The Story

Umar was once presiding over a packed courthouse when he noticed two men dragging a boy inside. Seeing the commotion, he enquired what the matter was. The men said the boy had killed their father. Umar asked the boy whether the charge against him was true. The boy admitted that he had killed their father, but he said it was accidental and not deliberate. “My camel used to tread on their property. One day their father hit a rock at the camel which struck its eye. Seeing the pain and suffering of the camel I got infuriated and threw a stone at their father which hit his head and killed him.”

Umar then asked the two men if they were willing to forgive the boy. They said they wanted retribution, meaning thereby that the boy had to be executed for expiation of the crime. Umar then asked the boy if he had any last request or desire before the punishment was carried out. The boy said his father had passed away and he had a young brother. His father had left some money for him and he would require three days to retrieve the hidden money and hand it over to his brother. Umar then asked if he could produce a guarantor as an assurance that he will come back. The boy looked at the packed courthouse, hoping to evoke some sympathy, but received no response. To his utter surprise, the people looked the other way when he cast a hopeful glance at them. Then suddenly a hand in the last row went up. It was Abu Dhar al-Ghifari al-Kinani, the illustrious companion (Sahaba) of the Prophet who was the fourth or fifth individual to embrace Islam. He came forward to stand guarantee for the poor helpless boy. it meant that in case they boy did not turn up in three days, Abu Dhar would have to get his head chopped off. The boy was allowed to leave and report back within three days.

The first day passed off, but there was no sight of the boy. The second day too passed with the boy still not back. On the third day, the two men went to Abu Dhar and asked him to accompany them to the courthouse. Abu Dhar insisted that there was still time till the day to end. The prayer call for sunset prayers was still minutes away. Meanwhile tension had build up in Madinah and the town was abuzz with news that Abu Dhar would have to suffer the punishment for the boy.

With just a few minutes to go for the prayer call, the boy appeared. He was gasping but relieved that he could make it by the deadline. Umar asked the boy what prompted him to come back when in fact he had not send any spy or an escort to follow him. He said that he didn’t want people to say that a Muslim had made a vow and failed to fulfil it. He then turned to Abu Dhar and asked him, what had made him stand guarantee for the boy, particularly when the risk involved was so high and the boy was a total stranger. Abu Dhar replied that he didn’t want anybody to say that a Muslim wanted a guarantee and no Muslim was forthcoming to offer it. The two men whose father had been killed by the boy turned emotional. “When there are such honest and pious people in this world, we don’t want people to say that a Muslim asked for forgiveness and was not forgiven. We would like to forgive the boy.” The boy was forgiven and allowed to go free. Such was the level of piety during the caliphate of Umar.

Source of this false story.

The story is false and baseless, with out any original source or chain.

https://m.facebook.com/IncorrectAhadithDiffused/posts/1344355065722902/?_rdr

https://www.assimalhakeem.net/2017/03/07/i-have-heard-2-different-speakers-narrate-a-story-summary-in-the-the-time-of-the-khilafa-of-umar-ibn-khattab-ra-2-men-brought-in-a-boy-who-had-killed-their-father-the-boy-asked-for-a-few-days-to/

An Encouragement To Pray Salatut-Tasbeeh

Hadith 380:

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib: ‘O ‘Abbas, O my uncle, shall I not give you a gift, shall I not give you something, shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, will expiate for ten types of sins? If you do them, Allah will forgive you your sins, the first and the last of them, the old and the new, the unintentional and the deliberate, the minor and the major, the secret and the open, ten types of sin. Pray four Rak’ah, and recite in each Rak’ah the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah) and a Surah. When you have finished reciting in the first Rak’ah, while you are standing, say: Subhan-Allah wal- hamdu Lillah wa la ilaha illallah wa Allahu Akbar (Glory if to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Allah is the Most Great) fifteen times. Then bow and say it ten times while you are bowing. Then raise your head from Ruku’ and say it ten times. Then go into prostration and say it ten times while you are prostrating. Then raise your head from prostration and say it ten times. Then prostrate and say it ten times. Then raise your head from prostration and say it ten times. That will be seventy-five times in each Rak’ah. Do that in all four Rak’ah. If you can pray it once each day then do so. If you cannot, then once each week; if you cannot, then once each month. If you cannot, then once in your lifetime.’” And in a narration the Prophet ﷺ said: “And even if your sins were like the foam of the sea, or the grains of sand, you will be forgiven by Allah.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 1387, Sunan Abi Dawud 1297, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1216] – (Graded Sahih Li Ghairihi)

Virtue Of Praying Salah As A Way Of Tawbah

Hadith 381:

Abu Bakr narrated to me a tradition, and Abu Bakr narrated truthfully. He said: I heard the apostle of Allah (ﷺ) saying: When a servant (of Allah) commits a sin, and he performs ablution well, and then stands and prays two rak’ahs, and asks pardon of Allah, Allah pardons him. He then recited this verse: “And those who, when they commit indecency or wrong their souls, remember Allah” (Al-Qur’an 3:135).

