9. Supplications

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ: مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ وَلَئِنِ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مُسَاءَتَهُ وَلَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْهُ ". رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as stating that God has said, “If anyone is hostile to a friend of mine, I have declared war against him. No one draws near to me with anything dearer to me than what I have made obligatory for him. If my servant keeps drawing near to me with supererogatory acts I shall love him, and when I love him I shall be his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps and his foot with which he walks. If he asks from me I shall certainly give him and if he seeks refuge in me I shall certainly give him refuge. I have not hesitated about anything I do as I hesitate about taking the soul of a believer who dislikes death, for I dislike grieving him, but he cannot escape it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَلَائِكَةً يَطُوفُونَ فِي الطُّرُقِ يَلْتَمِسُونَ أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا قَوْمًا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ تَنَادَوْا: هَلُمُّوا إِلَى حَاجَتِكُمْ " قَالَ: «فَيَحُفُّونَهُمْ بِأَجْنِحَتِهِمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا» قَالَ: " فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ: مَا يَقُولُ عِبَادِي؟ " قَالَ: " يَقُولُونَ: يُسَبِّحُونَكَ وَيُكَبِّرُونَكَ وَيُحَمِّدُونَكَ وَيُمَجِّدُونَكَ " قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُ: هَلْ رَأَوْنِي؟ " قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُونَ: لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَوْكَ " قَالَ فَيَقُولُ: كَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْنِي؟ قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُونَ: لَوْ رَأَوْكَ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ لَكَ عِبَادَةً وَأَشَدَّ لَكَ تَمْجِيدًا وَأَكْثَرَ لَكَ تَسْبِيحًا " قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُ: فَمَا يَسْأَلُونَ؟ قَالُوا: يسألونكَ الجنَّةَ " قَالَ: " يَقُول: وَهل رأوها؟ " قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُونَ: لَا وَاللَّهِ يَا رَبِّ مَا رَأَوْهَا " قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُ: فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْهَا؟ " قَالَ: " يقولونَ: لَو أنَّهم رأوها كَانُوا أَشد حِرْصًا وَأَشَدَّ لَهَا طَلَبًا وَأَعْظَمَ فِيهَا رَغْبَةً قَالَ: فممَّ يتعوذون؟ " قَالَ: " يَقُولُونَ: مِنَ النَّارِ " قَالَ: " يَقُولُ: فَهَلْ رَأَوْهَا؟ " قَالَ: يَقُولُونَ: «لَا وَاللَّهِ يَا رَبِّ مَا رَأَوْهَا» قَالَ: " يَقُولُ: فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْهَا؟ " قَالَ: «يَقُولُونَ لَوْ رَأَوْهَا كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهَا فِرَارًا وَأَشَدَّ لَهَا مَخَافَةً» قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُ: فَأُشْهِدُكُمْ أَنِّي قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُمْ " قَالَ: " يَقُولُ مَلَكٌ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ: فِيهِمْ فُلَانٌ لَيْسَ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّمَا جَاءَ لِحَاجَةٍ قَالَ: هُمُ الْجُلَسَاءُ لَا يَشْقَى جَلِيسُهُمْ ". رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ: " إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّارَةً فُضْلًا يَبْتَغُونَ مَجَالِسَ الذِّكْرِ فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا مَجْلِسًا فِيهِ ذِكْرٌ قَعَدُوا معَهُم وحفَّ بعضُهم بَعْضًا بأجنحتِهم حَتَّى يملأوا مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا عَرَجُوا وَصَعِدُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ قَالَ: فَيَسْأَلُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ: مِنْ أَيْنَ جِئْتُمْ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: جِئْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ عِبَادِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُسَبِّحُونَكَ وَيُكَبِّرُونَكَ وَيُهَلِّلُونَكَ وَيُمَجِّدُونَكَ وَيَحْمَدُونَكَ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ قَالَ: وَمَاذَا يَسْأَلُونِي؟ قَالُوا: يَسْأَلُونَكَ جَنَّتَكَ قَالَ: وَهَلْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي؟ قَالُوا: لَا أَيْ رَبِّ قَالَ: وَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي؟ قَالُوا: وَيَسْتَجِيرُونَكَ قَالَ: وَمِمَّ يَسْتَجِيرُونِي؟ قَالُوا: مِنْ نَارِكَ قَالَ: وَهَلْ رَأَوْا نَارِي؟ قَالُوا: لَا. قَالَ: فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا نَارِي؟ قَالُوا: يَسْتَغْفِرُونَكَ " قَالَ: " فَيَقُولُ: قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُمْ فَأَعْطَيْتُهُمْ مَا سَأَلُوا وَأَجَرْتُهُمْ مِمَّا اسْتَجَارُوا " قَالَ: " يَقُولُونَ: رَبِّ فِيهِمْ فُلَانٌ عَبْدٌ خَطَّاءٌ وَإِنَّمَا مَرَّ فَجَلَسَ مَعَهُمْ " قَالَ: «فَيَقُولُ وَلَهُ غَفَرْتُ هم الْقَوْم لَا يشقى بهم جليسهم»

