BismiLlah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim
Mu’adh bin Jabal radhi Allahu ‘anhu asked the Prophet sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam “O’ Messenger of Allah, what is the best deed?” Prophet sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam said, “The best deeds are that you love only for the sake of Allah and dislike only for the sake of Allah. You engage your tongue in the remembrance of Allah.” So the companion asked, “What else, O’ Messenger of Allah, is the best deed?” He sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam said, “What you desire for yourself, you desire for other people and what you dislike for yourself you dislike for other people and you say something good otherwise remain silent.” [1]
Lessons to be learnt:
1) The concern of Companion radhi Allahu ‘anhu is shown by the question he asked RasuluLlah sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam
2) Loving for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala brings in many benefits to a person:
a) Allah will shade him/her on the Day of Judgement
b) He/she tastes the sweetness of Iman
c) He/she will be on high seats of light on the day of Judgement
d) All of his/her sins will be forgiven by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala
e) Allah will love that person
(all are mentioned in sahih/hasan ahadith of Prophet sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam)
3) Also loving for the sake of Allah means that a believer is abiding by the covenant he has made with his Creator which if he hadn’t done, he would have been a faasiq
4) Disliking for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala means disapproving or opposing what Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala does not like. For example, committing a sin must be an act of disapproval for a Muslim because it is what Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala dislikes.
5) Engaging one’s tongue in the remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is one of the easiest acts a Muslim can do. It does not require a person to do wudhu but if someone is in major impurity (i.e. he/she is junub) then a ghusl (bath) is a prerequisite to do dhikr. Nor does it require a specific place or any type of action. A person can do dhikr anywhere except places that are filled with najas (impurity).
6) We can also understand the thirst which the Sahabah radhi Allahu ‘anhum had for gaining knowledge that the scholar of this ummah Mu’adh bin Jabal radhi Allahu ‘anhu once again asked the same question to get more pearls and gems from the Prophet sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam
7) The Prophet sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam is commanding Mu’adh radhi Allahu ‘anhu and all the Muslims that we must be just with all the people by desiring and disliking for oneself what one would desire or dislike for others.
8) Being just for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala in this way instigates love between the two people for His sake only and thus they get the reward of the people who love each other for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala’s sake too.
9) Saying something good otherwise keeping silent is a quality of the one who believes in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and the Last Day as mentioned in a hadith narrate by Abu Hurairah radhi Allahu ‘anhu that Prophet sAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam said, “… Whoever believes in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and Last Day should speak good or remain silent.”[2]
10) This way of dealing in one’s speech saves him/her from saying something that might result in displeasure of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and finally going to Jahnnam
And indeed, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.
References:
[1] Al-Musnad al-Imam Ahmad
[2] Sahih al-Bukhari
said, “Yes!’ Then the man left saying, ‘O’ my sins!’ The Prophet of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم then said, ‘That man has believed (i.e. has true Imaan).’” [Chain of narration is Muttasil and it’s men are trustworthy, Az-Zuhd war-Raqaa’iq/80]
