Never Wait for a Good Deed in Return

Abu Hurairah (ra) realates that bour Holy Prophet (saws) said that "He who believes in Allah and in the Day of Judgement , should treat his relations well ".
[Bukhari]

Explanation : Good treatement of relatives is very pleasing to Allah and earns much merit. It has also been enjoined by the Holy Qur'an in several places and its merits described, for instance (Surah Nisa :36) "Show kindeness unto parents and unto near kindred".

Good treatment means courteous behaviour, sharing in happiness and grief and helping them in a lawful manner whenever required. Good treatment of relatives does not encompass committing sins for them. Hence, when a relative seeks help or support for any unlawful end, a polite excuse is called for.

Since good treatment of kinsmen should be for the sake of Divine Pleasure, one must never expect or wait for a good deed in return. Even when the return is not good, one should not abandon good treatment of his/her relations. Actually this is the acid test that shows whetrher the good treatment is for Allah or merely for show.

Accept Other's Viewpoint if it is Acceptable

Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) our Prophet (saw) says that, “Tenderness adorns everything and if removed would make it ugly."

[Sahih Muslim]

Explanation: Tenderness towards others is very pleasing to Allah and is very meritorious. Ayesha (ra) relates that our holy Prophet (saw) has said, 'Allah is kind and likes kindness and gives that reward for tenderness which is nor granted for harshness nor for anything else.” (Sahih Muslim)

Tenderness means that one must avoid using harsh words or harsh attitude in anger, and behave and speak with tenderness. If someone has to be checked or if a difference in opinion is to expressed, one should not be rough or harsh, but speak softly and kindly. If a younger person has to be trained and strictness cannot be avoided, it too should be adopted in moderation or to the extent needed.

Kind behaviour also implies that one must not argue or quarrel with others on every issue and think well of them as far as possible. Even haggling over price should not be harsh or acrimonious. One should be ready to accept an other's viewpoint if it is acceptable. and when if it is not so one should withdraw from argument. It is not good to compel others to agree with one's own viewpoint and to force them into submission.

Another hadith of the Prophet (saw) gives the same message of tenderness in this way . Jabir (ra) has related that our blessed Prophet (saw) said that, “Allah is kind to him who is tender and forgiving in selling as well as buying and even when asking others for his due". (Sahih Bukhari).

Thus, tenderness towards others is very pleasing to Allah and is highly meritorious.

Make Use of Your Health

On the authority of 'Abdullaah bin 'Umar Radiyallaahu `anhu, who said : The Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) took me by the shoulder and said :
"Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer."
And Ibn 'Umar (Radiyallaahu `anhu) used to say :
"In the evening do not expect [to live until] the morning, and in the morning do not expect [to live until] the evening. Take [advantage of] your health before times of sickness, and [take advantage of] your life before your death".

[Bukhari].

Explanation : The stranger [in a town] does not socialise much or behave cheerfully with its people, but rather remains aloof and lonely, as he does not hope to pass by someone who knows him, with whom he may socialise and be friendly. Thus he remains lowly, submissive and in a state of fear. And similar to this is the traveller, who is unable to complete his arduous journey except with great strength and determination, and by keeping light of all burdens, and by avoiding being tenacious in retaining those things which may prevent him from completing his journey.

And he only takes with him minimum provision for his journey which are enough to help him attain his destination. And this is an indication of his preference for abstention from the dunyaa, and for taking only that which is sufficient for him. And so, just as the traveller does not require more than that which will help him to reach his destination, so similarly the Believer does not require more of the dunyaa than that which will help him attain his goal [i.e. Paradise].

This hadeeth is evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saw) encouraged emulation of the strangers, since when a stranger enters a foreign land he does not compete with its people to attend their gatherings, nor does he worry about being seen in a state and condition opposite to that which is his normal habit in terms of his dress, nor does he try to behave contrary to the customs of the local people.

And similarly is the condition of the traveller who does not take a permanent abode of residence, nor does he enter into arguments with the local people which might cause hatred between them, knowing that he will only be amongst them for a few days. So all the conditions of the stranger and the traveller are beloved for the Believer in this dunyaa, as the dunyaa is not his true abode of residence. Rather, the dunyaa is merely an obstruction that prevents him from reaching his true abode and dwelling place in the Hereafter.

And as for the statement : "In the evening do not expect [to live until] the morning, and in the morning do not expect [to live until] the evening", then this is an encouragement from him for the Believers to always be prepared for the eventuality of death. And death is prepared for with Good Deeds. It is also an encouragement upon not having many hopes and desires, stretching far into the future. Hence, one should not postpone till the morning actions that can be performed at night, but rather, one should hasten towards the performance of good actions. And similarly, when one wakes in the morning he should not rely upon the evening and postpone his good actions till then.

And his statement "Take from your health before times of sickness" is an encouragement upon making use of ones health, and striving ones utmost during times of good health, fearing the onset of sickness which may prevent one from good actions. And similarly, his statement "From your life before your death" is an admonition to make use of the days of ones life, since the one who dies has his actions cut off and his hopes lost.

The Prestige Of Makkah

Abdullah bin Addi (ra) relates that while migrating from Makkah to Madinah, Prophet (saw) addressed the city thus: “By Allah thou is the best and most beloved (city) in the sight of Allah; I would not have left, had I not been forced to leave thee.”

