Allah Almighty says: {So give good tidings to My servants, who listen to the speech and follow the best of it.} [Al-Zumar: 17-18] Allah Almighty also says: {Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him and approval and of gardens for them wherein is enduring pleasure.} [Al-Tawbah: 21] Allah Almighty also says: {And receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.} [Fussilat: 30] Allah Almighty also says: {So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.} [Al-Sāffāt: 101] And He says: {And certainly did Our messengers come to Abraham with good tidings.} [Hūd: 69] And He says: {And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.} [Hūd: 71] And He says: {So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber: “Indeed, Allah gives you glad tidings of John.”} [Āl ‘Imrān: 39] And He says: {[And mention] when the angels said: “O Mary, indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah.”} [Āl ‘Imrān: 45] There are many other well-known verses in this regard.
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1) It is desirable for the Muslim to be hopeful, not seeing life dark before him, which would fill him with sorrow and despair and make him abandon doing good deeds. Inside the belly of a whale, Yūnus (Jonah, peace be upon him) was glorifying his Lord.
2) It is desirable for the Muslim to congratulate his fellow Muslims upon the occurrence of something good for them, and he should give them glad tidings about pleasant things to come, so as to fill them with joy and energy and expectations of relief.
are numerous and authentic, like the following:
708/1 - ‘Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) gave Khadījah (may Allah be pleased with her) glad tidings of a house made from Qasab in Paradise, where there will be no noise or fatigue.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
“Qasab” here means hollowed pearls.
1) The Mother of the Believers Khadījah (may Allah be pleased with her) was given glad tidings, and the Hadīth highlights her merit, for she was one of the very earliest Muslims and she supported the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in the beginning of his mission.
2) It is recommended to give good news to the believers. This good news was given by the best angel, Jibrīl, through the best human Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon both of them).
709/2 - Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he performed ablution in his house and then came out saying: “I shall remain with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) all day long.” He came to the mosque and asked about the Prophet. They said: “He has gone in this direction.” He said: “I followed his steps asking about him until I came to Bi’r Arīs (a well in the suburbs of Madīnah). I sat by its door until the Messenger had relieved himself and then performed ablution. I went to him and he was sitting at the well in the middle of its elevated edge with his shanks uncovered up to the knees and his legs dangling in that well. I greeted him then came back and sat at the door saying: “Today, I shall be the Messenger’s gatekeeper.” Abu Bakr came and pushed the door and I said: “Who is it?” He said: “This is Abu Bakr.” I said: “Wait, please.” I went and said: “O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr seeks permission to come in.” He said: “Let him in and give him glad tidings of Paradise.” I came and said to Abu Bakr: “Come in, and the Messenger of Allah gives you glad tidings of Paradise.” Abu Bakr went in and sat on the right side of the Messenger of Allah on the elevated edge and dangled his legs in the well just as the Messenger had done, and he uncovered his shanks. I then returned and sat there, and I had left my brother performing ablution and he was to meet me, and I said: “If Allah intends goodness for so and so (meaning his brother), He would bring him here.” As I was thinking this, someone moved the door. I said: “Who is it?” He said: “This is ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb.” I said: “Wait, please.” Then, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said: “O Messenger of Allah, ‘Umar seeks permission to come in.” He said: “Let him in and give him glad tidings of Paradise.” I came to ‘Umar and said: “He gave permission, and the Messenger of Allah gives you glad tidings of Paradise.” So he went in and sat on the edge on the left side of the Messenger and dangled his legs in the well. I then returned and sat and said: “If Allah intends goodness for so and so (meaning his brother), He would bring him here. Then, another person came and moved the door and I said: “Who is it?” He said: “This is ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān.” I said: “Wait, please.” I then came to the Messenger of Allah and told him, so he said: “Let him in and give him glad tidings of Paradise along with an affliction that will befall him.” I came and said: “Come in and the Messenger of Allah gives you glad tidings of Paradise along with an affliction that will befall you.” He went in and saw that the edge of the well was fully occupied; so he sat on the other side facing them.” Sa‘īd ibn al-Musayyib said: “I interpreted this (order of sitting) as the way their graves would be arranged.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Another version has this addition: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to stand guard at the gate.” It also includes that when he gave glad tidings to ‘Uthmān, he (‘Uthmān) praised Allah Almighty and said: “Allah is the One sought for help.”
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Bi’r Arīs: is located in an orchard in Madīnah near Qubā’. It was in this well that the Prophet’s ring fell from the rightly-guided Caliph ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him).
