Abu Dahda’s garden

Here is a beautiful story of one companion (may Allah be pleased with him) who did not let go of his chance to get guaranteed reward in the Hereafter. A wonderful bedtime story too!

Abu Dahda (may Allah have mercy on him) was one of those people who found an opportunity to win what is greater than the heavens and the earth.

There was a companion of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) who cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. The orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was on his property and therefore belonged to him. Abu Dahda's Garden

The companion rejected the claim,
 so the orphan boy went to the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) to complain.

The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belong to the companion.

The orphan erupted crying.

Seeing this, the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) asked the companion, “Would you give him the palm tree and for you is a palm tree in Jannah?”

However, the companion in his disbelief that an orphan would complain to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam), missed the opportunity and went away angry.

But someone else saw the opportunity – Abu Dahda (radi Allahu anhu).
He went to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) and asked, “Ya RasulAllah, if I buy the tree from him and give it to the orphan shall I have that tree in Jannah?”

The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) replied, “Yes.”

Abu Dahda (radi Allahu anhu) had chased after the companion and asked,
 “Would you sell that tree to me for my entire garden?” (Abu Dahda had a garden of 400 trees)

The companion answered, “Take it, for there is no good in a tree that was complained to the Prophet about.”

Immediately, Abu Dahda (radi Allahu anhu) went home and found his wife and children playing in the garden. “Leave the garden!” shouted Abu Dahda.
 “We’ve sold it to Allah! We’ve sold it to Allah!”
Some of his children had dates in their hand and he snatched the dates from them and threw them back into the garden. “We’ve sold it to Allah!”

When Abu Dahda was later martyred in the battle of Uhud, RasulAllah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) stood over him and remarked,
 “How many shady palm trees does Abu Dahda now have in Paradise?”
Qur’an 57-21 “Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord (Allah), and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.”