Every now and then, the believer looks forward to something that raises his enthusiasm, motivates him to do righteous deeds, and strengthens the steadfastness in his heart. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), said that Allah The Almighty Says: “I have prepared for My righteous slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and the mind of no man has conceived.” (then Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said) If you wish, recite: {And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. } [Qur’an 32:17] [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Allah The Almighty informed us of Paradise to make us long for it. He manifested some of its bliss and concealed some of it as a sort of encouragement and stimulation. Therefore, the bliss of Paradise, no matter how it is described, cannot be grasped by the human mind, because it contains goodness that never comes to man’s mind or is known to anybody.
But before we begin, we must stop and ask ourselves some questions: Do we long to enter Paradise? Is the presence of Houris, food, and drink the only things we know about Paradise? Or do we know more details?
Dear reader, if you want to change and make Paradise your premier goal, join us on this blessed journey, but first make sure to fasten your concentration belt, dispose of your heedlessness, and take good companions along with you. These are the conditions of the takeoff on our journey. Let us go!
Dear reader, come and knock on the gates of Paradise, to fly with our mind in the Kingdom of Allah The Almighty and the secrets He deposited in it. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {When they reach it while its gates have been opened.} [Qur’an 39:73]
Dear reader, think why Allah The Almighty Says in this verse (what means): {and its gates have been opened.} [Qur’an 39:73] and when He talked about Hell He Says (what means): {its gates are opened.} [Qur’an 39:70]
Actually, it is a wonderful note taken by the great Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him. Read, what this pious scholar said:
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it and its gates have been opened...} [Qur’an 39:73] and while speaking of Hell, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {When they reach it, its gates are opened.} [Qur’an 39:70] without using a conjunction. This is linguistically more eloquent in both cases.
That is because the angels are driving its denizens to Hell while its gates are closed. When they arrive at Hell, its gates will open up in their faces and punishment will suddenly surprise them. As they enter Hell, the gates will open without them noticing. This usually happens with the penalty which is made contingent on something that takes place immediately after that condition. Hell is the abode of humiliation and disgrace, so permission is not sought for its denizens, nor are its keepers asked to allow them to enter.
Paradise, however, is the abode prepared by Allah The Almighty; the abode of dignity where His favourites and allies dwell. As people reach Paradise, they will find its gates closed, so they earnestly implore its Owner to open them. Also, they will intercede to Him by His most resolute messengers, but all of them will withdraw until they are guided to go to the final and master of them. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, will say: “I am entitled to that,” and thus, will prostrate under the Throne to his Lord, supplicating Him as much as He wills.
Then, permission will be given for him to raise his head and express his request. He will ask Allah The Almighty to open the gates of Paradise, and his request will be accepted. Allah The Almighty will order that the gates of Paradise be opened to show its greatness and the high status and honour of His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, in His Sight. This is more effective and greater in showing the perfection of the blessing and the occurrence of joy and happiness than otherwise. This prevents the ignorant man from thinking that it is like an inn for whoever wants to enter. The Paradise of Allah is precious and there are obstacles, wilderness and dangers that must be faced first in order to attain it.
See what excitement the believers will encounter on the Day of Resurrection! Imagine how they will feel – may Allah make you and us among the inhabitants of Paradise. After the horrors and hardships the believers saw befalling the sinners on the Day of Judgment and, before that, the trials and desires they patiently resisted in this life, their longing to see the bliss that Allah The Almighty has prepared for them becomes enormously great.
The greater their longing, the greater the enjoyment of the meeting will be. Thus, Allah The Almighty wanted to increase the longing of the believers at the highest level by letting them stand in front of the gates of Paradise for a period of time while thoughts conflict in their minds and they feel that they are at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer from seeing what Allah The Almighty promised them in this life. After the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, intercedes with his Lord, Allah The Almighty will give him permission to open the gates of Paradise. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “The distance between two shutters in Paradise equals the distance of a forty-year walk. People throng there like camels that throng to drink water after five days of thirst.” [As-Silsilah As-Saheehah by Al-Albaani]
Can you imagine the width of the gate? It is like a distance of a forty-year walk, i.e. it is impossible to see the end of it, where people crowd as if one has brought camels to water after five days of thirst. Imagine how they will run. Similarly, this will be the state of the people of Paradise in their longing for it. After entering Paradise, its gate will not be shut behind you. Do you know why? Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, will tell you that. He said,
Reflect on the Saying of Allah The Almighty (which means): {Gardens of perpetual residence, whose doors will be opened to them. Reclining within them, they will call therein for abundant fruit and drink.} [Qur’an 38:50-51] and see the verses carrying an elegant meaning. That is when they enter Paradise, its gates will not be closed behind them, but they will remain open. Also, keeping the gates open implies that they go and return freely, and dwell in Paradise and that the angels enter upon them every time with gifts and graciousness from their Lord and what brings them happiness at all times. It is also an indication that Paradise is an abode of security where its inhabitants do not need to close the gates as they needed to do so in this life.
Now, we will leave you to choose which gate you would like to enter Paradise through. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said:
Whoever performs a couple of acts of voluntary worship of the same type or spends two things for the Sake of Allah, will be called from the gates of Paradise: O slave of Allah, here is prosperity. He will enter Paradise from the Gate of Prayer if he observed voluntary prayer as his favoured act of worship; from the Gate of Jihaad if he was a Mujaahid and Jihaad was his favoured act of worship; and from the Gate of Charity if he gave voluntary charity as his favoured act of worship; from the Gate of Ar-Rayyaan if he observed voluntary fasting as his favoured act of worship.”
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “O Messenger of Allah! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of those gates?’’ The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, replied: “Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Now, choose the gate you wish to access Paradise from, and how excellent if you will be a companion of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, on the Day of Judgment!
