Whoever relieves a believer from one of the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him from one of the hardships of the Day of Judgment

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that the reward a Muslim receives from Allah is of the same nature as the actions he performs for other Muslims. Whoever relieves, alleviates, removes, or eliminates a hardship and a difficulty from a believer in this world, Allah will reward him by relieving him from one of the hardships of the Day of Judgment. And whoever facilitates and makes things easy for someone in difficulty and removes his difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. And whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, such as knowing what should not be exposed of slips and errors, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave supports his brother in his religious and worldly interests. Support could be through supplication, physical action, money, etc. Whoever walks in pursuit of religious knowledge, doing it for the sake of Allah Almighty, Allah will facilitate for him a path to Paradise. No group of people gather in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility and solemnity descend upon them, the mercy of Allah envelops and encompasses them, the angels surround them, and Allah praises them in the presence of those near Him. It is enough of an honor that Allah mentions the slave in the highest assembly. The one whose good deeds are insufficient will not be elevated to the rank of those with righteous deeds. Hence, he should not rely upon his noble lineage and the merit of his forefathers while neglecting the performance of good deeds.

Benefits

• Ibn Daqīq al-‘Īd said: This is a great Hadīth, comprising various types of knowledge, rules, and etiquettes. It highlights the merit of fulfilling the needs of Muslims and benefiting them in whatever way is possible, whether through knowledge, wealth, assistance, offering useful advice, giving counsel, or other means.
• Encouraging the act of making things easy for the one in difficulty.
• A Muslim is encouraged to help other Muslims, as Allah Almighty helps the one who helps his brother in proportion to his help.
• Among the ways of concealing a Muslim’s faults is: to refrain from seeking out his shortcomings. One of the predecessors is reported to have said: I met people who had no faults, yet they spoke about the faults of others, so people started mentioning their faults. And I met people who had faults but refrained from mentioning the faults of others, so their faults were forgotten.
• It is not a requirement of concealing the faults of others to neglect the prohibition of evil and not to change it. Rather, it should be changed and concealed at the same time, and this applies to those who are not known for corruption or persistence in transgression. As for one who is known for such behavior, it is not recommended to conceal his faults; instead, his affair should be referred to those in authority, provided that this does not lead to greater harm. This is because concealing his faults encourages him in his corruption and emboldens him to harm others, as well as emboldening others from among the wicked and stubborn.
• Encouraging the act of seeking knowledge, reciting, and studying the Qur’an.
• An-Nawawi said: This is evidence of the merit of gathering to recite the Quran in the mosque... and similar gatherings in a school, a garrison, or the like also attain this merit, Allah willing.
• Allah has made the recompense contingent upon deeds, not upon lineages.