The valley of success:
The Qur’an is the word of Allah. It is
{...a glorious Qur’an}
[Surat al-Burūj: 21]
and it is noble, great, and gracious, and it abounds with goodness.
Allah Almighty glorifies Himself in His glorious Qur’an. The greatest verses therein are those that contain praise of Him and mention of His attributes. Examples include the Verse of Al-Kursi in Surat al-Baqarah, and it is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah, and Surat al-Ikhlās, which is the best surah and so meritorious to the extent that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said about it:“It is equal to one third of the Qur’an.”
[Narratedby Muslim]
One of the best methods by which a person can glorify and extol his Lord is to recite His Book day and night and to hold onto it and ponder, understand, and act upon it.
The people of the Qur’an are also the people of Allah who are close to Him. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:“Indeed, Allah elevates some people with this Book and degrades others.”
[Narrated by Muslim]
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb met Nāfi‘ ibn al-Hārith -whom he had appointed as a governor of Makkah -in ‘Asfān. He asked him: “Whom have you appointed to govern the people of the valley?” He said: “Ibn Abza.” He said: “Who is Ibn Abza?” He said: “He is one of our freed slaves.” He remarked: “So you have appointed a freed slave over them.” He said: “He is a good reciter of the Book of Allah and knowledgeable about the laws of inheritance.”
Thereupon, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Our Prophet (may Al lah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:‘Indeed, Allah elevates some people with this Book and degrades others.’”
[Narrated by Muslim]
So, glory is the share of those who adopt it and act upon it; yet those who turn away from it get nothing but humiliation.
Among the ways of glorifying Allah Almighty is to praise Him and proclaim His greatness and on eness.
Whoever sticks to that shall win the good fortune in this world and in the Hereafter.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the P rophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Allah has some angels who wander around the roads and paths looking for the people of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). When they find some people remembering Allah, they call each other saying: ‘Come to the object of your pursuit.’ Then, the angels encircle them with their wings up to the lo west heaven.
Their Lord asks them -though He knows better than them -: ‘What do My servants say?’ The angels reply: ‘They exalt You, proclaim Your greatness, praise You, and glorify You.’
Allah then says:
‘Did they see Me?’ The angels reply: ‘No, by Allah, they did not see You.
Allah says:
‘What do they ask Me for?’ The angels reply: ‘They ask You for Paradise.
Allah says:
‘Did they see it?’ The angels say: ‘No, by Allah, O Lord, they did not see it.
Allah says:
‘What if they saw it?’ The angels say: ‘If they s aw it, they would be more eager for it, would seek it with greater zeal, and would have a gr eater desire for it.’
Allah says:
‘From what do they seek refuge?’ The angels reply: ‘They seek refuge from Hellfire.
Allah says:
‘Did they see it?’ The angels say : ‘No, by Allah, O Lord, they did not see it.’
Allah says:
‘What if they saw it?’ The angels say: ‘If they saw it, they would be more keen to turn away from it and more fearful of it.’
Thereupon, Allah says:
‘I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them.
One of the angels will say: ‘There was so-and-so amongst them, and he was not one of them,but he had just come for some need.
Allah will say:
‘These are the people by virtue of whom their companion will not be miserable.’”
[Narrated by Al - Bukhāri]
If their companion will not become miserable, then what about the people engaged in Dhikr themselves?!
