Maintaining Ties of Kinship

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي قَرَابَةً أَصِلُهُمْ وَيَقْطَعُونِي وَأُحْسِنُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَيُسِيئُونَ إِلَيَّ وَأَحْلُمُ عَنْهُمْ وَيَجْهَلُونَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ لَئِنْ كُنْتَ كَمَا قُلْتَ فَكَأَنَّمَا تُسِفُّهُمْ الْمَلَّ وَلَا يَزَالُ مَعَكَ مِنْ اللَّهِ ظَهِيرٌ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا دُمْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ 

From Abu Hurairah that a man once said;  "O Messenger of Allah, I have relatives. I always tried to maintain ties with them, but they cut it off. I always tried to do good to them, but they hurt me. I always tried to be gentle with them, but they were indifferent towards me."  Then the Prophet SAW said: "If you are as you said, it is as if you are causing them grief and as long as you do so Allah's help will always be with you.'

(HR Muslim No: 4640)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. It is the responsibility of every Muslim to do good to his relatives and to always maintain close ties. 

2. Allah always gives goodness to those who do good to others. 

3. People who try to maintain ties with their relatives even if they don't welcome him, will always get Allah's help. 

4. Among the rewards of people who try to maintain ties with each other is heaven.  The Prophet SAW said: 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصِلُوا الأَرْحَامَ وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ 

"O people! Spread (the greeting of) Salam, feed others, uphold the ties of kinship, and pray during the night when people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise with Salam.”

(HR Ibnu Majah No: 3251)

https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3251

Let's do good and strengthen friendship even if they want to break it. Du'a for goodness for them.

The Most Perfect Believer of Faith

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَخِيَارُهُمْ خِيَارُهُمْ لِنِسَائِهِمْ 

On the authority of Abu Hurairah, he said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: The believers whose faith is most perfect are those whose morals are best, and the best among them are the best towards their wives.

(HR Ahmad No: 7095)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Morality is a measure of one's faith. 

2. The believer who has the most perfect faith is the one who has the best morals. 

3. Morality is commendable by loving each other, being kind to people, not insulting, criticizing and complaining, is closely related to the perfection of a person's faith. 

4. The best believing men are the best moral towards their wives. 

5. Being kind to one's wife is closely related to one's level of faith. 

6. Being kind and gentle and loving towards family members is included in the perfection of faith.  Hadith of the Prophet SAW: 

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ مِنْ أَكْمَلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَأَلْطَفُهُمْ بِأَهْلِهِ 

On the authority of Aisha, she said, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said;  "Indeed, the person with the most perfect faith is the person with the best morals, and the most gentle towards his family."

(HR Tirmizi No: 2537) 

Be the person with the best morals in life including with the family to be the most perfect believer.

Always Being Grateful And Patience When Tested

حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، وَشَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِشَيْبَانَ - حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لأَحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ *إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ* ‏"‏ ‏.‏ 

Suhaib reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for *if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it*.

(HR. Muslim, no. 2999)

Planting Is A Charity

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ :‏ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْسًا إِلاَّ كَانَ مَا أُكِلَ مِنْهُ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ وَمَا سُرِقَ مِنْهُ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ وَمَا أَكَلَتِ الطَّيْرُ فَهُوَ لَهُ صَدَقَةً وَلاَ يَرْزَؤُهُ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ ‏ ‏ 

From Jabir RA, the Messenger of Allah SAW said: No Muslim grows a plant but what is eaten from the plant is counted as charity, what is stolen from the plant is counted as charity, what is eaten by wild animals is counted as charity, what is eaten by birds is counted as alms. No one cultivates unless he gets (reward) charity from it.  

(HR Muslim, Kitab al-Musaaqaah, No: 1552) Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Imam Nawawi explained: there is a preference for planting trees and plants, that the reward of the perpetrator will continue to flow as long as the tree and plant are still there, as well as something (seed) that comes out of it until the Day of Judgment. 

2.  A Muslim will be rewarded for something that is stolen from his property such as plants that he planted, or damaged by animals, or birds or the like.” (See al-Minhaj Sharh Sahih Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, 10/457) 

3. Everything that is cultivated by a Muslim and the benefits obtained by every creature including animals that eat fruits, leaves or those that sit on the branches or shelter under the plants, will give a reward to the farmer. 

4. How great is the reward for those involved in the field of agriculture which provides the main source of human needs such as rice, fruits and vegetables which are partly obligatory (fardhu kifayah) for a person. 

5. Let's not be sad if the crops are eaten or damaged by other creatures or stolen by humans because we will still get a reward.

Providence To Children Becomes The Protector From Hell Fire

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ دَخَلَتْ امْرَأَةٌ مَعَهَا ابْنَتَانِ لَهَا تَسْأَلُ فَلَمْ تَجِدْ عِنْدِي شَيْئًا غَيْرَ تَمْرَةٍ فَأَعْطَيْتُهَا إِيَّاهَا فَقَسَمَتْهَا بَيْنَ ابْنَتَيْهَا وَلَمْ تَأْكُلْ مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ فَدَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْنَا فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ مَنْ ابْتُلِيَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبَنَاتِ بِشَيْءٍ كُنَّ لَهُ سِتْرًا مِنْ النَّارِ 

From 'Aishah RA said;  A woman with her two daughters came to me to ask for something but I had nothing but a date so I gave it to her. Then the woman divided the dates into two parts which she gave to her two daughters while she did not eat a single bit. Then the woman stood up to leave immediately. That's when the Prophet SAW came to us, and I told him the problem, and he said: "Whoever is tested by something from the presence of his daughters (then he does good to them), then they will be a protector for him from the hell fire".

(HR Bukhari No: 1329)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. It is the parents' responsibility to provide for the needs of family members, especially children, including food, clothing, shelter, education and so on. 

2. A good soleh parent will put the needs of his children first even if he has to 'tie his stomach" (refrain from eating). 

3. Parents who take pains to provide food or provide necessities such as funding for learning and others to their children, will be an investment in protecting them from hell fire. 

4. Strive to provide the needs of family members.

Charity According To Priority

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَصَدَّقُوا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عِنْدِي دِينَارٌ قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ قَالَ عِنْدِي آخَرُ قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ عَلَى زَوْجَتِكَ قَالَ عِنْدِي آخَرُ قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ عَلَى وَلَدِكَ قَالَ عِنْدِي آخَرُ قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ عَلَى خَادِمِكَ قَالَ عِنْدِي آخَرُ قَالَ أَنْتَ أَبْصَرُ

تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ عَلَى خَادِمِكَ قَالَ عِنْدِي  اخَرُ قَالَ أَنْتَ أَبْصَرُ 

From Abu Hurairah RA he said;  The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Give charity all of you", then someone said, O Messenger of Allah, I only have one dinar, he replied: "Give charity with it for yourself," he said: I have another, he said: "Give charity to your wife," he said: I have  the other, he said: "Give charity to your son," he said I have another, he said: "Give charity to your servant," he said I have another, he said: "You know better who has the right to be given."

(HR Nasai No: 2488)

Status: Hasan Sahih 

Learnings:

1. Rasulullah SAW recommends that we give charity if we have wealth.  Whatever is spent on others, it will be rewarded with rewards of charity. 

2. If we have property or money, spend it on the needs according to priority: 

a.  Oneself by fulfilling the rights of the body such as food and clothing which is mandatory. If there is a surplus, it can be given to; 

b.  Wife (the wife's needs are the responsibility of the husband whether it is obligatory or non-obligatory). If there is a surplus it can be given to; 

c.  Children (children's needs such as food, education, etc.), If there is a surplus, it can be given to; 

d.  Assistant.  If there is a surplus it can be given to; 

e.  Those whom you feel worthy and entitled to it according to priority. 

Let's give charity according to priority to those who deserve it.

Four Holy (Haram) Months

عن أبي بكرة نفيع بن الحارث رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏   الزَّمَانُ قَدْ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو القَعْدَةِ وَذُو الحِجَّةِ وَالمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ، الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ 

From Abi Bakrah Nafi' bin al Harith RA, from the Prophet SAW said: "Time rotates as it was when Allah SWT created the heavens and the earth.  A year consists of twelve months, of which there are four haram (holy) months, three of which are in sequence (Zulkaedah, Zulhijjah and Muharram) and the fourth is Rajab Mudhor located between Jamadi al-Akhir and Sha'ban."

(HR Bukhari No: 4054)

Status: Authentic Hadith 

Learnings:

1. The Holy (Haram) Months (Zulkaedah, Zulhijjah, Muharram and Rajab) means that in these months, it is forbidden to fight and also it is a holy month where Allah SWT forbids any tyranny and every tyranny committed is a greater sin than in other months. 

2. The month of Rajab Mudhor according to Sheikh Mustafa al-Bugho, the word Mudhor is attributed to a tribe called Bani Mudhor because this tribe is very careful about the authenticity of that month compared to other months. 

3. Imam al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir in his interpretation has quoted the opinion of Ibn Abbas RA which states that every injustice done in these Haram months, the sin is greater than in other months. Likewise, the good deeds done are also greater (reward) compared to other months. (See: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 130/4) 

4. Imam Ibnu Rajab al-Hanbali explained, the meaning of Rajab is great (Lata'if al-ma'arif, p. 117). Therefore, the month of Rajab is a great and glorious month. Among the special features of the month of Rajab is the occurrence of Isra' and Mikraj events which according to the majority of scholars' occur on the 27th of Rajab. 

