How to save Oneself from the Fire?

 

As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved from Hell is through eemaan (faith) and righteous deeds. So the Muslims pray to their Lord with faith to save them from the Fire:

 

ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ١٦

 

Those who say, “Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire,”

 

(Qur’an 3: 16)

 

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًۭا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ١٩١

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ ٱلنَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُۥ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍۢ ١٩٢

رَّبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًۭا يُنَادِى لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَـَٔامَنَّا ۚ رَبَّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ ١٩٣

رَبَّنَا وَءَاتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ١٩٤

 

Who remember Allāh while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire – You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.

Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] calling to faith, [saying], ‘Believe in your Lord,’ and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die among the righteous.

Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in [Your] promise.”

[Quran 03: 191-194]

 

Many hadiths speak in detail about this matter and describe the deeds:

 

Deeds that can save one from the Fire

 

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was always intensely afraid of the Fire and would consistently warn people to ward themselves away from it. The Prophet ﷺ would also in fact mention certain deeds that would assist the doer to distance themselves from the Fire tremendously.

 

1. Repentance. 

 

For the one who repents from sin is like the one who has no sin, and repentance is accepted for all sins, including kufr (disbelief), fusooq (sin), ‘isyaan (disobedience). The Most High said, “Say to those who disbelieve, if they stop, then He will forgive them for what has passed...” and as for what has been reported from the Prophet ﷺ (in this regard) then it is much and is well known.

 

2. Making Istighfaar.

 

For Istighfaar is seeking forgiveness (maghfirah), and it is a type of supplication and request, and it is overwhelmingly tied to repentance, and is also commanded. However, a man may repent but not supplicate, and he may supplicate but not repent.

 

3. Righteous Actions.

 

For Allaah the Most High says, “Verily the good deeds take away the evil deeds…” and the Prophet ﷺ said to Mu’aadh bin Jabal, advising him, “O Mu’aadh, fear Allaah wherever you may be, and follow up an evil deed with a good deed, and behave with the people with good manners”.

 

4. Being patient when tests or calamity befalls 

 

Calamities are good for the believer in the sense that reward is stored up for him the Hereafter thereby; how can it be otherwise when he is raised in status thereby and his bad deeds are expiated? The Prophet ﷺ said: “When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allaah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396); saheeh by al-Albaani) 

Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.” 

Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: “There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity. 

Through calamity the believer seeks reward, and there is no way to attain it but patience, and there is no way to be patient except with resolute faith and strong will. 

Remember the words of the Messenger ﷺ: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999). 

So if calamity befalls a Muslim, he must say Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), and say the du’aa’s that have been narrated from the Prophet ﷺ. 

It was narrated from Umm Salamah that Abu Salamah told her that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 

“There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and reacts by saying as Allah has commanded:

 

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ اللَّهُمَّ عِنْدَكَ احْتَسَبْتُ مُصِيبَتِي فَأْجُرْنِي فِيهَا وَعُضْنِي مِنْهَا‘

 

Inna lillahi, wa inna ilayhi raji’un. Allahumma indakah-tasabtu musibati, fajurni iha, wa ‘awwidni minha.

(Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. O Allah, with You I seek reward for my calamity, so reward me for it and compensate me),’

but Allah will reward him for that and compensate him with something better than it.” She said: “When Abu Salamah died, I remembered what he had told me from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I said: ‘Inna lillahi, wa inna ilayhi raji’un. Allahumma indakah-tasabtu musibati, fajurni ihaiha (Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. O Allah, with You I seek reward for my calamity, so reward me for it).’ But when I wanted to say wa ‘awwidni minha (and compensate me with better), I said to myself: ‘How can I be compensated with something better than Abu Salamah?’ Then I said it, and Allah compensated me with Muhammad (ﷺ) and rewarded me for my calamity.”

How wonderful are those moments in which a person turns to his Lord and knows that He alone is the One Who grants relief from distress. 

