Good Deeds That Distance One From Hell

Earn Good Deeds

Good deeds that distance one from Hell

Maulana Muhammad Nawaz Attari Madani

Allah Almighty declares in the noble Quran:

فَمَنۡ زُحۡزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَ اُدۡخِلَ الۡجَنَّۃَ فَقَدۡ فَازَ ؕ

So, whomsoever was saved from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, indeed he succeeded;[1]

Righteous people will be saved from Hell, whilst oppressors shall be placed in it. Allah Almighty states:

ثُمَّ نُنَجِّی الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا وَّ نَذَرُ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ  فِیۡہَا جِثِیًّا (۷۲)

Then, We shall grant salvation to those who are pious, and We will leave the oppressors upon their (fallen) knees therein.[2]

Here are eight hadith of Allah’s final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم regarding deeds which save one from Hellfire.

1.   Five good deeds which distance one from Hell

A Bedouin came to the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and said, “Inform me of a deed which will draw me near to Paradise and distance me from Hell.”

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, “Have these two [Paradise and Hell] led you to take action?”

“Yes”, replied the Bedouin.

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared, “Speak justly, and give away in charity anything in excess of your need.”

The Bedouin replied, “I am unable to speak justly all the time or give away in charity anything in excess of my needs.”

“Then feed people”, the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “and spread salaam.” Again, the Bedouin said this would be difficult for him.

“Do you have camels?”, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked, to which the Bedouin said yes.

The Greatest and Final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then ordained, “Take one of your camels strong enough to carry a load, and take a waterskin. Search for a household that has access to water every other day, and give them water to drink. Perhaps Paradise will become necessary (wājib) for you even before your camel dies and your waterskin rips.”

The Bedouin then left whilst exclaiming the takbir. He رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ was eventually martyred before his camel died or his waterskin tore.[3]

2.   Recite this seven times after fajr and maghrib

Recite اَللّٰہُمَّ اَجِرْنِیْ مِنَ النَّارِ seven times after maghrib salah. If you do this and pass away that night, freedom from Hell shall be written for you. Recite the same seven times after fajr salah, and if you pass away that day, freedom from Hell shall be written for you.[4]

3.   Words which save one from Hell

Whoever recites this in the morning or evening shall have a quarter of himself freed from Hell by Allah Almighty:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَصْبَحْتُ أُشْهِدُكَ وَأُشْهِدُ حَمَلَةَ عَرْشِكَ وَمَلَائِكَتَكَ وَجَمِيعَ خَلْقِكَ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ

Whoever recites it twice will have half of himself freed, whilst whoever recites it thrice will have three-quarters freed. As for whoever recited this four times, Allah Almighty shall free his entire body from Hell.[5]

4.   Sending ṣalāt upon the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم 100 times

Allah Almighty bestows ten mercies upon whoever sends ṣalāt upon the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once, whilst He bestows 100 mercies upon whoever sends ṣalāt upon him ten times. As for whoever sends ṣalāt upon him 100 times, Allah Almighty writes between their eyes freedom from hypocrisy and Hellfire, and He shall keep them with martyrs on the Day of Judgement.[6]

5.   Giving azan for seven years

Freedom from Hell is written for whoever gives azan for seven years only to seek reward.[7]

6.   Fajr and ʿishāˈ salah in congregation

Whoever offered fajr and ʿishāˈ salah in congregation without missing a unit (rakꜤah) has two forms of freedom written for them: one from Hell and the other from hypocrisy.[8]

7.   Tears shed in fear of Allah Almighty

Allah Almighty will make Hell haraam upon a believer who, in fear of Allah Almighty, sheds a tear that strolls down his cheek, even if it is equal in size to a fly’s head.[9]

8.   Reading salah in congregation for 40 days with the first takbir

Whoever offers salah for the sake of Allah Almighty in congregation for 40 days with the first takbīr has two forms of freedom written for him: one from the Fire and the other from hypocrisy.[10]

Note

The takbir uttered at the start of salah is called takbir ūlā; it is also called takbir taḥrīmah. Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states regarding the aforementioned hadith that by performing salah in congregation for forty days, a person is safeguarded from acts of hypocrisy in life, gifted sincerity, and not punished in the grave or Hereafter. Joining with the takbir ūlā means to finish reciting ”سُبْحٰنَکَ اللّٰھُمَّ“ completely before the imam starts reciting the holy Quran.[11]

It is stated in Bahar-e-Sharia't (Urdu) Vol.1, p.571: (When praying behind an imam) Joining with the rukūʿ of the first unit means one shall still attain the excellences associated with the first takbir.[12]

May Allah Almighty allow us to carry out the good deeds mentioned in this article and keep us away from Hell.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