Daily Opportunities to Earn Lasting Rewards for the Hereafter

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Most High, said:

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds (five compulsory prayers, deeds of Allah’s obedience, good and nice talk, remembrance of Allah with glorification, praises and thanks, etc.), that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope. [Al-Kahf 46]

Mu’adh bin Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: One morning, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was prevented from coming to us for morning prayer until we were just about to look for the eye of the sun (meaning sunrise). Then he came out quickly and the Iqama was called for him to (lead) the prayer. Allah’s Messenger performed the prayer, and he performed his prayer in a relatively quick manner. When he said the Salam, he called aloud with his voice saying to us: ‘Stay in your rows as you are.’

Then he turned coming near to us, then he said: ‘I am going to narrate to you what kept me from you this morning: I got up during the night, I performed Wudu and prayed as much as I was able to, and I dozed off during my prayer, and fell deep asleep. Then I saw my Lord, Blessed and Most High, in the best of appearances. He said: ‘O Muhammad!’ I said: ‘My Lord here I am my Lord!’ He said: ‘What is it that the most exalted group busy themselves with?’ I said: ‘I do not know Lord.’ And He said it three times.” He said: “So I saw Him place His Palm between my shoulders, and I sensed the coolness of His Fingertips between my breast. Then everything was disclosed to me, and I became aware. So He said: ‘O Muhammad!’ I said: ‘Here I am my Lord!’ He said: ‘What is it that the most exalted group busy themselves with?’ I said: ‘In the acts that atone.’ He said: ‘And what are they?’ I said:

‘The footsteps to the congregation, the gatherings in the Masajid after the prayer, the correct performance of ablution during difficulties.’ He said: ‘Then what else?’ I said: ‘Feeding others, being lenient in speech, and prayer during the night while the people are sleeping.’ He said: ‘Ask.’ I said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَتَرْكَ الْمُنْكَرَاتِ وَحُبَّ الْمَسَاكِينِ وَأَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي وَتَرْحَمَنِي وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ فِتْنَةَ قَوْمٍ فَتَوَفَّنِي غَيْرَ مَفْتُونٍ أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُ إِلَى حُبِّكَ

O Allah! I ask of you the doing of the good deeds, avoiding the evil deeds, loving the Masakin, and that You forgive me, and have mercy upon me. And when You have willed trial among the people, then cause me to die without being put to trial. And I ask You for Your love, the love of whomever You love, and the love of the deeds that bring one nearer to Your love.'” Allah’s Messenger said: “Indeed it is true, so study it and learn it.” [Sahih at-Tirmidhi 3235]

“O Allah! I ask of you the doing of the good deeds, avoiding the evil deeds”.

There is no need for further explanation regarding the performance of good deeds, other than the fact that they are actions that please Allah, and the doer is praised for them, receiving great rewards. Similarly, the reward for abstaining from wrongdoing is also significant, provided that the intention behind refraining is to seek Allah’s pleasure.

“And loving the Masakin”.

The word Miskin in this sentence “The term refers to the humble individual, neither arrogant nor haughty, someone who is gentle, approachable, and easy to deal with; neither boastful nor evil. [1] 

“And when You have willed trial among the people, then cause me to die without being put to trial”.

The essence of the supplication is to ensure the person’s safety from worldly trials throughout their life. If Allah decrees a trial for His servants, He may take them before it occurs. This is one of the most significant supplications, as a believer who lives free from trials and is taken by Allah before they arise is saved from all evil. The Prophet instructed his companions to seek refuge in Allah from both apparent and hidden trials. In another narration, he advised them to avoid both manifest and concealed immoralities and trials. Thus, praying for death out of fear of religious trials is permissible, as it has been done by the companions and righteous individuals after them. 

“And I ask You for Your love, the love of whomever You love, and the love of the deeds that bring one nearer to Your love”.