5. The month of Rajab is one of the four Haram months where we are encouraged to multiply every practice we do in those months. 

6. We have entered the month of Rajab, Abu Bakr Al-Balkhi said: 

شَهْرُ رَجَبٍ شَهْرُ الزَّرْعِ  وَشَهْرُ شَعْبَانَ شَهْرُ سَقْيِ الزَّرْعِ وَشَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ حِصَادِ الزَّرْعِ 

The month of Rajab is the time to plant, the month of Shaaban is the time to water the plants and the month of Ramadhan is the time to harvest. 

For that, let's all improve our practices such as doing optional prayers, optional fasting, almsgiving and others as a preparation to meet Ramadan later.

Providing Sustenance To The Family Is A Charity

عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ فَقُلْتُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ فَقَالَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا أَنْفَقَ الْمُسْلِمُ نَفَقَةً عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَهُوَ يَحْتَسِبُهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ صَدَقَةً 

From Abu Mas'ud Al-Anshari I said;  From the Prophet SAW, he said: "If a Muslim gives sustenance to his family with the intention of hoping for a reward, then for him it is charity."

(HR Bukhari No: 4932)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1.  For a husband and father of children, providing for family members is a mandatory responsibility. 

2. The husband must provide maintenance to his family members wife and children according to his ability. Not fulfilling it would lead to sin. The words of the Prophet SAW: 

كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْمًا أَنْ يُضَيِّعَ مَنْ يَقُوتُ 

"It is sufficient sin for a man that he neglects him whom he maintains."

(HR. Abu Daud 1692)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

3. Giving sustenance to dependents is charity.  Husbands are obliged to provide maintenance to family members for reasons of marriage, including food, drink, housing, health care, protection, love, education and others. 

4. In today's society, even though wives are working, the responsibility of providing support still falls on the shoulders of the husband. The wife can still help where appropriate as a complement. The wife's contribution to the family is also considered as charity which will be rewarded with a great reward by Allah S.W.T. 

5. A Muslim who gives sustenance to his family members with the intention of hoping for reward, then that is charity.

Giving Alms To Family Members

عَنْ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ 

From Az Zuhriy said, it was reported to me by Sa'id bin Al Musayyab that he heard Abu Hurairah RA from the Prophet SAW saying, "The best charity is that which is beyond need (which is enough for one's needs). So start giving to  your dependents".

(HR Bukhari No: 1337)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Giving charity or giving to others is a noble practice that is required of every Muslim. 

2. One of the things that bring happiness in a family is mutual responsibility. One of the responsibilities of the head of the family is to provide basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.  Giving to family members is a charity. 

3. Giving charity or giving is best after fulfilling the rights and responsibilities of the family.  Allah SWT said: 

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنْفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ 

“And they ask you what they should spend. Say: "The excess (beyond needs)."

(QS. Al Baqarah: 219). 

Al 'afwu in the verse above means that charity is beyond the basic needs 

(Ibn Katsir, 2: 145). 

4. Charity or giving to the family first is preferred because the reward is greater than charity (giving) to others. 

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَدَقَتُكَ عَلَى الْمِسْكِينِ صَدَقَةٌ وَعَلَى ذِي الْقُرْبَى الرَّحِمِ ثِنْتَانِ صَدَقَةٌ وَصِلَةٌ 

The Prophet SAW said: "Your charity to the poor is worth one charity, while your charity to your relatives is worth two, namely; (1) charity and (2) connecting the ties."

(Musnad Ahmad No: 17197)

Isnad Hasan 

So start giving to family members first, including parents and close relatives, especially when we know that there are members of our family who are affected by their recent economic situation.

Be A Mithali Husband

عَنْ الْأَسْوَدِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ مَا كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصْنَعُ فِي بَيْتِهِ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَكُونُ فِي مِهْنَةِ أَهْلِهِ تَعْنِي خِدْمَةَ أَهْلِهِ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتْ الصَّلَاةُ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ 

From Al Aswad said, "I once asked 'Aishah about what the Prophet SAW did when he was at home. So 'Aishah replied, "He always helps his family, when it is time to pray then he goes out to perform it (in the mosque)."

(HR Bukhari No: 635)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. The Prophet SAW set an example when he was at home by helping with household chores such as washing, cooking and others. 

2. The Prophet SAW also did not neglect the obligatory prayer in the mosque when the time came in addition to his role in society. 

3. A good leader is one who can carry out his responsibilities towards Allah, his family (household) and then his responsibilities towards society and the country well and perfectly. 

4. A happy family will result when husband and wife carry out their duties and roles with full responsibility and help each other in daily affairs without neglecting their obligations to Allah S.W.T. 

Husbands should emulate the Prophet SAW in family life by helping the wife's daily affairs at home and taking care of their obligations to Allah such as obligatory prayers performed in the masjid.

Verify Every Speech To Avoid Defamation

عَنْ أَبي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ: إنَّ الْعَبْد لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالكَلِمةِ مَا يَتَبيَّنُ فيهَا يَزِلُّ بهَا إِلَى النَّارِ أبْعَدَ مِمَّا بيْنَ المشْرِقِ والمغْرِبِ 

From Abu Hurairah, the Prophet SAW said: "A servant when he speaks about a word that he himself did not verify (about the truth), then he will slip into hell whose distance is as far as east and west."

(HR Bukhari No: 6477)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. For everything that we say or what we write and spread, we need to make sure it is true and not a fitnah or slanderous. 

2. Anyone who speaks or writes something that is not verified for its truth can cause him to slip into hell. 

3. Al-Qastalani said: It is a word or speech without thinking about the bad results of the conversation.  (See Irsyad al-Sari, 9/274) 

4. The end of time witnessed so much slander and widespread fraud. 

There are parties who accuse without solid evidence and there are parties who so superficially believe news that has no basis.  The Prophet SAW gave a warning to anyone who likes to talk about things that are not known to be true. 

The words of Allah SWT: 

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو بِٱلْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ 

"Indeed, the people who bring such false news are a group of you."  

Surah Al-Nur (11) 

Ibn Kathir said: The words of Allah SWT, "Indeed those who bring the most false news," that is with lies, slander and vile swearing. (See Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Azim, 6/25) 

May Allah SWT protect us from being so easily uttering about something without investigating whether it is a fitnah or a slander.

The Inhabitants of Heaven

عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ الْمُجَاشِعِيِّ رضي الله عنه عن النبي صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال  وَأَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ ثَلَاثَةٌ ذُو سُلْطَانٍ مُقْسِطٌ مُتَصَدِّقٌ مُوَفَّقٌ وَرَجُلٌ رَحِيمٌ رَقِيقُ الْقَلْبِ لِكُلِّ ذِي قُرْبَى وَمُسْلِمٍ وَعَفِيفٌ مُتَعَفِّفٌ ذُو عِيَالٍ 

From Aiyadh bin Himar al Mujasya RA from the Prophet SAW who said: "The inhabitants of heaven consist of three groups; namely the ruler who acts justly, likes to give alms and is given the gift of taufik (Allah), a person full of love and gentle to every relatives and Muslims, and a person who is pure and poor but keeps himself from begging" 

(HR Muslim No: 2865) 

Status : Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

Among the groups that will be residents of Heaven are: 

1. A just ruler or leader, always benevolent with charity and given the gift of taufik by Allah SWT in carrying out his responsibilities. 

2. People who have a loving and gentle nature towards every relatives and fellow Muslims 

3. People who are pure in their hearts even though they are poor but kept themselves from becoming alms beggars. 

May we strive to have the characteristics of the people of Heaven.

Hope And Ask For Forgiveness From Sin

حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الْأَرْضِ خَطَايَا ثُمَّ لَقِيتَنِي لَا تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا لَأَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً 

Has narrated to us Anas bin Malik RA he said;  I heard Rasulullah SAW said: "Allah tabaraka wa ta'ala said: "O son of Adam, if you hope and pray to Me, I will surely erase your past sins. I will not care about it anymore. O son of Adam, if your sins had reached as high as the sky and then you asked Me for forgiveness, I would have forgiven you, and I don't care. O son of Adam, if you come to Me with the guilt of the whole earth and then you meet Me without associating Me with anything, I will surely come to you with the forgiveness of the whole earth."

(HR Tirmizi NO: 3463)

Status: Hadith Hasan 

Learnings:

1. Allah SWT is Forgiving to His servants. 

2. As servants, we should always hope and pray to be forgiven for all our sins, whether small or big, sins that we are aware of or not. 

3. Allah SWT will forgive the sins of his servants except the sin of polytheism. 

وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا 

"And whoever does evil and wrongs himself, then he asks Allah for forgiveness, he will find Allah Most Forgiving and Most Merciful."

(QS. An Nisa': 110). 

4. Giving up on Allah's mercy and forgiveness is a major sin. Based on the Hadith narrated by Abdurrazaq: 

عن بن مسعود قال أكبر الكبائر الإشراك بالله والأمن من مكر الله والقنوط من رحمة الله واليأس من روح الله 

"On the part of Ibn Mas'ud, he said that among the greatest sins is committing shirk to Allah, feeling safe from Allah's wrath and feeling hopeless and despairing of Allah's forgiveness."

