GOOD DEEDS WHICH REMOVE EVILS
Do any other good deeds except true Repentance also remove sins? The answer is:
Surely good deeds take away evil deeds; (11:114)
This apparently shows that doing good deeds removes the effects of evil ones. But it could not be made specific as to which good deeds are so effective. Of course there are many narrations that speak about such good deeds. For instance, it is mentioned in Biharul Anwar, vol. 15, that a person came to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and submitted, "0 messenger of God I have committed a very big sin (he had, when he was an unbeliever, buried his daughter alive). So please show me a good deed that may result in my forgiveness by God." The Prophet asked, "Is your mother alive?" He replied in the negative. (This indicates that behaving nicely with mother is the best remedy for the removal of great consequences of great sins). The Holy Prophet then asked, "Is your aunt (mother's sister) alive?" He said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Go and behave nicely with your aunt (it will turn into a good behaviour with your mother due to her close relation with your late mother)." Then the Holy Prophet added, "It would have been better had his mother been alive," because good behaviour with mother is very effective in removing consequences of such sins.
QUESTIONS ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION
It is mentioned at many places in the Holy Quran that the Messengers and the communities will be asked,
Most certainly then We will question those to whom (the apostles) were sent, and most certainly We will also question the apostles; (7:6)
The messengers and Prophets will be asked, "We had sent you to invite people towards Us. Did you convey the message to them?" They will submit, "Our Lord! You are witness that we left no stone unturned in this matter." A voice will be heard "Who is your
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witness?" All will reply, "0 Our Lord! Our witness is the last prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)."
And thus We have made you a medium (just) nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Apostle may be a bearer of witness to you; (2:143)
Similarly, Isa (a.s.) will be asked, "Did you tell people to worship you and your mother?" Prophet Isa (a.s.) will tremble and say, "My Lord! Had I said so, You must have known it at once. What I said was only that I am a servant of God. So worship only my Lord and your Lord."
And when Allah will say: 0 Isa son of Marium! did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah, he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); (5:116)
Communities will also be questioned, "Did your messenger not inform you about the events of today?" All would reply, "Yes, 0 Lord, they did!"
BOUNTIES WOULD BE QUESTIONED
On the Day of the Grand Gathering one of the questions will also be about bounties granted to us by the Lord of the Universe as to what was our attitude regarding the same.
Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons. (102:8)
Meaning, "Did you thank God for the bounties or you lived and behaved ungratefully?"
There are different narrations regarding thanklessness. The combined summary is that there are several standards of bounties, the most important and the highest rank is that of the bounty of guardianship (Wilayat) of Aale Muhammad, rather it is the only absolute bounty.
Imam (a.s.) said to Qatadah, "What do you Sunnis say about the Holy verse :
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Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons." (102:8)
He replied, "There will be questioning about these food articles like bread and water etc." The Imam (a.s.) said, "God is far higher than the questioner of such queries. Will you ever invite a guest and, after serving him good food, ask him about what he ate?" Qatadah asked, "Then what is meant by 'boons'?" The Imam replied, "It is the bounty in the form of our, the Aale Muhammad's love."
How WAS YOUR BEHAVIOUR WITH THE BOUNTY OF WILAYAT?
It will be asked on the Day, "How did you deal with Aale Muhammad? To what extent you loved them? How much did you obey them?" Enemies of Ahle Bayt would be asked, "Why did you have enmity towards this great bounty?" Nothing would be asked about food and water, except extravagance made in it or about gaining it from prohibited sources and about spending it in prohibited ways. Likewise it will be asked, "Why did you commit such and such prohibited deed?"
EVERYONE WILL BE QUESTIONED ABOUT FOUR THINGS
Specific questions will be asked regarding some bounties. One of them is man's lifespan. It is mentioned in narrations that angels will not allow people to go further in the field of Mahshar until they reply four queries :
How did he spend his life and in which deeds was he engaged during his youth.
