By Shazia Arif
Bismillah
A Just Ruler
A youth who grew up in the worship of Allah
A man whose heart is attached to the mosque
Two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that
A man who is called by a woman of beauty and position but he says ‘I fear Allah’
This world is full of temptations. And if one goes towards those temptations, it will lead a person to the Hellfire. Of these greatest temptations for men is women.
A man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given
A man who remembered Allah in private so his eyes shed tears
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I'd love to hear your views on this topic. Please post in the comments section below! :)
As I took a cup of coffee and sat near the window, I stared at the flurries falling; first of the season. They looked so calm, peaceful and beautiful. But then a scene flashed through my mind, a scene that was not calm, peaceful or beautiful at all. It was horrific, full of pain and suffering. Was it a cold scene? No, it was utterly hot; people were covered in sweat, practically drowning in it. The sun was so close by, as if you could just reach your hand out and touch it. But on this extremely hot day, I saw people covered in a shade. It was not an ordinary shade, it was the shade of the Throne of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. But who were these people?
“There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic;
a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but he says: ‘I fear Allah’, a man who gives in charity and hides it,
such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity;
and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.”
– Sahih al-Bukhari (english trans.) vol.1, p.356, no.629
& Sahih Muslim (english trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248
a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but he says: ‘I fear Allah’, a man who gives in charity and hides it,
such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity;
and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.”
– Sahih al-Bukhari (english trans.) vol.1, p.356, no.629
& Sahih Muslim (english trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248
A Just Ruler
Justice means to give each person the right he or she deserves, Muslim or non Muslim, relative or stranger, loved one or an enemy. This act of justice needs to apply to all aspects of life be it by a ruler or the one being ruled without exception.
‘...And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness...’ (Surat Al Ma’ida: 8)
Many of us verbally agree to the above stated ayah, but when it comes to putting it into practice, we often ‘forget’ to implement it. We end up over praising those who do not deserve it, and turn a blind eye to all the good someone may have done, whom we may have some sort of hatred towards. In matters of inheritance, many people end up being unfair in the division of the wealth, especially to the women and children of the family who may not have a say in making final decisions for the family. It is not an act of justice in any way to devour someone else’s right and give a specific right to one who does not deserve it. This is not of the teachings of the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wasallam.
It is extremely important for a ruler to maintain justice, because there are so many people under the rule of this ruler, and he will be held to account for how he treated every single person under him.
A youth who grew up in the worship of Allah
Being a youth in this society, one is often caught up in ‘living one’s life’ or following the ‘YOLO’ (you only live once) trend. But true success of a child is he or she grows up worshipping Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. Now by worshipping, I do not mean living his entire life in the masjid, away from the world. Rather it means that he spends his childhood and youth in obedience of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala, doing what pleases Allah and staying away from what He dislikes. Considering that all the temptations are targeted towards the youth such as music, fashion, clubs etc., it is very important to surround oneself with righteous company.
Bear in mind how hard it is to keep away from the temptations of this society, no wonder the reward for it is so amazing: the shade of the Throne of the Most High!
A man whose heart is attached to the mosque
It is encouraged for men to pray all five prayers in the mosque. And there is much reward for this act as well. So the one ‘whose heart is attached to the mosque’ enjoys going to the mosque, helps around in the masjid as if it were his own house, and his heart always yearns to go back. Now do not get me wrong and think that Islam is confined inside the walls of the masjid and that is where Islam ends. Rather going to the masjid, and loving the masjid is simply a part of Islam.
Two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that
Many people use the phrase ‘I love you for the sake of Allah’. But do they actually know what it means? It means to love one another solely for the purpose of correctness of his or her deen. This is a beautiful love which opens doors to much good, both in this world and in the hereafter. When you love someone for the sake of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala, you do not love the person for how tall or short he or she is, how the person looks or dresses, for that person’s status in society, or whether the person is poor or rich. Even if you dislike everything about this person, your love for the person’s imaan overpowers all that hatred and you love him or her solely for Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala’s Sake.
“Those who have mutual love for the sake of My Glory will have pillars of light and will be envied by the Prophets and martyrs.” (Tirmidhi and Ahmad)
Imagine being envied by the prophets and martyrs! So high is the honor and great is the reward.
A man who is called by a woman of beauty and position but he says ‘I fear Allah’
This world is full of temptations. And if one goes towards those temptations, it will lead a person to the Hellfire. Of these greatest temptations for men is women.
“I have not left behind any fitnah more harmful to men than women.”
– Bukhaari, 5096; Muslim, 2740.
– Bukhaari, 5096; Muslim, 2740.
Personally when I heard this as one of the characteristics of the peopled shaded by the Throne of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala, I immediately thought of the story of Yusuf (alayhis salaam) during which the wife of Al Aziz had tried to tempt him, but his first reaction to this was he feared Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. The best trait a person can have all his life is the fear of Allah subhaana wa ta’aala. If a person has this, it will stop him from much wrong and it will result in him being admitted into the Mercy of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala.
A man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given
This is the example of a person who stays away from riyaa (showing off). He does not give in charity so that he may earn praise from people; rather this person expects reward from Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala alone. Showing off in giving of wealth only results in punishment from Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. The wealth that he gave is of no use to him because he never gave it in hopes of reward, rather all he wanted was praise. The expression ‘such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity’ means that the person gives the charity so secretly that it is not possible for anyone but Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala to know about this.
A man who remembered Allah in private so his eyes shed tears
The best of mankind, sal Allaahu alayhi wasallam would shed tears when he remembered Allah, and though he was the Prophet of Allah, it never made him feel superior. He felt fear of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala and in awe of His Majesty. The Sahabah would weep much as well out of fear and love for Him. They took out the time to remember Allah in seclusion, to cry in Allah subhaana wa ta’aala’s remembrance alone, to feel sincere love and fear towards Him, and to recognize His Greatness. But what about us today? What do we do in seclusion? Do we cry much or laugh?
‘If you knew what I knew, you would laugh little and weep much’
- Sahih Bukhari, Hadith:4621, 6486, 7295 and Sahîh Muslim (2359)
- Sahih Bukhari, Hadith:4621, 6486, 7295 and Sahîh Muslim (2359)
Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala sees the tears of His servants. He sees their love and fear for Him. He hears their dua and He has a great reward prepared for them.
Now imagine on the Day of Judgement, when the sun will be so close to the earth, when you will be sweating profusely, when you cannot find any refuge besides under the Throne of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. And why would you find shade below Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala’s Throne? Because you did a deed worthy of His Shade.
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I'd love to hear your views on this topic. Please post in the comments section below! :)
2 comments:
jazaakillahu khairaan!
May Allah reward u abundantly. Pls can someone pls write on backbitting and gossip.
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