Asking for the Best of Both Worlds
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
سَأَلَ قَتَادَةُ أَنَسًا: أَيُّ دَعْوَةٍ كَانَ أَكْثَرَ يَدْعُو بِهَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ:كَانَ أَكْثَرُ دَعْوَةٍ يَدْعُو بِهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” اللهُمَّ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ “، وَكَانَ أَنَسٌ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ بِدَعْوَةٍ دَعَا بِهَا، وَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ بِدُعَاءٍ دَعَا بِهَا فِيهِ ”
Qatadah asked Anas about the supplication the Prophet (ﷺ)often said and Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The supplication most often recited by the Prophet (ﷺ) was: “Allahumma atina fid-dunya hasanatan, wa fil-akhirati hasanatan, wa qina ‘adhab-annar (O our Rubb! give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the punishment of the Fire).”‘Whenever Anas supplicated, he used to implore Allah with this Du’a.[1]
Benefits of the Topic
- This hadith is among the three chained hadith collected by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad. The 3 narrators between Imam Ahmed and the hadith are; Isma’il -Abdul Aziz -Qatadah- hadith.
- Qatadah narrated this hadith on Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه).Qatadah was the most memorized in Basra everything he heard he learned it by heart. He heard the collection of Jabir only once and memorized it right away. He was once accused of following the Qadariyyah. Qatadah was born 60 Hijrah and died 117 H.
- “Which supplication did the Prophet (ﷺ) frequently supplicate with?” refers to the Dua he would normally say most of the time due to its importance.
- The salaf differ over the meaning of , “ The Good in this life”, some say it refers to knowledge and worship in this life. Others say it means having a lawful income and knowledge which benefits. The Good in the next life refers to Jannah.
- Another group of scholars have said the good in this life and in the next refers to safety in both worlds along with a pious spouse. Then there are some people of knowledge that say, “The Good in this life refers to a vast income through lawful means with the practice of good deeds, while , “The Good in the Next life”, applies to forgiveness and the reward for doing good deeds.
- “The Good in this Life…” has also been interpreted to mean knowledge and acting by it and “The Good in the next life , is having an easy judgment in front of Allah allowing one to enter Jannah easily.
- The one whom Allah has given Islam, the Quran, a family, wealth and an offspring then Allah has given him the good of both worlds is also inferred from this Dua.
- Atha’labi has mentioned few of Salafs’ definition for the, Good in this life and the Good in Next life and among them are;
- Safety from danger is the good of both lives with Allah’s Pleasure.
- The Good in this life is a righteous woman and in Next life it’s the Hoorul Ayn(Women of Jannah)
- “Save us from the punishment of the fire.” Refers to an evil and unrighteous spouse.
- Ibn Kathir said: “The Good in this Life.” Includes all worldly and material possessions a person wishes to have in this life. Such as; good health, a nice home, a beautiful wife, pious offspring, and vast wealth. Moreover, doing good deeds, owning a nice and a comfortable form of transportation while people like you are a part of the good in this life.
“The Good in the Next life.” Is entering Jannah, not being so afraid and worried on the Day of Judgement and having an easy reckoning before Allah.
“Being safe from the punishment of the Fire includes the ability to do the things in this life which facilitates the ease to enter Paradise. For example, being able to avoid sins, and all doubtful matters.
In conclusion, there has been many interpretation and explanations for those words in the Dua. Asking Allah for the good in this life includes everything that is upright, moral and decent, and even help from Allah against your enemies. These things bring a person happiness in this life and allow him to be successful in the Hereafter. Anas (Radi Allahu anhu) learned this dua as the Prophet (ﷺ) would often say it.[2]
Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar 1441(C)
[1] Ahmed (3/101) Al-Bukhari (6389) and others.
[2] Explanation of the Thulithiyat Musnad imam Ahmad by Ash-Shiekh Muhammad As-Safaraniyah (1188H) vol 1, pg 369