61) Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Do you know the first of Allah’s creation to enter Paradise? They said: Allah and His Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) know best. He said: The first of Allah’s creation to enter paradise will be the poor and the emigrants through whom the boundaries are guarded and calamities are prevented. Their condition is that when anyone of them dies, his wish remains in his chest unfulfilled. Allah says to whom He likes from among the angels: Go to them and greet them. The angels say: We are inhabitants of Your heaven and are the choicest of Your creation and still You want us to go and offer greetings to them? Allah says: Indeed they are the slaves who worship Me alone and associate none with Me (in any form of worship). Through them the boundaries are guarded and calamities are prevented. When anyone of them is dead, his wish remains in his chest unfulfilled. He said: So the angels will come to them and enter upon them from each door saying:
“Salamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home! (of yours)
This Hadith is sound for others too and narrated in Musnad of Ahmad)
Superiority of spending on good works and enjoining for that
62) Narrated Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Spend, O son of Adam! and I shall spend on you.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
63) Narrated Adi bin Hatim: I was (sitting) with Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) . There came to him two men. One of them was complaining of poverty while the other was complaining against brigandry. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said: As for brigandry, it will be a short time before a caravan sets out from Makkah (on a journey) without security guards (without being escorted) As regards poverty, the Hour will not be established until anyone of you goes around with his charity but fails to find any due recipients of it. Then one of You will stand before Allah. There will be no screen between Him and him, nor will be throne an interpreter to translate for him. Allah will ask him: Did I not grant you wealth? He (the slave) will say: Yes. Then he will look at his right side and will see nothing except Fire. Then he will look to his left side and will see nothing but Fire. The Prophet added: So let each of you protect himself against Hell even if with half a date, or, if not available, with a kind word.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari)
Nothing but sand can satisfy the bellies of son of Adam
64) Narrated Abu Waquid Al-Laithi: We used to visit the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) to hear anything revealed to him, One day he said to us: Allah said: Verily, we have bestowed (the believers) with fortune in order to offer prayers and pay Zakat (as per rules). But if the son of Adam had one valley of money he would wish for the second. If he had two valleys, he would wish for the third, So, nothing except soil can fill up the bellies of the son of Adam. But Allah will forgive the one who repents to Him
(This Hadith is good and related in Musnad of Ahmad)
Superiority of making ablution at night (i.e., praying)
65) Narrated Oqba bin Amir: I heard Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying: One of my followers gets up at night pushing himself to perform ablution (for prayer). On him there are several knots of the satan. When he washes his hands, a knot loosens. When he washes his face, another knot loosens. When he passes his wet hands over his head, Yet another knot loosens. When he washes his legs, the last knot loosens. Then Allah says to those beyond the eyes (angels): Look at this slave of Mine who cures his inner self and asks Me forgiveness. So, what he asks is given to him.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Ibn Hibban and Ahmad in his Musnad.)
Superiority of supplication at night
66) Narrated Abu-Huraira that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: In the last third of every night our Lord descends to the lowermost heaven and says: Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me, that I may grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me, so that I may forgive him.
(This Hadith is sound and related in Musnad of Abu Ya’la.)
Our Lord wonders at two men
67) Narrated Ibn Mas’ud The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) : Said: Our Lord wonders at two men: One is he who got out of his bed and quilt from among his family and tribesmen to perform prayers. Our Lord says: O My angels! Look at this slave of Mine who got up from his bed and quilt from among his tribesmen to offer prayers desiring what is available with Me and fearing from what is with Me. Second is he who fought in Allah’s cause and got defeated along with his fellow fighters. But he knew what punishment he will suffer from in case of fleeing from the battlefield and what reward he will get in returning to the battlefield. So he returned (and fought against Allah’s enemies) until he was killed desiring what is with Me and awing from what is with Me. Allah says to his angels: (wonderingly) Look at My slave who returned (to the battlefield) hoping for what is with Me and fearing what is with Me until his blood was shed.
(This Hadith is good and related in the Musnad of Ahmad, Abu Da’ud, Ibn Hibban and Mustadrak Al-Hakim)
Superiority of Voluntary prayers
68) Narrated Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: First of the deeds for which a slave will be called to account (on the Day of Resurrection) will be his (obligatory) prayers. If they are complete (he has prospered and succeeded), otherwise Allah will say (to the angels): See whether there are any (voluntary) prayers of My slave If any. Allah will say: Complete his obligatory prayers with them.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Ahamd in his Musnad, Abu Da’ud and Ibn Hibban.)
Merits of raising the (Adhan) prayer-call
69) Narrated Oqba bin Amir: I heard Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying: Your Lord wonders at a shepherd who on the peak of a mountain pronounces Adhan for prayers and offers them. Then Allah says (to the angels): Look at this slave of Mine who calls for prayer and performs it all by himself. He fears from Me. So I have forgiven My slave and admitted him to Paradise.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Abu Da’ud, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban.)
