This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
؎ The tradition of the call to prayer has remained, but the spirit of Bilal is no more
The philosophy remains, but the instruction of Ghazali is no more
Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, in his Sahih, has narrated an incident from the beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, through the narration of a beloved companion, Sayyiduna Rabi'ah bin Ka'b Al-Aslami, may Allah be pleased with him. He says:
I spent the night with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. I brought water for his need and ablution. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
سل فقلت: أسألك مرافقتك فى الجنة. قال: أو غير ذلك؟ قلت: هو ذاك قال: فأعني على نفسك بكثرة السجود
"If you want to ask for something, then ask." I said, "I want your companionship in Paradise." He said, "Anything else?" I said, "That is all." Then he said, "Help yourself by frequent prostration."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer, Hadith No. 1093.
See! When the sincere lover got the opportunity to ask, he did not hesitate to ask for the companionship of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. On another occasion, he repeated the same request. Meanwhile, the Prophet, peace be upon him, was commanded to keep himself with those companions who seek the pleasure of Allah morning and evening. Accordingly, it was said:
﴿وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ﴾
"And keep yourself with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure."
Reference: (18-Al-Kahf:28)
The work done for the pleasure of Allah saves a person from great difficulties. Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say:
انطلق ثلاثة رهط ممن كان قبلكم حتى أوو المبيت إلى غار فدخلوه ، فانحدرت صخرة من الجبل فسدت عليها الغار ، فقالوا: إنه لا ينجيكم من هذه الصخرة إلا أن تدعوا الله بصالح أعمالكم ، قال رجل منهم : اللهم كان لي أبوان شيخان كبيران ، وكنت لا أغبق قبلهما أهلا ولا مالا . فنأى بي فى طلب شي يوما فلم أرح عليهما حتى ناما فحلبت لهما غبوقهما ، فوجدتهما نائمين ، فكرهت أن أغبق قبلهما أهلا أو مالا ، فلبثت والقدح على يدي أنتظر استيقاظهما حتى برق الفجر فاستيقظا فشربا غبوقهما ، اللهم إن كنت فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك ففرج عنا ما نحن فيه من هذه الصخرة ، فانفرجت شيئا لا يستطيعون الخروج ، قال النبيﷺ : قال الآخر: اللهم كانت لي بنت عم كانت أحب : الناس إلى فأردتها على نفسها، فامتنعت مني حتى ألمت بها سنة من السنين فجائتني فأعطيتها عشرين ومائة دينار على أن تخلي بيني وبين نفسها ففعلت ، حتى إذا قدرت عليها . :قالت: لا أحل لك أن تفض الخاتم إلا بحقه ، فتحرجت من الوقوع عليها فانصرفت عنها وهى أحب الناس إلى وتركت الذهب الذى أعطيتها ، اللهم إن كنت فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك فأفرج عنا ما نحن فيه ، فانفرجت الصخرة غير أنهم لا يستطيعون الخروج منها وقال النبيﷺ: قال الثالث: اللهم استأجرت أجراء فأعطيتهم أجرهم غير رجل واحد ترك الذى له وذهب فتمرت أجره حتى كثرت منه الأموال فجاء ني بعد حين فقال: يا عبد الله ، أذ إلى أجري ، فقلت له: كل ما ترى من أجرك من الإبل والبقر والغنم والرقيق . فقال: يا عبد الله لا تستهزى ء بي فقلت: لا أستهزى ء بك، ! فأخذه كله فاستاقه فلم يترك منه شيئا، اللهم فإن كنت فعلت ذلك ابتغاء وجهك فافرج عنا مانحن فيه ، فانفرجت الصخرة فخرجوا يمشون
"Among the previous nations, there were three men who set out on a journey together until night fell. They entered a cave to spend the night. Shortly after, a large rock rolled down the mountain and blocked the entrance of the cave. Seeing this, they consulted among themselves and concluded that the only way to be saved from this trial was to pray to Allah through their righteous deeds. So, they prayed through their deeds. One of them said: O Allah! You know my elderly parents, and in the evening, I was the first to milk the goats for them. I did not milk for my family or servants before them. One day, I went far in search of trees, and when I returned, I milked the goats in the evening and brought the milk to them, but they were asleep. I did not want to wake them, nor did I want to give milk to my family or servants before them. I stood by their side holding the bowl of milk, waiting for them to wake up until morning came, and they drank their evening share. O Allah! If I did this only for Your pleasure, then save us from this calamity caused by this rock that has blocked the cave." As a result of this prayer, the rock shifted a little, but it was still not possible to get out. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: The second person prayed, "O Allah! I had a cousin who was dearest to me. Once, I intended to fulfill my carnal desire with her, but she refused and denied me. Then a time came when famine forced her to come to me. I gave her one hundred and twenty dinars on the condition that she would be with me in privacy. She agreed. When I was able to be with her, she said I do not permit you to break this dowry without right. I disliked what happened and left her, although she was the dearest to me among people, and I left the gold dinars I had given her. O Allah! If I did this only for Your pleasure, then remove this calamity from us!" The rock shifted a bit more, but the way out was still not open. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: The third prayed, "O Allah! I had hired some workers and paid all except one who left without his wages. I invested his wages in business and earned much wealth. After some time, he came and said, 'O servant of Allah! Pay me my wages.' I said, 'These camels, cows, goats, and slaves you see are the fruits of your wages.' He said, 'O servant of Allah! Do not joke with me.' I said, 'I am not joking.' So, he took all the wealth and left nothing. O Allah! If I did this only for Your pleasure, then remove this calamity from us!" Then the rock moved completely, the cave's entrance opened, and they came out."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hiring, Hadith No. 2272 – Sahih Muslim, Book of Softening the Hearts, Chapter: Story of the Three Companions of the Cave, Hadith No. 6949
The companions of the Messenger, peace be upon him, were always seeking the pleasure of Allah, as just mentioned. Every righteous deed was done to please Allah. Allah Almighty has described the signs of the companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in His Holy Book, mentioning one sign as:
﴿يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا﴾
"These are the people who seek the pleasure of Allah and His bounty."
