PRIME PROPERTY

Have you ever longed to visit some place? Do you crave to spend time relaxing in a peaceful resort? Where and how would you like your home to be? Let me share with you, what I desire. My college was in the outskirts of the city and I used to start early to avoid traffic. While most of the passengers used this trip to catch up on sleep, I used to struggle to remain awake to catch a glimpse of a 5-star hotel on the way! This hotel sat majestically along the highway. The cream color building had glossy blue-green windows which reflected the sun’s rays. In contrast to its walls, it was crowned with a red roof, studded with green flowing creepers. I hoped that someday, I would enter this building as a professional to present a seminar. I never did.

Instead, after my nikkah (marriage), I shifted to a city where every building had similar glowing windows. I myself ended up living in one such building! Most of the tall buildings here were entirely covered in flawless glass. The tall buildings besides corniche reflected a shimmering sea. The raised coastal bank had beautiful lawns and well-maintained colorful flowers surrounding date trees, laden with fruit. The walls of adjacent buildings were entirely made of glass. I wondered how nice it would be to see the garden from these fine buildings with see-through walls. I expressed my desire to shift there in the future and left my hubby worried. J With time, I saw more beautiful buildings and gardens…

Now, I aim for something much higher. The buildings I have seen are no match for what I desire. I have to work hard and save for it. Insha’Allah, I aim to attain it. Trust me, the deal is in my best interest and there couldn’t be a better place to reside. I am working towards that which is best for me. Are you interested in living in a place far better than anything you have seen or heard or dreamt of? Would you care to invest in it? Have you guessed where it is? I am speaking about a house in Jannah (paradise).

We are travelers sent here to earn for a place in heaven. This trip of life sure seems long and there is plenty to keep us distracted. Yet, the trip will surely come to an end. I just hope we are not of those who ended up wasting their lives in worldly pleasures with nothing left to save us from the Fire, a wretched place with people there requesting for one more chance to do good! Indeed I need to be greedy for my own sake. Let’s accumulate good before it’s too late. And let’s aim high for the One who provides us with everything, the One who is the Most Generous and the Most Merciful. Insha’Allah, we will be pampered in heaven in a way far better than the services of worldly hotels. Indeed, there are gardens flowing with rivers of milk and honey! Most of us struggle to build a home in this world. It’s more befitting that we do something to ensure that Allah (SWT) blesses us with a home in heaven too. Here are some lucrative offers to build a home which is far better than our heart’s desire!!

Contribute towards Building a Masjid

Umar bin Khattab said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever builds a mosque in which the Name of Allah is mentioned, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Money spent on this does not qualify as zakat as per the majority opinion of scholars (however, it must be noted that there is an opinion allowing this). Yet, it is an easy way to ensure a home in Jannah for us! Not everyone has enough to finance an entire masjid! Even limited contribution would prove to be a wise investment. The following hadith also shows that nothing is belittled by Allah (SWT). Alhamdulillah.

The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, like a sparrow’s nest for Allah or even smaller, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Praying Nawaafil (Additional) Salah

Umm Habibah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If anyone prays in a day and a night twelve rak’ahs voluntarily (supererogatory prayer), a house will be built from him in Paradise on account of these (rak’ahs).” (Sunan Abi Dawud)

We work hard to earn extra in dunya. We are ready to sacrifice our free hours to save enough to purchase a better home here. Even our cars and clothes are custom designed. But, when it comes to salah we are satisfied with the bare minimum. Just 12 extra rakahs a day can serve as our savings for house in Jannah! A few extra nawaafil prayers at times of obligatory prayers could get us a custom designed home in Jannah. Allahu’akbar.

It was narrated that ‘Aishah (RA) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever persists in performing twelve Rak’ah from the Sunnah, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before the Zuhr, two Rak’ah after Zuhr, two Rak’ah after Maghrib, two Rak’ah after the ‘Isha’ and two Rak’ah before Fajr.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

 

Reciting Surat ul Ikhlaas

This is probably the easiest way to grab an abode in paradise. Reciting a surah which is equivalent to one-third of Quran has additional benefits.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Qul huwa Allaahu ahad ten times, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer).

Insha’Allah incorporating this into our lives should be easy.  How about reciting this surah in addition to other surahs in every rakat?

