Whenever we hear the expression ‘spoilt for choice’ we immediately think of sweets, or delicacies of some sort. I do not disagree that we are spoilt for choice in our abundance of food, however let’s look at this expression from a different perspective.
The hadith books are littered with recommendations of the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructing us to do something or say some words which will earn us paradise. As I flip through my memory, we are truly spoilt for choice with a variety of athkar.
Begin with the Qur’an; in the hadith narrated by Aishah, she quotes the Prophet as saying, “verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.” [Bukhari & Muslim] I doubt you will get the company of angels on earth or in hell; the only place is in paradise, where you can be blessed with such esteemed companionship. There are one hundred and fourteen surahs (chapters) in the Qur’an, so take your pick to begin sowing the seeds for you to reap in paradise, Inshallah.
That’s within Jannah; once you’re in, how about to get access to its doors? Well, the Prophet (peace be upon him) didn’t leave that out! On the authority of Qays bin Sa’d, the Prophet said, ‘Should I not indicate to you a door from the doors of Jannah?’ I said, ‘Of Course.’ He (peace be upon him) said, ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah!’ [Tirmidhi, Saheeh (Albani)]
Jannah, is at our finger tips, well the tip of our tongues really. It is so easy to achieve and amass its rewards. It doesn’t end there, Jannah is most often described as a garden, so how can we prepare our gardens for our reception?
Jabir reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘for him who says Subhanallahi wa bihamdih’ a palm tree will be planted for Him in Jannah.’ [Tirmidhi] So imagine, how full and luscious your garden will be if you take only five minutes everyday to repeat these words!
The morning supplications alone, carry a huge amount of reward, many granting the supplicant forgiveness and protection; and others giving admittance to paradise. In addition, some will gain you extra rewards, such as freeing slaves, or will make you better than anyone who has said that particular athkar less than you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told us, if we recite, ‘Hasbiyallahu laa ilaha illahuwa alayhi tawwakaltu wa huwa rabbul ‘arshil ‘atheem,’ seven times in the morning or evening, Allah will grant him whatever he desires from this world or the next. (Abu Dawud) Imagine that!
Keep in mind, that one of the types of people under the shade of Allah on the day when there is no shade, is those who remember Allah in private, so their eyes shed tears. That is another added reward of keeping our tongues moist with the remembrance of Allah.
We really are spoilt for choice. I begin with one simple athkar, and another rushes to my mind with its package of reward, and so I say that one instead. Then I remember another, and another until my mind is crowded, and I can’t choose which one to say. This is truly from the blessings of Allah. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or time to say a few athkaar. We can even say them whilst our hands are busy, as long as we concentrate on our words (otherwise we are repeating like parrots). I have only mentioned a few here, but they are numerous ways to remember Allah in accordance with the Sunnah. Begin your journey, and cultivate your place in paradise!