Preparation for Returning to Allah

by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani

Translated by Shaykh Zaid Shakir

Ibn Abbas, radiyallahu anh - may Allah be well pleased with him, said that the Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wa sallam - peace and blessings upon his noble soul, said one day to Iblees from whom we seek refuge to Allah: "How many of your beloved are from my Ummah?"

He (Iblees) said: "Ten groups: The tyrannical leader; the arrogant; the wealthy one who is not concerned about how he earns his wealth, nor how he spends it; a religious scholar who supports the leader in his tyranny; the treacherous trader (in business); the one who monopolizes a commodity in order to drive up the price; the adulterer; the one who deals in interest; the miser who doesn't care from where he has accumulated his wealth; and the drunkard." Then he, peace and blessings upon his noble soul, said: "How many enemies do you have from my Ummah?"

He (Iblees) said: "Twenty groups: You Muhammad...I hate you*; the scholar who acts on his knowledge; the memorizer of Quran if he acts on what is in it; the one who calls for the five prayers and he loves the poor, downtrodden and the orphans; the one possessing a merciful heart; the one who humbles himself before the truth; a young person who grows up obeying Allah; the one who eats the halaal; two young people who love each other for the sake of Allah; the one who strives to make prayer in congregation; the one who prays at night while the people are asleep; the one who holds himself back from haraam; the one who gives sincere advise to the Muslim brothers with no ulterior motive; the one who remains in a constant state of wudu'u; the generous one; the one possessing good character; the one who confirms the truth of what Allah has guaranteed him; the one who does good to chaste widows; and the one who prepares for death."

Wahb bin Munabbah, may Allah bless his soul said: "The one who prepares for death while in the world becomes the beloved of Allah on the Day of Resurrection, and the one who leaves off becoming angry becomes near to Allah; the one who leaves off love of life becomes safe from the punishment of Allah on the Day of Resurrection; the one who leaves off jealousy becomes praiseworthy before humanity on the Day of Resurrection; the one who leaves off love of leadership becomes honorable with the Compelling King on the Day of Resurrection; the one who leaves off overindulgence in the world becomes well-provided for in the company of the righteous; the one who leaves off disputing in the world becomes amongst the victorious in the Day or Resurrection; the one who leaves off miserliness in the world becomes mentioned before all of humanity on the Day of Resurrection; the one who leaves off relaxation in the world becomes happy on the Day of Resurrection; the one who leaves off engaging in the haraam in the world becomes in the company of the truly wealthy on the Day of Resurrection; the one who leaves off looking at the haraam in the world, Allah will delight his eyes in Jannah/heaven on the Day of Resurrection; the one who leaves off wealth and chooses poverty in the world, Allah will raise him up on the Day of Resurrection along with the befriended (of Allah) and the Prophets, peace be upon them all. Whoever relieves the needs of the people in the world, Allah will relieve his needs in this world and the next. The one who wants to be entertained in the grave then let him rise up in the darkness of the night and pray; the one who wants to be in the Shade of the Throne of the Merciful let him turn away from the world; the one who wants to have an easy accounting before Allah, let him be a sincere advisor to himself and his brothers; the one who wants the angels to visit him let him be pious; the one who wants to dwell in the middle of Jannah let him remember Allah by night and day; the one who wants to enter Jannah without any accounting let him repent sincerely to Allah; the one who wants to be wealthy let him be pleased with what Allah has proportioned out for him; the one who wants to understand deen/religion with Allah, let him be lowly; the one who wants to be wise, let him be knowledgeable; the one who wants to be safe from, people let him mention no one except in good words; and let the person consider: from what was he created and why was he created? The one who wants majesty in the world, let him choose the Hereafter over the world; the one who wants Firdaus (the highest ground of Jannah) and Na'eem (the unimaginable bliss of Jannah) which will never cease, let him not squander his life in the corruption of the world; and whoever wants Paradise in the world and in the Hereafter he must be generous, for generosity is close to Paradise and far from the Hellfire; and one who wants his heart to be illuminated with a perfect light must be consumed with reflection and contemplation; the one who wants a patient body, a tongue constantly remembering Allah, and a humble heart, he must be constantly seeking forgiveness for the believing Muslim men and women."

And the last of our prayers in that all praise is for Allah.

Notes:

*On another occasion Satan was asked, "Who's your greatest enemy?" he replied, "My first enemy is Muhammad; I don't hate anyone as much as I do hate him'."