The Prophetic Recipe For Easily Entering Paradise

Opening

Beloved brothers and sisters, esteemed and honorable guests of Allah سبحانه وتعالى — السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

The Prophetic Recipe for Entering Paradise

Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, when he first came to Medina Munawwara and he visited many different sahaba رضي الله عنهم for the very first time, he shared some very pertinent advice — very important advice. And this is such advice that, amongst all the other different prophetic advices he could have offered at that time, he chose to particularly mention and share this piece of advice a few times, such that there are many different sahaba رضي الله عنهم who report this hadith — not just one, but there are quite a few.

And it's a short recipe to success. Because every single human being, every person, after we understand the purpose of our life — that we are here for the pleasure of Allah سبحانه وتعالى — we all aspire to please Allah سبحانه وتعالى and attain Jannah. And there are various different ways to go about doing that, and various different rules and laws that we should abide by, and various different things that we should refrain from. But Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم gave us very simple advice. He mentioned four particular things. And insha'Allah, if we bring these four particular things into our life, then the promise of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is that a person will enter Jannah very easily.

Abdullah ibn Salam رضي الله عنه narrates that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2485; also reported in Musnad Ahmad and Ibn Majah)

Four things. Let us go through each one.

The First Key: Spreading the Greeting of Salām

Number one: أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ — Spread the greeting of Salām. This is something that we as Muslims are so fortunate that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has granted us — such a wonderful greeting that yields so much reward and that also has such a wonderful meaning behind it. It's more than just a "good morning" or a "good afternoon" or a "hey, hi, how are you?" This is the complete السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. When a person says this, it has such a deep meaning behind it.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ — May peace be upon you. The ulema mention: when you say this, it shows that that person is saved from all types of harms. In other words: may you be completely at peace and comfort, you have no worries or concerns regarding me. Included in that is also a du'ā — that may Allah سبحانه وتعالى send peace and blessings upon you. وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ — and may the mercy of Allah سبحانه وتعالى also be with you. وَبَرَكَاتُهُ — and also His blessings.

And it is mentioned in another hadith that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, on one occasion, was sitting with the sahaba رضي الله عنهم. Someone came and said السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ — Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned: 10 rewards. Then another person came and said السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ — he added وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ: 20 rewards. And then with وَبَرَكَاتُهُ: 30 rewards. So just by greeting another Muslim, a person is attaining so much reward.

And this is something that, unfortunately, we as Muslims tend to fall short on a lot of times. When it comes to non-Muslims — you go to the grocery store, you go to the library, you walk around in the hallways at school — and you'll see every person that you pass by has a nice welcoming, a nice greeting. To this extent, perhaps sometimes even the janitor who works here at Dar Es Salaam in the seminary building — you pass by him and he makes eye contact with you, he will greet you, he will acknowledge the fact that you are walking past him and say "good morning" or something like that. But unfortunately, many of us — we make eye contact, we walk past one another, and we don't even greet one another. We don't even say السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ. And we have such a beautiful greeting, and this is a part of our deen.

It is mentioned in other hadith that if a person goes over and above merely greeting someone and they actually shake hands and they say:

يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ — making a du'ā: may Allah forgive you and I. Then when they are meeting, sins are falling off just like when a person shakes a branch that has a bunch of dry leaves. So there is so much reward, so much virtue in it, and we have to bring it upon ourselves to insha'Allah revive this within our communities.

We shouldn't feel shy. Sometimes a person initiates a greeting — السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ — I myself, I guess, need to work on this — where we are a bit soft in our initial greeting, so perhaps the person doesn't hear it. Then naturally maybe he feels shy and he doesn't reply. Or maybe he also initiates a greeting but we can't hear it. So we should be audible when we are greeting: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. And when replying also, we should ensure — especially if the one who greeted us was audible and we could hear him clearly — we should do our absolute best to ensure that he hears us reply. Sometimes a person does reply but it's so soft that the person who greeted doesn't even hear. And that actually creates more resentment — it shouldn't create resentment, but it does — because the person feels as though he was ignored. So this is something that should be rectified.

And subhanAllah, such a small thing can actually reform and completely change an entire community. In fact, we see when it comes to the sunnah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم — the aspect of smiling — that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned various different rewards. In one hadith he says:

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2626)

That don't look down on any good deed, no matter how seemingly insignificant it is — even if it be something as simple as meeting another brother with a cheerful countenance, with a smiling face. There is so much reward in that, so much virtue in that.