 

5. Being kind to others

 

‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Shall I not inform you of whom the Fire is unlawful and he is unlawful for the Fire? Every person who is near(to people), amicable, and easy(to deal with).‘” (Tirmidhi, graded as Hasan)

 

6. Making more and more Sujood (offering salah)

 

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The Fire will consume all of the son of Adam except the mark of prostration. Allah has forbidden the Fire to consume the mark of prostration.’” (Ibn MAjah, graded as Sahih)

 

7. Offering Four Rakahs before and after Zohr Prayer

 

It was narrated from Umm Habibah that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever prays four Rak’ah before the Zuhr and four afterwards, Allah will forbid him to the Fire.” (Ibn Majah & NIsaai, Graded as Sahih) 

 

8. Weeping out of fear of Allah

 

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “One who weeps out of fear of Allah, will not enter the Hell till milk returns back in the udder; and the dust raised on account of fighting in the path of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never exist together”. [At- Tirmidhi].

 

9. Voluntary Fasting

 

Abu Sa’id al Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years’ distance. (Sahih Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Nisaai)

 

10. Reciting Quran 

 

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 

• “Read the Qur’an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.” [Muslim].
• “Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: O Lord, I kept him from his food and desires during the day; let me intercede for him. And the Qur’an will say: I kept him from sleeping during the night; let me intercede for him. And they will be allowed to intercede.”(Ahmad, Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
• “The Qur’aan is evidence for you or against you.” (Sahih Muslim)

Surah Mulk. Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Indeed there is a Surah in the Qur’an of thirty Ayat, which intercedes for a man until he is forgiven. It is Tabarak Alladhi Biyadihil-Mulk [Surah Mulk].” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah)

 

11. Charity

 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

• “O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers)” [al-Baqarah 2:254] 
• “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allaah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allaah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower. Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allaah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” [al-Baqarah 2:261-262] 

Narrated `Adi bin Hatim: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with one half of a date and he who hasn’t got even this, (should do so) by (saying) a good, pleasant word.’ (Bukhari & Nisaai)

While giving Charity is strongly recommended and has so many benefits, not giving charity is putting us at risk to be amongst those the angels pray against. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says, ‘O Allaah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allaah, destroy the one who withholds.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1374; Muslim, 1010. 

 

12. Serving Parents

 

The Prophet ﷺsaid: He is doomed, he is doomed, he is doomed. It was said, Who, O Messenger of Allaah? He said, The person whose parents, one or both of them, reach old age during his lifetime but he does not enter Paradise. (Saheeh Muslim, 4627).

Meaning a Muslim who serves them can be saved from Hell InShaAllah and who doesn’t is doomed.

 

13. Making Dua to be saved from Hell Fire

 

Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever asks Allah (s.w.t) Paradise three times, Paradise says: ‘O Allah, admit him into Paradise’, and whoever seeks refuge from the Fire three times, the Fire says: ‘O Allah, save him from the Fire.‘” (Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah) 

 

The following dua’a are : 

 

• Allahuma adkhilni Jannat ul Firdaws ( 3 times )
• Allahuma ajirni minan naar ( 3 times )

Some other Duas that can be found in the Quran & Sunnah: –

 

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

 

RABBANAA INNANAA ‘AAMANNA ‘AAMANNA FAGHFIR LANAA ZUNOOBANAA WA QINA ‘AZAABAN-NAAR

 

“Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Surah Imran 3:16)

 

رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا

 

RABBANASRIF ANNA AZAABA JAHANNAM INNA AZAABAHA KAANA GARAAMA INNAHAA SAA’AT MUSTAQARRAW WA MUQAAMA

“Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily! Its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment.Evil indeed it (Hell) is as an abode and as a place to dwell.” [Surah Furqaan 25:65-66]

 

.اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ‘

 

Allaahumma innee as-aluka al – Jannah, wa maa qarraba ilayhaa min qawl aw ‘amal, wa Audhubika min an-Naar wa maa qarraba ilayhaa min qawl aw ‘amal.O Allaah,

I ask of You for Paradise and that which brings me closer to it of statements or actions. And I seek refuge with You from the Hellfire and that which takes me closer to it of statements or actions. (Ibn Majah, Authenticated by Albaani)

 

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ ‏”‏‏.‏”

 

Allahumma ini a`udhu bika min ‘adhabi-l-Qabr, wa min ‘adhabi-nnar, wa min fitnati-l-mahya wa-lmamat, wa min fitnati-l-masih ad-dajjal.

