“Why do you ONLY hear from some people when they want you to do something for them or when they have some kind of issue with you? It is odd because when you make overtures towards them or ask them for help, they seem to make themselves scarce.”
It is hard to do acts of goodness without expectations of ANY recompense – even acknowledgement, much less gratitude – but this is something we as Muslims must learn to do.
(Image from Pexels)
Muslim Ibn Bashir (radhiallahu `anhu) says that during his last illness Abu Huraira (radhiallahu `anhu) began weeping bitterly. He was asked the reason of his weeping. At this he said, ‘I am weeping because I have a long journey to cover and have the least provisions with me. In the morning I have found myself at a hillock which leads to both paradise and to hell, and I know not wither I would be made to go.’
[Ibn Sad Vol IV p. 62 & Al Hilyah Vol I p. 383]
Abd Allah Ibn Masud (radhiallahu `anhu) says that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) asked me to recite the Qur’an for him. He said to the Prophet, ‘Should I recite the Quran before you whereas it has been revealed unto you?’ At this the Prophet said, ‘I love it more to hear the Quran from someone else.’ Then AbdAllah Ibn Masud recited the chapter of ‘An-Nisa’. When he recited the verse, ‘How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) as a witness against these people?…’ (4:41), the Prophet said, ‘This is enough.’ When Ibn Masud saw the face of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), he saw tears rolling down both his eyes.
[Baihaqi, Al Bidayah, Vol VI p. 59]
Abu Raja (radhiallahu `anhu) said that the cheeks of Ibn Abbas (radhiallahu `anhu) were just like a spring (from which gushed forth tears constantly).
[Al Hilyah Vol I p. 329]
Uthman Ibn Abu Sudah (radhiallahu `anhu) says that he saw Ubadah Ibn Samit near the parapet (the rampart towards the valley known as the valley of Hell) with his chest resting on the rampart, and he was weeping. He said to him, ‘O Abu Walid! What makes you weep?’. At this he said, ‘This is the very spot from where, as he was told by the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), had seen the Hell.’
[Al Hilyah Vol VI p. 110]
Abu Huraira (radhiallahu `anhu) says when the verse ‘At this discourse then marvel ye? And laugh and weep not? And ye are behaving proudly.’ (53:59-61), were revealed, the fellows of the Suffah wept so much that their beards got wet and tears trickled down their cheeks. When the Prophet heard their weeping and wailing, he too joined them in their weeping, and we too followed him. Then the Prophet said, ‘The man who has wept on account of fear of Allah shall not enter the Hell. If you do not commit sins, then Allah will raise amongst you a people who will be buried in sins and Allah will forgive them.’
[Baihaqi and Targhib, Vol V p.190]
Anas (radhiallahu `anhu) says that the Prophet recited the verse, ‘…then dread the fire, the fuel whereof is men and stones, gotten ready for the infidels.’ (2:24). Then he said, ‘The fire in Hell was kept burning for one thousand years and it turned red. Again it was kept burning for one thousand years and it got white in colour. Again it was kept burning for one thousand years and it turned black. So now it is black and its flames are not extinguishable.’ The narrator says that in front of the Prophet sat a black Abyssinian and on hearing this he began weeping. In the mean time Jibreal came and asked about that man. The Prophet told him that the man was an Ethiopian and also told him about his virtuous deeds. At this Jibreel said that verily Allah is saying, ‘By My Honour, by My Majesty! By My Exalted Throne! Whenever the eyes of any of My bondsmen weep because of My fear, I will cause him to laugh the utmost in Paradise.’
[Targhib Vol V p.194, Baihaqi and Isfahani]
Qais Ibn Hazim (radhiallahu `anhu) says that he came to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and found Abu Bakr (radhiallahu `anhu) standing at his place. He praised Allah too much and wept bitterly.
[Abd al Razzaq and it is in Muntakhab, Vol V p. 260]
Hasan Ibn Muhammad Ibn Alf Ibn Abi Talib (radhiallahu `anhu) says that while delivering the Juma sermon, Umar recited the chapter of ‘takwir’, when he recited the verse, ‘Then every soul shall know that which it hath presented.’ (81:14), his voice got choked (on account of fear of Allah) and he could not recite any more.
[Shafii]
Hasan (radhiallahu `anhu) says that Umar Ibn Khattab (radhiallahu `anhu) recited the verses, ‘Verily the torment of thy Lord is sure to befall: Of it there is no averter.’ (52:7-8). ON reciting this he became so much out of breath that the people had to make enquiries about his health for twenty days.
[Abu Ubaidah]
Ubaid Ibn Umair (radhiallahu `anhu) says that once Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) led the congregational prayer of Fajr and began reciting the chapter of ‘Yusuf’. When he recited the verse, ‘And he turned away from them, and said: O my grief for Yusuf! And his eyes whitened with grief, while he was filled with suppressed sorrow…’ (12:84), he burst weeping. He stopped there and soon went into kneeling.
[Abu Ubaidah]
Hisham Ibn Hasan (radhiallahu `anhu) says that while reciting the Quran, Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) would burst into weeping and he would fall down. He was carried to his house, where he lay for many days and the people thought he had fallen ill.
