Daily Lesson 168
Virtue 5 – One of three Masjids to be visited
Many people travel around the world for different reasons. When it comes to religious reasons for travel our Beloved Nabi ﷺ has said:
“Do not undertake a journey to visit any Masjid, but three: this Masjid of mine (Masjid An Nabwi ﷺ in Madeenah), the Al Masjid Al Haram (Makkah) and Al Masjid Al Aqsa” (Muslim)
From this Hadith, we learn that a person is forbidden from travelling to visit a Masjid other than the three sacred Masajid mentioned.
What does this mean?
1) It doesn’t mean a person can’t travel to another Masjid at all. It’s down to the reason for travel.
A) So, if a person travels to another Masjid for something that is not available at his own local Masjid, for example, to learn knowledge, or to teach and propagate knowledge, or as a tourist to see a Masjid this is fine and is permissible.
B) If a person travels with the sole purpose of worship in another Masjid (thinking it to be more virtuous or rewarding) this is not permissible as every masjid holds the same reward except the 3 mentioned in this hadeeth.
2) The 3 Masajid mentioned, hold far greater reward than any other masjid so for this reason, there is obvious permissibility.
3) With this we also get an indication that with giving permission we are also encouraged to visit these 3 Masajid as often as possible as forbidding from other Masajid and allowing to visit these 3 show how special they are and thus should be visited as often as possible.
Being one of the three Masjids for which permission has been granted to travel shows the great position Al Aqsa holds in the Eyes of Allah Ta’ala and for all the Muslims.
The rewards for loving each other to please Allah Ta’ala
Having friends and sharing love is part of life. However, making friends and sharing love to make Allah Ta’ala happy, is something which will actually make Allah Ta’ala happy and bring us lots of rewards.
Let us look at a few rewards for loving one another for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.
Reward 1 – Sweetness of Iman
A person who loves someone only to make Allah Ta’ala happy will taste the sweetness of Imaan (this is a very special feeling, a person experiences within himself!)
Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه reports that our beloved Nabi ﷺ said:
None will taste the sweetness of faith until he loves a person only for the sake of Allah… (Bukhari)
Reward 2 – Shade under Allah Ta’ala’s Throne
Those who meet and love for the sake of Allah Ta’ala will be among the chosen servants to be given a very special place under Allah Ta’ala’s Arsh (Throne) on the day of Qiyamah.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reports that our beloved Nabi ﷺ said:
There are seven whom Allah Ta’ala will shade on a day when there is no shade but his….. (one of these seven are) two (individuals) who love each other, meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah (to please Allah only)… (Bukhari)
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reports that our beloved Nabi ﷺ said:
Verily, Allah Ta’ala will say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are those who love each other for the sake of my glory? Today, I will shelter them in my shade on a day when there is no shade but mine. (Muslim)
Reward 3 – A condition to enter Jannah
A person will not be able to enter Jannah till he loves others (for the sake of Allah Ta’ala).
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reports that our beloved Nabi ﷺ said:
You will not enter Paradise until you have faith and you will not have faith until you love each other. Shall I show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace between yourselves. (Muslim)
Reward 4 – Pulpits (raised platforms) made of light
People who love one another to make Allah Ta’ala happy will made to sit on pulpits made of light and this will be so special that even the Prophets and martyrs will this person!
Mu’adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه reports that our beloved Nabi ﷺ said:
Allah Almighty said: Those who love each other for the sake of my glory will be upon pulpits of light, admired by the prophets and the martyrs. (Tirmidhi)
Reward 5 – Allah Ta’ala’s love is guaranteed!
Like with fasting, recitation of the Glorious Qur’an should increase as with other forms of ibadah/worship.
Mu’adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه reports that our beloved Nabi ﷺ said:
Allah Almighty said: My love is assured for those who love each other for my sake, who sit together for my sake, who visit each other for my sake, and who spend on each other for my sake. (Ahmad)
Allah Ta’ala likes us to express our love to one another as this increases us in love:
To express one’s love, one should say:
إِنِّي أُحِبُّكَ فِي اللَّهِ
I love you for the sake of Allah
In reply the following words should be said:
أَحَبَّكَ الَّذِي أَحْبَبْتَنِي لَهُ
May the One (Allah) for whose sake you love me, also love you.
(Abī Dāwūd)