The usage of Rafa’a (رَفَعَ) In Hadith literature

Rafa’a used by the Sahaba (RA)

وأخرج ابن مردويه والبيهقي في “شعب الإيمان” من طريق حميد عن أنس بن مالك في قوله : فإما نذهبن بك فإنا منهم منتقمون الآية، قال : أكرم الله نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يريه في أمته ما يكره فرفعه إليه وبقيت النقمة .

Anas (RA) says:
Allah honored His Prophet, peace be upon him, by not letting him see in his nation what he would dislike, so He raised him to Himself, and the punishment (for the disobedient ones) remained.

[Shu’ab al-Iman, 1410]

Rafa used by the Prophet (SAW)

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَيِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفْرًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Your Lord is munificent and generous, and is ashamed to turn away empty the hands of His servant when he raises them to Him.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 1488]

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُمَا ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ شَوْكَةٍ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً أَوْ حَطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏

‘A’isha reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

A believer does not receive (the trouble) of running a thorn or more than that but Allah elevates him in rank or effaces his sins because of that.

[Sahih Muslim 2572b]

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ سَعْدٍ ـ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ عَادَنِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ مِنْ وَجَعٍ، أَشْفَيْتُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَلَغَ بِي مِنَ الْوَجَعِ مَا تَرَى، وَأَنَا ذُو مَالٍ وَلاَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَةٌ لِي وَاحِدَةٌ أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِشَطْرِهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثِ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ، إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَذَرَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ، وَلَسْتَ تُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ بِهَا، حَتَّى اللُّقْمَةَ تَجْعَلُهَا فِي فِي امْرَأَتِكَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ آأُخَلَّفُ بَعْدَ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تُخَلَّفَ فَتَعْمَلَ عَمَلاً تَبْتَغِي بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ ازْدَدْتَ بِهِ دَرَجَةً وَرِفْعَةً، وَلَعَلَّكَ تُخَلَّفُ حَتَّى يَنْتَفِعَ بِكَ أَقْوَامٌ وَيُضَرَّ بِكَ آخَرُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أَمْضِ لأَصْحَابِي هِجْرَتَهُمْ، وَلاَ تَرُدَّهُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ‏.‏ لَكِنِ الْبَائِسُ سَعْدُ ابْنُ خَوْلَةَ رَثَى لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ بِمَكَّةَ ‏”‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) visited me during Hajjat ul-Wada` while I was suffering from a disease which brought me to the verge of death. I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! My ailment has reached such a (bad) state as you see, and I have much wealth, but I have no-one to inherit from me except my only daughter. Shall I give 2/3 of my property as alms (in charity)?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No,” I said, “Shall I give half of my property as alms?” He said, “No.” I said, “(Shall I give) 1/3 of it? ” He replied, ” 1/3, and even 1/3 is too much. It is better for you to leave your inheritors wealthy rather than to leave them poor, begging people (for their sustenance); and whatever you spend for Allah’s Sake, you will get reward for it even for the morsel of food which you put in your wives mouth.” I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Should I remain (in Mecca) behind my companions (who are going with you to Medina)?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If you remain behind, any good deed which you will do for Allah’s Sake, will upgrade and elevate you. May be you will live longer so that some people may benefit by you and some other (i.e. infidels) may get harmed by you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) then added, “O Allah! Complete the Migration of my companions and do not turn them on their heels. But the poor Sa`d bin Khaula (not the above mentioned Sa`d) (died in Mecca) .” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) pitied Sa`d for he died in Mecca.

[Sahih al-Bukhari 4409]

وعن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه‏:‏ أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ‏:‏ ‏ “‏ إن الله يرفع بهذا الكتاب أقوامًا ويضع به آخرين‏”‏‏.‏

‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Verily, Allah elevates some people with this Qur’an and abases others.”

[Riyad as-Salihin 996]

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ – عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أَحَدٌ لِلَّهِ إِلاَّ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status.

[Sahih Muslim 2588]

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ الْمَكِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبَايَةَ بْنِ رِفَاعَةَ، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ أَعْطَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَبَا سُفْيَانَ بْنَ حَرْبٍ وَصَفْوَانَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ وَعُيَيْنَةَ بْنَ حِصْنٍ وَالأَقْرَعَ بْنَ حَابِسٍ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ مِنْهُمْ مِائَةً مِنَ الإِبِلِ وَأَعْطَى عَبَّاسَ بْنَ مِرْدَاسٍ دُونَ ذَلِكَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ عَبَّاسُ بْنُ مِرْدَاسٍ أَتَجْعَلُ نَهْبِي وَنَهْبَ الْعُبَيْدِ بَيْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ وَالأَقْرَعِ فَمَا كَانَ بَدْرٌ وَلاَ حَابِسٌ يَفُوقَانِ مِرْدَاسَ فِي الْمَجْمَعِ وَمَا كُنْتُ دُونَ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمَا وَمَنْ تَخْفِضِ الْيَوْمَ لاَ يُرْفَعِ قَالَ فَأَتَمَّ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِائَةً ‏.‏

Rafi’ b. Khadij reported that the Messenger of Allah; (ﷺ) gave to Abu Sufyan b. Harb and Safwan. b. Umayya and ‘Uyaina b. Hisn and Aqra’ b. Habis, i.e. to every one of these persons, one hundred camels, and gave to ‘Abbas b. Mirdas less than this number. Upon this ‘Abbas b. Mirdis said:

You allot the share of my booty and that of my horse between ‘Uyaina and Aqra’. Both Uyaina and Aqra’ are in no way more eminent than Mirdas (my father) in the assembly. I am in no way inferior to any one of these persons. And he who is let down today would not be elevated. He (the narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then completed one hundred camels for him.

