Heavenly Rewards of the Righteous: Virtues Witnessed During the Blessed Miraj

Lofty palaces

It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ saw lofty palaces in Paradise. When he asked Sayyidunā Jibril عليه السلام about them, he was informed that they are for those that swallow their anger, and pardon, and overlook people, and Allah Almighty loves those who do good.¹

Anger is an involuntary thing. Anger is that emotion of the lower self that arises at the instance of taking revenge and due to it, the fire of retribution is kindled in the heart. There are many virtues concerning the one who controls himself in such a state and takes to pardoning and overlooking, one of which has just been mentioned.

Furthermore, the Prophet ﷺ stated, "Whosoever controlled his anger, whereas he was capable of acting upon it, then on the Day of Judgement, Allah Almighty will call him before all of creation and give him the choice of taking whichever ḥūr (maiden of paradise) he wishes."²

At another place, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned, "The best people of my Ummah are those that when anger comes to them, they immediately control themselves."³

Remember! Anger in and of itself is not bad. To come into a state of anger and go against the Sharīʿah is blameworthy and impermissible. However, to become angry at the correct time is also necessary.

Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥajar al-Makkī رحمة الله عليه states, "Falling short in anger, i.e. for it to become little that it completely diminishes or Becomes weak is a blameworthy characteristic, because in this state, a person's chivalry and sense of honour ceases. A person in whom the sense of honour ceases is not worthy of any form of perfection because he resembles women, rather he resembles insects."

¹ Musnad-al-Firdaus: 3188
² Sunan Abi Dāwūd: 4777
³ Al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī: 5793

Sayyidunā Imām Shāfiʿī رحمة الله عليه states, "Whoever is provoked and he does not feel a state of anger, then he is a donkey, and whoever someone pleases and he does not become pleased is a devil."¹

The Status of al-Ṣiddīq al-Akbar رضی اللہ عنہ

On the blessed night of Miʿrāj, when the beloved Prophet ﷺ entered Paradise, he saw a palace adorned with veils of silk. He asked Sayyidunā Jibril عليه السلام, "O Jibril! Who is this for?" He replied, "It is for Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضی اللہ عنہ."²

سبحٰن اللّٰہ Glory be to Allah Almighty! How wonderful is the status of the unparalleled devotee Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضی اللہ عنہ! It should be remembered that after the Prophets and Messengers عليهم السلام, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رضی اللہ عنہ is the most superior human being. His virtues are numerous. He is the first amongst the men to have believed in the Prophet ﷺ. He remained with the Prophet ﷺ in travel and outside of travel. He had the blessing of accompanying the beloved Prophet ﷺ on the journey of Hijrah.

He attained a rank of fanaʾ fi al-Rasul (being completely immersed in the Prophet ﷺ) such that he sacrificed his life, wealth, children, land, and everything else for the Beloved Prophet ﷺ. It is for this reason that in the court of Allah Almighty and the chosen

¹ Al-Zawajir, vol. 1, p. 103
² Al-Riyad Al-Nadirah, vol. 2, p. 110

Prophet ﷺ, he attained lofty ranks and became deserving of countless Divine bounties.

Bayaan ho kis zabaan say martaba Ṣiddīq-e-Akbar ka
Hai yaar-e-ghaar, Mahboob-e-Khudaa Ṣiddīq-e-Akbar ka

Rusul aur Ambiyaa kay ba'd jo Afzal ho 'alam say
Yeh 'alam mayn hay kis ka martaba, Siddiq-e-Akbar ka

Which words can describe the status of Siddiq-e-Akbar?
The Beloved of Allah is the companion in the cave of Siddiq-e-Akbar

Most superior after the Messengers and Prophets in all creation is Siddiq-e-Akbar
Whose rank is this in the world? It is the rank of Siddiq-e-Akbar

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

The Sound of the Footfalls of Sayyidunā Bilāl رضی اللہ عنہ

During his journey through Paradise, the Prophet ﷺ heard the sound of someone's footfalls, whereupon he was informed that they were Sayyidunā Bilāl's رضی اللہ عنہ.¹

May we be sacrificed for him! What a lofty status Sayyidunā Bilāl al-Habashī رضی اللہ عنہ has that the Prophet ﷺ hears the sound of his footfalls in Paradise! Which action was the cause of Sayyidunā Bilāl رضی اللہ عنہ attaining this rank?

¹ Zauq-e-Naʿt, p. 57
² Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 6037

It is narrated from Sayyidunā Bilāl رضی اللہ عنہ that the noble Messenger ﷺ once asked him at Fajr time, "O Bilāl! Inform me of the action that you have done since embracing Islam that you are most hopeful of reward for, because I heard the sound of your footfalls in Paradise before me." He replied, "According to me, I have not done any such action. However, whenever I have performed ghusl or wudu in the day or night, then I have offered as much prayer as Allah Almighty had decreed for me."¹

Explanation of the Hadith

Explaining the above-mentioned hadith, Ḥakīm al-Ummah, Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān Naʿīmī رحمة الله عليه states, "In all proBability, the Prophet ﷺ was blessed with a Miʿrāj on a particular night in the dream state and he asked Sayyidunā Bilāl رضی اللہ عنہ this question in the morning because the Fajr prayer on the morning of the bodily Miʿrāj was not congregational. Or this was all witnessed in the bodily Miʿrāj but the Prophet ﷺ asked this question after Fajr prayer on some other day and this explanation is more apparent."

He further states, "Sayyidunā Bilāl's رضی اللہ عنہ going ahead of the Prophet ﷺ in Paradise is like a servant going before the king to announce the royal arrival and to clear people from his path. The meaning of the hadith is, 'O Bilāl! What action did you do that you were honoured with such a service in my court?' It should be remembered that Sayyidunā Bilāl رضی اللہ عنہ did not accompany the Prophet ﷺ on the night of the Miʿrāj into Paradise nor did Sayyidunā Bilāl رضی اللہ عنہ experience a Miʿrāj. Rather, on that night, the Prophet ﷺ witnessed an incident that will actually transpire after the Day of Judgment such that the Prophet ﷺ will enter into Paradise before all of creation with Sayyidunā Bilāl رضی اللہ عنہ going ahead in his service.

¹ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2458