Tremendous virtue of reciting Surah Ikhlaas

From Mu’aadh bin al-Juhni, the Companion of the Messenger of Allaah – salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, from the Prophet – salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – who said:
“Whoever reads <<قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ>> << Say, ‘He is Allaah, [Who is] One>> [Soorah Ikhlaas] until he finishes it ten times, then Allaah builds a Palace for him in Paradise as well as additional benefits.
‘Umar(may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘Then we will have a lot of Palaces, O Messenger of Allaah!’
The Prophet – salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – said: Allaah has more and what is better.”

The Virtue of Sleeping in the state of Wudhoo

Upon the authority of Ibn Umar-Radhiyallahu‘Anhumaa -who said that the Messenger – Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Was Salam Said:

“Purify these Bodies (of yours), May Allah grant you purity, for indeed there is not a servant that spends the night in a state of purification except that an angel spends the night with him in his hair. He does not turn at anytime during the night except that the angel says: “Oh Allah forgive your servant for indeed he spent the night in a state of purity!”

(Collected by Imaamut Tabaraani in ‘Mu’jam al Kabeer (13620) )

Upon the authority of Ibn Umar – Radhiyallahu ‘Anhumaa who said that the messenger -Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Was Salam said:

“Whoever goes to sleep in a state of purification an angel spends the night in his hair. He doesnt wake from the night except that the angel says: “Oh Allah forgive your servant such and such for indeed he spent the night in a state of purity“

(Collected by Ibn Hibaan (1048)

Upon the authority of Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal – Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu - who narrated upon the authority of the messenger – Sallallahu Alaihi Was Salam – Who said:

“There is no Muslim that goes to sleep with the rememberance of Allah and in a state of purity and is then startled and wakes during the night and asks Allah for the good of this world and the hereafter except that he give it to him“

(Collected by Abu Daawood 5042)

These narrations then establish the following:

1.    The Dua of the angel as he stirs and moves during his sleep

2.    The Dua of the angel for him when he wakes

3.    His Dua being accepted if he supplicates for the good of the dunya and the hereafter when he is startled during the night, if he sleeps upon the rememberance of Allah and in a state of purification.

Story of a man who succumbed to Temptation

It is related that a group of people were once seated in the company of Al-Hasan Al-Basri, when some men passed by, dragging along with them a body of a dead man. When Al-Hasan saw the dead man, a glint of instant recognition could be discerned in his eyes, and he fell unconscious from the shock of some memory that had just been rekindled.

When he regained consciousness, his companions asked him what was wrong with him.

He said: This man – referring to the dead man being dragged along on the ground – used to be one of the best worshipers and one of the most renowned ascetics (in the world) (renouncing all the temporary pleasures of this world because he was so busy and devoted to worship).

One day he left his home, intending to go to the Masjid to pray, but on the way, he saw a beautiful young Christian women, who became an immediate temptation to him.

When he proposed to her, she refused, saying; “I will not marry you until you become an adherent of my religion.”

He went on his way, but as time went on, he yearned for her continued to increase. He then succumbed to her wish and exited from the fold of (Islaam) the religion of pure, unadulterated Monotheism.

After he became a Christian and some time passed, the woman came out to him from behind the curtain and said, “You are a man who is bereft of goodness. You have forsaken your religion, which was important to you for your entire life, simply for the sake of a lust that is of no value. Indeed, I too am forsaking my religion, but not for the same reason. I am doing so in order to achieve a blissful existence that never comes to an end, an eternal existence under the care of the One, the As-Samad (i.e., Allaah; The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creature need, He neither eats nor drinks).” She then recited the entire Chapter of Al-Ikhlaas:

“Say (O Muhammad (saw): “He is Allaah, (the) One. Allaah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” [Qur'aan:112:1-4]

When the people had heard about what she had said, they approached her and asked, “All along, you had this Chapter memorized?“

“No,” she answered. “By Allaah, I had never known it before. But after this man continued to insist upon having me, I saw a dream; I saw Hellfire, and my place in it was shown to me. I became terrified and panic-stricken. Maalik – the custodian of the Hellfire – said to me: ‘Do not be afraid or sad, for Allaah has ransomed (i.e., saved) you with this man (i.e., he will take the place in Hellfire that you would have taken had not Allaah saved you).’ He then took me by the hand and admitted me into Paradise. Seeing a line written inside of it, I read it; among what was written were these Words:

“Allaah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of the Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfooz).” {Qur’aan 13:39]}

He then recited the Al-Ikhlas Chapter to me, and I began to repeat it. Then I woke up and had it (the Al-Ikhlas Chapter) memorized.”