[Tirmidhi]

Explanation: Makkah is itself a respected city, and it became more so because of its association with Prophet (saw). It is obvious that the respect and value of a house is enhanced by the status of its occupant. The prestige of Makkah doubled for being the birth place of Allah’s last and final Messenger. The Holy Qur’an in Aayah 3 of Surah Teen , Allah (Swt) swears in these words: “By this safe town…”

According to the Holy Qur’an, the entire Harum, that is the earth spreading beyond for miles in all directions from the center of Makkah has been defined as a “sanctuary” as per Aayah 125 of Surah Al-Baqarah in these words: “We made the House a resort and a sanctuary for people, saying, ‘Take the spot where Ibrahim (AS) stood as your place of worship.’ We commanded Ibrahim and Isma’il: ‘Purify My House for those who walk round it, those who stay there, and those who bow and prostrate themselves in worship."

The multitude of humanity which visits this blessed city for the performance of Umrah the year round, and for the performance of Hajj each year is not drawn from the Arabian Peninsula alone, but from every nook and corner of the world. It should be noted that this caravan of lovers, devotees and worshippers is not a story of the last few years, but its flow continues since the time of Sayyidina Ibrahim (as).

The Harum, the Kabatullah and its sanctified area has been a place of peace and safety even before the recorded history. It is a sanctuary of safety and peace, where not to speak of hurting a man, even hunting an animal is prohibited. Though it has been decreed in the Islamic Jurisprudence, yet its sanctity was observed even in the pre-Islamic times known as the days of ignorance. Criminals even in the days of polytheists used to take refuge in Kabatullah and no one could take them to accounts.

The Virtues Of Madinah

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said about the holy city of Madinah , "Its paths are guarded by angels.It is beyond Dajjal and afflictions like plague ".

[Bukhari & Muslim]

Explanation : The city for which every lover craves to visit time and again is Madinah. Buried in its dust are pearls of tear and blood of the Companions of Prophet (saw). It is the fountainhead of spirituality, the reservoir of light , knowledge and wisdom , and the resting place of that unique, last and final Prophet (saw), whom Allah (Swt) calls as the "Mercy to the Worlds" .

The reward of congregational prayers in Masjid-e- Nabavi is 1000 times more than other places except Masjid-e-Haram , where one prayer is rewarded 100,000 times or more.

Anas (ra) relates that That the Prophet (saw) said who performed 40 prayers in his Masjid, and didn't miss even one, he will be saved from hell fire , and free from punishment and hypocrisy. (At-Targheeb).

Prophet (saw) made this supplication for Madinah:

“My Allah bless our dates, our measures of “Sa’a and Mudd”, and this city. Ya Allah verily Ibrahim is your Prophet and friend, and verily I am your bondsman and Prophet. He submitted his supplication for Makkah, and I submit a supplication for Madinah for two fold blessings.” [Muslim]

“Ya Allah endear this city to us as You have endeared Makkah to us, and even more; make its climate favorable for us, and cleanse it from diseases.”

This supplication was made when Prophet (saw) had migrated to this city which then was called Yathrib, meaning the city of unfavorable climate. Due to its association with Prophet (saw), it became to be called Madina-tun-Nabi.

One who proceeds towards these two blessed cities (Makkah and Madinah), he in fact proceeds towards the very purpose of life, toward the most respected and blessed places on earth. Every particle of dust of these twin cities has a gravitational pull for a Momin.

May Allah (Swt) protect these cities and may He enable every one of us to visit these centers of eternal guidance. Aameen !

The People Of Wisdom

Ibn Umar (ra) narrated : " Do not talk excessively without remembering Allah , because such excessive talk without the mention of Allah causes the heart to harden , and the person furthest from Allah is the person with a hard heart"

[Tirmidhi]

Explanation : Unnecessary talking not only poisons the heart but it is also one of the major reasons why people are sent to the Hellfire. As narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet said, "What mostly cause people to be sent to the Fire are the two openings: the mouth and the private parts."

The slave is not afflicted with a punishment greater than the hardening of the heart and being distant from Allah for the fire was created to melt the hardened heart. The most distant heart from Allah is the heart which is hardened. If the heart becomes hardened , the eye becomes dry

Whoever desires to purify his heart, then let him prefer Allah to his desires. If the heart is nourished with remembrance, its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed with corruption , it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters , inspiring wisdom.

The People of Knowledge and Wisdom are those who infused life into their hearts by slaying their desires . As for the one who slew his heart and vitalized his desires , then knowledge and wisdom are naked upon his tongue.

Yearning for Allah and His meeting is like the gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, extinguishing the blaze of the Dunya. Whosoever caused his heart to settle with his Lord shall be in a state, calm and tranquil, and whosoever sent it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed.

Hence, the most beloved servant before Allah is the one whom He places in His servitude, whom He selects for His love, whom He causes to purify his worship for Him, dedicates his objectives for Him, his tongue for His remembrance, and his limbs for His service.

The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah[Repentance] and protection [from transgression].

It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance.

It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is al-Taqwa [Piety].

It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry, and its food and drink is knowledge, love, dependence, repentance and servitude.