5. A man who is tempted by a woman of beauty and position but he says, “I fear Allah.”

The same is for the woman tempted by a man and she says, “I fear Allah.”

This world is full of temptations which lead to burning in the Fire and amongst them is that which comes from women.

Many a man has led his soul into destruction on account of the lure of a woman, which is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the most important provision which we need to protect ourselves from this and all other temptations in life is the fear (khawf) of Allah.

This fact is alluded to in the following Quranic verse:

And as for him who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed Paradise will be [his] refuge. (79:40)

6. A man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity.

This part of the hadith shows two very important qualities that should be the hallmark of every Muslim. First is charity. We should give charity so much that even we forget the amount of charity we have given. Have you ever wondered that the ones who give charity never become poor? Even if they give millions in charity?

The second point emphasized is the fact that the one who gives charity should give it in secret. The early generations of the Muslims used to give charity so secretly that even their wife didn’t know.

Riya’, showing off in worship, is the hidden shirk (associating partners with Allah), destroying all blessings of a good deed, and making it null and void, as it is done to show off to the people and not for the sake of Allah.

The best way to keep ourselves in check is to do all sunnah and nafl (voluntary) acts of worship in secret and away from the eyes of the people.

7. A man who remembered Allah in private and shed tears.

Another amazing reminder from the Quran comes to my mind every time I listen to this part of this verse:

Has not the time come for those who believe that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? […] (57:16)

When was the last time we cried for the sake of Allah? When was the last time that we turned our faces to Allah in secret, and our eyes overflowed with tears remembering every sin that we committed day and night? Did we ever cry thinking of the immense Mercy of Allah, and all the blessings He has bestowed upon us?

This hadith mentions crying in secret, as it is commonplace to cry publicly when the Imam makes du’a. The fear of showing-off remains even here, and hence the one who cries in secret will be given shade under the Throne of Allah, on a day when there will be no shade but Allah’s shade.

If you contemplate the seven whom Allah will shade with the shade of His Throne when there is no shade but His, you will find that they deserved that shade because of their opposition to their inner desires.

Allah is the One to be petitioned to grant us protection from our desires, which are inclined to evil, and that He makes our desires in accordance with what He loves and what is acceptable to Him. He has power over all things, and He is most worthy of answering our petition.

May Allah indeed enable us to be among those whom He shades under His Throne on a day when there is no shade but His shade!

Source: Suhaib Webb.

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