In this article, we present the explanation of the agreed-upon hadith from Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim in which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned those seven fortunate people who will have a place under the shade of the Divine Throne on the Day of Resurrection, a day when there will be no other shade.
In this article, you will read the text of the hadith, its meanings, Quranic evidences, the dreadful condition of the Day of Judgment, and a detailed explanation of these seven groups. At the end, a summary and conclusion of the article will also be presented.
Hazrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( سَبْعَۃٌ یُظِلُّہُمُ اللّٰہُ فِی ظِلِّہٖ یَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّہُ ))
Translation:
“There are seven types of people whom Allah will shade in His shade on the Day when there is no shade except His shade.”
The seven categories mentioned in the hadith:
➊ ((اَلْإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ ))
Translation: “A just ruler.”
➋ ((وَشَابٌّ نَشَأَ بِعِبَادَۃِ اللّٰہِ ))
Translation: “A youth who was brought up in the worship of Allah.”
➌ ((وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُہُ مُعَلَّقٌ فِی الْمَسَاجِدِ ))
Translation: “A man whose heart is attached to the mosques.”
➍ ((وَرَجُلَانِ تَحَابَّا فِی اللّٰہِ ، اجْتَمَعَا عَلَیْہِ وَتَفَرَّقَا عَلَیْہِ ))
Translation: “Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah, unite on that and separate on that.”
➎ ((وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْہُ امْرَأَۃٌ ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وَّجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ : إِنِّی أَخَافُ اللّٰہَ ))
Translation: “The person whom a respectable and beautiful woman invites to evil, and he says: I fear Allah.”
➏ ((وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَۃٍ فَأَخْفَاہَا حَتّٰی َلا تَعْلَمَ شِمَالُہُ مَا تُنْفِقُ یَمِیْنُہُ ))
Translation: “The person who gives charity secretly in such a way that his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent.”
➐ ((وَرَجُلٌ ذَکَرَ اللّٰہَ خَالِیًا فَفَاضَتْ عَیْنَاہُ))
Translation: “The person who remembers Allah in solitude and tears flow from his eyes.”
The Day of Resurrection — Terrifying Moments
The Quran and Hadith have described the terrors of the Day of Resurrection in detail. In this article, first the condition of that day will be mentioned so that it can be understood how great a blessing the shade of the Divine Throne is on such a fearful day.
﴿تَعْرُجُ الْمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ وَالرُّوْحُ اِِلَیْہِ فِیْ یَوْمٍ کَانَ مِقْدَارُہٗ خَمْسِینَ اَلْفَ سَنَۃٍ﴾
Translation:
“The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) will ascend to Him on a Day whose length will be fifty thousand years.”
This is not fifty days, but a day of fifty thousand years!
Verse:
﴿فَکَیْفَ تَتَّقُوْنَ اِِنْ کَفَرْتُمْ یَوْمًا یَّجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِیْبَا﴾
Translation:
“If you disbelieve, then how will you escape the punishment of that Day which will turn children into old men.”
The Sun Coming Near
((تُدْنَی الشَّمْسُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ حَتّٰی تَکُوْنَ مِنْہُمْ کَمِقْدَارِ مِیْلٍ))
Translation:
“On the Day of Resurrection, the sun will be brought so close to the people that it will be one mile away from them.”
Then every person will be drenched in sweat according to their deeds—some up to their ankles, some up to their knees, and some up to their mouths.
Explanations and Important Warnings
Before going into detail, a few important clarifications about the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ are necessary:
❀ First Warning
The word “سَبْعَةٌ” mentioned in the Hadith does not mean seven individuals but seven categories.
Therefore, whoever possesses these qualities—whether man or woman—will be deserving of the shade of the Throne.
❀ Second Warning
This virtue is not exclusive to men only; women who possess these qualities will also be included in this honor.
❀ Third Warning
The people gathered under the shade of the Throne are not only these seven, but other hadiths also mention some more fortunate people.
We will mention them at the end of the article.
❀ Fourth Warning
Some narrations mention the shade “ظلّہ”, meaning the shade of Allah, and some mention “ظل عرشہ”, meaning the shade of the Throne.
According to a large group of pious predecessors, the meaning is the shade of the Throne, while according to Sheikh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, the meaning is the shade of Allah Almighty—and we do not know its exact nature.
The First Fortunate: Just Ruler
Text of the Hadith:
(( اَلْإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ ))
Translation: “A just ruler.”
The first rank is that of a ruler who deals justly and fairly with his subjects, making decisions according to Allah’s commands, free from personal desires and worldly pressures.
◈ Who is meant by Imam?
