The Chosen Reward: Seeking the Owner of Jannah

Reward for virtuous deeds in Paradise

Dear Islamic brothers! Several verses of the glorious Quran mention that the reward for virtuous deeds is Heaven. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in Sūrah Bayyinah (part 30, verses 7 & 8):

Undoubtedly, those who believed and did good deeds, the best of creatures. Their recompense is with their Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ, gardens of habitation, beneath which flow streams. (They would) abide therein forever, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is well pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, this is for him who fears his Rab.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūrah Bayyinah, verses 7, 8)

Saying 'رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُ' with name of non-Ṣaḥābī

Dear Islamic brothers! Some people have the misconception that the phrase رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُ can only be used with the name of a Ṣaḥābī (companion of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم). The last part of the verse, رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْہُ ذٰلِکَ لِمَنْ خَشِیَ رَبَّہ has refuted this misconception, making it as clear as day that رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُ can be written with the name of any such Muslim who fears Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. There is no specification of companions or non-companions in this regard. It should remain clear that writing and saying رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُ for every Ṣaḥābī and Walī is quite permissible.

A Ṣaḥābī is the one who was blessed with the company of the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم or who saw him in his visible life even for a moment in the state of faith, and who passed away in the state of faith either. A Walī, no matter how great he may be, cannot reach the rank of a Ṣaḥābī. Every Ṣaḥābī is just ('Ādil) and is destined to enter Heaven.

Anyhow, returning to the topic of fasting, virtues such as Ṣalāh, Ḥajj, Zakāh, helping the poor, visiting the sick, caring for beggars etc. all lead to Heaven but fasting leads to the Creator of Heaven عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

I want owner of pearls

One day, throwing some precious pearls in front of his officers, Maḥmūd Ghaznawī رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالَٰی عَلَيْہِ said, 'Take them.' He then left them behind. A few moments later, as he turned back, he saw Ayāz follow him on his horse. He asked, 'Ayāz, don't you want any pearls?' He replied, 'Your honour, those who wanted pearls are busy collecting them, it is not the pearls but the owner of the pearls that I seek.'

We belong to Rasūlullāh, Heaven belongs to Rasūlullāh ﷺ

There is a Ḥadīš in this regard. Sayyidunā Rabī'ah Bin Ka'b Aslamī رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُ said, 'One day I helped the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم make Wuḍū. Pleased, Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said to me, 'سَلْ رَبَّہٗ' [Rabī'ah ask (you will be given what you ask for)]. I replied, 'أَسْأَلُکَ مُرَافَقَتَکَ فِي الْجَنَّۃ' (I ask you to keep me in your company in Heaven).'

Tujh say tujhī ko māng lūn to sab kuch mil jāye

Saw suwāl'awn say yehī aik suwāl achchā hay

To ask you for your closeness is to get everything

This plea is better than hundreds of other pleadings

Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم further asked, 'أَوَ غَيْرَ ذٰلِکَ' (Anything else?), I replied, 'Just this.' (In other words, Yā Rasūlallāh صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم! After seeking your closeness in Jannat-ul-Firdaus, what is left in the world and the Hereafter for me to ask for!)

Tujh say tujhī ko māng kar māng lī sārī kāināt

Mujh sā koī gadā nahīn, tujh sā koī sakhī nahīn

By asking you for your closeness I have asked for whole universe

Like no one is destitute, and like no one is generous

After Sayyidunā Rabī'ah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُ asked for the closeness of the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم in Jannat-ul-Firdaus and declined to ask for anything else, the Prophet of Raḥmah, the Intercessor of Ummah, the Owner of Jannah صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said: 'فَأَعِنِّي عَلٰي نَفْسِکَ بِکَثْرَۃِ السُّجُوْد' [Then help me by prostrating abundantly]. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 253, Ḥadīš 489) (In other words, we have granted you Heaven, now offering Nafl Ṣalāh abundantly as gratitude).

Ask for anything you want!

This blessed Ḥadīš has refreshed our faith. Sayyidunā Shaykh ‘Abdul Ḥaq Muḥaddiš Dihlvi has said, ‘The word ‘ask’ uttered by the blessed tongue of the Holy Prophet without any restriction and limitation shows that he has complete authority given to him by Allah. He can give whatever and to whomever he wants.’ ‘Allāmaḥ Būṣīrī has written the following couplet in his famous Qaṣīdah Burdah Sharīf:

فَإِنَّ مِنْ جُودِكَ الدُّنْيَا وَضَرَّتَهَا وَمِنْ عُلُومِكَ عِلْمَ اللَّوْجِ وَالْقَلَمِ

Yā Rasūlallāh! Both the world as well as the Hereafter are (only) a portion of your generosity. The knowledge of the Lauḥ-e-Maḥfūẓ and the Pen is simply a part of your knowledge.

Agar khayriyat dunyā-o-uqbā ārzū dārī Badargāhash bāyād-e-ḥarcheh man khawāhī tamannā kun

If you want the goodness of the world and the Hereafter, then come to this court and ask for whatever you want

(Ashi'at-ul-Lam‘āt, pp. 424-425, vol. 1)

Khāliq-e-Kul nay āp ko Mālik-e-Kul banā diyā Dawno jahān day diye qabza-o-ikhtiyār mayn

The Creator has made you the owner And has given both worlds in your power

Heavenly portal

Sayyidunā Sahl Bin ‘Abdullāh has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Rasūl has said: ‘There is a portal in Heaven called Rayyān. On the Day of Judgement, this portal will be opened for those who fast (in the world); no one else will be allowed to enter through this portal. It will be announced, ‘Where are the people who used to fast?’ They will stand up and no one else will be allowed to enter through this portal. It will be closed after they enter the Heaven.’ (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 625, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 1896)

Dear Islamic brothers! How fortunate the fasting Muslims are! They will be given great honour on the Day of Judgement. There will also be other fortunate Muslims walking into Heaven, but these Muslims will be given the privilege of entering through the portal called ‘Rayyān.’