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How To Save Oneself From the Fire

As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved from Hell is through iman and righteous deeds. So the Muslims pray to their Rabb with faith to save them from the Fire:

“Those who say, “Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, forgive us then, our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire“. (3:16)

“…Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all] this, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers. Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling [us] to faith: “Believe in your Rabb,” and we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise“. (3:191-194)

Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and describe the deeds that will protect one from the Fire, for example, the love of Allah (SWT). In al-Haakim’s al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad’s al-Musnad, a report from Anas ibn Maalik (ra) states, “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “By Allah (swt), Allah will never throw one whom He loves into the Fire” (sahih, See Sahih al-Jaami’ 6/104)

Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as Ahmad reports in al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Imaan, with a hasan isnaad from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah: “The Prophet (saw) said, “Allah (SWT) says, “Fasting is a shield with which one may protect oneself from the Fire“. (Sahih al-Jaami, 4/114)

In Shu’ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from ‘Uthmaan ibn Abil-Aas that the Prophet (saw) said, “Fasting is a shield from the punishment of Allah (SWT)” It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami’ 3/264).

If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihad against the enemy, then that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Whoever fasts for one day when he is engaged in jihad for the sake of Allah, Allah will remove him [lit. his face] seventy years distance from the Fire“. (Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa’ee – Sahih al-Jaami’ 5/310)

Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allah and jihad for His sake:

“But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will be two gardens [ie in Paradise]” (55:46)

at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa’ee reported from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah(saw) said: “No one who weeps out of fear of Allah will enter Hell until the milk goes back into the breast [i.e. never] and a man will never have both the dust from fighting in the way of Allah (SWT) and the smoke of Hell“. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is sahih)
 
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu ‘Abs that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allah (SWT) will never meet in the Fire of Hell“. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3794)

Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “A Kaafir and the one who kills him will never meet in the Fire of Hell.“ (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3795)

We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection with Allah from it:

“Those who say, “our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath is indeed an affliction grievous.” Evil indeed is it as an abode and as a place to rest in“. (25:64-65)

Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with a sahih isnaad from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “No one asks Allah (SWT) for Paradise three times, but Paradise will say, “O Allah (SWT) admit him to Paradise”. And no Muslim asks Allah for protection from Hell three times, but Hell will say, “O Allah save him from me” (Sahih al-Jaami, 5/145, no.5506)

al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that when the Prophet (saw) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of dhikr he said, “Allah (SWT) asks them and He knows best, “What are they seeking protection from?” They tell Him, “From the Fire”. He asks, “And have they seen it.” They say, “No, by Allah, O Rabb, They have not seen it.” He says, “How would it be if they had seen it?” They say, “They would be even more afraid and anxious to escape it”. He (SWT) says, “Bear witness that I have forgiven them“. (Sahih al-Jaami’, 2/233, no. 2169)

5 Things About Battle Of Badr

The Battle of Badr took place on the seventeenth of Ramadan, two years after Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Hijrah (emigration) to Madina. Here’s more information about the battle, which was the first armed conflict that the Muslims were ever engaged in.

  1. The Muslims went out of Madina to investigate a caravan that was returning to Makkah from Syria, not intending to engage in battle. The caravan escaped, but its leader Abu Sufyan managed to send word to Makkah, asking for forces to come and protect the caravan.
  2. The Makkan tribes marched with an enormous army of 1,000 men, 100 horses, 700 camels, and luxurious provisions to last for several days, while the Muslims numbered 313 ill-equipped men on 70 camels and a few horses.
  3. Led by the Prophet (PBUH), the Muslims marched forward and at the suggestion of a companion, Hubab Bin Mundhir, encamped south on the nearest water well, restricting the Makkans’ access to water.
  4. The Battle of Badr is one of the few battles explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an: “And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much that you may be grateful.” Qur’an: 3:123
  5. Many important Makkan leaders were killed or taken prisoner in this battle, the most noteworthy of whom was Abu Jahl, the archenemy of Islam. The Battle of Badr strengthened the Muslims’ status in Arabia as a strong force and consolidated the Muslims’ faith.

Ramadhan Is Approaching! Are You Ready?

Success in whatever we do depends on how clear we are on the objectives we want to achieve and how well we plan for them. Even a recreational activity such as going on vacation takes much planning. It is not feasible for a person to simply just get up and depart to a vacation destination without planning, especially if one wants to have a good vacation or recreational activity.  For example, if one is going to Disney World, usually planning is done months in advance of the trip. In addition to making traveling and accommodation arrangements, people consult friends, read literature, and research how to get the most benefit while there. Time and effort are spent deciding beforehand as to which rides should be given preference, which shows should be watched and which sites or theme parks should be visited, in what order, and at what times of the day so that one can get the maximum benefit at minimum cost in a reasonable time. People make significant efforts to plan the trip because it means so much to them to make such a trip.

What does Ramadhaan mean to you? Does it mean more to you than going on a vacation? Are you mentally and psychologically ready to attain all the goodness and blessings Ramadhaan has to offer? Are you then spending enough time and taking pains to plan how can you get the most benefit from the opportunity Ramadhaan affords you?

