Lessons from Hadith Shareef ~ Hastening Towards Khayraat (Righteous Deeds)

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veiledgems-khayraat-2016Lessons from Hadith Shareef ~ Hastening Towards Khayraat (Righteous Deeds)

Adapted from a Majlis of Moulana Naeem Motala
23/06/2016 ( After Fajr /Ramadan 1437) Musjid e Noor ~ Durban ~ South Africa

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 قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ : بَادِرُوا بِالْأَعْمَالِ فِتَنًا كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِنًا وَيُمْسِي كَافِرًا أَوْ يُمْسِي مُؤْمِنًا وَيُصْبِحُ كَافِرًا يَبِيعُ دِينَهُ بِعَرَضٍ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا ~ رواه مسلم

Hazrat Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu Anhu reported: Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Hasten with righteous deeds before you are overtaken by trials and tribulations, which would be like huge chunks of a ‘dark night’. A man would be a believer in the morning and turn to disbelief in the evening, or he would be a believer in the evening and turn a disbeliever in the morning. He would sell his Faith for worldly goods.” – [Muslim]

In Arabic, Baadiroo بادروا comes from the word Mubadara  مبادرة  which means to ‘rush’ or ‘hasten’. In this Hadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, the Believers are encouraged to ‘rush towards’ and not to procrastinate with righteous deeds. When the inclination to do good deeds comes very strongly in one’s heart, then one should not delay, but should immediately do the good deed that he is prompted towards.

The Hadith further explains that a time will draw closer (before Qiyamah) where abounding trials and tribulations will increase and appear in quick succession (one after another) and it will render righteous deeds that a person had intentions of performing, impossible. One will be overwhelmed and overcome by different types of severe tests and difficulties and will not get the chance, nor the time to pursue one’s virtuous aspirations.

Like a traveller that encounters the pervading and ever-increasing darkness of the evening… similar will be the adversities and hardships of a Believer at this time. Each time he overcomes one darkness (trial), suddenly there is another piece or chunk of darkness (another trial) awaiting him, so in this way, the person will not be able to do the good deeds that he desired.

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Selling One’s Faith

In these times of Fitan, a person will sell his Deen for the sake of Dunya. Layers upon layers of darkness will engulf a persons heart to such an extent that the heart will become extremely hard and completely Ghaafil (heedless and negligent of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala). A person will find it extremely difficult to differentiate between truth and falsehood and right and wrong and this will become the reason for his wretchedness and pitiable condition.

(1) One will have Imaan in the morning but he will sell his Imaan in lieu of a few coins (worldly gain). (2) One will regard the usurping of his brothers rights and wealth as Halaal (permissible). (3) One will regard the prohibition of Riba (interest) to be Halaal and will not be bothered about the command of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala.

When occurrences like these become prevalent, then, a person will not be able to safeguard his Deen and will release his Imaan. This is what Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam refers to as : “A person will be a Believer in the morning and a disbeliever by the evening” …

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Fastabiqul Khayraat ~ Competing in Goodness

Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala (the Most Kind and the Most Merciful) mentions, selected verses in the Quraan Shareef regarding Fastabiqul Khayraat  فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ   which motivate and encourage the Believers to race each other in all things that are good and full of reward  :

فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ
So race to [all that is] good. ~ Surah Al Baqarah 2:148

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
Hasten towards the forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden whose width is that of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous ~ Surah Al Imraan 3:133

أُولَٰئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ
It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein ~ Surah Al Mu’minun 23:61

When Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala says “Hasten towards good deeds”, the person will actually be ‘responding to the call of Allah‘ and in return, Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala will grant the person the Taufeeq (ability) of doing more and more praiseworthy deeds and this will be a Daleel (proof) of his strong Imaan.

The moment Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala grants a person the Taufeeq (ability) to perform A’maal e Sawlihah (righteous deeds), then one must inculcate Istiqaamat (be steadfast) on the deed, and safeguard oneself from the ever increasing and intensifying Fitan. The fruits of hastening towards A’maal e Sawlihah (righteous deeds), is that Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala will become the Beloved of this person and will open and pave the way towards Jannah.

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How Does A Person Hasten Towards Good Deeds?

(1) Aquire knowledge regarding the virtues of good deeds

Ulema explain, that to create within oneself the Shawq (the desire and yearning) to perform A’maal e Sawlihah (righteous deeds), one should acquire knowledge regarding the significance and virtues of the different good deeds (eg : nafl salaah, zikrullah, nafl fasts, giving sadaqah). When one reads the virtues of these good deeds and when the desire is created, then do not delay and immediately plunge into that righteous deed and perform it!

Nafs and Shaytaan have different ways of luring and enticing a person, deceiving him, ie : by causing him to delay and not perform the good deed. A person who is aware of the virtues of Tahajjud Salaah, may wake up at night and have the desire to perform this noble act. However, Nafs and Shaytaan will play games with one’s mind and tell a person, “it’s a bit cold”, “read later”, “lie down for a little while”, “ there’s still time before Fajr”… No! This is the time when a person should make Mubadara (make an initiative and rush towards the good deed).

(2) Giving Da’wah (invite others) towards good deeds

A Believer ought to invite others towards good A’maal (actions). The more a person propagates, teaches and spreads meritorious deeds, then Allah Ta’ala will also accord this person the Taufeeq of doing those A’maal.

(3) Make Dua to Allah Ta’ala

Dua is the weapon of the Believer. Make Dua to Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala with your intentions of performing these good deeds and seek refuge in Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala from all Fitan (trials, tribulations, suffering, calamities, punishment, difficulties, sins, tests).

DOWNLOAD HADITH EXPLANATION HERE

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