abu dawud, 5109 --- reported by ibn umar raDi'Allahu anhuma that RasulAllah sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam said: "whoever seeks refuge for the sake of Allah, then give him refuge. whoever asks for the sake of Allah, then give it to him." sahl and uthman* have added: "and whoever calls you (for help) then answer them" and then they all agreed on the portion: "whoever does a good turn [does a favour to you] then, return the favour" in musaddad and uthman's narration: "if you are not able to return the favour (materially), then pray to Allah ta'ala for him so much that you feel that you have returned the favour [or compensated for the favour]". incidentally, this hadith is a clear exhortation to grant asylum to muslims. *this hadith has two routes: - musaddad and sahl ibn bakkar - > both from abu awanah - uthman ibn abi shaybah -> jarir -> from a'amash -> from mujahid from ->abdullah ibn umar the /ح/ indicates the second route (tahwil al-isnad, i.e. another route) ---- Allah ta'ala says: هَلۡ جَزَاۤءُ ٱلۡإِحۡسَـٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلۡإِحۡسَـٰنُ what is the recompense of goodness, except goodness/ the context of this aayat is that Allah ta'ala promises paradise for those who believe; but some have said that it can also be taken in its general meaning that - one should repay goodness with goodness, or favour with a favour. ---- in another hadith, from abdullah ibn abi rabi'ah al-makhzumi from his father - who narrates from his grandfather (also abdullah ibn abi rabi'ah, the sahabi): the Prophet SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam borrowed 30,000 or 40,000 from me during the battle of Hunayn. when he returned, he repaid the amount. the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam: "may Allah give you blessing in your family and your wealth. indeed, the repayment of a loan is to return (the amount) and to praise." the sunnah is to pray for the person after repaying the loan; i.e. for the favour extended. ==== in our prayers, especially after the fajr prayer, we should say: "ya Allah! give barakah and blessing to anyone who has helped me or extended a favour to me - and forgive them, their families, their parents - and keep them all blessed and blissful in this world and in the hereafter; grant them death upon faith and raise them among your loved ones and make them enter paradise without calling them to account." thus keep praying for them again and again - until, as RasulAllah sallALlahu alayhi wa sallam said - you feel that you have indeed repaid the favour. --- وبالله التوفيق
always remember this; عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ((مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرِ النَّاسَ لَم يَشْكُرِ اللَّهَ)) قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ(ترمذي:2082) whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah
Constantly remember the favour. Think about what could have happend had that person not done this favor for you. Build a habit of helping people now and then without anything expected in return. Don't return the favour just to settle the score i.e. do it for Allah. If you feel someone has done you a great favour then dont ever be little it. Don't ever rationalize it with things like Allah made the intezam for me. Indeed everything is through Allah but it was that person whom through Allah's command did a favour on you. For e.g. if someone helped you out in your tough times when you were at the brink of total collapse e.g. it would have required you to sell your car or house to save your self and always think of where you would have been had that help not come and how far you have come with that help. I think the above helps me at times. To some extent we all are guilty of this and over time become negligent. Allah give us the tawfeeq to remember
One brother replied: اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ I usually talk about that favour with my family and friends every now and then and pray for him/her in that discussion. This way i always remember and secondly my children also remember this person who favoured me and this makes my children understand to always remember anyones favour.
From the etiquettes of companionship is showing gratitude for the favours others do for us — something our scholars, including Imām al-Shaʿrānī, have emphasised. In the fast-paced world we live in, we often forget the kindnesses people extend to us. I feel this is a personal weakness of mine as well. While I do appreciate someone’s favour in the moment, I don’t always remember it later on. I know this isn’t a good habit, and I genuinely want to change it. My father is someone who never forgets even the smallest of favours, even decades later. How does one become like that? I’m seeking sincere advice on how I can improve in this regard.
