What has happened in the past is only for us to contemplate and take lessons from them. The future is only for us to make plans accompanied by good intentions only for the sake of Allah, thus getting rewarded for them. But know that our plans are in the Hands of Allah. We do not know when the Angel of Death will come to us. Hence, it is TODAY that we can make efforts to accomplish something in order to be successful in this world. The real success is to be able to reach the destination of our eternal Home of Peace; that is the Paradise.
Many of us are busy with the endeavours of this world; troubled with feelings concerning our future, whether or not we can be successful in this life. We pursue for the highest qualification in studies; looking for the highest paid jobs; worrying whether we will be able to support our families in the long run; hoping for a promotion from our bosses; fear that we are not able to sustain our businesses and etc. But are we concerned about the real success in this world and make efforts for it?
A Muslim who do not seek and make efforts to deepen his knowledge in the true teachings of Islam will never know what Allah has promised for His believing servants who always explore the pure teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (may Allah send Blessings and Peace upon him), understanding them the way of as-Salafus-Salih. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” [Sunan Ibn Majah (224)]
We have been promised by Allah in the Noble Qur’an:
“And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). Every time they will be provided with a fruit therefrom, they will say: ‘This is what we were provided with before,’ and they will be given things in resemblance (i.e. in the same form but different in taste) and they shall have therein Azwaajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives), (having no menses, stools, urine, etc.) and they will abide therein forever.” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verse 2:25]
It is human nature that we prefer to listen to good news rather than the bad. Allah had instructed Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to give us Muslims the best news ever. Allah says in His Book:
“And give good tidings to the believers.” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah As-Saff (The Ranks), verse 61:13]
Those who are made to enter Paradise in the Hereafter are those who are have achieved great success in this world. This is the greatest news we can get in this world; greater than the news of our job promotion, our wives’ pregnancy, winning a lucky draw and etc., but most of us neglect it. This news is exclusively for the sincere believers of the Oneness of Allah and Messengership of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Whoever says ‘LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH’ (there is no God except Allah) sincerely, he will be admitted into Paradise.” [Graded Sahih (Authentic) by Sheikh al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ as-Saghir wa Ziyadatuh (6433)]
Just by saying ‘LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH’ does not necessarily guarantee salvation from the Hellfire. Those believers whose sins outweigh their good deeds, Allah will either punish them in Hell or forgive them and admit them in Paradise. Those believers who are punished in Hell will eventually enter Paradise because of their faith in Allah. They are called as ‘Al-Jahannamiyyin’ as stated in a hadith:
“Some people will be scorched by Hell (Fire) as a punishment for sins they have committed, and then Allah will admit them into Paradise by the grant of His Mercy. These people will be called ‘Al-Jahannamiyyin‘ (the people of Hell).” [Sahih al-Bukhari (7450)]
They are brought out from the Hellfire because their faith exceed the minimum level required; that is the size of a mustard seed:
“When the people of Paradise have entered Paradise, and the people of the Fire have entered the Fire, Allah will say: ‘Take out (of the Fire) whoever has got faith equal to a mustard seed in his heart.’ They will come out, and by that time they would have burnt and became like coal, and then they will be thrown into the river of Al-Hayyaat (life) and they will spring up just as a seed grows on the bank of a rainwater stream.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Don’t you see that the germinating seed comes out yellow and twisted?” [Sahih al-Bukhari (6560)]
Actually, as Muslims, we know for certain at anytime of the day, whether or not we are successful in the Hereafter regardless of our sins; many or little, major or minor. Fortunately, by the Mercy of Allah, there is a way of booking our places in Paradise taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Other than the Noble Qur’an, he ﷺ has left for us a great inheritance; particularly a du‘aa (supplication) known as ‘Sayyidul-Istighfar’ (The Best Way of Seeking Forgiveness). In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us:
“The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is:
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ، وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
ALLAAHUMMA ANTA RABBEE, LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTA, KHALAQTANEE WA ANA ‘ABDUKA, WA ANA ‘ALAA ‘AHDIKA WA WA’DIKA MASTA-THO’TU, A‘UU-DZU BIKA MIN SYARRI MAA SHANA’TU, ABOO-U LAKA BINI’MATIKA ‘ALAYYA, WA ABOO-U LAKA BI DZANBEE FAGHFIRLEE, FA INNAHOO LAA YAGHFIRUDZ DZUNOOBA ILLAA ANTA.
Meaning:
‘O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship except You. You have created me and I am Your servant, and I am under Your covenant and promise (to fulfil it) to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your Blessings upon me, and I admit my sins so forgive me. For none forgives sins except You.’
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ added: “If somebody recites it (the above du‘aa) during the day with firm belief in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise. And if somebody recites it at night with firm belief in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.” [Sahih al-Bukhari (6306)]
It is no surprise that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that whoever says this du‘aa with firm belief in it will enter Paradise. This is because whoever says it with certainty is someone who sincerely repents to Allah; and sincere repentance guarantees Paradise. If we gain the habit of reciting this du‘aa every day, whenever we die, we will certainly be admitted into Paradise. Prophet Muhammad promised ﷺ us; if somebody recites it during the day and night with firm belief in it, he or she will enter Paradise. Reciting this du‘aa with firm belief and yaqeen (conviction) requires us to know what they mean. This is why we should learn the meaning of the du‘aa and reflect on it, so that we can increase in our conviction and attain the full reward.
Sayyidul-Istighfar is a guaranteed formula for success in this world taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. What achievements are there in this world greater than being promised admission to Paradise by our Creator, Allah? This is the real success that we Muslims should seek for and make it our primary goal.
May Allah increase us in knowledge that benefits our life in this world and in the Hereafter and make us enthusiastic in seeking it. May Allah bestow upon us the true understanding of the pure teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Aameen.
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