Superiority of the company of pious people
21) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Allah has some angels who roam about the streets in search of people mentioning Allah’s names. When they find such a gathering, they call one another saying: Come to the object of your pursuit. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) added: The angels surround them with their wings up to the lowest heaven (sky of the world).
He further added: (When the people in the gathering disperse, the angels ascend to the heaven). Their Lord, who knows best about the people, asks them: What do my slaves say? The angels reply: They were glorifying You (by repeating the words “Allah is the All-Glorified), exalting You (by repeating the words “Allah is All-Great”), praising You (by repeating the words All praise be to Allah), and dignifying You.
He asks them: Have they seen Me? The angels reply: No, By Allah. O Lord! They haven’t seen You (at all). He asks: How would it be if they saw Me? The angels reply: If they saw You, they would worship You more devotedly, dignify You more fervently and exalt You more sincerely. Then Allah asks them: What do they ask Me? The angels reply: They ask You Paradise. He asks them: Have they seen it?
The angels reply: No, By Allah, They have not seen it. He asks: How would it be, if they saw it? The angels reply: If they saw it, they would crave for it eagerly, seek after it vigorously and desire for it ardently. He asks: From what do they seek My protection? The angels reply: (They seek your protection) from the Hell-fire. He asks: Have they seen it?
The angels reply: No, By Allah, O Lord! They haven’t see it (at all). He asks: How would it be, if they saw it. The angels reply: If they saw it, they would fear it extremely and flee from it hastily. Then Allah says (to the angels): I make you witness that I have forgiven them.
Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) added: One of the angels would say: O Lord! among them was so and so (a much sinning slave) who was not actually included in the gathering but he happened to came there for some need (and sat down with them.) Allah would remark: Anyhow, they were all sitting together, so their companion will not be reduced to misery (i.e. they were sitting together and glorifying Allah, so he who sits with them will not suffer but get forgiveness as a reward for his (association with the people remembering Allah).
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Continuous inducement for repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness
22) Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying that: a sin was committed by one of the slaves or may be he said, that: one of the slaves committed a sin. He said: O my Lord! I have committed a sin, or he said, a sin was committed by me. So please forgive. His Lord would say: Does my slave know that he has a Lord who can forgive him and (if He likes) can punish him. Anyhow, I have forgiven my slave.
No sooner does the time elapse as much as Allah wishes, than is another sin committed by him or he commits another sin. He says: O my Lord! I have committed a sin, or a sin was committed by me. So please forgive it. Allah will observe: Does my slave know that he has a Lord who can forgive him and (if He likes) can punish him too. Anyhow, I have forgiven him again. No sooner does the time elapse as much as Allah wishes, than another sin committed by him or he commits another sin. He says: O my Lord! I have committed a another sin, or sometimes he says another sin is committed by me. So please forgive it. Allah will remark: Does my slave know that he has a Lord who can forgive him and (if He likes) can punish him too. Anyhow, I have forgiven him for the third time. So let him do whatever he wishes.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
23) Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: I heard the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying: The devil said to his Lord: By Your Glory and Majesty! As long as the progeny of Adam exists on earth, I shall continuously misguide them. At this Allah remarked: By My Glory and Majesty! As long as they seek My forgiveness, I will go on to pardon them.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Ahmad in his Musnad).
He who loves to meet Allah (sw)by way of death like martyrs) Allah too loves to meet him
24) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said that Allah, the Exalted, observed: If My slave loves meeting Me, I too love meeting him. If he dislikes to meet Me, I too hate to meet him.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari and An-Nasa’i).
Sign of Allah’s love for His slave
25) Narrated Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: When Allah loves a person, He calls Jibrael (Alaihissalam) and says (to him): I love so and so, therefore you should also love him. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) added: So, Jibrael begins to love him. Then he makes an announcement in the heaven saying: Allah loves so and so, therefore you should also love him. Then the inhabitants of heaven (the angels) would love him. He (pbuh) added: Thus acceptance is established for him on earth (i.e. that person becomes popular among the people). When Allah dislikes any slave He calls Jibrael and says to him: I hate so and so, therefore you should also hate him. Then he calls out to the inhabitants of heaven: Allah hates so and so, therefore you should also hate him. Thus hatred is established for him on earth. (i.e. then hatred prevails against him among the people).
(This Hadith is sound and related by Muslim and At-Tirmidhi).
