Deeds that wash away our sins

The following are some statements of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on what deeds could lead to forgiveness of our past and future sins. The statements were collected in the book Al-Bihar Az-Zakhirah fi Asbab Al-Maghfirah

1. Perfecting one’s ablution
“No worshipper perfects his ablution except that his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Hasan, Al-Bazzar. Al-Haythami and Al-Mundhiri agreed upon.)

2. Fasting in Ramadan
“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking Allah’s reward then his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Ahmad)

3. Night prayer in Ramadan
“Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of faith and seeking Allah’s reward then his past and future sins are forgiven.” (Sahih An-Nasa’i)

4. Night of Al-Qadr
Laylat-ul-Qadr or the Night of Al-Qadr can be expected in the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan. He who performs the night prayer in it out of belief and seeking Allah’s reward his past and future sins are forgiven. (Ahmad)

5. Thanking Allah after eating and putting one’s clothes on
“Whoever ate food and then said, ‘Praise be to Allah who has fed me this food and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part’, is forgiven his past (and future*) sins. And whoever wears a garment and says, ‘Praise be to Allah who has clothed me with this (garment) and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part’, is forgiven his past and future sins.” (Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, and others)

The addition marked by (*) is related by Abu Dawood. Sheikh Al-Albani declared it Hasan in Sahih Al-Jami (no. 6086).

6. Getting old in Islam
“No one reaches 40 years in Islam except that Allah protects him from madness, leprosy and leucoderma. When he is 50, Allah makes his reckoning easy. When he reaches 60, Allah grants him repentance. And when he reaches 70, Allah loves him and the inhabitants of the heavens love him. And when he reaches 80, Allah accepts his good deeds and overlooks his sins. When he reaches 90, Allah forgives his past and future sins, and he is named ‘the prisoner of Allah on earth’ and is granted intercession (for forgiveness) for his family.” (Hasan, Ibn Asakir. Ahmad Shakir said in his notes on Al-Musnad, 8/23, 25: “Its chain is at least Hasan. It is supported with other chains which raise it to the level of Sahih.”)

7. Neither Ruqya nor belief in bad omens
“I was told: ‘These are your people and amongst them there are 70,000 who shall enter Paradise without being taken to either account or torment.’ …’They are those who do not make Ruqya nor seek it, nor believe in bad omens, but trust in their Lord (Allah).’” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

8. Patiently bearing children’s death
“Whoever buries three children, Allah will forbid the (Hell) Fire for him.” (Sahih, Tabarani in Al-Kabeer, Al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 6238)

“There are no two Muslim parents whose three children die before reaching puberty except that Allah will enter them into Paradise due to His mercy to the children.

It will be said to them, ‘Enter the Paradise,’ so they will say, ‘Not until our parents enter first.’ It will be said, ‘Enter the Paradise you and your parents.’ (Ahmad and An-Nasa’i; Al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5780)

“Whoever remains content and patient after the death of three of his offspring will enter Jannah.”

A woman said, “What about two?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “And two.” (Sahih, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban; authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, no. 5969)

For more please read here.

‘They have taken away all rewards’

“O, Prophet of Allah! The rich among us have taken away all the rewards,” complained the poor Companions. “They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, but they also give wealth in charity (while we have no wealth to spend).” (Refer Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith for the full narration.)


The poor among the Ummah deserve a special mention because they are more often than not overlooked, their interests disregarded and their voices ignored. Throughout human history, they have always been the first to believe in the Messengers of Allah, and they will enter Jannah 500 years before everyone else.



During Ramadan last year, at the initiative of a friend, we stood at a traffic signal giving away dates, water and laban just before Iftar time for commuting people who may not have a chance otherwise to break their fast with food. We distributed all the food packs without realizing we had kept none for ourselves, which left us with no other option than breaking our fast at a masjid nearby. The adhan was called while we were heading to the masjid.



We joined the “banquet” of a people who would seldom – if ever – join ours. They were those whose names would never find place in the sprawling invitations we give out for our lavish feasts. Yes, they were all there – the African children and the Asian laborers.



Yet they welcomed us with a smile and made space for us. They shared their Iftar, which was no more than some dates, a piece of bread that they broke into half for us, and some drinks. Being used to excess, we couldn’t imagine how the already small meal would be sufficient for them if they divided between us.


The African children, stereotyped for crimes and what not, were wonderful. A boy turned to me and passed on his can of soft drink. What should I do? I refused. “Children they are after all, who not just love, but crave for sweet drinks,” I thought. He pushed the can towards me and gestured he would share his friend’s.


These are people who we don’t even say our salaams to. The Black women scavengers are seen all around the country. They stop with their trolleys and children at the time of Salah and pray on pavements. Nevertheless, we pass them by as if they don’t exist, as if they are excluded from the obligation of saying salaams to our fellow Muslims. For more read here.