(HR. Abdurrozaq, 10: 460, also issued by Ath Thobroni. See Kitab Tawhid with tahqiq Shaykh Abdul Qodir Al Arnauth, p. 128). 

Try hard to ask for forgiveness from past sins and always hope for Allah's mercy and love.

Not Hastening In Making Du'a

عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ وَكَانَ مِنْ الْقُرَّاءِ وَأَهْلِ الْفِقْهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُسْتَجَابُ لِأَحَدِكُمْ مَا لَمْ يَعْجَلْ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ دَعَوْتُ رَبِّي فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِبْ لِي 

From Ibnu Shihab that he said;  Had told me Abu Ubaid the servant of Abdurrahman bin Auf which he is among the Qari (memorizers of the Quran) and Ahli Fiqah, he said;  I heard Abu Hurairah RA say;  The Prophet SAW said: "The du'a of one of you will always be answered as long as he is not in a hurry to say: I have du'a to my Lord, but He has not yet answered for me."

(HR Muslim No: 4917)

Status: Sahih Hadith. 

Learnings:

1. Every Muslim is required to always du'a to Allah SWT. 

2. A person's du'a will be answered by Allah SWT. 

3. One of the reasons a person's du'a are not answered is when it is being rushed. 

4. People who are in a hurry are those who are impatient for their du'a to be answered and easily give up and refuse to du'a again. 

5. So du'a with confidence. The words of the Prophet SAW: 

أُدْعُوا اللهَ تَعَالَى وَأَنتُمْ مُوقِنُونَ بِالْإِجَابَةِ, وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءً مِن قَلْبٍ غَافِلٍ لاَهٍ 

"Du'a to Allah while you are sure your du'a will be answered. Know that Allah will not grant from the oblivious and heedless hearts"

(Sunan Tirmidhi No: 3479) 

Strong Believers Are Loved More By Allah

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْقَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ الْمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ وَفِي كُلٍّ خَيْرٌ احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْجَزْ وَإِنْ أَصَابَكَ شَيْءٌ فَلَا تَقُلْ لَوْ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ كَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَلَكِنْ قُلْ قَدَرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّ لَوْ تَفْتَحُ عَمَلَ الشَّيْطَانِ 

From Abu Hurairah RA he said;  "The Messenger of Allah SAW said: 'A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah SWT than a weak believer. There is goodness in each of them. Be eager to do things that benefit you and ask Allah for help, and don't feel lazy (a weak person). When a misfortune befalls you, then do not say: 'If' I had done this and that, it would not have become this and that'. But say: 'This is Allah's destiny and what He wills will surely be done. And stay away from saying 'If' (in case), because the expression 'If' (in case) opens up the opportunity for Satan to enter."

(HR Muslim No: 4816)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah SWT than a weak believer. 

2. A believer who is strong and loved by Allah SWT is one who has a strong faith and is able to fulfill his obligations and fulfill his responsibilities. 

3. Weak believers do not fulfill their obligations and refuse to abandon what is unlawful.  People like this have shortcomings and are not liked by Allah SWT 

4. These two believers both have goodness.  A believer who is weak in faith, still has goodness and he is certainly better than an unbeliever. But believers who have strong faith are certainly better and more loved by Allah SWT. 

5. The Prophet SAW ordered us to be enthusiastic and earnest and ask Allah SWT for help in doing beneficial things whether related to religion or the world in order to become a better believer and more loved by Allah SWT. 

6.  Do not be lazy and aloof/disinterested in doing useful things because it becomes a source of failure. 

7. If something unpleasant happens, be contented with the fate with a calm heart so that our faith increases. 

8. Avoid saying "if" or "in case" because it will open up opportunities for Satan's incitement. 

Let us be merciful by being believers with strong faith.

Sayings When Seeing Something We Liked And Hated

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا رَأَى مَا يُحِبُّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ وَإِذَا رَأَى مَا يَكْرَهُ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ 

From 'Aishah RA he said;  "When the Prophet SAW saw something he liked, he would say: "All praise be to Allah, by whose favor all good deeds are perfected." and when he saw something he hated, he would say: "All praise be to Allah for every situation.  "

(Sunan Ibnu Majah No: 3793)

Status: Hadith Hasan 

Learnings:

1. Rasulullah SAW taught us manners when we see something that is either liked or hated. 

2. When we see something we like, we should say the word: 

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ 

"All praise be to Allah by whose grace all good things become perfect." 

3. When we see something we hate we should say the words: 

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ 

"All praise be to Allah for every situation 

Let's practice praiseworthy words when we see something we like or hate.

Repay Evil With Goodness

عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي ذَوِي أَرْحَامٍ أَصِلُ وَيَقْطَعُونَ وَأَعْفُو وَيَظْلِمُونَ وَأُحْسِنُ وَيُسِيئُونَ أَفَأُكَافِئُهُمْ قَالَ لَا إِذًا تُتْرَكُونَ جَمِيعًا وَلَكِنْ خُذْ بِالْفَضْلِ وَصِلْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُ لَنْ يَزَالَ مَعَكَ مِنْ اللَّهِ ظَهِيرٌ مَا كُنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ 

From 'Amru bin Syu'aib from his father from his grandfather, he said;  A man came to meet the Messenger of Allah and said;  "O Messenger of Allah, indeed I have relatives, I continued my relationship but they broke it, I forgive but they are unjust, I do good but they do evil, should I repay their actions?"  then the Messenger of Allah replied: "Don't do it, that means you leave them all, but take their goodness and continue the friendship with them, because indeed Allah will always give you help as long as you are able to be consistent like that."

(HR Ahmad No: 6648)

Status: Isnad Hasan 

Learnings:

1. Respond to the badness of others with goodness. 

2. People who try to connect relationships, forgive the actions of those who oppress them, always do good to others who do bad things to them will always get help from Allah SWT. 

3. All sincere deeds from us will be rewarded with goodness from Allah 

4. Islam forbids bad deeds to be repaid with bad deeds. Even if others cut ties, we are commanded to connect them. When people do injustice and cruelty to us, we should forgive them. 

In our family and community relationships, we should respond to evil with goodness. Let us be forgiving and loving others. 

Ablution Area Glow On The Judgment Day

عَنْ نُعَيْمٍ الْمُجْمِرِ قَالَ رَقِيتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي يُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ آثَارِ الْوُضُوءِ فَمَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ 

From Nu'aim bin Al Mujmir said, "I went to the masjid with Abu Hurairah, then he performed ablution and said, "I heard the Prophet SAW say: "Indeed, my people will be presented on the Day of Resurrection with radiant faces because of the ablution water, whoever among you who are able to extend the nur should do so (extend the area for ablution)."

(HR Bukhari No: 133)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Among the practices that are encouraged for every Muslim is to perform ablution regularly. 

2. Those who perform ablution, on the Day of Judgment will be resurrected with radiant faces from the water of ablution while on Earth. 

3. It is a sunnah to increase the washing area for ablutions because in the afterlife we ​​will be resurrected with the illuminations of these ablution areas. The wider the area affected by ablution water, the more areas are illuminated. 

Let us improve our ablution, perfect it and take care of our ablutions.

Repel The Devil From The Nose

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ مَنَامِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَلْيَسْتَنْثِرْ ثَلاَثًا  فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَبِيتُ عَلَى خَيْشُومِهِ 

From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet SAW said, "If one of you wakes up from his sleep, then he should perform ablution and istintsar (remove water from the nose) three times because the devil spends the night in his nasal cavity."

(HR. Bukhari No: 3295)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Islam teaches us to be civil and moral in every aspects. 

2. One of the manners of a Muslim after waking up from sleep is performing ablution. 

3. Istinsar (removing water from inside the nasal cavity after inhaling it) when performing ablution is a sunnah. 

4. Among the wisdom of putting water into the nasal cavity and taking it out three times, in addition to cleaning the dirt from around the nose, it is also intended to drive away the devil who spends the night in the nasal cavity area. 

Make sure the practice of inserting and removing water into the nasal cavity is done as soon as you wake up from sleep through the practice of ablution.

Prohibition of Slandering Others

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ هَلَكَ النَّاسُ فَهُوَ أَهْلَكُهُمْ 

From Abu Hurairah RA that the Prophet SAW said: "When there is someone who says: 'Woe to mankind', then in fact he himself is more wretched than them."

(HR Muslim No: 4755)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. A Muslim must not have ill-thinking and slander other people because it may turn around on himself. 

2. We should never badmouth others because we may be worse than them. 

3. Our destiny is according to what our mind thinks. If our mind thinks negatively, then the result is negative. 

4. A Muslim needs to maintain good faith towards Allah. 

5. Mishaps that happen to us are not necessarily caused by the actions or crimes of others. It may even happen because of our own attitude. 

6. Admitting to our own weaknesses and ignorance is actually more important than punishing other people's crimes or blaming them. 

7. We must admit our weaknesses first and not make others an escapist by pointing fingers at others. 

Let us try to distance ourselves from the tendency to judge others and vilify them.