Al-Hasan then said, “The woman then embraced Islaam, and the man whose corpse you just saw being dragged away was killed for having apostatized. And I ask Allaah to make us firm and steadfast upon guidance and to grant us safety and success.

Charity is due on every joint bone.

Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “In the morning, charity is due on every joint bone of the body of everyone of you. Every utterance of Allah’s Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Praise (i.e., saying Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity and every utterance of declaration of His Greatness (i.e., saying La ilaha illAllah) is an act of charity; and enjoining M`aruf (good) is an act of charity, and forbidding Munkar (evil) is an act of charity, and two Rak`ah Duha prayers which one performs in the forenoon(20 minutes after sunrise) is equal to all this (in reward).”  [Muslim].

Commentary: “Charity is due from every joint bone” means that when a person gets up in the morning, it is obligatory for him to thank Allah for having every joint of his intact. Therefore, one must praise and glorify Allah. Since a single invocation of the words mentioned in this Hadith is equivalent to one Sadaqah, one must say these words for 360 times – a number which equals the number of joints in man’s body. Moreover, to enjoin someone to do what is good and dissuade somebody from vice constitutes Sadaqah. However, if one performs two Rak`ah of Duha prayer, it will serve for Sadaqah for all the joints of the body. Thus, this Hadith highlights the merits and importance of Duha prayer. We also learn from this Hadith that Sadaqah is not restricted to spending money alone but also has a vast meaning and covers all forms of virtues mentioned here.

First friday sermon of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

Ibn Ishaq reported on the authority of ‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn Ka’b Ibn
Malik that he said (part of the narration): "After the Messenger of Allah arrived in Al-Madinah and he stayed In Quba’ on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and he built their mosque, then he left on Friday and time for Friday prayer overtook him in the land of Banu Salim Ibn ‘Awf, and so he prayed it In the mosque which was in the middle of the valley before the building of his mosque.
Ibn Ishaq said: "It was the first sermon which he delivered; according to Abu Salamah Ibn ‘Abdur-Rahman – and we seek refuge with Allah from attributing to him anything which he did not say – he stood up among them and praised Allah and extolled Him, then he said:

"As for what follows, oh, you people! Send forth for yourselves (good deeds); you know for sure, by Allah, that a person among you will be struck down unconscious and he will leave his sheep without a shepherd, then his Lord will surely say to him – and there will be neither intermediary nor screen between them: "Did not My Messenger come to you and communicate (the Message), and did I not give you wealth and favor you? And what did you send forth for yourself?" And verily, he will look right and left, but he will see nothing; then he will look in front of him and he will see naught but the Hell-fire. So whoever is able to shield his face from the Fire, even if it be only by giving a piece of a date in charity, let him do so; and whoever was unable to do so, let him (shield it) by saying a good word, for the reward of a good deed is multiplied by ten times seven hundred times. And may the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you.”
Ibn Ishaq said: "Then the Messenger of Allah, delivered a second
sermon, saying:

"All praise and thanks be to Allah, I praise Him and I seek His Aid. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of ourselves and from the wickedness of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, there is none can misguide him and whomsoever Allah sends astray, there is none can guide him. And I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, Alone, without partners. The best of speech is the Book of Allah. He whose heart has been beautified with it by Allah and whom He has admitted to the fold of Islam after he had disbelieved will be successful, for he has chosen it (Allah’s Speech) over that of all of mankind. Truly, it is the best of speech and the most eloquent. Love what Allah loves; love Allah with all of your hearts. Do not become tired of Allah’s Speech, nor of mentioning His Name and do not make your hearts hard towards it. Hence, amongst everything that Allah creates He chooses [something]; Allah would call it: His Kheerah (best) in terms of deeds; His favorite ones amongst the servants; that
which is good and useful in terms of speech; So worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him and fear Him as He should be feared and be sincere to Allah in the righteous words which pass your lips and love one another with Allah’s Spirit between you. Verily, Allah hates that His Covenant should be broken. And may the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you."

The keys to the success.

‘Allaah Subhanahu has placed keys for everything that is necessary, and they open the way, so Allaah made purification the key for prayer, as the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:

‘The key to prayer is purification.’ [Saheeh al-Jamia as-Sagheer No.5885] .