1) It is desirable to give people glad tidings, as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) gave glad tidings of entry into Paradise to his three Companions.
2) It highlights the merit of Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmān (may Allah be pleased with them). They will be among the dwellers of Paradise.
3) Their entry upon the Prophet in this order was interpreted to refer to their order in assuming the caliphate, and their sitting was interpreted to refer to the arrangement of their graves.
4) The Messenger’s prophecy about what would happen to ‘Uthmān and its actual realization is a sign of his truthfulness as a Prophet of Allah.
Sa‘īd ibn al-Musayyib’s statement: “I interpreted this (order of sitting) as the way their graves would be arranged,” refers to the burial of the two Companions beside the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and the burial of ‘Uthmān away from them, in Al-Baqī‘.
710/3 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were sitting around the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and with us were Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, as well as others. The Messenger got up and left us. He was away for too long so we got worried that he might have been attacked by some enemy when we were not with him. We were alarmed so we got up (to look for him). I was the first to be alarmed, so I went out looking for the Messenger of Allah. I came upon an orchard that belonged to Banu al-Najjār from the Ansār. I went around it to find a gate but I could not. Then I noticed a streamlet flowing into the garden from a well outside the orchard. I dug the earth around the entrance and reached the Messenger of Allah. He said: “Is it you Abu Hurayrah?” I replied: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “What is the matter?” I replied: “You were among us and then you left and stayed away for too long, so we feared that you were attacked. We were alarmed and got up (to look for you). I was the first to be alarmed and move. When I came to this garden, I dug the earth like a fox, and the others are there behind me.” He said: “O Abu Hurayrah,” and he gave me his sandals and added: “Take these sandals of mine, and anyone you meet outside this orchard testifying with full certainty that there is no god but Allah, give him glad tidings that he will enter Paradise.” Abu Hurayrah then reported the rest of the Hadīth. [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Glad tidings are given to the one who bears witness that there is no god but Allah with certitude in his heart.
2) It shows how the Companions were concerned about the Prophet’s safety and were keen to surround and defend him and his Sunnah. The fortunate believer is the one who follows the path of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
3) The followers of Tawhīd (monotheism) have the most right to the prophets and the righteous, and they are more entitled to glad tidings than others.
711/4 - Ibn Shumāsah reported: We went to ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās when he was in his death throes. He wept for a long time and turned his face to the wall. His son said: “O Father, did the Messenger of Allah not give you glad tidings of such-and-such? Did the Messenger of Allah not give you glad tidings of such-and-such?” He turned his face to us and said: “The best thing which we can count upon is the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Verily, I have passed through three phases. (The first one) in which I found myself averse to none else more than I was averse to the Messenger of Allah, and there was no other desire stronger in me than the desire to overpower him and kill him. Had I died in that state, I would have been definitely among the denizens of Hellfire. When Allah instilled the love of Islam in my heart, I came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘Stretch out your right hand so that I may pledge my allegiance to you.’ He stretched out his right hand, and I withdrew my hand. He said: ‘What is the matter, O ‘Amr?’ I replied: ‘I wish to stipulate some condition.’ He asked: ‘What condition do you wish to stipulate?’ I said: ‘That I should be forgiven.’ He observed: ‘Are you not aware that Islam wipes out all (sins) that preceded it, and that Hijrah (emigration) wipes out all (sins) that preceded it, and that Hajj wipes out all (sins) that preceded it?’ No one was dearer to me than the Messenger of Allah and none was more revered in my eyes than him. I would not dare catch a full glimpse of his face due to its splendor. So, if I am asked to describe his features, I cannot do that for I have not eyed him fully. Had I died in that state, I would have had every reason to hope that I would be among the dwellers of Paradise. Then, we became responsible for certain things (in the light of which) I am unable to know what is in store for me. When I die, let not a wailing woman nor fire accompany my bier. When you bury me, fill my grave well with earth and then stay around it for the time it takes to slaughter a camel and divide its meat so that I may find comfort in your presence and prepare the answer I will give to the messengers (angels) of my Lord.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to give glad tidings to his Companions, and ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās was among those who received glad tidings.
2) It highlights the great merit of Islam, Hijrah, and Hajj, for each of them wipes out all sins preceding it.
3) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) revered the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and held him in high regard. Muslims and seekers of knowledge should treat their scholars with politeness and respect, for they are the heirs of the Prophets.
4) It is not permissible to follow a funeral procession with a wailing woman, a fire, or a loud voice, even if it involves mention of Allah, like Tahlīl, Takbīr, or recitation of the Qur’an.