Love

To love what Allah loves, such as the Prophets, and to prefer the love of Allah over the love of other than Allah, and to avoid any act that will distance one from the love of Allah.

Love has categories comprising it.

1) Love of the Divine - and this must be exclusive only to Allah (otherwise it is shirk).

2) Love for the Divine - this means to love something for the sake of Allah, or brings you closer to Allah, or Allah has told you to love it. This includes love of the Prophets, scholars, and the rest of the Muslims.

3) Natural love - love for anything that benefits you. We love our spouses and parents. We love good food and comfort. These are all types of natural love.

The first 2 types are spiritual, and the 3rd is worldly.

"You wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day and yet they love those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers, or their sons, or their brethren, or their kindred. These are they in whose hearts Allah has inscribed true faith and whom He has strengthened with inspiration from Himself. And He will admit them into Gardens through which streams flow. Therein they will abide; Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. They are Allah’s party. Surely, it is Allah’s party who are the successful." (Al-Mujaadilah, 58:22)

The muhsin converts his natural love into spiritual love. For example, everyone loves their parents, but a muhsin will use that love to treat their parents the way that Allah loves.

If a person, out of a natural love, falls into disobedience to Allah, then this is a sin. For example, a person may love alcohol and fall into drinking it. This is not shirk.

If anything enters into your love of the Divine, then this is shirk. If a natural love prevents you from love of the Divine, then this is shirk. An example of this is Heraclius not accepting Islam due to his love of his kingdom and power.

To love something like they love Allah is shirk.

And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is Severe in punishment. (2:165)

"Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." (9:24)

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Hope

There are 2 types of spiritual hope.

1) Forgiveness of sins.

2) Acceptance of good deeds.

Both of these are unique to Allah (swt) only.

"And who forgives the sins except Allah." (Aali-'Imraan, 3:135)

"Those who believe and those who emigrate and strive hard in the cause of Allah, it is these who hope for Allah’s mercy; And Allah is Most Forgiving Merciful." (Al-Baqarah, 2:218)

"And slacken not in seeking these people. If you suffer, they too suffer even as you suffer. But you hope from Allah what they hope not. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise." (An-Nisaa, 4:104)

"He said, 'None despairs of his Lord’s mercy, except those who are astray?" (Al-Hijr:56)

"The greatest of all major sins are shirk, feeling safe from the plotting of Allah, giving up hope in Allah's Mercy, and feeling despair from the help of Allah." (Ibn Mas'ood)

"Let none of you die unless he has good expectations from Allah." (Muslim)

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Fear

"Those who deliver the messages of Allah and fear Him, and do not fear any one but Allah" (Al-Ahzaab, 33:39)

"It is Shaitaan who only frightens his friends, so fear them not but fear ME, if you are believers." (Aali-'Imraan, 3:175)

Fear can be religious or worldly. Religious fear is the fear of a Divine Being, and must be exclusive only to Allah. Fear of Laat or Uzza would be an example of a fear that is shirk.

Worldly fear can be fear of anything worldly like fear of a snake. These are natural and tangible fears, they are not supernatural. A natural fear may be cowardice, but it is not shirk.

The more emaan one has leads to less fear of the worldly things.

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Zur’ah ibn Ibraaheem narrated that a man came to ‘Umar and said to him:

“I have an old mother who is unable to go answer the call of nature, so I carry her on my back. I also help her perform ablution while turning my face away from her (out of respect). Have I fulfilled my duty towards her?”

‘Umar said, “No.”

The man said, “Even though I carry her on my back and exert myself in her service”

‘Umar said: “She used to do the same for you when you were young, while hoping that you will live. As for you, you await when she will go away (die).”

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Ibn al-Jawzî (rahimahullah) says:

“You should know that the beauty of a person's Islâm lies in his leaving those things that do not concern him. When Allâh wills evil for a person he puts him through the test of argumentation - when Allâh wills good for a person he inspires him to do good deeds.

If Allâh takes away your tongue and gives back to you your heart he has been extremely kind to you; but if he takes away from you your heart and gives you back your tongue then know that you are in a serious calamity. "

al-Mutashâbihât fil-Qur’an – Page 11

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Description of Paradise in Ahadeeth

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of lofty mansions (i.e. a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star, far away in the East or in the West of the horizon. This is because of their superiority over one another (in reward).” One of the people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger, are these lofty mansions for the Prophets which no one else can reach?”

