Sunday, December 18, 2011

Those Who Take their Positions in the Highest Levels

Taken from: “Al-Jannah Wa An-Naar” by by ‘Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar

Among those who will occupy the highest levels in Paradise are the shuhaadaa, the best of whom are those who fight in the front ranks and never turn away until they are killed. Ahmad and at-Tabaraani report with a saheeh isnaad from Na’eem ibn Hamar (1) that the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa sallam said, “The best of the Shuhaadaa are those who fight in the first rank, and do not turn their faces away until they are killed. They will have the pleasure of occupying the highest dwellings in Paradise. Your Rabb will smile at them, and whenever your Rabb smiles upon any of His Slaves, that person will not be brought to account”. [Musnad Ahmad, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab al-Ihsaan ila al-armila wal-masaakeen wal-yateem 2/2286, hadith no. 2982]

The one who helps widows and the destitute will have the status of a mujaahid in Paradise. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa sallam  said, “The one who helps widows and the destitute is like one who fights in jihaad for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.” I [the narrator] think he said, “And he is like the one who stands all night in prayer and never sleeps, and like the one who fasts continually and never breaks his fast”. [Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab al-Ihsaan, ila al-armilah wal-miskeen wal-yateem, 2/2286, no. 2982]

The one who sponsors an orphan will be close to the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa sallam  in Paradise. Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah radiAllahu anhu that the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa sallam  said, “The one who sponsors an orphan, whether from his own wealth or from the orphan’s wealth, I and he will be like these two in Paradise,” – and Maalik [the narrator] gestured with his forefinger and middle finger. [Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab az-Zuhd, 2/2286, no. 2982; "lahu aw ghayrihi" - whether from his own wealth or from the orphan's wealth - means whether he supports him from his own wealth or is a legal guardian over the orphan and the orphan's wealth]

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will raise the status of parents by the blessing of their children’s du’aa. Ahmad reports from Abu Hurayrah radiAllahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallahu alaihi wa sallam  said, “Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will raise the status of His righteous slave in Paradise, and he will say, “O my Rabb, how could I deserve this?” He will say, “Because your child sought forgiveness for you.”"

Ibn Katheer said, “This is a saheeh isnaad although none of the authors of the six books reported it. But there is a corroborating report in Saheeh Muslim from Abu Hurayrah radiAllahu anhu, according to which the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa sallam  said, “When a son of Aadam dies his good works come to an end, except for three: Sadaqah Jaariyah [ongoing charity], beneficial knowledge [that he discovered or propogated], and a righteous son who will pray for him.” [Ibn Katheer, an-Nihaayah, 2/340]

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