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It is said that there was once in Egypt a famous businessman whose name was Atiyah bin Khalf. He was once very rich and then suddenly became very poor and destitute. He reached such a state that besides the clothing he was wearing, he had nothing else.

 

When the Day of ‘Aashurah arrived, he went to the Jamia Mmasjid of Sayyiduna Amr bin Al-Aas to perform the Fajr Salaah. It is a common practise that on this day, the ladies also arrive in the Masjid to make Du’a on this special occasion. Atiyah bin Khalf also stood on one side, away from the females, and made Du’a.

 

Suddenly, a very poor lady with her child approached Atiyah bin Khalf and requested him to help her with something. She told him that she had nothing in her house and wanted something which she could sell and buy some food for her and her child and that the father of the child had also passed away.

 

Atiyah bin Khalf thought to himself, “I am not the owner of anything and besides this clothing which I am wearing, I have no other clothing. If I give this lady this set of clothing, I will have no clothes in front of these people. However, if I do not help this lady, Allah azza wajal and His Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam will become unhappy with me.”

 

After thinking in this manner, Atiyah bin Khalf informed the lady that she should follow him to his house with the child. When they arrived there, he asked her to wait outside and he went into his house. He then found an old piece of cloth which was on one side of the house and decided that he would cover himself with this old piece of cloth and give the lady the clothes he was wearing. After doing this, he then handed his clothes to the lady while he still remained inside his house.

 

As the lady was leaving, she made a special Du’a for him, “May Allah azza wajal allow you to wear Jannati clothing and not to make you reliant on anyone for the rest of your life.”

 

When Atiyah bin Khalf heard this Du’a, he was very happy. He then remained in his house the entire day and night making the Dhikr of the Allah azza wajal and then fell off to sleep. While he slept, in a dream, he saw a very pretty looking lady standing in front of him. She had such beauty that he had not seen before. She was holding an apple in her hand. He asked her who she was. She replied that her name was ‘Aashurah and that she was going to be his wife in Jannah. He then asked her how he had attained such a blessing.  She replied that it was because he had helped the poor lady and her child the previous day.

 

When Atiyah bin Khalf awoke, he was extremely pleased by this and made Du’a to Allah azza wajal to take him away from this world as soon as possible. He then made Wudu and performed two Rak’ah of Salaah and gave thanks to the Allah azza wajal. He made Du’a, “O Allah! If my dream was true and that my wife in Jannah will be this person I had seen by the name of ‘Aashurah, then call me back to Your Divine Court.”’

 

It is reported that while Atiyah bin Khalf was making this Du’a, his soul was taken away and he passed away in this state.

(Nuzhatul Majaalis, 1/223)

 

O Muslims! These are just a few stories which are received by a true Muslim at the time of his or her death. But, where are those Muslims who are preparing for this? Where are those Muslims who plant the seeds of good deeds in this world so that they can reap the reward in the Hereafter? Remember that no wealth is decreased by giving Sadaqah. As a matter of fact, it only increases one’s wealth. Where are the people who have amassed wealth and populated areas with their wealth and power? Even their forefathers are not remembered.

 

How great are those people who have done good in this world and have covered themselves with good in the Hereafter? They have kept reward for themselves on that special day which the Qur’an describes in Surah Muddatthir (74), verse 38:

 

کُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا کَسَبَتْ رَہِیۡنَۃٌ ﴿ۙ۳۸﴾

“Every soul is pledged (or promised) for what it has done.”