Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said: When a servant of Allah falls ill or goes on a journey he is credited with the equal of whatever he used to do in his state of health or when he was at home (Bokhari)   The Holy Prophet (saws) said:  If a Muslim plants a tree, then whatever is eaten from it is charity on his part and whatever is stolen is charity and whatever is subtracted from it is charity (Muslim)...

Continuing our series of weekly extracts of writings from Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as) from "Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam": The purpose of the Holy Quran was to elevate savages into men, and then to equip them with moral qualities, and finally raise them to the level of godly persons.  The Holy Quran thus comprehends all those three projects. As sometimes a surgeon has to perform an operation in order to restore the patient to normal health, or has to apply an ointment, in the same way the teachings of the Quran, out of sympathy for mankind, have recourse to such means also.  The purpose of all Quranic insights and admonitions and directions is to raise man from his natural condition of barbarity to a moral state, and then to lift him from that state to the limitless ocean of spirituality....

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (Saws) said: When a Muslim makes his ablutions and washes his face the water carries away all sins committed by his eyes, and when he washes his hands the water carries away all sins committed by his hands and when he washes his feet the water carries away all sins towards which he had walked, and he emerges cleansed of all his sins (Muslim)   The Holy Prophet (Saws) said: Shall I tell you something whereby Allah would wipe out your sins and raise your status?  Those present said: Certainly, Messenger of Allah.  He said: Performing the ablution carefully even in difficulty, frequent walking to the mosque, and waiting eagerly for the next Salat after one is finished.  This is your striving in the cause of Allah. (Muslim)...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : A dog was going round the brink of a well in an extremity of thirst, when a loose woman of the Bani Israel espied it.  She lowered her leather sock into the well, drew up some water and gave the dog to drink.  She was forgiven on account of this. The Holy Prophet (saws) said: I saw a man going about in Paradise because he had cut down a tree from the side of a road which occasioned inconvenience to the Muslims (Muslim)...

Continuing our series of weekly extracts of writings from Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as) from "Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam": Spirituality can be achieved only through the use of every moral quality in its proper place and on its proper occasion, and through treading faithfully upon the ways of God and through being wholly devoted to Him.  He who becomes truly God's cannot exist without Him.  A true seeker after God is like a fish sacrificed by the hand of God and its water is the love of God...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said: Do not disdain doing the least good, even greeting your brother with a cheerful face. (Muslim) The Holy Prophet (saws) said: Whoever walks to the mosque in the morning or the evening, Allah prepares an entertainment for him in Paradise every time he so walks. (Bokhari and Muslim)...

Continuing our series of weekly extracts of writings from Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as) from "Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam": A person who denies the existence of God can yet exhibit good moral qualities, such as to be humble of heart, to seek peace, to discard evil and not to resist the evil-monger.  These are all natural conditions which may be possessed even by an unworthy one who is utterly unacquainted with the fountainhead of salvation and enjoys no part of it.  Many animals have a gentle disposition, and can be trained to become wholly peaceful and not to react savagely to chastisement, and yet we cannot call them human, let alone humans of high status.  In the same way, a person who is entirely misguided and even suffers from some vices, can exhibit these qualities....

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said: Everyone will be raised in the condition in which he dies (Muslim) Hadhrat Abu Dharr (ra) relates: I asked the Holy Prophet (saws): What is most meritorious? He said: Faith in Allah and striving in His cause.  I asked: The freeing of which slave is best?  He said: Of that one whom the master likes best and whose value is highest.  I asked: If one is not able to do that? He said: Then help someone with his work, or make something for someone who is not able to make it himself.  I asked: If one should not have the strength? He said: Restrain thyself from doing harm to anyone for that also is charity towards thyself. (Bokhari and Muslim)...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said: Paradise is closer to you than your shoe-lace, and the same is the case with hell. (Bokhari)   The Holy Prophet (saws) said:  Allah continues to excuse a person till he reaches the age of sixty years (Bokhari)...