According to scholars, here “Imam” means:
◈ The head of the country
◈ Judge
◈ Senior officers
◈ Anyone who has authority over a matter
That is, whoever is entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions will be accountable before Allah accordingly.
❀ Command to Prophet Dawood (AS)
﴿یٰدَاوٗدُ اِِنَّا جَعَلْنٰکَ خَلِیْفَۃً فِی الْاَرْضِ فَاحْکُمْ بَیْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْہَوٰی فَیُضِلَّکَ عَنْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ﴾
Translation:
“O Dawood! We have made you a vicegerent on the earth, so judge between the people with justice and do not follow desires, lest they divert you from the way of Allah.”
❀ Command of Justice to the Holy Prophet ﷺ
﴿فَاحْکُمْ بَیْنَھُمْ بِمَآ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰہُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ اَھْوَآئَھُمْ﴾
Translation:
“Judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their desires.”
❀ Command of Justice to the Believers
﴿اِذَا حَکَمْتُمْ بَیْنَ النَّاسِ اَنْ تَحْکُمُوْا بِالْعَدْلِ﴾
Translation:
“When you judge between people, judge with justice.”
❀ Virtue of Those Who Do Justice
(( إِنَّ الْمُقْسِطِیْنَ عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ عَلٰی مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُّوْرٍ… ))
Translation:
“Those who do justice will be on pulpits of light near Allah, on the right side of the Most Merciful… These are the people who are just in their decisions, among their families, and in their responsibilities.”
❀ Severe Warning Against Oppression and Injustice
(( مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ یَسْتَرْعِیْہِ اللّٰہُ رَعِیَّۃً… ))
Translation:
“Whoever is made responsible over a people by Allah and continues to betray them, then dies in that state, Allah will forbid Paradise for him.”
Second Fortunate One: The Worshipping Youth
Text of the Hadith:
(( وَشَابٌّ نَشَأَ بِعِبَادَۃِ اللّٰہِ ))
Translation: “The youth who was brought up in the worship of Allah.”
Youth is a period of desires, trials, and tests. The young person who remains obedient to Allah during this age will remain steadfast in religion throughout life and will be among those who receive the shade of the Throne on the Day of Judgment.
The Story of the People of the Cave — Example of the Youth
﴿اِنَّھُمْ فِتْیَۃٌ اٰمَنُوْا بِرَبِّھِمْ وَزِدْنٰھُمْ ھُدًی﴾
Translation:
“These were some youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.”
Prophetic Hadith ﷺ: Value of Youth
(( اِغْتَنِمْ خَمْسًا قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ… ))
Translation:
“Consider five things as a blessing before five others: your youth before old age, health before sickness, life before death…”
Question about Youth on the Day of Judgment
(( لَا تَزُوْلُ قَدَمَا ابْنِ آدَمَ… ))
Translation:
“On the Day of Judgment, a person’s feet will not move until he is asked about five things: … where he spent his youth.”
Third Fortunate One: The Person Who Loves the Mosque
Text of the Hadith:
(( وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُہُ مُعَلَّقٌ فِی الْمَسَاجِدِ ))
Translation:
“The person whose heart is attached to the mosques.”
That is, the person who considers the mosque as his true center, finds peace there, and when he leaves, he remains eager to return. Reviving mosques is a sign of faith.
﴿اِنَّمَا یَعْمُرُ مَسٰجِدَ اللّٰہِ مَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ الْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ…﴾
Translation:
“Only those maintain the mosques of Allah who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakah, and do not fear except Allah. It is expected that these are the rightly guided.”
❀ The Guest of Allah Who Comes to the Mosque
(( مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ وَجَائَ إِلَی الْمَسْجِدِ فَہُوَ زَائِرٌ اللّٰہَ… ))
Translation:
“The person who performs ablution and comes towards the mosque is a guest of Allah, and it is the right of the host (Allah) to honor the guest.”
❀ Hospitality in Paradise for Those Who Walk to the Mosque
(( مَنْ غَدَا إِلَی الْمَسْجِدِ أَوْ رَاحَ… ))
Translation:
“Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or evening, Allah prepares hospitality for him in Paradise.”
❀ Light for Those Who Go to the Mosque in Darkness
(( بَشِّرِ الْمَشَّائِیْنَ فِی الظُّلَمِ إِلَی الْمَسَاجِدِ… ))
Translation:
“Give glad tidings to those who walk towards the mosques in darkness that on the Day of Resurrection, there will be complete light for them.”
The Fourth Fortunate: Two People Who Love Each Other for Allah
Text of the Hadith:
(( وَرَجُلَانِ تَحَابَّا فِی اللّٰہِ، اجْتَمَعَا عَلَیْہِ وَتَفَرَّقَا عَلَیْہِ ))
Translation:
“Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah, gather on that and separate on that.”
