Undoubtedly, whatever Allah The Almighty promises a person is the best and everlasting too, as He The Almighty Says (what means): {But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely.}[Quran 42:36] Not only will a person find the complete reward for the good deeds he has offered with Him, but he will also find his reward multiplied, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward.} [Quran 73:20] Herein lies the importance of hoping for the reward of Allah The Almighty that has various forms and meanings; for example:
- Hoping for the reward of Allah The Almighty when performing good deeds that are dedicated solely to Him. When the slave observes this great meaning while performing good deeds, this would fend off evil thoughts such as desiring fame, ostentation, seeking people’s praise and other diseases of the heart that render deeds worthless or at the very least decrease their worth. This is because the person would have centered his objectives on pleasing Allah The Almighty and being granted the reward from Him. At this point, he would attain an immense reward, as the Prophet, , said: “Whoever observes fasting during the month of Ramadan, with faith and hope for the reward of Allah The Almighty, his past sins will be forgiven.”
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, , said: “[A believer] who accompanies the funeral procession of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping for Allah’s reward, and remains until the funeral prayer is performed and the burial is over, he will return with a reward of two Qiraats. Each Qiraat is as large as [the mount of] Uhud.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Although a Muslim is obliged to support his family financially, he is rewarded for supporting them just as he is rewarded for giving in charity. This requires him to seek the reward of Allah The Almighty as stated in the Hadeeth: “When a Muslim financially supports his family while seeking the reward of Allah The Almighty, his act will be rewarded as charity.” Look at the way in which the reward grows greater due to the person hoping for the reward of Allah The Almighty!
- Seeking the reward of Allah The Almighty for having patience at times of calamities and hardship is one of the meanings of hoping for His reward. Allah The Almighty praises such a group of believers and promises them mercy, guidance and an immense reward, as He The Almighty Says (what means): {Who, when disaster strikes them, say: “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.} [Quran 2:156-157]
All people are equal when it comes to facing different forms of hardship and misfortune, whether they are believers or disbelievers, the only thing that distinguishes a believer from a disbeliever is his hope for the reward of Allah The Almighty. Both Muslims and disbelievers suffer from diseases and their relatives and loved ones die, but the major difference between them is that the believer hopes for the reward of Allah The Almighty if he has patience and remains content. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering - so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allah that which they expect not.} [Quran 4:104]
The Prophet, , mentioned the reward of those who seek the reward of Allah The Almighty at times of calamity and difficulty, when he said: “Paradise is the minimum reward that Allah is content with for His believing slave who loses his loved ones if he remains patient, hopes for the reward of Allah The Almighty, and says what he was ordered to say.”
Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that she heard the Prophet, , saying: “Any Muslim who suffers a calamity and says what Allah has commanded him to say: ‘Innaa lilaahi w’innaa ’ilayhi raji‘oon. Allahuma’jurni fi museebati wakhluf li khayran minha. [Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and grant me what is better]’, undoubtedly, Allah The Almighty will reward him with what is better.”Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her continued,“When [my husband] Abu Salamah died, I said, ‘Who amongst the Muslims could be better than Abu Salamah? His family was the first to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah .’ I then said this supplication and Allah The Almighty rewarded me by letting me marry the Prophet .”
The righteous predecessors would rebuke themselves for their sins, and would renew their good intentions, and advise each other to seek the reward of Allah The Almighty in order to be rewarded by Him:
Al-Faarooq ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “O people! Seek the reward of Allah The Almighty for your good deeds, for whoever does so will gain a reward both for his good deeds and for his seeking the reward of Allah The Almighty.”
Khubayb ibn ‘Adiyy, may Allah be pleased with him, took death lightly, when Banu Al-Haarith ibn ‘Aamir wanted to kill him. He recited some poetic verses indicating that he did not care if he was killed so long as he was killed as a Muslim and in the cause of Allah The Almighty.
Thus, dear readers, hope for the reward of Allah The Almighty for your good deeds and acts of worship as well as at the times of calamity and difficulty that you might face. Accordingly, Allah The Almighty will make your heart strong, exalt your mention and multiply your reward.