DOWNLOAD AUDIO > Hadith 38 | Attaining Nearness to Allah and His Love
Lessons from Ahâdeeth Shareef by Moulana Naeem Motala | Commentary on 40 Ahâdeeth | Arba’een | of Imaam Nawawi رحمة الله عليه with emphasis on perfecting one’s character
| Lesson Thirty-Nine |
…
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنُؤمِنُ بِهِ وَ نَتَوَ كَّلُ عَلَيهِ ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَناَ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Verily all praise is for Allah, we praise Him and seek His aid and ask for His forgiveness and we believe in Him and we place our trust upon Him, and we seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and our evil actions. Whomsoever Allah guides there is none who can misguide him, and whomsoever Allah misguides there is none who can guide him, and we bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah alone, having no partner, and we bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger
…
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِناَ مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِناَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَبَارِكْ وَسَلِّمْ
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammad Wa’ala Aali Sayyidina Muhammadin Wa Baarik Wa Sallim | Oh Allah shower blessings and peace upon our Master Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam and upon the family of Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam
| Lesson Thirty-Nine | Hadith 38 |
Attaining Nearness to Allah and His Love
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَة رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُول اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم إنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ: “مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقْد آذَنْتهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْت سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَلَئِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ
[رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ]
On the authority of Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu who said : Rasullullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said :
“Verily Allah Ta’ala has said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a Wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with Nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.’ ”
[Al-Bukhari]
| BRIEF EXPLANTION |
This a Hadith-e-Qudsi covering many important issues, namely :
(1) The virtues and the rank of the true friends of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala (Awliyaa) and (2) the reward for performing Faraaidh (compulsory acts of worship) and (3) the reward for performing Nawaafil (obligatory acts of worship)
(1) The virtues and the rank of the true friends of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala (Awliyaa)
There is a very serious threat in this Hadith against those people who harbour enmity or malice towards the Awliyaa (friends of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala), because Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala declares war against such people. Humiliation and problems will be a such a person’s lot in this world and a disgraceful and painful punishment awaits him in the Hereafter.
(2) the reward for performing Faraaidh (compulsory acts of worship) and
(3) the reward for performing Nawaafil (obligatory acts of worship)
The Hadith further mentions the importance of attaining closeness to Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala, firstly through Faraaidh and then through Nawaafil.
The greatest proximity to Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala is attained through Faraaidh (obligatory acts of Ibaadah that Allah has placed upon us). This nearness is further enhanced through Nawaafil and abstention from prohibitions and Haraam.
When a person becomes closer to Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala through Nawaafil acts of Ibadaah, Allah begins to love a person and says :
فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطُشُ بِهَا وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا،
I become his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks…..[Bukhaari]
The Muhadditheen explain this to mean, his limbs become the instruments of virtue and henceforth this servant will not use them in any act of displeasure of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala. He will only look at those things in which Allah’s pleasure lies, he will hear only those things which Allah desires, he will touch only those things sanctioned by Allah, he will walk to those places only where Allah has permitted….
There is no doubt that this is a very high an lofty position that a person attains. Allah Ta’ala becomes the helper of such a person. Allah Ta’ala guides him. Allah Ta’ala uses him to do acts that will gain HIS pleasure. And when he begs from Allah Ta’ala, Allah answers him…and when he seeks protection from Allah Ta’ala, Allah grants him HIS protection.