Daily Priceless Activities of Muslims
An Islamic Series by Sheikh Muzzammil Hussain Shuvo
Part 1: The Regular Practice Through Which One Attains Paradise Immediately After Death
What is the greatest verse of the Holy Quran? Almost all of us know the answer. Yes! The greatest verse of the greatest Book is Ayatul Kursi.
This verse contains ten distinct parts that affirm Allah’s oneness, describe His attributes, and outline His characteristics. It is verse number 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah — the longest surah in the Book of Allah. Reciting this verse carries extraordinarily beautiful virtues. Among the most interesting of these virtues is the fact that reciting this verse at a specifically designated moment makes the path to Paradise smooth and easy, and makes salvation from Hellfire significantly more attainable.
Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated — he said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked:
“O Abu al-Mundhir! (the nickname of Ubayy) Can you tell me — which verse of Allah’s Book, to your knowledge, is the greatest?” I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He then asked again, ‘O Abu al-Mundhir! Can you tell me which verse of Allah’s Book, to your knowledge, is the greatest?’ This time I said, ‘Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal Hayyul Qayyum (Ayatul Kursi — verse 255).’ Ubayy said: He then gently struck my chest and said, ‘May knowledge benefit you, O Abu al-Mundhir!’
📚 Source: Muslim, As-Sahih, Hadith No. 810
As mentioned previously, this verse — which describes the greatness and majesty of Allah, the Exalted — when recited at a particular time, paves the way to Paradise. In fact, nothing remains as an obstacle between such a person and the enjoyment of Paradise’s blessings except death itself. That specific and blessed moment is: after every obligatory (fard) prayer.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing will prevent him from entering Paradise except death.”
📚 Source: Shu’ab al-Iman, Hadith No. 2395
SubhanAllah. How much time does it actually take to recite Ayatul Kursi? At most, two minutes. Yet those very two minutes pave the way to the greatest success one could ever achieve. And memorising it likely won’t even take a full hour!
“In the life activities of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and in the teachings of his hadiths, one can find various short yet immensely rewarding acts of worship. These do not require a great deal of time to perform. With just a little focus, consistency, and willpower, one can fill their book of deeds with extraordinary virtues. This series has been compiled with the goal of sharing such simple yet priceless acts of worship throughout the blessed month of Ramadan. Adding at least one act of worship every day during this month of ibadah can bring us closer and more beloved to Allah.”
Part 2: The Du’a That Helps Secure Freedom from Hellfire
In the life activities of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and through the hadiths, we find various short yet immensely rewarding acts of worship. Out of his deep love for his Ummah, he taught them certain practices — including a specific du’a. If a person recites this du’a after Fajr prayer and then dies before Maghrib on that same day — or if someone recites it after Maghrib prayer and dies before Fajr — then that person will not enter Hellfire. The du’a, filled with priceless virtue, is as follows:
اللهم أجرني من النار
Transliteration: Allahumma Ajirni Minan-Naar
Meaning: “O Allah, protect me from the Fire (Hellfire).”
The authentic hadith describing the virtue of reciting this du’a is as follows — the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever recites the following du’a seven times after Fajr and Maghrib — and if he dies during that day or that night — then he will be granted salvation from Hellfire.”
📚 Source: Abu Dawud, Hadith No. 5079
Death is undoubtedly certain and inevitable. Yet no one has knowledge of its time, its date, or the circumstances under which it will arrive. A person in full physical health can, by Allah’s command, taste death at any moment. Through this practice, any death that occurs — even a sudden and unexpected one — can become a death that leads to Paradise. Incorporating this practice into a daily routine requires no more than 3 to 4 minutes each day. Just think about it! A mere 3 to 4 minutes every day is moving you far, far away from Hellfire.
SubhanAllahi Al-Azeem.
Footnote: Always try to recite directly from the Arabic text rather than relying on transliteration. This is because the correct pronunciation of Arabic letters can often not be accurately conveyed through Bengali or other scripts. If one is truly unable to read Arabic, then transliteration may be used as a last resort.
Part 3: A Practice for Protection from Sudden Accidents and Natural Disasters Including FloodsThe number of sudden calamities and accidents seems to only be increasing. Opening social media, one’s feed is filled with news of various accidents and tragedies. Just as there is news of road accidents, there is equally news of people being injured or killed due to storms or other natural disasters. An entire life can be destroyed in an instant through a single accident. That is why it is said — one accident can cause a lifetime of tears.
In essence, accidents are the symbolic manifestation of earthly and heavenly trials sent by Allah. To seek Allah’s protection from such heavenly and earthly trials, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us a specific du’a and a specific method of supplication.
The du’a is:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Transliteration: “Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’asmihi shay’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’i wa Huwas-Sami’ul-‘Alim.”
(Maximum effort should be made to read directly from the Arabic. As it is largely impossible to accurately represent Arabic transliteration in other scripts.)
Meaning: “I begin my (day or night) in the name of Allah — with Whose name nothing in the heavens or on the earth can cause any harm. And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”
The distinguished companion Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever recites this du’a three times in the morning will not be afflicted by any sudden calamity until the evening. And whoever recites this du’a three times in the evening will not be afflicted by any sudden calamity until the morning.”
📚 Sources: Abu Dawud, Hadith No. 5090 | Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 3388
As stated in the hadith, this du’a is to be recited three times each in the morning and the evening. The reality is, however, that for many people, maintaining this consistently every single day through ordinary means is quite difficult. One day it may be remembered, and the next it may be forgotten. However, in this regard, following a simple technique can be the best solution. Since it is recommended to recite it in the morning and in the evening — it can be recited after Fajr prayer (for the morning) and before or after Maghrib prayer (for the evening). By doing so, it becomes easy to practice consistently without forgetting.
