. J '1 J (cont.)

He says, 'Who is invoking Me so that I shall respond to him. Who is asking of Me so that I shall give him. And who is seeking My forgiveness so that I shall forgive him."' (Recorded by al-Bukhari.) In his commentary to Sahih a/­ al-Bukhari, ibn Hajr explains the difference between invoking (dua), asking (su'al) and seeking forgiveness (istighfaar). One either asks for something good or the prevention of some harm, with respect either to this life or to the Hereafter. Seeking forgiveness is virtually concerned with avoiding some harm in the Hereafter. Asking is, for the most part, concerned with asking for some good in this life. And invoking encompasses seeking the good in both this life and the Hereafter. 1 Another hadith, found in Sunan Abu Dawood, demonstrates the proper way that the different types of requests are to be performed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The asking is by raising your hands up to the height of your shoulders or somewhere close to it. The seeking of forgiveness is by pointing with one finger. And when making an earnest, strong supplication, you should stretch out both of your hands."2 • Obviously, al-Nawawi has included forty-two hadith in his "Forty Hadith." The only one this author could find who offered any kind of explanation for this fact was al-HaitamL_ He stated that al-Nawawi added these two hadith, which was an addition of goodness, because these two hadith were very wonderful and amazing to al-Nawawi. Therefore, he thought it would be good to finish the work with them. The first additional hadith, Hadith #41, is an admonition and exhortation to go against one's desires and to follow the shareeah. This, in fact, combines together all that are found in the other forty hadith as well as all that is found in the books on the Sunnahin fact, al-Haitami adds, it combines together all that is found in the Quran itself. The second additional hadith, Hadith #42, is an 1 lbn Hajr, Fath (al-Maktabah al-Tijaariyyah), vol. 3, p. 341 . 2 According to al-Albaani, this hadith is sahih. See al-Albaani, sahih al-Jaami, vol. 2, p. 1 1 35. 3 Al-Haitami does not trace his comments to any source going back to al-Nawawi. Hence, it must be considered supposition on his part. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi exhortation and encouragement to pray to Allah, have hope in Him, seek forgiveness for one's sins and expect Allah's mercy.1 The following should be added to what al-Haitami stated about Hadith #42: Since there will almost always be shortcomings when it comes to fulfilling Hadith #41 and all that the Quran and sunnah encompass, one must then rely upon Allah's mercy and plead to Him for forgiveness. Allah knows best. Summary of the Hadith • The means or "causes" of forgiveness are three: (1) Supplicating to Allah with hope in Him; (2) Asking Allah for forgiveness and repenting to Him; and (3) adhering to tauheed (Islamic monotheism). • No matter how great or how many a believer's sins, Allah's forgiveness and mercy is greater and can encompass them all. • The act of forgiving on Allah's part does not harm Allah in any way. Hence, one should earnestly seek His forgiveness and mercy. 1 Al-Haitami, Fath, p. 286. Epilogue Epilogue One of the reviewers of this book (may Allah reward him) objected to some paragraphs stating that the writing had gone from an "academic discussion" to "emotional sermonizing". Actually, this book was meant to be "scholarly" in its approach, but it was not meanʄ to be purely an "academic discussion". There is no point or benefit to a mere academic discussion unless such a discussion moves then to the heart and from the heart to the limbs and deeds. That, in fact, is the goal of this book. To move the heart of the reader to act in accordance with the beautiful guidance and message of Islam. If that goal has not been reached and what these pages contain remains as mere "knowledge" that one only talks about on a theoretical level, then this effort has certainly been at least partially in vain. It is hoped that every reader will read these hadith and their detailed commentaries and ask himself questions like the following: "Are the intentions behind my acts purely and solely for the sake of Allah, such that Allah will be pleased with them?" "Am I really performing the pillars of Islam seriously and correctly such that the foundation of my religion is solid?" "Am I meeting the obligations of imaan such that I deserve to be called a believer and entered into Paradise?" "Have I been able to go beyond the mere minimum and reached the level of ihsaan where I worship Allah as if I see him . . .