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Shaykh Sulaymaan ar-Ruhaylee said:
During the time of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ there were two brothers who embraced Islaam together.
One of them would strive harder [in worship] than the other, and he [also] fought in the Path of Allaah and was martyred.
And the second [brother] lived for a year longer than him, and passed away in his bed.
Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydillaah (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhu) then saw an amazing dream.
He saw the two brothers standing at [one of] the gate[s] of Paradise, and someone came out from Paradise and admitted the second of the two [brothers to Paradise]. He then came out [a second time] and admitted the first [brother to Paradise].
So he told the people of this dream, and the people began to talk and were amazed.
News of that [dream] reached the Prophet ﷺ, and he ﷺ said:
«The affair of which of the two amazes you?»
They said: “O Messenger of Allaah, the first [of the brothers] strived harder [in worship] and fought in the Path of Allaah and was martyred, and [yet] the second [brother] was admitted [to Paradise] before him.”
So he ﷺ said:
«Did he not live for a year after him? And [did he not] witness Ramadhaan and fast it? And [did he not] prostrate [in prayer] such-and-such times during that year?»
They said: “Yes [he did], O Messenger of Allaah.”
He ﷺ said:
«The difference between them is greater than the difference between heaven and earth.» Saheeh al-Jaami, no.1316
So from the blessings of Allaah (’Azza wa Jall) upon the believer is to prolong his life upon the obedience of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala), and to witness the month of Ramadhaan, and to fast [during] it’s [days] and stand [in prayer during] it’s [nights].
Translation originally published on 20 March, 2022