Reference: (48-Al-Fath:29)
Among the lovers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, read and listen to the biography of Sayyiduna Khabbab bin Aratt, may Allah be pleased with him. He says:
ها جرنا مع النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم نلتمس وجه الله فوقع أجرنا على الله ، فمنا من مات ولم يأكل من أجره شيئا ، منهم مصعب بن عمير رضي الله عنه ، ومنا من أينعت له ثمرته فهو يهدبها ، قتل يوم أحد ، فلم نجد له ما نكفنه به إلا بردة إذا غطينا بها رأسه، خرجت رجلاه، وإذا غطينا رجليه ، خرج رأسه، فأمرنا النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أن نغطي رأسه، ونجعل على رجليه من الإذخر
"We migrated with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, seeking the pleasure of Allah, and our reward was established with Allah. Some of us have passed away without consuming any part of their reward (such as spoils of war), and some of us are still reaping the fruits. Among them is Sayyiduna Mus'ab bin Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, who was martyred in the Battle of Uhud. He left behind a blanket. When we covered his head with it, his feet became bare, and when we covered his feet, his head was uncovered. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ordered us to cover his head and place dry grass on his feet."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Funerals, Chapter: If the shroud only covers the head or feet, cover the head, Hadith No. 1276 – Sahih Muslim, Book of Funerals, Chapter: Shrouding the Dead, Hadith No. 2177.
This is because actions done for the pleasure of Allah lead to high ranks in Paradise. The noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
إن العبد ليتكلم بالكلمة من رضوان الله لا يلقي لها بالا يرفعه الله بها درجات ، وإن العبد ليتكلم بالكلمة من سخط الله لا يلقي لها بالا يهوي بها فى جهنم
"A servant speaks words that please Allah without even realizing it, and because of that, Allah raises him many degrees. And a servant speaks words that displease Allah without realizing it, and because of that, he falls into Hell."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Softening the Hearts, Chapter: Guarding the Tongue, Hadith No. 6478.
For us, the exemplary model is the noble Messenger, the Master of the Two Worlds, Wali Bat'ha, peace and blessings be upon him. See how he was engrossed in pleasing Allah, even though his Lord was already pleased with him (indeed, this is a lesson for us).
Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates that one night she found the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, absent from his bed. She searched for him and suddenly her hands touched his feet. He was in prostration, with both feet standing, and he was reciting the prayer:
اللهم إني أعوذ برضاك من سخطك، وبمعافاتك من عقوبتك، وأعوذ بك منك لا أحصي ثناء عليك، أنت كما أثنيت على نفسك .
"O Allah! I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your displeasure, and in Your safety from Your punishment, and in Your essence from Your wrath and anger. I cannot enumerate Your praises; You are as You have praised Yourself."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer, Chapter: What is said in bowing and prostration, Hadith No. 1090.
Whoever goes to meet or visit someone for the pleasure of Allah, Allah Himself becomes his host and hosts him in the form of Paradise. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that the noble Messenger, peace be upon him, said:
ما من عبد أتى أخا له يزوره فى الله إلا نادى مناد من السماء: أن طبت وطابت لك الجنة، وإلا قال الله فى ملكوت عرشه: عبدي زار في، وعلى قراه، فلم أرض له بقرى دون الجنة .
"Whoever comes to visit his brother for the pleasure of Allah, a caller from the heavens announces: Be glad, for Paradise has been prepared for you. Allah says from His Throne: My servant has visited for My pleasure, so I am obliged to host him, and I have chosen Paradise as his hospitality."
Reference: Sahih At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib, Hadith No. 2579 – As-Silsilah As-Sahihah, Hadith No. 2632.
Imam Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "A sign and indication of loving for the pleasure of Allah is that a person seeks the pleasure of his brother and takes care of him."
Reference: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala: 391/1.
And Hudhayfah bin Qatada, may Allah have mercy on him, says that if I come to know that someone holds enmity and hatred against me for the pleasure of Allah, then I consider it necessary to love him for the pleasure of Allah.
Reference: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala: 283/9.
