Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Opening the Gates of Jannat by means of Dhikr and One's Actions

There are many ways to have the Gates of Jannat open for us and call us on the Day of Judgement, Inshallah. Inshallah, just implementing a few of these habits will endear us to Allah and will Inshallah make us one step closer to attaining eternal success.

1) Be Merciful to others
A Muslim should only wish the best for another Muslim, especially when it comes to forgiveness and having patience with one another. No one is perfect so why should we hold another's shortcomings to fault when we are, ourselves, imperfect? We need to learn to overlook our anger and our hatred and learn to love for the sake of Allah and for Allah's ultimate forgiveness.

"The gates of Paradise will be opened on Mondays and on Thursdays, and every servant of Allah who associates noting with Allah will be forgiven, except for the man who has a grudge against his brother. About them it will be said, ‘Delay these two until they are reconciled. Delay these two until they are reconciled. Delay these two until they are reconciled.'"

[Muslim, Malik and abu Dawud]

2) Seek forgiveness from Allah with sincerity constantly
"Be foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord. And a garden of bliss, the width of the heavens and the earth prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers - that is the grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of abounding grace."

[Al Hadid, 57:21]

3) Memorize the Quran and recite it often
Time is a most precious gift that we all take for granted. Inshallah we should make every effort to try to get in some time to read the Quran and possibly to memorize as much as we can. We should also make the effort to learn what is being said to us.


‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "It will be said to the companion of the Qur'aan: ‘Recite and rise in status as you used to recite in the world, and your position will be at the last verse you recite.'" Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1646; al-Tirmidhi, 2914; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

4) Perform wudu well and then go to the masjid to wait for salah
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you of something by means of which Allaah erases sins and raises you in status?" They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allaah." He said: "Doing wudoo' well even when it is difficult, taking many steps to the mosques and waiting for prayer after prayer. That is (equivalent) to guarding the frontier." [Muslim, 251]

5) Learn Allah's 99 Beautiful names
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e., one hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise; and Allah is Witr (one) and loves 'the Witr' (i.e., odd numbers). [Sahih al-Bukhari, 419]

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There are ninety-nine names of Allah; he who commits them to memory would get into Paradise. Verily, Allah is Odd (He is one, and it is an odd number) and He loves odd number. And in the narration of Ibn 'Umar (the words are) : "He who enumerated them." [Muslim, 6475]

6) Dhikr - Subhan Allah Al-'Azim and 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "There are two expressions which are very easy for the tongue to say, but they are very heavy in the balance and are very dear to The Beneficent (Allah), and they are, 'Subhan Allah Al-'Azim and 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi.'" [Sahih al-Bukhari, 415]


7) Dhikr - La ilaha illal-lah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu-l-mulk wa lahu-l-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shai'in qadir
Allah's Apostle said," Whoever says: "La ilaha illal-lah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu-l-mulk wa lahu-l-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, 412]


8) Say Amin after the Imam
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "When the Imam says 'Amin', then you should all say 'Amin', for the angels say 'Amin' at that time, and he whose 'Amin' coincides with the 'Amin' of the angels, all his past sins will be forgiven." [Sahih al-Bukhari, 411]

9) Give Charity in whatever form you are capable of giving in
One of the best things we can do is to give in charity, be it with money, personal property or time, or one's knowledge or kindness or good words. No good deed towards another Muslim goes to waste Subhanallah.

Narrated Abu Burda: from his father from his grandfather that the Prophet said, "Every Muslim has to give in charity." The people asked, "O Allah's Prophet! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?" He said, "He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns)." The people further asked, "If he cannot find even that?" He replied, "He should help the needy who appeal for help." Then the people asked, "If he cannot do that?" He replied, "Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds." [Sahih al-Bukhari, 524]


Even the charity using another person's rizq is a great charity and counts for everyone.

Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet said, "When a woman gives in charity from her house meals in Allah's Cause without spoiling her husband's property, she will get a reward for it, and her husband will also get the reward for his earnings and the storekeeper will get a reward likewise." [Sahih al-Bukhari, 521]

10) Patience, Truth, Pure Worship, Repentance, and Charity
Dhikr: Rabbana innana amanna faghfirlana zunubana waqina a'azabannar

"Say, ‘Shall I bring your attention to things far better than those? For the righteous are gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath, eternal therein, with pure companions and the good pleasure of Allah. For within Allah's sight are all His servants - especially those who say, "Our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the agony of the Fire." (Rabbana innana amanna faghfirlana zunubana waqina a'azabannar.) Those who are patient, are truthful, who worship devoutly, who spend in the way of Allah and who prays for forgiveness in the pre-dawn hours (Tahajjud).'" [ali'-Imran, 3: 15-17]


11) Repentance - Ask for forgiveness the way our Prophet (pbuh) used to ask
Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet used to say, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from laziness from geriatric old age, from being in debt, and from committing sins. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the Fire, the afflictions of the grave, the punishment in the grave, and the evil of the affliction of poverty and from the evil of the affliction caused by Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal. O Allah! Wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail, and cleanse my heart from the sins as a white garment is cleansed of filth, and let there be a far away distance between me and my sins as You have set far away the East and the West from each other." [Sahih al-Bukhari, 386]


12) Dhikr - Hasbiyallaahu laa 'ilaaha 'illaa Huwa 'alayhi tawakkaltu wa Huwa Rabbul-'Arshil-'Adheem (7x)
Dhikr - HasbiyAllahu, La ilaha illa huwa, Alaihi Tawakkaltu (71x)


Allah will grant whoever recites this seven times in the morning or evening whatever he desires from this world or the next, Ibn As-Sunni (no. 71), Abu Dawud 4/321. Both reports are attributed directly to the Prophet j§ (Marfu1). The chain of transmission is sound (Sahih). Ibn As-Sunni. (Allah is sufficient for me. There is none worthy of worship but Him. I have placed my trust in Him, He is Lord of the Majestic Throne)

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, (Whomever says it) seventy times in the morning and in the evening, Allah will take care of whatever worries him/her of the matters of this world and the hereafter." (morning means after Fajr and before sunrise, evening means after ‘Asr). ("HasbiyAllahu, La ilaha illa huwa, Alaihi Tawakkaltu"

Enough is Allah for me (ie to defend me, love me, cherish me etc!), There is no god but He, in Him i trust.)

13) Dhikr - Allaahumma 'Anta Rabbee laa 'ilaaha 'illaa 'Anta, khalaqtanee wa 'anaa 'abduka, wa 'anaa 'alaa 'ahdika wa wa'dika mas-tata'tu, 'a'oothu bika min sharri maa sana'tu, 'aboo'u laka bini'matika 'alayya, wa 'aboo'u bithanbee faghfir lee fa'innahu laa yaghfiruth-thunooba 'illaa 'Anta

Whoever recites this with conviction in the evening and dies during that night shall enter Paradise, and whoever recites it with conviction in the morning and dies during that day shall enter Paradise [Al-Bukhari 7/150] (O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You. You created me and I am your slave. I keep Your covenant, and my pledge to You so far as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I admit to Your blessings upon me, and I admit to my misdeeds. Forgive me, for there is none who may forgive sins but You.)

14) Dhikr - Subhaanallahi wa bihamdihi
Whoever recites this one hundred times in the morning and in the evening will not be surpassed on the Day of Resurrection by anyone having done better than this except for someone who had recited it more. " Al-Bukhari 4/2071


15) Dhikr - Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer


Whoever recites this one hundred times a day will have the reward of freeing ten slaves. One hundred Hasanaat (rewards) will be written for him and one hundred misdeeds will be washed away. He will be shielded from Satan until the evening. No one will be able to present anything better than this except for someone who has recited more than this. Al-Bukhari 4/95, Muslim 4/2071


16) Dhikr before Tahajjud Prayer - La ilaha il-lallah Wahdahu la Sharika lahu Lahu-l-mulk, waLahu-l-hamd wahuwa 'ala kullishai'in Qadir. Alhamdu lil-lahi wa subhanal-lahi wa la-ilaha il-lal-lah wa-l-lahu akbar wa la hawla Wala Quwata il-la-bil-lah - Allahumma'ghfirli (or any dua)

Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit: The Prophet "Whoever gets up at night and says: -- 'La ilaha il-lallah Wahdahu la Sharika lahu Lahu-l-mulk, waLahu-l-hamd wahuwa 'ala kullishai'in Qadir. Alhamdu 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."


17.) Salatul Tasbih for forgiveness of sins
Subhaan Allahi Wal Hamdulillahi Wa Laa ilaha illal Laahu Wallahu Akbar ('Glory be to Allah. All praise is due to Allah. There is no God except Allah. Allah is the greatest)

http://www.islamicacademy.org/html/Articles/English/Salat_Tasbih.htm

This salat is the recitation of the above dua during the different postures of salat. It is recommended to do atleast once in your lifetime if not more.

Our Beloved Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) said to his uncle (father's brother) Sayyiduna Abbass (may Allah be pleased with him) Oh uncle shall I not give you Shall I not grant you Shall I not award you Shall I not do mercy on you When you do 10 things Allah will forgive your sins: of the future and of the past; new and old; those you have forgotten and those you did knowingly; big and small; hidden and revealed. Then he (pbuh) explained the taught the way to pray Salatul Tasbih and then said if you can pray this salah once a day, if you can not pray once a day then every Friday, and even if this is not possible then once a month and even if this is not possible then once a year and even if this is not possible then at least once in a lifetime.

This hadith is related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaimah in his sahih, and at-Tabarani and Tirimzi.


First Rakat
- Recite Sana ("Subhanaka Allahumma"), then read Dua 15x, Aoozu + Bismillah + Fateha + sura, read Dua 10x

- Ruku, Subhana rabbiyal azeem 3x, read Dua 10x, say "Samiyallahu.. Rabbana wa lakal hamd" and get up, read Dua 10x

- Go to Sajdah with Takbir, Subhana Rabbiyal A'la 3x, read Dua 10x, get up, read Dua 10x, Go to Sajdah, Subhana Rabbiyal A'la, read Dua 10x, get up


Do Second Rakat as first Rakat without the Sana.


After 2nd sijdah, recite Attahiyat, Durood and any duas and get up for 3rd Rakat without Salam.

Start 3rd Rakat with "Subhanaka Allahumma" and continue as 1st and 2nd rakats

After Fourth Rakat is finished, recite Attahiyat, Durood and any duas and say Salaam.


Don't Waste Valuable Time!!

As our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, has told us, one of the most precious blessings that we lose is our time for doing good. Let's not waste ours or wait till it's too late to make a difference for our afterlife.


Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet said, "There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good." [Sahih al-Bukhari, 421]



--

"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching;

And consult with them in ways that are best and most gracious."

(Al Qur'an, 16:125)

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