Relieving People’s Distress Will Save You on the Day When Many Will Lose - Dr. Al-Nabulsi
Dear brothers; It is narrated in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever relieves a believer of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easy for someone in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah is ever helping His servant as long as the servant is in need.” Helping one's brother, and whoever treads a path seeking knowledge, God will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather in one of God's houses, reciting God's Book and studying it amongst themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, angels surround them, and God mentions them to those with Him. And whoever is slowed down by his deeds will not... His lineage will hasten him (to good deeds) [Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah]
And the companions of Al-A'mash added to the text of this hadith: “...and whoever forgives a Muslim for the sake of Allah, Allah will forgive his sins on the Day of Resurrection.”
Dear brothers, this hadith is a fundamental principle in the interactions between believers.
The truths derived from the previous hadith:
Several truths can be derived from the previous hadith. The first of these truths is that the reward is commensurate with the deed; this is how Allah, the Exalted, is.
“Allah only shows mercy to those of His servants who are merciful.” [Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Usamah ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him]
In the hadith qudsi:
“If you love My mercy, then show mercy to My creation.” [Ad-Daylami and Ibn Asakir, on the authority of Abu Bakr]
“Indeed, Allah punishes those who punish people in this world.” [Muslim, Ahmad, and Abu Dawud]
The first truth: that the reward is commensurate with the deed.
Another truth: that distress is a great hardship that causes its possessor to suffer. A person may be afflicted with a serious illness and unable to afford surgery abroad; this is a great hardship.
A person may be evicted from their home and suddenly find themselves on the street with their children and family.
(Whoever relieves a believer of a hardship in this world, Allah will relieve them of a hardship on the Day of Resurrection.)
There are crushing calamities, calamities that a person may not be able to bear. This is hardship in this world. But one thing is certain, my brothers and sisters: the hardship of the Day of Resurrection is far greater than the hardship of this world. Whoever relieves a believer of a worldly hardship, contributes to solving their problem, removes this nightmare, and relieves them of this unbearable pressure.
((Whoever relieves a believer of a worldly hardship, Allah will relieve them of a hardship on the Day of Resurrection.))
Social relations among believers should be positive:
Relieving a hardship means contributing to its solution, while relieving it means solving it yourself. For example, if someone has a large debt, if you contribute part of it, you have relieved their hardship, but if you assume the debt for them, you have relieved their hardship. In short:
((Whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship, Allah will relieve him of a hardship on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection.))
Dear brothers, Ibn Abi al-Dunya narrated with his chain of transmission from Ibn Mas'ud, who said:
((People will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in the most naked, hungry, thirsty, and exhausted state they have ever been in. Whoever clothes for the sake of Allah, Allah will clothe him. Whoever feeds for the sake of Allah, Allah will feed him. Whoever gives drink for the sake of Allah, Allah will give him drink. Whoever forgives for the sake of Allah, Allah will forgive him. As you judge, so shall you be judged.)) [Ibn Abi al-Dunya, on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud]
No description can truly capture the anguish of the Day of Resurrection. All the hardships of this world are nothing compared to the anguish of the Day of Resurrection. Did not Imam Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) say... God Almighty said: “My son, no good thing followed by Hellfire is truly good, and no evil thing followed by Paradise is truly evil. Every pleasure short of Paradise is insignificant, and every affliction short of Hellfire is a blessing.” You must know, my dear brother, that every creature before you is a creation of God Almighty, and that humankind is God’s creation, and cursed is he who destroys God’s creation. Contribute to solving his problem, help ease his burden, help alleviate his suffering. Do not be an ally of Satan against him, but rather be an ally of him against Satan. This authentic hadith, my brothers, is a fun...