Where from and how he or she earned money and where and how they spent it?
There will be questioning about the Wilayat of Aale Muhammad (a.s.) and the Divine Law will be enforced very strictly in this matter.
Where did one spend the wealth? If it were given to poor for making a show of generosity, it will draw punishment.
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QUESTIONING ABOUT WORSHIP ACTS
And stop them, for they shall be questioned: (37:24)
The first question in the Gathering would be about Prayer.
If Prayer is accepted all other deeds would also be accepted ...
1
Were the obligatory prayers offered in their proper times or not? Since Prayer is the greatest pillar of religion and the greatest trust of God, was it offered properly? Then there will be inquiry about all other worships and prayers.
SINS ARE OF THREE KINDS
Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.) says in Nahaj-ul-Balagah :
Sins are of three kinds : The one, which will be forgiven, two; the doer of which can hope for pardon and three; the sin which would never be forgiven.
The forgivable sin will be that which might have been paid for in the world. For example, the offender might have been punished according to Shariat Law because God is far higher than to punish anybody twice for one and the same offence. Another kind of sin, which can be hoped to be pardoned, is the sin the compensation for which might not have been made in the worldly life but the offender had made a true repentance.
MIRSAD OR THE VALLEY OF PEOPLE'S RIGHTS
The third type of sin, which is not at all forgivable, is the taking away of someone's right or oppressing somebody. These are the rights of people. God will never overlook them. If one has taken unfairly or oppressively even a little trifling thing of somebody unjustly, Almighty Allah will make the oppressor repay it to the oppressed. That is meant by 'Mirsad' in the verse :
Most surely your Lord is watching (Mirsad). (89:14)
It is described as the 'Valley of people's rights', that is to say; your
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1 Biharul Anwar vol.3.
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Lord is there to secure everyone's right.
SUSPENSION FOR ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF A STRAW
Muhaddith Qummi has, in Manazelul Aakhirah, recorded the story of a famous pious man Sulaiman Daaraai, the well-known worshipper. He writes that after he died, some people saw him in their dreams and asked about his condition. He said, "I have remained suspended for one year in a valley. The reason is that, one day, some people were carrying bundles of hay to the city. I just took one straw from a bundle for using it as a toothpick. After my death, I am in this chastisement for the last one year for the sin of not obtaining the consent of the owner of the hay before taking up the straw from his bundle. They (the angels) ask me, 'Did you know that the owner would have permitted it?'"
A THOUSAND YEARS IN THE VALLEY OF OPPRESSIONS
Do not ask, "Does a straw have any worth?" It is true that its value is insignificant. Yet, it is anyway a property of someone. Some people take up some things from the property in the presence of the owner (and the owner keeps quiet by way of regard or respect). Such taking away of other's property is called 'Shameless taking' about which it is mentioned in narrations that it is just like usurpation and hence prohibited.
Perform such deeds that, while leaving this world, there may not be even the slightest burden on your shoulders. If you were careless about this till now, still try to obtain the agreement of the owners of the usurped things. This valley of rights too has stages depending on the people. It is written that for some, such suspension will be for a thousand years.
ENCROACHMENT OF OTHERS' RIGHTS
God Almighty will deal with people in two ways. One dealing will be based on Justice and another on Grace. Everyone who has to pay someone's rights will be compensated by snatching away some good deeds of the oppressor and giving them to the oppressed one. This dealing will be based on Justice. For instance, somebody had put a
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false allegation on someone or had backbitten him or her. Now only God knows how many of the good deeds of the backbiter should be taken from him and given to the oppressed one. Now, in case, the oppressor has nothing like a good deed in his account, the demand of Divine Justice will be that a proportionate sin of the oppressed may be added to the account of the oppressor or backbiter.
