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Get closer to Allah by serving others

Get closer to Allah by serving others

Did you visit Me?

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said that Allah Almighty will say on the Day of Resurrection:

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله تعالى عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:

“إنَّ اللَّهَ عزَّ وجلَّ يقولُ يَومَ القِيامَةِ:

يا ابْنَ آدَمَ، مَرِضْتُ فَلَمْ تَعُدْنِي، قالَ: يا رَبِّ، كيفَ أعُودُكَ وأَنْتَ رَبُّ العالَمِينَ؟!

قالَ: أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أنَّ عَبْدِي فُلانًا مَرِضَ فَلَمْ تَعُدْهُ؟ أمَا عَلِمْتَ أنَّكَ لو عُدْتَهُ لَوَجَدْتَنِي عِنْدَهُ؟

يا ابْنَ آدَمَ، اسْتَطْعَمْتُكَ فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْنِي،

قالَ: يا رَبِّ، وكيفَ أُطْعِمُكَ وأَنْتَ رَبُّ العالَمِينَ؟!

قالَ: أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أنَّه اسْتَطْعَمَكَ عَبْدِي فُلانٌ، فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْهُ؟ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أنَّكَ لوْ أطْعَمْتَهُ لَوَجَدْتَ ذلكَ عِندِي،

يا ابْنَ آدَمَ، اسْتَسْقَيْتُكَ، فَلَمْ تَسْقِنِي،

قالَ: يا رَبِّ، كيفَ أسْقِيكَ وأَنْتَ رَبُّ العالَمِينَ؟!

قالَ: اسْتَسْقاكَ عَبْدِي فُلانٌ فَلَمْ تَسْقِهِ، أمَا إنَّكَ لو سَقَيْتَهُ وجَدْتَ ذلكَ عِندِي”. صحيح مسلم

O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?

O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me?

O son of Adam, I asked you for drink and you gave Me none. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You drink when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you for drink and you gave him none. Had you given him something to drink you would have surely found that with Me”. (Muslim)

In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) opened this window to the Day of Judgement for us to see what would happen. This scene from the future has been presented to us clearly in dunya. One might ask why did he (peace be upon him) bring it to our attention? Scholars have commented that it shows us that Allah will call us on the Day of Judgement and blame those who have short comings, asking them why they failed to fulfil their duties. Out of his mercy, he was bringing to our attention the fact we can rectify our shortcomings while we still have time, before it is too late. The hadith starts with the call from Allah to mankind, ‘Ya Ibna Adam’ (O Son of Adam). At various times in the Quran, Allah Almighty appeals to us using different terms- sometimes ‘Ya Ibadi’ (O my servants), at others ‘Ya ayuhaladheena amanu’ (O you who believe). There are five or six to different ways in which He addresses specific groups, but here He is addressing everyone, especially believers.

Responding with obedience

Our response when we hear ourselves being called by Allah Almighty should be to say ‘Labayka, ya Rabb’, (At your service, our Lord). When the Prophet (peace be upon him) calls us we should say, ‘Labayk, ya Rasul Allah’, (At your service, o Prophet). Note that Allah used the singular form, Ibna Adam not Bani Adam. This is significant, because you we will all be judged alone. We are responsible for our own actions. This is why the call is personal, because our actions are ours.  

When you show mercy, you receive mercy

The hadith mentions three acts of kindness – visiting the sick, feeding the hungry and giving water to those who are thirsty. We are not restricted to these three acts rather the hadith is highlighting some of the needs and necessities in the community. Allah Almighty is instructing us to be merciful to one another.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ ارْحَمُوا أَهْلَ الأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ ‏”‏.أبو داود

The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in the heaven will show mercy to you. (Abu Dawoud)

Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمْ الرَّحْمَنُ ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ

The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you. (Tirmidhi)

Jarir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

عن جرير بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:

«مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمِ النَّاسَ لَا يَرْحَمْهُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ». 

Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah Almighty does not show mercy to him. (Bukhari and Muslim)

This is why we have been given a glimpse of the akhirah, so we can fix what we need to know and not have regrets later.

Our duty towards others

Scholars commented on this hadith is stressing the importance of our duty to one another. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated seven of these duties among which we have vising the ill in the community.

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying:

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ – عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ مَا هُنَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ إِذَا لَقِيتَهُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ وَإِذَا دَعَاكَ فَأَجِبْهُ وَإِذَا اسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْ لَهُ وَإِذَا عَطَسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ فَسَمِّتْهُ وَإِذَا مَرِضَ فَعُدْهُ وَإِذَا مَاتَ فَاتَّبِعْهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim. It was said to him: Allah’s Messenger, what are these? Thereupon he said: When you meet him, offer him greetings; when he invites you to a feast accept it. when he seeks your council give him, and when he sneezes and says:” All praise is due to Allah,” you say Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah show mercy to you); and when he fails ill visit him; and when he dies follow his bier. (Muslim)

Action and reward

Believers have rights upon us, and we have a duty towards them. While fulfilling these obligations, we must also take our circumstances into consideration. The hadith teaches us that it’s about taking action—moving from A to B to serve others, whether it requires taking a bus or train or driving. This action brings comfort, and boosts the morale of the sick, and can aid their recovery when they see those they love taking time out for them. This is why the reward for this act of kindness is so high.

Allah mentions in the hadith that when a servant asks, “How can I visit You when You are far above weakness, illness, or need?” Allah is teaching us that by supporting others in need, we are serving Him. This demonstrates the honour Allah bestows upon those who are ill or in need, making their care important to us. It’s a call to spread love and compassion, which is a feature of true believers.

An-Nu`man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said,

“النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ الْجَسَدِ إِذَا اشْتَكَى عُضْوًا تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ جَسَدِهِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّى ‏”‏‏.‏

You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it. (Bukhari)

This analogy reminds us to operate as a unified community, extending mercy and compassion to those around us. Reaching out to others is an antidote to egoism. While it’s natural to care for ourselves, our faith inspires us to look beyond self-interest and care for others.

Unblock the blockages in your life by serving others

The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:

Allah will support you as long as you support your brother (Muslim)

This means that if you have blockages in your life, helping someone else the key to open it is to and help someone else, and Allah will open the locked door for you. Serve others, help one another and have empathy for one another. It does not take much to visit someone – it does not cost money. Everyone can do that.

Start with the things you can manage easily, but are not doing because you are too busy, preoccupied with your own things. Start with your family, friends, neighbours, and community. Then expand outward to the broader ummah. Obligations begin close to home and grow outward in concentric circles. Allah is calling each of us individually to respond to His invitation to do good.

By serving others, Allah may remove the barriers in your life. Helping doesn’t always require money or great effort. Visiting someone, checking on them, or offering a kind word are simple actions that anyone can do.

Ultimately, it’s a choice. Will you heed Allah’s call? On the Day of Judgment, we will be called to account for our actions.

We ask Allah to enable us to respond to His call, to spread love and compassion, and to fulfil our duty to those around us. May we be among those who uplift others and are uplifted by Allah in return. Ameen.

Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 24th January 2025.

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.