[Sahih Muslim 1060a]

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ صَبِيحٍ، عَنْ كَامِلٍ أَبِي الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حَبِيبَ بْنَ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ فِي صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ ‏ “‏ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Wealth is not diminished by giving (in charity). Allah augments the honour of one who forgives; and one who displays humbleness towards another seeking the pleasure of Allah, Allah exalts him in ranks.”

[Riyad as-Salihin 555]

حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو هَانِئٍ الْخَوْلاَنِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحُبُلِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَعَجِبَ لَهَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَعِدْهَا عَلَىَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَأُخْرَى يُرْفَعُ بِهَا الْعَبْدُ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَمَا هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa`id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said (to him):

Abu Sa`id, whoever cheerfully accepts Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad as his Apostle is necessarily entitled to enter Paradise. He (Abu Sa`id) wondered at it and said: Messenger of Allah, repeat it for me. He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Sa`id) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah!

[Sahih Muslim 1884]

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، – قَالَ ابْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – أَخْبَرَنِي الْعَلاَءُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى مَا يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِ الْخَطَايَا وَيَرْفَعُ بِهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ إِسْبَاغُ الْوُضُوءِ عَلَى الْمَكَارِهِ وَكَثْرَةُ الْخُطَا إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ وَانْتِظَارُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ فَذَلِكُمُ الرِّبَاطُ ‏”‏ ‏

Abu Huraira reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Should I not suggest to you that by which Allah obliterates the sins and elevates the ranks (of a man). They (the hearers) said: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He said: Performing the ablution thoroughly despite odds, tranverside of more paces towards the mosque, and waiting for the next prayer after observing a prayer, and that is mindfulness.

[Sahih Muslim 251a]

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏”‏ألا أدلكم على ما يمحو الله به الخطايا، ويرفع به الدرجات‏؟‏ ‏”‏ قالوا بلى يا رسول الله‏.‏ قال‏:‏ ‏”‏إسباغ الوضوء على المكاره، وكثرة الخطا إلى المساجد، وانتظار الصلاة بعد الصلاة، فذلكم الرباط، فذلكم الرباط‏”‏

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Shall I not tell you something by which Allah effaces the sins and elevates the ranks (in Jannah).” The Companions said: “Yes (please tell us), O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Performing the Wudu’ properly in spite of difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the mosque, and waiting for the next Salat (prayer) after a observing Salat; and that is Ar-Ribat, and that is Ar-Ribat.”

[Riyad as-Salihin 1059]

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ مَرِضْتُ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ مَرَضًا أَشْفَيْتُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ فَأَتَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي مَالاً كَثِيرًا وَلَيْسَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَتِي أَفَأُوصِي بِمَالِي كُلِّهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَالشَّطْرُ قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثُ قَالَ ‏”‏ الثُّلُثُ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَدَعْ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَدَعَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ وَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ فِيهَا حَتَّى اللُّقْمَةَ تَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى فِي امْرَأَتِكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُخَلَّفُ عَنْ هِجْرَتِي قَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تُخَلَّفَ بَعْدِي فَتَعْمَلَ عَمَلاً تُرِيدُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ ازْدَدْتَ بِهِ رِفْعَةً وَدَرَجَةً وَلَعَلَّكَ أَنْ تُخَلَّفَ حَتَّى يَنْتَفِعَ بِكَ أَقْوَامٌ وَيُضَرَّ بِكَ آخَرُونَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمْضِ لأَصْحَابِي هِجْرَتَهُمْ وَلاَ تَرُدَّهُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ لَكِنِ الْبَائِسُ سَعْدُ ابْنُ خَوْلَةَ يَرْثِي لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ مَاتَ بِمَكَّةَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ‏.‏ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ ‏.‏ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُوصِيَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ وَقَدِ اسْتَحَبَّ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

“I was ill during the year of the Conquest (of Makkah) with an illness bringing me to the brink of death. So The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) came to visit me, and I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W)! Indeed I have a great deal of wealth and I do not have any heirs except my daughter, so should I will all of my wealth?’ He said: ‘No.’ I said: ‘Then two-thirds of my wealth?’ He said: ‘No.’ I said: ‘Then half?’ He said: ‘No.’ I said: ‘Then a third’ He said: ‘No.’ A third and a third is too much. If you leave your heirs without need it is better than to leave them in poverty begging from the people. Indeed you do not do any spending (on your family) except that you are rewarded for it, even the morsel of food you raise to your wife’s mouth.'” He said: “I said: ‘Will I be left behind from my emigration?’ He said: ‘You will not be left behind after me,and do righteous deeds intending Allah’s Face, except that it will add to your elevation in rank. Perhaps you will remain until some people benefit from you and others will be harmed by you. O Allah! Complete the emigration of my companions and do not turn them on their heels. But the case of Sa’d bin Khawlah is sad.'” the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) felt sorry for him dying in Makkah.