[Sunan Abi Dawud 1521, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 406, Sunan Ibn Majah 1395, An-Nasai in Al-Amal Fee Al-Yaum wal-Laylah 417, Sahih Ibn Hibban 622] – (Graded Sahih)

An Encouragement To Pray Salatul-Istekhara

Hadith 382

Jabir bin ‘Abd Allah said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the supplication for isthikharah (seeking what us beneficial from Allah) as he would teach us a surah (chapter) from the Qur’an. He would tell us: When one of you intends to do a work, he should offer two supererogatory rak’ahs of prayer, and then say (at the end of the prayer): “O Allah, I seek Your choice on the better (of the two matters) based upon Your knowledge, and I seek Your decree based upon Your power, and I ask You for Your great bounties. For Indeed,You are the One Who Decrees, and I do not decree, and You know, and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the Unseen. O Allah, if you know this, and You are the Knower of the Unseen. O Allah, if you know this – here he should name exactly what he wishes – is better for me with regard to my religion, and my life, and my afterlife, and the end result of my affairs, then decree it to me, and make it easy for me, and bless me on it. O Allah, and if You know this to be evil for me – and he says just as he said the first time – then avert it for me, and avert me from it. And decree for me good wherever it might be, the make me content with it.” A version goes: “If the work is good immediately or subsequently.”

Ibn Maslamah and Ibn ‘Isa reported from Muhammad b. al-Munkadir on the authority of Jabir.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 1538, Sahih al-Bukhari 6382] – (Graded Sahih)

An Encouragement To Pray Salatul Jumuah

Hadith 383:

Abu Hurairh narrated that:

Allah’s Messenger said: “Whoever performs Wudu, performing his Wudu well, then he comes to the Friday (prayer), and he gets close, listens and is silent, then whatever (sin) was between that and (the last) Friday are forgiven for him, in addition to three days. And whoever touches the pebbles, he has committed Lagha (useless activity).”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 498, Sahih Muslim 857 b, Sunan Abi Dawud 1050, Sunan Ibn Majah 1090] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 384:

Abu Huraira reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer is an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed.

[Sahih Muslim 233] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 385:

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said that, he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

Whoever does these 5 deeds in a day will be written amongst the people of Jannah- whoever visits a sick Muslim, participates in a Janazah (funeral rites of a Muslim), fasts that day, goes to the Jumuah, and frees a slave.

[Sahih Ibn Hibban 2760] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 386:

Narrated Yazid bin Abu Maryam:

“Abayah bin Rifa’ah bin Rafi’ met me while I was walking to the Friday prayer. He said: ‘Have glad tidings, for indeed these footsteps of yours are in the cause of Allah. I heard Abu ‘Abs say: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘Whoever get his two feet dusty in the path of Allah, then they are prohibited for the Fire.'”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1632] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 387:

Narrated Salman-Al-Farsi:

The Prophet ((ﷺ) said, “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumua prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 883] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 388:

Abdullah bin Amr ibn Al-Aas said, that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever makes his wife do ghusl and does ghusl himself [i.e., has intercourse] on Friday and goes out early, walking not riding, and comes close to the imaam and listens [to the sermon] without interrupting, will have for each step he takes a reward equal to that of fasting and praying at night for one year.”

[Musnad Ahmad 209/2] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 389:

Narrated Aws ibn Aws:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Among the most excellent of your days is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he died, on it the last trumpet will be blown, and on it the shout will be made, so invoke more blessings on me that day, for your blessings will be submitted to me. The people asked: Messenger of Allah, how can it be that our blessings will be submitted to you while your body is decayed? He replied: Allah, the Exalted, has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of Prophets.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 1047, Sunan an-Nasa’i 1374, Sunan Ibn Majah 1636, Sahih Ibn Hibban 907] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 390:

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Allah led those who came before us astray from Friday. Saturday was for the Jews and Sunday was for the Christians. And they will lag behind us until the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world but we will be the first to be judged among all of creation.’”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 1083, Sahih Muslim 2019. ]

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An Encouragement To Read The Morning And Evening Adhkar And Ayaat

Hadith 362:

Narrated Shaddad bin Aus:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is: ‘Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Khalaqtani wa ana `Abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, A`udhu bika min Sharri ma sana`tu, abu’u Laka bini`matika `alaiya, wa abu’u laka bidhanbi faghfir lee fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added. “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 6306, Sunan an-Nasa’i 5522, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3393] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 363:

Narrated Abu Salih Zakwan as-Samman:

A man from Aslam tribe said: I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). A man from among his Companions came and said: Messenger of Allah! I have been stung last night, and I could not sleep till morning. He asked: What was that? He replied: A scorpion.

He said: Oh, had you said in the evening: “I take refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created,” nothing would have harmed you, Allah willing.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 3898, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3604, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3604, Malik 92/2, An-Nasai in Al-Amal Fee Al-Yaum wal-Laylah 568] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 364:

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying:

if anyone says a hundred times in the morning: “Glory be to Allah, the Sublime”, and says likewise in the evening, no one from the creatures will bring anything like the one which he will bring.

