Prophet Muhammad’s Teachings on Different Ways of Earning Allah’s Rewards (10/11)

Immediately following up a sin with a good deed:

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow up a sin with a good deed, it will eradicate it - and deal with people kindly.” (Reprted by Ahmad)

Defending Muslims in their absence:

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whosoever defends his Muslim brother in his absence, Allah will keep the Hellfire away from his face on the Day of Resurrection.” (Reprted by Tirmidhi)

Being fair between people:

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Every day that the sun rises, charity is due from each of your joints, and being fair between people is a charity.” (Reprted by Bukhari)

Becoming a Muslim scholar:

Al Hasan Al Basri (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “The superiority of a scholar, who observes the prescribed prayer and then sits down to teach people goodness, over the worshipper, who observes fast during the day and worships during the night, is like my superiority over the lowest in rank amongst you.” (Reported by Tirmidhi, Hadeeth 250)

Loving one another for the fear of Allah:

Umar Bin al-Khattab (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as saying: “There are people from the servants of Allah who are neither prophets nor martyrs; the prophets and martyrs will envy them on the Day of Resurrection for their rank from Allah, the Most High.” They (the people) asked: “Tell us Messenger of Allah who are they?” He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) replied, “They are people who love one another for the fear of Allah without having any mutual kinship and giving property to one. I swear by Allah, their faces will glow and they will be (sitting) in (pulpits of) light. They will have no fear (on the Day) when the people will have fear, and they will not grieve when the people will grieve.” He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) then recited the following Qur’anic verse: “Behold! Verily for the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Reprted by Abu Daud, Hadeeth 3520)

Mu’adh Bin Jabal (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that I heard the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Master of Honor, says: ‘For those who love one another for the sake of fear of My majesty and magnificence, there will be high seats of light that will be the envy of prophets and martyrs.’” (Reported by Tirmidhi, Hadeeth 381)

Having patience and perseverance:

Abu Hurairah (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Allah says, ‘I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my believer slave, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allah’s Reward).” (Reprted by Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadeeth 432)

Shaddad and as-Sunabihi (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Allah who is Great and Glorious says, ‘When I afflict a servant of Mine who is a believer and he praises Me, for the affliction I have brought upon him; he will rise from that couch of his as sinless as he was the day his mother gave birth to him.’ The Rabb, Who is Blessed and Exalted, will say, ‘I fettered and afflicted My servant, so record for him what you were recording for him when he was well.’”  (Reported by Tirmidhi, Hadeeth 1579 and Ahmad)

Developing good character:

Abu Darda (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “There is nothing heavier than good character put in the scale of a believer on the Day of Resurrection.” (Reported by Abu Daud, Hadeeth 4781)

Abu Umamah (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right; a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking; and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good.” (Reported by Abu Daud, Hadeeth 4782)

Abu Hurairah (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Do you know the things which most commonly bring people into Paradise? They are fear of Allah and good character. Do you know what most commonly bring people into Hell? They are the two hollow things: the mouth and the private parts.” (Reported by Tirmidhi, Hadeeth 4832 and Ibn Majah)

Constancy in doing good deeds:

‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was asked, “What deeds are loved most by Allah?” He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few.” He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) added, “Don’t take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability.” (Reported by Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadeeth 472)

Loving to meet Allah:

Ubada Bin As Sami (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah (too) loves to meet him; and whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah (too) hates to meet him.” ‘Aishah or some of the wives of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “But we dislike death.” He said: “It is not like this, but it is meant that when the time of the death of a believer approaches, he receives the good news of Allah’s pleasure with him and His blessings upon him; and so at that time nothing is dearer to him than what is in front of him. He therefore loves the meeting with Allah, and Allah (too) loves the meeting with him. But when the time of the death of an unbeliever approaches, he receives the evil news of Allah’s Torment and His Requital, whereupon nothing is more hateful to him than what is before him. Therefore, he hates the meeting with Allah, and Allah too, hates the meeting with him.” (Reported by Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadeeth 514 and Muslim 6488)

Hakim Ibn Hizam (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated: I said to Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), “Before embracing Islam I used to do good deeds like giving in charity, slave-manumitting, and the keeping of good relations with kith and kin. Shall I be rewarded for those deeds?” The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) replied, “You became Muslim with all those good deeds (without losing their reward).” (Reported by Bukhari, Vol. 2, Hadeeth 517)

Three (kinds of) persons will have a double reward: Abu Burda’s father (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Three (kinds of) persons will have a double reward: 1) a person from the people of the scriptures who believed in his prophet (Jesus or Moses) and then believed in the Prophet Muhammad (i.e., has embraced Islam); 2) a slave who discharges his duties to Allah and his master; and 3) a master of a woman-slave who teaches her good manners and educates her in the best possible way (the religion) and manumits her and then marries her.” (Reported by Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadeeth 97)

Coming Closer to Allah with Goodness:

Abu Dharr (radhyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stated: ‘He who comes with goodness, there are in store for him ten like those and even more than those: ‘and he who comes with vice,’ it is only for that that he is called to account. I even forgive him (as I like). He who draws close to Me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the cubit. He who draws close to Me by the cubit, I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands. He who walks towards Me, I rush towards him. And he who meets Me in the state that his sins fill the earth, but not associating anything with Me, I would meet Him with the same (vastness) of pardon (on My behalf).” (Reported by Muslim, Hadeeth 6499)

(Continued)