Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
The Prophet said:
There are seven whom
Allaah will shade in His Shade on the Day
when there is no shade except His Shade:
a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the
worship of Allaah, the Mighty and
Majestic; a man whose heart is attached
to the mosques; two men who love each
other for Allaah's sake, meeting for that
and parting upon that; a man who is called
by a woman of beauty and position [for
illegal intercourse], but be says: 'I fear
Allaah', a man who gives in charity and
hides it, such that his left hand does not
know what his right hand gives in charity;
and a man who remembered Allaah in
private and so his eyes shed tears.'
Narrated by Abu Hurairah & collected in
Saheeh al-Bukhari (english trans.) vol.1,
p.356, no.629 & Saheeh Muslim (english
trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248
In this beautiful Hadeeth, the Prophet spoke
about small acts of worship which result in
such a huge reward: shade on the Day when
there will be no shade except His Shade [1].
This may not seem like much at first but then
reflect upon the following Hadeeth: 'On the
Day of Resurrection, the sun would draw
so close to the people that there would be
left a distance of only one mile. The
people will be submerged in perspiration
according to their deeds, some up to their
ankles, some up to their knees, some up
to the waist and some would have the
bridle of perspiration and, while saying
this, the Messenger of Allaah put his
hand towards his mouth.'
Narrated by al Miqdaad ibn Aswad &
collected in Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans) vol.4,
p.1487-8, no. 6852}.
And in another Hadeeth, some will be
submerged in sweat 'seventy arm-lengths
in the earth.'
Narrated by Abu Hurairah and collected in
Saheeh al-Bukhari (eng. trans.) vol.8, p.353,
no.539) and Muslim (eng. trans.) vol.4,
p.l487, no.6851
So who would want more then, on this Day,
than to be under the Shade and protection of
Allaah Azza wa Jal
Let us examine now the characteristics and
virtues of these seven categories of people
who will be worthy of such an exalted position
on the Day of Gathering.
1. 'A Just Ruler...'
The concept of Justice in Islaam is very
important and it is something which the
Muslim - Ruler and the ruled - must apply in
all matters without exception. Justice means to
give each the right he deserves: Muslim or
non-Muslim, relative or stranger, friend or
enemy. Allaah says: '...And do not let
hatred cause you to act unjustly, that is
nearer to piety [Soorah
al-Maa'idah (5):8].
Unfortunately, even if we admit this in theory,
we quickly forget it in practice. So we find
that when we speak about our friends and
loved ones, we praise them beyond reason
and when we speak about those whom we
hold difference with, we can find no good in
them and we just capitalise on their bad
points. This is far removed from the justice
which Allaah loves and gives great reward for,
as mentioned in the following Hadeeth: 'The
doers of justice will be on thrones of light
at Allaah's Right Hand - and both of
Allaah's Hands are Right Hands" - those
who were just in their Ruling, with their
families and in all that over which they were
given authority [2].
The Prophet assigning to Abdullah ibn
Mas'ud the open spaces in Medina between
the dwellings and palm gardens of the Ansar,
and when the Banu Abd ibn Zuhrah said,
"Remove from us the son of Umm Abd (Ibn
Mas'ud)," replying, "Why then did Allah
send me. Allah does not bless a people
among whom a weak man is not given his
right."
Baghawi transmitted it in Sharh as-Sunnah.
Sunan at-Tirmidhi no.3003
The concept of justice is most important for
the Ruler, since he is in charge of his people
and the primary disposer of justice in the land.
For this reason, the Ruler is given special
mention as one of the seven who will be
honoured with Allaah's Shade.
2 'A youth who grew up in the
worship of Allaah...'
The great scholar, Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee
(d.131H) said, 'From the success of a
youth is that Allaah guides him to a
scholar of the Sunnah.'
Hasan - Reported in Sharh Usoolis-Sunnah of
al-Laalikaa'ee (no.30).
Indeed, it is a great blessing from Allaah for a
youth h be guided towards worship and be
befriended by the righteous, since it is in youth
that a person is most vulnerable to the
temptations of life and liable to drift away
from the Islaamic Path. This becomes
apparent when we look at society around us
and we see that most of the worldly
distractions, such as music, games, clubs,
fashion etc. are all specifically targeted at the
young. 'You're only young once!' they are
told, which is why many Muslims nowadays
waste their youth thinking that they will pray,
wear hijaab and go on Hajj, etc. when they
are old, as if they have a guarantee of
longevity from Allaah! How well we would do
to heed the Prophet's advice when he said:
'Take benefit of five before five: your
youth before your old age, your health
before your sickness, your wealth before
your poverty, your free time before you
are preoccupied and your life before your
death.'
Saheeh - Narrated by Ibn Abbaas &
collected in al-Haakim & others.
Authenticated by Shaykh 'Alee ibn 'Abdul
Hameed in Forty Hadeeth of the Call and the
Caller.
3. 'A man whose heart is attached to
the mosques...'
There is great encouragement in the Sunnah
for men to pray in the mosques and the
reward associated with it is tremendous [3].
Not only does it make the person eligible for
Allaah's Shade on the day of Judgement, but,
'he does not take a step [towards the
mosque except that because of it, he is
raised by one rank and one sin is
removed from him. Then when he prays,
the Angels do not cease supplicating for
him [for] as long as he remains at his
place of Prayer [sayings]: O Allaah send
blessings upon him, O Allaah have mercy
upon him...'
Narrated by Abu Hurairah & collected in
Saheeh al-Bukhari (eng. trans.) vol. 1 p.352
no.620).
It must be emphasised here however, that all
the Hadeeth encouraging the men to be
attached to the mosques are not intended to
lead one to the conclusion that Islaam is a
Religion which should be confined to the
mosques, as many people imagine.
Nonetheless, the mosque should be at the
heart of the Muslim community, and the role
of those in authority of the mosques is vital
here. They are the ones mainly responsible for
making the mosque a welcome refuge for the
Muslims, rather than an arena for politics and
power struggles as many seem to have
become these days. And we seek Allaah's
refuge from this!
4. 'Two men who love each other for
Allaah's sake, meeting for that and
parting upon that....'
Having mutual love for the sake of Allaah is
one of the great doors leading to the good of
the Hereafter and a cause of tasting the
sweetness of Eemaan in this world. Loving
one another for Allaah's sake means that the
Muslim does not love another except for the
correctness of his Deen. So it does not matter
what the person looks like, what he wears,
how rich or poor he is, where he comes from,
or what the colour of his skin is - perhaps you
dislike everything about him, but you love him
for his Eemaan: this is loving for Allaah's sake.
'Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent
says: 'Those who have mutual love for
the sake of My Glory will have pillars of
light and will be envied the Prophets and
martyrs.'
Saheeh - Collected in Sunan at-Tirmidhee &
Musnad Ahmad (5/336-7).
SubhanAllaah! Imagine being envied by
Allaah's chosen Messengers and those who
were slain in His Path! Such is the reward of
those who love one another for Allaah's sake.
5. 'A man who is called by a woman
of beauty and position but he says:
'I fear Allaah...'
This world is full of temptations which lead to
burning in the Fire and amongst them is that
which comes from women. Many a man has
led his soul into destruction on account of the
lure of a woman which is why the Prophet
warned his Ummah specifically about this. He
said, 'The world is sweet and green and
verily Allaah is going to install you as
successors upon it in order to see how
you act. So avoid the allurement of
women: verily the first trial for the
Children of Israa'eel was caused by
women.'
Narrated by Aboo Sa'eed al-Khudree &
collected in Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans.) vol.4,
p.1432, no.6606
The most important provision which we need
to protect ourselves from this and all other
temptations in life is the fear (khawf) of
Allaah. This fact is alluded to in the following
Qur'aanic Aayah:
'And as for him who feared standing
before his Lord and restrained himself
from impure evil desires, verily Paradise
will be his abode.' [Soorah an-
Naazi'aat (79):40 1].
6. 'A man who gives in charity and
hides it, such that his left hand does
not know what his right hand gives
in charity...'
This describes the type of person who goes to
great lengths to protect himself from ar-Riyaa.
Ar-Riyaa means to do deeds in order to earn
the praise and recognition of people. This sin
destroys all the benefits that lie in righteous
deeds and brings on a serious punishment for
the one who commits it. It is particularly
dangerous because it is in man's nature to
desire and enjoy the praise of others. Thus,
great care has to be token to ensure that
one's intentions begin and remain pure
whenever good actions (such as charity) are
being done. Not like what we see today
where we have mosque notice boards
announcing who gave what to whom, why and
when! Allaah warns: 'O you who believe!
Do not render vain your charity by
reminders of your generosity or by injury,
like him who spends his wealth to be seen
of men and he does not believe in Allaah
nor in the Last Day.'
[al-Baqarah (2):264].
May Allaah preserve us from this.
7. '...A man who remembered Allaah
in private and so his eyes shed
tears.'
Our noble Prophet informed us: 'If you
knew what l knew, you would laugh little
and weep much.'
Narrated by Aboo Hurairah and Anas &
collected in Saheeh al-Bukhari (eng. trans.)
vol.8, p.326-327, nos.492 and 493
Crying is not a
sissy' thing to do. The
Prophet, who was the best of all creation,
would weep as would all of his Companions.
Tears are a genuine expression of fear of
Allaah's Punishment and of our sincere love
and awe of Him. But how often do we
remember Allaah in seclusion and are then
moved to tears? How much do we laugh and
how little do we weep? The Prophet said,
'There is nothing more beloved to Allaah
than two drops and two marks: A tear
shed due to fear of Allaah, and a drop of
blood spilled in the path of Allaah. And as
for the two marks, then a mark caused in
the path of Allaah, and a mark caused by
fulfilling one of the duties made
obligatory by Allaah..
Hasan - collected by at-Tirmidhee and
al-Mishkaat (3837)
Alhamdulillaah, through these seven types of
people mentioned in the Hadeeth, we have
been given clear signposts of the way to attain
Allaah's pleasure and satisfaction. So dear
brothers and sisters in Eemaan, devote
yourself to being one amongst those seven, for
indeed fortunate will be those who are granted
Allaah's Shade on the Day when there will be
no shade but His.
