Beneficial Habits

The Superiority of the Hereafter

All praise is due to Allah The Exalted, and may Allah raise the rank of our beloved Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, his kind relatives and companions, and protect his nation from that which he feared for them thereafter;

The prophet peace be upon him said what means: 

 “Shall I not direct you to what is more beneficial for you than having a servant?”

قال الله تعالى : < وَالآَخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى> الأعلى:17

Ayah 17 Surat Al-A^la means: {The Hereafter is more beneficial and everlasting}.

There is no doubt and no question about the rewards in the hereafter being magnificent and everlasting. This means that the pleasures of Paradise are superior in quality and quantity and longer lasting than the pleasures of this world. Also undoubted is the fact that the one who is clever and intelligent will discipline one’s self and work towards gaining the pleasures of life after death, applying the traditions of goodness urged by the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him. 

This ayah serves as a guiding principle. Worldly pleasures are fleeting and temporary, but the rewards of the Hereafter are magnificent, superior, and last forever. The truly wise person is the one who understands this reality and dedicates efforts not to chasing temporary luxuries, but to accumulating spiritual wealth that will benefit them forever. This understanding is the foundation of piety.

The Prophet’s Guidance

This profound truth is beautifully illustrated in the story of Fatimah, the beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. When her hands were calloused from the strenuous work of grinding wheat and kneading dough, she sought a servant to ease her burden. 

فعَنْ سيدنا عَلِيٍّ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ السيدة فَاطِمَةَ رضي الله عنها شَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أثر الرَّحَى فِي يَدِهَا ( ففي الماضي كانوا يطحنون ويعجنون في البيوت ليس كاليوم ) فَأَتَتْ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْأَلُهُ خَادِمًا فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِعَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ، قَالَ علي: فَجَاءَنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْتُ أَقُومُ فَقَالَ: “مَكَانَكَ” فَجَلَسَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَقَالَ: ” أَلا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ ؟ ( أي جاريةٍ لأن لفظ الخادم يطلق على الذكر والانثى ) أَلا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ ؟ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا فَسَبِّحَا ثَلاثًا وَثَلاثِينَ وَاحْمَدَا ثَلاثًا وَثَلاثِينَ وكَبِّرَا أربعا وَثَلاثِينَ فَهَو خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ. رواه البخاري ومسلم والبيهقي.

It was related that our master ^Aliyy, may Allah reward him greatly said:

“Fatima complained about the unpleasant traces that making dough and kneading it had left on her hands, so she went to the Messenger of Allah asking him for permission to obtain a servant, but she did not find him home.

She mentioned her problem to Lady ^A’ishah (may Allah raise her rank) who then mentioned it to the Prophet when he returned home. The Prophet then came to ^Aliyy’s house and said: “Shall I not direct you to what is more beneficial for you than having a servant? Every night you go to bed recite 33 times the phrase-‘Subhanallah’ (i.e. ‘Allah is Exalted and clear of imperfection’), 33 times – ‘Al-Hamdu lillah’ (i.e. ‘All praise is due to Allah) and 34 times – ‘Allahu Akbar’ (i.e. Allah is the Greatest). This will be more beneficial for you than having a servant.” (Related by Al-Bukhariyy, Muslim and Al-Bayhaqiyy).

The servant is a worldly benefit, but to praise and glorify Allah in the manner described will bring the person a greater and everlasting benefit in the Hereafter, evidenced in the meaning of the previously mentioned Ayah of the Qur’an 

Some scholars explained in context of this hadith that by virtue of these habitual recitations, Fatimah will experience more capable of fulfilling these tasks more efficiently than a servant.

Allah has the Power over everything. Absolutely nothing incapacitates Him. Isn’t it related as a fact that the righteous steadfast Muslim will not feel hunger when the sedition of famine will spread during the time of Ad-Dajjal? Yes, it is. So, there is no doubt in the truthfulness of the directive of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah raise his rank.

The Virtues of Night Prayer

This spiritual discipline extends to all aspects of life, particularly within the home. A family that supports one another in acts of worship is truly blessed. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasised the great reward for those who encourage each other to perform the night prayer.

It is indeed proper and timely for both the husband and wife to aid one another in acts of obedience like awaking for night prayers

. قَالَ رَسولُ الله صَلَّى الله عليهِ وسلَّم :” قالت أمُّ سليمانَ بنِ داودَ لسليمانَ: يا بُنَيَّ، لا تُكْثِرِ النومَ بالليل، فإنَّ كثرةَ النومِ بالليل تتركُ الإنسانَ فقيًرا يومَ القيامة “رواه النسائي وابن ماجه والبيهقي.

“The mother of Sulayman Ibn Dawud said to Sulayman, ‘O son, do not sleep for long hours at night as sleeping for long hours at night leaves the person poor on the Day of Judgement” (Related by An-Nasa’iy, Ibn Majah and Al-Bayhaqiyy). This was narrated by Al Bayhaqiyy.

Despite the fact that Prophet Sulayman was not one who used to sleep for long hours at night, his mother still reminded him of the better deed. So, wake up at night and awaken your family to perform prayers. Definitely, the number of breaths are limited and life will inevitably end.

The honest and truthful Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, said in a hadith:

قَالَ رَسولُ الله صَلَّى الله عليهِ وسلَّم : ” رحم اللهُ رجلا قامَ من الليل فصلى وأيقظَ امرأتَه فصلتْ، فإنْ أبتْ نضحَ في وجهها الماء – أي رشَّهُ رشًّا خفيفا

“Allah will bestow mercy upon the husband who wakes up at night and prays, as well as awakens his wife to pray. And if she is overcome by sleep, he sprinkles water on her face.

And he also said, peace be upon him:

وقال عليه الصلاة والسلام : رحِم الله امرأةً قامتْ من الليل فصلتْ وأيقظتْ زوجَها فصلى، فإنْ أبى نضحتْ في وجهِه الماءَ “. رواه أحمد وأبو داود والنسائي وابن ماجه وابن حبان والحاكم.

Allah will bestow mercy upon the wife who wakes up at night and prays and awakens her husband to pray. And if he is overcome by sleep, she sprinkles water on his face.” (Related by Ahmad and others)

Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’iy, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim).

O Allah, aid us to habitually mention You, to praise You and be pious Ameen