Dear reader do you see the extent to which Allah The Almighty prepared Paradise for His righteous slaves and how He made them long for it before they enter? Has your heart not been softened, dear brother? Do you not long to enter Paradise and experience this bliss?
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Advice for mid-Ramadan
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the noble Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! You are now in the midst of a matchless month. It is a great and noble month with uncountable merits and virtues. It is a season rich with gains for those who partake in good deeds as it destroys those who transgress and commit sins in it.
It is a month that excels other months by a night that is better than a thousand months. Blessed be the one who sincerely fasts in that month, invokes Allah in the morning and evening and wake up during the nights of the months praying and devoting his life to Allah.
The first half of Ramadan is now gone. Try then to make good use of the remaining half before the month ends. Hasten to use the remaining days in thanking Allah for His blessings and try harder to do righteous deeds and repent to Him for the hours of the month are hurriedly coming to an end. Do good deeds during the remaining days, you will be forgiven of the evils you did before; but if you persist in these evil deeds, you will be punished for the past sins and latter ones.
Whoever holds fast unto the Rope of Allah and makes good use of his time will be victorious and free from all evils; and the miser and unfortunate is the one who sins during these remaining blessed days for his lot will certainly be ignominy, distress and regret and woe accursed will he be on a Day that the negligent people will shed bitter tears; a day that Allah will say, “O My slaves! These are only your deeds which I enumerate for you and upon which I will reward you. So whoever finds good reward there from, let him thank Allah and whoever finds otherwise, let him blame no one but himself.”
Ramadan days are the cream of worldly days. He who is blessed in these days is indeed the fortunate one and he who is deprived of their blessings is indeed the unfortunate one. He who does not work for his final abode in these days has wronged himself and will be blameworthy. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, one day ascended the pulpit and said: “Aameen, Aameen, Aameen”. He was asked “O Messenger of Allah! You ascended the pulpit and said, “Aameen, Aameen, Aameen?” He answered: “It was Jibreel who came to me and said, ‘Whoever lived to witness Ramadan and yet was not forgiven his sins; and as a result entered Hell, may Allah keep him away (from His mercy). Say, ‘Aameen!’ And I said “Aameen.” (Ibn Khuzaymah).
O you who are negligent in good deeds in this Ramadan, are you sure that you will live to witness the next Ramadan? Give this month therefore its due and fear Allah in public and private. Remember that you have two angels with you who record all your deeds and do not disgrace yourselves in front of Allah from Whom nothing of your secret is hidden.
Fellow Muslims! Days of Ramadan ought to be honoured. Do you guard yourselves from idle talks and immoral looks? Do you prevent your limbs from pastime and wild deeds? Have you prepared provisions that are suitable for your journey to the Hereafter or are you among those who engage in deeds which displease Allah and wander in this world as if they are created for nothing but the enjoyment of this life? Beware, lest the harmful things will be dearer to you. In this month, guard your eyes, tongues and the rest of your limbs from sins. Though it is incumbent on you to do that at all times, it becomes more biding during the month of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever does not refrain from false sayings and deeds, Allah has no need of his abstention from food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari).
Jaabir bin Abdillaah al-Ansaaree said: “When you fast, let your ears and tongue also fast by keeping away from lying and forbidden things. Do not harm your neighbour. Let tranquility and peace be your habit and let there be difference between your fasting and non-fasting days.”
Righteous people used to spend their Ramadan nights in sleeplessness for, the fear of Allah has separated between them and their beds. They would weep out of fear of Allah. Their hearts were tender and they would worship Allah in the middle of the night while other people are fast asleep.
Try to rectify your past mistakes and shun your pastime. Join the righteous people in their acts of worship and fill your life with obedience to your Lord.
Ramadan is a month of reflection over the Glorious Qur’an. It is an opportunity for perfecting its recitation and reviewing what has been memorised of it. The Messenger of Allah said: “Always review what you have memorised of the Qur’an for it escapes from people’s hearts faster than the cattle when it escapes with its tying rope.” He also said: “The example of the one who memorises the Qur’an is like that of the tied camel. If it is constantly checked and retied it will remain but if it is left, it will escape.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim).
Fellow Muslims! Allah has honoured you with this noble Book. Reflect over its verses, follow its injunctions and do not rush its reading.
Further, the righteous predecessors used to recite the whole of the Qur’an many times and when Ramadan came, they would recite more. Angel Jibreel used to meet the Prophet every night during Ramadan and study the Qur’an with him but during his final year on the earth, he reviewed the Qur’an with him twice.
Fellow Muslims! Ramadan is the month of liberation from Hell and misery. The Messenger of Allah said: “The Almighty Allah - at every time of breaking the fast - frees some of His slaves from Hell.” Try therefore, as much as you can to free yourselves from Hell, for this is the time for repentance and sincere entreating to Allah. This is a month in which Allah accepts the invocations of His slaves!
Allah says, “O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance.” (At-Tahreem: 8).
Go to the door of forgiveness, you will find it opened. Pay the price of Paradise with your bodies and souls and turn back to Allah as long as you live.
Dear Muslims! I‘tikaaf is a Sunnah (a Prophetic practice) full of benefits and great goals. The greatest of its goals is to severe all ties from fellow creatures and devoting one’s time to the Creator. It has positive impact on the mind and reforms and refines the heart. It is more emphasised in the last 10 days of Ramadan because of Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Decree). ‘Aa’ishah, radhiAllah ‘anha, narrated that “The Messenger of Allah used to do I‘tikaaf during the last 10 days of Ramadan until he died and his wives did it after him.” (Bukhari & Muslim).
