The Attribute of Allaah: Ar-Ridaa (The Pleasure)

Introduction:

Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said: “Allaah’s affirmed Attributes are divided into two categories – those that relate to His Noble Self and those that relate to His Actions. As for the Attributes of His Noble Self, Allaah has and continues to be described by them. Examples of such Attributes are Knowledge, Ability, Hearing, Sight, Wisdom, ‘Ezzah, Loftiness, and Greatness. Also within this category are His features, such as His Face, His Hands, and His two Eyes. Attributes that involve His Actions are linked to His Will; If He wills, He performs these Actions, and if He wills, He does not perform these Actions. Two examples of such Attributes are His Rising above His Throne and His Descending to the lowest heaven.” [Al-Qawaa’id Al-Muthlaa fee Sifaat Allaah wa Asmaa’ihi Al-Husna]

Allaah is attributed with the Attribute of Ar-Ridaa. His Ridaa (Pleasure) is not like any of His creation. He is pleased with who has performed what causes His Pleasure, such as:

1- He is pleased with the deed, as He (Ta’ala) says:

وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ

“And if you are grateful, He is pleased therewith for you.” [Surat Az-Zumar (39:7)]

2- He is also pleased with the doer. He (Ta’ala) says:

رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ

“Allaah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him” [Surat Al-Mujadilah (58:22)]

3- Mihjan Ibn al-Adra’ Al-Aslami (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Verily, Allaah is pleased for this nation ease and hates for it hardship.” He repeated it thrice. [Reported by At-Tabarani and authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Al-Jami’e no. 1769]

4- Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allaah is pleased with three things for you and dislikes three things for you. He is pleased for you to worship Him and not associate anything with Him, and hold fast to the rope of Allaah altogether, and not be divided; and dislikes for you to gossip, to ask too much, and to waste money.” [Muslim]

Ar-Ridaa is a true real Attribute of Allaah which is linked with His Will. It is one of the practical Attributes because it occurs by the Will of Allaah. 

If Allaah is pleased with His slave, He will accept even the smallest of his good deeds and increase them as well as forgive many of his misdeeds and erase them. 

Allaah’s Pleasure is the highest degree of delight and the highest abode of dignity; it is greater and more sublime than the gardens of Paradise and what they consist of. This is because Ar-Ridaa is one of Allaah’s Attributes and Jannah (Paradise) is one of Allaah’s creation. Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

“Allaah has promised to the believers -men and women, – Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of ‘Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allaah. That is the supreme success.” [Surat At-Tawbah (9:72)]

There is no delight, no matter how great it is, equal to the Pleasure of Allaah. Therefore, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allaah will say to the People of Paradise: ‘O the People of Paradise!’ They will say: ‘Labbaik, O our Lord, and Sa’daik, and all the good is in Your Hands!’ Allaah will say: ‘Are you pleased and satisfied?’ They will say: ‘Why shouldn’t we be pleased and satisfied, O our Lord, as You have given us what You have not given to any of Your created beings?’ He will say: ‘Shall I not give you something better than that?’ They will say: ‘O our Lord! What else could be better than that?’ He will say: ‘I bestow My Pleasure on you and will never be angry with you after that.‘“ [Al-Bukhaari no. 7518]

If the slave knows that Allaah is pleased with him, that would perfect his happiness and greaten his rejoice. [Fat’h Al-Bayan]

The Impact of Belief in the Attribute of Ar-Ridaa

1- Praising Allaah

Juwairiyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)  left her in the morning when he prayed the Fajr prayer and she was in her prayer place, then he came back after the forenoon had come, and she was still sitting there. He said, ‘Are you still as you were when I left you?’ She said: ‘Yes.’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘After I left you I said four words three times, which if they were weighed against what you have said today, they would outweigh it: Subhaan-Allaahi wa bi-hamdihi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa Ridaa nafsihi, wa zinata ‘arshihi, wa midaada kalimaatihi (Glory and praise is to Allaah, as much as the number of His creation, as much as pleases Him, as much as the weight of His Throne, and as much as the ink of His Words).” [Muslim]

The meaning of “Subhaan-Allaah” is to sanctify Allaah and free Him from all what does not suit Him of defects and flaws. 

