Path to Piety
Deeds that increase one’s ranks
Episode 3
Maulana Muhammad Nawaz Attari Madani
The previous two issues mentioned some actions that increase one’s rank in Paradise. Here, further narrations of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم are mentioned in this regard. Act upon these to increase your rank in the Hereafter by virtue of Allah Almighty’s mercy.
An increase in rank for every step taken whilst going for salah
When a person performs wudu properly and travels to the Masjid solely to offer salah, his rank is increased by one for every step he takes, and one sin is erased.[1]
Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْـه writes regarding this Hadith: ‘This [an increase in rank by one and one sin being erased] is for the sinners. As for those who perform good deeds, they are rewarded twice and increased in rank twofold. This is because something that is a cause of forgiveness for sinners is a means of increasing the rank of those who do not sin.’[2]
An increase in rank by 76,000
Whoever recites ‘بِسْمِ الـلّٰـهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْم’ will be granted 4,000 good deeds by Allah Almighty in exchange of every letter, have 4,000 sins forgiven and be increased in rank by 4,000.[3] Note that بسمِ الـلّٰـه has 19 letters. Therefore, the one who recites بِسْمِ الـلّٰـهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمonce will receive the reward of 76,000 good deeds, 76,000 of his sins will be forgiven, and he will be elevated in rank by 76,000 times اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.
An act that elevates one’s rank by a thousand
Whoever recites the following words seeking reward from Allah:
اَلْحَمْدُ لـِلّٰـهِ الَّذِیْ تَوَاضَعَ کُلُّ شَیءٍ لِعَظَمَتِهٖ وَالْحَمْدُ لـِلّٰـهِ الَّذِیْ ذَلَّ کُلُّ شَیءٍ لِعِزَّتِهٖ وَالْحَمْدُ لـِلّٰـهِ الَّذِیْ خَضَعَ کُلُّ شَیءٍ لِمُلْکِهٖ وَالْحَمْدُ لـِلّٰـهِ الَّذِیْ اسْتَسْلَمَ کُلُّ شَیءٍ لِقُدْرَتِهٖ،
Allah Almighty will grant him a thousand good deeds and also elevate him in rank by a thousand. Moreover, Allah Almighty will appoint 70,000 angels who will seek forgiveness for him until the Day of Judgement.[4]
An increase in rank by 300, 600 or 900
Patience is of three types:
1. Patience at the time difficulty.
2. Patience in obedience.
3. Patience in refraining from disobedience.
Whoever is patient when facing difficulty, Allah Almighty will write 300 ranks [in his book of deeds] for him [that he will receive in Paradise]. The distance between each station is the distance between the Heavens and the earth. Whoever remains patient when facing a difficulty whilst performing a good act, Allah Almighty will write 600 ranks for him. The distance between each station is the distance from the corners of the earth to where the Throne of Allah ends. Whoever is patient in refraining from disobedience, Allah Almighty will write 900 ranks for him. The distance between each station is double the distance between the boundaries of the earth to where the Throne of Allah ends.[5]
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to make good intentions, carry out virtuous actions and elevate our ranks in Paradise.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم
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