Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
16. Try to do some special action or good deed daily to earn the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. The special action or good deed may be through practicing on the sunnah or increasing one’s ibaadah or assisting and helping a servant of Allah Ta’ala or showing some form of kindness to the creation.
Apart from this special action and good deed being a means of receiving the reward of sadaqah, it may also be a means of earning Allah Ta’ala’s pleasure, gaining one’s forgiveness and acquiring salvation in the Hereafter. One does not know whether the good deed one carries out will coincide with the moments of acceptance and through carrying out a good deed at such times, one may become among the fortunate ones.
عن محمد بن مسلمة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن لربكم عز وجل في أيام دهركم نفحات، فتعرضوا لها، لعل أحدكم أن تصيبه منها نفحة لا يشقى بعدها أبدا (المعجم الأوسط، الرقم: 2856 وقال الهيثمي في مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 17713، رواه الطبراني في الأوسط والكبير بنحوه، وفيه من لم أعرفه، ومن عرفتهم وثقوا)
Hazrat Muhammad bin Maslamah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, throughout the days of your life, Allah Ta’ala has certain special moments (of acceptance). You should try (your best) to find these special moments (by continuously exerting yourself in righteous actions and engaging in abundant dua), for if one of you finds one of these special moments, then he will never become unfortunate thereafter.”
عن جابر بن عبد الله قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: كل معروف صدقة، وإن من المعروف أن تلقى أخاك بوجه طلق وأن تفرغ من دلوك في إناء أخيك. (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 1970)
Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Every good deed is an act of sadaqah, and from the good deeds is to meet your brother with a smiling face, and (also from the good deeds is that) you pour water from your bucket into the utensil of your brother.”
عن أبي هريرة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: بينما رجل يمشي بطريق، وجد غصن شوك على الطريق، فأخره فشكر الله له فغفر له (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 1914)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Once while a person was walking on a pathway, he found a thorny branch on the road. He removed it (from the pathway so that it will not be a means of inconvenience to the people). Allah Ta’ala appreciated (and accepted) this action and forgave him (because of it).”
عن أبي هريرة، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من أصبح منكم اليوم صائما؟ قال أبو بكر رضي الله عنه: أنا قال: فمن تبع منكم اليوم جنازة؟ قال أبو بكر رضي الله عنه: أنا قال: فمن أطعم منكم اليوم مسكينا؟ قال أبو بكر رضي الله عنه: أنا قال: فمن عاد منكم اليوم مريضا؟ قال أبو بكر رضي الله عنه: أنا فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما اجتمعن في امرئ، إلا دخل الجنة (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 1028)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that on one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) enquired from the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), “Who amongst you is fasting today?” Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “I am fasting today.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then enquired, “Who amongst you has visited a sick person today?” Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “I have visited a sick person today.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) further enquired, “Which of you has participated in a Janaazah today?” Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “I have participated in a Janaazah today.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then asked, “Which of you has fed a poor person today?” Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “I have fed a poor person today.”
Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who possesses all these qualities will definitely enter Jannah.”
17. At all times, you should ensure that you are concerned about pleasing Allah Ta’ala through following the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Do not allow the remarks and statements of people to turn you away from the sunnah and from pleasing Allah Ta’ala.
If you lead a life according to the sunnah and please Allah Ta’ala, then Allah Ta’ala will put your love in the hearts of people, and after a period of time, love will be created in the hearts of people for you.
On the contrary, if you try to please the people while displeasing Allah Ta’ala through doing actions that are against shariah, then Allah Ta’ala will be displeased with you and Allah Ta’ala put hatred for you in the hearts of people.
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ الله فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ الله وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (آل عمران: 31)
Say, [to the people, O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)], If you love Allah, then follow me (my sunnah), then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is most forgiving, most merciful.
عن عائشة قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من التمس رضى الله بسخط الناس رضي الله تعالى عنه وأرضى الناس عنه ومن التمس رضا الناس بسخط الله سخط الله عليه وأسخط عليه الناس (صحيح ابن حبان، الرقم: 276)
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu anha) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala (through doing good actions) with people being unhappy (with his actions of pleasing Allah Ta’ala), then Allah Ta’ala will be pleased with him and will make the people pleased with him, and whoever seeks the pleasure of people while displeasing Allah Ta’ala (i.e. he does actions against shariah to please people but displeases Allah Ta’ala), then Allah Ta’ala will be displeased with him and Allah Ta’ala will also make the people displeased with him.”
