and hardship.” It was narrated by al-Tabarānī in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabīr, Abū Nu‘aym in al-Hilya, and al-Hākim in al-Mustadrak. Its chain of transmission, however, is weak. Ibn al-Mubārak also narrated it in al-Zuhd through an authentic chain, stopping at Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr—may Allah have mercy on him—1.

A report attributed to Ka‘b states: “We find it written: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He is neither coarse nor harsh, nor clamorous in the marketplaces. He does not repay an evil deed with another, but pardons and forgives. His community consists of those who constantly praise Allah: they proclaim the greatness of Allah—Mighty and Majestic—upon every height and praise Him at every stopping place ...” Al-Dārimī narrated it in the introduction to his Sunan2.

In Paradise there is a house called the House of Praise, reserved for those who praise Allah in times of ease and hardship and patiently endure the bitterness of His decree. Al-Tirmidhī narrated with a sound chain from Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “When a servant’s child dies, Allah Most High says to His angels, ‘Have you taken the child of My servant?’ They reply, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘Have you taken the fruit of his heart?’ They reply, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘What did My servant say?’ They reply, ‘He praised You and said, “Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”’ Allah Most High then says, ‘Build My servant a house in Paradise and name it the House of Praise.’” 3. This servant praised Allah in adversity and thereby attained this lofty rank. But how can a servant attain this station, and how can he reach this degree?

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Praising Allah in adversity is required by two realizations: