
Earn Good Deeds
Good deeds that bring one closer to the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (Part 2)
Mawlana Shahzad Yunus Attari al-Madani
The blessings of acting upon the Sunna bring success in this world and the Hereafter, whilst drawing one closer to the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
Closeness to the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Paradise
Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports:
The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to me, “If you are able to begin your morning and end your evening in such a state, that your heart is free of malice and hatred for anybody, then do so.” He then declared, “My son! This is my Sunna. Whoever revives my Sunna loves me and whoever loves me shall be with me in Paradise.”[1]
Explanation of reviving the Sunna
Reviving a Sunna means to demonstrate it through one’s actions and encourage others to act upon it.[2]
In the same narration reported by Abū al-Qāsim ꜤAlī b. Ḥasan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, who is famously known as Ibn ꜤAsākir, these words are mentioned, “Whoever loves my Sunna loves me, and whoever loves me shall be with me in Paradise.”[3]
Being with the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Paradise
Love for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم leads a person to eternal blessings and everlasting bliss, as a person will be with who he loves. This concept is mentioned in hadith. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: اَلْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ اَحَبَّ – “A person will be with the one he loves.”[4]
Being with the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم does not mean those who love him will attain the same rank he holds. It means the devotee will be able to visit the beloved without any obstructions. The devotee and beloved will remain at their respective ranks.[5]
Strive to attain closeness to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
The Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم cherished bring in the Prophet’s company. Along with being close to him in this world, their hearts were filled with deep longing to attain closeness to him in the Hereafter, and they were greatly focused on achieving this.
RabīꜤa b. KaꜤb al-Aslamī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said:
I would remain in the company of the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم at night, bringing to him water for ablution and other things.
One night, he said to me, سَلْ – “Ask.”
I replied, اَسْئَلُکَ مُرَافَقَتَکَ فِی الْجَنَّۃِ – “I ask to be with you in Paradise.”
The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, “Is there anything else besides this?” I submitted, “This is all I require.”
He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then announced, “Help me achieve this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration.”[6]
Adopting the Sunna leads to loving the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
The most fortunate is he who is granted closeness to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the Hereafter. The means of attaining closeness to the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is having love for him. This love is developed by following the Sunna, sending abundant ṣalāt upon him, studying his blessed life, and spending time with those who love him. Such companionship is the greatest elixir.[7]
Those who follow other ways should take heed
Here are three narrations mentioned in Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān’s Fatāwā Riḍawiyya, volume 22, pages 672-673:
1. ꜤAbdullāh b. ꜤAbbās رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا reports that the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Whoever follows the way of those who are not from us, is not of our group.”[8]
2. Lady ꜤĀisha رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا reports that the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Whoever does not follow my Sunna is not from me.”[9]
3. Abū Ayyūb Anṣārī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports of how the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Whoever turns away from my Sunna is not of my group.”[10]
Dear Islamic brothers! Those who abandon the Sunna of the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and adopt the ways of others should take heed.
They should strive to draw closer to the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم by acting upon his blessed Sunna.
O Allah! Grant us the honour of acting upon the good deeds that take us close to the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and bless us with the ability to encourage others to do the same.
اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ
[1] Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: hadith 3687
[2] Al-Sirāj al-Munīr, vol. 2, p. 255
[3] Tarīkh Ibn ꜤAsākir, vol. 9, p. 343
[4] Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: hadith 6168
[5] Ḥadīqa Nadiyya, vol. 1, p. 113
[6] Saḥīḥ Muslim: hadith 1094
[7] Mirʾāt al-Manājīḥ, vol. 6, p. 589
[8] Al-Firdaws bi-Maʾthūr al-Khiṭāb: hadith 5268
[9] Sunan Ibn Mājah: hadith 1846
[10] Kanz al-ʿUmmāl: hadith 18142
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