If You Really Want To Disobey Allah...
It is reported that a man once went to Ibrahim bin Adham and said, "Oh Abu Ishaaq, I continually wrong my own self, and I turn away from everything that invites me to improve my way of life."
Ibrahim said, "If you can fulfill five conditions, then sinning will never harm you, and you can fulfill your desires as much as you want."
"Tell me those conditions," exclaimed the man.
"As for the first, if you want to disobey Allah, then do not eat from His sustenence," said Ibrahim.
"What then will I eat, for everything on the earth is from His sustenence?" said the man.
"Listen," said Ibrahim. "Are you being sensible when you eat from His sustenence while you are disobedient to Him?"
"No," said the man. "What is the second condition?"
"If you want to disobey Allah, then do not live in any of His lands," said Ibrahim.
"This is even worse than the first. All that is in the East and West belong to Him. So where then will I live?"
"Listen," said Ibrahim. "If you insist on disobeying Him while you eat from His sustenence and live in His lands, then at least look for some spot where He cannot see you, and disobey Him there."
"O Ibrahim!" exclaimed the man. "How can I do that, when He even knows the deepest secrets that are in the breasts of men? What is the fourth condition?" he asked despondently.
"When the angel of death comes to take your soul, then say to him, 'Give me some respite, so that I can repent sincerely and perform good deeds.'"
"When the time comes, the angel will not accept that plea from me," said the man.
"Listen," said Ibrahim. "If you cannot put off death in order to repent, then how do you expect to be saved?"
"Tell me the fifth condition," said the man.
"When the guardians of Hell-fire come to take you away on the Day of Resurrection, don't go with them."
"They won't let me go!" exclaimed the man.
"Then how do you expect to be saved?" asked Ibrahim.
"Stop, stop! That is enough for me," said the man. "I ask Allah to forgive me and I indeed repent to Him."
The man then dedicated his life to the worship of Allah from that day.
Extracted from "Stories of Repentance" by Muhammad Abduh Mughawiri
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)