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has angels who go about on the roads seeking those who remember God, and when they find people doing so they call to one another, ‘Come to what you are looking for’, and surround them with their wings up to the lowest heaven.” He said that their Lord then asks them, although He is best informed about them, “What are my servants saying?” They reply, “They are extolling, magnifying, praising and glorifying Thee.” He asks whether they have seen Him, and when they reply, “No indeed, they have not seen Thee,” He asks how they would act if they had seen Him, to which they reply, “If they had seen Thee they would have engaged more earnestly in worshipping and glorifying Thee, and would have extolled Thee much more.” He then says, “What are they asking for?” and they reply, “They are asking Thee for paradise.” He asks whether they have seen it, and when they reply, “No indeed, my Lord, they have not seen it,” He asks how they would act if they had seen it to which they reply, “If they had seen it they would have been more intensely eager for it, would have asked more earnestly for it, and would have had a greater desire for it.” He asks what they are seeking refuge from, to which they reply that it is from hell. He asks whether they have seen it, and when they reply, “No indeed, my Lord, they have not seen it,” He asks how they would act if they had seen it, to which they reply, “If they had seen it they would have been more earnest in flying from it and fearing it.” He then says, “I call you to witness that I have forgiven them.” One of the angels says, “Among them is so and so who does not belong to their number, but has come only for something he wants,” and He replies, “They are people who are seated together, and he who sits with them will not be miserable.” Bukhari transmitted it. In Muslim's version he said that God has angels who travel round to a great extent looking for meetings where remembrance is being made of God, and when they find a meeting where this is being done they sit with them and surround one another, with their wings so as to fill the space between them and the lowest heaven. When the people separate they ascend up to heaven, and God who knows best asks them where they have come from. They reply, “We have come from Thy servants on the earth who are extolling and magnifying Thee, declaring Thy unity, praising Thee and making request of Thee.” He says, “For what are they asking me?” and they reply, “They are asking Thee for Thy paradise.” He asks whether they have seen His paradise, and when they reply, “No my Lord.” He asks how they would act if they had seen His paradise. They say, “They are also seeking Thy protection.” He asks, “From what are they seeking my protection?” and they reply, “From Thy fire.” He asks whether they have seen His fire, and when they reply that they have not, He asks how they would act if they had seen His fire. They say, “They are also asking Thy forgiveness,” to which He replies, “I have forgiven them, given them what they have asked for, and protected them from what they sought protection.” They say, “My Lord, so and so, a sinner, is among them, who just happening to pass by sat down with them.” He replies, “Him also I have forgiven. They are the people by reason of whom their associate will not be miserable.”