And you'll find also non-Muslim psychologists have mentioned the effects of smiling — and how when a person just brings it upon himself — you find a person who perhaps has a crummy attitude, he's very down and depressed, but if he just starts smiling when he walks around, then he gets others — just by others seeing him smile, they will also smile back. It lifts his spirits and it lifts the spirits of everyone else around. SubhanAllah, many of us have perhaps seen these social experiments where someone in a train all of a sudden starts chuckling a little bit, and then in a few seconds you find the whole entire train is laughing. No one even knows why. But because one person started it — it's contagious, subhanAllah. So imagine coupled with smiling, when we greet our fellow Muslim brothers, what type of unity will be created in our communities. And this is something that we all have to work towards.

The Second Key: Feeding Others

That's number one. Number two, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ — feed others. From time to time, make it a point to feed others — to perhaps purchase food for other individuals, or take them with you, or give sadaqa such that it will be used to aid those who are less fortunate. This is also a wonderful teaching of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, and this is something that mashAllah many of our community members are engaged in. And insha'Allah may Allah increase you all in number, and may Allah allow us to also bring this quality within our lives.

This is also something that directly pertains to community building, subhanAllah. And when we create a strong community which is united, and if every single community works together on this, then imagine how strong the Muslims will be. But unfortunately, subhanAllah, we've reached such a point where many of us are just so concerned and worried about our own selves and we just continue living like that. Such that there are even, unfortunately, such examples where a neighbor has passed away in the very next unit and it goes unnoticed for a few days — until it's such a rotting stench that someone finds out: "Oh, there used to be someone living here who actually just passed away." But that shouldn't be our case. We should work together, we should constantly be worried about our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, and we should make it a point to feed others whenever possible.

According to our means — it could be something lavish, it could be a nice proper meal for multiple people, or it could be something like a snack from time to time — depending on what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has blessed you with and depending on the amount that you can spend on others. Insha'Allah you spend this, and you will find that it won't actually take away from your wealth; rather, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will increase your wealth. Allah سبحانه وتعالى will grant you more barakah in your wealth.

In another hadith, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentions that when a person gives charity, it never decreases the amount of wealth that he has. Allah mentions: who is there who is going to spend for the sake of Allah? — and it's a very vast category, there are so many different ways — one of these ways is to feed others. And Allah mentions: who is there who is going to spend for the sake of Allah, so that Allah can multiply for you your rewards? Allah Himself is the one who restricts a person's earnings, and He is the one who also expands a person's earnings. So what do you have to worry about? If Allah is in control and you spend for His sake, don't you think Allah is going to reward you again? Don't you think Allah is going to give you that money back again?

Sometimes if you ponder about it — if you ever gave sadaqah, you ever gave charity — then subhanAllah, a time will come where someone will make some ihsan to you, and you will get that money somewhere or another. And if you were to ponder and think about it and retrace your footsteps and your actions, you realize: subhanAllah, I actually gave sadaqah at one point in time — perhaps this is Allah سبحانه وتعالى rewarding me for that one particular time. Allah mentions:

Allah says: so that I can multiply it in many folds. And who is speaking here? It is Allah. So the greater the person, the greater the meaning, the greater the individual, the greater the meaning behind the words. For example — you have a small child, he says "I have a lot." What does he mean by "I have a lot"? He's talking about candy: "I have a lot of candy." How much candy do you have? A handful — because he is a child. Then you ask a teenager: "How much candy do you have?" "I have a lot of candy." He has a bag full of candy. You ask an adult: "How much candy do you have?" He's talking about a whole pantry full of candy. You ask a businessman: "How much candy do you have?" He has entire stores full of candy. Now — who are we talking about? مَالِكُ الْمُلْكِ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ — the King of all kings who owns and possesses everything. And He is saying: "I am going to reward you with a lot." We can't even imagine how much is in store for us, subhanAllah.

That's the second point — to spend on others, to feed others. So: أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ — spread the greeting of salāms. Number two: وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ — feed others food.

The Third Key: Maintaining Family Ties

Number three: وَصِلُوا الْأَرْحَامَ — maintaining family ties. In a hadith, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has mentioned: whoever wishes to have barakah in their wealth, and whoever wishes to live a longer, more peaceful life, then he should ensure that he maintains family ties.

This is also another thing that we should be very particular about. This is at a time, subhanAllah, where Medina Munawwara was full of warfare, and they were at one another's necks for over a hundred years. And Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم came, starting off with this one piece of advice — and many others to follow — and he changed one of the most backwards of nations, that were fighting for over a hundred years, to one of the greatest superpowers of the time, subhanAllah.

The Fourth Key: Praying at Night

The last thing that we can do, as per the advice of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, is: وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ — perform nightly prayers. Pray salah at night when all the masses are sleeping — when everyone else is asleep — and we wake up to perform salah. This is so beloved in the court of Allah. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has mentioned that the person who brings into his life all four of these things will enter paradise so easily, so peacefully.

