Seven Types Of People Under The Shade Of Allah
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. (These seven persons are) a just ruler, a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (i.e. worships Allah sincerely from childhood), a man whose heart is attached to the mosques (i.e. to pray the compulsory prayers in the mosque in congregation), two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only, a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah, a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity), and a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears.” (Bukhari, 660)
On the Day of Judgement Allah will grant shade to seven types of people:
- A just leader
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was one of the greatest leaders in the world. He (ﷺ) was a patient, kind, compassionate, honest and truthful in dealing with people, one of his qualities was Al-Amin (The Trustworthy). He (ﷺ) is our role model in all aspects of our life, we follow his sunnah and teachings. We obey the commands of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) and stay away from what is forbidden.
We should learn qualities of leadership and good characters from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), the sahaba and the righteous people before us and implement them in our roles as a shepherd to help us fulfill our duties equitably and effectively.
Narrated Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges. The ruler who has authority over people, is a guardian and is responsible for them, a man is a guardian of his family and is responsible for them; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and children and is responsible for them; a slave (Abu) is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it; so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges.” (Bukhari, 2554)
- A righteous youth, who grows up in the worship Allah
The Prophet ﷺ advised to: “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” (Narrated by Ibn Abbas)
During the time of the prophet, the youths were involved in learning the deen and spreading it. They served the Prophet ﷺ and followed the commands of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), they were empowered by the prophet's wisdom, knowledge and characters.
Let's look at the example of Anas Ibn Malik, a young man, who was a devoted servant of the Prophet (ﷺ) for many years. He learned from the Prophet (ﷺ) and shared his wisdom and knowledge with the ummah.
Anas (RA) was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) by his mom (Umm Sulaim) to serve the Prophet (ﷺ) at a young age. He served the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for 10 years. One day, Umm Sulaim (RA) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him to make dua for her son. The Prophet (ﷺ) supplicate to Allah to increase him in knowledge and prosperity. Anas (RA) lived up to an old age, he had several children and grandchildren and he was a wealthy and righteous man.
Narrated Umm Sulaim: that she said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Anas is your servant, so please invoke Allah’s blessing for him.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “O Allah! Increase his wealth and offspring and bless (for him) whatever You give him.” (Bukhari, 6378)
There are many examples of youths who were involved in the religious affairs during the time of the Prophet (ﷺ) and sahaba that we can learn from.
Another example is the people of the cave, which is mentioned in Surah Al-KahfI. They were young people who believed in Allah. They went to the cave to protect their deen and Allah used their story as a sign for the people. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said: “We narrated to you (O Muhammad (ﷺ) their story with truth: Truly, they were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah), and We increased them in guidance.” (18:13)
- A person whose heart is attached to the Masjid
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah will prepare for him who goes to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings.” (Bukhari, 662)
Another hadith that states some of the virtues of going to masjid for the obligatory prayers is stated below.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one’s house or in a business center, because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, Allah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allah’s forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: ‘O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind.’” (Bukhari, 477).
It is permissible for women to attend prayers in the masjid with proper islamic clothing, however it is better for them to pray in their houses. Abd Allah (b. Mas’ud) reported the prophet (ﷺ) as saying; “it is more excellent for a woman to pray in her house than in her courtyard, and more excellent for her to pray in her private chamber than in her house.” (Abu Dawud, 570)
- Two individuals who love each other, meet and depart from each other for the sake of Allah
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: “Verily. Allah would say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are those who have mutual love for My Glory’s sake? Today I shall shelter them in My shadow when there is no other shadow but the shadow of Mine.” (Muslim, 2566)
Narrated Anas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith:
1. The one to whom Allah and His Apostle becomes dearer than anything else.
2. Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah’s sake.
3. Who hates to revert to Atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire.” (Bukhari, 16)
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: “A person visited his brother in another town and Allah deputed an Angel to wait for him on his way and when he came to him he said: Where do you intend to go? He said: I intend to go to my brother in this town. He said: Have you done any favor to him (the repayment of which you intend to get)? He said: No, except this that I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. Thereupon he said: “I am a messenger to you from Allah: (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake).”” (Muslim, 2567a)
- A person who resisted temptation when tempted by someone with beauty and high statue
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said: “And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a great sin and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).” (17:32)
There is a story in Bukhari that tells us about the three men who were stocked in a cave. They decided to invoke Allah by mentioning their previous good deeds for Allah to remove the rock. The second man said, “O Allah! You know that I was in love with a cousin of mine, like the deepest love a man may have for a woman, and she told me that I would not get my desire fulfilled unless I paid her one-hundred Dinars (gold pieces). So, I struggled for it till I gathered the desired amount, and when I sat in between her legs, she told me to be afraid of Allah, and asked me not to deflower her except rightfully (by marriage). So, I got up and left her. O Allah! If You regard that, I did it for Your sake, kindly remove this rock. So, two-thirds of the rock was removed.” (Bukhari, 2215)
- A person who gives charity secretly
We have examples from the life the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and sahaba about given sadaqah and its virtues.
Narrated Zaid bin Aslam: “I heard Umar bin Al-Khattab saying: ‘We were ordered by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to give in charity, and that coincided with a time in which I had some wealth, so I said, “Today I will beat Abu Bakr, if ever I beat him.’” So I came with half of my wealth, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “What did you leave for your family?” I said: “The like of it.” And Abu Bakr came with everything he had, so he said: “O Abu Bakr! What did you leave for your family?” He said: “I left Allah and His Messenger for them.” I said: ‘[By Allah] I will never be able to beat him to something.’” (At-Tirmidhi, 3675)
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) encouraged us to give charity even if it is a half a date. When one gives charity for the sake of Allah the angel will make dua for him and Allah will increase His blessings upon the person. Giving charity will not decrease one's wealth. However, Allah will increase it and put barakah in the person's prosperity.
Narrated Adi bin Hatim heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying: “Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity.” (Bukhari, 1417)
There is another hadith stating that when a person leaves a recurring charity, it will continue to benefit him even after death. Furthermore, giving sincere charity for the sake of Allah will benefit the person from this life and the Hereafter.
Zaynab bint Khuzaimah (RA), also known as ‘The Mother of the Poor’, and Zaynab bint Jahsh (RA), The one with the ‘Longest Arm’, were known for their generosity, benevolence and kindness.
It was narrated from Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the wives of the Prophet “gathered around him and said:
Which of us will be the first to follow you (in death)?” He said: “The one of you who has the longest arms.” They took a stick and started to measure their arms. But Sawdah was the first one to follow him. She was the one who had the longest arms, because she used to give in charity a great deal.” (An-Nasai, 2541).
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Most Blessed and High, said: “O son of Adam, spend. I will spend on you. The right hand of Allah is full and overflowing and in nothing would diminish it, by overspending day and night.” (Muslim, 993a)
- A person who remembers Allah in private and weeps.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said:
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (13:28)
“And remember Allah often that you may succeed” (62:10)
“The men who remember Allah often and the women who do so, for them Allah had prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (33:35)
Aisha said: “The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) used to remember Allah at all moments.” (Muslim, 373)
Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Lord (Allah) in comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one.” (Bukhari, 6407)
Let’s keep our tongue and heart busy with the remembrance of Allah. We could remember Allah everyone where His name is allowed to be mentioned.
May Allah make us among those who will be under His shade on the Day of Resurection. May Allah make it easy for us to do the deeds that pleased Him and stay way from sins.