(Subhan Allahil Adheem Wa Bihamdihi)

[Sunan Abi Dawud 5091, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3469, Sahih Muslim 2691, Mustadrak Hakim 518/1, An-Nasai in Al-Amal Fee Al-Yaum wal-Laylah 568] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 365:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,” Whoever says: “La ilaha illal-lah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu-l-mulk wa lahul- hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in qadir,” one hundred times will get the same reward as given for manumitting ten slaves; and one hundred good deeds will be written in his accounts, and one hundred sins will be deducted from his accounts, and it (his saying) will be a shield for him from Satan on that day till night, and nobody will be able to do a better deed except the one who does more than he.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 6403, Sahih Muslim 2691] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 366:

Aban bin `Uthman said:

“I heard `Uthman bin `Affan (ra) saying: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no worshiper who says, in the morning of every day, and the evening of every night: ‘In the Name of Allah, who with His Name, nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing (Bismillāh, alladhi lā yaḍurru ma`a ismihi shai’un fil-arḍi wa lā fis-samā’, wa huwas-Samī`ul `Alīm)’ – three times, (except that) nothing shall harm him.” And Aban had been stricken with a type of semi-paralysis, so a man began to look at him, so Aban said to him, “What are you looking at? Indeed the Hadith is as I reported it to you, but I did not say it one day, so Allah brought about His decree upon me.”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3388, Sunan Abi Dawud 5088, Sunan Ibn Majah 3864 , An-Nasai in Al-Amal Fee Al-Yaum wal-Laylah 15] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 367:

Narrated AbuAyyash:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone says in the morning: “There is no god but Allah alone Who has no partner; to Him belong the dominions, to Him praise is due, and He is Omnipotent,” he will have a reward equivalent to that for setting free a slave from among the descendants of Isma’il. He will have ten good deeds recorded for him, ten evil deeds deducted from him, he will be advanced ten degrees, and will be guarded from the Devil till the evening. If he says them in the evening, he will have a similar recompense till the morning.

The version of Hammad says: A man saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in a dream and said: Messenger of Allah! AbuAyyash is relating such and such on your authority.

He said: AbuAyyash has spoken the truth.

Abu Dawud said: Isma’il b. Ja’far, Musa al-Zim’i and ‘Adb Allah b. Ja’far transmitted it from Suhail, from his father on the authority of Ibn ‘A’ish.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 5077, Sunan Ibn Majah 3867, An-Nasai in Al-Amal Fee Al-Yaum wal-Laylah 27] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 368:

On the authority of Al-Munayzir or it was Munzir Al-Aslami, who was a companion of the Prophet ﷺ, and he was from Africa, he said that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say:

Whoever says in the morning:

رَضِيتُ باللهِ ربًّا، وبالإسلامِ دينًا، وبِمحمدٍ نبيًا

So I guarantee for him, that I will take him by the hand, till I make him enter paradise.

(At-Tabrani in Al-Kabeer 838, 355, Hasan Li Ghairihi.)

Hadith 369:

Amr bin Shuaib narrated from his father from his grand father that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

Whoever says SubhanAllah 100 times, before the sun rises and before it sets, it is better for him than 100 sacrifices.

And whoever says Alhamdulillah 100 times, before the sun rises and before it sets, it is better for him than 100 horses given in the path of Allah (Jihad).

And whoever says Allahu Akbar 100 times, before the sun rises and before it sets, it is better for him that freein 100 slaves.

And whoever says,

لا إلهَ إلّا اللهُ وحدَه لا شريكَ له له الملكُ وله الحمدُوهو على كلِّ شيءٍ قديرٌ

100 times, before the sun rises and before it sets,

none shall bring on the day of Judgement, a better deed than what he brought, except one who said similar to what he said, or increased upon it.

(An-Nasai in Amal Al-Yaum wal-Laylah, 821, Hasan.)

Hadith 370:

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never abandoned these supplications, every morning and evening: Allahumma inni as’alukal-‘afwa wal-‘afiyah fid-dunya wal-akhirah. Allahumma inni as’alukal-‘afwa wal-‘afiyah fi dini wa dunyaya wa ahli wa mali. Allahum-mastur ‘awrati, wa amin raw’ati wahfazni min bayni yadayya, wa min khalfi, wa ‘an yamini wa ‘an shimali, wa min fawqi, wa ‘audhu bika an ughtala min tahti (O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in this world and in the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in my religious and my worldly affairs. O Allah, conceal my faults, calm my fears, and protect me from before me and behind me, from my right and my left, and from above me, and I seek refuge in You from being taken unaware from beneath me).” Waki’ (one of the narrators, explaining) said: “Meaning Al-Khasf (disgrace).”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 3871, Sunan Abi Dawud 5074, Mustadrak Hakim 517/1] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 371:

Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari said, and he was at that time in the lands of the Romans, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

Whoever says in the morning:

لا إلهَ إلّا اللهُ وحدَه لا شريكَ له له الملكُ وله الحمد ُوهو على كلِّ شيءٍ قديرٌ

10 times, Allah will write for him 10 Hasanaat, and erase from him 10 Sayyiaat (sins), and it is like freeing 10 slaves, and Allah protects him from the Shaitan, and whoever says this in the evening, he will be rewarded similarly.

