The Mulberry Tree
I used to have a mulberry tree that grew on the side of the pathway to my house. Whenever, Sheikh Ibrahim Mia rahmatullah alayhi visited he used to enjoy the mulberries. Sometimes, we used to send mulberries to him as well.
Unfortunately, this tree used to bear so much that the pathway often becomes messed with dropped fruit. We thus cut down the tree. When Sheikh rahmatullah alayhi visited us thereafter, he told us that fruit trees are sadaqah jaariyah (they are means of earning perpertual reward) and we should not cut them down. When we moved to our new home, Sheikh rahmatullah alayhi used to take walks in the garden and identify various plants. If he saw a fruit tree he would remind us about earning sadaqah jaariyah through that tree.
Virtues of Planting Trees
Jabir Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: Any Muslim who plants a tree, then whatever is eaten from it, is Sadaqah for him; what is stolen from it is Sadaqah for him; what beasts eat is Sadaqah for him; what birds eat is Sadaqah for him; whosoever takes anything from the tree (fruits etc) is Sadaqah (for the planter). (Muslim)
Jabir Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: He who cultivates a barren land, has a reward thereby. ( ibn Hibban)
Qasim Rahimahullah 'narrates that a man passed by Abu Darda' Radiyallahu 'anhu when he was planting a tree in Damascus and said to Abu Darda' Radiyallahu 'anhu: Are you doing this work, though you are a Sahabi of Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam? He said: Do not hasten to blame me; I heard Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: Anyone who plants a sapling, then a man or any of the creations of Allah 'Azza wa Jail, eats from it, it becomes a Sadaqah for him. (Muslim)
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: Any man who plants a tree Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala rewards him for the entire yield of this tree (i,e the reward of all the fruit that this tree will bear in its life time).
Virtues of Wudhu
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates: I heard Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: My Ummah will be called on the Day of Resurrection with their limbs and faces shining from traces of Wudu. So whoever amongst you can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing Wudu regularly). (Bukhari)
Note: Meaning that Wudu should be performed thoroughly with such care that no part of the skin should remain dry. (Mazahir Haque)
'Uthman Ibn 'Affan Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: Anyone who performs Wudu, and performs Wudu excellently (meaning thereby to carefully observe all the etiquettes), his sins will come out from his body, even coming out from under his nails. (Muslim)
Note: The opinion of the majority of the scholars is that minor sins, are forgiven by Allah through Wudu, Salat and other forms of worship. The major sins, are forgiven by Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) and Taubah (turning towards Allah with repentance). However, Allah by His bountiful Grace, may even forgive the major sins by virtue of above deeds. (Nawawi)
'Uthman Ibn 'Affan Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates: I heard Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: When any slave of Allah performs Wudu perfectly, then Allah forgives his past and future sins. (Bazzar, Majma-'uz-Zavvaid)
'Umar ibn Khattab Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: Anyone amongst you performs who Wudu completely while fulfilling all the etiquettes and desirables and then says: I testify there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger; the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him to enter from any one of them that he pleases.
In another narration of 'Uqba ibn 'Amir Juhani Radiyallahu 'anhu it is mentioned, as: I testify there is none worthy of worship but Allah alone, Who has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger;
In the narration of Anas Ibn Malik Radiyallahu 'anhu this is to be said three times.
In another narration of 'Uqbah Radiyallahu 'anhu these words are to be said, while looking towards the sky, after performing Wudu excellently.
In a narration of 'Umar ibn Khattab Radiyallahu 'anhu the following words are given. I testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah alone, Who has no partner and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger; O Allah! Make me from among those who turn with repentance and make me from among the purified. (Muslim, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud , Tirmidhi)
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: When a person after performing Wudu says: Glory be to You, O Allah! You are above all faults and all praises are for You, there is none worthy of worship but You; and from You do I seek, forgiveness and to You do I turn in Taubah. This is recorded on a piece of paper and then sealed. The seal will not be broken until the Day of Resurrection (meaning that the reward of these words will be preserved for the Hereafter). (Mustadrak Hakim)
Rewards for Sabr in the face of Trials & Sickness
Mahmud ibn Labid Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: When Allah loves a people, He afflicts them with trials. Anyone who forbears patiently, (the reward) for patience is written down for him. And anyone who becomes impatient, impatience is written down for him (he keeps on grumbling). (Musnad Ahmad, Majnia-'uz-Zawaid)
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: (When) Allah grants a higher status to a person, but his deeds do not entitle him to such a status, then Allah continues to afflict him (with trials and hardships) that cause him inconveniences because of which he reaches the higher status. (Abu Ya'la a, Majma-'uz-Zawaid)
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu 'anhuma narrates that Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: Whenever a Muslim faces fatigue, illness, worry, grief, hurt and sorrow, even gets pricked by a thorn, Allah in lieu of his sufferings removes his sins. (Bukhari)
'A'ishah Radiyallahu 'anha narrates: I heard Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: No Muslim is pierced by a thorn, or is inflicted with something even less, except that he is elevated by one rank (in Paradise) and a sin is erased for him. (Muslim)
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: A believing man or a believing woman continues to remain under trials and afflictions on his own self, on his children, and his wealth, until he meets Allah in such a condition that not a single sin remains on him. (Tirmidhi)
Anas ibn Malik Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: When Allah 'Azza wa Jalil afflicts any of His Muslim slaves with a physical ailment, Allah 'Azza wa Jalil commands an angel: Keep recording all those good deeds which he used to do (in health). Then if He gives him health, He cleans and purifies him (by washing his sins). And if He recalls his soul, He forgives and blesses him. (Abu Ya'la, Musnad Ahmad, Majma-'uz-Zawaid)
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam said: A persistent fever or a headache suffered by a Muslim slave, man or woman, will not leave a single sin, even the size of a mustard seed, though being burdened by sins like Mount Uhud. (Abu Ya'la, Majma-'uz-Zawaid)
