Friday Nasiha

Al-Nahl (The Bees)
Chapter 16: Verse 97

Paradise in This World
"Woever does righteous deeds - whether male or female - while a believer, We shall certainly give them a good life and We will certainly grant them their rewards in accordance to the best of what they used to perform.”

In his commentary to this verse, ibn Katheer notes that this means that whoever performs the righteous deeds, which are acts of obedience in accord with the Quran and the Sunnah, will be given a good life in this world and in the Hereafter he will receive rewards according to the best of what he used to perform. He stated that "the good life" implies all forms of contentment and tranquility. Such has been reported from Ali, ibn Abbas, Ikrimah and Wahb ibn Munabbih. It is also recorded from ibn Abbas that it means happiness.

Due to the misconception as to wherein lies the true happiness of this life that many are of the false impression that it is impossible to "enjoy" or be happy in both the life of this world as well as that of the Hereafter. In reality though, by concentrating one's intention on the Hereafter, the matters of this world become much "easier" and less tense. Allah thereby increases one's happiness in this world.

The real rest and the real happiness can only come to those whom Allah blesses with such a blessing and which is received when one purifies one's soul and worships Allah alone with a true and complete form of worship. When a person accomplishes these matters, he becomes overcome with a joy that never leaves him and that is difficult to put into words.

Ibn Taymiyyah attempted to express the joy that he felt from his faith in Allah and the deeds he performed. He once said, "In this world there is a Paradise that whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise in the Hereafter." He also said, "What can my enemies do to me? Certainly, my paradise and garden are in my chest."

Source:
"Purification of the Soul" - By Jamaal Al-Din M. Zarabozo, pp. 476, 477

Saved by the Umbilical Cord

In Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah, the Prophet said, upon him peace: "Whoever sends forth three children that never reached puberty, they will be for him [and her] a strong fortress [in the hereafter]." Abu Dharr said, "I sent forth two." The Prophet said, upon him peace, "And two." Ubay ibn Ka`b said, "I sent forth one." The Prophet said, upon him peace, "And one; but that is only [subject to SABR] at the first shock." From Ibn Mas`ud.

In the Musnad of `Abd ibn Humayd from Mu`adh, the Prophet said, upon him peace: "No two Muslims lost three children except Allah will cause the two parents to enter Paradise through the favor of His mercy toward them." They said, "What about two, Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Two also." They said, "And one?" He said, "[Even] the miscarried child will certainly drag its mother [and father, see below] with its umbilical cord to Paradise!"

The Prophet said, upon him peace, "The miscarried child will pester its glorious and mighty Lord for His entering its two parents into the Fire until it is told, 'O miscarried child that pesters its Lord! Enter your father and mother into Paradise.' Then it will drag them with its umbilical cord until it makes them enter Paradise." Ibn Majah and Abu Ya`la from `Ali.

"By the One in Whose hand is my soul, truly the miscarried child will certainly drag its mother with its umbilical cord to Paradise, provided one expects recompense [for SABR]." Ibn Majah and Ahmad from Mu`adh.

"I swear that a miscarried child of mine I send forth before me is more beloved to me than [raising] a mounted knight that survives me." Ibn Majah from Abu Hurayra.

Miscarriage is very devastating for a woman and should be treated with delicacy. It is best for us to give a shoulder to the sister, reassure her, educate her in what can cause miscarriage, and pray to Allah to give her strength. If you have gone through miscarriages and want to find out what went wrong, talk with your doctors and Insha Allah a cause can be found. And remember that Allah does not put a burden on a soul that it cannot bear. Pray to Allah for strength, and be patient.

Source:
"Miscarriage and Islam" - By Gibril Haddad