Like wise

• Ihram is the key to Hajj,
• Truthfulness is the key to righteousness,
• Tawheed is the key to Paradise,
• Asking good questions and being attentive is the key to knowledge,
• Patience is the key to victory and triumph,
• Gratitude is the key to increase of provision,
• Remembrance of Allaah is the key to having loyalty to Allaah and His love,
• Taqwa (piety) is the key to success,
• Fervent desire and dread of Allaah is the key to being successful,
• Dua’ (Supplicating) is the key to being responded to,
• Zuhd (Abstaining from the luxuries of the world) is the key to desiring the Hereafter,
• Reflecting about that which Allaah calls His slaves to is the key to Eemaan (having faith),
• Making the heart accept Islaam and making it secure for Allaah and having sincerity for Him by having love and hate and fulfilling His commands and leaving the prohibitions is the key to going in front of Allaah,
• Pondering upon the Qur’aan, and imploring Allaah before dawn and not sinning is the key to giving the heart life,
• Being kind to the worshippers of the Creator and striving to benefit His worshippers is the key to obtaining mercy,
• Striving to seek forgiveness from Allaah and Taqwa (piety) is the key to Rizq (provisions),
• Obedience to Allaah and His Messenger is the key to honour,
• Longing for the Hereafter is the key to being prepared for the Hereafter,
• Fervent desire for Allaah and the Hereafter is the key to all goodness,
• Love for the world, continuously longing for it and turning away from the Hereafter is the key to all evil.

Meaning, importance, benefits and rewards of Ibadah

Without doubt, we all hate the slavery and subjugation that we see on the earth today; meaning the subjugation of some men over others, by which some enslave others; humiliating them, and trampling over them. This is indeed hated. However, the enslavement that we wish to talk about is different to this. It is as Rib'ee ibn 'Aamir radiallaahu 'anhu said: "Allaah has sent us to deliver whomsoever chooses, from the 'uboodiyyah (enslavement, worship and servitude) of men to the 'uboodiyyah of Allaah, And from the narrowness of this world, to the vastness of this world and the Hereafter. And from the tyranny and oppression of (false) religions, to the justice of Islaam."The 'uboodiyyah (enslavement, servitude and worship) mentioned here is the 'uboodiyyah to Allaah, which makes a person the noblest of all creatures upon the earth.

"What has made me noble and precious;
Is that You, O Allaah, have mode me enter into Your submission.
And have made me one of the followers of;
Your Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam."

This 'uboodiyyah - this submission, worship and enslavement is what Allaah refers to in His Book:

"I have not created Jinn and Mankind, except that they should worship Me." [Soorah adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56].

In another Verse Allaah - the Most Perfect - says:

"O mankind! Worship your Lord who has created you from a single person." [Soorah an-Nisaa 4:1].

But how do we define this 'uboodiyyah? This worship or 'uboodiyyah is: All that which Allaah loves and is pleased with, whether it is an action of the heart, the tongue or the limbs. We, however, will specifically discuss the 'uboodiyyah of the heart.

[Enslavement of the Heart]
Allaah - the Most High - has placed in everyone that He has created, a heart which must be filled; either with 'uboodiyyah (worship, submission and enslavement) to Allaah, or 'uboodiyyah to other than Allaah. Every single heart has feelings, desires and inclinations. The question is: will those feelings, desires and inclinations be directed to and for Allaah alone, or will they be directed to other than Allaah! Only the former counts as being the true 'uboodiyyah of the heart to Allaah. The 'uboodiyyah of the heart to things other than Allaah are many. Sometimes the heart is enslaved by, and worships money, sometimes it is enslaved by, and worships power and position, sometimes it is enslaved by, and worships women; or other similar things that people desire and covet so much. However, whatever they covet can either lessen their 'uboodiyyah of Allaah, or completely nullify it!

[Being a Slave to Wealth]
Someone may ask: What is the proof that some people become slaves to money, or other similar things, and worship it? The proof is in the saying of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam where he said: "Woe be to the'abd (slave and worshipper) of the dirham, woe be to the 'abd of the deenaar (dirham ond deenaar: equivilant to the Pound and the pence) ..."3 Someone may ask: How does this enslavement to money manifest itself, and what is its nature! It is when the heart becomes so in love with money, that it covers up, or suppresses the love for Allaah, This love can reach such an extent that a person desires to attain this wealth by any means possible - neither caring whether the wealth comes to him through halaal (lawful) means; in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, or means that are haraam (unlawful and forbidden) in the Religion.

So understand by reflection, that every single heart in all created things has feelings, desires and inclinations. It has the desire to love, to gain good and beneficial things for itself, it can feel fear and terror, and it can also surrender and become submissive. Thus, when its feelings, desires and inclinations are all directed to and for Allaah, then it is a heart that truly worships, submits and surrenders to Allaah alone. Therefore, it has khawf (fear) of only Allaah; it has rajaa (hope) in Allaah's Mercy; it has mahabbah (love) for Allaah and whatever Allaah loves; and it has istislaam (submits and surrenders) to only Allaah. However, when these feelings, desires and inclinations are directed to other than Allaah, then it is a heart that is enslaved and worships that object which has captured and enslaved it.