(O Allah! I seek refuge with you from the punishment in the grave and from the punishment in the Hell fire and from the afflictions of life and death, and the afflictions of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal.

5. Also recite the Dua 

 

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

 

Other Causes that can save one

 

Below are some causes which are not directly our own deeds but can still can save us from Hell Fire.

Supplicating for the Believers. For the prayer of the Muslims over the dead person, and supplicating for him is amongst the causes of forgiveness, and likewise, their supplication and seeking of forgiveness inside and outside of the funeral prayer.

Funeral Prayer. Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Whenever a Muslim man dies, and forty men stand for his janazah prayer, all of them not joining anything with Allaah in worship, Allaah grants them intercession for him.” (Muslim and others). In another narration, the number 100 was mentioned instead of 40

What is done after death of righteous actions, and which are offered for him by his family, such as the one who gives charity on his behalf, or fasts (voluntary fasts) and performs hajj on his behalf, for it is established in the authentic hadeeths that that will reach the dead and benefit him. And all of this is other than the supplication of his children for him, since all of that is from his own actions. The Prophet ﷺ said, “When the son of Aadam dies his actions are cut off except for three, recurring charity, knowledge by which others benefit from, and a righteous son who supplicates for him” (reported by Muslim). Hence, the children is from one’s own earning, and the child’s supplication is considered to be from one’s own action (i.e. the deceased), as opposed to the supplication of other than the child’s, since that is not considered to be from the parents’ action, and Allaah brings about benefit from it.

Sheikh Ibn Taimiyah mentioned the below there in a list of causes he made that can save one from Hell Fire: He said, “For sins, are the cause of punishment for the Believers, absolutely, however, being punished on account of them in the Hereafter with Jahannam can be repelled with some causes amongst them he mentioned (there were others which are already included in the list above):

• Supplication of the Prophet ﷺ during his life and after it, and his seeking of forgiveness (for others), such as his intercession on the Day of Judgement.
• Whatever the Believer is put to trial with in his grave, of the compression (of the grave) and the fitnah (test, tribulation) of the two Angels.
• Whatever hardships befall him in the Hereafter of the terrors of the Day of Judgement.

 

It is Compulsory to save your self and family from Hellfire

 

In the Ever-Glorious Qur’an, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: 

• O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allâh, but do that which they are commanded.
• O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones 

Allah (Glorified be He) orders His believing servants to protect themselves and their families from the Punishment of Allah, through Taqwa (fear/wariness of offending Allah) and ordering their families to do so.

Protection from Hellfire is through Taqwa and sticking to the Deen (religion) of Islam. Besides, one should advise his family, including parents, children, brothers and sisters, to fear Allah and stick to His Deen, through recommending each other to follow Al-Haqq (the Truth), cooperate in righteousness and Taqwa, enjoining Ma`ruf (good) and forbidding Munkar (evil). This matter needs patience, sincerity to Allah, truthfulness, and persistence. The most deserving of your good companionship and kindness is your family and relatives. The Prophet ﷺ said: “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges; the Imam (i.e. ruler) is a guardian and is responsible of his charges and the man is a guardian and is responsible of his family.” The greatest responsibility is to take care of what saves them from the Punishment of Allah, by advising them to fear Allah and abide by His Orders and warning them against the Prohibitions of Allah.

May Allah grant us success to hasten to do good deeds and avoid evil deeds. He is All-Hearer, Ever Near. May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

 

REFERENCE:

[1] BOOK: “The Final Day PARADISE AND HELL In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah”
Dr. ‘Umar S. al-Ashqar

[2] www.learn-islam.org

“Compiled by monis Begum”