This love is not due to any worldly benefit, position, wealth, or kinship but solely for the sake of Allah.
❀ Allah’s Call on the Day of Resurrection
(( أَیْنَ الْمُتَحَابُّونَ بِجَلَالِی… ))
Translation:
“Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are those people who loved each other for My glory? Today I will shade them under My shade, when there will be no shade except My shade.”
❀ The Sweetness of Faith from Divine Love
(( ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ کُنَّ فِیْہِ وَجَدَ حَلَاوَۃَ الْإِیْمَانِ… ))
Translation (relevant part):
“That when one loves someone, it should be only for the sake of Allah.”
❀ The Obligation of Loving Allah
(( وَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِی لِلْمُتَحَابِّیْنَ فِیَّ… ))
Translation:
“Allah Almighty says: My love becomes obligatory for those who love for My sake, meet for My sake, and spend on each other for My sake.”
Fifth Fortunate One: The person who rejects the invitation to adultery out of fear of Allah
Text of the Hadith:
(( وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْہُ امْرَأَۃٌ ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وَجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ: إِنِّی أَخَافُ اللّٰہَ ))
Translation:
“The person who is invited to evil by a respectable and beautiful woman but says: I fear Allah.”
This is an unparalleled sign of faith, piety, and fear of Allah.
The incident of Yusuf (peace be upon him)
﴿قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّٰہِ﴾
Translation:
“Yusuf (peace be upon him) said: I seek refuge in Allah.”
This phrase saved him from a great trial, and this piety is the shield of every believer.
Promise of Paradise in the Quran
﴿وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّہٖ وَنَہَی النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْہَوٰی ٭ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّۃَ ہِیَ الْمَأْوٰی﴾
Translation:
“The person who fears standing before his Lord and restrains his soul from desires, his abode is Paradise.”
Hadith: The incident of the three men in the cave
This incident is mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim, in which a person narrated the event involving his cousin:
When he approached immorality, the girl said:
(( یَا عَبْدَ اللّٰہِ ! اِتَّقِ اللّٰہَ… ))
Translation:
“O servant of Allah! Fear Allah, do not break my purity without His right.”
Accordingly, he immediately abandoned the sin, and through this sincerity, Allah relieved their difficulty.
This section ends here.
In the next section, we will explain the sixth and seventh groups of the hadith:
◈ The one who gives charity secretly
◈ The one who remembers Allah in solitude and weeps
And then the second sermon, i.e., other fortunate groups.
The Sixth Fortunate: The One Who Gives Charity Secretly
Text of the Hadith:
(( وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَۃٍ فَأَخْفَاہَا حَتّٰی لَا تَعْلَمَ شِمَالُہُ مَا تُنْفِقُ یَمِیْنُہُ ))
Translation:
“The person who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent.”
This is a sign of sincerity, piety, and complete avoidance of showing off. Such a person performs his good deeds solely for the pleasure of Allah; he neither displays them nor seeks praise from people.
﴿إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا ہِیَ وَإِن تُخْفُوہَا وَتُؤْتُوہَا الْفُقَرَائَ فَہُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّکُمْ وَیُکَفِّرُ عَنکُمْ مِّن سَیِّئَاتِکُمْ﴾
Translation:
“If you disclose your charity, it is good; but if you conceal it and give it to the poor, it is better for you, and it will erase some of your sins.”
❀ Secret charity extinguishes Allah’s anger
(( صَدَقَۃُ السِّرِّ تُطْفِیئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ ))
Translation:
“Secret charity extinguishes the wrath of the Lord.”
❀ Charity will be a shade on the Day of Resurrection
(( کُلُّ امْرِیئٍ فِی ظِلِّ صَدَقَتِہٖ حَتّٰی یُقْضَی بَیْنَ النَّاسِ ))
Translation:
“Every person will be under the shade of their charity on the Day of Resurrection, until the people are judged.”
This means that the one who gives secret charity will have a double shade:
➊ The shade of their charity
➋ The shade of the Divine Throne
Seventh fortunate one: The person who remembers Allah in solitude and weeps
Text of the Hadith:
(( وَرَجُلٌ ذَکَرَ اللّٰہَ خَالِیًا فَفَاضَتْ عَیْنَاہُ ))
Translation:
“The person who remembers Allah in solitude and tears flow from their eyes.”
This is one of the greatest states of fear, faith, and closeness to Allah. Tears shed in solitude are free from hypocrisy, which is why their status is very high.