Particularly with regards to this last point — we see that many of us are worried and concerned about the current situation of what's happening throughout the world. And we are trying everything that we can — as far as offering monetary aid, as far as speaking up, as far as writing letters to our representatives. And alhamdulillah, it is very beneficial and we should continue. And we are seeing positive results in that, and we make du'ā that Allah continues providing us with positive results until Allah completely takes care of the entire situation at hand.

But one of the things that we can never neglect is our spiritual power. Because based on our a'māl — based on our actions and deeds — our actions will have much more power, they will have much more weight. And this is something that should not be dismissed, something that should not be overlooked. This is in fact the reality, and this is the mindset of a believer.

If we look at the advice that Allah granted Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم when he first started — imagine what a task he had. He had to preach about God to people who were worshipping idols and rocks for hundreds and thousands of years. And he had to preach against his own family members, and some of his greatest friends became his greatest enemies overnight. Imagine the task at hand. And one of the advices that Allah gave Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was to stand up at night and perform salah. The ulema mention that part of the reward for standing up at night and performing salah is that it has a more profound effect in one's words. In another ayah, Allah mentions:

When you are done with all the other tasks of the day, then stand up — your job is not over. Now focus your attention in the court of Allah. And Allah mentions, in the very next ayah after:

He says:

That you have in the morning a very busy day, and you are going to constantly be working. The ulema mention — if you look at these verses — it is as though Allah is informing the Prophet and all of the Muslims who are going to follow his advice, that a person will attain more power and strength based on the amount of attention that they give to Allah in their nightly prayers.

The Opportunity of the Winter Season

This is that portion of the year where it is perhaps the easiest to wake up for tahajjud. It is the easiest to wake up at night time to perform salah. It is the easiest time of the year to fast for the sake of Allah. It is the easiest time of the year when a person comes back home where he has such a lengthy period — undisturbed by other salahs or undisturbed by any other actions — for him to read Qur'an. It is that time of the year where a believer — as mentioned by others — it is ghanimatul mu'min — it is the easiest time for a believer to maximize on all of these various different actions.

So we have to ask ourselves: how many of these actions are we truly bringing into our life? And if we do it with the right intention, we will find that our other actions will have so much more power — our voice will be so much stronger. Whatever input that we are giving elsewhere, we will find it will have more of a profound effect.

May Allah grant us all the tawfīq.

The Virtues of Night Prayer: The Hadith of the Descending

I would like to end off with just a few ahadith about the virtues of standing up at night and praying salah. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has mentioned — and this hadith is in Sahih Muslim — that every single night, when there is only one third of the night left, Allah calls out and He says:

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 758)

Allah has control over everything: "I am the King." "Who is there who is going to call out to Me, so that I can respond to his calls and his pleas?" "Who is there who is going to ask Me, so I may grant him his needs?" "Who is there who is going to seek forgiveness from Me, so that I may forgive him?"

In another hadith, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has mentioned that every single night there is a particular time when Allah readily accepts a believer's du'ā — there is a particular time wherein that du'ā is readily accepted. What particular time of the night? Allah knows. But there is some time at night. Therefore Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and the other sahaba رضي الله عنهم would spend so long performing salah at night — they would apportion some part of the night to perform salah.

Practical Steps to Begin Praying at Night

Let us all insha'Allah also try to start and revive this sunnah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. We will see the benefits in our own life, and we will see the benefits insha'Allah materializing also in various different efforts of ours. But it all comes with the discipline and the initiative — no one else is going to be able to create this change unless we create it within ourselves. We have to want to do it.

And it's as simple as starting to set an alarm before Fajr time, checking the time when Fajr time comes in, setting an alarm, taking other precautionary measures — such as drinking extra water before we go to sleep — so that perhaps naturally there will be a natural urge to wake up. That is something that can, if we're finding it very difficult to lift the blanket in the early cold portion of the night — or that late cold portion of the night, early part of the morning — then insha'Allah if we drink a little bit of extra water at night, we'll find that this will help push us out of the bed very quickly. When you have to go to the bathroom — might as well just make wudu, perform two rakahs, make a small du'ā to Allah.

If we're finding that difficult, then at the bare minimum let us set an alarm and wake up at that time. This is a time — not necessarily a person has to do the salah, we should do the salah, we should do it — but also it's mentioned in the hadith that we can also call out to Allah, we can make du'ā to Allah in your bed.

There are steps and stages. First — if you can't wake up — try praying two rakahs before going to sleep, with the intention: this is my tahajjud. A time will come then — provided we're setting our alarms insha'Allah — we'll wake up. And then it may be difficult to get up — at least at the bare minimum make du'ā at that time. Then if we continue this, insha'Allah a time will come where Allah will grant us the ability to not only just make du'ā, but we'll be able to wake up, make wudu, and then perform salah. And then insha'Allah a time will come where we can add more du'ās and make extensive du'ās.

