باقی رہنے والا زاد راہ : The lasting earning

Al Quran is the final Holy Book revealed upon the Last of Prophets Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran & Sunnah is the only source of holy guidance as it entails detailed instructions for each and every walk of human life. Here guidance from Quran for the followers of Islam (باقی رہنے والا زاد راہ : The lasting earning) is discussed wrt the lasting savings or real earnings worth after death for better living from Quran and Hadith of Prophet ﷺ. This is an approved Jumma Khutba from the Sultanate of Oman and translated in English.

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

الزَّادُ البَاقِـي : The lasting earning.

Praise be to ALLAH, who has provided man with stations/provisions to make up for what remains of his lifespan and to accumulate good deeds for the Day of Judgment. I bear witness that there is no god but ALLAH alone, without partner. The fortunate one is he who holds fast to His rope and acts according to His law, and the wretched one is he who deviates from the right path and neglects to prepare for the Day of Resurrection. I bear witness that our master Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and messenger. The truthful and trustworthy one, may ALLAH's prayers and peace be upon him, his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment. This is the recited verse from Surah Al Baqara and its translation:

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم- بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

ٱلۡحَجُّ أَشۡهُرٌ۬ مَّعۡلُومَـٰتٌ۬‌ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلۡحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى ٱلۡحَجِّ‌ۗ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ يَعۡلَمۡهُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيۡرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَـٰٓأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ

The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islâmic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj[] therein (by assuming Ihrâm), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allâh knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness). So fear Me, O men of understanding!

Surah AL Baqara – 197

O servants of ALLAH: Fear ALLAH and Adopt piety and obey ALLAH. For in piety lies success, and listen to the commandment of your Lord, for in listening to it and acting upon it lies the ultimate success. ALLAH says in Surah Al Hajj

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱرۡڪَعُواْ وَٱسۡجُدُواْ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ وَٱفۡعَلُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

O you who have believed! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful.

Surah Al Hajj – 77

The ultimate goal of the Muslim is to worship ALLAH Almighty and engage in righteous deeds, hoping to attain the station of the righteous and gain the pleasure of the Lord of the Worlds. Furthermore, know—may ALLAH have mercy on us—that it is from ALLAH's favor upon mankind that He has appointed seasons in which their hearts rejoice and their souls are purified, and you will find them hastening to perform good deeds, and competition in performing righteous acts, so that the heedless may awaken, the sluggish may become active, and the believer may remember with the remembrance of one who benefits from remembrance. The Truth, Blessed and Exalted is He, says in Surah Aal E Imran:

وَسَارِعُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ مَغۡفِرَةٍ۬ مِّن رَّبِّڪُمۡ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرۡضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ أُعِدَّتۡ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ (١٣٣) ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلۡڪَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلۡغَيۡظَ وَٱلۡعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (١٣٤) وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَـٰحِشَةً أَوۡ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَہُمۡ ذَكَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسۡتَغۡفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمۡ وَمَن يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمۡ يُصِرُّواْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُواْ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ

And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2). (133) Those who spend [in Allâh's Cause] in prosperity and in adversity,[] who repress anger,[] and who pardon men; verily, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn[] (the good - doers). (134) And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allâh and ask forgiveness for their sins; - and none can forgive sins but Allâh - And do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know.

Surah Aal E Imran – 133-135

Brothers in faith: Indeed, among the greatest and most exalted of these seasons in the sight of ALLAH are these blessed days which you are about to enter, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. And what do you know of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah! ALLAH swore by these nights, saying in Surah Al Fajr:

وَلَيَالٍ عَشۡرٍ۬

By the ten nights

Surah Al Fajr – 2

These ten days are the well-known days in which souls are closest to ALLAH, and spirits become more attached to ALLAH. How could it be otherwise! Hearts increase in guidance and faith, and it is as if a person sees with their own eyes what the Lord has told about the guided ones in His saying in Surah Muhammad:

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْ زَادَهُمۡ هُدً۬ى وَءَاتَٮٰهُمۡ تَقۡوَٮٰهُمۡ

While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety.

Surah Muhammad – 17

He feels what ALLAH described the believers with in His saying in Surah Al Anfal:

وَإِذَا تُلِيَتۡ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥ زَادَتۡہُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

and when His Verses (this Qur'ân) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone);

Surah Al Anfal – 2

The believer then sets out into the fields of good deeds, leaving no avenue of good unexplored, and never missing an opportunity to do good without taking his share of it. This includes purifying the heart and sincere repentance, as well as prayer, fasting, helping the needy, easing the burden of the struggling, relieving distress, and speaking kindly to people. His role models in this are the prophets and messengers described above. By the words of ALLAH, may His glory be exalted, says in Surah Al Ambiya:

ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ ڪَانُواْ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ وَيَدۡعُونَنَا رَغَبً۬ا وَرَهَبً۬ا‌ۖ وَڪَانُواْ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ

Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.

Surah Al Ambiya – 90-Part

O servants of ALLAH: Indeed, remembrance during these appointed days is the fruit of a person counting ALLAH's blessings upon him. Therefore, it is incumbent upon a person to sit with himself and remind himself of ALLAH's blessings upon him. So that the name of ALLAH may be mentioned over those blessings, and this season is one of the fields of obedience in which man draws near through this noble act of worship, which many people have almost forgotten; for it has been alluded to in the words of the Most High as mentioned in Surah Al Hajj:

وَيَذۡڪُرُواْ ٱسۡمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ۬ مَّعۡلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ‌ۖ

and mention the Name of Allâh on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjâh), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice) (at the time of their slaughtering by saying: Bismillah, Wallâhu-Akbar, Allâhumma Minka wa Ilaik).