This supplication encompasses all that is good. The chosen actions of Allah’s servants arise from love and intention. If the love of Allah is firmly established in a person’s heart, it will lead to actions of the limbs that align with what Allah loves and approves. Thus, one will cherish all actions and words that Allah loves, resulting in the performance of all good deeds and the avoidance of all wrongdoings, as well as loving those whom Allah loves among His creation. [2] 

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narated that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said:

There is Sadaqah (charity) to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to Allaah) every day the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as Sadaqah, and to help man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as Sadaqah, and (saying) a good word is also Sadaqah, and every step taken on one’s way to offer the compulsory congregational prayer is also Sadaqah, and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also Sadaqah”. [Bukhaari, hadeeth Number 2989. Vol 4]

Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, stated:

Allaah, Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections, has not limited charity to a person’s spending by way of wealth; rather Allaah [The Most High] made it wider than this and everyone is able to partake in it.

Acts of charity mentioned in this hadith:

To judge justly between two people in a dispute and bring about conciliation between them by uniting their hearts and make them become pleased with one another. This indeed is a great act of charity. Allah, (The Most High) said:

لَّا خَيۡرَ فِى ڪَثِيرٍ۬ مِّن نَّجۡوَٮٰهُمۡ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوۡ مَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ إِصۡلَـٰحِۭ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوۡفَ نُؤۡتِيهِ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا

There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah’s Cause), or Ma’ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or conciliation between mankind, and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great reward. [Surah An-Nisaa: Ayah 114]

Therefore, a person should not leave the people in dispute; rather it is incumbent upon him to be eager to bring about conciliation between disputing parties, especially relatives. As for some people-and Allaah’s Protection is sought, they only bring into disputes that which will increase it. This type of person is a shaytaan. Also the one who seeks to bring about conciliation between the people should do that with justice; he should not oppress any of them or judge based on desires.

Helping a person with his riding animal: help him with his riding animal- whether it is a riding beast or a car -if he is weak or disabled. You help him to climb his riding beast or to get in his car, or help him carry his luggage. This is an act of charity. Indeed, you did not give him money, but you aided him.

Uttering a good word, such as greeting with As-Salaamu alaykum, supplicating for your Muslim brother etc. And a good word includes acts of worship a person does in the presence of his Lord, such as remembrance of Allaah, the utterance of Subhaanallaah; Laa-ilaaha-ilal-laah etc

Walking to the masjid for the prayer: every footstep taken towards the masjid is charity, and the farer the masjid the more reward a person gets. In this is an encouragement to attend the compulsory prayer in congregation and not to stay away from it. To miss the prayer in congregation is a great loss.

Removing something harmful from the way: removing harmful things from the pathways of the Muslims or from the pathways of the people in general; likewise removing harmful things from the pathways of the animals. One should not place harmful things in pathways that will harm pedestrians. One should not leave a harmful thing which another person left in a pathway. It has been reported in a hadeeth that the Prophet said, “While a man was going on a way, he saw a thorny branch and removed it from the way and Allaah (The Mighty and majestic) became pleased by his action and forgive him for that”. [Bukhaari Vol 1: hadeeth number 652]. He was entered into paradise because of his act of kindness to pedestrians.

So, how about those who place harmful things in the roads, such as stones, thorns, planks of woods, metals; and spilling water on the road, which may be impure and placing rubbish on the roads. The person who does this has greatly sinned and everyone passer-by supplicates against him. The action of this person is oppression and the supplication of the oppressed person is answered. Therefore a Muslim should hasten to remove harmful things from the path in order to receive this reward mentioned in the hadeeth. [3]

[1] An Excerpt from “Al-Istidhkar. 8/ 171” by Al-Allamah Ibn Abdul Barr, may Allah have mercy upon him.

[2] An Excerpt from “Ikhtiyar Al-Awwal” 118-125 by Imam Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him.

[3] An Excerpt from Al-Minhatur Rabbaniyyah Fee Sharh Al-Arba’een” pages 213-217