The Mercy of الرحيم

As salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakha tuhu

I don’t really have much to write, I just want to share a few reminders in shaa Allāh.

I was going through my notes app and I came across this story my sister shared with me a few months ago.

I don’t really know how authentic it is but it’s a beautiful story about the greatness of Allah’s mercy.

500 Years of Worship

Angel Jibrail (as) told Rasulullah (peace be upon him) the follwing incident about a man in the past who worshipped Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ continuously for 500 years. He was granted a shelter on top of a mountain that was surrounded by salty water. However, Allah caused a stream of sweet water to flow through the mountain for that individual. The man would drink from this water and use it to make ablution. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ also raised a pomegranate tree from which the man would eat one fruit every day. One day, this person supplicated to Allah that, Oh Allah, bring my death while I am in the state of prostration. Allah accepted this dua of his. Whenever Jibrail (as) came down to the Earth. he found this man prostrating to Allah.

Jibrail (as) said that on the day of Judgement, Allah will tell the angels to take this individual to Paradise through His mercy. However, this man will insist that he should enter paradise through the good deeds that he had performed. Then, Allah will tell the angels to compare his good deeds with the blessings that were given to him in the world. It will be seen that 500 years of his worship is not even equal to the gift of eye sight that was given to him by Allah. The angels will be asked to take him towards the hell fire. Then the man will plead, Oh Allah! Enter me into Paradise only through Your mercy. At that point, the following discussion will take place between Allah and that man.

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ : Oh my servant, who created you?

The worshipper: Oh Allah, You have created me.

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ : Were you created because of the good deeds you have done or because of My mercy?

The worshipper: Because of Your mercy.

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ : Who granted you the ability to worship for 500 years?

The worshipper: Oh the Almighty! You have granted me that ability.

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ : Who placed you on the mountain surrounded by the ocean? Who caused a stream of sweet water to flow in between the salty water? Who caused a pomegranate tree to grow for you? Who granted you death while in the state of prostration?

The worshipper: Oh the Sustainer of the Worlds! You have done all of these.

Then Allah will say, “All these have happened due to my mercy and you too will enter Paradise only through my Mercy.”

“500 years of his worship is not even equal to the gift of eye sight”

Subhan’Allah, the Mercy of Allah is more than we can COMPREHEND.

How conscious are we of Allāh’s blessings?

Have you thanked Allah today? for your eyesight, for your health, for food and accommodation?

We take so much for granted SubhanAllah.

I was watching an episode of Ali Hammuda’s A Life with Allāh series (which I highly recommend to everyone) and on this particular episode he was talking about Allah’s beautiful name Al Jabbar. He spoke about so many blessings Allah bestowed upon us with out us having to stress about it. My favourite example he gave was when he spoke about how our body heals wound. The way the cells work together to heal our wound. It was truly beautiful and amazing.

The human body itself is truly amazing. So many things happen inside our body that we aren’t aware of, that are keeping us alive and it’s how we don’t have to monitor it or stress about it, it just happens with out any work on our side. Like the digestion of food or the pumping of blood by our heart or how energy is distributed in our body (in form of ATP) and etc. Allāh takes care of it for us. SubhanAllah. You should read about how these cells work together to keep our body functioning, it’s like they have a mind of their own. It’s just simply amazing. ALLAHU AKBAR!

Rabbi awzini an ashkura nimatakallati anamta alayya wa ala walidayya wa an amala ṣalihan tarḍah, wa aṣlih li fi dhuriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minalmuslimin.

My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.

Q46:15