(Musnad Ahmad 5/420, Sahih.)

Encouragement Of Offering A Qaza For Missing A Dhikr At Night

Hadith 372:

‘Umar b. Khattab reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Should anyone fall asleep and fail to recite his portion of the Qur’an, or a part of it, if he recites it between the dawn prayer and the noon prayer, it will be recorded for him as though he had recited it during the night.

[Sahih Muslim 747, Sunan Abi Dawud 1313, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 581, Sunan an-Nasa’i 1790, Sunan Ibn Majah 1343, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1171] – (Graded Sahih)

Virtue Of Salatul Ishraq

Hadith 373:

Abu Dharr reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

In the morning charity is due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah’s glorification is an act of charity. Every utterance of praise of Him is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Oneness is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Greatness is an act of charity, enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is distreputable is an act of charity, and two rak’ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice.

[Sahih Muslim 720] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 374:

Narrated Abu Buraydah:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: A human being has three hundred and sixty joints for each of which he must give alms. The people asked him: Who is capable of doing this ? He replied: It may be mucus in the mosque which you bury, and something which you remove from the road; but if you do not find such, two rak’ahs in the forenoon will be sufficient for you.

(Sunan Abi Dawud 5242, Sahih.)

Hadith 375:

Abu Murra, the freed slave of Umm Hani, narrated on the authority of Abu Darda’:

My Friend (ﷺ) instructed me in three (acts), and I would never abandon them as long as I live. (And these three things are): Three fasts during every month, the forenoon prayer, and this that I should not sleep till I have observed the Witr prayer.

[Sahih Muslim 722] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 376:

Abu Hurairah narrated that: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a raiding party, they gained a great amount of booty, and they returned quickly.

A man said: O Messenger of Allah! We haven’t seen an army return as quickly as they returned and with such a great booty.

The Prophet ﷺ said: Should I not tell you about a quicker returning than them and a greater booty than that? It is- that a man performs Wudhu perfectly, then leaves for the Masjid, and prays in that the morning prayer (Fajr), then sits till he prays Duha, (such a person is like an army) that is quicker to return and greater with booty (rewards).

(Sahih Ibn Hibban 2527, Hasan, Sahih.)

Hadith 377:

Uqbah bin Aamir Al-Juhani said, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: That Allah Azza wa Jall said- O Ibn Adam! Sufficient for you in the beginning of the day is praying 4 Rakats, I will be be sufficient for you till the end of the day.

(Musnad Ahmad 4/153, Sahih.)

Hadith 378:

Narrated AbuUmamah:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone goes out from his house after performing ablution for saying the prescribed prayer in congregation (in the mosque), his reward will be like that of one who goes for hajj pilgrimage after wearing ihram (robe worn by the hajj pilgrims).

And he who goes out to say the mid-morning (duha) prayer, and takes the trouble for this purpose, will take the reward like that of a person who performs umrah. And a prayer followed by a prayer with no worldly talk during the gap between them will be recorded in Illiyyun.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 558]- (Graded Hasan)

Hadith 379:

Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said- None preserves the Salatud Duha except the Awwab. And he ﷺ said: And that is the Salatul Awwabeen (prayer of people who are obedient).

(Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah 1224, Hasan.)

…

Hadith 338:

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) said that the Prophet ﷺ said:

Whoever reads while on his bed (before sleeping)-

لا إلَهَ إلّا اللَّهُ وحدَهُ لا شَريكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الملكُ ولَهُ الحمدُ وَهوَ على كلِّ شيءٍ قديرٌ، لا حَولَ ولا قوَّةَ إلّا باللَّهِ العلِيِّ العظيمِ سُبحانَ اللَّهِ والحمدُ للَّهِ ولا إلَهَ إلّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبرُ

-then his sins or mistakes are forgiven, even if they’re (so much so) like the foam on the sea.

(Sahih Ibn Hibban 5503.)

Hadith 339:

Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

Whoever reads while on his bed (before sleeping):

الحمدُ لله الذي كفاني، وآواني،

والحمدُ لله الذي أطعمَني وسقاني، والحمدُ لله الذي منَّ عليَّ فأفْضلَ

All Praises And Thanks be to Allah who has sufficed me, and gave me a good place to rest (stay). And All Praises And Thanks be to Allah who has fed me and quenched my thirst. And All Praises And Thanks be to Allah who has granted me Fadeelah (betterment).

Then indeed this person has praised Allah with the praise of all the creations which praise Allah.

(Al-Bayhaqi in Ash-Shuayb 4382, Hasan.)

Hadith 340

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) deputed me to keep Sadaqat (al-Fitr) of Ramadan. A comer came and started taking handfuls of the foodstuff (of the Sadaqa) (stealthily). I took hold of him and said, “By Allah, I will take you to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) .” He said, “I am needy and have many dependents, and I am in great need.” I released him, and in the morning Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) asked me, “What did your prisoner do yesterday?” I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! The person complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so, I pitied him and let him go.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Indeed, he told you a lie and he will be coming again.” I believed that he would show up again as Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) had told me that he would return. So, I waited for him watchfully. When he (showed up and) started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said, “I will definitely take you to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ). He said, “Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again.” I pitied him and let him go.

