life and the Hereafter. Yet imagine being in the presence of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, in Medina, standing right before him, and then requesting something small and insignificant would that seem fitting? When we stand before such an auspicious personality, what we ask for should also be auspicious.

See how RabīꜤa رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked for an esteemed bounty. He said, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! I ask you to make me your neighbour in Paradise.”

Seek to be close to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Dear Islamic brothers! Indeed, all the goodness of this life and the next are given to us by Allah, only because of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Whatever we receive in the future will also be because of him. Yet, we should hold only one desire in our hearts and that is to be close to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Paradise. We should not compromise on anything less. This is the lesson we learn from the Companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُم.

Once, the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was addressing the son of Lady Umm ꜤUmāra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا and said, “May Allah bless your entire family. Your mother holds a rank higher than so-and-so. Your stepfather’s rank is higher than so-and-so. Your rank is higher than so-and-so.”

When Umm ꜤUmāra heard this, she requested, “O Messenger of Allah! Pray for us that we are granted proximity to you in Paradise.”

The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then prayed to Allah and said:

اَللّٰهُمّ اجْعَلْهُمْ رُفَقَائِي فِي الْجَنّةِ

O Allah! Make them my neighbours in Paradise.

Hearing this, Umm ꜤUmāra proclaimed مَا اُبَالِیْ مَا اَصَابَنِیْ مِنَ الدُّنْیَا “Now, I am not