو نعيم وابن عساكر)
On the authority of Ummul Mu’mineen Hazrat Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها who has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “There is no servant who feels ashamed on account of his sin, but Allah forgives him, even before he asks Him for forgiveness.”
(أخرجه الحاكم وصححه)
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PRAISING ALLAH TA’ALA AFTER EATING AND WEARING NEW CLOTHES
On the authority of Hazrat Mu’āz ibn Anas رضي الله عنه who has reported Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم as having said; “Someone who says after eating:
الحمد لله الذي أطعمنى هذا الطعام، ورزقنيه من غير حول مني ولا قوة
‘Praise be to Allah who gave me this food to eat and who provided me with it, without any effort on my part’, shall be forgiven all his previous sins. And someone who says after wearing another set of clothes:
الحمد لله الذي كسانى هذا ورزقنيه من غير حول مني ولا قوة
‘Praise be to Allah who clothed me with this, and who provided me with it, without any effort on my part’, shall be forgiven all his past and future sins.”
(رواه ابو داود باسناد حسن كذافى الترغيب ص٩٣ج٣)
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BEING LENIENT IN BUSINESS
On the authority of Hazrat Jaabir رضي الله عنه who has reported Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم as having said; “Allah forgave a man who happened to live before you. He was gentle while buying, gentle while selling, and also while claiming his rights.”
(هكذا فى الترغيب ص٢٦٥ج٢)
On the authority of Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has said; “If a Muslim takes back the goods he had sold to his brother (in case the latter wants to return them), then Allah shall forgive him his sins on the Day of Qiyāmah.”
(رواه ابو داود وابن ماجه كذا فى الترغيب ص٦٦٥ج٢)
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HOW DID SAYYIDUNA RASOOLULLAH H BRING ABOUT CHANGE?
Sheikhul Islam Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmāni Sahib حفظه الله has said that when Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم arrived, evil and vice had reached their peak in society. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم did not allow himself to be affected by the rot in society but rather he adopted courage and went against the trend at that time. He presented a fresh approach and a new path. Furthermore, he was steadfast. Undoubtedly great sacrifices were made and difficulties endured but Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم persevered. The result is that one-third of the world’s population is following the path of Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم .They are his slaves.
But if Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم had given up on the excuse that he could do nothing until society changed itself, we would not have witnessed this situation (of acceptance of the path of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم).
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WHOEVER TAKES THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS RECONCILIATION
On the authority of Hazrat Hishām ibn ‘Āmir رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “It is not permissible to sever relations with one’s brother in faith for more than three days. And if they sever relations for more than three days, then both have crossed the limits, as long as they keep relations severed. And if one of them turns to the other, for the sake of reconciliation, then this becomes an expiation for his sins. And if both them die in a state of discord, then neither of them will enter Jannah.” (Bukhāri)
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GATHERINGS OF ZIKR
On the authority of Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has said; “When people get together to remember Allah, and they do so only for the sake of Allah, then the angels proclaim from the heaven: ‘You have been forgiven and your sins turned into virtues.'”
(أخرجه أحمد باسناد قوى وأبو يعلى والبزار، كذا فى الترغيب صفحه ٤٠٣ جلد ٢)
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GIVING OTHERS WATER TO DRINK
On the authority of Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When your sins are plentiful, then give others water to drink, even though you might be standing at a river bank. Thus you will shed your sins just like a tree sheds its leaves on a stormy day.”
(أخرجه الخطيب)
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TRYING TO FULFIL THE NEED OF A FELLOW MUSLIM
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “If anyone goes forth in order to fulfil his brother’s need, then Allah جل جلاله shall record seventy virtues for each step he takes, and erase (i.e. forgive) seventy of his sins, until he returns to the place where he had left his brother. If he managed to fulfil his brother’s need, then he shall leave his sins (and become) just like on the day his mother had given birth to him, and if he died during his endeavour, then he shall be admitted into Jannah without any reckoning.”
(أخرجه ابن أبى الدنيا والاصبهانى، كذا فى الترغيب صفحه ٣٩٢ج٣)
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BUILDING MOSQUES AND DIGGING WELLS
On the authority of Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Whoever builds a mosque for no other reason but to please Allah, Allah shall build for him a house in Jannah, and if he does on that day, he shall be forgiven. And whoever digs a well for no other reason but to please Allah, Allah shall build for him a house in Jannah, and if he dies on that day, he shall be forgiven.”
(رواه الطبراني في الأوسط)
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VISITING THE SICK
Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Tālib رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “There is no person who visits a patient in the evening, but seventy thousand angels pray for his forgiveness until the morning, and he shall get the choicest fruit of Jannah. And whoever goes to visit a patient in the morning is accompanied by seventy thousand angels who pray for his forgiveness until the evening, and he shall get the choicest fruit of Jannah.”
REFLECTIONS
In the mad pursuit of wealth and pleasure, people have forgotten the duty of visiting those who are ill. Undoubtedly, visiting the sick earns one immense bounties. We need to reform our habits, make the changes in our schedules and secure our Jannah. May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله guide us. آمين يارب العالمين
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REMOVING OBSTACLES FROM THE PATH WHERE MUSLIMS PASS BY
On the authority of Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه who has reported from Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم as having said; “A person who has removed a thorny branch from the people’s way shall be forgiven. He shall be forgiven all his past and future sins.”
(رواه ابن حبان)
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DYING AFTER HAVING MADE ONE’S LAST WILL
On the authority of Hazrat Jaabir bin Abdullah رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Whoever dies after having made a last will – such a last will which is according to Allah’s commandments and the Sunnah – dies in a state of piety and as a martyr, and he shall be forgiven.”
(رواه ابن ماجه كذا فى الترغيب ص٣٢٦ج٤)
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TREMBLING DUE TO THE FEAR OF ALLAH TA’ALA B
Hazrat Salman رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When a believer’s heart palpitates in Allah’s way, then his sins fall off him just like bunches of dates fall off a date palm on a stormy day.”
(أخرجه أبو نعيم والطبرانى باسناد حسن، كذا فى الترغيب ص٢٨٤ج٢)
Hazrat Abbās ibn Abdul Muttalib رضي الله عنه has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When a Muslim trembles due to the fear of Allah, his sins fall off him just like dried leaves fall off a tree.”
(رواه البيهقي ومثله عند أبى الشيخ كذا فى الترغيب ٢٣٤ج٤)
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ATTENDING GATHERINGS OF THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH TA’ALA
On the authority of Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه who has reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When people gather to remember Allah, and their intention is naught but to obtain His pleasure, then a caller calls from heaven: ‘Rise, you have been forgiven and your evil deeds have been turned into virtues.'”
(أخرجه احمد ورجاله ثقات وأبو يعلى، والطبرانى، ورواه البيهقي)
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PRAISING ALLAH TA’ALA FOR HIS BOUNTIES
Hazrat Jābir رضي الله عنه has narrated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “When Allah B bestows a blessing on His servant, and he says الحمد لله, then he has given due thanks for this blessing. And when he says it (i.e. الحمد لله) a second time, then Allah shall grant him reward afresh. And when he says it (i.e. الحمد لله) a third time, then Allah forgives him his sins.”
(رواه الحاكم وقال صحيح الإسناد)