No OPPRESSOR WILL ESCAPE THE PUNISHMENT DUE TO HIM
There is a lengthy tradition in Rauzatul Kafi regarding the accounting and dispensing of justice on the Day of Resurrection (tradition no.79). Therein Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) is reported to have said, "God Almighty says, 'I am the Only One God. No one except Me is worth worship. I am the Ruler and the Judge Who says nothing against truth. I deal with you on the basis of justice. Today no one will wronged in My Most Supreme Court. Today I will take from the mighty wrongdoer the compensation of the oppressed weak. I will recollect from the debtor the due debt and will make the payment of one another through exchange of good and bad deeds done by them. Today is the Day on which, from this difficult path, no one can pass from My sight without accounting for the rights, which were usurped by him. 0 people who have gathered in the Grand Field of Mahshar! Catch hold of every concerned oppressor and obtain whatever is due to you. I Myself am the witness against the oppressors.'
REPAYMENT OF DUES OF BELIEVERS FROM UNBELIEVERS
AND VICE VERSA
It is mentioned at the end of the aforesaid tradition that a Quraishite man asked the Imam (a.s.), "If some dues are to be paid to a faithful by an unbeliever what will he obtain from the latter who will be in hell?"
The Imam (a.s.) replied, "A proportionate cut will be made in the sins of the believer and its punishment will be added to the chastisement of the unbeliever."
The Quraishite inquired, "If a Muslim has to obtain his right from
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another Muslim how will it be retrieved?"
The Imam replied, "A proportionate cut will be made in the good deed (reward) of the oppressor and it will be added to the reward of the latter whose dues had remained unpaid."
Again the Quraishite asked, "What if there is no good in the scroll of the oppressor?"
Imam (a.s.) said, "A proportionate cut will be made in the sins of the oppressed and its punishment will be added to that of the oppressor."
CUT IN PUNISHMENT EQUAL TO RIGHT
It must not go unmentioned that if an unbeliever has to get his right from a Muslim, since the unbeliever is not qualified to obtain a believer's good, the demand of divine justice will be that a proportionate cut be made in the punishment due to the unbeliever. For a further understanding of this problem please refer to the story of a Jew who had to be paid five Qiraan from a worshipper believer. It has been mentioned in this book earlier.
FEAR OF THE CLAIM OF RIGHTS
Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) has been quoted in Layaliul Akhbar at p. 548 that on the Day of Resurrection, the hand of a person will be held and raised high so that all could see it. Then it will be announced, "If anyone has to take his dues from this person he should come forward and take it." No other thing will be more difficult than this situation for the people in the field of Mahshar that one's acquaintances should see one. He will fear lest they may not claim their unpaid dues from him.
MOST POOR ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT
In the same book, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said to his companions, "Do you know who is poor?" They replied, "He among us is poor who does not have any money nor any property or assets." The Holy Prophet replied, "In fact, the poor in my Ummah is the one who will bring with him his prayers, fasts, Zakat and Hajj but he had also given a bad name to somebody, had taken someone's property unjustly or had shed somebody's blood wrongly or had
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beaten someone unlawfully. So all of his good (rewards) will be distributed to the aforesaid claimers in proportion to their usurped rights until all of his good will be finished and yet he will remain indebted. Then the sins of the rightful claimers will be thrown in the account of the indebted fellow."
DEALING BASED ON GRACE
The person, who will be showered with Divine Mercy, will, even though he remains suspended in the station of people's rights, as he will have to repay some unpaid rights he will be dealt with gracefully. At the time some persons will be drowning in their own perspiration. The Most Merciful Allah will, and then show to the gathering a palace of paradise. Then a voice will be heard, "0 people! Who claim any right from this one of my servants! Listen. If you desire to dwell in this heavenly palace then, give up your dues and free him."
Truly, a man who behaves straight with God, his dealing remains straight everywhere. How it is ever possible that God may not straighten it? That is why Imam Sajjad (a.s.) weeps, "0 God! Who except You will save and protect me tomorrow from the claimers of their rights."
