THE 114THKHUTBAH ON WAYS TO EARN REWARD AFTER DEATH DELIVERED AT
AREA 10 JUMA’AH MASJID ABUJA, BY YAHYA
GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 7TH APRIL 2017/ 10TH RAJAB
1438 AFTER HIJRA
TOPIC:
WAYS TO EARN REWARD AFTER DEATH
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious the
Most Merciful
Respected brothers and sisters in Islam,
today’s sermon centered on the ways to
earn reward even after death.
As we are all aware, Death
in Islam is the termination of this worldly life and the beginning of new and
eternal life. Death is the separation of soul from body, and its removal from
this worldly life to the new life of Barzakh as destined by Allah (SWT).No
matter how long, one lives nothing will save him/her from death. Strong guards
and protections or towers won't save him. Progress of science will never
overcome death. Advanced health care
systems will never overcome death. Family, friends, political influence, money,
power, connections, prestige, cannot benefit one at the
point of Death.
Life is short and slips away second by second, every minute,
every day passes brings you closer to death, and your worldly life and
enjoyments are becoming to an end. Thus intelligent people invest in dealings
and transactions that have long lasting benefits that can benefit them in this
world and hereafter.
Those who are smart
always plan for their final destination; they are worried about their eternal
happiness/ success and want to have as many good deeds as they can for the long
journey. They not only perform good deeds while they are alive, but they also
make sure they leave behind a legacy that benefits them after they are gone.
The prophet (SAW) was
reported to have said: “When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end
except for three: ongoing charity (sadaqatul
Jaariyah), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous son who prays for
him”. an-Nasa’i
some of the verses and
ahadith on death and ways to earn reward even after death include:
1.
Leaving
behind a good legacy is highly encouraged in Islam: Allah says “
Indeed, it is We who
bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left
behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register”. Q36:12
2.
Man
will wish to have more good deeds at time of Death.
3.
Allah
says” And spend [in the way of Allah ] from what We have provided you before
death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay
me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous."
But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is
acquainted with what you do. Q63: 10-
11
4.
Giving
to others is a big transaction between you and Allah (SWT).
“…So recite what is
easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan.
And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah
. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed,
Allah is Forgiving and Merciful”. Q 76:20
5.
A
giver always earns reward and peace of mind: “As for he who gives and fears Allah, and believes in the best
[reward],We will ease him .[in this life and hereafter] toward ease” 92:4
6.
When
a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except for three:
The prophet (SAW) was
reported to have said: “When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end
except for three: ongoing charity (sadaqatul
Jaariyah), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous son who prays for him”. an-Nasa’i
7.
A
clear example from Umar [RA] on endowment facilities:
It was Narrated that When 'Umar (RA) got a
piece of land in Khaibar,
he came to the Prophet
(SAW) saying, "I have got a piece of land, better than which I have never
got. So what do you advise me regarding it?" The Prophet said, "If
you wish you can keep it as an endowment to be used for charitable
purposes." So, 'Umar gave the land in charity (i.e. as an endowments on
the condition that the land would neither be sold nor given as a present, nor
bequeathed, (and its yield) would be used for the poor, the kinsmen, the
emancipation of slaves, Jihad, and for guests and travelers; and its
administrator could eat in a reasonable just manner, and he also could feed his
friends without intending to be wealthy by its means." Bukhari Vol. 4 :
No. 33.
SOME WAYS TO EARN
REWARD AFTER DEATH
Some of the ways to
earn reward even after death include:
1.
SADAQATUL JARIYAH
(ONGOING CHARITY)
Sadaqah jariyah
(ongoing charity) refers to any righteous deed of a person that continues after
death and the reward is added to the person’s book of deeds as long as that
deed is benefited from. Some forms of ongoing charity are:
a-
Plant a tree.