The forbiddance of the heart submitting to other than Allaah should not be misunderstood to mean that Muslims must forsake the world and dealing with it. Rather, the true position of a Muslim is that which was with the Sahaabah (Companions) radiallaahu 'anhum. They held the wealth in their hands, yet none of it was in their hearts.  "The position of wealth should be regarded like that of the toilet, in that there is need for it, but it has no place in the heart, and it is resorted to when needed.". Rather, it is obligatory for the Muslims to be the richest of people so that they may use this wealth as a means to worship Allaah - the One free from all imperfections - and to help people.

Another form of submitting and being enslaved to other than Allaah is when people submit and enslave their hearts to power and leadership. They are prepared for humiliation to take hold of them, and to abandon their scruples, in order to gain votes during elections; or other such similar situations. They are prepared to submit themselves to people - doing whatever is necessary for them to do - in order to win other people's favour, and thus gain that vote or position. Thus, this is another form of submitting and enslaving one's heart to other than Allaah.

[The Greatness of Tawheed]
As opposed to all this, the true and pure 'uboodiyyah to Allaah; the true submission and enslavement of one's heart to Allaah; is the same as when we say: Tawheed (to sincerely and purely single-out Allaah alone for worship). When the person has this degree of 'uboodiyyah, he worships Allaah alone; fears Allaah alone; loves Allaah and for Allaah alone; and all his inclinations and desires are directed to Allaah. For this reason Tawheed is the greatest action that a person can perform, and the most beneficial action that a person can possess for himself on the Day of Judgement.

This is why the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Whosoever witnesses that none has the right to be worshiped except Allaah, with ikhlaas (purely and sincerely) from his heart, will enter Paradise."5 The meaning of this is that the person who actualised Tawheed in his life, and does what this Tawheed requires of him. Likewise, based upon this, we understand that any act of worship, or any good action or nice manner ism - if it is not accompanied by this Tawheed - will not be accepted by Allaah on the Day of judgement, no matter how great and valuable that action apparently seems. And what shows you the greatness of this 'uboodiyyah (submission and enslavement) and Tawheed (pure worship) of Allaah in the heart, is the following incident:

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "There was a man who used to greatly sin. So when death approached him, he said to his sons: When I die, burn me and then crush my remains and then scatter the remains into the air. For by Allaah! If Allaah has power over me, then He will punish me in a manner that He has never punished anyone else. So when he died, then sons did what they were asked to do. So Allaah ordered the earth saying. Gather what you have of his remains. So it did. And behold, there he was standing. So Allaah asked him: What made you do what you did? The man said, Due to fear of You, 0 my Lord. So Allaah forgave him because of this."6

This shows us the greatness of khashyah (fear), since this fear that he had was one of the meanings that are part of, and included in, the meaning of 'uboodiyyah to Allaah.

This is why all actions - even if they were to fill the heavens and the earth - will not be accepted by Allaah unless these actions have sprouted from a person having pure 'uboodiyyah (submission, worship and servitude) to Allaah, worshipping Allaah alone, and not associating any partner along with Him in this worship (i.e. not committing Shirk). Allaah - the One free from all imperfections - says:

"Allaah does not forgive that partners should be set-up with Him, but He forgives anything lesser than that to whomsoever He Wills. Whoever set-up partners with Allaah (commits Shirk) has indeed committed the most grievous sin." [Soorah an-Nisaa 4:48].

"And We came forth to what they brought from their actions and We made it scattered dust."

That which shows us the greatness of Tawheed also, is this second incident:

There was a jewish boy who used to serve the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and had become ill. So the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam went to visit him and sat by his head and said: "Accept Islaam." The boy looked at his father who was with him. So his father said to him: Obey Abul-Qaasim (i.e. the Prophet) sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. So he accepted Islaam. As the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was leaving, he said: "All praise is for Allaah who saved this boy from the Fire."7 Meaning, that although this person had no good deeds, yet because of him saying this statement of Tawheed - purely and sincerely from his heart - it was enough to save him from the Hellfire and cause him to enter Paradise.

[The Fruits of Tawheed]
So as this Tawheed strengthens in the heart, becoming stronger, firmer and more well-rooted, then as a result, one's deeds will likewise multiply and his worship of Allaah will

become greater and much more firmer. Since, if a person realises with ikhlaas (sincerity) and yaqeen (certainty) in his heart that Allaah - the Most High - is the One who has created him, then he knows that he should only worship Allaah - the One free from all imperfections. Thus, as this realisation becomes firmer in the heart, then good deeds become more apparent and multiply in number.