The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, replied, “No! By Allah, in whose Hands is my life, these are for men who believe in Allah and also believe in the Messenger.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “Verily, for the believers in Paradise, are tents made of a single hollow pearl. The length of which would be sixty miles long from all sides, their wives being therein. The believer will go around them (i.e., visit them) and they will not be able to see each other.” (Sahih al-Jami)

Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “There is not a tree in Paradise, except that its trunk is made of gold.” (Sahih al-Jami)

Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “Verily in Paradise there is a market in which (the inhabitants of Paradise) will come to every Friday. The North wind will blow and scatter fragrances on their faces and on their clothes. This will add to their beauty and their attractiveness. They will then go back to their families after having an added luster to their beauty and their attractiveness. Their families will say to them, ‘By Allah you have been increased in beauty and loveliness after leaving us,’ and they will say, ‘By Allah you too have increased in beauty and attractiveness after us.’” (Muslim)

Jabir ibn Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “(I saw in a dream that) I entered Paradise, and behold, there was a palace built of gold. I asked, ‘Whose is this palace?’ They (the angels) replied, ‘For a man from the Quraysh.’ So I thought it might be I, so I asked, ‘And who is he?’ They said, ‘Umar Ibnul Khattab.’ Nothing stopped me form entering it except your Ghirah (sense of honor).” Umar said, “My Ghirah would never be offended by you, O Messenger of Allah.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Anas ibn Malik said that Allah’s Apostle sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said,
“I entered Paradise and found myself by a river, by its edges were tents of pearls. Then I tapped with my hands where the water was running, and there was then a beautiful smell of Musk. I asked, ‘What is this O Gabriel?’ He said, ‘This is Kawthar (river in Paradise) which Allah has given to you.’”
(Sahih al-Jami)
“The most common thing which leads people to Paradise is taqwa of Allah and good conduct, and the most common thing which leads people to the Hell Fire is the mouth and the private parts.” (Tirmithi)

“All of my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?” He said, “He who obeys me enters Paradise and he who disobeys me has refused.” (Bukhari)

The Prophet (saw) saw Sidrat al-Muntahaa, a tree in Heaven, and near it, Paradise, as is mention in al-Bukhaari, and Muslim in the hadith of Anas (ra). At the end of this narrative of al-Israa, the Prophet (saw) said, “Then Jibreel brought me to Sidrat al-Muntahaa which was veiled in colours indescribable. Then I entered Paradise, and its lights were of pearls and its soil was musk”.

Muslim, Abu Dawud and Imaam Ahmad report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger (saw) said, “When Allaah (swt) created Paradise and Hell, He sent Jibreel to Paradise, saying “Go and look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants”. So he went and looked at it and at what Allaah had prepared therein for its inhabitants…. then He sent him to Hellfire saying, “Go and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants” So he looked at it and saw that it was in layers, one above the other….”

Muslim reports from Aishah (ra) that there was a solar eclipse in the time of the Messenger (saw) and he said, “Whilst I was standing here I saw everything that you have been promised, I even saw myself picking some of the fruits of Paradise, when you saw me stepping forward. And I saw Hellfire, parts of it consuming other parts, when you saw me stepping backward”.

al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Ibn ‘Abbas the same incident, “I saw Paradise and I tried to take a bunch of its fruit. If I had managed to do so, you would have eaten from it until the end of time. And I saw the Fire of Hell, and I have never seen anything so horrific or terrifying. I saw that the majority of its inhabitants are women.” (Nas’al Allaah al ‘afiyah)

Muslim also reports from Anas that the Prophet (Saw) said, “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you had seen what I saw, you would laugh little and cry much.” They said, “What did you see, O Messenger of Allaah?”, He said, “I saw Paradise and Hell”.

al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah said, “I entered Paradise where I saw ar-Rumaysa, the wife of Abu Talhah. And I heard footsteps and asked, “Who is that?” He (Jibreel) said, “That is Bilaal”. And I saw a palace with women in its courtyard. I asked, “Whose is this?” They said, It is for ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab” (Mishkaat al-Masaabih, 3/226)

al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, “Jibreel came to the Prophet (saw) said, “O Messenger of Allaah, Khadeejah is coming, carrying a container of food. When she comes to you, convey to her greetings of peace from her Rabb and from me, and give her the glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of brocade, in which there is no noise or exhaustion.”" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/266]

Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee, and Ibn Maajah report from Umm Habeebah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “Whoever prays twelve extra [supererogatory] rak’ahs every day, Allaah (swt) will build for him a house in Paradise.” [Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5/316, no. 6234]

The Light of Paradise

Ibn Katheer in his commentary on the aayah: “And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Paradise, which We shall give as an inheritance to those of Our slave who have been al-Muttaqoon [pious and righteous]” [19:62-63] said, “This means something approximate to the times of day and night, it does not mean that there will be a day and night there. They will know the passing of time by the changes in the light” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/471]

Ibn Taymiyyah said, “There is no sun and moon in Paradise, and no day or night, but they will know morning and evening from a light that shines from the direction of the Throne” [Majmu’ Fataawa Shaikh al-Islaam, 4/312]

Allaahumma Innaa Nas’alukal Jannah Wa na’oothu Bika Min An-Naar

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“Whoever says one hundred times in a day: ‘None deserves to be worshiped except Allah; alone, without any partner, to Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He is omnipotent over all things (la ilaha ila’Llahu wa˙dahu la sharika lahu lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer)’, will have the reward of emancipating ten slaves; a hundred good deeds will be written for him; a hundred bad deeds will be erased from him; he will be protected against the Devil all that day until the evening; and none shall come with anything better than this, save for a person who does more than it.”

Al-Bukhari, no. 6403; Muslim, no.2691.

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