“Whenever a Muslim plants a tree or cultivates land and birds or a man or a beast
eats out of them, it is charity on his behalf.” (Muslim)
b-
Digging up a well or
setting up water borehole at different places for travellers and wayfarers. One
of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) came to him and informed that his
mother had passed away. He asked him about what he should do as a sadaqah for
her. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied: “Water (is best).” So he dug a well and
said: “It is for my mother.” (Abu Dawood; reliable)
c-
Building an Islamic
centre, orpharnage, charitable organisation or building a mosque or
contributing to it by providing prayer mats, gen. donations, furniture, or
other facilities. “If anyone builds a mosque, Allah would build for him a
similar place in Paradise.” (Bukhari)
d-
Distributing copies of
the Quran and other Islamic literature, or placing it somewhere that people can
benefit from.
e-
WAQF services and
facilities
WAQF SERVICES AND
FACILITIES
Waqf (endowment) :
simply means the permanent dedication of a portion of one’s wealth for the
pleasure of Allah. This means that a portion of a person’s property is
alienated from him/her and transferred to Allah. Ownership thus passes from the
waqif/a (person making the waqf) to Allah. The property is then used for
purposes that are shariah compliant. Essential to the scheme is that the corpus
of the property remains intact while income derived therefrom, or the property
itself, is used for diverse Islamic causes as a sadaqa jariya (recurring,
continuous or on-going charity) including socio-economic, military, or
political purposes for the benefit of Muslims as well as non-Muslims.
For example:
The Haram of Ka’bah in
Makkah was the first Waqf (Surah Al-Imraan, verse 96). Masjid Quba and Masjid
An-Nabaweeh in Medinah were the first Waqf properties established by Prophet
Muhammad (SAW). Since then, titles to religious properties, including mosques,
Islamic centers, and schools are held by a Waqf (Islamic trust) institution.
Waqf properties and their value become restricted on a continuous basis, to
serve the Islamic objectives prescribed at inception by their founders for the
benefit of the general Ummah
2.
BENEFICIAL KNOWLEDGE
Islam encourages us to
gain and spread knowledge that is beneficial and brings us closer to Allah. As
long as people benefit from the knowledge passed on by us, we will continue to
gain the rewards. Below are some examples:
a-
Participate in dawah activities. It is an
immensely rewarding act if someone is guided through us. Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
said: “Whoever calls people to true guidance will have a reward equal to that
of those who follow him, without that detracting from their reward in the
slightest. And whoever calls people to misguidance will have a (burden of) sin
equal to that of those who follow him, without that detracting from their sins
in the slightest.” (Ibn Majah; authentic)
b-
Teach the recitation
and meaning of the Quran, and aid in its memorization.
c-
Help someone memorise
a dua or phrase of remembrance (dhikr).
d-
Give talks and
lectures that impart beneficial knowledge, or participate in their arrangement.
e-
Contribute to the
publication of books, articles, and pamphlets that aim to propagate Islamic
knowledge by writing, translating, designing, editing, and funding.
f-
To sponsor or give
scholarship or any financial assistance to a young Islamic student to further
his Islamic studies and benefit Ummah.
RAISING RIGHTEOUS CHILDREN
Righteous children are
the happiness and coolness of their parents’ eyes. They are obedient to Allah
and dutiful to their parents. Here is how we can attain lasting rewards through
our children:
a-
Nurture sound iman in your children so that they grow up as
strong Muslims and productive members of the Ummah. Whatever good they do,
based on what you taught them, will also reach you.
Prophet Muhammad (sa)
told us: “Whoever leads to good is like the one who does it.” (at-Tirmidhi;
authenticated by al-Albani)
b-
Teach the salah
(prayer) to your children yourself. Whenever they will pray, you will also be
rewarded for it.
c-
Teach your children
the everyday duas (invocations) and Islamic morals and manners.
d-
Teach your children
the recitation of Quran, or if you are unable to do it yourself hire someone
and facilitate their Quran learning journey.
e-
Teach them the dua
they should make for you as parents:”My Lord, have mercy upon them as they
brought me up [when I was] small.” (Surah Isra 17: 24)
f-
Encourage your
children to gain religious knowledge and facilitate their participation in
gatherings of knowledge.
g-
Encourage your
children to spend their resources, time, and energy in causes that aim to
spread the message of Islam.
A deed that is done
purely and sincerely for the sake of Allah goes a long way and is multiplied in
terms of rewards. May Allah grant us the ability to spend in His way and leave
behind a legacy of righteousness that will benefit us in this life and
hereafterAmeen.
NB. I will seize this
opportunity on behalf of the mosque committee and Area 10 muslim community, to
condole with the family and the entire Muslim ummah most especially the people
of Jos on the loss of Shekh Dr. Alhassan sa’eed Adam JosMay Allah (SWT) forgive
his short comings accept all his contributions to islam and grant him jannatul firdaus. AMEEN
Contact: yahyalyolawi@gmail.com
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