Our days and nights, months and years are based upon the orbit of the Earth around the sun. This sun is over 148km away from us but a day will come where it will be brought only 1 or 2 miles away from us. Imagine the intensity of a sun brought this close to us with a temperature of over 5000 degrees celsius and a vastness such that over a million Earths could fit inside it. We find the temporary heatwaves in this world unbearable so how would we cope with the heat and severity of a day equivalent to 50,000 years?

“The sun will be brought close to mankind on the Day of Resurrection until its distance from them will be one mile”. Then the Prophet (saw) said “Because of this, people will become submerged in sweat, the severity of which will depend on their deeds. Some will be submerged up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists whilst others will be submerged to their jaws.” The Prophet (saw) then pointed to his mouth. [Muslim]

On this unrelenting day filled with much calamity and hardship, Allah has guaranteed His shade for 7 groups of people. The shade on this day will be provided by Allah’s arsh and this will be the only shade available on this day, it will be a form of salvation to those who are extended it. We’re constantly striving to make our lives in this dunya as comfortable for us as possible so let us also prepare ourselves for this day too by learning who these 7 groups of people are and what we can do to be amongst them bi’ithnillah.

“There are seven types of people whom Allāh will give protection with His Shade on a Day when there will be no shade except His Shade.

(1) A just ruler;

(2) a young person who grew up with the worship of Allāh; 

(3) a person whose heart is attached to the mosque; 

(4) two persons who love, meet and depart from each other for the sake of Allāh; 

(5) a man whom a beautiful and high ranking woman seduces, but he rejects this offer by saying: ‘I fear Allāh’; 

(6) a person who gives a charity and conceals it to such an extent that the left hand might not know what the right has given; 

(7) and a person who remembers Allāh in privacy and his eyes weep.”

[Bukhari]

1: A Just Ruler

This first category isn’t limited solely to those in great positions of authority such as those who are leaders of countries or large nations but rather extends to any individual who is in a position of authority over people and acts justly. When in such a position, it can be so easy to be more lenient towards those with whom we have personal connections with but remembering and fearing Allah allows us to treat everyone equally. This includes not accepting bribes or taking sides and giving everyone their due rights.

“The people of justice will be given pulpits made from light. They are those who do justice in their rulings, amidst their families and in all that which they have authority over.” [Muslim]

2: The Youth Raised In The Worship of Allah

These are the people who spent their youth in the way of Allah. This time is the prime of our life and we should therefore spend it in complete submission to Allah. The people who come under this category would frequent the masjid to pray and dedicate their time to circles of knowledge and remembrance. They would surround themselves with righteous company and use their youth to serve their parents. They would give in the way of charity and use their abilities to engage in projects that work towards benefitting the community as a whole. Our desires and urges peak at this time and with the haraam being so widespread and accessible, it can be hard to stay away from them but this is why the reward for our patience is so great. We will be held accountable for how we spent our youth and it is for this reason we should spend it in servitude to our Lord with the hope of attaining His pleasure and shade. 

Action point: We could make an effort to drop some change in our local masjid bucket each time we visit. We could start up projects in our community or even contribute our time and services to existing projects, this is a way to utilise our strengths to help us add benefit to our ummah. We can surround ourselves with company that encourage us to be in obedience to Allah swt, those who we gather with for the sake of Allah, and those who we feel ashamed to sin in front of.

3: A Person Whose Heart is Attached To The Masjid

Lockdown caused many of us to reflect on our relationship with the masjid. When we had full access to it, were we utilising it to the best of our abilities? Or were there so many more opportunities we could’ve taken up to spend more time in the houses of Allah? The people whose hearts are attached to the masjid are those who love to stay in the masjid to pray in congregation, recite Qur’an, make dhikr, attend halaqas and so much more. 

“When a man goes out of his house to the Masjid, one foot records a good deed and the other erases a bad deed.” [Bukhari]

Action point: This category is one we can still work to come under. We can take the first step from now to amend our relationship with the masjid by taking every opportunity we can to attend congregational prayers and stay a bit longer to engage in some dhikr too.

4: Two People Who Love One Another For The Sake Of Allah

Most of the people we meet and tend to get along with best are those we feel we have much in common with, be it mutual hobbies, culture or work. However these are things that can constantly be changing and as we grow, we may find we no longer have that same love and passion for the things that once excited us. When this happens, it is completely natural that the company around us may also change as our interests evolve.