In the morning Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) asked me, “What did your prisoner do.” I replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free.” Allah’s Apostle said, “Verily, he told you a lie and he will return.” I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and) started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, “I will surely take you to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as it is the third time you promise not to return, yet you break your promise and come.” He said, “(Forgive me and) I will teach you some words with which Allah will benefit you.” I asked, “What are they?” He replied, “Whenever you go to bed, recite “Ayat-al-Kursi”– ‘Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-l-Haiy-ul Qaiyum’ till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no satan will come near you till morning. ” So, I released him. In the morning, Allah’s Apostle asked, “What did your prisoner do yesterday?” I replied, “He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit me, so I let him go.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) asked, “What are they?” I replied, “He said to me, ‘Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi from the beginning to the end —- Allahu la ilaha illa huwa-lHaiy-ul-Qaiyum—-.’ He further said to me, ‘(If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no satan will come near you till morning.’ (Abu Huraira or another sub-narrator) added that they (the companions) were very keen to do good deeds. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Huraira?” Abu Huraira said, “No.” He said, “It was Satan.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 2311, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 2424] – (Graded Sahih)

An Encouragement To Recite This Dua If You Wake Up At Any Part of the Night

Hadith 341

Narrated ‘Ubada bin As-Samit:

The Prophet (ﷺ) “Whoever gets up at night and says: — ‘La ilaha il-lallah Wahdahu la Sharika lahu Lahu-lmulk, waLahu-l-hamd wahuwa ‘ala kullishai’in Qadir. Al hamdu lil-lahi wa subhanal-lahi wa la-ilaha il-lal-lah wa-l-lahu akbar wa la hawla Wala Quwata il-la-bil-lah.’

(None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. He is the Only One and has no partners . For Him is the Kingdom and all the praises are due for Him. He is Omnipotent. All the praises are for Allah. All the glories are for Allah. And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, And Allah is Great And there is neither Might nor Power Except with Allah).

And then says: — Allahumma, Ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me). Or invokes (Allah), he will be responded to and if he performs ablution (and prays), his prayer will be accepted.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1154, Sunan Abi Dawud 5060, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3414 ] – (Graded Sahih)

An Encouragement To Pray Tahajjud

Hadith 342:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, ‘The night is long, so stay asleep.’ When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1142, Sahih Muslim 776, Sunan Abi Dawud 1306, Sunan an-Nasa’i 1607, Sunan Ibn Majah 1329, Malik 176/1] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 343:

Abdullah bin Salam said:

“When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) arrived- meaning in Al-Madinah – the people came out to meet him. It was said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) had arrived, so I went among the people to get a look at him. When I gazed upon the face of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), I knew that this face was not the face of a liar. The first thing that he spoke about was that he said: ‘O you people! Spread the Salam, feed(others), [maintain the ties of kinship] and perform Salat while the people are sleeping; you will enter Paradise with(the greeting of) Salam.’”

(Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2885, Sunan Ibn Majah 3251, Mustadrak Al-Hakim 3/13.)

Hadith 344:

Abdullah bin Amr (رضي الله عنهما) said that the Prophet ﷺ said:

In the Jannah there is a room, whose insides can be seen from the outside, and whose exterior can be seen from the interior. So Abu Malik Al-Ashari said: For whom is that O Messenger of Allah? The Prophet ﷺ said: (It is) For the one who has a good speech (Taab-Al-Kalaam), the one who feeds people and who stands up in prayer when people are asleep.

(Mustadrak Al-Hakim 1200, Hasan, Sahih.)

Hadith 345:

Narrated Al-Mughira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stand (in the prayer) or pray till both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable prayer) and he said, “should I not be a thankful slave.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1130] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 346:

Jabir said he heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) say:

There is an hour during the night in which no Muslim individual will ask Allah for good in this world and the next without His giving it to him; and that applies to every night.

[Sahih Muslim 757] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 347:

Abu Umamah Al-Bahili narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Upon you is (to hold onto) the Qiyam ul Layl, for it was the practice of the pious before you, and (a means towards) closeness towards your Rabb, an expiator of sins, and that which stops from sins [and a barrier for the body against disease].

(Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah 1135, Mustadrak Al-Hakim 1/308. The wordings in the brackets is from Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3549, Hasan Li Ghairihi. (Sh.Al-Albani has weakened this narration in At-Tirmidhi and that is what is closer to the truth))

Hadith 348:

Narrated Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurayrah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If a man awakens his wife at night, and then both pray or both offer two rak’ahs together, the (name of the )man will be recorded among those who mention the name of Allah, and the (name of the) woman will be recorded among those who mention the name of Allah. Ibn Kathir did not narrate this tradition as a statement of the Prophet (ﷺ), but he reported it as a statement of Abu Sa’id.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Ibn Mahdi from Sufyan and I think he mentioned the name of Sufyan. He also said: The tradition transmitted by Sufyan is a statement of the Companion (and not that of the Prophet).