May Allah grant us all the tawfīq. May Allah grant us the ability to implement all four of these things and grant us all easy entrance into Jannah.

Welcome of a New Brother: Shahāda

Alhamdulillah, we have some wonderful news. We have a beloved brother of ours, Kamal, who has accepted Islam and would like to take his Shahāda before the community.

I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except for Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is his servant and messenger.

Takbeer! MashAllah, we are so blessed to be in your company. And as many of us have heard before, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has mentioned in a hadith that when a person accepts Islam, all of his prior sins are forgiven. So I'd like to actually use this opportunity — since you have accepted Islam — to make du'ā, because a person who doesn't have any sins, his du'ās are very readily accepted. And we are very blessed to have such a person amongst us who is sinless. And how many of us can say that subhanAllah we are sinless?

We make du'ā that Allah grants you the ability to remain steadfast according to the teachings of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, and that Allah also grants us the ability.

Closing Du'ā

O our beloved Allah, O our merciful Allah — O Allah, there are so many people throughout the world that are suffering. يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ — so many people that are sick, so many people that have various different illnesses, various different wounds, and many of those who have passed away. O Allah, shower Your mercy and Your blessing upon all of them. O Allah, shower Your mercy and Your blessings upon all of us.

O Allah, please take care of our enemies. يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَيَا أَكْرَمَ الْأَكْرَمِينَ. O Allah, ensure that the Muslims throughout the world experience only ease. O Allah, take care of any such difficulty that they are facing. O Allah, make things extremely easy for them. O Allah, those who are oppressing — take care of those who are oppressing, O Allah. O Allah, establish justice on the earth.

O Allah, through our brother Kamal who has accepted Islam — and where Your beloved Prophet has mentioned he is free of sins — O Allah, through the barakah of this, O Allah, accept all of our du'ās. O Allah, also forgive us of all of our sins. O Allah, take care of all of our problems. O Allah, our beloved Allah, allow us all to live lives fully devoted to You. O Allah, make our lives easy. O Allah, do not test us with difficulties.

O Allah, provide us and all the Muslims throughout the world ease. O Allah, make it easy for the Ummah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Forgive the Ummah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Have mercy on the Ummah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. All of those who have passed away — fill their graves with Nūr. O Allah, all the Muslims who have passed away, fill their graves with immense illuminating light. Open up the doors of Jannah, open up the windows of Jannah for them. O Allah, those who attained martyrdom from them — O Allah, bless them and honor them.

O our beloved Allah, all those who are sick and ailing throughout the world — O Allah, cure them, grant them shifa'. O Allah, we ask You from all the good that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم has ever asked You, and we seek refuge in You from all the evil that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم ever sought refuge in You. O Allah, accept our du'ā.

JazakAllah khayran.

Announcements

Please pass the donation boxes from left to right and donate generously. Sadaqa wards off calamities and draws the mercy of Allah.

Kindly note that there is no curb parking. Do not park on the curbs behind the seminary building or on Swift Highway. Alhamdulillah, we have additional parking spots in the used car lot. Also please ensure not to park in the condo's parking lot.

Insha'Allah, today at 7:30pm right after Isha Salah, we will have a student's gathering. Students from high school and college are kindly requested to join and participate in this event.

Additionally, there will be a workshop: Islamic Estate Planning — Protect Your Family, Leave a Legacy, and Fulfill Your Religious Obligations with Hafiz Yasir Ali. This will be Friday, December 1st, after Isha Salah at 7:30pm.

There is also the Girls Youth Halaqah — Soulful Chats, currently titled Holiday Celebration in Islam, Part 1. This happens bi-weekly at 5:30pm.

Please save the date for our Annual Benefit Dinner, which will be Saturday, December 9th at 5:00pm at Shalimar Banquets. Tickets will be sold outside. All brothers and sisters are kindly requested to join, participate, and donate for that cause.

Our weekly programs: Team Fajr continues tomorrow — Fajr Salah is at 6:00am. We have Tafsir of Surah al-Qasas beginning on Tuesday after Isha Salah (Iqamah at 7:30pm). And we have our weekly Salawat and Khatirah every Thursday after Isha Salah.

Additionally, sports and activities available to the community:

• Tuesday Women's Basketball — 7:00pm to 9:00pm
• Sunday Women's Badminton — 7:45pm to 9:45pm
• Sunday Women's Volleyball — 6:00pm to 7:45pm
• Wednesday Men's Volleyball — 7:45pm to 9:45pm
• Thursday Men's Basketball — 7:45pm to 9:45pm

إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونَ، وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