. I.ii . <': / f·g< "1// (cont.)

In other words, it should not be sufficient for him that he does not harm his brother in any way. Beyond that, he should actively seek to help his brother and remove from him any difficulties that he might be facing. Ifhe does so, Allah will reward him in a similar fashion. This is, again, one of those many pieces of evidence that demonstrate that the reward for an action is of the same nature as the action itself. Hence, if someone removes a difficulty from someone else, his reward will be to have a difficulty removed from himself. This hadith demonstrates the importance of fulfilling the needs of one's brother. This type of deed, with its great reward, is open to many Muslims. This is so because it can be accomplished by using one's knowledge, wealth or authority. It may be by simply advising him to what is best or guiding 1 Al-Haitami (Fath, p. 255) notes that kurbah (distress) is mentioned in relation to a believer (mu'min) while concealing a fault is stated in relation to a Muslim. According to him, there is some significance to this. A kurbah is related to internal emotions and feelings as is imaan or faith. Concealing a fault is related to an outward deed that was performed, as is being a Muslim or "doing the outward deeds of Islam." Allah knows best. Hadith #36: "Whoever Relieves a Believer . . . " him to something good. It could also be by praying to Allah to help the other person and relieve his plight. 1 The word translated as "relieves" is actually naffasa (ః). This means to lighten or relieve the burden. It comes from the expression, Jll:...l ත (giving breath to one who is about to suffocate). It is as if one relaxes the suffocating person and opens a passage for him to breath so that he is able to take a breath.2 Other similar authentic hadith use the word r.) (jaraja). This is a much stronger term. This implies removing the distress and all of the psychological worries that go with it. The reward for relieving is also relieving a burden while the reward for removing will be the removal of a burden. 3 The important aspect to note here is that Allah promises a relief of a burden that is of the Hereafter only for one who relieves his brother's distress and it does not mention a relief of burden in this world. But in the other cases mentioned in this hadith, Allah makes mention of rewards in both this life and the Hereafter. This aspect has been explained in a number of ways. One explanation is that a kurbah is a great hardship. Not everybody faces such a difficulty in this world, as opposed to the later mentioned cases of being in dire straits or needing one's faults concealed. No one escapes experiencing those aspects in this world at one time or another. A second explanation is that the kurbah or hardships of this world are nothing in comparison to the hardships that one will face in the Hereafter. Therefore, Allah preserves the reward for such a deed for the Hereafter when the person will be greatly in need of such a favor from Allah. This is indeed a great reward from Allah for relieving a brother's burden in this life. To understand the above statement, one can refer to many hadith describing the kinds of hardships that mankind will face on the Day of Judgment. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The people will sweat so profusely on the Day of Resurrection that their sweat will sink seventy units into the earth and it will rise up until it will reach the people's ears." (Recorded by al-Bukhari.) The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, 1 Cf., al-Haitami, Fath, p. 255. 2 Cf., al-Teebi, vol. 2, p. 665. 3 Cf., ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 286; Sultaan, p. 309. 1077 - Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi "One the Day of Resurrection, the sun would draw so close to the people that there would be left only the distance of one mile. . . The people would be submerged in perspiration according to their deeds. Some will be up to their knees, some up to the waist and some would have the bridle of perspiration," and he pointed with his hand toward his mouth. (Recorded by Muslim.) These hadith display the hardship and difficulties that people will be faced with on that great Day. Perhaps, Allah will save a Muslim from difficulty on that Day because that Muslim relieved a brother's distress in this world. Such is the great mercy of Allah and how great His rewards are in comparison to the deeds that are performed. One of the greatest hardship or stresses that Muslims face nowadays is the onslaught of non-Islamic values and civilizations. Even in their own Muslim lands, Muslims are faced with hardships in applying Islam.