Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Every person, at every moment in his life, is enjoying countless blessings and innumerable bounties from Allah Ta‘ala. The eyes which Allah Ta‘ala has given us to see with, the ears with which we hear, the hands and feet and body limbs that function in harmony – all are among the special bounties of Allah Ta‘ala upon man to which no price can be attached.
Apart from this, man should ponder over the grace and mercy of Allah Ta‘ala raining upon him all the time by looking at the food and drink Allah Ta‘ala grants him, the clothing on his body, the shelter above his head. All these are from the special grace and favours of Allah Ta‘ala upon His servants.
Below is an interesting incident which highlights the immense grace of Allah Ta‘ala upon His servants:
It is recorded in the Hadith that once, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered an assembly of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and said:
My friend, Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam), left me just now. He said to me (while relating something to me regarding the people of the past):
O Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I take an oath in the name of the Being who sent you with the truth! There is a servant of Allah Ta‘ala who remained occupied in Allah Ta‘ala’s worship for 500 years. He lived on a mountain top on an island in the centre of the ocean.
For his benefit, Allah Ta‘ala caused a spring of sweet water to flow from the top of the mountain. Allah Ta‘ala also caused a pomegranate tree to grow there which produced one pomegranate daily for him to eat. This man used to spend his entire time on the mountain top, worshipping Allah Ta‘ala, and in the evening, he would come down from the mountain, eat and drink, and thereafter occupy himself again in the worship of Allah Ta‘ala.
When the man lived for 500 years and the time came for him to leave this world, he made dua to Allah Ta‘ala saying, “O Allah! It is my heart’s desire that when the angel of death comes to extract my soul, I must be in a state of sajdah (prostration). After I die, my body must remain intact; the ground must not be able to eat my body, as it is my wish that I be resurrected on the Day of Qiyaamah while I am in the state of sajdah.”
Allah Ta‘ala accepted the dua of that worshipper, and as per his wish, he died while in the state of sajdah. Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) said, “When we angels descend from the heavens, coming towards the earth, and we ascend from the earth to the heavens, we pass by him (and see him in the state of sajdah).”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) informed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and told them that Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) had also related to him what will transpire with that man on the Day of Qiyaamah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:
Allah Ta‘ala will bring him to life on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be made to stand before Allah Ta‘ala. Allah Ta‘ala will say to the angels:
أدخلوا عبدي الجنة برحمتي
Admit this servant of Mine into Jannah (Paradise) by virtue of My mercy and kindness.
The worshipper will say, “No. Admit me into Jannah by virtue of my actions.” Allah Ta‘ala will say to the angels for a second time, “Admit this servant of Mine into Jannah by virtue of My mercy and kindness.” He will again say, “No. Admit me into Jannah by virtue of my actions.” Allah Ta‘ala will say for a third time, “Admit this servant of Mine into Jannah by virtue of My mercy and kindness.” The man will remain obstinate on his point and still say, “No. Admit me into Jannah by virtue of my actions.”
He will think to himself, “I spent 500 years in worship. Then, I expressed the wish to die while in sajdah, and to remain in that position until the Day of Resurrection. Yet, there is no mention of all these things which I have done!”
Allah Ta‘ala will say to the angels, “Calculate all his actions against the bounties and favours which I conferred on him to see which is more (i.e. is his worship more or are My bounties which I blessed him with more?).” The angels will start their calculations. From the countless favours of Allah Ta‘ala, they will start with the eyes. When they complete their calculations, they will realize that the man’s 500 years of worship was recompensed by just his eyes. The other parts of the body were extra and still need to be calculated. Demands will be made against him for the rest of the bodily favours which he enjoyed from Allah Ta‘ala in the world. However, because all his acts of worship will be used up only to recompense for the bounty of his eyes, he will find himself unable to pay for the other bounties of Allah Ta‘ala which he enjoyed in the world.
Allah Ta‘ala will then say to the angels, “Throw this servant of Mine into Jahannum.” The angels will begin to drag him and take him towards Jahannum. The worshipper will call out to Allah Ta‘ala and beg Him saying:
رب برحمتك أدخلني الجنة
O my Lord! Solely by virtue of Your mercy and kindness – admit me into Paradise!
Obviously, the man does not have a single good deed remaining in his account, as all were used up to pay back for only the eyes which Allah Ta‘ala granted him. How then can he be admitted into Jannah on the basis of his actions?
Allah Ta‘ala will issue an order to the angels and command them to bring him back. The angels will bring him back and make him stand before Allah Ta‘ala again. Allah Ta‘ala will ask him:
يا عبدي من خلقك ولم تك شيئا
O My servant, who created you when you were nothing?
He will reply:
أنت يا رب
You, O my Lord!
Allah Ta‘ala will then ask him:
كان ذلك من قبلك أو برحمتي
Was that on account of something from your side (i.e. through your virtue), or was it through My mercy that I created you?
He will reply:
بل برحمتك
Rather, it was solely through Your mercy!
Allah Ta‘ala will then ask him:
من قواك لعبادة خمس مائة عام
Who gave you the strength to worship Me for 500 years?
He will reply:
أنت يا رب
You, O my Lord!
Allah Ta‘ala will say:
من أنزلك في جبل وسط اللجة وأخرج لك الماء العذب من الماء المالح وأخرج لك كل ليلة رمانة وإنما تخرج مرة في السنة وسألتني أن أقبضك ساجدا ففعلت ذلك بك
Who allowed you to stay on a mountain in the middle of the ocean? Who provided you with sweet water in the midst of salty water? Who gave you a pomegranate every night whereas a pomegranate tree bears fruit only once a year? You requested Me to take your soul while you are in sajdah, and I did that for you!
He will say:
أنت يا رب
You, O my Lord!
Allah Ta‘ala will say:
فذلك برحمتي وبرحمتي أدخلك الجنة أدخلوا عبدي الجنة
All this happened only through My mercy, and it is only through My mercy that I am admitting you into Paradise. O angels! Admit this servant of Mine into Paradise!
Allah Ta‘ala will then address the worshipper and say:
فنعم العبد كنت يا عبدي
O My servant! You were an excellent servant of mine (who worshipped Me in the world throughout your life)!
Despite his actions not being able to earn him Jannah, Allah Ta‘ala will praise him and Allah Ta‘ala will express His appreciation over his worshipping Allah Ta‘ala in the world.
Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) then said:
إنما الأشياء برحمة الله تعالى يا محمد
O Muhammed! Everything of man in the world depends on the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala (i.e. we need the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala at all times throughout our lives)
(Mustadrak Haakim #7637 & Targheeb #5452)