Some people do plan for Ramadhaan, but that planning is only to the extent of who to invite for Iftaar, where to go for one, what special foods to prepare, or how to get the best deal on dates and iftaar delicacies. But is this the type of outcome that is the objective of Ramadhaan?

The objectives of Ramadhaan are to:

  • Increase our Taqwa
  • Make us more charitable? both financially and in our social dealings
  • Develop patience and willpower to resist temptations
  • Prepare us for our life-long Jihaad to remain steadfast on the path of Allah’s obedience
  • Strengthen our relationship with the Holy Qur-aan, celebrate its revelation; and
  • Thank Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala for guiding us so kindly.

Jihad Against The Self

Fighting the evil within us is more difficult than fighting on a battlefield. Ibn Qayyim mentions in Za’d Al-Ma’ad the four states of Jihad against the self:

First: To strive in learning guidance and the religion of truth, without which there will be no success. Indeed, there can be no true happiness, nor any delight in this world and in the Hereafter, except through it.

Second: Strive to act upon what has been learned, since knowledge without action will not benefit, rather it will cause harm.

Third: Strive to invite others towards it and to teach those who do not know, otherwise you may be considered among those who hide what Allah has revealed of guidance and clear explanation. Such knowledge will neither benefit, nor save a person from the punishment of Allah.

Fourth: Strive to be patient and persevering against those who oppose this da’wah (call) to Allah and those who seek to cause harm – patiently bearing all these hardships for the sake of Allah.

When a person succeeds in all these four stages, he is considered to be amongst the Rabbaniyyun (Allah’s men). Early scholars have agreed that a scholar does not deserve the title of Rabbani until he recognizes and knows the truth, acts upon it and teaches it to others. So whosoever has the knowledge, acts upon it, and teaches this knowledge to others, is considered among the “Rabbaniyyun.”

(Jihad) Today’s Hadith

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “None is wounded in Allah’s Cause but will come on the Day of Resurrection with his wound bleeding. The thing that will come out of his wound will be the color of blood, but its smell will be the smell of musk.”

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace upon him) said: Allah has undertaken to look after the affairs of one who goes out to fight in His way believing in Him and affirming the truth of His Apostles. He is committed to His care that Re will either admit him to Paradise or bring him back to his home from where he set out with a reward or (his share of) booty. By the Being in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad. If a person gets wounded in the way of Allah, he will come on the Day of Judgment with his wound in the same condition as it was when it was first inflicted; its color is the color of blood but its smell will be the smell of musk. By, the Being in Whose Hand is Muhammad’s life, if it were not to be too hard upon the Muslim. I would not lag behind any expedition which is going to fight for the cause of Allah. But I do not have abundant means to provide them (the Mujahids) with riding beasts, nor have they (i. e. all of them) abundant means (to provide themselves with all the means of Jihad) so that they could be left behind. By the Being in Whose Hand is Mubammgls lac, I love to fight in the way of Allah and be killed, to fight and again be killed and to fight again and be killed.

Narrated Abu Huraira:
I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “The example of a Mujahid in Allah’s Cause– and Allah knows better who really strives in His Cause—- is like a person who fasts and prays continuously. Allah guarantees that He will admit the Mujahid in His Cause into Paradise if he is killed, otherwise He will return him to his home safely with rewards and war booty.”

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira who said: Allah has undertaken to provide for one who leaves his home (only) to fight for His cause and to affirm the truth of His word; Allah will either admit him to Paradise or will bring him back home from where he had come out, with his reward and booty.

Abu Hurairah said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم say: ‘The parable of Mujahid (who strives in the cause of Allah) — and Allah knows best who strives in the cause of Allah — is that of one who fasts and prays Qiyam (continually). Allah has promised Mujahid (who strives in His cause), that He will either cause him to die and admit him to Paradise or, He will bring him back safely with whatever he has earned of reward or spoils of war.” (Sahih)

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet said: “The one who fights in the cause of Allah has a guarantee from Allah. Either He will raise him to His forgiveness and mercy, or He will send him back with reward and spoils of war. The likeness of the one who fights in the cause of Allah is that of one who fasts and prays at night without ceasing until he returns.” (Hasan)

Faith In Religion

When Ali bin Abu Talib RA was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars: endurance, conviction, justice, and jihad.

Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety, and anticipation (of death). so whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds.

Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for an explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people, because whoever wants to guard himself against vices and sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to search them with the help of knowledge, whoever gets fully acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons from life and whoever tries to take lessons from life is actually engaged in the study of the causes of rising and fall of previous civilizations.

Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, the profoundness of knowledge, fairness of judgment, and dearness of mind; because whoever tries his best to under- stand a problem will have to study it, and whoever has the practice of studying the subject is to deal with, will develop a clear mind and will always come to correct decisions, whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience and forbearance and whoever does this has done justice to the cause of religion and has led a life of good repute and fame.

Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgment.
[Nahj ul Balagha]