Surah Al Hajj – 28-Part

So that after remembrance comes gratitude, gratitude by giving oneself one's share of those good things of sustenance, and that is half of gratitude, and the other half is achieved by being sensitive to the needs of the needy and helping one's brother. ALLAHAlmighty, may His glory be exalted, says in Surah Al Hajj:

فَكُلُواْ مِنۡہَا وَأَطۡعِمُواْ ٱلۡبَآٮِٕسَ ٱلۡفَقِيرَ

Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor who have a very hard time.

Surah Al Hajj – 28-Part

And what is the consequence of gratitude but increase? ALLAH says in Surah Al Nisa

وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّ۬ا‌ۚ وَمَنۡ أَصۡدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ قِيلاً۬

Allâh's Promise is the Truth, and whose words can be truer than those of Allâh? (Of course, none).

Surah An Nisa – 122-Part

ALLAH Almighty says in Surah Ibrahim:

وَإِذۡ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمۡ لَٮِٕن شَڪَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمۡ‌ۖ وَلَٮِٕن ڪَفَرۡتُمۡ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ۬

And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allâh), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."

Surah Ibrahim – 07

Worship and gratitude to ALLAH Almighty are achieved through every righteous deed done with the intention of seeking His pleasure. So, O servant of ALLAH, purify your heart's intention and be mindful of your purpose when you undertake the deed. Seek ALLAH's favor through it, so that you may receive blessings from ALLAH Almighty in your actions and acceptance from Him in what you do and what you refrain from doing. ALLAH Almighty says in Surah Fatir:

إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلۡعَمَلُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُ يَرۡفَعُهُۚ

To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allâh unless and until they are followed by good deeds),

Surah Fatir – 10-Part

Fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and supplicate to Him with prayer during these days, for they are times of answered prayers. Hasten to seize these precious opportunities, for they are but a few days, and the deeds and rewards in them are immense. Fill them with remembrance, prayer, glorification, and magnification of ALLAH, and spend them in obedience, maintaining kinship ties, feeding the hungry, and being dutiful to parents. And good works, each according to his ability and strength, in his time, body and money.

أقولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُالرَّحِيمُ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ البَرُّ الكَرِيمُ

I say what you hear, and I ask forgiveness from ALLAH Almighty for me and for you, so ask forgiveness from Him and He will forgive you, for He is the Forgiving and Merciful, and pray to Him and He will answer you, for He is The noble righteousness

الحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، مَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا أَمِنَ العِثَارَ، وَنَجَا مِنَ الأَخْطَارِ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا وَنَبِيَّنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، المُصْطَفَى المُخْتَارُ، صَلاةً وَسَلامًا دَائِمَيْنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ الأَخْيَارِ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى دَارِ القَرَارِ

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Whoever believes in Him and does righteous deeds will be safe from stumbling and saved from dangers. We bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and we bear witness that our master and prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and messenger, the chosen one, the elect. May prayers and peace be upon him forever until the Day of Judgment, and upon his family and his righteous companions, and upon those who follow them in goodness to the abode of eternity.

O servants of ALLAH: How great is the reward of ALLAH Almighty for those who believe and do righteous deeds! For His reward, may He be glorified and exalted, for righteous deeds is of two kinds: some is immediate, and some is reserved and deferred. Among His immediate rewards is the continuation and permanence of blessings, the preservation of the servant's hearing, sight, and all his limbs, and a good life that he lives. He, the Most High, says in Surah Al Nahl:

مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا مِّن ذَڪَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ۬ فَلَنُحۡيِيَنَّهُ ۥ حَيَوٰةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬‌ۖ وَلَنَجۡزِيَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).

Surah An Nahl – 97

This does not prevent the occurrence of calamities and afflictions; for ALLAH Almighty may decree calamities as a means of purification, cleansing, and raising one's status. ALLAH says in Surah Al Baqara

وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ

but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirun (the patient)

Surah Al Baqara – 155-Part

And among the rewards of ALLAH for righteous deeds is that which extends to include the offspring of man after him, as the Almighty and Majestic recounted in Surat Al-Kahf, His preservation of the wealth of two orphans whose father was righteous۔ ALLAH says in Surah Al Kahf:

وَأَمَّا ٱلۡجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيۡنِ يَتِيمَيۡنِ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحۡتَهُ ۥ كَنزٌ۬ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبۡلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسۡتَخۡرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَ‌ۚ

"And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy from your Lord.

Surah Al Kahf – 82-Part

As for the reward that ALLAH Almighty has stored up in the Hereafter, it is beyond calculation, for when ALLAH gives, He gives abundantly. ALLAH says in Surah Al Kahf

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ مَنۡ أَحۡسَنَ عَمَلاً (٣٠) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدۡنٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِہِمُ ٱلۡأَنۡہَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوۡنَ فِيہَا مِنۡ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ۬ وَيَلۡبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضۡرً۬ا مِّن سُندُسٍ۬ وَإِسۡتَبۡرَقٍ۬ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيہَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَآٮِٕكِ‌ۚ نِعۡمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتۡ مُرۡتَفَقً۬ا

Verily As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, certainly We shall not make to be lost the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner. (30) These! For them will be 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens); wherein rivers flow underneath them, therein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine and thick silk. They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good is the reward, and what an excellent Murtafaq (dwelling, resting place)! (31)

Surah Al Kahf – 30-31

So fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and prepare for the abode of reward with righteous deeds that you offer purely for the sake of ALLAH, the Most Generous, and trust in His promise, for ALLAH is Most Appreciative and All-Knowing.