The Blessed Ummah: Gifts Of Multiplied Rewards And Noble Intentions

The Blessings of Being from the Ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. We praise Him, and we pray, and we greet His noble Messenger. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and from the evils of our deeds.

Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him, and whosoever He leads astray, none can guide him. And we bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. And we bear witness that our Master, our Beloved, and our Master Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

O my Lord, open my heart and ease my affairs, and release the knot from my tongue, so that my speech may be understood. O Allah, inspire us in the right ways, and protect us from the evils of our souls.

Beloved brothers and sisters, youngsters and elders, esteemed and honorable guests of the house of Allah. Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

We are very blessed, and we are truly, truly, extremely blessed to be in the ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ. To be amongst the followers of Rasulullah ﷺ is indeed one of the greatest of blessings. And in fact, the ulema have written extensively on the different virtues of the ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ. There are entire chapters that have been allotted in specific books that discuss the khasais of the ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ — the special gifts that only the ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ was granted, that no other nation in the past was ever granted.

And one of these things, according to various ulema, is the aspect of muda'afatul thawab, or a multiplication of reward. We hear about this in the month of Ramadan when speaking about Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Power, and some of the history behind Laylatul Qadr.

Allah has provided us, the ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ, one night throughout the entire year wherein one can receive reward equivalent to having worshipped 83 years. And this is only for the ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ. But when it comes to various of these actions, there are many, many more wherein a person can attain a great amount of reward for very minimal input — because of this aspect of muda'afatul thawab, the reward being multiplied.

The Importance of Noble Intention

But it has to be accompanied with a noble intention. And we understand this from a hadith which we have heard multiple times — a hadith which various different authors of books of hadith usually commence their books with. And that is the famous hadith:

"Actions are but by intentions." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1; Sahih Muslim, Book 33, Hadith 4692)

Rasulullah ﷺ has mentioned that the reward of a person's actions will be based on the intentions that they make. If a person makes the intention and carries out that action, he will receive that great reward. But if he does the same very action but it is not accompanied with the intention, then he will lose out on the reward. It's as simple as that.

And when we hear these ahadith that are yielding such great reward, sometimes we may begin to question or think it's strange. But if you understand the fact that this is something that only the ummah was gifted, and when you understand that a person has to constantly be conscientizing themselves and reminding themselves about this noble intention, then you can realize how few people are actually benefiting and maximizing on all of these actions.

Mufti Taqi Uthmani, hafidhullah, has written a book on this which is called Easy Good Deeds. It's available at our bookshop and elsewhere too. The whole entire book is on various different deeds which are very simple to carry out but result in great, great reward.

Attaining the Reward of Hajj and Umrah

One of these things which a person can be granted is the reward for performing hajj or umrah without actually having to go and perform the hajj and umrah. That doesn't mean that the obligation falls off. If it is such that a person has the means and has not yet performed hajj, and there is nothing stopping him, and he is of a mature age and all of the other criteria is met, then he has to go and perform hajj in a formal manner — the actual hajj that we are all aware of. If he just suffices on these few ahadith which are going to be mentioned, it doesn't mean that that obligation will fall off, no. But by carrying out these actions with their respected noble intentions, a person will receive reward equivalent to having performed hajj.

Now what is the great reward for performing hajj? There are many, many rewards, mashaAllah. But just a few of them — Rasulullah ﷺ has mentioned:

"Whoever performs Hajj and does not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commits sin, nor disputes unjustly, then he returns as on the day his mother gave birth to him." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1521; Sahih Muslim, Book 15, Hadith 3129)

That person who performs hajj, stays away from obscene talk, stays away from sin and vice and those things he is supposed to stay away from — argumentation, etc. — and performs an accepted hajj, then he will return having a fresh new slate, like the day his mother gave birth to him. Absolutely a clean heart, having no sins in the book of deeds whatsoever. A fresh new start.

Now, who is out there who can say that they wouldn't appreciate that? Every single person would like to have a fresh new start. Similarly, we understand through various ahadith that there are other rewards as well — such as the repelling of poverty from such a person, and such individuals who come to the house of Allah being the guests of Allah; when they ask for things, Allah grants it to them. There are various different rewards.

First Action: Fajr in Congregation Followed by Dhikr Until Sunrise

The first is perhaps a little bit more difficult. In a hadith, Rasulullah ﷺ has mentioned, as recorded by Imam al-Tirmidhi rahimahullah:

"Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak'ahs — he will have a reward like that of a complete Hajj and Umrah, complete, complete, complete." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 586)

Whoever performs Fajr salah in congregation, then remains seated engaged in the remembrance of Allah until the sun rises, and then performs two rak'ahs — then Rasulullah ﷺ mentioned three times: tammah, tammah, tammah — a complete accepted hajj and umrah.

The remembrance of Allah is a vast thing. Reading Qur'an, making du'a, engaging in dhikr, listening to a talk about the greatness of Allah, or about Rasulullah ﷺ and his teachings — all of this is included in the dhikr of Allah. Until the sun rises — which is generally when the sun has fully risen, about 10 to 15 minutes after it starts. Then he performs two rak'ahs with this intention.