Our love for Allah is not based upon the temporary situations of this dunya, rather it transcends time and borders as it is infinite. Our love for Allah is something that can only increase so when two people unite for His cause only, it is one of the strongest and purest forms of love. These are people who care intensely for each other’s akhira, meet purely for remembrances of Allah, guide each other to good and advise against the bad in the hope of an eternal reward. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will call for those who loved each other for His sake and will shade them with His shade. 

A man set out to visit a brother (in faith) in another town and Allah sent an angel on his way. When the man met the angel, the latter asked him: Where do you intend to go? He said: I intend to visit my brother in this town. The angel said: Have you done any favor to him? He said: No, I have no desire except to visit him because I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious. Thereupon the angel said: I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake). [Muslim]

Action point: If you already have someone you love purely for Allah’s sake, hold onto them and tell them of your love, or reach out and find someone with the sole intention of guiding each other towards acts of good

5: A Person Who Resists A Direct Temptation From The Opposite Gender

This is the person who, when faced with the opposite gender seducing them, turns away saying they fear Allah. The opposite gender is one of the greatest fitnas for our ummah and with it being so widespread, it is one that can be so easy to fall into. However, by suppressing this desire and walking away out of fear of Allah, we realise that the shade of Allah is much more precious than any fleeting desire we may experience in this world. 

Say, “I truly fear—if I were to disobey my Lord—the torment of a tremendous Day.” [39:13]

Action point: We can work towards lowering our gaze and avoiding idle talk with the opposite gender. The Prophet (saw) advised us to marry young where it is possible for us to do so.

6: A Person Who Gives Charity in Secrecy

Charity is highly encouraged and is an essential part of our faith. The Prophet saw told us that charity does not decrease wealth in the slightest, rather it will result in an exponential reward: 

The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies the reward even more to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing [2:261]

Parting with our wealth can be difficult for us especially when we feel as though we put in a lot of effort to earn it, however when we recognise our wealth is only a blessing from Allah, it is only correct that we spend it in His cause. Giving charity in private purifies our intentions and is a cause for Allah to expiate some of our sins. 

Action point: The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent even if they are small so we can aim to set aside a small daily amount to give in charity, with the sole intention of earning Allah’s pleasure and His shade on that day where there will be no shade but His. One of the ways we could do this is via sharethemeal app, which allows you to give to charity on a consistent basis.

7: A Person Who Remembers Allah in Private and Weeps

How many of our deeds do we do publicly? How many are kept private? Are we as motivated to do good behind closed doors as we are when out in the public eye? Reflecting upon these questions may encourage us to revisit our intentions and think about the purpose of our actions. When secluded, it becomes much easier for us to drop our guard and fall into actions that aren’t beneficial to us but when we have that taqwa (God-consciousness) and are aware that Allah is All-Seeing and All-Hearing, we become much more conscious of  our actions. The more we worship Allah in private, the deeper our eman grows and the deeper our sincerity. When inevitably faced with trials and tribulations, the foundations of sincerity and eman we have cultivated will put us in a much stronger position to stand firm bi’thnillah. 

Action point: By knowing who Allah is and being aware of His qualities and attributes, our taqwa will grow and we will be much more mindful of our actions. This comes from us taking the time to reflect on His names and being aware of them in the different aspects of our life, we can start by making the intention to learn just 1 name per week and seeing all the different ways it manifests in our lives. 

Al Mu’akhkhir is the Delayer, the One who postpones and puts off advancement. The One who holds something back in order to put it in its correct place. He delays the disobedient ones and grants His guidance to those who obey Him. He postpones the penalty of the oppressor because He is Compassionate and Merciful.

This attribute of Allah is a reminder to us to have faith in Allah that He is the best planner. If things happen to us that we do not understand, or if there is something we want but cannot seem to achieve, have faith that it will come in due time and that any delay has khair (good) in it. Often when we are struck with calamity, we want the ease to come straight away, not realising the reward there is in having sabr and understanding that only Allah knows when the time is right. This can be applied to getting a job, getting married, having a baby, loneliness in friendships or troubles at home. Perhaps getting that job when YOU wanted it would clash with something else and put you in a vulnerable situation. You wouldn’t realise this until later and think ‘ah, THAT’S why I was given the job now and not then’. You end up putting these things together afterwards. However, the reward is in having faith in Allah SWT’s qadr DURING your hardship. That is when you are tested at your lowest and show your true imaan. So know that your time for goodness will come and fully trust His timing.

