The Seven Under the Shade of Allaah Almighty

Seven Under the Shade of Allaah Almighty

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention) said: “There are seven whom Allaah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other only for Allaah's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called (for illicit sexual intercourse) by a woman of beauty and position, but who refuses by saying: 'I fear Allaah'; a man who gives in charity and hides it, to the extent that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembers Allaah in seclusion and whose eyes, therefore, shed tears." [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]



In this beautiful Hadeeth, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam spoke about small acts of worship that result in a huge reward: the Shade of the Throne of Allaah on the Day when there will be no shade except His.



This may not seem like much at first, but let us reflect upon the following Hadeeth: “On the Day of Resurrection, the sun will be commanded to descend so close to the people that there will be left (between it and them) a distance of only one mile. The people will (therefore) be submerged in perspiration, the level of which will correspond to their sins (or lack of deeds); some will be (submerged) up to their ankles, others to their knees, others to their waists, and some will have a bridle of perspiration (and, while saying this, the Messenger of Allaah put his hand towards his mouth).” [Muslim]


Let us now examine the characteristics and virtues of these seven categories of people who will be worthy of such an exalted position on the Day of Gathering.



1. A Just Ruler:



The concept of Justice in Islam is crucial and is something that the Muslim, whether the ruler or the ruled, must apply in all matters without exception. Justice means giving each the right he deserves whether Muslim or non-Muslim, relative or stranger, friend or enemy. Allaah says what means: "...And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness…" [Quran: 5:8]



Unfortunately, even if we acknowledge this in theory, we quickly forget it in practice. Therefore, we find that when we speak about our friends and loved ones, we praise them beyond reason and when we speak about those whom we have differences with, we fail to find any good in them and simply capitalise on their negative points.



The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "…Allaah does not bless a people among whom a weak man is not given his right." [At-Tirmithi]



The concept of justice is most important for the ruler, since he is in charge of his people and the primary disposer of justice in the land. For this reason, the just ruler is given special mention in the Hadeeth as one of the seven who will be honoured by the Shade of the Throne of Allaah.



2. A Youth Who Grew Up in the Worship of Allaah:


The great scholar Imaam Ayyoob As-Sakhtiyaanee, may Allaah have mercy upon him, stated: “From the success of a youth is that Allaah guides him to a scholar of the Sunnah.”



Indeed, it is a great blessing from Allaah for a youth to be guided towards worship and befriended by the righteous, since it is in youth that a person is most vulnerable to the temptations of life and liable to drift away from the Islamic Path. This becomes apparent when we look at the society around us and see that most of the worldly distractions, such as music, games, clubs, fashion, etc. all specifically target the young.



'You're only young once!' they are told, which is why many Muslims nowadays squander their youth thinking that they will pray, wear Hijaab and go on Hajj, etc. when they are old, as if they have a guarantee of longevity from Allaah! How well we would do to heed the advice of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam when he said: “Take benefit of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied and your life before your death.” [Al-Haakim & others]



3. A Man Whose Heart is Attached to the Mosque:



There is great encouragement in the Sunnah for men to pray in the mosques and the reward associated with it is tremendous. Not only does this practice make the person eligible for Allaah's Shade on the Day of Judgement, but also: "He does not take a step [towards the mosque] except that because of it, he is raised by one rank and one sin is removed from him. Then, when he prays, the angels do not cease supplicating for him as long as he remains at his place of Prayer (saying): 'O Allaah send blessings upon him; O Allaah have mercy upon him'..." [Al-Bukhaari]


It must be emphasised here, however, that all the Hadeeths that encourage men to be attached to the mosques are not intended to lead one to the conclusion that Islam is a religion that should be confined to the mosques, as many people imagine. On the contrary, the mosque should be at the heart of the Muslim community, and the role of those in authority of the mosques is vital here, for it is them who are chiefly responsible for making the mosque a welcome refuge for the Muslims.



4. Two Men Who Love Each Other Purely for Allaah's Sake, Meeting for that and Parting Upon that:



Having mutual love for the sake of Allaah is one of the great doors leading to the good of the Hereafter, and a cause of tasting the sweetness of faith in this world. Loving one another for Allaah's sake means that the Muslim does not love another except for the correctness of his religion, so it does not matter what the person looks like, what he wears, how rich or poor he is, where he comes from, or what the colour of his skin is; perhaps one may dislike everything about him, but he would still love him for his Eemaan (faith): this is loving for Allaah's sake. Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent says in a Hadeeth Qudsi (Sacred Hadeeth): "Those who have mutual love for the sake of My Glory will have pillars of light and will be envied by the Prophets and martyrs." [At-Tirmithi & Ahmad]



Imagine being envied by the chosen Messengers of Allaah and those who were slain in His Path! Such is the reward of those who love one another for Allaah's sake.



5. A Man Who is Called by a Woman of Beauty and Position for Illicit Sexual Intercourse but Declines, Saying: 'I Fear Allaah':



This world is full of temptations that lead to burning in the Fire and amongst them is that which comes from women. Many a man has led his soul into destruction on account of the lure of a woman, which is why the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam warned his Ummah (Nation) specifically about this temptation; he said: “The world is sweet and green, and indeed Allaah is going to install you as successors upon it in order to see how you act. So avoid the allurement of women; indeed the first trial for the Children of Israa'eel was that of women.” [Muslim]



The most important provision that we need in order to protect ourselves from this and all other temptations in life is the fear of Allaah. This fact is alluded to in the following verse, which means: “But as for he who feared standing before his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.” [Quran: 79:40]



6. A Man Who Gives in Charity and Hides It, to the Extent that his Left Hand Does Not Know What His Right Hand Gives in Charity:



This describes the type of person who goes to great lengths to protect himself from Riyaa' (ostentation and showing off in worship). Riyaa' means to perform deeds in order to earn the praise and recognition of people. This sin destroys all the benefits that lie in righteous deeds and brings on a serious punishment for the one who commits it. It is particularly dangerous because it is in man's nature to desire and enjoy the praise of others.



Thus, great care has to be taken to ensure that one's intentions begin and remain pure whenever good actions (such as charity) are being done. Allaah warns us by saying that which means: “O you who believe! Do not invalidate your charities with reminders [of it] or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allaah and the Last Day.” [Quran: 2:264]



7. A Man Who Remembers Allaah in Seclusion and Whose Eyes, Therefore, Shed Tears:



Our noble Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam informed us that: “If you knew what I knew, you would laugh little and weep much.” [Al-Bukhaari] Crying is not a sign of weakness; the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, who was the best of all creation, would weep, as would all of his Companions. Tears are a genuine expression of fear of Allaah's punishment and of our sincere love and awe of Him.



But how often do we remember Allaah in seclusion and are moved to tears? How much do we laugh and how little do we weep? The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "There is nothing more beloved to Allaah than two drops and two marks: A tear shed due to fear of Allaah, and a drop of blood spilled in the path of Allaah. As for the two marks, they are a mark caused (by fighting) in the path of Allaah, and a mark caused by fulfilling any of the duties made obligatory by Allaah." [At-Tirmithi]



Finally, through these seven types of people mentioned in the Hadeeth, we have been given clear signposts of the way to attain Allaah's pleasure and satisfaction. We should therefore devote ourselves to being one amongst those seven, for indeed fortunate will be those who are granted Allaah's Shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His.


Sources:

Saheeh Al-Bukhaari

An Article by Shaykh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid