Deeds, whether prayer, or the dhikr or "remembrance" of Allah, or fasting, or jihad, do not cause one to reach the end of the path, but are merely proper manners before the majesty of the Divine while on it. Just as putting one’s net in the sea does not produce fish, though one must keep it there so that if Allah sends fish they can be caught—so too works are a net, and their spiritual outcomes are from Allah. Abu Huraira (ra) heard the Holy Prophet (saw) say:
"None of you shall be saved by his works." A man said, "Not even you yourself, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Not even me myself, unless Allah envelopes me in Mercy from Him. But aim to do right" (Muslim, 4.2169: 2816).
Imam Nawawi comments:
The outward purport of these ahadeeth bears out the position of those who are in the right, that no one deserves reward and paradise for his acts of obedience. As for the words of Allah Most High:
The outward purport of these ahadeeth bears out the position of those who are in the right, that no one deserves reward and paradise for his acts of obedience. As for the words of Allah Most High:
"Enter paradise for that which you have done" (an-Nahl 16:32),
"That is paradise, which you have been bequeathed for what you used to do" (al-'Araf 7:43),
"That is paradise, which you have been bequeathed for what you used to do" (al-'Araf 7:43),
and similar verses that indicate that paradise is entered by virtue of works, they do not contradict these hadiths. Rather, the meaning of the verses is that entering paradise is because of works, although divinely given success (tawfiq) to do those works, and being guided to have sincerity in them, and their acceptability are the Mercy of Allah Most High and His Favor (Sharh Sahih Muslim, 17.160–61).
... extract from Nuh Ha Mim Keller's 'The Aphorisms of ibn Atta'illah'
3 comments:
Salam,
this is another topic that pierces the heart T_T
May Allah s.w.t envelop all of us in Mercy from Him...
Aaameeen...
Wassalam.
my musing today ... would i like to enter paradise by the Grace of Allah or by the amount of my actions? i honestly don't think that what i have been able to do for Allah up till today will accumulate enough credits to enter paradise by my actions alone. i will however try to do my best and may Allah accepts all my deeds and give me His Grace to enter paradise.
Thank you hoopoe for this reminder.
Amin.
May He accepts all our deeds, showers us His Grace and Mercy for our eventual Return to Him.
Post a Comment