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2116]

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ صَبِيحٍ، عَنْ كَامِلٍ أَبِي الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حَبِيبَ بْنَ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ فِي صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ ‏ “‏ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“When praying at night (Qiyamul-Lail), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations: ‘Rabbighfir li warhamni wajburni warzuqni warfa’ni (O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, improve my situation, grant me provision and raise me in status).’”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 898]

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَصَلاَتِهِ فِي سُوقِهِ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً وَذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ وَأَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ لاَ يُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ وَلاَ يَنْهَزُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ لَمْ يَخْطُ خَطْوَةً إِلاَّ رُفِعَ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ كَانَ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا كَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ هِيَ تَحْبِسُهُ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ الَّذِي صَلَّى فِيهِ يَقُولُونَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ اللَّهُمَّ تُبْ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يُؤْذِ فِيهِ أَوْ يُحْدِثْ فِيهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:

Prayer said by a man in congregation is twenty five degrees more excellent than prayer said by him alone in his house or in the market. This is because when any of you performs ablution and does it perfectly, and goes out to the mosque having no intention except praying, and nothing moves him except prayer, then at every step which he takes his rank is elevated by one degree on account of this (walking), and one sin is remitted from him for this (walking), till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque, he will be reckoned as praying as long as he will be detained by the prayer. The angels keep on invoking blessing on any of you so long as he remains seated in the place he prayer, saying: O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him; O Allah, accept his repentance so long as he does not harm anyone, or breaks his ablution.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 559]

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏”‏من رضي بالله ربًا وبالإسلام دينًا، وبمحمد رسولا وجبت له الجنة‏”‏ فعجب لها أبو سعيد فقال أعدها علي يا رسول الله فأعادها عليه ثم قال‏:‏ ‏”‏وأخرى يرفع الله بها العبد مائة درجة في الجنة، ما بين كل درجتين، كما بين السماء والأرض‏”‏ قال‏:‏ وما هي يا رسول الله‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏”‏الجهاد في سبيل الله، الجهاد في سبيل الله‏”‏

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “If anyone is pleased with Allah as his Rubb, with Islam as his religion and with Muhammad (ﷺ) as (Allah’s) Messenger, surely, he will be entitled to enter Jannah.” Abu Sa’id was delighted with this and requested the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to repeat it. He (ﷺ) repeated it again and then said, “There is also another act by which Allah will elevate the position of a (pious believing) slave in Jannah to a grade one hundred degrees higher. And the distance between any two grades is equal to the distance between heaven and earth.” He asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) what it was and he ((ﷺ)) replied, “Jihad in the way of Allah; Jihad in the way of Allah.”

[Riyad as-Salihin 1301]

وعنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏‏ “‏من تطهر في بيته، ثم مضى إلى بيت من بيوت الله، ليقضي فريضة من فرائض الله كانت خطواته، إحداها تحط خطيئة، والأخرى ترفع درجة‏”‏

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He who purifies (performs Wudu’) himself in his house and then walks to one of the houses of Allah (mosque) for performing an obligatory Salat, one step of his will wipe out his sins and another step will elevate his rank (in Jannah).”

[Riyad as-Salihin 1054]

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ بْنُ هَمَّامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرُ بْنُ رَاشِدٍ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، أَخِي وَهْبِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا ‏.‏ وَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لِي أَنْفِقْ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ يَمِينُ اللَّهِ مَلأَى لاَ يَغِيضُهَا سَحَّاءُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْفَقَ مُذْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاءَ وَالأَرْضَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَغِضْ مَا فِي يَمِينِهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَعَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ وَبِيَدِهِ الأُخْرَى الْقَبْضُ يَرْفَعُ وَيَخْفِضُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah said to him:

” Spend, I will bestow upon you.” And the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The right hand of Allah is full and spending (the riches) liberally during day and night will not diminish (the resources of Allah). Don’t you see what (an enormous amount of resources) He has spent since He created the heaven and the earth, and what is in His right hand has not decreased? His Throne is upon the water. And in His other hand is death, and He elevates and degrades (whom He likes).

[Sahih Muslim 993b]

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَزِيرُ بْنُ صَبِيحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ حَلْبَسٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ‏{كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ}‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مِنْ شَأْنِهِ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ ذَنْبًا وَيُفَرِّجَ كَرْبًا وَيَرْفَعَ قَوْمًا وَيَخْفِضَ آخَرِينَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Darda’ that:

The Prophet said concerning the Verse: “Every day He is (engaged) in some affair.” “His affairs include forgiving sins, relieving distress, raising some people and bringing others low.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 202]