“Allah will spare whoever says this four times in the morning or evening from the fire of Hell “
“O Allah, I have entered a new morning 1 and call upon You and upon the bearers of Your Throne, upon Your angels and all creation to bear witness that surely You are Allah, there is none worthy of worship but You alone, You have no partners, and that Muhammad is Your slave and Your Messenger”
Allaahumma ‘innee ‘asbahtu ‘ush-hiduka wa ‘ush-hidu hamalata ‘arshika, wa malaa’ikataka wajamee’a khalqika, ‘annaka ‘Antallaahu laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa ‘Anta wahdaka laa shareeka laka, wa ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduka wa Rasooluka
1 When you say this in the evening you should say, Allaahumma ‘innee ‘amsaytu….: “O Allah, I have ended another day…”
Abu Dawud 4/317. It was also reported by Al-Bukhari in Al-‘Adab Al-Mufrad, An-Nasa’i in ‘Amalul-Yawm wal-Laylah and Ibn As-Sunni. Nasa’i’s and Abu Dawud’s chains of transmission are good (Hasan)
“We have entered a new day 1 and with it all dominion is Allah’s. Praise is to Allah. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. To Allah belongs the dominion, and to Him is the praise and He is Able to do all things.
My Lord, I ask You for the goodness of this day and of the days that come after it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this day and of the days that come after it. 2
My Lord, I seek refuge in You from laziness and helpless old age. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell-fire, and from the punishment of the grave. “
Transliteration:‘Asbahnaa wa ‘asbahal-mulku lillaahi walhamdu lillaahi, laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa Huwa ‘alaa kutti shay’in Qadeer. Rabbi ‘as’aluka khayra maa fee haathal-yawmi wa khayra maa ba’dahu wa ‘a’oothu bika min sharri maa fee haathal-yawmi wa sharri maa ba’dahu, Rabbi ‘a’oothu bika minal-kasali, wa soo’il-kibari, Rabbi ‘a’oothu bika min ‘athaabin fin-naari wa ‘athaabin fil-qabr
1 When you say this in the evening you should say ‘Amsaynaa wa’amsal-mulku lillaah: “We have ended another day and with it all dominion is Allah’s.
2 When you say this in the evening you should say: Rabbi ‘as’aluka khayra maa fee haathihil-laylati, wa khayra maa ba’dahaa, wa ‘a’oothu bika min sharri maa fee haathihil-laylati wa sharri maa ba’dahaa: “I ask You for the good things of this night and of the nights that come after it and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this night and of the nights that come after it.”
Story of Shu`ayb, upon him be Peace, and the Land of Madyan
Muhammad bin Ishaq said, “They (the people of Madyan) are the descendents of Madyan, son of Midyan, son of Ibrahim. Shu`ayb was the son of Mikil bin Yashjur. And in the Syrian language, his name was Yathrun (Jethro)”.
Madyan was the name of the tribe and also a city that is close to Ma`an on route to the Hijaz (from Ash-Sham).
Allah says : ”And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu’ayb. He said, “O my people, worship Allah ; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers.” (7:85)
However, (88. The chiefs of those who were arrogant among his people said: “We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu`ayb and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion.” He said: “Even though we hate it”)
(89. “We should have invented a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion, after Allah has rescued us from it. And it is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will. Our Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. In Allah (Alone) we put our trust. Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the best of those who give judgment.”)
This part of the Ayah refers all matters to Allah’s will, and certainly, He has perfect knowledge of all matters and His observation encompasses all things,
(In Allah (Alone) we put our trust. ), concerning all our affairs, what we practice of them and what we ignore,
(Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth) judge between us and our people and give us victory over them,
(for You are the best of those who give judgment) and You are the Most Just Who never wrongs any in His judgment.
(90. The chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said (to their people): “If you follow Shu`ayb, be sure then you will be the losers!”) (91. So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes.) (92. Those who belied Shu`ayb, became as if they had never dwelt there (in their homes). Those who belied Shu`ayb, they were the losers.)
(83. And (remember) Ayyub, when he cried to his Lord: “Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy.”) (84. So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him, and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all those who worship Us.)
Allah tells us about Ayyub Alaihissalaam and the trials that struck him
He had plenty of livestock, cattle and crops, many children and beautiful houses, and he was tested in these things, losing every thing he had. Then he was tested with regard to his body, and he was left alone on the edge of the city and there was no one who treated him with compassion apart from his wife, who took care of him. It was said that it reached the stage where she was in need, so she started to serve people (to earn money) for his sake.
The Prophet (Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam) said:
(The people who are tested the most severely are the Prophets, then the righteous, then the next best and the next best).
According to another Hadith:
(A man will be tested according to his level of religious commitment; the stronger his religious commitment, the more severe will be his test.)