Guaranteed Entrance To Heaven

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمْ الْيَوْمَ صَائِمًا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَا قَالَ فَمَنْ تَبِعَ مِنْكُمْ الْيَوْمَ جَنَازَةً قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَا قَالَ فَمَنْ أَطْعَمَ مِنْكُمْ الْيَوْمَ مِسْكِينًا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَا قَالَ فَمَنْ عَادَ مِنْكُمْ الْيَوْمَ مَرِيضًا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا اجْتَمَعْنَ فِي امْرِئٍ إِلَّا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ 

From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet SAW once asked: "Which of you are fasting this morning?"  Abu Bakr replied, "I am."  He asked again: "Which of you have sent the jenazah today?"  Abu Bakr replied: "Me."  He asked again: "Who among you have fed the poor today?"  Abu Bakr replied: "Me."  He asked again: "Which of you have visited the sick today?"  Abu Bakr replied, "I am."  Then the Prophet SAW said: "There is no such deed in a person except that he will surely enter heaven."

(HR Muslim No: 1707)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Paradise is reserved for those who believe and do righteous deeds. 

2. Abu Bakr RA is an example of a companion of the Prophet SAW who showed righteous deeds. 

3. Fasting is part of every Muslim's personal worship as proof of one's obedience and sincerity to Allah. 

4. Sending the jenazah, feeding the poor and visiting the sick is a Muslim duty to the society.  It is part of fulfilling the responsibility towards the rights of others when we live in a society. 

5. Believers who perform individual worship duties such as prayer, fasting, zakat as well as the duty to give back to the community such as visiting the sick, helping the needy, will definitely enter heaven. 

Let us assist the weak like the fakir and the poor, the sick and orphans. Enliven the culture of visiting or finding out how our relatives, friends, neighbors around us are.  May Allah swt connect our hearts together.

The Opening of The Door of Righteousness

عَنْ عَمْرِو ابْنِ الْحَمِقِ الْخُزَاعِيِّ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهم عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:

إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْرًا اسْتَعْمَلَهُ قِيلَ: وَمَا اسْتَعْمَلَهُ قَالَ: يُفْتَحُ لَهُ عَمَلاً صَالِحاً بَيْنَ يَدَيْ مَوْتِهِ حَتَّى يَرْضَى عَنْهُ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ 

From Amr Ibn al Hamiq al Khuza'i, he actually heard the Prophet SAW say: "When Allah wills good for someone, then Allah will make him do good deeds."  The friends asked;  "How to make him do good deeds?"  The Prophet SAW said: "Allah opened the door for him to do righteous deeds before his death, so that he is pleased with those around him".

(HR. Ahmad No: 21949)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. It is Allah SWT who makes a person good and righteous. 

2. A Muslim becomes good when Allah SWT moves him to do righteous deeds. 

3. Allah SWT opens doors, curves and corners to encourage a person to do good deeds continuously so that the people around him feel and acknowledge the good deeds. 

May we always be shown the doors and corners to do righteous deeds, not only for personal deeds but also for the community and the country. Work hard with righteous deeds and pray that we are always shown the doors to do righteous deeds until the end of our lives.

Goodness Through Understanding of Religious Knowledge

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ  قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ يُرِدْ اللَّهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ 

From Abu Hurairah RA he said;  The Prophet SAW said: "Whoever Allah bestows to get goodness, Allah will give him understanding about the religion."

(HR Ibnu Majah No: 216)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Allah SWT bestows goodness on whomever He wills. 

2. One of the characteristics of a good person is that he becomes a jurist or acquires an understanding of the religion through the learning of Qur'an and Hadith learned based on a pure heart and sound aqeedah. 

3. Faqih also means understanding the religion with true and authentic knowledge. 

4. Let us strive to be people who learn and master the understanding of religion based on the Quran and Hadith. May with it, we become obedient to Allah's command. 

Hope And Ask For Forgiveness From Sin

حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ  لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الأَرْضِ خَطَايَا ثُمَّ لَقِيتَنِي لَا تُْركُ بِي شَيْئً لَأَتَيْتُكَ ِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً 

Narrated to us Anas bin Malik RA he said;  I heard Rasulullah SAW said: "Allah tabaraka wa ta'ala said: "O son of Adam, if you hope and du'a to Me, I will surely erase your past sins. I will not care about it anymore. O son of Adam, if your sins had reached as high as the sky and then you asked Me for forgiveness, I would have forgiven you, and I don't care. O son of Adam, if you come to Me with the guilt of the whole earth and then you came to Me without associating Me with anything, I will surely come to you with the forgiveness of the whole earth."

HR Tirmizi No: 3463

Status: Hadith Hasan 

Learnings:

1. Allah SWT is All-Forgiving to His servants. 

2. As servants, we should always hope and pray to be forgiven for all our sins, whether small or big, sins that we are aware of or not. 

3. Allah SWT will forgive the sins of his servants except the sin of polytheism. 

وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا 

"And whoever does evil and wrongs himself, then he asks Allah for forgiveness, he will find Allah Most Forgiving and Most Merciful."

(QS. An Nisa': 110). 

4. Giving up on Allah's mercy and forgiveness is a major sin. Based on the Hadith narrated by Abdurrazaq: 

عن بن مسعود قال أكبر الكبائر الإشراك بالله والأمن من مكر الله والقنوط من رحمة الله واليأس من روح الله 

"On the authority of Ibn Mas'ud, he said that among the greatest sins is committing syirk to Allah, feeling safe from Allah's wrath and feeling hopeless and despairing of Allah's forgiveness."

HR. Abdurrozaq, 10: 460, also issued by Ath Thobroni. See Kitab Tawhid with tahqiq Shaykh Abdul Qodir Al Arnauth, p. 128. 

Let's try hard to ask for forgiveness from past sins and always hope for Allah's mercy and love.

Real Wealth

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَيْسَ الْغِنَى عَنْ كَثْرَةِ الْعَرَضِ وَلَكِنَّ الْغِنَى غِنَى النَّفْسِ 

From Abu Hurairah from the Prophet SAW he said: "Wealth is not because of the abundance of wealth, but wealth is the richness of the heart (always feeling enough)."

(HR Bukhari No: 6446)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings:

1. Wealth in Islam is not seen in the possession of a lot of property. 

2. The real wealth of a Muslim is when he has a rich heart (the nature of being satisfied with every sustenance he has, being satisfied and not greedy). 

3.  How many rich people possesses wealth but always feel they are still lacking.  His heart is not satisfied with the sustenance that Allah SWT had given him. He still continues to search for what he has not yet achieved. His heart is still not satisfied with what he has. That means that he is always poor because he wants to continually search and search again. 

4. An Nawawi said: "The praiseworthy rich is a rich heart, a heart that is always satisfied and not greedy in seeking worldly luxuries.  The admirable rich is not having a lot of wealth and continuously wanting to add more. 

Let us be the owner of a heart that is always rich with the nature of feeling satisfied with the possessions that we have but always feeling poor with our righteous deeds.

Du'a To Avoid Harm

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا لَقِيتُ مِنْ عَقْرَبٍ لَدَغَتْنِي الْبَارِحَةَ قَالَ: أَمَا لَوْ قُلْتَ حِينَ أَمْسَيْتَ: أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ لَمْ تَضُرَّكَ 

A man came to the Prophet SAW and said: O Messenger of Allah, when I was sleeping, a scorpion came and stung me. So the Prophet SAW said: If you read in the evening (night): I take refuge in the perfect kalimah of Allah from all the evils that Allah SWT has created", then nothing will happen that will harm you."

[Narrated by Muslim No: 2709]

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings: 

1. D'ua is one of the great acts of worship because it connects between the servant and Allah SWT. 

2. The Prophet SAW taught us du'a that will keep us away from harmful things.  Among his du'a: 

أَعُوضُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ 

"I take refuge in the perfect kalimah of Allah from all the evils that Allah SWT has created" 

3. Whoever recites this du'a in the evening or at night, nothing can harm him until the next morning.

Do The Best and Ask For The Best

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم: إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ أَعَدَّهَا اللَّهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَا بَيْنَ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ فَاسْأَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ فَإِنَّهُ أَوْسَطُ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَعْلَى الْجَنَّة وَفَوْقَهُ عَرْشُ الرَّحْمَنِ وَمِنْهُ تَفَجَّرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّة 

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah RA that he said: The Messenger of Allah SAW said: "Verily in Heaven there are a hundred levels that Allah has prepared for those who strive in the way of Allah. The distance between one level and another is like the distance between heaven and earth. When you du'a to Allah, ask Him for *Firdaus Paradise*, because Firdaus Paradise is the middle and highest Heaven. On it there is the Throne of Allah, the Most Merciful. It is from the Firdaus Paradise that all the springs of the rivers of Paradise flow"

(HR Bukhari No: 2581)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings: 

1. Each of us always expect to be the best and most excellent person in life in this world and in the hereafter. 

2. Getting the reward of Heaven in the hereafter is highly hoped for by everyone.  Rasulullah SAW told us to du'a in order to get the best Paradise which is Firdaus Paradise. 

In a hadith from Anas bin Malik RA, the Prophet SAW said about Paradise; 

الْفِرْدَوْسُ رَبْوَةُ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَوْسَطُهَا وَأَفْضَلُهَا 

Meaning: Firdaus is the highest heaven, the best, and the most afdhal.

