Excellence of Performing Righteous Deeds in Blessed Moments

Fragrant pieces of advice

An example of this world and Hereafter

This world and the Hereafter are like two co-wives. If one is pleased, the other will remain displeased. (Blessed saying of Sayyiduna Wahb Bin Munabbih رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه) (Hilyat-ul-Awliya, vol. 4, pp. 53, Raqm 4720)

Pleasing Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ

There is good news for the one who has pleased his Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ before appearing in His court. (Blessed saying of Sayyiduna Yahya Bin Mu’aaz Razi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه) (Munabbihat, pp. 15)

A’la Hadrat’s pearls of wisdom

Naqsh-e-Na’layn Sharifayn

For hundreds of years, فَطَبَقَۃً طَبَقَۃً i.e. Islamic scholars and ‘Aimmah Deen’, in every era, have been making the prints of the blessed footwear of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and writing booklets describing its many virtues and great benefits. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 24, pp. 512)

The ominousness of an impermissible picture

Angels do not enter the house that bears forbidden images (i.e. pictures of the face of living beings). Apart from this, the house in which angels of mercy do not enter is the worst of all places. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 24, pp. 590)

Excellence of performing righteous deeds in blessed moments

The righteous deeds that are performed in Awqat-e-Faadilah (blessed moments i.e., Shab-e-Bara’at etc.) have more spirituality.  (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 29, pp. 203)

Madani pearls of ‘Attar

A tip for attaining closeness to Holy Prophet ﷺ

If you want to attain closeness to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, obey the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, act upon Sunnahs abundantly and recite Salat upon the Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم extensively. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه! By the blessings of these blessed activities, you will attain the closeness to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Madani Muzakarah, 2 Muharram-ul-Haraam 1441 AH)

‘Conveying reward’ is a source of blessings

‘Conveying reward’ to pious people keeping ourselves away from sinful acts and staying within the bounds of Shari’ah is a source of blessings, a great act and the act of earning great reward. (Madani Muzakarah, 2 Muharram-ul-Haraam 1441 AH)

A virtue of Islam

Islam discourages mischief and disruption, and encourages love, peace and brotherhood. (Madani Muzakarah, 5 Muharram-ul-Haraam 1441 AH)

Blessed Ahadees are excellent commentary on the Holy Quran and an important means of righteousness and guidance. For this reason, Ahadees have been learnt by heart, understood, published and disseminated continually from the time of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to our age.

In the Islamic world, there were many cities famous for knowledge, but it was Kufa, a city in Iraq, which held a prominent position and held the attention of those fond of knowledge. Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه was born and brought up in Kufa. Among other factors, it was the educational environment of Kufa that helped him reach a high mental and intellectual level. In particular, regarding the acquisition of the knowledge of Hadees, he got the opportunity of learning from 4000 experts of his time and secured a distinguished position because of his passion and interest. (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisaan pp. 68; ‘Uqood-ul-Jamaan, pp. 183)

Among the respected teachers of Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه was a great Muhaddis Imam A’mash Sulayman Bin Mehran رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه (whose year of demise was 148 AH) and who was not only famous in Kufa but also in the whole Iraq for the knowledge of Hadees. One day, Imam A’mash asked him few questions and the answers given by Imam-e-A’zam astonished his teacher. Imam A’mash asked his competent student: ‘Where have you learnt these answers from, and how have you understood them?’ Imam-e-A’zam replied ‘My answers are based on the narrations so-and-so which you once mentioned to us.’ Sayyiduna Imam A’mash spontaneously said: ‘You are a physician and we just sell the medicines you prescribe’ (i.e. you infer Shar’i rulings from Ahadees and we only convey them to people). (As-Siqaat li Ibn-e-Hibban, vol. 5, pp. 334)

While describing the ability of Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه to scrutinize the authenticity of Ahadees and to infer Shar’i rulings from them, Sayyiduna Sufyan Sauri (whose year of demise was 161 AH) said: Imam Abu Hanifah accepted only those Ahadees which he deemed authentic and which were narrated by trustworthy narrators. (Al-Intiqa Fi Manaqib-is-Salasat-il Aimmah, pp. 142)

