عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ عُمَرُ يُدْخِلُنِي مَعَ أَشْيَاخِ بَدْرٍ، فَكَأَنَّ بَعْضَهُمْ وَجَدَ فِي نَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ لِمَ تُدْخِلُ هَذَا مَعَنَا وَلَنَا أَبْنَاءٌ مِثْلُهُ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنَّهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ عَلِمْتُمْ‏.‏ فَدَعَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ ـ فَأَدْخَلَهُ مَعَهُمْ ـ فَمَا رُئِيتُ أَنَّهُ دَعَانِي يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلاَّ لِيُرِيَهُمْ‏.‏ قَالَ مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ‏{‏إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ‏}‏ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ أُمِرْنَا نَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، إِذَا نُصِرْنَا وَفُتِحَ عَلَيْنَا‏.‏ وَسَكَتَ بَعْضُهُمْ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ لِي أَكَذَاكَ تَقُولُ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُلْتُ لاَ‏.‏ قَالَ فَمَا تَقُولُ قُلْتُ هُوَ أَجَلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْلَمَهُ لَهُ، قَالَ ‏{‏إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ‏}‏ وَذَلِكَ عَلاَمَةُ أَجَلِكَ ‏{‏فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا‏}‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ مَا أَعْلَمُ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ مَا تَقُولُ

Narrated Ibn `Abbas RA: `Umar RA used to make me sit with the elderly men who had fought in the Battle of Badr. Some of them felt it (did not like that) and said to `Umar RA “Why do you bring in this boy to sit with us while we have sons like him?” `Umar RA replied, “Because of what you know of his position (i.e. his religious knowledge.)” One day `Umar RA called me and made me sit in the gathering of those people; and I think that he called me just to show them (my religious knowledge). `Umar RA then asked them (in my presence). “What do you say about the interpretation of the Statement of Allah: ‘When comes Help of Allah (to you O, Muhammad against your enemies) and the conquest (of Mecca).’ (110.1) Some of them said, “We are ordered to praise Allah and ask for His forgiveness when Allah’s Help and the conquest (of Mecca) comes to us.” Some others kept quiet and did not say anything. On that, `Umar RA asked me, “Do you say the same, O Ibn `Abbas?” I replied, “No.” He said, ‘What do you say then?” I replied, “That is the sign of the death of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) which Allah informed him of. Allah said: ‘(O Muhammad) When comes the Help of Allah (to you against your enemies) and the conquest (of Mecca) (which is the sign of your death). You should celebrate the praises of your Lord and ask for His Forgiveness, and He is the One Who accepts the repentance and forgives.’ (110.3) On that `Umar RA said, “I do not know anything about it other than what you have said.” [Bukhari]

When this Surah was revealed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a sermon in which he said, “Allah gave a servant the choice between this world and what is with Him. He chose that which is with Allah.” Abu Bakr RA cried when he heard this and remarked, “May our parents be your ransom, O Messenger of Allah!” The other Ṣaḥabah RA were surprised at Abu Bakr RA’s statement as they did not understand at the time that the slave who was given the choice was the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

It is from this Surah and Hadith that scholars say that every good deed should be concluded with istighfar and the praise of Allah. It is hoped that this will cause the mercy of Allah to descend and that the deed will be accepted by Him.

EASY GOOD DEED – Tahiyyatul Masjid

Imagine a visitor that enters your home, takes a seat, occupies himself with his personal affairs, fulfils his need and then leaves without even greeting you..?

The consequences of such a visit are obvious! Moreover, what if such behaviour is repeated daily or even weekly?!!

Ironically, it is we ourselves that are the perpetrators of such behaviour and we don’t even realise it!

Visiting Allah

One who visits the Masjid is described as one who is actually visiting Allah Ta’ala. [Shu’abul Iman]

A Sahabi RA once entered the Masjid of Rasulullah ﷺ and sat down. Rasulullah ﷺ reprimanded him by enquiring: “What prevented you from performing two (rak’ats of salah) before you sat?” The Sahabi RA replied: “O messenger of Allah! (I did so because) I observed that you and the rest of the gathering were all seated.” Rasulullah ﷺ then said:

إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ

“When anyone of you enters the Masjid, he should not sit down until he offers two rak’ats of salah.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

Abu Qatadah RA reports that Rasulullah ﷺ once said: “Fulfil the right of the Masjid.” The Sahabah RA enquired as to what was “the right of the Masjid” Rasulullah ﷺ replied: “Two rak’ats of Salah before you sit.” [Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah]

The Fuqaha (Jurists) have indicated that the Tahiyyatul Masjid will be fulfilled if one offers any Salah (Fard, Sunnah etc.) upon entering the Masjid (before being seated). One may even offer this Salah after forgetfully sitting down. [Shami, vol.2 pg.18]

How unfortunate is the one who forsakes the opportunity of fulfilling the right of the Masjid and greeting Almighty Allah several times each day?!

May Allah Ta’ala instill in us the value of this Salaah.