وَعَن حَنْظَلَة بن الرّبيع الأسيدي قَالَ: لَقِيَنِي أَبُو بكر فَقَالَ: كَيْفَ أَنْتَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ؟ قُلْتُ: نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ قَالَ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَا تَقُولُ؟ قُلْتُ: نَكُونُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ كَأَنَّا رَأْيُ عَيْنٍ فَإِذَا خَرَجْنَا مِنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَافَسْنَا الْأَزْوَاجَ وَالْأَوْلَادَ وَالضَّيْعَاتِ نَسِينَا كثيرا قَالَ أَبُو بكر: فو الله إِنَّا لَنَلْقَى مِثْلَ هَذَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى دَخَلْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ: نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَمَا ذَاكَ؟» قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَكُونُ عِنْدَكَ تُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ كَأَنَّا رَأْيَ عَيْنٍ فَإِذَا خَرَجْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِكَ عَافَسْنَا الْأَزْوَاجَ وَالْأَوْلَادَ وَالضَّيْعَاتِ نَسِينَا كَثِيرًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ تَدُومُونَ عَلَى مَا تَكُونُونَ عِنْدِي وَفِي الذِّكْرِ لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ وَفِي طُرُقِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةٌ وَسَاعَةٌ» ثَلَاث مَرَّات. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Bakr met me and asked, “How are you, Hanzala?” I replied, “Hanzala has become a hypocrite."He said, “Praise be to God! What are you saying?” I replied, “We are with God’s messenger and he reminds us of hell and paradise making us almost seem to see them, then when we go out and leave God’s messenger we have dealings with our wives, our children and our properties and forget much.” On hearing this Abu Bakr said, “I swear by God that I have the same kind of experience.” He and I then went to visit God’s messenger, and I said, “Hanzala has become a hypocrite, messenger of God.” He asked what I meant by that and I replied, “Messenger of God, we are with you when you are reminding us of hell and paradise and making us almost seem to see them, then when we go out and leave you we have dealings with our wives, our children and our properties and forget much.” God's messenger replied, “By Him in whose hand my soul is, if you were to continue in what you have been engaged in with me and in remembering God, the angles would shake hands with you when you lie down and when you walk about; 1. but, Hanzala, there is a time for everything.” He said this three times. 1. i.e. when you are at leisure and when you are engaged in business Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ؟ وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ؟ وَخَيْرٍ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذهبِ والوَرِقِ؟ وخيرٍ لكم مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ؟» قَالُوا: بَلَى قَالَ: «ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ» . رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ وَأَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ إِلَّا أَنَّ مَالِكًا وَقفه على أبي الدَّرْدَاء

Abud Darda’ reported God's messenger as saying, “Would you like me to tell you the best and purest of your deeds in the estimation of your King, those which raise your degrees highest, those which are better for you than spending gold and silver, and are better for you than that you should meet your enemy and cut off one another's head?” On receiving a reply in the affirmative he said, “It is remembering God.” Malik, Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Malik traced it no farther back than Abud Darda’.

وَعَن عبد الله بن يسر قَالَ: جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: أَيُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ؟ فَقَالَ: «طُوبَى لِمَنْ طَالَ عُمْرُهُ وَحَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ» قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: ( «ن تُفَارِقَ الدُّنْيَا وَلِسَانُكَ رَطْبٌ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ» رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

‘Abdallah b. Busr told of a desert Arab coming to the Prophet and asking who was best among men, to which he replied, “Happy is he whose life is long and whose deeds are good.” He asked God’s messenger what deed was most excellent, and he replied, “That you should leave the world with the mention of God fresh on your tongue.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا مَرَرْتُمْ بِرِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ فَارْتَعُوا» قَالُوا: وَمَا رِيَاضُ الْجِنّ؟ قَالَ: «حلق الذّكر» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you come upon the pastures of paradise feed on them.” On being asked what the pastures of paradise were he replied that they were circles where God is remembered. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ قَعَدَ مَقْعَدًا لَمْ يَذْكُرِ اللَّهَ فِيهِ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ تِرَةٌ وَمَنِ اضْطَجَعَ مَضْجَعًا لَا يذكر الله فِيهِ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ تِرَةٌ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone sits in a place where he does not remember God, deprivation will descend on him from God; and if anyone lies down in a place where he does not remember God, vengeance will descend on him from God.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ يَقُومُونَ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ فِيهِ إِلَّا قَامُوا عَنْ مِثْلِ جِيفَةِ حِمَارٍ وَكَانَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسرَةً» . رَوَاهُ أحمدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

He reported God's messenger as saying, "People who arise from an assembly in which they did not remember God will be just as if they had got up from an ass's corpse, and it will be a cause of grief to them." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا جَلَسَ قَوْمٌ مَجْلِسًا لَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِيهِ وَلَمْ يُصَلُّوا عَلَى نَبِيِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانَ عَلَيْهِمْ تِرَةً فَإِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُمْ وَإِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُمْ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ

He reported God's messenger as saying, "If people sit in an assembly in which they do not remember God or invoke a blessing on their Prophet, vengeance will descend upon them. If God will He will punish them, but if He wills He will forgive them.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كُلُّ كَلَامِ ابْنِ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ لَا لَهُ إِلَّا أَمْرٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ نَهْيٌ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ أَوْ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

Umm Habiba reported God's messenger as saying, "Everything a son of Adam says counts against him and not in his favour, except recommending what is good, prohibiting what is objectionable, or making mention of God." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تُكْثِرُوا الْكَلَامَ بِغَيْرِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ كَثْرَةَ الْكَلَامِ بِغَيْرِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ قَسْوَةٌ لِلْقَلْبِ وَإِنَّ أَبْعَدَ النَّاسِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْقَلْبُ الْقَاسِي» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, "Do not speak much without mentioning God, for much talk without mention of God produces hardness of heart, and the one who is farthest from God is he who has a hard heart." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ ثَوْبَانَ قَالَ: لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ (وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَب وَالْفِضَّة) كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي بَعْضِ أَسْفَارِهِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ: نَزَلَتْ فِي الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ لَوْ عَلِمْنَا أَيُّ الْمَالِ خَيْرٌ فَنَتَّخِذَهُ؟ فَقَالَ: «أَفْضَلُهُ لِسَانٌ ذَاكِرٌ وَقَلْبٌ شَاكِرٌ وَزَوْجَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى إِيمَانِهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Thauban said that when "And those who hoard gold and silver" 1. came down they were with the Prophet on one of his journeys. One of his companions said, "It has come down about gold and silver. Would that we knew what property is best so that we might get it!" He replied, "The best property is a tongue which makes mention of God, a grateful heart, and a believing wife who helps a man with his faith." 1. Qur’an, ix, 34. Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ مُعَاوِيَةُ عَلَى حَلْقَةٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ: مَا أَجْلَسَكُمْ؟ قَالُوا: جَلَسْنَا نَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ قَالَ: آللَّهِ مَا أَجْلَسَكُمْ إِلَّا ذَلِكَ؟ قَالُوا: آللَّهِ مَا أَجْلَسَنَا غَيْرُهُ قَالَ: أما إِنِّي لم أستحلفكم تُهْمَة لكم وَمَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ بِمَنْزِلَتِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَقَلَّ عَنْهُ حَدِيثًا مِنِّي وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَرَجَ عَلَى حَلْقَةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ: «مَا أَجْلَسَكُمْ هَاهُنَا» قَالُوا: جَلَسْنَا نَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ وَنَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى مَا هَدَانَا لِلْإِسْلَامِ وَمَنَّ بِهِ علينا قَالَ: " آالله مَا أجلسكم إِلَّا ذَلِك؟ قَالُوا: آالله مَا أَجْلَسَنَا إِلَّا ذَلِكَ قَالَ: «أَمَا إِنِّي لَمْ أَسْتَحْلِفْكُمْ تُهْمَةً لَكُمْ وَلَكِنَّهُ أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُبَاهِي بِكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id said that Mu'awiya went out to a circle in the mosque and asked them what had made them sit together. When they replied that they had sat down to remember God, he said, "I adjure you by God, has nothing else made you sit together?" On their reply that there was certainly no other cause he said, "I did not adjure you because I suspected you. No one in my position with relation to God’s messenger has fewer traditions from him than I have; but God’s messenger went out to a circle of his companions and asked them what had made them sit there, and when they replied that they had sat together to remember God and praise Him for guiding them to Islam and bestowing favour on them he said, ‘I adjure you by God, has nothing else made you sit together?’ On their replying that there was certainly no other cause he said, ‘I did not adjure you because’ I suspected you, but Gabriel came to me and told me God is speaking proudly of you to the angels’." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن عبد الله بن يسر: أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ شَرَائِعَ الْإِسْلَامِ قَدْ كَثُرَتْ عَلَيَّ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِشَيْءٍ أَتَشَبَّثُ بِهِ قَالَ: " لَا يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا بِذكر اللَّهِ) رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيث حسن غَرِيب

‘Abdallah b. Busr told of a man saying, “Messenger of God, the ordinances of Islam are too many for me, so tell me something to which I may cling.” He replied, “Your tongue will continue to be supple by making mention of God.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ: أَيُّ الْعِبَادِ أَفْضَلُ وَأَرْفَعُ دَرَجَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؟ قَالَ: «الذَّاكِرُونَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتُ» قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمِنَ الْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «لَوْ ضَرَبَ بِسَيْفِهِ فِي الْكُفَّارِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يَنْكَسِرَ وَيَخْتَضِبَ دَمًا فَإِنَّ الذَّاكِرَ لِلَّهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ دَرَجَة» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيّ: هَذَا حَدِيث حسن غَرِيب

Abu Sa'id said God’s messenger was asked who would be most excellent and most exalted in degree in God’s estimation on the day of resurrection, and replied, “The men and women who make frequent mention of God.” He was asked if they would be superior even to the man who had fought in God’s path, and replied, “Even though he plied his sword among infidels and polytheists till it was broken and smeared with blood, the one who made mention of God would have a more excellent degree than he.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a gharib tradition.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الشَّيْطَانُ جَاثِمٌ عَلَى قَلْبِ ابْنِ آدَمَ فَإِذَا ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ خَنَسَ وَإِذا غفَلَ وسوس» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ تَعْلِيقا

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “The devil is couching at the heart of the son of Adam. When he mentions God he withdraws, but when he is neglectful he makes evil suggestions.” Bukhari mentioned it in a note.

وَعَنْ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ: «ذَاكِرُ اللَّهِ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ كَالْمُقَاتِلِ خَلْفَ الْفَارِّينَ وَذَاكِرُ اللَّهِ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ كَغُصْنٍ أَخْضَرَ فِي شَجَرٍ يَابِس» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «مَثَلُ الشَّجَرَةِ الْخَضْرَاءِ فِي وَسَطِ الشَّجَرِ وَذَاكِرُ اللَّهِ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ مَثَلُ مِصْبَاحٍ فِي بَيْتٍ مُظْلِمٍ وَذَاكِرُ اللَّهِ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ يُرِيهِ اللَّهُ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ وَذَاكِرُ اللَّهِ فِي الْغَافِلِينَ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ بِعَدَدِ كُلِّ فَصِيحٍ وَأَعْجَمٍ» . وَالْفَصِيحُ: بَنُو آدَمَ وَالْأَعْجَمُ: الْبَهَائِم. رَوَاهُ رزين

Malik said he heard God’s messenger used to say, “The one who makes mention of God among those who are negligent is like one who goes on fighting after others have fled; the one who makes mention of God among those who are negligent is like a green branch upon a withered tree; (A version has, “Like a green tree amidst the trees”); the one who makes mention of God among those who are negligent is like a lamp in a dark house; the one who makes mention of God among those who are negligent will be shown by God during his lifetime his resting-place in paradise; and the one who makes mention of God among those who are negligent will be forgiven as many sins as the number of those who have the faculty of speech (fasih) and those who are destitute of it (a'jam)” Fasih refers to human beings and a'jam to animals. Razin transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ قَالَ: مَا عَمِلَ الْعَبْدُ عَمَلًا أَنْجَى لَهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ. رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَه

Mu'adh b. Jabal said, “A man does nothing more calculated to rescue him from God’s punishment than making mention of God.” Malik, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: أَنَا مَعَ عَبْدِي إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي وتحركت بِي شفتاه ". رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as stating that God says, "I am with my servant when he remembers me and his lips move making mention of me." Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ: «لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ صِقَالَةٌ وَصِقَالَةُ الْقُلُوبِ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ أَنْجَى مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ» قَالُوا: وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «وَلَا أَنْ يَضْرِبَ بِسَيْفِهِ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي الدَّعَوَاتِ الْكَبِيرِ

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told that the Prophet used to say, “Everything has a polish, and the polish for hearts is rememberance of God. Nothing is more calculated to resuce from God’s punishment than remembrance of God.” He was asked whether this did not apply also to jihad in God’s path, and said, “Not even if one should ply his sword till it is broken.” Baihaqi transmitted it in ad-Da'awat al-kabir.