Download PDF: [S] Esaale Sawaab (Islamic story)

It is the unanimous opinion of the Ahle Sunnah wa Jamaah and of the four Imams of the Ahle Sunnah wa Jamaah that indeed the Du’a and the Salaam of those who are living certainly reach Muslims who have passed away. At the same time, this is also a means of great benefit for those who have passed away. In the Hidaayah Shareef it is mentioned that, “It is permissible for one person to convey the reward of his actions to another and this is a common law. Whether this is Salaah, fasting, charity or any other action. This is the Madhab of the Ahle Sunnah wa Jamaah.” (Hidaayah, 276, Al Haj Anis Saghaayir).

 

We will present the advice for some eminent souls in Islam which will certainly be a source of Nur for us. It is also hoped that the true seeker will gain some benefit from this.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Auf bin Malik – may Allah be pleased with him – states, “Once, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – made Du’a at the Janazah of a certain person in the following words, ‘O Allah please pardon him and show Mercy on him. Please give him safety in his stay. Please make his grave expansive and allow it to be cleansed with water, ice and snow. And please cleanse him of his sins in such a way as a white cloth is cleansed from any dirt and please bestow upon him a better dwelling (than the dwelling of this world), and give him a better family than his family and a better wife than his wife and allow him to enter Jannah and save him from the punishment of Hell and the punishment of the grave.’” Hadrat Sayyiduna Auf bin Maalik – may Allah be pleased with him – also mentions that when he heard these blessed words, he had a wish if only he was the person who had actually passed away. He also mentions that he memorised these words. (Mishkaat Shareef, 1/145)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Umaamah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates, “When I used to see Hadrat Sayyiduna Anas stand in front of the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, I used to think that he was standing in Salaah or was about to commence the Salaah. He used to then make Salaam and then leave.” (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/417)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – states that, “When a Muslim passes by the grave of another Muslim and then makes Salaam. Then whether he knew that person in this world or not, in all condition, the person in the grave hears this SALAAM and also replies to this Salaam.” (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/417)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Nafe – may Allah be pleased with him – is considered as one of the giants in the science of Hadith and Qirah and was among the eminent Taaba’een. He states, “I saw Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them – present himself in front of the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – on numerous occasions. He used to then greet the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – and then his father and only then return home.” (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/417)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Bishar bin Mansur – may Allah be pleased with him – was also considered an eminent Muhaddith and a very pious and noble person. Every day, he used to perform five hundred rak’ah of Nawafil and every third day, he used to complete the Qur’an. This was his usual practise. He passed away in 180 A.H.

 

He narrates, “During the plague, there was a person who used the visit the cemetery every day and used to perform the Janaza Salaah and then return home. In the evening, he used to go to the cemetery and make Du’a in the following words, ‘O Allah! Please support people in their moments of danger, bestow Mercy upon them in their moments of poverty and please accept their goods deeds.’”

This same person reports, “One evening, I did not go to the cemetery. However, at night while I was asleep, I noticed many people approaching me and when I asked them why they had approached me and what was their need. They declared, ‘Every day, your Du’a reaches us. However, one day, your Du’a did not reach us. What is the reason for this?’” He admits that from that moment onwards, he never missed going to the cemetery every day. (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/417)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali bin Moosa Haddad – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates, “I once accompanied Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ahmed bin Hambal – may Allah be pleased with him – to a Janazah. Mohammed bin Qudaamah Juhari was also with us on this occasion. When the burial had been complete, a blind person then stood next to the grave and began to read the Qur’an. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam bin Hambal – may Allah be pleased with him – mentioned to him that it was Bid’ah to read the Qur’an next to a grave. We then came away from the cemetery. As we walked along, Mohammed bin Qudaamah Juhari then asked the great Imam, ‘What is your opinion of Mubasshir bin Ismail Halbi?’

 

“The great Imam replied, ‘He is certainly a most authentic and reputable authority in Hadith.’ Mohammed bin Qudaamah also mentioned that this eminent Muhaddith was also among the teachers of the great Imam in the field of Hadith. The great Imam acknowledged this as well. Mohammed bin Qudaamah Juhari then declared, “I was informed by Mubasshir bin Ismail Halbi, who narrates that he was informed by Abdul Rahman bin Alaa bin Al Haaj, who narrates from his father that he gave advice that after his passing, the beginning and the last section of Surah Baqarah be recited at his head side. He had also mentioned that he has also heard Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them – also give the same advice.’” When the great Imam heard these words, he sent Ali bin Moosa Haddad to go and inform the blind person to continue reading Qur’an near the grave. (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/418)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Mohammed bin Ahmed Maruzi – may Allah be pleased with him – states that, “I heard Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ahmed bin Hambal – may Allah be pleased with him – declare that, ‘When you people enter the cemetery, then you should recite the Surah Fatiha, Surah Ikhlas, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas and  convey the Thawaab to the people in the cemetery. The reward of this will be reach everyone in the cemetery.’” (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/418)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Qulaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – is considered as an eminent Muhaddith and is also famous as someone who was extremely pious. He states, “Once, I was coming from Syria towards Basrah and arrived at a place called Khandaq. I made Wudu and performed two rak’ah of Salaah. I placed my head on a certain grave and dozed off. When I awoke, the person in the grave was complaining to me and informed me that this evening, I had certainly caused him great inconvenience. He then informed me, ‘You people are able to perform deeds and actions and we are unable to do so. Listen, the two rak’ah of yours is more valuable than anything on earth’, and he continued, ‘Go and convey our Salaams to the people on earth and inform them that their Du’a transforms into a mighty mountain (of reward) for us and this certainly reaches us.’” (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/418)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Rasheedi states, “I once saw Hadrat Sayyiduna Mohammed Tusi – may Allah be pleased with him, who was a famous teacher, in a dream. He informed me, ‘Please notify Abu Sa’eed Saffaar that we had promised never to forget each other. (Inform him) that I have not forgotten him but he had forgotten me.’ When I eyes opened, I went and informed Abu Sa’eed Saffaar about my dream. He then mentioned, ‘What can I tell you, every Jumu’ah I visit his grave and also perform Esaal-e-Thawab for him. However, this Jumu’ah I could not go and perhaps this is what he is complaining about.’” (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/423)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Bashaar bin Ghaalib Najrani – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that, “I used to always make Du’a for Sayyidah Rabia Basariyyah Adawiyyah in abundance. Once, in a dream she mentioned to me, ‘O Bashaar bin Ghalib! Your gift certainly reaches me in the form of a tray filled with Nur which is covered with a piece of silk cloth.’ I then asked her to explain and she replied, ‘Always remember that the Du’a of those who are still alive which they make for the Marhoumeen is certainly accepted and it is placed on a tray of Nur and covered with a piece of silk cloth and then brought to the person in the grave. The Angel who brings this gift then informs us that a certain person had conveyed this gift to you.’ The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has also declared that, ‘The example of a person in the grave is like the person who is calling out when he is drowning. The person in the grave is always waiting for a member of his family to make Esaale Thawaab for him or make Du’a so that this gift can reach him and when this reaches them, they display even more happiness than the happiness which is displayed by a person who receives all the gifts in the world.’” (Ihya ul Ulum, 4/417)

 

If only Muslims could learn a lesson from this. And if only they can be blessed with this great behaviour. Yet, sadly, in the present time, when someone passes away, their own family and relatives completely forget about these people. They do not visit the graves of the Marhoumeen, they make no Esaale Thawaab for them, they do not make Du’a for them and they do not even visit the cemetery. They do not give charity on behalf of the deceased, they don’t the Qur’an for the deceased, nor do they feed in the name of the deceased. They make no Khatams for the deceased.

 

In fact, another great fitnah is the fitnah of the Wahabi/Deobandi cult whose aim is to make sure that a Muslim has no links with the person who has passed away. Sadly, innocent Muslims are also falling prey to this fitna. Another great tragedy is that people are enjoying the wealth and comfort of the people who have passed away but have no time to even read a small Fatiha for these people.

 

They completely forget the great favours which have been done to them by those who have passed away and they completely forget to even remember these Marhoumeen. The Qur’an has also advised us that we should repay a favour or a good act with another good deed or good act. Yet, we completely refuse to do this.

 

Our parents have cared for us, they gave us a roof over our heads, therefore, it is only right that we remember them and do not forget their favours upon us. We should continue to make Du’a for them and continue to make Esaale Thawaab for them. Therefore, we urge all Muslims to constantly visit their graves, constantly make Du’a for them, and constantly make Esaale Thawaab for them.