Doors of Heaven Opened for The Reciter of 'La ila haillallah'

From Abu Hurairah r.a , narrates that Rasullullah (Prophet) s.a.w said; “There is nobody who may recite “La ila ha illallah” and the doors of heavens do not get opened to allow this kalimah to reach Arash (Allah’s Throne) provided he abstains from the major sins.”

The extreme excellence and acceptability of this kalimah is proved by its going straight to the Arash (Throne of Allah). It has already been stated that its recitation, even with major sins, is not without benefit. Mulla Ali Qari (Rahmatullah Alaih) says that the quick condition of being free from major sins is the key to quick acceptance and for the opening of all the doors of heaven; otherwise the recitation of kalimah is not without reward and acceptance, in spite of major sins. Some scholars have explained this hadith to mean that after the death of such a person, all the doors of the heavens are opened to welcome his soul. According to another hadith, two kalimah ase such that one does not stop before reaching the Throne of Allah, and the other fills the Heaven and earth with its light or reward: one is La ila ha illalah and the other is Allahu Akbar.

Two Things For Which Jealousy Is Permissible

From Ibnu Umar r.a narrates that Rasullullah s.a.w said ; “Hasad (jealousy) is not permitted except in respect of two person – one whom Allah blesses with recitation of Quran and he remains engaged in it day and night, and the others who is a lot of wealth by Allah and he spends it day and night”

On the authority of many ayat of the Quran and numerous hadith, hasad is an evil and is absolutely forbidden. This hadith, however, appears to permit hasad in respect of two person. Because there are many well know traditions dealing with hasad, the ulama (plural of alim – religious scholar) have interpreted this hadith in two ways. Firstly, hasad as denoted by arabic word (ghibtah), is taken here in the sense of emulation. There is a difference between jealousy and emulation. Hasad is desire that one possessing a blessing should be deprived of it; whether the person who feels jealous acquires it or not, while emulation signifies a desire to possess a thing, whether the actual owner is deprived of it or not. Since hasad is haram (religiously unlawful) under ijma (consensus of opinion), the ulama (Islamic religious scholar) have translated, by way of metaphor, this word hasad as ghibtah, meaning emulation. Ghibtah is permissible in worldly affairs and commendable in religious matters.

The second interpretation is that the term hasad has been used in a hypothetical sense, i.e., if hasad has were permissible it would have been so with regard to the two persons mentioned above.


Prophet Muhammad, jealousy, Allah, Evil, scholar

Solat (praying) is a Pillar of Islam

Abdullah bin Umar r.a narrates that he heard the Rasullullah (Prophet) s.a.w saying:

“Islam is founded on five pillars: bearing witness that there are no God but Allah and Muhammad s.a.w is His servant and apostle; establishment of solat; paying of zakat; performance of Hajj; and fasting in Ramadhan.”

The Prophet s.a.w has compared Islam to a canopy resting on five supports. The Kalimah is the central support and the other four pillar of Islam are so to say, the remaining four supports is missing a collapse will result in the defective corner. Now let us judge for ourselves how far we have kept up the canopy of Islam. Is there really any pillar that is being held in its proper place?

The five pillars of Islam mentioned in this hadith signify the most essential duties of a Muslim. Although a Muslim cannot do without any one of them, yet solat in Islam occupies a position next only to iman. Abdullah bin Mas’ood r.a says:

“Once, I inquired of the Holy Prophet s.a.w, which act (of man) was the dearest to Allah. The Prophet replied, “Solat”. I then inquired which act come next (in order of merit) and the Prophet replied, “kindness to parents”. I again asked what was next and he answered “jihad”. “

Mullah Ali Qari (Rahmatullah Alaih) has quote this hadith in support of the belief that Solat is the most important religious duty after iman. This is further corroborated by a hadith, in which the Holy Prophet s.a.w is reported to have said:

“Solat is the best of all that has been ordained by Allah.”


Prophet Muhammad, praying, Allah, Zakat, Hajj, Fasting, Ramadhan

Sahabah's Discard of Red Sheets of Saddle Cloth

Rafe r.a says:

"We were once with the Prophet s.a.w on a journey. The sheets that we had spread on our camels were decorated with red thread work on the borders. The Prophet s.a.w said, "I notice that the red colour has begun to catch your fancy." We stood up and dispersed in confusion at this rebuke, so much so that our camels seeing our bewilderment began to run about. We immediately removed the sheets from their backs."

We surprised on hearing such stories about sahabah, as we are living in a different atmosphere with quite a different frame of mind. When the Truce of Hudaibiyyah an envoy of Qureysh, had an opportunity of studying very carefully the behaviour of sahabah. When we returned to his people, he said to them:

"I have been to the courts of great kings and monarchs as an envoy. I have met the Emperors of Persia, Rome and Abyssinia. Nowhere have i seen people around a Sovereign so respectful to him as I saw the companions of Muhammad s.a.w. When he spits, his sputum is not allowed to fall on the ground. It is taken by somebody in his hands to anoint his face and body therewith. When he issues some order, every person hastens to carry it out. When he makes wudhu, his companions race one with another to snatch the water trickling down from his limbs, in such a way that an observer would think there are going to fight over that water. When he speaks, everybody is silent as if he were dumb. Nobody raises his eyes to look at him, out of respect for him."

Prophet Muhammad, Emperors Of Persia, Rome, Abyssinia, Speaks

Rewards for fluent recitation and for faltering recitation.

From Aishah r.a narrates that Rasullullah s.a.w once said ; “One who is well versed in the Quran will be in the company of those angels who are scribes, noble and righteous; and one who falters in reading the Quran and has to expert hard for learning, gets double the reward.”

“One who is well versed in the Quran” means one who is proficient in memorizing as well as in reciting it. It is highly praiseworthy if one masters its meaning and significance as well. “To be with the angels” means that like the angels who transferred the Quran from Loh Mahfuz (Protected Tablet in the Heavens), he also conveys it to others through its recitation and, therefore both have the same occupation; or that he will join the company of such angels on the Day of Judgement. One who falters will get double reward – one for his reading and the other for his effort in reading the Quran, In spite of faltering again and again. It doest not mean that his reward will exceed that of a well versed person. The reward that is mentioned for a well versed person is far greater, so much so that he will be in the company of special angels. The explanation is that the labour involved in faltering and the difficulties in the reading of the Quran carry an independent reward. As such, reading of the Quran should not be given up, even though faltering may be an excuse.

Mulla Ali Qari, has reproduced from the riwayat (saying) of Tibrani and Baihaqi that one who cannot memorize the Quran well and yet persists in learning it by heart get double reward. Similarly, one who cherishes a longing for memorizing it and doest not possess the ability to do so, but does not give up his efforts, will be reckoned by Almighty Allah among the huffaz (plural of hafiz – one who has learnt the whole Quran by heart) on the Day of Resurrection.

Reward, angels, Allah, reading quran, double reward, Judgement Day