Hadhrat Yahya bin Mu´aadh Raazi (R.A) used to make the following du´aas:
Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) once became displeased upon seeing some Sahabah (R.A) laughing. He told them, "You people are laughing when Jahannam is behind you. I do not want to see you laughing again." Saying this, Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) left.
We became so stiff that it seemed as if birds were perched on our heads. Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) suddenly turned back and said, "Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) has just come to me with a message from Allah, "You have made My bondsmen despondent of My mercy. Inform them that I am the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful and that My punishment is most severe."
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas´ood (R.A) told Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan (R.A), "I can take an oath on three things. If you take an oath on the fourth, I shall confirm your oath."
Hadhrat Jaabir (R.A) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "My intercession shall be for the sinful ones of my ummah. The one who rejects will be deprived of intercession."
Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) related to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) the incident of a person who lived on an island and worshipped Allah for five hundred years. The island was surrounded by salty water, but Allah caused a small spring of sweet water to flow near him, from which he drank. Allah also caused a pomegranate tree to grow for him to eat from.
Daily he ate from the tree, drank from the water and made wudhu therewith. Allah even accepted his du´aa to die while prostrating. Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) told Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) that whenever they ascended and descended from the heavens they found him in prostration before Allah.
On the Day of Judgement Allah will announce that he should be admitted into Jannah on account of Allah´s mercy. He will submit that it will be on account of his worship. Allah will then order that his actions be weighed against Allah´s bounties upon him. When this will be done, all five hundred years of worship will not even suffice for the power of sight that Allah bestowed him with.
Allah will then instruct the angels to take this person to Jahannam. As they proceed, he will say, "Oh Allah! Enter me into Jannah by Your mercy." Allah will then command the angels to bring him back. When they again present him before Allah, Allah will ask him the following questions:
Question: Who created you?
Reply: Oh Allah! You did.
Question: Was this (creation) due to your actions or due to My mercy?
Reply: Due to Your mercy.
Question: Who granted you the guidance and the ability t o engage in worship for five hundred years?
Reply: Oh Allah! You did.
Question: Who took you to the island in the centre of the ocean? Who caused a spring of sweet water to flow amidst the salty water of the ocean? Who caused the pomegranate tree to grow? Who acceded to your request and allowed your soul to leave your body while you were prostrating?
Reply: Oh Allah! You did.
Allah will then tell him, "All of this was on account of My mercy, and I shall admit you into Jannah by My mercy as well."
The person whose heart contains fear and hope at the time of death will be treated according to his hope and saved from what he fears.
Hadhrat Ibn Mas´ood (R.A) narrates that Allah´s mercy will be so vast on the Day of Judgement that even shaytaan will anticipate mercy and intercession.
Hadhrat Fudail bin Ayaadh (R.A) says that fear is best while one is healthy, so that one may excel in good actions. However, during weakness and illness, hope is best so that one does not grow despondent.
Hadhrat Ahmed bin Suhail (R.A) says that he saw Hadhrat Yahya bin Aktham (R.A) in a dream. He asked, "How did Allah treat you?" He replied, "Allah summoned me saying, ´Oh evil old man! You have perpetrated many bad acts.´ I responded by saying, ´Oh my Rabb! I shall not comment on these at this moment.´
Allah asked, ´Then what have you to say.´ I said, ´Abdur Razzaaq told me that Zuhri told him that Urwa told him that Hadhrat A´isha (R.A) told him that Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) told her that Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) told him about Your declaration that ´When I wish to punish an old Muslim, I shy away due to his old age.´ Oh Allah! I am a very old man.´
Allah replied, "They have all spoken the truth and so will it be."I was therefore admitted to Jannah."
Hadhrat Umar (R.A) once came to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and saw him weeping. When he enquired about the reason for the tears, Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "Allah has declared that He feels ashamed to punish an old man because of his age, then why is the old man not ashamed to disobey Allah?"
The tongue of every old person should be moist with excessive thanks to Allah. He should be ashamed to sin before the scribe angels (Kiraamun Kaatibeen) and should therefore avoid all sins. He never knows when he will die. In fact, crops are harvested as soon as they ripen. Youth is expected after childhood, adulthood is expected after adolescence and old age is expected after adulthood. What can be expected after old age besides death?
Allah´s Arsh will shade seven categories of people on the Day of Qiyamah, when there shall not be any other shade. These shall be:
A general and widespread punishment does not afflict the masses due to the sins of certain people. However, when sin becomes rampant and no one attempts to forbid it, then all and sundry are swept up in the wake of Allah´s punishment. [Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (R.A)]
Faqih Abul Laith (R.A) says that Allah once revealed to Rasulullah Hadhrat Yusha bin Noon (A.S) that He would soon destroy 40,000 pious people of his nation and 60,000 of the sinful ones. He submitted, "The destruction of the sinful ones are understood, but why should the pious ones be destroyed?"
Allah replied, "The pious ones did not forbid the evil and did not even consider the sins as an evil. In fact, they continued to eat, drink and mix with the sinners."