This attribute of Allah also means that oppressors of this world will not necessarily be punished for their sins in this dunya. That perhaps the Delayer knows that their true punishment will be the hellfire and therefore, we must have trust in that. We must believe that all justice will be restored in due time and that terrible things happening in this life does not mean that Allah SWT has turned a blind eye to them. Surely He is Al Aleem – the All Knowing and so knows when to hold something back so that it can be given at the correct time, including both punishment and blessings.

It also refers to guiding those towards the right path. Often, those who are born into Islam, will reach a point in which they ‘re-discover’ Islam on their own terms and at their own pace. This enlightenment is also an act of the Delayer who chose the perfect point in your life for you to truly turn to Him. And the same goes for reverts. Why weren’t they born Muslim? Al Mu’akhkhir post poned the moment they said la ilaha illallah as He knows what the best time would be for them.

For us to learn from this attribute, we must practice when to hold back and say no to certain things in order to prevent greed, so we can obtain those things at a better time instead. It could be holding off buying a car so you can help your parents with the rent, or perhaps not getting married just yet as you have other duties to fulfil first, or dropping some extra curricular work to focus on your studies etc. Surely when we delay something for the right reasons, for the sake of Allah, there will be barakah in it and we will obtain it in better conditions if Allah wills that for us.

Al-Hayyee – The Shy One.

He who loves and inspires modesty and shyness in His slaves and who Himself possesses the perfect modesty, so much so that He swt feels shy to leave those who ask Him empty-handed and doesn’t like to expose the misdeeds of His Slaves.

Hayyee comes from the root haa- yaa- yaa. Linguistically, Haya refers to the attribute of modesty, shyness and humility. The word Haya is used when speaking about the creation, it means to refrain from that which is bad and shameful. The Prophet SAW told us that every religion has its own distinguishing characteristic, and the character of Islam is Haya. [Abu Dawood] Haya is the intrinsic mechanism which prevents us from doing that which is displeasing to Allah SWT.

Shyness and modesty can be perceived as weakness or lack of confidence but in reality, these are among the most beloved characteristics by Allah. Having a deep sense of Haya is a true blessing. The Prophet SAW said, “Surely Allah (is One who) has Haya and is the Protector. He loves Haya and people who cover each other’s’ faults.” [Al-Bukhaari].

So how can we live by this name?
Realise that Haya is not something to be ashamed of and rather it beautifies. The Prophet SAW said, “when lewdness is a part of anything, it becomes defective; and when Haya is a part of anything it becomes beautiful.” [At-Tirmidhi] Therefore, reflect on the way that we talk, the way that we carry ourselves, the way that we interact with people, the jokes that we make – implement Haya within these acts and recognise that everything that we do we will be accountable for.

Moreover, don’t be ashamed to tell the truth, stand up for that which Allah SWT has ordained and forbid the evil. Do not let shyness of people stand in the way of the orders of Al-Hayyee. Allah is the Shy One but ‘Allah is not Shy of the truth’ (Al Ahzab 33:53).
In doing so, strive for Haya with Allah swt. Strengthen your connection for indeed the greatest modesty you must have is with Allah swt. It is He who showers His blessings upon us, but we often use these very blessings to sin, even though modesty is the thing we need most! Know that Allah is Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and that every thought and act is witnessed by Him. Allah says, “- and whatever deed you (mankind) may be doing (good or evil), We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it -” (Yunus, 10:61) Let this motivate you to increase in Haya!

Lastly, raise your hands and ask Al-Hayyee. The Prophet saw said, “Your Lord is modest and generous and would never turn the hands of someone without gain when he raises them to Him [in supplication].” [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood] This is Al- Hayyee – the One with perfect modesty, a divine attribute befitting none but Him and suits His majesty and greatness to the exclusion of all creation. This modesty is in no way similar to modesty displayed by any of His creatures, for it denotes His all-encompassing mercy, perfect grace and kindness, and great forgiveness and forbearance.

Ya Allah, Al-Hayyee, we know that You are the One who is shy and who possesses perfect modesty. Beautify us with a strong sense of Haya and guide us in being modest towards the creation and in our relationship with You. Assist us to never being embarrassed in standing up for Your Deen and make our sense of shame a way to enter Your Paradise, Allahumma Ameen♥️

As-Shafi – The Healer.

