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åí‡Ûa@ÒŠbÈß
Understanding of the Religion
Islamic questions on a wide variety of topics which have been answered in detail with full
explanation by the great Marja` Taqlid, ™yatull°h al-`U®m° al-Ø°jj ash-Shaykh Lußfull°h as-Æ°f¢ al-
Gulp°yg°n¢ (may All°h protect him)
Translated into English by Saleem Bhimji (www.al-mubin.org)
Question: It has been mentioned in the a¶°d¢th that the Divine reward (Thaw°b) for performing some minor acts is
sometimes a grand reward – for example, if a person says “Glory be to All°h” ( ) one hundred times it is greater
than offering one hundred sacrifices (of animals) in the Øajj; or if a person sends prayers and blessings on Mu¶ammad
and his family (blessings of All°h be upon him and his family) just three times, then its Divine reward can not be counted
by other than All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him). Are these sorts of a¶°d¢th authentic?

Answer: Apparently, such expressions in these examples of the Øad¢th (of the rewards that are promised) are in relation
or in reference to a great (unimaginable) reward that has been promised. As we know, there are no other words at the
level of saying Glory be to All°h ( ) in which we testify and state that All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him) is
completely free from all sorts of defects and shortcomings which is truly the most perfect form of showing the belief of
Oneness (Taw¶¢d) that we as Muslims believe in.

In addition, by sending prayers and blessings upon Mu¶ammad and the family of Mu¶ammad (blessings of All°h be
upon him and his family) - which all human beings owe a great deal of thanks to as it through them (the Prophet and his
family) that we have been guided and have attained salvation in this world and the hereafter, and thus we must never
forget or stop thinking about their blessings for even one instance – we see that there is no greater phrase that can be used
other that this (the Æalaw°t) and these types of prayers can also be found in the Qur˜°n.

All°h the Most High has said in a verse of the Qur˜°n that:

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“Whether thou ask for their forgiveness, or not, (their sin is unforgivable): if thou ask seventy times for their forgiveness,
Allah will not forgive them: because they have rejected Allah and His Messenger: and Allah guideth not those who are
perversely rebellious.” (al-Qur˜°n, 9:80)

Without doubt, the word seventy times in this verse does not have any specific meaning such that if the Prophet of Isl°m
(blessings of All°h be upon him and his family) were to ask forgiveness for them seventy-one times, then All°h (Glory
and Greatness be to Him) would forgive them! Thus, it is clear that the meaning here is that in no way would All°h
(Glory and Greatness be to Him) ever forgive them.

…and All°h knows best

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