Come, let us all also pray, "0 Lord! Please deal with us on the basis of Your Grace and Generosity and Kindness." The Imam had taught a prayer to Abu Hamzah Thumali in which it is mentioned at many places: My God! I beseech Your Grace and Mercy.
THE CISTERN OF KAUTHAR
The Quran says,
Surely We have given you Kauthar, (108:1)
One of the Islamic matters about which there is specific mention in the Holy Quran and so also in both Shia and Sunni narrations is The Pool of Kauthar: "That abundant good which has been granted by the Lord of the Universe to His Messenger Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.)."
The length of this cistern, as mentioned earlier, is equal to the
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distance from Sana to Basra. Cups equal to the number of stars in the sky will be on its bank, which will be filled by the hands of Houries and will be served to the Believer. These cups will be of various kinds; some will be made of heavenly silver and some of flint glass.
KAUTHAR, HEAVENLY WINE - SPRINGS OF MILK AND HONEY
According to some narrations, this Hauz or cistern will be divided into three parts :
Heavenly wine, milk and honey will be flowing in streams.
Anyway, it is certain that the contents of this cistern of the Holy Prophet will be sweeter than honey and cooler than ice. Glory to God. What to talk of the cistern the drinking from which will be very pleasing and after drinking which one will ever be thirsty.
And quench our thirst from the Cistern of his ancestor, by his cup and by his hand...(Dua Nudbah)
Shaykh Shustari has, in Khasais, and other tradition writers too, have in their works, mentioned that the distributors of the Pool of Kauthar will be the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) and that every believer will get the water of Kauthar.
KAUTHAR BECOMES HAPPY WITH THE MOURNERS OF HUSAIN (A.S.)
The mourners of Husain (a.s.) have one additional distinction with respect to the Pool of Kauthar. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says, "The mourners of Husain (a.s.) will on arrival at the Pool of Kauthar make the pool happy."
For more details please refer to the first part of the late Khaybani's book Muharram Wa Waqaiyal Aiyaam.
THE EARS ACQUAINTED WITH THE HEAVENLY SONG
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said, "The Lord of the universe has created a thousand tress around this pool. Every tree has three hundred and sixty branches full of leaves and every leaf gives out (releases) different songs. If you want to hear those sweet and
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pleasing sounds, then you must make your ears worthy of it, that is, you should not lend your ears to worldly music and the non-sense that accompany it."
APPEARANCE OF MUHAMMAD AND AALE MUHAMMAD (A.S.)
Owner of the Liwaul Hamd flag and the praised position (Maqam-eMahmood)
One of the stations of Qiyamat will also be that of appearance of the grandeur and greatness of Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad (a.s.).
Liwaul Hamd means the flag the high span of which will be equal to _the distance covered in a thousand years' journey. There will be three parts in that flag and each one of them will be equal to the distance between the east and west. It is mentioned in another narration that every part of that flag will be bigger than the sun and the moon. On one of them will be written 'In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful', on the second, 'Praise be to Allah the Lord of the worlds' and, on the third, 'There is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah'.
All the messengers, prophets, pious and righteous people and the faithful will camp beneath that flag the bearer of which will be the conqueror of Khaibar Amirul Mo-mineen Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.).
THE PULPIT OF THE MEDIUM (WASILAH)
"And bring near to the Wasilah"
In the aforesaid words of the prayer, 'Wasilah' means that particular pulpit of light, which will be established in the field of Mahshar. It will have one thousand steps and every step would be cemented with another by emerald, chrysolite, ruby and gold and all these precious things will be from paradise. The topmost step will be reserved for the last Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the one below it will be for the immediate legatee of the Holy Prophet, Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.) and those lower will be for Ibrahim (a.s.) and other messengers and legatees according to their ranks.
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PRAISED POSITION (MAQAM-E-MAHMOOD)
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) will occupy the pulpit so elegantly and will be initiating the praise of Almighty Allah in such a magnificent way that none of the formers and the latters will have ever heard such praise. After the said glorification of the Lord Almighty, the Holy Prophet will say to the angels, the messengers, the righteous people and the faithful, "What to say about the fortune whereby of the first person of the realm of existence who he may remember on this high place. 0 Lord! Place us among this pious group." Read this sentence carefully in the Ziyarat of Ashura :
I beseech Allah for reaching the Maqam-e-Mahmood (the praised stage) which (0 Aale Muhammad!) God has reserved for you.
This high station is the reward of the Holy Prophet's waking during nights and early rising at dawn :
And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud (the midnight prayer) beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory (Maqam-e-Mahmood). (17:79)
The Holy Prophet did not rest during nights for ten years till dawn and he worshipped so much that his legs became swollen.
ALI IBNE ABI TALIB, THE DISTRIBUTOR OF
PARADISE AND HELL
At the said Maqam-e-Mahmood, the most beautiful angel will come to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and salute him and say, "I am Rizwan, the keeper of paradise." Then he will submit the keys of paradise to the Holy Prophet. Thereafter a very fearsome and ugly angel will approach the Holy Prophet and submit the keys of hell to him. The Holy Prophet will entrust all the keys to the Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.). The Amir (a.s.) will come to the Sirat Bridge and only he will go to paradise those he permits. The leaping flames of hellfire will drag others to Hell.
The Holy Prophet will tell Amirul Mo-mineen, "0 Ali! The obedience of the hell fire to you is much more than the obedience of
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a slave to his master."
SIRAT BRIDGE
And most surely those who do not believe in the hereafter are deviating from the way. (23:74)
Sirat too is one of the things belief in which is obligatory and it is one of the Essentials of Faith. So one must have an overall faith in it.
The literal meaning of Sirat is 'Path'! Those people who had remained on the right path, that is, who had not deviated from the right way of truth, honesty and righteousness will, in the Hereafter too, pass securely and safely on the path over hell. Some of them will cross that bridge as swiftly as lightning, some like mounted men and some falling and rising. Briefly speaking, they will cross that bridge in the same way in which they had crossed the path of their lives in the world.
A THOUSAND BRIDLES OF HELL IN THE HANDS
OF A THOUSAND ANGELS
Explaining the Holy Verse:
And hell is made to appear on that day. On that day shall man be mindful, and what shall being mindful (then) avail him? (89:23)
The Holy Prophet is reported to have said, "On the Day of Resurrection, hell will be brought forth in such a manner that it will have a thousand bridles and every bridle will be held by a thousand angels. Thus a million angels will be dragging hell. Hell will be shrieking and flames will be leaping high from it. It will encircle the entire gathering in Mahshar like the bezel of a ring. People of hell will be so restless that some of them will be almost dead. At that time will come the Command of God to bring forth Sirat. A bridge will be raised over hell and each and everyone will have to pass over it without any exception. The following verses (Surah Maryam 19:71-72) explain this matter :
And there is not one of you but shall come to it; this is, an unavoidable decree of your Lord
And We will deliver those who guarded (against evil), and We will
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leave the unjust therein on their knees.
Both the people of paradise and the people of hell will have to cross that bridge. Then the Holy Prophet said, "There will be seven valleys in that path and there will be some stations in every valley and every station will be of a length of seventeen thousand farsakhs (1 farsakh=6 km) and seventy thousand angles will be posted in every valley. All will have to cross all of these valleys compulsorily."
THE FIRST VALLEY
Ties of kinship, trust and Wilayat
You will be stopped at the beginning of the bridge. "0 the one who had broken off relations with your father and mother and brother!" Bad consequences of bad behaviour with these close relatives do appear even before death like decrease in lifespan and removal of bountifulness from wealth. One will be asked about this offence in Qiyamat at the start of Sirat also. The Holy Quran asserts :
And be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; (4:1)
If anyone of your close relatives becomes ill, visit him, help him if he is poor and needy. Support him if required. Do visit him at appropriate hours without fail.
DISHONESTY IN WEALTH AND TALK
Another station is that of trustworthiness. It is not concerned only with money. If someone tells you something and also says that it should be kept secret and then if you tell it to someone else then also you have done a dishonest thing (a breach of trust).
A gathering is a trust. That is whatever is disclosed to you in a private gathering is considered a trust with you.
If you have dishonoured or disgraced somebody, then you have been dishonest with him. For example, someone pledged his house with you and took a loan from you. Now, if he returns your money at the fixed time and you do not return his house to him, you have committed dishonesty, because, it will be an excessive use (contrary
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to contract conditions). Similarly, if you have taken someone's house or shop on hire or lease you must vacate the said premises as soon as the period ends. In short, be the dishonesty verbal or in deed, you will be questioned about it.
PERMIT OF THE WILAYAT OF ALI (A.S.) FOR
CROSSING THE SIRAT
One more station in the very first valley, which has been mentioned in many Sunni and Shia narrations, is the Wilayat of Ali (a.s.). In commentaries like that of Thalabi, the explanation of verse :
And stop them; (37:24)
Is shown as: Stop them! They will be asked also about the Wilayat of Ali, that is, whether or not they were friendly with Ali (a.s.)?
Hamuyuni and Tabari both are famous Sunni scholars. They have said that the Holy Prophet remarked, "0 Ali! The one who will possess the permit of your Wilayat (friendship) will cross the bridge."
There are many other narrations also which we omit for brevity sake.
SECOND VALLEY —PRAYER
After crossing the first valley (Wilayat, Trust and Family relations) man will reach the second valley where he will be asked about daily prayers (Salat), prayers for Signs (such as eclipses) and missed prayers etc. as hinted earlier.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "The one who missed prayers will not receive my intercession. The last Will of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) was "Our intercession can never reach those who underestimated the value of Prayer",
1 for example, who prayed Morning Prayer at sunrise or just before it, or offered Afternoon Prayers near the sunset. Such people will also not get the intercession of the Infallibles (a.s.). Then what to say about those who do not pray at all? "
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1 Safinatul Bihar.
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It is mentioned in narrations that one who gives up prayers dies thirsty and he will also rise thirsty on the Day of Judgement.
TEACH THE PRAYER TO CHILDREN AND MAKE
THEM HABITUATED TO IT
A point which I want to emphasize and which I wish that all should know and convey it to others also is the responsibility, which is on us with regard to our children. We must make our children habituated to prayers even before they become adult. It is incumbent on all of us to train our children in such a manner they may become regular worshippers. There is no doubt in it that we will get its reward. The reward of whatever good deeds the children do before majority (as a result of the parents' efforts) will reach the parents. Even after the children become adults, their parents will benefit by their good works, as God will be pleased with the parents who trained their children nicely.
RECITING 'BISMILLAH' BY A CHILD ENDS THE
CHASTISEMENT OF HIS FATHER
You might have heard that once a messenger was passing by a graveyard with his companions. At one spot, the Prophet told his companions, "Walk away from this spot quickly because the person in this grave is being punished." One year thereafter, that messenger was again passing with the same companions by the same graveyard but then there was no sign of any chastisement. The messenger said to God, "0 Lord! How is it that now this body is not being punished?" Came a voice, "He had a son. After this man died, people took his son to a Madressa where the teacher taught the child to recite 'Bismillah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem'. So when the child recited this and remembered Me with my attributes of Rahman (kind) and Rahim (Merciful) We too removed from this child's father his punishment as he was the means of this child's birth."
Thus a child's prayers and worship acts also benefit the parents. So it is our duty and the first demand of Amr Bil Maaroof and Nahy Anil Munkar (Commanding of good and prohibition of evils) that we should pay our attention first to our children and thereafter to other
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near and dear ones.
O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones; (66:6)