[Sunan Abi Dawud 1309] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 349:

Sahl bin Sa’d said, Jibreel came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: O Muhammad! Live as you wish for you will die, act (perform deeds) as you wish for you will be rewarded (accounted) for it, love whmosoever you wish for you will be separated from them, and know that the honour (Sharf) of a believer is in Qiyam ul Layl, and his glory (Izzah) is in his being free from the people (i.e. not being dependant on people- Istighna).

(Mustadrak Al-Hakim 4/360, Hasan Li Ghairihi.)

Hadith 350:

Abu Umamah [may Allah be pleased with him] said:

`Amr bin `Abasah reported to me that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: “The closest that the Lord is to a worshipper is during the last part of the night, so if you are able to be of those who remember Allah in that hour, then do so.”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3579, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1147] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 351:

Abu Ad-Darda said that the Prophet ﷺ said: Three people are such that Allah loves them, and He Smiles at them, and Gives glad tidings about them-

(1) The one who remains fighting on the battlefield alone, after his companions have fled, only for the sake of Allah, so either he gets killed, or Allah makes him victorious and suffices for him. Allah says (at this): Look at this slave of mine how he displays patience within himself for My Sake?!

(2) And the one who has a beautiful wife and a soft bed, and he stands up at night (for prayers). Allah says (at this): He forgot his desires (Shahwah) and remembered me, even though he could rest (sleep).

(3) And the one who was travelling with a caravan, and stayed up (awake) at night, then finally slept, then stood (in prayers) in the last part of the night, (whether) in difficulty and ease.

(Mustadrak Al-Hakim 1/77, Hasan.)

Hadith 352:

‘Uqbah bin ‘Aamir said that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say: A man from my Ummah stands from (a part of the) night, and cures (struggles and purifies) his soul towards purification, and upon him is a knot. So if he washes his hands one of his knots is undone, and if he washes his face another one of his knots is undone, and when he wipes over his head another one of his knots is undone, and if he washes his legs another knot is undone.

Then Allah says to those who are behind the Hijab (i.e. Angels who are hidden): Look at my slave how he is curing his soul (with a great struggle), and whatever my slave asks give him.

(Sahih Ibn Hibban 2545, Hasan Li Ghairihi.)

Hadith 353:

Salim narrated on the authority of his father (Ibn ‘Umar) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

Envy is not justified but in case of two persons only: one who, having been given (knowledge of) the Qur’an by Allah, recites it during the night and day (and also acts upon it) and a man who, having been given wealth by God, spends it during the night and the day (for the welfare of others. seeking the pleasure of the Lord).

[Sahih Muslim 815, Sahih Muslim 816] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 354:

Fadalah bin ‘Ubaid and Tameem Ad-Dari narrtated on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ that he said:

Whoever recites ten verses at night, a Qintar (of rewards) will be written for him, and that Qintar is better than the world and what is there in it.

And when on the Day of Judgement, it is said to him by your Lord Azza wa Jall: Read and raise for every Ayah a rank, till he ends at the last Ayah he has.

Allah Azza wa Jall says to His servant (‘Abd): Hold on (with your hand). The servant will hold out his hand and say: O Lord! You are The One Who Knows More (What should I hold onto?). It will be said to the servant: To this Al-Khuld (permanent abode), and to this An-Naeem (the happiness, the comfort).

(At-Tabarani in Al-Awsat 8451, Hasan.)

[And it was said that a qintaar is a bull’s hide full of gold, or eighty thousand, or a large but unspecified amount of wealth. See al-Nihaayah fi Ghareeb il-Hadeeth by Ibn al-Atheer. (Islamqa.com|50070)

Hadith 355:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone prays at night reciting regularly ten verses, he will not be recorded among the negligent; if anyone prays at night and recites a hundred verses, he will be recorded among those who are obedient to Allah; and if anyone prays at night reciting one thousand verses, he will be recorded among those who receive huge rewards.

Abu Dawud said: The name of Ibn Hujairah al-Asghar is ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Hujairah.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 1398, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1144] – (Graded Sahih,Hassan)

A Prohibition of Reciting The Quran And Praying When Being Overwhelmed By Drowsiness and An Urge To Sleep.

Hadith 356

Narrated `Aisha:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If anyone of you feels drowsy while praying, he should go to bed (sleep) till his slumber is over because in praying while drowsy one does not know whether one is asking for forgiveness or for a bad thing for oneself.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 212, Sahih Muslim 786, Sunan Abi Dawud 1310, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 355, Sunan Ibn Majah 1370, Malik 118/1] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 357:

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If anyone of you feels drowsy while praying, he should sleep till he understands what he is saying (reciting).

[Sahih al-Bukhari 213, Sunan an-Nasa’i 443] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 358:

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

When any one of you gets up at night (for prayer) and his tongue falters in (the recitation) of the Qar’an, and he does not know what he is reciting, he should go to sleep.

[Sahih Muslim 787, Sunan Abi Dawud 1311, Sunan Ibn Majah 1372] – (Graded Sahih)

An Admonishment Against Sleeping In The Morning And Not Standing In Qiyam At Night

Hadith 359:

‘Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) reported that a mention was made of a man who slept the whole night till morning. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked:

That is a man in whose ears (or in whose ear) the devil urinated.

[Sahih Muslim 774, Sahih al-Bukhari 1144, Sunan an-Nasa’i 1608, Sunan Ibn Majah 1130] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 360:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, ‘The night is long, so stay asleep.’ When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1142, Sahih Muslim 776, Sunan an-Nasa’i 1607] – (Graded Sahih)

Hadith 361:

Jabir said that the Prophet ﷺ said: There is none from the Muslims, male or female, that he sleeps and that Shaitan ties on him knots. And if he does Wudhu and stands for Salah, he wakes up active and achieves Khair. And all his knots are undone.

And if he wakes up and doesn’t mention Allah, he wakes up with the knots upon him, and he wakes up heavy and lazy, and he doesn’t achieve Khair.

(Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah 1133, Sahih.)

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Hadith 362…

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

(Note: Grammatical errors in the questions were made by the questioner. They ‘ve not been edited by me.)

(Question) The question that daunt me regarding god is why would a all-knowing the most powerful the lawful the merciful almighty would send one guy to the middle of the dessert and ask entire world to follow his teachings to save yourself from hell when there is clearly language communication travel barrier…

Allah says in The Quran:

“Allah knows best with whom to place His Message.” (6:124)

Allah knows the best as to whom to chose for His message. Arabia was the centre stage of the known world in those days, it was in between the huge empires of Rome and Persia. And Australia was unknown at that time. Regardless of that, the Kafir (disbeliever) atheist, even if Allah would send a Prophet in his neighbourhood, would ask ‘Why didn’t Allah send a Prophet to the USA or South Africa!?’

Where ever Allah sends His Messenger, it is obligatory upon the human beings to follow his regardless of his colour or race or language.

You (the atheist) said: ‘…when there is clearly language communication travel barrier…”

This is just like your previous question. People like you would not accept Islam even if the Quran was in English or Hindi or Sanskrit.

Allah says that the Quran is easy to understand:

(54:40) Surely We have made this Qur’an easy as a reminder. Is there, then, any who will take heed?

(12:2) And thus We have sent it down as a Quran in Arabic, and have explained therein in detail the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, or that it may cause them to have a lesson from it .

As for you- Why is this even a question for you in the 21st century? Go and read The Quran and the biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in English or whatever language you know. It is not necessary for you to visit or travel to the Arabian peninsula to accept Islam. Visiting Makkah is compulsory only upon those Muslims who have enough wealth to do the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) that too only once in their lives. It is not necessary for the poor Muslims or those who have serious health issues.

(Question) I mean what would a human do who lives in Australia (for example) at that particular age how would he know about the prophet who lives far from him?

Oh atheist worry about yourself before others. Worry about how Allah will burn you in the fire for not accepting Islam.

Allah says in The Quran:

These two opponents (believers and disbelievers) dispute with each other about their Lord; then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. (22:19)

For the one who couldn’t hear about Islam Allah will not punish him.

Allah says:

And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning). [17:15].

It was narrated from al-Aswad ibn Saree‘ that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said:

“There are four (who will protest) to Allah on the Day of Resurrection: the deaf man who never heard anything, the insane man, the very old man, and the man who died during a Fatrah (the interval between two Prophets and he didn’t meet a Prophet).

The deaf man will say, ‘O Lord, Islam came but I never heard anything.’ The insane man will say, ‘O Lord, Islam came but the children ran after me and threw stones at me.’

The very old man will say, ‘O Lord, Islam came but I did not understand anything.’ The man who died during the fatrah will say, ‘O Lord, no Messenger from You came to me.’

He (Allah) will accept their promises of obedience, then word will be sent to them to enter the Fire. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if they enter it (by obeying Allah), it will be cool and safe for them.”

(Narrated by Musnad Ahmad (26/228) Shaikh Shuaib Al-Arnauut said that this narration is Hasan (good and authentic from the Prophet ﷺ )).

(Question) How would he know the Arabic language to know the message by god? how will he travel if at all he come to know and want to meet the messenger in person to make sure?

If you are intelligent you’ll understand that it has been answered in the previous paragraphs. Think about your own end. Learn about Islam from whatever languages you comprehend.

(Question) Why would a powerful god do that? Why he wants it to be hard to know the truth?

The truth is easy as Allah says in The Quran:

“And indeed, We have made the Quran easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?” (54:40)

Allah says:

“Verily, proofs have come to you from your Lord, so whosoever sees, will do so for (the good of) his ownself, and whosoever blinds himself, will do so to his own harm, and I (Muhammad) am not a watcher over you.” [6:104]

(Question) If u say he will have awarded heaven (people who are far to know the truth) how is it lawful that people who follow the messenger of god might go to hell for some mistake and not people who dint knew about it.

If someone accepts Islam, he should follow all the rules and regulations set by Allah in The Quran and by Allah’s Messenger Muhammad ﷺ in The Hadiths (sayings of Prophet Muhammad).