The Prophet of Allah, Ayyub, upon him be peace, had the utmost patience, and he is the best example of that. Yazid bin Maysarah said: “When Allah tested Ayyub, upon him be peace, with the loss of his family, wealth and children, and he had nothing left, he started to focus upon the remembrance of Allah, and he said: `I praise You, the Lord of lords, Who bestowed His kindness upon me and gave me wealth and children, and there was no corner of my heart that was not filled with attachment to these worldly things, then You took all of that away from me and You emptied my heart, and there is nothing to stand between me and You. If my enemy Iblis knew of this, he would be jealous of me. ‘ When Iblis heard of this, he became upset.
And Ayyub, upon him be peace, said: `O Lord, You gave me wealth and children, and there was no one standing at my door complaining of some wrong I had done to him. You know that. I used to have a bed prepared for me, but I forsook it and said to myself: You were not created to lie on a comfortable bed. I only forsook that for Your sake.”’ This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Abu Hurayrah (Radi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam) said:
(When Allah healed Ayyub Alaihissalaam, He sent upon him a shower of golden locusts, and he started to pick them up and gather them in his garment. It was said to him, “O Ayyub, have you not had enough” He said, “O Lord, who can ever have enough of Your mercy)
Mujahid said: “It was said to him, `O Ayyub, your family will be with you in Paradise; if you want, We will bring them back to you, or if you want, We will leave them for you in Paradise and will compensate you with others like them.’ He said, `No, leave them for me in Paradise.’ So they were left for him in Paradise, and he was compensated with others like them in this world.”
Allah did that to him as a mercy from Allah towards him and made him an example lest those who are beset by trials think that Allah does that to them because He do not care for them, so that they may take him as an example of patience in accepting the decrees of Allah and bearing the trials with which He tests His servants as He wills.’ And Allah has the utmost wisdom with regard to that.
When Musa Alaihissalaam reached Madyan and went to drink from its water, for it had a well where shepherds used to water their flocks,he found there a group of men watering, and besides them he found two women who were keeping back. They were stopping their sheep from drinking with the sheep of those shepherds, lest some harm come to them.
When Musa Alaihissalaam , peace be upon him, saw them, he felt sorry for them and took pity on them.
(He said: “What is the matter with you”) meaning, `why do you not water your flocks with these people’
They said: “We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take (their flocks). meaning, `we cannot water our flocks until they finish.’
(And our father is a very old man.) means, `this is what has driven us to what you see.’
(24. So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: “My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!”)
Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and As-Suddi said: “He sat beneath a tree.” `
Ata’ bin As-Sa’ib said: When Musa Alaihissalaam said this dua,the women heard him.
(25. Then there came to him one of them, walking shyly. She said: “Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us.” So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: “Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are wrongdoers.”) (26. And said one of them (the two women): “O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.”)
One of the two daughters of the man said this, and it was said that she was the one who had walked behind Musa Alaihissalaam , peace be upon him.
Her father said to her, `What do you know about that’ She said to him, `He lifted a rock which could only be lifted by ten men, and when I came back with him, I walked ahead of him, but he said to me, walk behind me, and if I get confused about the route, throw a pebble so that I will know which way to go.”’ `Abdullah (Ibn Mas`ud) said, “The people who had the most discernment were three: Abu Bakr’s intuition about `Umar; the companion of Yusuf Alaihissalaam when he said, `Make his stay comfortable’; and the companion of Musa Alaihissalaam , when she said:
(O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.).”
(27. He said: “I intend to wed one of these two daughters of mine to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, it will be (a favor) from you. But I intend not to place you under a difficulty. If Allah wills, you will find me one of the righteous.”) (28. He (Musa Alaihissalaam ) said: “That (is settled) between me and you: whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there will be no injustice to me, and Allah is Surety over what we say.”)
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ali bin Rabah Al-Lakhmi said, “I heard `Utbah bin An-Nadar As-Sulami, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah narrating that the Messenger of Allah said:
(Musa Alaihissalaam , peace be upon him, hired himself out for the purpose of keeping chaste and to feed himself.)
”My Lord, Creator of the heavens and the earth!You are my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”
This is the invocation of Yusuf Alaihissalaam, the truthful one, to his Lord the Exalted and Most Honored. He invoked Allah after His favor was complete on him by being reunited with his parents and brothers, after He had bestowed on him prophethood and kingship. He begged his Lord, the Exalted and Ever High, that as He has perfected His bounty on him in this life, to continue it until the Hereafter. He begged Him that, when he dies, he dies as a Muslim, as Ad-Dahhak said, and to join him with the ranks of the righteous, with his brethren the Prophets and Messengers, may Allah’s peace and blessings be on them all. It is possible that Yusuf, peace be upon him, said this supplication while dying.