And alhamdulillah, this is something that we can put immediately into practice tomorrow. It's even easier on Saturdays, as Dar al-Salam has what is known as Team Fajr. The iqamah for Fajr salah is at 4:45. After that, they immediately begin reciting the duas of the morning — adhkar al-sabah — taught to us by Rasulullah ﷺ, followed by a talk. By the time the talk is over, the sun has risen, they perform salatul ishraq, you can perform these two rak'ahs, and then go and enjoy a wonderful breakfast with various other individuals who have, inshallah, attained the same reward.

I understand that it's very difficult throughout the week, especially in the summertime, as many individuals have to go for work and they sleep very late. Yes, we should all try our best and strive to always come for Fajr salah. If we are not performing Fajr salah, we should start. If we are alhamdulillah performing Fajr, we should start trying to come to the masjid as well. At least on the weekends, we can do our best to ensure that we maximize on this reward. If it's difficult to do every week, at least let's make an intention to do it maybe one of the two days, or maybe once every two weeks, or at the bare minimum once a month. The ball is, so to say, in our court.

Second Action: Saying SubhanAllah a Hundred Times Morning and Evening

Another hadith Rasulullah ﷺ has mentioned, which is a little bit easier. It has been recorded on the authority of Abdullah ibn Amr radiyallahu 'anhuma, that Rasulullah ﷺ has said:

"Whoever says SubhanAllah one hundred times in the morning and one hundred times in the evening will be like one who has performed Hajj one hundred times." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3471)

That individual will receive reward as though he has performed hajj a hundred times. But again, how many people set aside time or remind themselves to say سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ a hundred times with this particular intention? Again, it has to be accompanied with the noble intention. And it's very easy — subhanallah, subhanallah, subhanallah, subhanallah, subhanallah — five times already done. And at the same time, it's a reminder in the morning and in the evening when you are seeing various different manifestations of the power of Allah — when the sun is rising, when the sun is setting, when you look and see the beauty of Allah — it'll come out so naturally: subhanallah, pure, how amazing, glory be to our Creator, Allah.

Third Action: Leaving Home in a State of Wudu for an Obligatory Prayer

A third thing, which is even easier. It's been reported in the hadith of Rasulullah ﷺ that he has mentioned:

"Whoever leaves his home in a state of purity to pray an obligatory prayer, his reward is like the reward of the one performing Hajj in the state of ihram." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 558)

That individual who leaves his home with the intention of performing a fard salah — an obligatory prayer, meaning you're coming to the masjid — on condition that he has performed wudu at home. This is explicitly mentioned in the hadith. You leave your home in the state of tahara, and then you come to the masjid with the intention of attending a fard prayer intending to attain this reward. Then you will receive reward as one who is in the state of ihram and performing hajj.

This is also easier. And now, inshaAllah, from the very next salah that we come to, we can make this intention and attain such great reward. Coming for Jumu'ah — this is an obligatory prayer. But how many of us were aware of this hadith and how many of us made this intention?

Fourth Action: Coming to the Masjid to Learn or Impart Knowledge

Coming to the masjid to learn something, or to impart knowledge — again something that we could have all attained today. Something that alhamdulillah, by virtue of being in the Dar al-Salam community, you can attain for every salah. For Fajr salah, there is something that is being discussed. After Dhuhr also, there is a hadith which is recited. And perhaps on Thursday, or Tuesday tafsir, you're going to learn something. Or if it's another program which is happening — generally in the summer after Maghrib — there are so many opportunities to gain so much reward, just by making the intention: I am coming to the masjid to, inshallah, learn something.

That individual who left his home with that intention, Rasulullah ﷺ has mentioned that he will receive the reward of having performed a completed hajj. SubhanAllah. But again, it's all about the intention.

The Greatest Action: Serving One's Parents

These are all various different actions that we have the opportunity of maximizing on and benefiting from, but we have to make the intention. These are nawafil — things that we can bring into our lives, things that are not necessarily obligatory upon us.

But there is one action which is an obligation upon every single one of us — illa ma sha'Allah, with the sole exception of a few individuals. It is an obligation upon every single one to do this. And if a person does it with the right intention, then he will also receive such a great, wonderful reward.

What is that? It has been recorded in a hadith reported by Anas radiyallahu 'anhu, that on one occasion, there was a man who came to Rasulullah ﷺ and told him:

"Inni ashtahil jihad" — I really want to go out and sacrifice my life for the sake of Allah. I want to engage in jihad. But I am not capable of doing so. So what other opportunity do I have?

SubhanAllah — these ahadith are also a means of consolement for those who wanted to perform hajj but did not have the ability to do so, that there is still a way, inshallah, to attain reward for hajj. On this occasion, this man asked Rasulullah ﷺ: I want to perform jihad, but I can't. So what can I do instead?