So reflect upon Allaah's great Wisdom in that when He created Hellfire, He created it with different levels and degrees. The highest level being the one having the least punishment and torment in it - which is for those people who had Tawheed, yet along with this, had many sins that they did not repent from. Thus, though they will be punished at this level, until they are purified from their sins, but because of this Tawheed and 'uboodiyyah to Allaah alone in their hearts, they will eventually be saved from the Hellfire and admitted into Paradise. This level of Hellfire will then have no inhabitants left in it. This shows the greatness and virtue of Tawheed and the worship of Allaah alone, due to which they will eventually be rescued from the Hellfire, not being eternally condemned in it.

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"Allaah has sent us to deliver whomsoever chooses, from the 'uboodiyyah (enslavement, worship and servitude) of men to the 'uboodiyyah of Allaah; from the narrowness of this world, to the vastness of this world and the Hereafter; and from the tyranny and oppression of (false) religions, to the justice of Islaam."

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[Laying the Foundations]
What also shows the importance of Tawheed, is the life and example of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. It can be divided into two stages: The first stage is when he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was in Makkah. The second stage was in Madeenah. So in Makkaah his message was only to teach one thing; and that was the worship of Allaah alone without any partners; which is the matter of Tawheed or 'uboodiyyah to Allaah alone. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam did not call the people to leave any other sin, nor to do any other good deed. During this period he only called them to single out Allaah alone with worship, since this is the foundation upon which all else is built. Thus, we must understand that once a person's heart is truly filled with the 'uboodiyyah (love, humility, submission and enslavement) to Allaah alone, he will then begin to fulfill all the obligations which Allaah has placed upon him, to the best of his ability. This is borne out by the following statement:

'Aaishah radiallaahu 'anhoo said:
"The first part (of the Qur'aan) to be revealed was a Soorah (chapter) from the mufassal (shorter chapters) in which Paradise and Hell were mentioned. Then, when the people entered into Islaam, came the revelation regarding the halaal (lawful) and haraam (unlawful). Had the first revelation been: Do not drink khamr (wine and other intoxicants). They would have said: We shall never give up drinking khamr. Had the first revelation been: Do not commit zinaa (adultery and fornication), they would have said: We shall never give up committing zinaa."8

So this is the foundation, about which - if a person agrees he will then desire and agree to abandon all sins and acts of disobedience. Indeed, it was only after Tawheed, the worship of Allaah alone; and the willingness to submit and surrender to Allaah was understood by the Companions - radiallaahu 'anhum - and it had settled in the depths of their hearts, that Allaah began to order them with the various commands and prohibitions. It was then that the command was revealed to establish Salaah (Prayer); pay the Zakaah; fast in the month of Ramadaan; then afterwards the command to make Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah); and so on, until all the commands which Allaah - the Most High - wanted to order and prohibit the people with were given, step by step, one by one ...

So this call to the 'uboodiyyah of Allaah and to single Him out alone for love, obedience and worship, is the common message of all the Prophets and Messengers 'alayhimus-salaam. Every single Prophet and Messenger came to his people saying:

"O my people, worship Allaah alone, making all your worship purely for Him, since there is none besides Him having the right to be worshiped by you." [Soorah al-A'raaf 7:56].

This was the message of the Prophet Nooh, Ibraaheem, Moosaa, 'Eesaa ibn Maryam 'alayhimus-salaam; and the khaatim (final and last) of the Prophets, Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. They all came with this same message

The meaning of Allaah’s name Ash-Shaakir

Ash-Shaakir (The Recogniser and Rewarder of Good)

Ash-Shakoor (The Appreciative)

The one who recognises and rewards the small quantity of actions and the one who forgives the large quantity of sins. He is the one who multiplies the rewards of His sincere servants manifold without any measure. He is the one who recognises and rewards those who give thanks to Him and remembers the one who remembers Him. Whosoever seeks to get close to Him by doing any righteous action, Allah draws closer to him by a greater degree.

Verily! As-Safâ and Al-Marwah (two mountains in Makkah) are of the Symbols of Allâh. So it is not a sin on him who perform Hajj or ‘Umrah (pilgrimage) of the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) to perform the going (Tawâf) between them (As-Safâ and Al-Marwah). And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allâh is Shaakir, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:158) 

Verily, those who recite the Book of Allâh (this Qur’ân), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-asSalât), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a (sure) trade­gain that will never perish.That He may pay them their wages in full, and give them (even) more, out of His Grace. Verily! He is Oft-Forgiving, Shakoor. (Fatir 35:29-30)