5.2, The Struggle

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Aisha (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) would stand (in prayer) so long that the skin of his feet would crack. I asked him, “Why do you do this while your past and future sins have been forgiven?” He said, “Should I not be a grateful slave of Allah?” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The more one is blessed by Allah; whether it be health, wealth, free time or knowledge, the greater the gratitude to Allah should be. The best form of showing this gratitude is to not only be highly obedient and dutiful of the obligations but also to add maximum voluntary prayers to them.

The Prophet (SAW) said, “Jannah (Paradise) is nearer to any one of you than your shoe-lace, and so is the (Hell) fire.” (Al-Buhkari)

Why is this? Because going to Paradise or Hell is the result of our own actions, and so both Paradise and Hell are close to each of us and the result of our own choosing.

Rabi’ah bin Ka’b Al-Aslami (RA) (a servant of the Messenger of Allah) said: I used to spend my night in the company of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and used to put up water for his ablutions. One day he (SAW) said to me, “Ask something of me.” I said, “I request for your companionship in Jannah.” He inquired, “Is there anything else?” I said, “That is all.” He (SAW) said, “Then help me in your request by multiplying your prostrations.” (Muslim)

This Hadith shows the importance of good actions and faithful following of the practice of the Prophet (SAW). In the absence of these two things (good actions and faithful following), even those people who used to be with the Prophet (SAW) frequently will not necessarily be close to him in the Hereafter.

Thauban (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying, “Perform Salah more often. For every prostration that you perform before Allah, Allah will raise your position one degree and will remit one of your sins.” (Muslim)

What does an abundance of prostrations imply? It implies a strict observance of the Salah and performing of obligatory, optional and voluntary prayers. It is a means for atonement of sins and the elevation of one’s status in this life and the Hereafter. And if we think about it for a second, it is amazing; our falling down in humility, which is what prostration is, is the source of our being raised in ranks of honour.

Lastly, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Three things follow a dead body: members of his family, his possession and his deeds. Two of them return and one remains with him. His family and his possessions return; his deeds remain with him.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

This Hadith induces us to perform those deeds which we will like to remain with us in our graves, wherein we will have no other companion other than the deeds that we sent forth for ourselves. Such deeds will become the means of our refuge and salvation.