 

Adopt Good Manners

 

Where would you like to reside? While booking a flat in a gated community, we would prefer higher floors of a building located in the center of the community (close to the park/pool). With a little self-control and better manners, we can acquire a home in the best regions of Jannah too!

 

Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.” (Abu Dawud)

This requires fighting our ego and pride, even when we think we are right. But even then, it’s a small prize when compared to the reward we get in return!

 

Additional Tip: Dhikr!

Would you like to fill your Jannah with plants and treasures? Who wouldn’t? Well, Dhikr serves this purpose:

Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I met Ibrahim (ES) on the Night of Ascension (Al-Isra), and he said to me: ‘O Muhammad, convey my greetings to your Ummah, and tell them that Jannah has a vast plain of pure soil and sweet water. It is a plain levelled land. The plants grow there by uttering: Subhan-Allah, Al-hamdu lillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar (Allah is free from imperfection; praise be to Allah; there is no true god except Allah; and Allah is Greatest).’” (At- Tirmidhi)

Jabir (RA) reported that The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “For him who says: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bi hamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection, and I begin with praising Him, and to Him),’ a palm-tree will be planted in Jannah.” (At- Tirmidhi)

Abu Musa (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: “Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the treasures of Jannah?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” Thereupon he (ﷺ) said, “(Recite) ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ (There is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah).” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Through dhikr after salah, we can be assured that our Jannah is being covered with lush gardens and marvelous treasures! If we can train our tongue to praise Allah more often, we can have exotic gardens laden with treasures waiting for us to explore! Ahhhh! I can’t think of a better holiday! And, this will last for eternity!

 

Indeed, my sins are many and my Rabb’s favors on me are countless and they surpass what little I do to please Him. There is no way I could earn Jannah because of what I do,  He is the Most Merciful and I plead to Him to save me from torment of Hellfire and enter me into Jannat-ul-Firdous. Do not lose hope of Allah’s mercy. Allah is generous even towards one who would enter heaven last!

Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “I know of the last of the inhabitants of the Hell to be taken out from there and the last one to enter Jannah. He is a man who will come out of the Fire, crawling on all fours. Allah, the Rabb of glory and honour will say to him: ‘Go and enter Jannah.’ He will go to it and think that it is filled up. He will then come back and say: ‘O my Rabb, it is filled up.’ Allah will say to him: ‘Go and enter Jannah.’ He will again go to it and think that it is filled up. So he will turn back. Allah will again say: ‘Go and enter Jannah. For you have what is equal to ten times the world.’ He will say: ‘Are You making fun of me while You are the King?” At this I (i.e., the narrator) saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laugh till his premolars were visible and he said, “Such man will be the last dweller of Jannah in its lowest rank.”  (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Subahan’Allah, Allah (SWT) will most certainly bless us with bounty beyond our wildest imagination in Jannah. So why should I long for trivial things on earth. Indeed, we should aim and work for that which is everlasting and most profitable. I hope you too are greedy to acquire a notable property in Jannah. Let us be patient here; let us open our heart to Allah – There is no speck of doubt that Allah is happy to hear our plea, and He is the only One who can satisfy our desires! But, don’t forget to get the right entry pass to Jannah. With wrong aqeedah, our dream of Jannah is nothing more than an illusion.  So stick to Tawheed!

Mu`âdh bin Jabal (RA) relates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: “O Mu`âdh! Do you know what is Allah’s right over His servants and what their right is over Him?” I said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said: “Allah’s right over His servants is that they worship Him without associating any partner with Him in worship, and their right over Him is that He does not punish anyone who worships Him without associating any partner with Him in worship.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Insha’Allah soon (if we remain righteous) in Heaven, we will enjoy the company of the righteous and praise Allah who took us into His mercy. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.” And they will say: “All the praises and thanks are to Allâh Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the (pious good) workers!”  

(Al Qur’an; Chapter 39: Verse 73-74)

I hope you are convinced that no sacrifice is too great when it comes to fetching an everlasting home in Jannah, where even a twig is better than the entire world! Still, the things I mentioned are nothing in comparision to the best blessing of Jannah. Yes, there is more! Insha Allah, we will get to see Allah (SWT) without any barrier. Subahan Allah. Let us work and pray for the best:

رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِنْدَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ

“My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise.”

(Al Quran; Chapter 66: Verse 11)

Aameen.

Pre published in  Hidayahmagazine