In the Two Sahihs it is recorded that `A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that while dying, the Messenger of Allah was raising his finger and said – thrice,
(O Allah to Ar-Rafiq Al-A`la ﴿the uppermost, highest company in heaven﴾.)
It is also possible that long before he died, Yusuf Alaihissalaam begged Allah to die as a Muslim and be joined with the ranks of the righteous.
(128. Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers ﴿he is﴾ full of pity, kind, and merciful.) (129. But if they turn away, say: “Allah is sufficient for me. There is no God but He, in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.”)
Allah the Exalted commanded His Messenger in this honorable Ayah that if they turn away, from the glorious, pure, perfect and encompassing Law that you — O Muhammad — brought them,
(then say: “Allah is sufficient for me. There is no God but He,)
Similarly, Allah said,
((He alone is) the Lord of the east and the west; there is no God but He. So take Him alone as a guardian.) ﴿73:9
(and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne) ﴿9:129﴾. He is the King and Creator of all things, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (`Arsh), which is above all creation; all that is in and between the heavens and earths is under the Throne (`Arsh) and subservient to Allah’s power. His knowledge encompasses all things, and His decision will certainly come to pass over all matters. He is the guardian of all things. Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that Ubayy bin Ka`b said, “The last Ayah revealed from the Qur’an was this Ayah.
“Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded; for those of them who did good deeds and feared Allah, there is a great reward. Those to whom the people said, “Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.” But it (only) increased them in faith, and they said: “Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.”. So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty. It is only Shaytan that suggests to you the fear of his friends; so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are indeed believers.” (3:172-175)
The Battle of Hamra’ Al-Asad
Allah said,
“Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger after being wounded” (3:172)
This occurred on the day of Hamra’ Al-Asad. After the idolators defeated the Muslims (at Uhud), they started on their way back home, but soon they were concerned because they did not finish off the Muslims in Al-Madinah, so they set out to make that battle the final one. When the Messenger of Allah Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam got news of this, he commanded the Muslims to march to meet the disbelievers, to bring fear to their hearts and to demonstrate that the Muslims still had the strength to fight. The Prophet Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam only allowed those who were present during Uhud to accompany him, except for Jabir bin `Abdullah Al-Ansar.
The Muslims mobilized, even though they were still suffering from their injuries, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam .
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ikrimah said, “When the idolators returned (towards Makkah) after Uhud, they said, `You neither killed Muhammad Peace be upon him) nor collected female captives. Woe to you for what you did. Let us go back.’ When the Messenger of Allah Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam heard this news, he mobilized the Muslim forces, and they marched until they reached Hamra Al-Asad. The idolators said, `Rather, we will meet next year’, and the Messenger of Allah Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam went back (to Al-Madinah), and this was considered a Ghazwah (battle).
Allah sent down,
Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger said: “Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.”
Some people threatened the Muslims, saying that the disbelievers had amassed against them, in order to instill fear in them, but this did not worry the Muslims, rather, they trusted in Allah and sought His help,
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas Radi Allahu anhu said,
“Allah Alone is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us.”
Ibrahim Alaihissalaam said it when he was thrown in fire.
Muhammad Sallal laahoo alahi wassallam said it when the people said, `Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.’ But it only increased them in faith, and they said this.
So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them, for when they relied on Allah, Allah took care of their worries. He confounded the plots of their enemies, and the Muslims returned to their land, with grace and bounty from Allah, safe from the wicked plots of their enemies.
Allah then said,
“It is only Shaytan that suggests to you the fear of his friends” )3:175(
This means, Shaytan threatens you with his friends and tries to pretend they are powerful and fearsome.
Allah said next,
“So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are indeed believers.” meaning, if Shaytan brings these thoughts to you, then depend on Me and seek refuge with Me. Indeed, I shall suffice you and make you prevail over them.
Similarly, Allah said,
“Is not Allah Sufficient for His servant, yet they try to frighten you with those besides Him” (39: 36) until [Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust must put their trust.” (39:38)
O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, “Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”
Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak and Al-Hasan Al-Basri and other said, “This is the statement that the believers will say on the Day of Resurrection, when they witness the light of the hypocrites being extinguished.” Imam Ahmad recorded that a man from the tribe of Banu Kinanah said, “I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah during the year of the Conquest (of Makkah), and heard him say,
(O Allah! Please, do not disgrace me on the Day of Resurrection.)”
” (9. Do you think that the people of Al-Kahf and Ar-Raqim were a wonder among Our signs) (10. When the young men fled for refuge to Al-Kahf. They said: “Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!”) (11. Therefore, We covered up their hearing in Al-Kahf for a number of years.) (12. Then We raised them up, that We might test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period they tarried.)
Al-Kahf refers to a cave in a mountain, which is where the young men sought refuge. With regard to the word Ar-Raqim, Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas that it is a valley near Aylah.
