Question
It is a famous Hadith (in a single Hadith) mentioned about seven categories of people who will under the shade of Allah when there is shade except His.
However, if I recalled correctly Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) has mentioned in his book:
مكاشفة القلوب المقرب إلى حضرة علام الغيوب
There are around forty (40) categories of people in total who will be under His shade in varies Hadiths. However in the translation of the book which I read, it does not list it. Could you please list it out as you did for ‘Examples of such Shahids are many‘.
Answer
As you have stated, the famous Hadith mentions seven types of people who will receive the shade of the ‘Arsh of Allah on the day of Qiyamah.
However this list is not restrictive, as several other types of people have also been promised the same in other Hadiths.
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 660).
Dedicated booklets on this topic
Several ‘Ulama have gathered these lists in separate collections whilst also citing the Hadith sources for them, among them are the following:
1. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) in: Ma’rifatul khisalil musilati ilaz zilal.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has cited three more sets of seven (21 more than the original 7).
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 660 and Al- Amalil Mutlaqah, pgs. 98-117)
‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) has added to these in his two books on this topic, taking the total to seventy:
2. Buzughul hilal, fil khisalil mujibati liz zilal.
3. Tamhidul farsh, fil khisalil mujibati lizillil ‘arsh.
4. ‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has more than that in his book on this topic titled:
Al-Ihtifal, bi jam’i uliz zilal.
Summary
‘Allamah Qastallani has summarised his teacher; ‘Allamah Sakhawi’s (rahimahumallah) list in his commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1423.
‘Allamah Zurqani (rahimahullah) has done the same in his commentary of Muwatta, vol. 4 pg. 440-443.
Likewise, ‘Allamah Zabidi (rahimahullah) has also provided a summarised list in Sharhul Ihya, vol. 4 pg. 114-115.
Hazrat Shaykh, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandehlawi (rahimahullah) has cited and numbered all these lists in Awjazul Masalik, vol. 17 pg. 75-87.
According to his count, the total is ninety seven (97).
The above ‘Ulama (rahimahumullah) have made a point of stating that these lists are sourced from Hadiths of varied levels of reliability.
It is difficult to sift through the entire list and provide one, like the one you have requested. However see below.
Seven more
The following are seven more people who will be given the same privilege. They have appeared separately in different Hadiths, all of which are reliable, as per the rulings of Hafiz Ibn Hajar, and ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahumallah). Refer to their sources cited above.
- One who gives a poor man respite to pay, or lessens the price for him.
- One who gives additional time to his debtor, or waives the debt completely.
- One who assists any debtor in difficult times.
- One who assists a fighter in Allah’s path.
- One who provides shade to a fighter in Allah’s path.
- One who cares for the widows.
- The truthful trader.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar