Have you secured your place in the shade of Allah’s throne?

[ummtaalib]

The commencing of the holidays spontaneously brings about concern in the hearts of many a parent with regards to the activities of their youth during the holiday period.

This very exciting period of one’s life which many a grey-haired man would love to return to is punctuated with periods of pleasure and pain, thrills and spills and joy and grief. A period that is characterised with a desire to experiment with anything and everything, dangerous or safe, within the limits and beyond. Not forgetting the inclination to rebel, the will to challenge authority coupled with the excitement of engaging in risky behaviour.

Allah Ta’ala values and holds in great esteem that youngster who is obedient to Him during the prime of his youth, to such an extent that He gives him the privilege of being granted shade under His throne on that dreadful Day when there will be no shade except His.

 

Abu Hurayrah Radiyallaahu anhu reported that the Prophet Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam said: “There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade:

1. A just ruler
2. A youth who grows up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic

3. A man whose heart is attached to the Musjid
4. Two people who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that
5. A man who is seduced by a woman of beauty and position, but be says: ‘I fear Allah’
6. A man who gives charity secretly, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives
7. A man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes shed tears.” (Ṣaḥih Bukhari)

 

In the light of this Hadeeth every young person should make a firm commitment to remain chaste and far from all forms of disobedience to Allah Ta’ala such as Zina, (be it of the eyes, ears, hands or the actual act itself), music and its associated evils, intoxicants and all other vices. Remember, there is no better time in a person’s life to serve Allah Ta’ala than the youthful stage of life. Our youth are tomorrow’s flag bearers of Deen. Its preservation lies in their hands.

 

The following great personalities are remembered even today for their achievements during their youth: Nabi Ibraheem Alaihis Salaam challenged the ideology of his time, Nabi Yusuf Alaihis Salaam was entrusted with the country’s financial affairs, Hadrat Usama bin Zayd Radiyallaahu anhu was placed at the head of the army and Abdullah bin ‘Abbas Radiyallaahu anhu was considered an authority on Qur’aan and Tafseer at a tender age. Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sind when he was only seventeen while Muhammad al-Faatih liberated Constantinople, and brought an end to the mighty Byzantine empire, when he was barely twenty one.

Let us follow the example of none other than Muhammad Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam. In the prime of his youth he directed his energy in championing the cause of the poor, victims of injustice and oppression and in linking people to Allah Ta’ala, their Creator.

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Council of Muslim Theologians