Ad-Dahhak said: “As for Al-Kahf, it is a cave in the valley, and Ar-Raqim is the name of the valley.”
Here Allah tells us about those young men who fled from their people for the sake of their religion, fearing persecution. So they fled taking refuge in the cave of a mountain, where they hid from their people.
Allah states that they were boys or young men, and that they were more accepting of the truth and more guided than the elders who had become stubbornly set in their ways and clung to the religion of falsehood. For the same reason, most of those who responded to Allah and His Messenger were young people. As for the elders of Quraysh, most of them kept to their religion and only a few of them became Muslims. So Allah tells us that the people of the cave were young men.
It has been mentioned that they were followers of the religion of Al-Masih `Isa, `Isa bin Maryam, but Allah knows best. It seems that they lived before the time of Christianity altogether, because if they had been Christians, the Jewish rabbis would not have cared about perserving because of their differences. We have mentioned above the report from Ibn `Abbas that the Quraysh sent a message to the Jewish rabbis in Al-Madinah to ask them for things with which they could test the Messenger of Allah , and they told them to ask him about these young men, and about Dhul-Qarnayn (the man who traveled much) and about the Ruh. This indicates that this story was something recorded in the books of the People of the Book, and that it came before Christianity. And Allah knows best.
Allah says: `We gave them the patience to go against their people and their city, and to leave behind the life of luxury and ease that they had been living.’ Several of the earlier and later Tafsir scholars have mentioned that they were sons of the kings and leaders of Byzantium, and that they went out one day to one of the festivals of their people. They used to gather once a year outside the city, and they would worship idols and offer sacrifices to them. They had an arrogant, tyrannical king who was called Decianus, who commanded and encouraged the people to do that. When the people went out to attend this gathering, these young men went out with their fathers and their people, and when they saw their people’s actions with clear insight, they realized that the prostrations and sacrifices the people were offering to their idols should only be dedicated to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth. Each of them started to withdraw from his people and keep aloof from them. The first one of them to move away on his own went and sat in the shade of a tree, then another came and sat with him, then another came and sat with them, then four more followed suit one by one. None of them knew the others, but they were brought together by the One Who instilled faith in their hearts.
As it says in the Hadith recorded by Al-Bukhari with an incomplete chain of narrators from `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the Messenger of Allah Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam said:
(Souls are like recruited soldiers. Those that recognize one another will come together, and those that do not recognize one another will turn away from each another). Muslim also recorded this in his Sahih from the Hadith of Suhayl from his father from Abu Hurayrah from the Messenger of Allah Sallal laahoo alaihi wassallam . People say that similar qualities or characteristics are what bring people together. So each of the young men was trying to conceal what he really believed from the others, out of fear of them, not knowing that they were like him. Then one of them said, “O people, you know by Allah that only one thing is making you leave your people and isolate yourselves from them, so let each one of you say what it is in his case.” Another said, “As for me, by Allah I saw what my people are doing and I realized that it was false, and that the only One Who deserves to be worshipped Alone with out partner or associate is Allah Who created everything, the heavens, the earth and everything in between.” Another said, “By Allah, the same thing happened to me.” The others said the same, and they all agreed and became brothers in faith. They adopted a particular location as a place of worship and began worshipping Allah there, but their people found out about them and told their king about them. The king ordered them to appear before him, and asked them about their beliefs. They told him the truth and called him to Allah
It was said that when they called their king to believe in Allah, he refused, and warned and threatened them. He commanded them to be stripped of their clothing bearing the adornments of their people, then he gave them some time to think about the situation, hoping that they would return to their former religion. This was a way that Allah showed kindness for them, because during that time they managed to escape from him and flee from persecution for the sake of their religion. This is what is prescribed in the Shari`ah during times of trial and persecution — a person who fears for his religion should flee from his persecutors
These young men were determined to flee from their people, and Allah decreed that for them.
So they left and fled to the cave where they sought refuge. Then their people noticed they were missing, and the king looked for them, and it was said when he could not find them that Allah concealed them from him so that he could not find any trace of them or any information about them, as Allah concealed His Prophet Muhammad and his Companion ﴿Abu Bakr﴾ As-Siddiq, when they sought refuge in the cave of Thawr.
When they entered the cave, they asked Allah to show mercy and kindness towards them,
(Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself,) meaning, `give us Your mercy and conceal us from our people.’
(and facilitate for us our affair in the right way.) means, direct our matter well, i.e., grant us a good end.
As was reported in the Hadith:
(Whatever You have decreed for us, make its consequences good).
Allah says in the Holy Quran:-
(Therefore, We covered up their hearing in the cave for a number of years.) meaning, `We caused them to sleep when they entered the cave, and they slept for many years.’
That is from the Ayat of Allah. He whom Allah guides, he is the rightly-guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no guardian to lead him.)