May Allah protect us all — from all kinds of trials, great and small, at all times. Ameen.
Part 4: The Surah That Will Intercede Before Allah for the Forgiveness of Its ReciterSurah Al-Mulk — the 67th surah of the Holy Quran, consisting of 30 verses. The virtues of reciting this surah are countless. Among the most notable of these is that this surah will intercede before Allah for the forgiveness of the one who recites it.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“There is a surah in the Quran that consists of 30 verses. It will intercede on behalf of its reciter and he will be forgiven. And that surah is: ‘Tabarakal-ladhi biyadihil-Mulk…’ (Surah Al-Mulk).”
📚 Source: Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2891
According to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is most recommended to recite this surah every single night. This is because the Prophet himself would never go to sleep without reciting this surah.
📚 Source: Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2892
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave special instructions regarding the memorisation of this surah, and attached to it are truly enticing rewards. This practice — of regularly reciting or memorising Surah Al-Mulk — will also serve as a means of protection from the punishment of the grave.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“When a person is placed in the grave and punishment approaches from the direction of his feet, his feet will say: ‘There is no way through me — for he used to recite Surah Al-Mulk upon me.’ Then if punishment approaches from the direction of his stomach, his stomach will say: ‘There is no way through me — for he used to preserve Surah Al-Mulk within me.’ And if punishment approaches from the direction of his head, his head will say: ‘There is no way through me either — for he used to recite Surah Al-Mulk within me.'”
📚 Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir, Hadith No. 8651
In terms of length, this surah is not overly long. By memorising just 6 verses per day, the entire surah can be committed to memory in only 5 days. Furthermore, reciting this surah — whether by looking at the text or from memory — takes at most 6 to 7 minutes. Therefore, just as the Prophet never slept without reciting it, we too — as his followers — should strive to recite this surah at least once every night. Reciting it after Isha prayer each evening is a convenient and consistent way to do so. In doing this, one fulfils the Sunnah of the Prophet, and at the same time establishes for oneself a lasting treasure — something that will plead and intercede on your behalf before Allah Almighty.
Part 5: The Simple Practice That Grants You Entry into Paradise Through Whichever Gate You PleaseThere are eight gates of Paradise. Each gate of Paradise has its own designated entrance. The world’s greatest leader, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), has shown us a smooth and attainable method for a believer to secure entry into all eight gates — and it requires no more than 2 to 3 minutes of time.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever performs wudu (ablution) properly and then recites: ‘Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh’ — all eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he will be able to enter through whichever gate he wishes.”
📚 Source: Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1/122
In another narration, it is also mentioned to look towards the sky while reciting the Shahadah after wudu. Scholars have noted that “towards the sky” means upward — therefore, simply looking upward is sufficient. Actually seeing the open sky is not a requirement. Acting upon this is recommended, though not doing so does not constitute a sin.
Footnote: Sheikh Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) considered the hadith regarding looking towards the sky while making du’a to be weak (da’if).
📚 Source: Sunan Abu Dawud, 1/23
According to another hadith, after wudu and the recitation of the Shahadah, one should also recite the following du’a:
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
Transliteration: “Allahumma-j’alni minat-tawwabina waj’alni minal-mutatahhirin.”
Meaning: “O Allah, make me among those who repent constantly, and make me among those who purify themselves.”
📚 Source: Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 55
By combining both hadiths, we can recite both together as follows:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
Transliteration: “Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh. Allahumma-j’alni minat-tawwabina waj’alni minal-mutatahhirin.”
Footnote: Always try to recite directly from the Arabic text rather than relying on transliteration. If one is truly unable to do so, then it is a different matter altogether. This is because the correct pronunciation of Arabic letters can very often not be accurately expressed through other scripts.
Part 6: The Tasbih That Causes All Sins — Even Those as Vast as the Foam of the Ocean — to Be Completely ForgivenWe live within a world filled with sin. Moving through life, in sitting and in standing, at every moment, we are confronted with countless major and minor sins. Shaytan, in pursuit of his own mission, leads us toward destruction — slowly, step by step. Even though we are aware of the terrifying punishment for sinful deeds, we still find ourselves unable to fully abstain from sin.
The third level of moral and spiritual development is Taqwa. A person who has attained Taqwa — a Muttaqi — always avoids major sins, or at the very least strives to do so. Yet even in their book of deeds, minor sins may accumulate over time. And as for those who have not yet attained the level of Taqwa — their situation is far more serious. Sins while walking. Sins while sitting. Every passing moment brings another sin. Wasting time often means engaging in shamelessness and immorality.
Can anyone count the foam on the surface of an ocean? Is there any measuring instrument in the world capable of calculating its quantity? To my knowledge, no such instrument exists. Yet even sins as countless and immeasurable as the foam of the ocean — if they exist in someone’s book of deeds — can be completely forgiven by Allah through just a few minutes of tasbih after each prayer. Let us learn from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever says ‘SubhanAllah’ thirty-three times, ‘Alhamdulillah’ thirty-three times, and ‘Allahu Akbar’ thirty-four times after every prayer — and then concludes by saying: ‘La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadir’ — Allah will forgive all of his minor sins, even if they were as abundant as the foam of the sea.”
📚 Source: Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 597
The complete practice to be performed after each obligatory prayer, as per the hadith:
Dhikr Count SubhanAllah (سبحان الله) 33 times Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله) 33 times Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) 34 times (33 times according to another narration) Followed by the recitation of:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Transliteration: “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadir.”
Meaning: “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without any partner. His is all dominion, and His is all praise, and He has power over all things.”