THE SEVEN UNDER THE SHADE OF ALLAH (SWT)
The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) said: “There are seven whom Allah 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 Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position (for illegal intercourse), but he says: ‘I fear Allah’, a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.'” Saheeh al-Bukhari and Muslim
In this beautiful Hadith, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) spoke about small acts of worship which result in such a great reward: shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade.
This may not seem like much at first but then reflect upon the following Hadith: ‘On the Day of Resurrection, the sun would draw so close to the people that there would be left a distance of only one mile. The people will be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds, some up to their ankles, some up to their knees, some up to the waist and some would have the bridle of perspiration and, while saying this, the Messenger of Allah put his hand towards his mouth.’ Saheeh Muslim
And in another Hadith, some will be submerged in sweat ‘seventy arm-lengths in the earth.’ Saheeh al-Bukhari and Muslim
So who would want more then, on this Day, than to be under the Shade and protection of Allah Azza wa Jall?
Let us examine now 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 very important and it is something which the Muslim – Ruler and the ruled – must apply in all matters without exception. Justice means to give each the right he deserves: Muslim or non-Muslim, relative or stranger, friend or enemy. Allah says: ‘…And do not let hatred cause you to act unjustly, that is nearer to piety (al-Maa’idah 8).
Unfortunately, even if we admit this in theory, we quickly forget it in practice. So 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 hold difference with, we can find no good in them and we just capitalize on their bad points.
This is far removed from the justice which Allah loves and gives great reward for, as mentioned in the following Hadith: ‘The doers of justice will be on thrones of light at Allah’s Right Hand – and both of Allah’s Hands are Right Hands” – those who were just in their Ruling, with their families and in all that over which they were given authority.
The Prophet assigning to Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud the open spaces in Madina between the dwellings and palm gardens of the Ansar, and when the Banu Abd Ibn Zuhrah said, “Remove from us the son of Umm Abd (Ibn Mas’ud),” replying, ‘Why then did Allah send me? Allah does not bless a people among whom a weak man is not given his right.'” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi no.3003)
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 Ruler is given special mention as one of the seven who will be honored with Allah’s Shade.
2 ‘A YOUTH WHO GREW UP IN THE WORSHIP OF ALLAH’
The great scholar, Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee (d.131H) said, “From the success of youth is that Allah guides him to a scholar of the Sunnah. (Hasan – Reported in Sharh Usoolis-Sunnah of al-Laalikaa’ee no.30).
Indeed, it is a great blessing from Allah 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 society around us and we see that most of the worldly distractions, such as music, games, clubs, fashion etc. are all specifically targeted at the young. “You’re only young once!” they are told, which is why many Muslims nowadays waste their youth thinking that they will pray, wear Hijaab and go to Hajj, etc. when they are old, as if they have a guarantee of longevity from Allah!
How well we would do to heed the Prophet’s advice 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.’ Sahih – Narrated by Ibn Abbaas
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