Gardens of the Righteous — Page 34
34. GARDENS OF THE RIGHTEOUS than sixty or seventy factors, the highest of which is the affirmation: There is none worthy of worship save Allah alone; and the least of which is to remove from a path that which occasions inconvenience. Modesty is also a factor of faith (Bokhari and Muslim). 126. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: A man proceeding along a track became very thirsty. Arriving at a well he descended into it and came out after taking a drink and saw a dog with its tongue lolling out trying to lick up mud from extreme thirst. The man thought this dog is suffering from thirst as I was suffering. So he descended once more into the well, filled his leather sock with water and came up holding it by his teeth and gave the dog a drink. Allah appreciated his action and forgave his sins. The Holy Prophet was asked: Messenger of Allah, are we rewarded for kindness to animals also? He answered: There is a reward for kindness to every living thing (Bokhari and. Muslim). Bokhari's version concludes with: Allah appreciated his action, forgave his sins and admitted him to Paradise. Another version is: A dog was going round the brink of a well in an extremity of thirst, when a loose woman of the Bani Israel espied it. She lowered her leather sock into the well, drew up some water and gave the dog to drink. She was forgiven on account of this. 127. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: I saw a man going about in Paradise because he had cut down a tree from the side of a road which occasioned inconvenience to the Muslims (Muslim). Another version is: A man passed by a branch of a tree leaning over a road. He said: I must cut it down so that it should not occasion inconvenience to the Muslims. He was admitted to. Paradise on account of it. Still another version is: A man passing along a road found a thorny branch leaning over the road and pushed it away. Allah appreciated his action and forgave him his sins (Bokhari and Muslim). 128. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: He who makes his ablutions carefully and comes to the Friday service and listens to the sermon in silence is forgiven his sins since the previous Friday and three days more. He who occupies himself with pebbles during the sermon behaves ill (Muslim). 129. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: When a Muslim makes his ablutions and washes his face the water carries away all sins committed by his eyes, and when he washes his hands the water carries away all sins committed by his hands and when he washes his feet the water carries away all sins towards which he had walked, and he emerges cleansed of all his sins (Muslim). 130. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: The five daily services, two Friday services and observing the fast during two Ramadhans atone for whatever may be between them so long as major sins are guarded against (Muslim). 131. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: Shall I tell you something whereby Allah would wipe out your sins and raise your status? Those present said: Certainly, Messenger of Allah. He said: Performing the ablution carefully even in difficulty, frequent walking to the mosque, and waiting eagerly