Wa bi-hamdihi: “Al-Hamd” is to praise Allaah for His blessings.

‘Adada Khalqihi: means as much as what He has created in the heavens and earth and what is between therein of creatures glorifying Allaah and praising Him. Who is able to enumerate Allaah’s creatures?

Wa Ridaa nafsihi: until Allaah is pleased. This is describing Allaah with pleasure (Ridaa), that Tasbeeh (glorification) and Dhikr (remembrance) pleases Him. This indicates the virtue of this Dhikr, because the slave attains Allaah’s Pleasure with it.

Wa zinat ‘arshihi: Al-‘Arsh is the greatest and highest of all creations, and Allaah (Ta’ala) rises over the Throne above His creation. The ‘Arsh is the greatest of all the creation. “Zinat ‘Arshihi” means Subhaan-Allaah wa bi-hamdihi (Allaah’s glorification and His praises) equal to the weight of His Throne. What equals the Throne in its magnificence and greatness? This word equals the weight of the Throne because of its virtue and greatness. [Tas’heel al-Ilmaam bi Fiqh al-Ahadeeth min Bulugh al-Maram]. This indicates that the weight of the Throne is the heaviest of all weights. [Majmoo’ Al-Fatawa by Ibn Taymiyah]

Wa midaada kalimaatihi: Al-Midaad is the ink with which it is written.

Kalimaat-Allaah means the words of Allaah. No one knows Allaah’s Speech except Him, no one can enumerate it except Him, because He speaks, commands, forbids, and creates. He is still speaking by His universal and legal commands and prohibitions. He (Ta’ala) says:

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا

“Say [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] to mankind): ‘If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if We brought (another sea) like it for its aid.’” [Surat Al-Kahf (18:109)]

Allaah (Ta’ala) also says:

وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allaah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” [Surat Luqman (31:27)]

No one can enumerate Allaah’s Words except Him (Jalla wa ‘Alaa). This word equates the ink with which the Words of Allaah are written. This indicates its virtue and status with Allaah. It is incumbent upon the slave to recite it profusely. [Tas’heel al-Ilmaam bi Fiqh al-Ahadeeth min Bulugh al-Maram]

2 – Seeking refuge in Allaah’s Pleasure

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) said: “I noticed that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was not in the bed one night, so I searched for him, and my hand fell on the sole of his foot. He was in the masjid with his feet held upright and he was saying:

اللهم إني أعوذ بِرضاك من سَخَطِك و بمعافاتِك من عُقوبَتك وأعوذُ بك منك، لا أُحصي ثناءً عليك، أنت كما أَثْنَيْتَ على نَفْسِك

‘O Allaah! I seek refuge in Your pleasureou have praised Yourself.’” [Muslim]

His (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) statement: “You are as You have praised Yourself” is a confession of helplessness on the details of praise, and that he is unable to reach its reality. As there is no end to His Attributes, similarly there is no end to praising Him. For praise follows the one who is praised; every praise which He (Ta’ala) is praised with, even if it is abundant and excessive, Allaah’s Estimate is greater and His Power is stronger and His Attributes are more and greater and His Grace and Favors are broader and more increased. [Al-‘Ilm At-Tayyib]

3 – If the slave knows that Allaah’s Ridaa (Pleasure) is the greatest and best of gifts and the highest of requests and the noblest of goals, this will make him adhere to all what Allaah is pleased with, such as:

a) Memorization of the Book of Allaah

Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The one who memorized the Qur’an shall come on the Day of Judgment and (the reward for reciting the Qur’an) says: ‘O Lord! Adorn him.’ So he is adorned with a crown of nobility. Then it says: ‘O Lord! Give him more.’ So he is donned with a garment of nobility. Then it says: ‘O Lord! Be pleased with him.’ So He is pleased with him and says: ‘Recite and rise up and be increased in reward with every Ayah (verse).'” [Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 2915 and authenticated by Al-Albaani and graded Saheeh]

b) Hastening towards performing every act that brings one close to Ar-Rahmaan (The Most Beneficent). Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

قَالَ هُمْ أُولَاءِ عَلَىٰ أَثَرِي وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ

“He [Musa (‘Alayhis-salaam)] said: ‘They are close on my footsteps, and I hastened to You, O my Lord, that You might be pleased.’” [Surat Ta-Ha (20:84)]

Hastening to reach the utmost goal. 

‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever seeks to acquire the pleasure of Allaah at the expense of the people’s anger, Allaah will be pleased with him and make the people pleased with him. Whoever seeks to acquire the pleasure of the people at the expense of Allaah’s Anger, Allaah will be angry with him and make the people angry with him.” [Reported by Ibn Hibban and authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Mawaarid Adh-Dham’an and graded Saheeh lighairihi]

“Bear in mind that if Allaah (Ta’ala) is pleased with a slave, He makes the people pleased with him. And if Allaah (Ta’ala) becomes angry with a slave, He will make the people angry with him. Therefore, if one seeks people to be pleased with him, let him follow Allaah’s Ridaa (i.e. seek the means of making Allaah pleased with him). However, he should not follow the Ridaa (Pleasure) of Allaah for the sake of making people pleased with him, so he seeks the highest matter for the sake of the lowest matter; but he should make the Pleasure of Allaah the basis while having trust that if Allaah is pleased with him, the people will be pleased with him. Beware of intending to seek the Ridaa of the people through the Ridaa of Allaah such that you implore the highest for the lowest. This is because if one has such an intention, Allaah may not be pleased with him, and he will not acquire his goal….” [Sharh Al-‘Aqeedah As-Safariniyyah]

c) Using Siwaak

‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Abu ‘Atiq said: “I heard ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) say: (narrating) from the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “Siwak is a means of purification for the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh An-Nasaa’i no. 5]

This Hadeeth means that one of the means of attaining Allaah’s Pleasure for the slave is to use the Siwaak. [Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen]

d) Praising Allaah (saying Al-Hamdulillaah) after eating and drinking

Anas ibn Maalik (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allaah is pleased with a person who eats some food and then praises Him for it or who drinks some drink and then praises Him for it.” [Muslim]

This indicates the great status of Al-Hamd, because this great reward, which is the greatest of all types of rewards, is granted in return of one’s giving thanks with Hamd.

e) Saying words which please Allaah 

It was narrated that ‘Alqamah ibn Waqqas said that a man passed by him who held a prominent position, and ‘Alqamah said to him: “You have kingship and rights, and I see you entering upon the rulers and speaking to them as Allaah wills you should speak. But I heard Bilal ibn al-Harith al-Muzani (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), the Companion of the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “One of you may speak a word that pleases Allaah, and not know how far it reaches, but Allaah will record for him His Pleasure until the Day of Resurrection due to that word. And one of you may speak a word that angers Allaah, and not know how far it reaches, but Allaah will record against him His Anger until the Day he meets Him due to that word.” ‘Alqamah said: “So look, woe to you, at what you say and what you speak about for there is something that I wanted to say but I refrained because of what I heard from Bilal ibn al-Harith.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah no. 3969]

His statement: “A word that angers Allaah” means it causes the anger of Allaah such as: lying, backbiting, defaming, saying falsehood to make people laugh, and so forth. 

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Woe to the one who talks about something to make the people laugh in which he lies. Woe to him! Woe to him!” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 2315]

This is a severe warning against something which is very easy with many people (i.e. people take lightly). [Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen]

How many words might one utter without giving any heed to their indications and they lead him to Hellfire? A word one uses in his talk might be the cause of his destruction.

“The Hadeeth emphasizes that one may utter a word of truth which he thinks has little (importance), but with Allaah it is great, and accordingly He attains Allaah’s Pleasure. On the other hand, one may utter an evil word and he does not know that it is evil and it is a great sin with Allaah, and accordingly he attains the wrath of Allaah.” [Mirqat Al-Mafateeh Sharh Mishkat Al-Masabeeh]

“This Hadeeth also implies some Fiqh points which are the obligations of verifying statements and actions, and the prohibition of belittling any of the minor sins, adhering to fearing Allaah and being cautious with every statement and action.” [Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen]

e) The Pleasure of the Parents

‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Lord’s Pleasure is in the parent’s pleasure and the Lord’s Anger is in the parent’s anger.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 1899]

