An initial part of a lengthy Hadith compiled in Sahih Tirmidhi is the subject of our discussion today. The incident is a conversation between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and a very prominent companion Muadh ibn Jabal (Allah be pleased with him): Once while we were returning from a journey along with the Prophet (peace be upon him), I got some chance to have personal discussion with the Prophet (peace be upon him). “O Messenger of Allah, kindly inform me about a deed which will get us enter in Jannah and save us from Hellfire.”
The answer given to Muadh ( Allah be pleased with him) offers benefit to us all
Muadh was a man who was the companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for more than twenty years and he was eager to know about the virtues of being in such a company. In spite of his life full of obedience to Allah and His Messenger, Muadh was still looking for a deed which can qualify him to enter Paradise and save him from the Hellfire.
Entering Paradise is difficult unless Allah makes it easy for someone
The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded, “You have asked a very difficult question, (It is difficult to attain Paradise) unless Allah makes it easy for someone (to enter Paradise),” Then he prayed for Muadh (Allah be pleased with him) that may Allah make it easy for him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) continued informing him about the deeds that will lead one to Paradise and deeds that would save one from Hell fire.
He said, : Rejecting false deities and testifying the oneness of Allah and offering five times prayers at their fixed time, give zakat, fasting in the month of Ramadhan, and perform Hajj.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) then addressed Muadh, “O Muadh, Shall I show you the doors of rewarding deeds? He replied eagerly, “Yes.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “ Fasting, giving charity because charity extinguishes the hell fire the way water extinguishes fire, offering salatul Tahajjud,and he recited, "Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do".
The Prophet (peace be upon him) continued, " Shall I not tell you of the peak of the matter, its pillar, and its head?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "The peak of the matter is Islam; the pillar is prayer; and its topmost part is jihad." Then he said: "Shall I not tell you of the controlling of all that ?" I said:"Yes, O Messenger of Allah", and he took hold of his tongue and said: "Restrain this." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, will what we say be held against us ?" He said: "May your mother be bereaved of you, Muadh ! Is there anything that topples people on their faces - or he said on their noses into Hell-fire other than the jests of their tongues ?”
The above hadith shows how all good deeds need to be protected only if one protects his tongue. One must control his tongue. Everything that is spoken will be accounted. Even huge good deeds like Tahajjud can be annulled if the tongue is not reigned.
Opening the doors of good deeds is by responding to the command of Allah
There are two men and both of them hear adhan. One of them gets up and responds to the call for prayer, he performs ablution and goes to pray. He got the doors of good deeds opened because his sins are pardoned and he gets rewards. His every step towards Masjid will wipe out one sin and raise his grade to one degree. He then reaches the Masjid and recites, “ Allahumma iftahli, abwaba, Rahmatika.” O Allah open the doors of your mercy. During the entire process, right from performing wudhu till he finishes his prayers and invoke Allah, he is getting reward. But he began with opening his own doors to go to Masjid. The other person preferred to be at home getting entertained and bunked his prayers so he did not get the doors opened
Fasting is a shield from sins and punishment of hellfire, charity expiates sins and the night prayers has huge blessings that is why before the five prayers were made obligatory, Allah had commanded his Prophet to offer Tahajjud. A person offering Tahajjud will improve his character and behaviour. It is a best option for purifying one’s Nafs. It is indeed a big self control to wake up at Tahajjud, perform wudhu and stand before Allah, against the wishes of nafs that prompts you to sleep in chilled wintery nights. There are hadith that mentions that the blessings in Paradise is such that it has not be seen by any eyes nor any mind or heart can perceive.
If a person bunks his compulsory prayers it will be difficult for him to maintain his rest of the good deeds too. It is amazing to note how Muslims remain careless towards their prayers and many just observe part time prayers and being seen in Majid only during Ramadhan.
A Supplication to memorise and recited to ease your difficulties
Normally whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) met a difficulty he used to supplicate, . 'Allaahuma lasahla illa maja'altaho sahla wa anta tej'aloo alhazna 'idha shi'ta sahla.' O Allah, there is no ease except what you make easy and you can make a difficulty into ease if You wish
Allah is powerful over all things. He can turn a difficulty into an ease instantly. Take the example of Prophet Musa (Peace be upon him) when Firawn wanted to arrest him and kill him for killing one of his men. Musa went to Midyan and stayed there for twelve years. He was now forty years and on his way to return to Misr assuming that the case of killing a man might have been forgotten now. He was along with his wife and children. On the way, it was a chilled night and the family was shivering from cold. Musa (peace be upon him) saw a fire, so he told his family to wait for him while he would go to the place of fire and bring some burning twig for them to give them heat or would find someone there.
When he reached the place, Allah called him up and appointed him as His Prophet. He then instructed him to pray regularly and give charity. Then He instructed Musa (peace be upon him) to go to Firawn. It was indeed to a difficult task to go to the court of Firawn ‘But there is no ease except what Allah makes it easy’. Musa (peace be upon him) pleaded to Allah, "My Lord, expand for me my breast And ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue so that they may understand what I say.”
Even Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was reminded about Allah’s power over all things
Allah has the power to ease even the most difficult situation if He decides. There is a very interesting narration about Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he presented a formal banquet for his guests. That is why it is said that the first person to host his guest in the most pleasant manner was Ibrahim (peace be upon him). He never ate his food till he had a guest with him. One day as he was sitting, a group of people arrived. They greeted him and Ibrahim was happy to note that his guests were very bright in appearance. He got and brought well roasted calf and presented it before his guests. But the guests refused to eat. When he saw that his guests were not eating, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) became little fearful so he asked them the matter. They replied, “We are not humans but angels of Allah, sent to destroy a rebellious people, the people of Lut (peace be upon him).” But, They said, “On the way we have visited you to give glad tidings to you of a son, Is’haq and a grandson Yaqub.”
His wife Sarah was standing a little distance away and she rushed there saying, “ How can I give a birth when I am an old woman and my husband too is an old man! Indeed this is an amazing thing!” It did not appear possible at all since both, the husband and the wife, were old.
The angels said, “Are you amazed at the decree of Allah?” If Allah can give a child to young man, then he has the capacity to give a child even to an old couple. That is the power of Allah. “There is no ease except what Allah makes easy.” He has the power to turn any impossible thing into possible.
The doors to good deeds are an opportunity for everyone who wants to get into it. Then after benefitting from it one needs to save those good deeds till he meets Allah and the biggest danger is from a liberal tongue that keeps on cursing, backbiting, causing disputes and fights and spells venoms.