Exhortation for developing mutual love and mercy among the Muslims
26) Narrated Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Indeed Allah (sw) would say on the Day of Resurrection: O son of Adam! I fell ill but you visited Me not. He will say: How could I visit You while You are the Lord of the worlds? Allah will say: Did you not know that My slave so and so was sick but you visited him not? Did you not know that if you had visited him, you would have found Me by him? O son of Adam! I asked you for food but you fed Me not. The slave will say: O Lord! How could I feed You whereas You are the Lord of the worlds? Allah will say: Do you not know that such and such slave of Mine asked you for food but you did not feed him. Did you not know that if you had fed him, you would surely have found that with Me. O son of Adam! I asked you to give Me a drink but you gave Me not a drink. The slave will say: O Lord! How should I give You a drink while You are the Lord of the worlds? Allah will say: My slave so and so asked you to give him a drink but you gave him no drink. Had you provided him a drink, you would have surely found the reward for doing so with Me.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Muslim.)
Allah screens the believer in the world as well as in the Hereafter
27) Narrated Safwan bin Mobraz Al-Mazan: While I was on my way along with Ibn ‘Umar ( taking (holding up) his hand in mine. Suddenly a man appeared to him and said: What did you hear Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying about confidential talk (secret conversation)? He said: I heard Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying: (On the Day of Resurrection) Allah will draw near to a believer and put His forgiveness over him and screen him (his sins) then Allah will say: Do you know such and such sin? Do you know such and such? He will say: Yes, my Lord! This conversation will continue) until Allah will make him confess his sins, and thinks that he is ruined. Then Allah will say: I concealed them (your sins in the world) and I do forgive you today. Then he will be given the record book containing his good deeds. As regards, the infidels and hypocrites, the witnesses will say: These are the people who have disbelieved their Lord. Behold! Allah’s Curse is upon transgressors (wrong doers).
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Ibn Majah)
Superiority of the believer
28) Narrated Abu Huraira The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Allah (sw) said: Indeed a believer is in every good place with Me. He praises Me even while I take out his soul from between his sides.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Musnad Ahmad.)
Superiority of one who granted a grave period to an insolvent
29) Narrated Abu Mas’ud (: Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: A man from among those who were before you was called to account by Allah on the Day of Resurrection. No good was found in his account except that he, used to mix with people and being a rich man, used to lend money to the people and order his servants to let off the men who are unable to repay debt. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Allah (sw) said to the angels: We are worthier than him of that generosity. So let him off (enter Paradise).
Merit of love for the sake of Allah
31) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are those who love one another for My glory’s sake. Today I will shelter them in My shade, today there is no shade but only My shade.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Muslim.)
32) Narrated ‘Ubada bin As-Samit: I heard Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) quoting his Lord ( Who said: My love is established for those who love one another for My sake; and My love is established for those who spend money for My sake; and My love is established for those who visit one another for My sake. (In fact) those who love one another for the sake of Allah will be at pulpits of light in the shade of Allah’s Throne on a day when there is no shade but His shade.
(This Hadith is sound through all its channels and related in Musnad of Ahmad.)
33) Narrated Mu’adh bin Jabal: He said: I heard Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying: Allah said: For those who love one another for the sake of My glory there will be pulpits of light for which the Prophets and martyrs will envy them. (On the Day of Resurrection)
(This Hadith is good and related by At-Tirmidhi.)
Paradise is surrounded with hardships where as the Hell is encompassed with lusts to attract sinners
34) Narrated Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: When Allah created Paradise, He ordered Jibrael: Go and see it. So he went and saw it. Then he returned and said: O Lord, By Your glory! who hears of it would love entering it. Then He encompassed it with unpleasant things (hardships of worship) and said: O Jibrael! Go (again) and see it. So he went away to look at it. Then he came back and said: O Lord, By Your glory! I fear that no one will enter it. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: When Allah created Hell, He said: O Jibrael, go and see it So he went and saw it. Then he turned up and said: O Lord, By Your glory! No one who hears of it will enter it. So he encompassed it with lusts (worldly deceives) and said: O Jibrael! Go back and see it. He went again to see it and came back saying: O Lord, By Your glory! I fear that no one will escape from entering it
(This Hadith is fair and related by Abu Da’ud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i. Musnad of Ahmad and Mustadrak of Al-Hakim)
Some of what Allah has prepared for His righteous slaves
35) Narrated Abu Huraira the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Allah (sw) said, “I had prepared for my righteous slaves what no eye has seen nor ear has heard nor a human mind has realized. (nor it has occurred to human heart)
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.)
Later on Abu Huraira said: Recite if you wish: (No soul knows about the joy of eyes (pleasure) which has been hidden (concealed) for them. (the people).