He who knows of all illnesses, of all their causes and cures and also the provider of all of them; the illnesses of the body, mind and soul; illnesses of doubt, illusions, malice, jealousy and sins. There is no healing except by His and no removing of harm except by Him.

Ash-Shafi is one of the remarkable names of the Exalted in the heavens—Allah—and we must praise Him, because He named Himself this name and is worthy to be characterized by the quality of healing, and He is the only One who heals and recovers the bodies of his worshippers. It is also a name with a clear meaning, and just by its appearance a deep meaning can be reflected upon. Ash-Shefaa (healing) is always related to the sickness. We need to ensure we have imaan and strong faith that all these sicknesses and different illnesses are trials from Allah.

As believers, when we are afflicted with sickness, we see it as a source of good deeds for us. And it is a means in which Allah swt wipes away our bad deeds and raises our ranks and levels in the paradise. This is how the believer sees illness. He sees it as something positive. The prophet AS was narrated to say that there is no calamity that afflicts the believer except that Allah swt expiate his sins. In another hadeeth, the prophet AS said that Allah swt will continue to afflict calamity upon a servant until the servant begins to walk on earth and he has no sins to his name whatsoever. Our predecessors would congratulate one after recovering from an illness, as stated by Muslim b. Yasar, they would say to each other, “congratulations on the purification”. This is the true reward of patience when afflicted with pain and illnesses. It can all become a source of good for you as long as you react to it in the correct and positive way. This is how Allah swt purifies his beloved slaves.

No human being is free from injury. Sooner or later they will be inflicted with an illness; if not a physical illness, then most certainly at least a spiritual one. Each person must pinpoint the source of their pain. Is it a physical pain keeping you up at night? Is it a psychological one that burdens you with terrible anguish and crippling anxiety? Is it an Islāmic illness of doubt, impermissible cravings, laziness, an inability to be productive or a weakness in experiencing the joy of Ibādah? So with your weakness in mind, your pain in sight, and your unwavering certainty in al-Shāfi, use this Majestic name of His in du’ā; “O Shāfi, you see my pains and know of my situation. Heal me.”Allahumma Ameen

Al-Haqq. The absolute truth. Allah is the one whom the truth, all righteousness and justice are revealed. Everything Allah does, says, commands, promises, rewards come from truth! His existence is undeniable and nothing else can exist except through him. If Allah is the Truth, then His words are the truth; His promise is the truth; His threat is the truth; And His acts are the truth.

Allah says in surah Yunus: “For that is Allah, your Lord, the Truth. And what can be beyond truth except error? So how are you averted?”. Thus, if we are the creation of the ultimate truth, and we worship Allah who is the truth, then we must live our lives by the principles of truth. If we’re sincere lovers of Our Lord, then we must be sincere lovers of the truth and everything that is associated to the truth.

How can we practically implement this name into our lives? First, we must ensure we are honest and truthful in all our sayings, actions and dealings with other people. The truth is not just simply spoken, but rather the truth is something to be lived. We should all strive for honesty in all our actions because that’s living in accordance with the principles of the truth. It’s a whole mindset that we have to adopt which will allow us all to become from the ‘truthful ones’.

Secondly, by understanding who Al-Haqq is and the fact that Allah is the absolute truth and nothing but the truth, we can begin to understand the truths that we are taught and obligated to follow. From this we can strengthen our Yaqeen and Imaan in Our Lord, and know with absolute certainty that whatever happens is from the Qadr of Allah swt, and due to the incredible love and care Allah swt has for his slave, he always wishes the absolute best for us. We must take comfort in Allah’s promise when things become difficult and hard for us, and have peace within ourselves that Allah’s word is true.

Finally, we should aim to be a ‘seeker of truth’. Imam Al-Ghazali said, “realizing this name (Al-Haqq) means that a person is so absorbed in the Truth that he has no room for anything else”. It doesn’t matter if the truth is for or against you. What is important for you is that you are a follower of the truth and you live by those principles entirely in both your personal and professional lives. This is also one of the most important and key steps in helping us to build Taqwa, and to have that absolute faith in Our Lord who sees and hears everything.
I end with a beautiful dua that will allow us all to become seekers of the truth! O Allah! Show us the Truth as the Truth and give us the ability to follow it. And show us falsehood as falsehood and give us the ability to avoid it. Allahumma Ameen.