Imam Israel رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has said: ‘Nu’man (i.e. Imam A’zam Abu Hanifah) is the best man who has memorised every Hadees related to the topic of Islamic jurisprudence. ‘He would ponder very much over Ahadees and was more knowledgeable about the concepts of Islamic jurisprudence in them.’ (Manaqib-e-Abi Hanifah, pp. 23)

Here is an interesting parable of him memorizing a huge number of Ahadees: Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Farookh Farsi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه (whose year of demise was 176 AH) was staying with him when a part of the roof broke off and fell on the head of Sayyiduna Abdullah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه, causing bleeding from his head. On seeing this, Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه said: Please accept Diyat (i.e. a certain amount of money in compensation for this wound) or listen to 300 (and according to another copy of the book, 3000) Ahadees. Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Farookh Farsi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه accepted the offer of listening to Ahadees. (Tarteeb-ul-Madarik, vol. 3, pp. 109)

About the proficiency of Imam-e-A’zam in the interpretation of Ahadees, Imam Abu Yusuf said: ‘I have never found anyone who knows the meanings of the text of Hadees better than Imam Abu Hanifah.’ (Al-Intiqaa Fi Fadaail-is-Salasat-il Aimmah, pp. 139)

Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه was an admirer of Muhaddiseen and would recognise their talent. Regarding admiration for Muhaddiseen shown by the Imam-e-A’zam, Imam Sufyan Bin ‘Uyaynah رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه (whose year of demise was 198 AH) stated: It was Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه who assigned me in Kufa to narrate Hadees. He appointed me at Jami’ Masjid Kufa and said: ‘He is the one who has memorized the narrations of ‘Amr Bin Dinar’ the most.’ Then I narrated Hadees to people. (Al-Intiqa Fi Fadaail-is-Salasat-il Aimmah, pp. 128)

A few glimpses of his services and skills in the science of Hadees have been mentioned above, showing that, in addition to Islamic jurisprudence, Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه also held the rank of Imam in the field of Hadees. He passed away in 150 AH. His blessed shrine is situated in Baghdad, (Iraq). (Nuzhat-ul-Qaari, vol. 1, pp. 169, 219)

Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam is a month of great blessings and mercy. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, ‘Sha’ban is my month’. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 301, Hadees 4889) The 15^th night of this month is very important because mercy showers in abundance during this blessed night. It is stated in a blessed Hadees that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, ‘Indeed Allah Almighty grants especial mercy to Holy Ka’bah for a moment in a year and that is the blessed night of mid-Sha’ban. At that time, hearts of Muslims get attracted to the Holy Ka’bah. (Kanz-ul-Ummal, Juz: 12, vol. 6, pp. 96, Raqm 34708)

Dear Islamic brothers! On this blessed night, Almighty Allah forgives millions of sinful people; despite that, there are some unfortunate people who are not pardoned even on this blessed night. Following are some examples taken from different blessed Ahadees:

1    An alcoholic

2    The one who is disobedient to parents.

3    The one who is habitual of fornication.

4    The one who cuts family ties.

5    The one who commits tale bearing. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 381, Hadees 3830)

6    Non-Muslim

7    The one who has the feelings of hatred.

8    Murderer. (Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 2, pp. 589, Hadees 6653)

9    Singer. (Mukashafa-tul-Quloob, pp. 636)

All those Muslims indulged in any kind of mentioned sins should immediately seek forgiveness in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and if someone has deprived anybody of his right, he should seek forgiveness from him with sincerity.

Change in scrolls of deeds occurs on Shab-e-Bara`at. Allah knows what will be recorded in our fate. If possible, one should fast on 14^th Sha’ban and engage himself in worshipping right after offering Salat-ul-‘Asr with Jama’at. After Maghrib Salah, perform six Rak’aat Nawafil in sets of two. اِنْ شَـآءَ اللہ! By the blessings of these blessed Nawafil, one will have a long lifespan with safety and protection as well as he will remain safe from ‘dependence on others’. To learn the methods and details of these Nawafil, read the booklet ‘Aqa ka Maheena’ [The Month of My Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم] authored by Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُـهُمُ الْعَالِيَـه. Get this booklet from any branch of Maktaba-tul-Madinah or download its free version from the website www.dawateislami.net.