Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Anas (radiyallahu anhu) narrates that on one occasion, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) were seated in the blessed company of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) when he said, “In a few moments, a man from the people of Jannah will appear before you.” Just then, Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) appeared, carrying his sandals in his left hand, with his beard dripping with the water of wudhu.
On the second and third day, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) made the same announcement, and on both days, the person who entered was Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu).
Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Aas (radhiyallahu anhuma) wished to spend some time in the company of Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) so that he could observe his conduct and actions, and thus identify the special quality or action he possessed on account of which Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had given the glad tidings of Jannah.
Hence, on the third day, after Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) departed from the gathering, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) stood up and followed Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) in order to speak to him. On meeting him, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) said to him, “I had a disagreement with my father, due to which I took an oath that I will not return home for three days. Do you think that you could give me a place in your home to stay until the three days pass?”
Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) agreed and Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) began to stay with him. However, despite observing him during the three days, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) did not see any action which he considered to be extra ordinary. In fact, he did not see Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) waking up during the night to perform Tahajjud Salaah. He would only wake up at the time of Fajr. However, he observed that when Hazrat Sa’d’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) eyes would open during the night and he would turn over from one side to the other in his bed, he would recite some zikr before falling off to sleep again.
However, the outstanding quality that Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) noticed in Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) was that he only spoke good (regarding people and he never said anything bad about anyone).
Eventually, when the three days had elapsed, and Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) did not see anything unusual in the life of Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) due to which he could attribute the glad tidings of Jannah to him, he decided to approach Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and reveal the exact reason for wanting to stay with him for three days.
Hence, he approached Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, “O servant of Allah! In actual fact, there was no disagreement or severing of relations between my father and myself. However, the reason for me wanting to stay with you is that for three consecutive days, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) made the following announcement, “A man from the people of Jannah is about to appear in the gathering”, and on all three days, you were the person who appeared. It was for this reason that I wished to stay with you so that I could observe your actions and conduct and emulate your good qualities. However, (on observing your actions,) I did not find you to be performing many nafl actions, so tell me the special action you are doing on account of which you acquired the special glad tiding of Jannah from Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)?”
Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) replied, “The only actions which I carry out are the actions which you have observed (I.e there is nothing more in my life that I am doing besides what you have just seen).” Hearing this, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) turned to depart. However, just as he was departing, Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu anhu) called him back and said to him, “The only actions which I carry out are the actions which you have observed. However, the only other action (which could be the reason for me receiving the glad tidings of Jannah) is that I do not harbour any malice in my heart for any Muslim, nor do I harbour any jealousy in my heart for any bounty that Allah Ta‘ala has granted any person.”
Hearing this, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) remarked, “This is the action that has caused you to reach this high rank which you have acquired, and this is the action which we (people) are unable to carry out in our lives.” (Musnad Ahmad #12697, Tareekh Dimashq 20/327, Musnadul Bazzaar #5836)
