The Shaded Seven

The Prophet said:

There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but he says: ‘I fear Allah’, a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.’

Narrated by Abu Hurairah & collected in Sahih al-Bukhari (english trans.) vol.1, p.356, no.629 & Sahih Muslim english trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248

The above hadith was shared by the mutawwif (guide) during the recent Umrah. Before we went our separate ways, he shared that everyone of us are individuals who have met and gotten to know one another for Allah's sake, and will part upon that. He suggested that we love each other for Allah's sake just so that we may be shaded under His Shade on the Day of Judgement.

Over the years, friends come and go. Antisocial me doesn't really mind it either. But of late, I realize that there are friendships that seem to last longer than most. And I realize that these are the friendships that I should try to hold on to as much as I can, for Allah's sake. We could exchange advice and reminders, and offer help when help is required - for Allah's sake.

For His Shade - on the Day when I need kind righteous individuals to save me from the Fire.