[Al Hilyah, Vol I p. 51]
Hani (radhiallahu `anhu) the freed slave of Uthman Ibn Affan (radhiallahu `anhu) says that whenever Uthman stood near a grave he used to weep so much that his beard got wet. Someone said to him, ‘When the torment in the hell is mentioned, you weep not and when the torment inside the grave is mentioned you weep too much. What is the reason for this?’. At this Uthman (radhiallahu `anhu) said, ‘I have heard the Prophet saying this: the first stage among the different stages of the hereafter is in the grave. Whoever so passes this stage safely, for him is ease, and whosoever fails at this stage, for him is much rigour ahead’. He said that he had heard the Prophet saying, ‘I never saw a scene more mortifying and more awful or dreadful than the scene inside the grave’. Hani says that whenever Uthman saw a grave he used to recite this couplet: ‘O Self! If thou attainest salvation or ease at this stage, thou attainest salvation and freedom from something very heavy or dreadful. Otherwise, as I think, thou shalt never attain salvation at all’
[Ibn Rizin & Targhib, Vol V p. 322]
Ibn Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) says that once Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) passed by Muadh Ibn Janbal (radhiallahu `anhu) and found him weeping. He asked him the reason thereof. At this Muadh said, ‘I have heard the Prophet saying that hypocrisy, the least of it, was polytheism and the dearest to Allah from amongst His bondsmen is one who conceals himself so much that nobody searches for him when he disappears from amongst them, and none recognises him when he is amongst them. These men are the leaders of guidance and the lamps of knowledge’
[Al Hilyah, Vol I p. 61, Hakim Vol III p. 270]
by Sheikh `Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
from “Don’t Be Sad” – International Islamic Publishing House (IIPH)
One day, I was sitting in the Haram in Makkah; it was a sultry day and the noon prayer was about to begin, when I noticed an old man distributing Zamzam water. He would fill a few cups, give them out to people and then he would return and repeat the process. He continued doing so for some time until he became soaked in sweat. I was amazed at the fortitude of this old man and at his love for doing kind deeds. He would give a smile and a cup of water to as many people s he was able to serve. It made me appreciate that, if Allah guides one to doing a good deed, one will be able to do it with a smile, even when it involves hard work.
Abu Bakr (radhiallahu `anhu) put his own life at risk on the road to Madeenah in order to protect the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam).
In order to feed his guests, Hatim (radhiallahu `anhu) would sleep on a hungry stomach.
Abu `Ubaydah (radhiallahu `anhu) would stand guard at night to give rest to the Muslim army.
`Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) would walk through the streets at night while people were asleep in order to ensure their safety. And in the year of the great famine, he would go hungry in order to feed the people.
Abu Talha (radhiallahu `anhu) used his body as a shield, protecting the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) from arrows during the Battle of Uhud.
Ibn Mubarak would distribute food while he himself was fasting.
“And they give food in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to the Miskeen (poor), the orphan and the captive.” (Qur’an 76:8)
Allah says,
“Say: ‘If your fathers or your sons or your brothers or your wives or your tribe,
or any wealth you have acquired, or any business you fear may slump,
or any dwelling-places which please you,
are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and fighting hard in jihad in His Way,
then wait until Allah brings about His command.'”
(at-Tawba 9:25)
When the Makkans drove Zayd ibn ad-Dathima out of the Haram to kill him, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb said to him, “I ask you by Allah, Zayd, don’t you wish that Muhammad were with us now to take your place so that we could cut off his head, and you were with your family?” Zayd said, “By Allah, I would not wish Muhammad to be now in a place where even a thorn could hurt him if that was the condition for my being with my family!” Abu Sufyan remarked, “I have not seen any people who love anyone the way the Companions of Muhammad love Muhammad.”
Anas radhiallahu `anhu reported that the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “There are three things which cause anyone who takes refuge in them to experience the sweetness of iman – that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else; that he loves a man only for Allah; and that he dislikes the thought of reverting to disbelief as much as he would dislike being cast into the Fire.” (al-Bukhari & Muslim)
`Umar ibn al-Khattab radhiallahu `anhu told the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, “I love you more than anything except my soul which is between my two sides.” The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam replied, “None of you will believe until I am dearer to him than his own soul.” ‘Umar said, “By the One who sent down the Book on you, I love you more than my soul which is between my two sides.” The Prophet said, “‘Umar, now you have it!” (al-Bukhari)
Anas said that a man came to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and asked, “When will the Last Hour come, Messenger of Allah?” , “What have you prepared for it?” he asked? He replied, “I have not prepared a lot of prayer or fasting or charity for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “You will be with the one you love.” (al-Bukhari)
‘Ali said that the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam took Hasan and Husayn radhiallahu `anhuma by the hand and said, “Whoever loves me and loves these two and their father and mother will have the same degree as me on the Day of Rising.” (at-Tirmidhi)
It is related that a man came to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and said, “Messenger of Allah, I love you more than my family and my possessions. I remember you and I cannot wait until I can come and look at you. I remember that I will die and you will die and I know that when you enter the Garden, you will be raised up with the Prophets. When I enter it, I will not see you.” Allah then revealed, “Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, will be with those whom Allah has blessed: the Prophets, the men of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And such people are the best of company!” (an-Nisaa 4:68) The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam called the man and recited the verses to him. (at-Tabarani)
Abu Hurayra radhiallahu `anhu said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “Those in my community with the strongest love for me are the people who will come after me. Some of them would give their family and wealth to have seen me.” (Muslim and al-Bukhari)
