Righteous deeds

*Summary of Iṣlāḥī Majlis by Shaykhul-Ḥadīth Ḥaḍrat Mawlāna Ādam ibn Yūsuf Ṣāḥib دامت بركاته*

19th July 2020 | 28th Zul Qa’da 1441AH

مولاي صلي وسلم دائمًا أبدًا

على حبيبك خير الخلق كلهم

*عَنْ أَنَسٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏إِذَا أَرَادَ الله بِعَبْدٍ خَيْرًا اسْتَعْمَلَهُ"‏.‏ فَقِيلَ كَيْفَ يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ يَا رَسُولَ الله قَالَ "‏يُوَفِّقُهُ لِعَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ قَبْلَ الْمَوْتِ"*

_Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ‎ said: "When Allah ﷻ wants good for a slave (male or female), He puts him in action." It was said: "How does he put him in action O Messenger Of Allah ﷺ‎?" He said: "By granting him the ability to perform righteous deeds before death."_

(Tirmidhi 2142)

From this Ḥadīth we learn that when Allah ﷻ intends goodness and forgiveness for a servant, then the slave gets the tawfīq (ability) to invest their energy in good deeds. Their focus shifts to the Hereafter. We can also learn from this that we should strive to make Du’ā’' to Allah ﷻ to be the recipient of this mercy which enables us the ability to do good deeds, as this can only come through the faḍhl (favour) of Allah ﷻ.

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐃

We live in this world but our focus should be on the Hereafter. An example Ḥadrat gave to explain this is like that of a driver. A driver may multitask whilst driving. They may eat, drink and talk to other passengers in the car. But their main focus is on the road ahead. They drive carefully making sure they don't break the laws or cause accidents. They remain focused on reaching the destination. Similarly, in this world, we need to fulfil our physical needs in order to survive. We need to eat, drink, etc. But we should remember that we are journeying to the Hereafter, and must ensure our mind stays focused on the Hereafter.

Haḍrat also mentioned: "Whoever's focus is on the Hereafter will receive the ability to perform more good deeds." Thus, try and stay focused and engage in lots of Zikr (remembering Allah ﷻ).

*{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ}*

_O you who have believed, fear Allahﷻ as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]._ (Āl 'Imrān:102)

𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐒

Together with zikr, stay away from sins. As mentioned earlier, this is more important than doing zikr. Some people will go into Jannah without having done much zikr but by having abstained from sins. For example, a person lowered their gaze when they came across what is forbidden to look at. This made them achieve a lot more than the reward of only physically doing zikr. Therefore, it may be hard but strengthen your nafs and discipline it to never look at what is ḥarām. Say to yourself: "No matter what, I will never look at what is ḥarām" and live by these words. Then make Du’ā’, and you shall see how your Du’ā’ gets accepted.

𝐁𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇

Death is sudden-

*{إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَاءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ}*

_Indeed, the appointed time [set by] Allah ﷻ, when it comes, will not be delayed._ (Sūrah Nūḥ: 4)

So many people are passing away, especially in the last few weeks. There is no guarantee to our life. A long life can be a gift, but if not used properly, it can become a burden and destruction for us. We should make Du’ā’:

_"O the One who gives a long life, give me a long life with goodness and Āfiyah"_

A scholar used to make Du’ā’ with a similar meaning

*يا غافر الذنب اغفر لي، ويا قابل التوب اقبل توبتي، ويا شديد العقاب لا تعاقبني ويا ذا الطول تطول علي بخير*

"O Forgiver of sins, forgive me. O Acceptor of repentance, accept my repentance. O The One Severe in punishment, do not punish me. O Bestower (of good), prolong me with goodness."

A long life filled with goodness is a gift from Allah ﷻ. It gives one a opportunity to perform more good deeds. Once a companion of the Messenger ﷺ passed away and a few days later, another companion passed away. "The Messenger ﷺ said to the nearest meaning, the one who passed away later got to offer more prayers and thus achieved a higher rank than the one who passed away first." So we should make Du’ā’ for a long life with goodness. It will be for our own benefit, inshāAllah.

From the Ḥadīth above we also learn that if we stay connected to Allah ﷻ, then as death comes closer, whether we are young or old, we will remain focused on pleasing Allah ﷻ. Du’ā’s like the ones below will naturally flow on our tongues:

*فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنْتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ*

_"Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."_

*اللهم آنس وحشتي في قبري*

_"O Allah ﷻ divert my restlessness in the grave into peace."_

Some of our pious predecessors would cry so much merely at the mention of the grave because the grave is the first station where our future is decided.

Therefore, remain focused. Don’t forget the Hereafter. Stay connected to Allah ﷻ.

Mawlāna Hāji Imdādullah Muhājir Makki (Allah have mercy on him) would make this Du’ā’ towards the end of His life:

*یا اللہ تو میرا میں تیرا*

_"Ya Allah ﷻ, You become mine and I become Yours."_

𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 *?*

A pandemic and an increase in sudden deaths is a sign from Allah ﷻ to awaken us. Allah ﷻ uses this disease to elevate the rank of those He is pleased with by giving them the rank of shahādah (martyrdom), or He may use it to destroy those who displease Him. If this virus does not awaken us, then it will certainly be a punishment for us.

*{وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ}*

_"We shall certainly make them taste a lower punishment [in this life] prior to the greater punishment, so that perhaps they may return [to the right path]."_ (Sūrah Sajdah, 21)

If we still carry on walking on the streets with our bodies exposed, careless about ḥalāl and ḥarām, then this will be a means of punishment for us.

```May Allah ﷻ grant us the ability to reflect and ponder on how we are spending our lives and to think of how we will give account for all our wrongdoings. Āmīn.```