Wednesday 16 August 2006

Few questions about the affairs of this Life and Hereafter

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful


A beautiful hadith that answers many of our questions simply requires to be acted upon. Imam Ahmad records that Khalid ibn Walid narrated that:

A Bedouin came one day to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this Life and Hereafter." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, spoke: 'Ask what you wish.' The Bedouin stated: ' I'd like to be the most learned of men,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men.' The Bedouin spoke: ' I wish to be the richest man in the world.' whereupn the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied: ' Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to be the most just man,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied: ' Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.'


The Bedouin spoke: ' I want to be the best of men,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Do good to others and you will be the best of men.' The Bedouin said: ' I wish to be most favoured by Allah," whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Engage much in Allah's praise, and you will be the most favoured by Him.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to complete my faith," whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,said: ' If you have good manners you will complete your faith.' The Bedouin spoke: ' I wish to be among those who do good,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'Adore Allah as if you see Him. If you don't see Him, (know that) He see's you. In this way you will be among those who do good.' The Bedouin said: ' I wish to be obedient to Allah,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you observe Allah's commands you will be obedient.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to be free from all sin,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Bathe yourself from impurities and you will be fre from alll sins.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Do no wrong yourself, or any other creature and you will be rasied on the Day of Judgment in the light.'


The Bedouin said: ' I'd like Allah to bestow His mercy on me,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you have mercy on yourself and others, Allah will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like my sins to be very few,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you seek the forgiveness of Allah as much as you can, your sins will be very few.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to be the most honourable man,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honourable of men.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to be the strongest of men,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to enlarge my provision,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision.'


The Bedouin said: ' I'd like to be loved by Allah and His Messenger,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you love what Allah and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.' The Bedouin said: ' I wish to be safe from Allah's wrath on the Day of Judgment,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you do not loose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgment.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like my prayers to be responded,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' If you avoid forbidden actions, your prayers will be responded.' The Bedouin said: ' I'd like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgment,' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said ' If you guard your chastity, Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment.'


The Bedouin said: ' I'd like Allah to provide me with a protective covering on the Day of Judgment,' wherepon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Do not uncover your fellow creatures faults, and Allah will provide you with a covering protection on the Day of Judgment.' The Bedouin then asked: ' What will save me from sins?' whereupon the Messenger of Allah may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Tears, humility, and illness.' The Bedouin asked: 'What are the best deeds in eyes of Allah?' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Gentle manners, modesty and patience.' The Bedouin asked: ' What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah? whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Hot temper and miserliness.' The Bedouin asked: ' What assuages the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter?' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Concealed charity and kidness to relatives.' The Bedouin finally asked: ' What extinguishes hell's fires on the Day of Judgment?' whereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ' Patience in adversity and misfortunes.'


Jazakillahu khairan sis Tanzila for emailing me this beautiful hadith.




The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:
"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

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