The Greatest and Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: ‘اِخْتَصَرَ لِیْ اِخْتِصَارًا’ (Almighty Allah) blessed me with great conciseness. (Sunan Daarimi, vol. 1, pp. 42, Hadees 54)
On page 210, 211 and 212 of the 30th volume of Fatawa Razawiyyah, A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه stated different meanings of the above Hadees, describing the great and glorious status of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Let’s have a look at those different meanings as well as the great status of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as stated by the Imam of the Ahl-us-Sunnah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه.
1. Bestowment of conciseness
Describing the meanings of the above Hadees, A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه stated: That is, he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has been blessed with conciseness, i.e. the ability to express many meanings using few words. (He صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم puts detailed and lengthy conversations in a nutshell.)
2. Reduction of period in grave
It may also mean that era has been shortened for him, i.e. his Ummah will live in graves for a shorter period of time (compared to other Ummahs because his Ummah is the last of all).
3. Reduction of the sufferings of Ummah
It may also mean that the ages of his Ummah have been reduced so that they will get rid of the trials and tribulations of the world soon. They will commit lesser sins and will gain eternal blessings soon. (In other words, the ages of his Ummah will be short compared to those of previous Ummahs. For this reason, they will face lesser sufferings in the world and will have fewer chances of committing sins. Moreover, they will wait for a shorter period of time before they reach the eternal blessings of Heaven compared to other Ummahs.)
4. Short accountability of Ummah
It may also mean that long accountability period of the Judgement Day has been reduced for his Ummah. ‘O Ummah of Muhammad! I have forgiven you for My rights. Forgive the rights of each other and go to Heaven.’
5. Crossing Siraat bridge swiftly
This Hadees may also mean that the period of crossing the Siraat bridge will be reduced for his devotees. Others will take fifteen thousand years to cross it but this distance will be reduced for his devotees so much that they will cross it within the blink of an eye or they will cross it as lightning flashes. ‘کما فی الصحیحین عن ابی سعید الخدری رضی اللّٰە عنە’ (This has been narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Sa’eed Khudri رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ in Bukhari and Muslim.)
6. Judgement Day will pass quickly
The above Hadees may also mean that the duration of the Day of Judgement will be reduced for his devotees. The Day of Judgement will last for fifty thousand years but for his devotees, it will pass in less than the amount of time in which two Rak’aat of Fard Salah are offered. (This has been stated in the Ahadees narrated by Ahmad, Abu Ya’la, Ibn Jareer, Ibn Habbaan, Ibn ‘Adee, Baghawi and Bayhaqi.)
7. Less effort, more reward
(It may also mean that his Ummah will make less effort but attain high ranks. They will gain high ranks in a lesser period of time.) The knowledge and the insight that cannot be gained even by endeavouring and struggling for a thousand years have been bestowed upon his companions in return for serving him for a short period of time. (Blessed companions رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم gained unique knowledge and wisdom by the means of the companionship of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for a few years.)
8. Reduction in distance between earth and ‘Arsh
There is a distance of millions of years between the earth and the ‘Arsh. This Hadees may also mean that this distance has been reduced for him in such a way that going to and returning from the ‘Arsh while observing all places at great length took place within three moments.
9. Comprehensive and luminous book
It may also mean that the book bestowed upon the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم contains within its limited pages a clear-cut and detailed description of all the past and future things. Sixty thousand areas of knowledge are subsumed under each and every verse of it. Commentary on a single verse of it filled seventy camels. Can any conciseness greater than it be imagined? (In the limited and brief pages of the Holy Quran, such treasures of knowledge and wisdom have been included which cannot be encompassed.)
10. Entire universe in front of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
This Hadees may also mean that the huge world from the east to the west has been reduced for him in such a way that he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sees whatever is going to happen in it till the Judgement Day as he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sees his palm. ‘کانما انظر الٰی کفّی هٰذهٖ’ i.e. as I am seeing this palm of mine. (This has been narrated by Ibn ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُمَا in a Hadees stated by Tabarani, etc.) (That is, nothing in the universe is hidden from the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. This is a Divine bestowment upon him.)
11. Less deed but more reward for Ummah
This Hadees may also mean that his Ummah has been blessed with more reward for less deed. (It is stated in the Hadees regarding employees mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has said, ‘This is My benevolence that I bestow upon whomever I will.’ It may also mean that the laborious and arduous deeds which were compulsory for previous Ummahs have been cancelled for his Ummah. Fifty Salahs have been reduced to five but reward for fifty Salahs will be granted. This is Divine grace indeed. The ratio of Zakah has been reduced from 25 to 2.5 percent but the reward of giving 25 percent of wealth to charity will be given. ‘وعلٰی هٰذَا القِيَاس، وَالحَمدُ لِلّٰەِ رَبِّ العٰلَمِين’
12. Great explanation of short sentence
A brief Hadees, i.e. ‘اِخْتَصَرَ لِیْ اِخْتِصَارًا’ has been explained at such a great length. This is also the conciseness of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
Mayn nisar tayray kalam per, mili yoon to kis ko zaban nahin
Woh sukhan hay jis mayn sukhan na ho, woh bayan hay jis ka bayan nahin
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us countless rewards for the defective deeds we have performed in our short life. May Almighty Allah forgive us without accountability and make us enter Paradise! ‘آمِین یَا رَبَّ العَالمین’
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