Allah’s pleasure for the inhabitants of Paradise
36) Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Verily, Allah will address the inhabitants of Paradise: O inhabitants of Paradise! They will say: We present ourselves and are at Your pleasure; and goodness rests in Your hands. He will ask them: Are you satisfied? They will say: Why should we not be satisfied, O Lord! while You have given us what You have not given to anyone of Your creation? Then He will say: Would you not like Me to grant you something better than that? They will say: O Lord! What is better than that?. He will say: I will never be angry with you afterwards.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Inhabitants of Paradise will be given pursuit
37) Narrated Abu Huraira that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) was narrating a Hadith while a Bedouin was in his company: One of the inhabitants of Paradise will seek permission from his Lord for cultivation. Allah will ask him: what do you wish? He will reply in affirmative and say: But I like to cultivate (the land). (when the man is permitted) he will soon sow the seeds. The plants will grow up get ripe and be ready for harvesting. Then the yield will develop into conglobation like huge mountains then Allah (sw) will say: O son of Adam! Nothing can satisfy you. At this, the Bedouin remarked: O Allah’s Messenger(Sallallahu alaihi vasallam)! This man must be either from Quraish (i.e. an emigrant) or an Ansari (resident of Madina) because they are cultivators whereas we are not farmers (on hearing it) Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) laughed.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari.)
The Last to enter Paradise
38) Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud: Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: The last entrant to Paradise would be a man who walks once and stumbles once and be burnt by the fire once. When he gets beyond it, he will turn to it and say: Blessed is He who has saved me from you and has given me what He gave nobody in the earlier or later times. Then a tree would be raised up for him. So he will say: O my Lord! bring me closer to this tree so that I may take shelter in its shade and drink from its water.
Allah would say: O son of Adam! If I grant you this, you will demand Me something else. He will say: No, my Lord. He promised that he would ask for nothing else. His Lord would excuse him because He sees that the man would not have patience over it. So He will make him near it. Then he will take shelter in its shade and drink its water. Afterwards, a tree more beautiful than the first would be raised up before him.
So he will say: O my Lord! Bring me near this tree. So that I may drink its water and take shelter in its shade. I shall not ask you for anything other than that. Allah will say: O son of Adam! Did you not promise Me that you would not ask Me for anything else. He will reply: Probably I shall ask for nothing if you bring me near it. And he promised Him that he would not ask Him for anything else.
His Lord would excuse him because He knows that he would not keep his word. Anyhow, He would bring him near to the tree. The man will take shelter in its shade and drink its water. Then a tree more beautiful than the first two would be raised up at the gate of the Paradise.
He will say: O Lord! Please make me near to this tree so that I may enjoy its shade and drink its water. I shall not ask You anything else. His Lord would excuse him that the temptation of which he could not resist. So He will make him near this tree. When He would bring him near it, he would hear the voices of the inhabitants of the Paradise.
He would say: O my Lord! Admit me to it. Allah would say: O son of Adam! What will bring an end o your demands to Me? Will it please you if I give you the (whole) world and a similar one along with it? The man will say: are you mocking at me, though you are the Lord of the worlds?
(Narrating this Hadiths Ibn Mas’ud laughed and asked (the hearers): Why don’t you ask me what I am laughing at. They said: Why do you laugh? He said: In the same way Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) also laughed (when he said His Hadith, and (the companions) asked: Why do you laugh, O Messenger of Allah? He replied: On account of the laughter of the Lord of the Worlds when the Desiree of Paradise said: are you mocking at me though you are the Lord of the worlds? At this, Allah will remark: I am not mocking at you, but I am All-capable to do whatever I wish.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Muslim)
39) Narrated Abu Dhar: Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: I know the last of the dwellers of the Hell to come out and the last of the people of Paradise to enter. He is a man who would be brought before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. Then Allah will command the angels: Ask him about the minor sins and hide the major ones. Then it will be said to him: On such and such day you did that and that sin; and on such and such day you committed that and that bad deed. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) added: It will be said to him: In place of every evil deed, you will be granted one good deed. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) continued. The sinner would say: My Lord! I have done things which I do not find here. The narrator said: Indeed I saw the Messenger of Allah (sw) laugh until his premolar teeth were visible. (because the sinner was forgiven.)
(This Hadith is sound and related by At-Tirmidhi.)
Superiority of martyrs
40) Narrated Masruq: We asked ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud ( about this verse):
“Think not of those who have been killed in the way of Allah as dead; rather they are alive with their Lord being provided with sustenance.(3:169)
He (‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud) said: We asked the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) the meaning of this verse. So he explained it like this:
Their souls are in insides some green birds beside lanterns suspended from the divine throne roaming freely in the Paradise where ever they like. Then they take shelter at those lanterns. Once their Lord looked at them and said: Do you want anything else? They said: What more shall we want? We roam freely in Paradise as we like. Allah asked them the same question three times. When they felt that they would not be spared from being asked, they said: O Lord! We like you to put back our souls into our bodies so that we may be killed in Your way once again. As Allah saw that they had no wish. they would be let for joy in heaven.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari.)