This Hadeeth indicates the virtue of dutifulness to the parents, for it is a means of attaining Allaah’s Pleasure. This Hadeeth also indicates a warning against undutifulness to parents and its prohibition, and it is a means of Allaah’s Anger.

f) Patience at the time of calamity

Anas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Indeed the greater reward comes with the greater trial. And indeed, when Allaah loves a people He tries them, so whoever is pleased, then for him is pleasure, and whoever is angry, then for him is wrath.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi and graded Hasan]

g) Fear of Allaah secretly and openly

Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

 رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِيَ رَبَّهُ

“Allaah is Well-Pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord.” [Surat Al-Bayyinah (98:8)]

The status of Al-Khashyah (fear of Allaah) comprises the status of knowing Allaah and knowing His Right of servitude. When one knows Allaah and knows His Right, one’s fear of Him is intensified, as Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allaah.” [Surat Faatir (35:28)]

The ‘Ulama are those who have knowledge about Him and what befits Him of His magnificent Attributes and beautiful Actions. [Fat’h Al-Bayan]

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “By Allaah, I know Allaah better than they and I am more afraid of Him than they.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6101]

“This indicates the virtue of knowledge and that it is one of the causes of fear of Allaah. If man is guided to the fear of Allaah, he is protected from committing sins, and if he commits sins, he asks Allaah’s forgiveness and returns to Allaah in repentance. This is because he fears Allaah and magnifies Him.” [Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen]

h) Truthfulness

Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

قَالَ اللَّهُ هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

“Allaah will say: ‘This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth; theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) – they shall abide therein forever. Allaah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise).’” [Surat Al-Maa’idah (5:119)]

Truthfulness is a highly noble magnificent rank. It is the basis of every state and the cornerstone of every position. “There is no blessing better than truthfulness after bestowing a person Islam. This is because it is the nourishment of Islam and its life.” [Zaad Al-Ma’ad by Ibn Al-Qayyim]

“Whoever is truthful and fulfilled his truthfulness then he is rescued, and the King, the Bestower (i.e. Allaah) will be pleased with Him by giving him some types of Karaamaat (miracles), abundant rewards, gifts, and high degrees.” [Tayseer Al-Kareem]

i) Du’aa (Supplication)

Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Indeed, who does not ask Allaah, He gets angry with him.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmidhi no. 3373 and graded Hasan]

“This indicates that Allaah’s Pleasure is in asking Him and obeying Him. If the Lord, the Blessed, the Most High is pleased, then every good is attained due to His Pleasure, as every calamity and affliction is due to His Anger and disobedience to Him.” [Ad-Daa’ wad-Dawaa’ by Ibn Al-Qayyim]

They are completely different; the one (human) who becomes angry if he is asked, and the One (Allaah) Who becomes angry if He is not asked.

j) Shukr (Gratitude)

Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ

“And if you are grateful, He is pleased therewith for you;” [Surat Az-Zumar (39:7)]

This verse indicates that the Pleasure of the Lord is attained when His slave shows gratitude. “Indeed He (Ta’ala) is pleased with gratitude because it is the cause of their happiness in this world and the Hereafter.” [Fat’h Al-Bayan]

Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that he heard Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: “Allaah willed to test three Israelites: one was a leper, another a blind man and the other, a bald-headed man. So, he sent them an angel who came to the leper and said: ‘What thing do you like most?’ He replied: ‘Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me.’ The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin. The angel asked him: ‘What kind of property do you like best?’ He replied: ‘Camels (or cows).’ (The narrator is in doubt, for either the leper or the bald-headed man demanded camels and the other demanded cows). So he (i.e. the leper) was given a pregnant she-camel, and the angel said (to him): ‘May Allaah bless you in it.’ The angel then went to the bald-headed man and said: ‘What thing do you like most?’ He said: ‘I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsed by me.’ The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked (him): ‘What kind of property do you like best?’ He replied: ‘Cows,’ The angel gave him a pregnant cow and said: ‘May Allaah bless you in it.’ The angel went to the blind man and asked: ‘What thing do you like best?’ He said: ‘(I like) that Allaah may restore my eyesight to me so that I may see the people.’ The angel touched his eyes and Allaah gave him back his eyesight. The angel asked him: ‘What kind of property do you like best?’ He replied: ‘Sheep.’ The angel gave him a pregnant sheep. Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the (three) men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley. Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, went to the leper and said: I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none will satisfy my need except Allaah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given you such nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination. The man replied: ‘I have many obligations (so I cannot give you).’ The angel said: ‘I think I know you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren’t you a poor man, and then Allaah gave you (all this property)?’ He replied: ‘(This is all wrong), I got this property through inheritance from my forefathers.’ The angel said: ‘If you are telling a lie, then let Allaah make you as you were before. ‘ Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did. The angel said: ‘If you are telling a lie, then let Allaah make you as you were before.’ The angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said: ‘I am a poor man and a traveller, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allaah, and after Him, you yourself. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eyesight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey.’ The man said: ‘No doubt, I was blind and Allaah gave me back my eye-sight; I was poor and Allaah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allaah, I will not stop you from taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allaah’s Sake.’ The angel replied: ‘Keep your property with you. You (i.e. the three men) have been tested, and Allaah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari no. 3464]

The affliction showed their realities which Allaah knew about even before their creation. The blind man confessed Allaah’s favor upon him – that he was poor and blind and Allaah restored his eyesight and made him rich, and he gave the beggar what he asked for out of gratitude to Allaah. As for the bald man and the leper, both denied their previous bad state and poverty, saying that they got their property through inheritance from their forefathers. 

“This is the state of most people, they do not confess how they were in a deficient state of ignorance before, in poverty or sins, and that Allaah (Ta’ala) changed their state to an opposite one and bestowed upon them blessings.”  [Shifaa’ Al-‘Aleel]

The blind man won the pleasure of Allaah because of his gratitude for the blessings and favors of Allaah, so he attained high ranks as well as the blessings of this world and the Hereafter. Whilst on the other hand, Allaah punished his companions and was angry with them. This rule is general to anyone who denies the favors of Allaah.

k) Dying whilst performing a good righteous deed

‘Amr ibn Al-Hamiq al-Khuzaa’i (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When Allaah wills good for His slave, ‘Asalahu (He sweetens him) before his death.” He was asked: “What is ‘Asalahu (this sweetening) before his death?” He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “He opens the door of righteous good deeds for him before his death, until He is pleased with him, then He takes his soul in that state.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Mawaarid Adh-Dham’an no. 1530]

l) Sincerity

Whoever does righteous good deeds for the sake of Allaah’s Glorious Countenance will attain the Pleasure of Allaah (Jalla wa ‘Alaa). Allaah (Ta’ala) says:

وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ

“And have in his mind no favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return”

إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَىٰ

“Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High;”

وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ

“He surely will be pleased (when he will enter Paradise).”  [Surat Al-Layl (92:19-21)]

Ibn Taymiyah (Rahimahullaah) said: “If one does good deeds to people seeking the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High, knowing that Allaah conferred upon him to be a good doer, he will then see that his deed is for Allaah in the Cause of Allaah. Therefore, he does not wait for any recompense or gratitude from the one he did good to, nor does he remind him of his favor upon him. This is because he knows that Allaah is the Bestower upon him by using him in Ihsaan (doing good). Therefore, he should thank Allaah when Allaah eases him towards ease and thank Allaah that He made it easy for him what benefits him.” [Majmoo’ Al-Fatawa]

“Whoever does that then the Lord of the ‘Alameen will be pleased with him by giving him honor and great recompense, and this is a promise from the Most Generous in all aspects.” [Fat’h Al-Bayan]

“Since attaining the Pleasure of Allaah is the highest of all goals and the noblest request, then it (i.e. sincerity) is the most moderate, nearest, suitable, and most correct way to it, and by Allaah is the success.” [At-Tibyaan fee Aqsam al-Qur’an]

Source:

📚 Al-Asmaa Al-Husna was-Sifat Al-‘Ulaa by ‘Abdul-Hadi Ibn Hasan Wahbi

 

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