(HR Tirmizi No 3174)

Status: Sahih Hadith. 

3. To be excellent and the best, it demands us to strive and work hard in order to achieve it.  Saidina Ali RA once said: "Let your ambition be as high as the sky, even if you don't achieve all, achieving some of it is more than your high ambitions but started low from the beginning". 

4. Excellence is not awarded to those who work carelessly but to those who race and earnestly do good. 

5. When we du'a, ask for the best and most pleasing to Allah SWT, including asking to be included in Firdaus Paradise. 

Let's start the new year 2023 Masihi with our best resolutions and du'as.

Be The Door Opener of Goodness

عن أنس بن مالك قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَفَاتِيحَ لِلْخَيْرِ مَغَالِيقَ لِلشَّرِّ وَإِنَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَفَاتِيحَ لِلشَّرِّ مَغَالِيقَ لِلْخَيْرِ فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مَفَاتِيحَ الْخَيْرِ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ وَوَيْلٌ لِمَنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مَفَاتِيحَ الشَّرِّ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ 

From Anas bin Malik RA, the Prophet SAW said, "Indeed, there are people among people who open the door to goodness and close the door to evil. And indeed among humans there are those who open the door of evil and close the door of goodness.  Fortunate is the person whom Allah makes him the door opener of goodness through his hand. And woe to the person who opens the door of evil through his hands."

(HR. Ibnu Majah no. 237)

Status: Hadith Hasan 

Learnings: 

1. Allah SWT created different people. There are people who open the door to goodness and close the door to evil. 

2. But there are people who open the door to evil and close the door to goodness. 

3. Blessed be the person whom Allah SWT has made open the door of goodness through his hands. 

4. People who want to open the door to goodness and close the door to evil, should do the following:

a.  Be sincere in all actions and words just to worship Allah SWT and make it a source of our goodness and glory.

b.  Du'a to Allah SWT to be given taufiq to be someone who opens the door of goodness, because du'a is the key to all goodness.

c.  Be diligent in seeking knowledge because knowledge drives a person to goodness and glory.

d.  Always worship Allah SWT, especially prayers, because prayers can prevent from evil and evil deeds.

e.  Act with noble and gentle morals, and stay away from bad and uncivilized morals.

f.  Be friends with pious people and often be with them. Advising others, whether known or not, so that goodness is with us and away from vice.

g.  Always remember the day of retribution so that we always do good deeds as a preparation.

h.  Always try to benefit others. 

Try to make yourself open the door of goodness and always close the door of evil.

Du'a To Granted Guidance

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى 

From Abdullah (Abdullah bin Mas'ud) from the Prophet SAW that Rasulullah SAW used to pray: "O Allah! Indeed, I am asking you for guidance, piety, al-iffah (avoiding bad deeds) and sufficiency (not begging))."

(HR Muslim No: 2721)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings: 

1. Rasulullah SAW taught us to du'a to be granted guidance, to have the nature of piety, to be endowed with the nature of 'afaf (avoid bad deeds) and ghina (not begging). 

2. Hidayah is guidance and guidance from Allah SWT.  No one gets guidance but only Allah SWT gives it. 

3. Everyone needs to ask Allah SWT for guidance, to be guided to strengthen their faith, increase their righteous deeds and speech and good morals in facing various problems in the world and the hereafter. 

4. If someone wants to be guided to become a good Muslim, pious, able to live this life well, safely, with a peaceful heart and avoid bad deeds, then ask only to Allah SWT, not to others. 

5. Imam Nawawi in the Syarah Sahih Muslim: says, "Afaf means to stay away and refrain from things that are not allowed.  While al-ghina is a heart that always feels enough and does not need what is on the human side." 

6. In conjunction with the arrival of the new year 2023 Masihi, let's du'a more with the du'a taught by the Prophet SAW: 

*اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى* 

O Allah!  Indeed, I ask you for guidance, piety, al-iffah (avoidance of bad deeds) and al-ghina (sufficiency and not begging) 

The Prophet taught us to ask for 4 things in this prayer:

a.  Al-huda is guidance in knowledge and charity.

b.  Al-taqwa means always being alert and careful in order to carry out Allah's commands and avoid prohibitions.

c.  Al-afaf means staying away from forbidden things such as adultery and the like.

d.  Al-ghina, that is, being satisfied with what Allah has bestowed upon with the state of qonaah, always feeling enough when bestowed by Allah be it a little or a lot of wealth. 

May Allah bless us with guidance that will guide us to become pious people and have the qualities that keep us away from what is unlawful and always be satisfied with the sustenance that is available.

Dzikr To Avoid Unwanted Things

عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مَنْ قَالَ فِي دُبُرِ صَلاَةِ الفَجْرِ وَهُوَ ثَانٍ رِجْلَيْهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ: لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ كُتِبَتْ لَهُ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ  وَمُحِيَ عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ وَرُفِعَ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَكَانَ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ فِي حِرْزٍ مِنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوهٍ وَحُرِسَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَلَمْ يَنْبَغِ لِذَنْبٍ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ إِلاَّ الشِّرْكَ بِاللَّهِ. 

From Abu Dzar RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: "Whoever recites after the Fajr prayer while crossing his legs (in tashahhud position), before speaking he recites: "There is no god worthy of worship except Allah, He has no partners, all kingdoms belong to Him and all praise belongs to Him, He who gives life and death, and He is Able to do everything", as many as 10 times, then 10 good deeds are recorded for him and 10 sins are erased from him and he is elevated 10 degrees, and on that day he is in the protection of everything that is not wanted, as well as protection from Satan, likewise there is no sin on him on that day except if he shirk to Allah."

(HR Tirmidhi No: 3474)

Status: Hassan Sahih 

Learnings: 

1. Every Muslim is encouraged to dzikr/remember and du'a after prayers. 

2. Among the dzikr that is recommended to be recited after the Fajr prayer while crossing one's legs (in the tashahud position), before saying anything else is;

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 

Whoever reads it 10 times, then:

a.  Recorded for him 10 virtues

b.  Removed from him 10 faults

c.  Raised for him 10 degrees

d.  On that day he was in the protection of everything that was not wanted

e.  Protection from Satan that day

f.  It is not worthy of any sin on him on that day (to be forgiven) except the sin of shirk to Allah 

3. The person who recites this dzikr after the morning prayer 10 times while still sitting like the final tahiyat and has not spoken anything else, will be protected from something unwanted including various diseases and also protected from other dangers. 

Let's start this new year 2023 Masihi to practice this wirid after the fardhu prayer at Fajr as well as at Maghrib. May we always receive goodness and be protected from any evil and sin.

Deeds That Allah Loves

أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ وَأَشَارَ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوْ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي 

Abu Amru Ash Shaibani said, "The owner of this house told us - while pointing to Abdullah's house - he said, "I once asked the Prophet SAW, "What deed is most loved by Allah?"  He replied: "Prayer at its time."  Abdullah asked again, "Then what else?"  He replied: "Then serve the two parents."  Abdullah asked again, "Then what else?"  He replied: "Jihad fi sabilillah."  Abdullah said, "He told me all that, if I ask for more, he will surely add it for me."

(HR Bukhari No: 496)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings: 

1. Various righteous deeds are required for us to do. There are deeds that are important to do, there are deeds that Allah loves the most depending on the situation, time and place. 

2. The three deeds that Allah loves the most:

a.  Pray on time with us trying to fulfill the obligation of prayer at the beginning of the time. 

b.  Be devoted to parents by trying to do good, be devoted to both parents and make them happy, whether they are alive or after their death. 

c.  Jihad in the path of Allah by sacrificing wealth, self, comfort to do what is right and what is wrong 

Strive to do deeds that Allah loves through keeping prayer time, being devoted to parents and jihad in the way of Allah in various areas of good deeds.

Allah's Pleasure And Parents' Pleasure

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ النَّبِيِّ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلّى اللَُّ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said قَالَ رِضَى الرَّبِّ فِرِى الوَالِدِ وَسخَطُ الرَّبِّ فِي سَخَطِ الوَالِِ 

From Abdullah bin Amr RA ​​from the Prophet SAW, he said: "Allah's pleasure is found in the pleasure of a father, and Allah's anger is also found in the anger of a father."

(HR Tirmizi No: 1821)

Status: Hadith Hasan 

Learnings: 

1. The manners of a child is to be devoted and do good to both parents 

2. Imam Al Ghazali said: Among the manners of children to their parents;  listening to his words, obeying his orders (as long as it does not conflict with Syaria), not walking in front of him, not raising his voice, and trying to get his pleasure. 

3. Allah's approval of a person depends on the approval of both parents 

رِضَا الرَّرِّ فِى رِضَا الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَسُخْتُهُ فِى سُخْطِهِمَا 

God's pleasure lies in the pleasure of both parents and Allah's wrath lies in the anger of both parents

(HR Tabrani from Ibn Umar). 

Let's strive to be a pious child towards both parents.

Repaying Parents

عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا يَقُولُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاسْتَأْذَنَهُ فِي الْجِهَادِ فَقَالَ أَحَيٌّ وَالِدَاكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَفِيهِمَا فَجَاهِدْ 

Abdullah bin 'Amru radliallahu 'anhuma said: "A man came to the Prophet SAW and asked for permission to go to jihad. Then he asked: "Are your parents still alive?" The man replied: "yes". So he  said: "To both of them you jihad (devotion to)".

(HR Bukhari No: 2782)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings: 

1. Serving and doing good to parents is required such as helping from a financial point of view, care especially when they are unwell or old and to love them. 

2. Serving and being devoted to both parents is part of jihad. 

3. There was a friend whom the Prophet SAW did not allow to go to jihad and was asked to serve his two parents who were still alive. 

4. Devotion is also demanded after the death of parents.  Among them is fulfilling obligatory debts, which are debts with Allah SWT such as fasting, hajj, vows and also debts to humans.

Hadith of the Prophet SAW from Ibn Abbas RA, 

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ شَهْرٍ أَفَأَقْضِيهِ عَنْهَا قَالَ: نَعَمْ قَالَ: فَدَيْنُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُقْضَى 

A man came to the Prophet SAW and said: O Messenger of Allah!  Indeed, my mother has passed away and unto her is Ramadan fasting (did not perform fasting).  Do I need to fast on his behalf?  The Prophet SAW said: "Yes, because the debt to God is more entitled to be fulfilled."

(HR Bukhari No: 1953) 

Do good to parents who have served us whether they are still alive or passed away. 

The Groups Whose Du'a Are Answered

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لَا شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ 

From Abu Hurairah he said;  The Prophet SAW said: "There are 3 types of du'a that will be answered and there is no doubt about them: the prayer of the oppressed, the prayer of the traveller, and the du'a of parents for their children."

(HR Tirmizi No: 1828) 

Status: Hadith Hasan 

Learnings: 

1. There are 3 groups that Allah SWT has given privileges where their du'a are accepted by Allah SWT: 

a) Du'a from the oppressed

b) Du'a of people who are travelling

c) Du'a of parents to their children 

2. Muslims are required to always do good in association and relationships with members of the community including both parents. 

3. Avoid bad relationships with other people to the point that we become the cause of oppressing others. 

4. Make sure we don't do something bad by oppressing others to the point of causing them to pray bad for us. 

5. For those who are travelling, take advantage of the time of mustajab du'a throughout the time of traveling by increasing the number of du'a for yourself and others. 

6. For parents, take the opportunity to multiply good du'a for children. Bad words to children can also be a fu'a for them and it should be avoided.

Du'a For A Steadfast Heart

عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ يَقُولُا أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ قُلُوبَ بَنِي آدَمَ كُلَّهَا بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْنِ مِنْ أَصَابِعِ الرَّحْمَنِ كَقَلْبٍ وَاحِدٍ يُصَرِّفُهُ حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اللَّهُمَّ مُصَرِّفَ الْقُلُوبِ صَرِّفْ قُلُوبَنَا عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ 

Abdullah bin 'Amru bin Al 'Ash said;  that he once heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: "Indeed, the hearts of all people are between two fingers of the many fingers of Allah, the Most Merciful. Allah SWT will turn the hearts of people according to His will."  After that, the Prophet SAW said du'a;  "Oh Allah, the One who turns hearts, turn our hearts to obedience to worship You!"  

(HR Muslim No: 4798) 

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings: 

1. Indeed al-qalb (heart) is derived from the word 'taqallub' which means to change frequently (back and forth).  The heart is like a feather on a tree that changes when the wind blows.  It also goes back and forth faster than boiling water in a pot. 

2. Such is the nature of the heart that quickly changes and change between good and evil.  So be careful in taking care of what is in your heart so that it stays on goodness.  Indeed, sight, hearing, environment, association and what a person eats or drinks and reads can cause the heart to change with the permission of Allah SWT.  However, it is Allah SWT who gives inspiration and effort to His servants to choose the path of happiness or misery. 

3.  The human heart is under the control of the Most Merciful God.  Allah turns the human heart according to His will. Imam Nawawi said: Allah turns a person's heart back and forth as He wills. 

4. Every Muslim is required to always pray for guidance to Allah SWT at least 17 times a day (in prayer). The Prophet SAW himself always begged Allah SWT to strengthen his heart in carrying out obedience and religion because that guidance belongs to Allah SWT.  Among the prayers taught by the Prophet SAW: 

اللَّهُمَّ مُصَرِّفَ الْقُلُوبِ صَرِّفْ قُلُوبَنَا عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ 

O Allah, You who turn hearts, turn our hearts to obedience in worshipping You. 

5.  If a servant depends and leans on himself, he will surely perish. 

6. We should leave all efforts to Allah and do not turn away from Him even for a moment. 

Each of us should always pray and beseech Allah to continue to strengthen our hearts in obedience and not fall into immorality or going astray.

Dedication To Parents

عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَى اللَّىُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ الوَالِدُ عَسْتُ البْوَابِ الْجَنَةِ فَآِعْ ذَلِكَ الْبَابَ َوْ احْفظْ 

From Abu Ad Darda he heard the Prophet SAW saying: "Old people are like the mediators of the gates of heaven, therefore place them or take good care of them."

(Sunan Ibnu Majah No: 3653)

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Learnings: 

1. Parents are like the gates of heaven for every child. 

2. It is the duty of children to do good and be devoted to their parents, then Allah will reward them in heaven. 

3. Al-Qadhi Baidhawi said: The best way to enter heaven, and the way to get a high rank in heaven is to obey parents and try to love and serve them. There are also scholars who say, 'There are many doors in heaven.  The most comfortable to enter is the middle one.  To be able to enter heaven through the middle door is to be devoted to the elderly.' (Tuhfatul Ahwadzi, 6/21). 

4. Children who are not devoted and good to their parents, will miss the opportunity to go to heaven. 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَغِمَ أَنْفُهُ ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُهُ ثُمَّ رَغِمَ أَنْفُهُ قِيلَ مَنْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ وَالِدَيْهِ عِنْدَ الْكِبَرِ أَحَدَهُمَا أَوْ كِلَيْهِمَا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ الْجَنَّةَ 

From Abu Hurairah he said;  The Prophet SAW said: "Woe to him! Woe to him! Woe to him!"  then he was asked;  "Who is the wretched one, O Messenger of Allah?"  Answered the Prophet SAW: "Whoever finds both his parents (in old age), or one of them, but he does not try to enter heaven (by trying to serve him as best he can)."  

(HR Muslim No: 4628) 

Status: Sahih 

Be devoted as much as possible to both parents whether they are alive or deceased (by praying for them).

Wealth And Health Of Pious People

حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خُبَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمِّهِ قَالَ كُنَّا فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَطَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعَلَى رَأْسِهِ أَثَرُ مَاءٍ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَرَاكَ طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ قَالَ أَجَلْ قَالَ ثُمَّ خَاضَ الْقَوْمُ فِي ذِكْرِ الْغِنَى فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا  بَأْسَ بِالْغِنَى لِمَنْ اتَّقَى وَالصِّحَّةُ لِمَنْ ATَّقَى خيْرٌ مِنْ الْغِنَى وَطِيبُ النَّفْسِ مِنْ النَّعِيمِ 

Mu'adz bin 'Abdullah bin Khubaib narrated to us from his father from his uncle who said;  We were at a party and then the Messenger of Allah SAW came, there was water in his hair, we said;  O Messenger of Allah!  We saw the Prophet was happy. The Prophet SAW  said: "True."  Then people discuss wealth.  The Prophet SAW said: "There is nothing wrong with wealth for those who fear Allah and health for those who fear Allah is better (than wealth) and the happiness of the soul is part of the enjoyment."  

(Musnad Ahmad No:  22144)  

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Lessons: 

1. The wealth that one possesses is not blameworthy as long as it is managed in a pious manner. 

2. Allah-fearing owners will ensure the source of their property is clean and halal in addition to fulfilling their rights to their property such as zakat and almsgiving. 

3. The rich people are criticized when they do not fulfill their property rights and never feel satisfied with what they have. 

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ binِ عْمْرِْ binِ الْعَاسِ عَنْ رُسْلَ اللَِّّ صَلَى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهُ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ قَدْ Aَفَلَحَ مَنْ عَسَلَمَ وَرُزِقَ كَفَافَّ وَقَمُ اللَعَعَِ 

From Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Ash, the Prophet SAW said, "Indeed, the person who has converted to Islam is very fortunate, given enough sustenance and Allah makes him feel satisfied (qanaah) with what is given to him."  

(HR Muslim no: 1746) 

4. The health possessed by a person who fears God is better than wealth.  Owned health cannot be exchanged for money and property. 

5. The happiness of the soul (peace, tranquility and spaciousness) is part of the wealth of the enjoyment of life. 

6. Having money and wealth does not guarantee peace of mind. 

Let them have wealth, as long as they have the quality of qanaah (feeling enough) and are always grateful by fulfilling their property rights and the soul of the property owner always feels calm and happy.

Believers Who Are More Loved By Allah

From Abu Hurairah RA he said;  "The Messenger of Allah SAW said: 'A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah SWT than a weak believer. There is goodness in each of them. Be eager to do things that benefit you and ask Allah for help, and do not be lazy (be a person who is weak). If an accident befalls you, then do not say: 'If I had done this and that, it would not have become this and that'. But say: 'This is Allah's destiny and what He wills will surely be done. And stay away from saying 'If only' because the expression 'If' opens up the opportunity for Satan to enter " 

(HR Muslim No: 4816) 

Status: Sahih Hadith 

Teaching: 

1. A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah SWT than a weak believer. 

2. A believer who is strong and loved by Allah SWT is one who has a strong faith and is able to fulfill his obligations and fulfill his responsibilities. 

