عن أبي مالك عن أبيه أنه سمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأتاه رجل فقال: يا رسول الله كيف أقول حين أسأل ربي قال: قل: اللهم اغفر لي وارحمني وعافني وارزقني ويجمع أصابعه إلا الإبهام فإن هؤلاء تجمع لك دنياك وآخرتك (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2697)

The father of Hazrat Abu Maalik Ashja’ee (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) [whose name is Hazrat Taariq bin Ashyam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)], reports that he was once with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) when a Sahaabi came to him and enquired, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! When I am making du‘aa to my Rabb, then what words should I use in my du‘aa (and what should I ask for)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When making du‘aa, then say the following (begging Allah Ta‘ala for the following four bounties):

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَعَافِنْيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ

O Allah! Forgive me, shower Your special mercy upon me, bless me with ease, and provide me with sustenance!”

(As Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned each bounty,) he closed one finger, until four of his fingers were closed, besides his thumb. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “These (four) bounties are so great that they encompass for you (the entire goodness of) your dunya (worldly life) and your Aakhirah.”

عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن الله إذا أحب عبدا دعا جبريل فقال: إني أحب فلانا فأحبه قال: فيحبه جبريل ثم ينادي في السماء فيقول: إن الله يحب فلانا فأحبوه فيحبه أهل السماء قال ثم يوضع له القبول في الأرض وإذا أبغض عبدا دعا جبريل فيقول: إني أبغض فلانا فأبغضه قال فيبغضه جبريل ثم ينادي في أهل السماء إن الله يبغض فلانا فأبغضوه قال: فيبغضونه ثم توضع له البغضاء في الأرض (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2637)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, when Allah Ta‘ala is pleased with a servant (due to his piety), He calls out to Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) and says, ‘Indeed I love so-and-so, so you should also love him.’ Hence, Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) begins to love him. Thereafter, Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) calls out in the sky and says, ‘Indeed, Allah Ta‘ala loves so-and-so, so all of you should also love him.’ Accordingly, the inhabitants of the sky begin to love him. Thereafter, his acceptance comes down and is placed in the earth (i.e. his love enters the hearts of Allah Ta‘ala’s servants. On the contrary,) when Allah Ta‘ala is displeased with a servant (due to his sinning and evil), He calls out to Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) and says, ‘Indeed, I am displeased with so-and-so, so you should also be displeased with him.’ Hence, Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) becomes displeased with him. Thereafter, Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) calls out in the sky and says, ‘Indeed, Allah Ta‘ala is displeased with so-and-so, so all of you should also be displeased with him.’ Accordingly, the inhabitants of the sky become displeased with him. Thereafter, hatred for him comes down and is placed in the earth (i.e. hatred for him enters the hearts of Allah Ta‘ala’s servants).”

عن أنس بن مالك قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما أكرم شاب شيخا لسنه إلا قيض الله له من يكرمه عند سنه (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 2022)

Hazrat Anas bin Maalik (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whichever young person honors (and serves) an old person, on account of his advanced age, then Allah Ta‘ala will cause people to honor (and serve) him when he reaches old age.”

عن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: إني لأحسب الرجل ينسى العلم كما تعلمه للخطيئة يعملها (الترغيب والترهيب، الرقم: 224)

It is reported that Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once mentioned, “I certainly know that on account of the sin that a person commits, he forgets the knowledge of deen as he had learnt it.”

Note: When a person commits sins, then due to the ill-effects of the sin, a person is deprived of the noor and barakah of ilm. At times, he is deprived of the true understanding of the knowledge, and at times, he forgets the knowledge entirely – may Allah Ta‘ala save us!