Superiority of Fajr and Asr Prayers
70) Narrated Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Some angels come to you in succession by night and some others come to you by day. they meet together at the time of Dawn (Fajr) and afternoon (Asr) prayers. Then those who passed the night with you, ascend to heaven. There Allah asks them though He knows best about them: In what state did you leave My slaves? The angels reply: When we left them, they were offering prayers and when we reached them, they were offering prayers.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Superiority of staying in the mosque from Maghrib (Evening) prayer to ‘Isha’ (night) prayer
71) Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Amr: Once we performed Maghrib (evening) prayer along with Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) , then some people left while some others stayed behind in the mosque. Shortly afterwards, Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) came fast in a state that he was panting violently and his knees were uncovered. He said excitedly: Be happy. This is your Lord who has opened a gate of the heavens. He talked to the angels proudly about you and said: Look at these slaves of Mine. They have just finished one obligatory prayer and are now waiting for the next.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Ibn Majah and Ahmad in his Musnad)
Superiority of performance of four Rak’at at the forenoon
72) Narrated Naim bin Hemmar Al-Ghatfani that he heard Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying: Allah said: O son of Adam! Don’t feel short of performing four Rakat (prayer) at the forenoon (If you do so) will safeguard you (against the Satan) for the rest of the day.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Ahmad in his Musnad and Abu Da’ud and Ibn Hibban)
Superiority of La Haula wa La Quwwata Illa Billah (There is no power and might except by Allah)
73) Narrated Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Should I not teach you or (probably) said: Shall I not show you a word from under the divine Throne of Allah out of the treasure of Paradise? You should say (There is no power and no strength except by Allah). At this Allah will say: My slave has become a Muslim and has surrendered himself to My will.
(This Hadith is good and narrated in Mustadrak of Al-Hakim)
Superiority of asking forgiveness by a son for his parents
74) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Allah raise the rank of a righteous slave in Paradise. and the slave will say: O Lord! From where has this come to me? Allah will say: Yes. This is because of your son who has been asking forgiveness for you.
(This Hadith is good and narrated in Musnad of Ahmad)
Satan’s Provision (sustenance)
75) Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Satan Iblis (Devil) said: O Lord! For every one of Your creatures You have arranged sustenance and means of livelihood but what is mine? Allah said: Anything on which Allah’s name is not mentioned (can be yours).
(This Hadith is related by Abu Naim in his book ‘Al-Haiya’ and its chain of authorities is sound.)
The First creation of Allah
76) Narrated ‘Ibadah bin Al-Samit: I heard Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) saying: The first thing created by Allah was the pen. He said to it: Write. It said: O Lord! What should I write? Allah said: Write down the destiny of every thing until the Final Hour (as per my will).
(This Hadith is sound and narrated in Musnad of Ahmad.)
Origin of the matter in writing and making witnesses 77) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: When Allah created Adam and breathed soul into him, he sneezed. He said: Praise be to Allah . by His permission. At this his Lord said to him: Your Lord has bestowed mercy on you. O Adam! Go to those angels sitting there and greet them. So Adam said: (peace be upon you). They responded to him. On you too the same and Allah’s mercy. Then he came back to his Lord. Allah said: It will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring. Allah said having made His hands closed: Select any one of them. Adam said: I select the right hand and both the hands of my Lord are right and blessed). Then Allah spread it. There was Adam and his generation. Adam asked: O Lord! Who are these people? Allah said: They are your children. Every human being’s life is written between his eyes. Among them was a man with the brightest face. For him was written only forty years of age. Adam said: O Lord! Who is this fellow? Allah said: This is your son Da’ud (David). His life span is written forty years. Adam said: O Lord! Increase his age. Allah said: This is what I have written down for him. He said: Then I give him sixty years of my age. Allah said: This is between you and him. Live in Paradise. He lived there as long as Allah wished. Then he was descended from it to Earth. Adam was counting his age. Then the death angel came to him. Adam said to him: You have come earlier. For me, one thousand years have been written. The angel said: Yes, but out of them you have given sixty years to your son Da’ud. Adam denied that so his successors also denied. He forgot, so his successors also forgot. From that day, Allah ordered writing down and making witnesses. (for pledges).
(This Hadith is sound and related by Ibn Abi Asim, Ibn Hibban and Hakim in his Mustadrak.)
The story of Musa (Alaihissalam) and the angel of Death
78) Narrated Abu Huraira: that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Once the Death Angel came to Musa (Moses) and said to him: respond to the order of Your Lord. The Prophet said: Musa hit the angel over his eye and ganged it out. The Prophet added: The angel returned to Allah, the Exalted, and complained: You sent me to a slave who does not want death. Rather he has ganged out my eye. The Prophet said: Allah set the angels eye right and said: Go back to My slave and ask him: Do you want life? If you wish to live long, put your hand on the back of an ox. The more hair you grasp in your hand, the more years you will live. At this Musa said: Then what will happen? The angel said: Then you have to die. Musa said: It is better to die now Then he invoked Allah: O Lord! Let me die near the Holy land (Palestine) at a shot of a stone.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Muslim.)
Allah’s Grace on His Prophet Ayyub (Alaihissalam)
79) Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: While Ayyub *Alaihissalam) was naked, taking a bath, a swarm of gold locusts fell on him. He started collecting them in his garment. At this, his Lord said: O Ayyub! Have I not bestowed you with enough (wealth) to make you dispensable with what you see? He replied: Yes, my Lord! But I can’t dispense with Your blessings.
(This Hadith is sound and related by Al-Bukhari.)
Hazardship of claim to the Pre-Islamic period of Ignorance
80) Narrated Obay bin Kaab : During the life time of Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam), two men attributed their family lineage. One of them said: I am such and such son of such and such but who are you? You have no mother. Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) added: In the lifetime of Musa (Alaihissalam), two men attributed their lineage. One of them said: I am such and such son of such and such till he counted nine. So who are you? You have no mother. The second said: I am such and such son of such and such son of Islam. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi vasallam) said: Allah revealed to Musa (Alaihissalam) to address these attributers: As for you who attributed yourself to nine, they are all in Hell and you are the tenth. As for you who attributed yourself to two (Islam), they are in Paradise and you are the third.
(This Hadith is narrated in Musnad of Ahmad and its chain of authorities is sound.)