3. Weak believers do not fulfill their obligations and refuse to abandon what is unlawful.  People like this have shortcomings and are not liked by Allah SWT. 

4. These two believers both have goodness.  A believer who is weak in faith, still has goodness and he is certainly better than a disbeliever. But believers who have strong faith are of course more loved by Allah SWT. 

5. The Messenger of Allah SWT (SAW) commanded to be enthusiastic in doing beneficial things in matters related to religion and the world in order to become a better believer and more loved by Allah. 

6. If something unpleasant happens, be satisfied with the decision of fate with a calm heart so that your faith increases. 

7. Avoid saying "if" or "in case" because it will open up opportunities for Satan's incitement. 

Let us be merciful by being believers with strong faith

Reciting "Subhanallah (Hallowed be Allah)" Is Rewarded Two-Fold

عَنْ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَيَعْجِزُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَكْسِبَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ أَلْفَ حَسَنَةٍ فَسَأَلَهُ سَائِلٌ مِنْ جُلَسَائِهِ كَيْفَ يَكْسِبُ أَحَدُنَا أَلْفَ حَسَنَةٍ قَالَ يُسَبِّحُ مِائَةَ تَسْبِيحَةٍ فَيُكْتَبُ لَهُ أَلْفُ حَسَنَةٍ أَوْ يُحَطُّ عَنْهُ أَلْفُ خَطِيئَةٍ

Mus'ab b. Sa'd reported that his father told him that he had been in the company of Allah's Messenger (pbuh) that he said:

"Is one amongst you powerless to obtain one thousand virtues every day?" 

Amongst those who had been sitting there, one asked, "How can one amongst us obtain one thousand virtues every day?" 

He said, "Recite: 'Subhanallah (Hallowed be Allah)' one hundred times, for (by reciting it) one thousand virtues are recorded and one thousand vices are blotted out.

Grade: Sahih

Source: Sahih Muslim 2698

Translation: Adapted from http://sunnah.com/muslim/48/47

Lessons:

1. Dzikr (remembrance of Allah) is a commandment of Islam.

2. Reciting 'Subhanallah (Hallowed be Allah)' is one practice which gains an individual reward and eliminates sin.

3. One who recites 'Subhanallah' one hundred times a day will acquire a thousand merits and will have a thousand of his sins absolved.

Let us regularly recite 'Subhanallah'

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ حُطَّتْ خَطَايَاهُ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "Whoever says 'Subhanallah wa bihamdih (Hallowed be Allah, and all praise is for Allah' one hundred times a day, he will be forgiven of all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea."

Grade: Sahih

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6405

Translation: sunnah.com

Sinning Renders The Heart Uneasy

عَنْ النَّوَّاسِ بْنِ سَمْعَانَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ الْبِرِّ وَالْإِثْمِ فَقَالَ الْبِرُّ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَالْإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ

An-Nawwas bin Sam'an (RAA) narrated, ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about virtue and vice. He said, ‘Virtue is a kind disposition and vice is what rankles in your heart and you would disapprove that people should come to know of it.’

(Hadith translation taken from https://sunnah.com/muslim/45/16)

Lessons:

1. Every good deed by a Muslim is a part of praiseworthy conduct (akhlaq) and merits reward from Allah.

2. Evil deeds are a form of immoral conduct and result in sin.

3. Every sin by a Muslim brings the heart unease.

4. Those who sin would be ashamed if their wrongdoings were to be made known to others.

Let us be steadfast in doing good and refrain from sinful acts!

The Place Dearest To Allah

عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ مَوْلَى أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَحَبُّ الْبِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدُهَا وَأَبْغَضُ الْبِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَسْوَاقُهَا

Narrated Abi Hurairah:

Rasulullah (ﷺ) said, “The places on earth most loved by Allah are its mosques, and the most hated are its markets.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim, hadith no. 671

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. The mosque is the abode of Allah, visited by Muslims – among other things – to offer congregational prayer.

2. It is the place most loved by Allah and where ties of kinship are forged.

3. The mosque is also where iman (faith) is strengthened and knowledge is gathered. Allah says in the Quran:

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلا الله َ فَعَسَى أُولَئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ

“The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.” – Surah at-Taubah, verse 18

Translation from Sahih International

4. The place most unliked by Allah is the market (i.e. where goods are bought and where people loiter). Imam Nawawi said in Syarh Sahih Muslim, “The market is where fraud, deception, perjury, promise-breaking, disregard for (the commands of) Allah and the like take place.”  

May we be given the opportunity again to fill the mosques and nurture our remembrance of Allah.

The Home Furthest From The Mosque

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ خَلَتْ الْبِقَاعُ حَوْلَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَأَرَادَ بَنُو سَلِمَةَ أَنْ يَنْتَقِلُوا إِلَى قُرْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَنْتَقِلُوا قُرْبَ الْمَسْجِدِ قَالُوا نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ أَرَدْنَا ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي سَلِمَةَ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ

Narrated Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah:

There were some plots vacant around the mosque. Banu Salama (one of the tribes) decided to shift (to this land) so as to live near the mosque. This (news) reached the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said to them, “I have received (information) that you intend to shift near the mosque” They said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah, we have taken this decision.” Upon this, he (ﷺ) said, “O Banu Salama, live in your houses, for your steps are recorded; live in your houses, for your steps are recorded.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim, hadith no. 665

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Translation adapted from sunnah.com

Reflections:

1. Islam stresses that Muslim men fill the mosque and perform congregational prayer there.

2. The further one’s home is from the mosque, the more effort it takes for one to visit it, resulting in more reward.

3. Rasulullah (ﷺ) forbade his Companions who were already residing far from the mosque to find homes closer to it. They were asked to visit the mosque nonetheless.

4. In the above narration, he (ﷺ) stressed twice to the tribe Banu Salama not to move homes so that they would gain more reward; in another narration, it is explained that every step to the mosque alternately raises one’s position by Allah and expiates one sin.

Allah Rewards Both Walking To And From The Mosque

عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ لَا أَعْلَمُ رَجُلًا أَبْعَدَ مِنْ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْهُ وَكَانَ لَا تُخْطِئُهُ صَلَاةٌ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوْ قُلْتُ لَهُ لَوْ اشْتَرَيْتَ حِمَارًا تَرْكَبُهُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ وَفِي الرَّمْضَاءِ قَالَ مَا يَسُرُّنِي أَنَّ مَنْزِلِي إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ لِي مَمْشَايَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرُجُوعِي إِذَا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ

Ubay bin Ka’ab reported:

There was a man, and I do not know of any other man, whose house was farther than his from the mosque and he never missed the prayer (in congregation). It was said to him or I said to him, “It would be better if you were to buy a donkey; you could ride upon it in the dark nights and in the burning sand.” He said, “I do not like my house to be situated by the side of the mosque, for I (eagerly) desire that my steps towards the mosque and back from it should be recorded when I return to my family.” Upon, this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah has gathered all (rewards) for you.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim, hadith no. 663

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Translation adapted from sunnah.com

Reflections:

1. Among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) were those who never missed congregational prayer at the mosque even though their homes were further than anyone else’s.

2. There were among the Companions those who preferred to live far from the mosque so that their steps to and fro would gather them more reward.

3. Imam Nawawi wrote in Syarah Sahih Muslim, “Allah grants the same reward for coming home from the mosque as He does going to it.”

Thus, all the same, every step returning from the mosque alternately raises a Muslim’s standing by one degree (in the sight of Allah) and abolishes one sin.

Fasting, The Dhuha Prayer And The Witir Prayer

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِثَلَاثٍ بِصِيَامِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَيْ الضُّحَى وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَرْقُدَ

Abu Hurairah reported, “My dear companion the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed me with three things: to fast three days in every month, to offer two rak’ahs of forenoon prayer, and to offer the witir prayer before bedtime.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim, hadith no. 721

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Rasulullah (ﷺ) wished that his followers perform the following:

a) observing three days of fasting per month

b) praying two rak’ahs in the forenoon (commonly known as the dhuha prayer)

c) praying the witir prayer before retiring to bed; witir translates to ‘odd’, as in an odd number of raka’ahs 

2. One who fasts three days in a month will receive the reward of fasting every day in that month, as the reward will be multiplied by 10. Rasulullah (ﷺ) said

مَنْ صَامَ الْأَبَدَ صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ الشَّهْرِ صَوْمُ الشَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ

“Whoever fasts three days in a month, fasts the whole of the month.”

Narrated by Imam Muslim

Grade: sahih (authentic)

3. Rasulullah (ﷺ) also said

أَيُّكُمْ خَافَ أَنْ لاَ يَقُومَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ ثُمَّ لْيَرْقُدْ وَمَنْ وَثِقَ بِقِيَامٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَلْيُوتِرْ مِنْ آخِرِهِ فَإِنَّ قِرَاءَةَ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ مَحْضُورَةٌ وَذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ

“Whoever amongst you doubts that he will wake up during the latter part of the night (to make prayer), should offer the witir prayer before retiring to bed. And whoever is sure of waking up, should pray later as recitations during the latter part of the night are witnessed (by the angels) – this is preferred.” 