❀ Increasing Faith by Hearing the Mention of Allah
﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤمِنُونَ الَّذِینَ إِذَا ذُکِرَ اﷲُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُہُمْ…﴾
Translation:
“True believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble, and when His verses are recited to them, their faith increases, and they put their trust in their Lord… These are the true believers; for them are degrees, forgiveness, and a generous provision.”
❀ Two Eyes That Will Not Be Touched by Hellfire
(( عَیْنَانِ لَا تَمَسُّہُمَا النَّارُ: عَیْنٌ بَکَتْ مِنْ خَشْیَۃِ اللّٰہِ، وَعَیْنٌ بَاتَتْ تَحْرُسُ فِی سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ ))
Translation:
“There are two eyes that will not be touched by the fire of Hell:
➊ The eye that wept out of fear of Allah,
➋ And the eye that stayed awake guarding in the way of Allah.”
Completion of the Seven Fortunate Groups
Thus, the details of the seven fortunate groups mentioned in the hadith have been completed:
❀ A just ruler
❀ A worshipping youth
❀ One who loves the mosque
❀ One who loves for the sake of Allah
❀ One who avoids the trial of women
❀ One who gives charity secretly
❀ One who remembers Allah in solitude and weeps
May Allah make us possess at least one of these qualities. Ameen.
Eighth Fortunate One: The Person Who Grants Respite or Forgives the Needy
Text of the Hadith:
(( مَنْ أَنْظَرَ مُعْسِرًا أَوْ وَضَعَ عَنْہُ أَظَلَّہُ اللّٰہُ فِیْ ظِلِّہٖ ))
Translation:
“Whoever grants respite to a needy person or forgives him, Allah will shade him with His shade.”
(( مَنْ أَنْظَرَ مُعْسِرًا أَوْ وَضَعَ لَہٗ، أَظَلَّہُ اللّٰہُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ تَحْتَ ظِلِّ عَرْشِہٖ یَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّہٗ ))
Translation:
“Whoever grants respite to a needy person or forgives his debt, Allah will provide him a place under the shade of His Throne on the Day when there is no shade except His shade.”
(( مَنْ سَرَّہُ أَنْ یُّنْجِیَہُ اللّٰہُ مِنْ کُرَبِ یَوْمِ الْقِیَامَۃِ وَأَنْ یُظِلَّہُ تَحْتَ عَرْشِہٖ فَلْیُنْظِرْ مُعْسِرًا ))
Translation:
“Whoever wishes that Allah protects him from the hardships of the Hereafter and grants him a place under the shade of His Throne, let him grant respite to the needy.”
This fortune is for the person who treats the needy with kindness instead of pressuring them—or even completely forgives the debt.
Ninth Fortunate One: The Truthful and Honest Merchant
Effect of the Companion:
Hazrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
(( اَلتَّاجِرُ الصَّدُوقُ مَعَ السَّبْعَۃِ فِی ظِلِّ عَرْشِ اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ ))
Translation:
“The truthful merchant will be with those seven fortunate people who will be under the shade of Allah’s Throne on the Day of Resurrection.”
It is easy for a merchant to fall into temptation—lying, deceit, short measuring, usury…
But those who remain steadfast in truth and honesty will be among those who receive the shade of the Throne.
Tenth Fortunate: One who helps a Mujahid
Eleventh Fortunate: One who helps a needy debtor
Twelfth Fortunate: One who assists in freeing a slave
These three groups are mentioned in the same hadith:
((مَنْ أَعَانَ مُجَاہِدًا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ، أَوْ غَارِمًا فِیْ عُسْرَتِہٖ، أَوْ مُکَاتِبًا فِیْ رَقَبَتِہٖ، أَظَلَّہُ اللّٰہُ یَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّہُ ))
Translation:
“Whoever helps a Mujahid striving in the way of Allah, or helps a needy debtor, or helps in freeing a slave, Allah will grant him shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His shade.”
Easing the hardship of Allah’s servants.
Whoever eases the hardship of people in this world, Allah will ease the severity of the Hereafter for him.
✦ Conclusion
The Day of Judgment will be an extremely severe day, the horrors of which are described in the Quran and Hadith. On that day, Allah will grant shade under His Throne only to those who in this world:
◈ Established justice
◈ Obeyed Allah in youth
◈ Loved mosques
◈ Loved for the sake of Allah
◈ Avoided the temptation of women
◈ Gave secret charity
◈ Wept to Allah in solitude
◈ Helped the needy
◈ Conducted honest trade
◈ Supported those on the path of Allah
◈ Contributed to the freedom of slaves
The purpose of all these qualities is only one:
To attain the pleasure of Allah and achieve success in the Hereafter.
Whoever adopts any of these deeds can be among those fortunate people whom Allah will grant the shade of His Throne on the Day of Judgment.
May Allah include us among these blessed people as well.
Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds.