So Rasulullah ﷺ asked him a question: "Are any one of your parents alive?" SubhanAllah. The man replied: Yes. My mother is alive. So Rasulullah ﷺ said:

"Then exhaust yourself in serving her and making her happy. If you do that, you are a Hajji, an Umra performer, and a Mujahid." (Al-Tabarani, Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; referenced in related narrations in Musnad Ahmad)

Tire yourself out in serving her, and in making her happy. When you have done so, you are asking to strive and put your life on the line for the sake of Allah and be a mujahid — you will not only receive that reward, but you'll receive the reward as though you are someone who is engaged in the action of Hajj and also Umrah at the same time. SubhanAllah.

This is an obligation upon every single one of us. Allah says:

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents."

This is an obligation — to treat our parents with respect, to honor them, to look after them, to care for them, especially in their old age. In fact, it has even been mentioned that Rasulullah ﷺ showed extreme disappointment with that individual whose parents come to old age and yet he does not attain Jannah by means of serving them. SubhanAllah.

We don't realize how much our parents actually teach us from the time that we are young. How much we pick up just by looking at their actions, just by living in their presence. Someone has to teach the child not to put their finger in the socket. Someone has to teach the child who will then become an adult how to talk with others, how to show respect, how to understand. A parent aids in the cognitive development of a child so much that we don't even realize. Allahu Akbar.

When you spend time with individuals who perhaps lost their parents at a very young age, or orphans who don't have their parents, you realize very quickly how much they are surviving — not necessarily living — and how much a parent actually goes and teaches that child every single thing about life. A parent teaches a child that fire burns. A parent teaches a child that you can't keep wood next to something that is lit up with fire. SubhanAllah — we may even laugh at these simple things, but it's a reality. We don't realize how much our parents have given to us.

And I was reading the other day — I'll end with this — SubhanAllah, it's so sad. I was going through a note from my student days, what I wrote for my teachers. I came across a quote and it said:

"How sad is it that a mother can look after ten children at the same time, yet ten children together can't even look after one mother in her old age."

Allahu Akbar.

Du'a and Closing

May Allah grant us tawfiq to act upon what has been said. May Allah grant us all the ability to have noble intentions and to earn Jannah through serving our parents and, inshallah, ascend the ranks of Jannah by putting all of these actions into implementation. Jazakumullahu khayran.

Just before we continue — this is another disclaimer. We were speaking about many ahadith that yield the reward of a person attaining the reward of Hajj and Umrah, but again, it doesn't mean that a person's Hajj obligation falls off and that he does not have to perform it. It's similar to when Rasulullah ﷺ mentioned that Surah al-Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an — meaning when a person recites Surah al-Ikhlas with that intention, he can receive reward equivalent to having recited one-third of the Qur'an. Thus the ulema mention if you recite it three times, you attain the reward of finishing one khatam of the Qur'an. But that person who goes through the difficulties, spends the time, and the mujahadah of reading through the entire Qur'an — every single letter being multiplied multiple times, at the bare minimum ten times, and so on — all of that reward is only exclusive for that person who goes through the effort and puts in all of that sacrifice, difficulty, and time. So similarly, the reward of the actual fard obligation of Hajj cannot be equated through these actions. The obligation is not dropped off; they still have to perform the Hajj. I just wanted to clarify that for those who came a little bit late.

Announcements

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

Alhamdulillah, we have various different summer programs. Dar al-Salam offers summer programs for the entire family:

• Tamheed Summer Deen Intensive and Arabic Essentials — two separate programs for brothers and sisters 14 and up.
• QIS Program (Qur'an, Islamic Studies, and Sports Camps) — for boys and girls ages 6 to 13.
• Tarbiyah for Tots — for boys and girls ages 4 to 5.
• Mini Muslims — every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for kids up to the age of 5, in the sisters' side banquet hall, lower level of the seminary building.

For registration, visit masjidds.org/summer and kindly register before all of the seats are full.

Our weekly programs include Team Fajr — again, a chance to, inshallah, put into action what we discussed today; Fajr iqamah is at 4:45 a.m. We have our Tuesday Tafsirs, which will continue after Maghrib salah — we are currently discussing Surah Ghafir. And we have the weekly Salawat and Khatira program every Thursday after Maghrib salah.

We have a citywide students gathering regarding the effort of Iman at Masjid Nur on the north side of Chicago after Maghrib tonight. All the brothers who can, all the students, etc., kindly go.

Du'a Requests

First and foremost, for our brothers and sisters who are suffering throughout the world, especially in Palestine. May Allah protect them, may Allah not leave them in that situation, may Allah grant them sabr at that trying time, and may Allah grant us all husn al-tawfiq to do whatever we can, inshallah, in supporting them and making du'a for them.

Sister Nishad Akhtar is in the hospital and her condition is very serious — she is on the ventilator, so please make du'a for her shifa. Additionally, Iman Nadeem, daughter of Nadeem Mudathir, is undergoing surgery — please pray for her complete shifa and speedy recovery.

May Allah grant all of them speedy recoveries with 'afiyah.

عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ، وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