 

Narrated by Imam Muslim

Grade: sahih (authentic)

May we discipline ourselves in following what the Prophet (ﷺ) enjoined in the above hadiths as they are sunnah mu’akkadah (strongly encouraged).

The Best Rows In Prayer

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُ صُفُوفِ الرِّجَالِ أَوَّلُهَا وَشَرُّهَا آخِرُهَا وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The best rows for men are the first rows and the worst the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last rows and the worst the first ones.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Translation adapted from sunnah.com

Reflections:

1. The best position for men to be in during congregational prayer is the first row:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لَاسْتَهَمُوا 

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “If the people knew the reward for calling to prayer and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayer) and found no other way to reap that reward except by drawing lots, then they would draw lots.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: sahih (authentic)

2. The row which garners the least reward for men is the row furthest from the imam (i.e. the last row).

3. On the other hand, the furthest row from the imam is the best for women to be in during congregational prayer if there is no partition separating them from the men.

4. However, if a partition is present, the reward for being in the first row applies to women in the same way it does to men.

The Five Obligatory Prayers Absolve Sins

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهْرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ قَالُوا لَا يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ قَالَ فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الْخَطَايَا

Abi Hurairah narrated:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Look, if there were a river by the door of any one of you and he bathed in it five times a day, would there be any dirt left on him?” They (a group of the Companions) replied, “No trace of dirt would be left on him.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then said, “That is the likeness of the five prayers by which Allah erases sins.”

Narrated in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, hadith no. 3107

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. The five daily prayers erases lesser sins that a person accumulates in between performing them.

2. Offering the mandatory prayers is akin to cleansing oneself in a river five times a day.

May our prayers expiate our sins.

Ablution Absolves Sins

عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَظْفَارِهِ

‘Uthman bin ‘Affan narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever performs wudhu’ (ablution) and does it well, his sins will exit his body even from under his nails.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Completing wudhu’ (ablution) is a pre-requisite for the validity of solah (prayer).

2. Performing wudhu’ well comprises following through with all its routines according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (ﷺ), including those which are supererogatory.  

3. Whoever performs wudhu’ well will have his/her lesser sins forgiven.

The Radiant Marks of Ablution

عَنْ نُعَيْمٍ الْمُجْمِرِ قَالَ رَقِيتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي يُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ آثَارِ الْوُضُوءِ فَمَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطِيلَ غُرَّتَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ

Nu’aim bin al-Mujmir narrated:

I went to the mosque with Abi Hurairah. He took wudhu’ and he said, “I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say, ‘Verily, my followers will be known on the Day of Judgment as ‘Ghurran Muhajjalin’. Whosoever is able to increase his radiance, let him do so.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Muslims who are thorough when performing wudhu’ (ablution) will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment with lustre faces, hands and feet, which are the body parts involved in washing.

2. It is preferred to be generous with the water used on these body parts.

3. As such, amongst everyone gathered, the followers of Muhammad (ﷺ) will be called ‘Ghurran Muhajjalin’ on the Day of Judgment. This is an Arabic term normally used to refer to prized horses whose faces and feet are marked white, differently coloured from the rest of their fur.

The Angels Await Those Who Attend Friday Prayers

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَكْتُبُونَ الْأَوَّلَ فَالْأَوَّلَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ الْإِمَامُ طَوَوْا الصُّحُفَ وَجَاءُوا يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ

Abi Hurairah narrated:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “On every Friday, angels wait at every door of the mosque to take the names of attendees in order of their arrival. When the imam sits (in preparation for the sermon), they fold up their scrolls and listen to him.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari, hadith no. 3211

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. It is mandatory for every male Muslim who has come of age to attend Friday prayers.

2. Those attending Friday prayers are strongly encouraged to be at the mosque early as there is less reward for latecomers, elaborated in a more extensive version of the aforementioned hadith:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ اغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ غُسْلَ الْجَنَابَةِ ثُمَّ رَاحَ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَدَنَةً وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَقَرَةً وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ كَبْشًا أَقْرَنَ وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ دَجَاجَةً وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الْخَامِسَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَيْضَةً فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الْإِمَامُ حَضَرَتْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ

Abu Hurairah narrated:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever on Friday takes the ghuslal janabah (the ceremonial bath for purity), then goes to the mosque during the first hour, he will be rewarded as if he offered a female camel for sacrifice. Whoever goes during the second hour, it is as if he offered a cow. Whoever goes during the third hour, it as if he offered a horned ram. Whoever goes during the fourth hour, it is as if he offered hen. Whoever goes during the fifth hour, it is as if he offered an egg. And when the imam appears for the khutbah (sermon), the angels (stop recording attendance) and listen.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

3. Thus, Muslim men should strive to come early for Friday prayers in hopes of reaping the most reward from what the angels record.

Giving Attention To The Ffiday Khutbah

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ  قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْجُمُعَةَ فَاسْتَمَعَ وَأَنْصَتَ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَزِيَادَةُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَنْ مَسَّ الْحَصَى فَقَدْ لَغَا

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whosoever makes wudhu’ with thoroughness, then goes to the Friday prayer, then listens to the khutbah (sermon) in silence, his sins will be forgiven until the next Friday and three days past it. And whosoever fiddles with pebbles (in his hand), he has committed a purposeless act (i.e. an interruption).”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Those who go through the ordained routines in performing the Friday congregational prayer, including refraining from speech during the sermon, will have their lesser sins forgiven for the coming 10 days.

2. Members of the congregation are obliged to give their full attention during the Friday sermon. Fiddling with objects – handphones, pens and the like – negates the reward for attending the prayer.

Let’s make it a practise to focus during the Friday sermon and reap the reward of Allah’s forgiveness.

The Sunnah of Dental Hygiene

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي أَوْ عَلَى النَّاسِ لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ مَعَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Were it not burdensome unto my followers or the people, I would have decreed them to take the siwak (stick used for cleaning the teeth) to every prayer.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Brushing the teeth was a simple, frequent practise of Rasulullah (ﷺ).

2. He (ﷺ) encouraged his followers to do as such before praying. Cleanliness is obligated upon a Muslim, more so when preparing to pray.

4. Keeping the teeth clean renders myriad benefits, including hygiene of the oral cavity, whitening of the teeth, and elimination of foul odours.

5. Dr. Wahbah al-Zuhaili in ‘Fiqhul Islami wa Adilatuhu’ wrote, “It is a consensus among religious scholars that cleaning the teeth is highly encouraged because of the ordainment of Rasulullah (ﷺ); he (ﷺ) habituated it and enjoined others.”

Chasing Away Shaytaan From The Nostrils

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ مَنَامِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَلْيَسْتَنْثِرْ ثَلاَثًا  فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَبِيتُ عَلَى خَيْشُومِهِ

Abi Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When anyone of you wakes up from sleep and makes wudhu’ (ablution), he should douche his nose three times, for Shaytaan (Satan) spends the night inside it.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari, hadith no. 3295

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Islam teaches us etiquette in our day-to-day routines.

2. A Muslims should regularly make wudhu’ upon waking up from sleep.

3. When making wudhu’, nasal douching (rinsing out the nostrils by inserting water into them and blowing them out) is encouraged.

4. Amongst the rationales for cleaning the nose with water after waking up is to chase out Shaytaan, who resides within.

Let’s make it a habit to perform wudhu’ and clean out our noses after getting up from a night’s sleep.

Undoing The Knots of Shaytaan

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّه صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا هُوَ نَامَ ثَلَاثَ عُقَدٍ يَضْرِبُ كُلَّ عُقْدَةٍ عَلَيْكَ لَيْلٌ طَوِيلٌ فَارْقُدْ فَإِنْ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِنْ صَلَّى انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَأَصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ وَإِلَّا أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلَانَ

Abi Hurairah narrated:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Shaytaan puts three knots at the back of your head when you sleep, and he seals each one by breathing unto them, ‘The night is long, so keep sleeping.’ When you wake up and utter the remembrance of Allah, you untie one knot. When you make wudhu’ (ablution), you untie the second. When you offer prayer, you untie the third. And you then get up energetic and in lively spirits; otherwise, you get up lethargic and in low spirits.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Shaytaan (Satan) always works to tempt and lead humans astray.

2.  Every night when a person goes to sleep, Shaytaan places three knots at the back of his head that may cause him to wake up lethargic and devoid of good spirits.

3. Rasulullah (ﷺ) taught us three methods to undo these knots:

a) Reciting the following du’a after waking up:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِيْ أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُوْرِ

“All praise to Allah who has given us life after causing our death (i.e. waking us up after putting us to sleep), and to Him is the Resurrection.” 

b) Cleaning up and making wudhu’ (ablution)

c) Offering two raka’ahs of supplementary prayer.

4. Thus, we can put into practise all three by getting up before the fajar (dawn) prayer. 

Let’s not allow Shaytaan to bind us and render us lazy and slothful. Ensure that his knots are loosened every day we wake up so that we become productive and do good deeds.