In short if a person accepts Islam, and he does the minimum. That is he does whatever is obligatory upon him and keeps away from the acts of polytheism and major sins, and doesn’t harm people unjustly- he will directly go to paradise.

If a Muslim does some sins, but his good deeds are more, Allah will forgive him if He Wills. Finally whatever be the case, Allah will forgive every Muslim, or punish him temporarily in the Hell Fire and then send him to Paradise. The only condition is that the Muslim shouldn’t commits Shirk (acts of polytheism).

Allah says in The Quran:

Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.(4:48)

(Question) Or if at all they too going to suffer hell fire how is it his mistake not knowing the message.

Answered in the previous paragraphs.

(Question) How is it his mistake not knowing the message sent to the remote middle Eastern dessert?

Arabia wasn’t as remote as you imagine. Rather it was a thriving trading zone set between Rome and Persia.

(Question) Regarding the namaz (prayer) which has particular time to perform which must not be delayed. The time mentioned in Quran is related to suns possession and yet not a word on Quran about the place which does not have sun set for few months like eg: – Norway. Does that mean he is not bothered about people who lives far from Saudi Arabia or does not know about sun’s position differs place to place?

It is all the more wise that Allah has used solar timings for the five compulsory prayers since the whole world runs on that.

With regards to places like Norway, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has guided us aptly on what to do when the days are long. And we have dedicated scholars who give answers to our questions on ‘How to worship, When and Where to worship, How to solve issues during worship’, similar questions about ‘Human relations and business transactions’ are also researched ans answered.

For answer on places like Norway see the answer here with proofs from The Quran and Sunnah-

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/5842/how-to-pray-and-fast-in-countries-where-the-day-or-night-is-continuous

(Question) Quran says ‘He will show right path to whom he wills’ which clearly not up to you to follow the truth it’s up to him to decide whether you going to follow Islam or not, how is it fair? It is like having a remote car and pressing right and ask to go left to win the race.

See this Hadith-

Ali (رضي الله عنه) reported:

We were in a funeral in the graveyard of Gharqad when Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to us and we sat around him.

He had a stick with him. He lowered his head and began to scratch the earth with his stick, and then said: There is not one amongst you whom a seat in Paradise or Hell has not been allotted and about whom it has not been written down whether he would be an evil person or a blessed person.

A person said: Allah’s Messenger, should we not then depend upon our destiny and abandon our deeds?

Thereupon he (The Prophet ﷺ) said: Acts of everyone will be facilitated in that which has been created for him so that whoever belongs to the company of the blessed (i.e. people of Paradise) will have good works made easier for him and …

…whoever belongs to the unfortunate ones (i.e. people of hell fire) will have evil acts made easier for him.

He (The Prophet ﷺ) then recited this verse (from the Qur’an):

“Then, who gives to the needy and guards against evil and accepts the excellent (the truth of Islam and the path of righteousness it prescribes), We shall make easy for him the easy end (Paradise)….

and who is miserly and considers himself above need (doesn’t believe in good deeds and their rewards), We shall make easy for him the difficult end (Hell Fire)” (92: 5-10). (Sahih Muslim 2647a and Sahih Bukhari)

So see into yourself and decide, if accepting Islam and doing good deeds is easy for you, you will surely enter Paradise. But if you continue your life upon disbelief and atheism, and you die like that, then you’re a person of the Hell Fire.

(Question) The all-knowing god knows everything even your death which mean it’s already decided how you going leave ur life to ur death, if you hang yourself and die it is fixed that you are dyeing that way, and you are going to hell for taking your own life, but it’s not you who taking your life.

Allah knows everything and nothing happens except for what Allah Plans and Decides and has Knowledge of.

But human beings don’t know what Allah has decided, they know and have the choice to chose between good and evil. If they chose evil and suicide, they are punished for their choice.

For example now you don’t know whether Allah has written Paradise or Hell Fire for you. So don’t worry about that. But you have the choice of accepting Islam or rejecting it, that is in your hands. Worry about what you can do about yourself. But whatever you do, Allah knows it because of His Ultimate Knowledge.

If you accept Islam, you are not doing a favour to anyone but yourself. So chose wisely, you have only one chance. Prophet Muhammad’s duty and our duty is only to convey, and preach, we are not like watchmen over you.

Allah says: “(O Muhammad) Say: ‘O you mankind! Now truth (Islam), has come to you from your Lord. So whosoever receives guidance, he does so for the good of his own self; and whosoever goes astray, he does so to his own loss; And I am not responsible for you.’” [10:108]

As an advice: I ask you to read The translation of The Quran in whatever language you understand, and also read the biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, to know about different acts of worship and a summary of Islam read the book ‘The Message of Islam’ by Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul karim Al-Sheha (https://islamhouse.com/en/books/261463). For any questions and answers on Islam refer to Islamqa.info.

I ask Allah to guide you to Islam and grant you the vast Paradise of Allah and protect you from the burning Hell Fire.

-Abu Muaaz Mohammed Manna.

(27th May 2020, 4th Shawwal 1441.)