Good News for the Blind

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Allah said, 'If I deprive my slave of his two beloved things (his eyes) and he remains patient, I will let him enter Paradise in compensation for them.'" [Sahih Bukhari]

There was once a man who had spent his whole life in piety. He came on the Day of Judgement with a mountain of good deeds, confident of his having earned his way to Jannah. The angels asked him whether he wanted to go Jannah by Allah's mercy or by virtue of his good deeds. Since he had spent his whole life doing good, he felt confident and said that he would like go to Jannah by virtue of his deeds. So the angels put his mountain of good deeds on one side of the scale and on the other side put his two eyes. The weight of his two eyes sent all his good deeds flying into the air.

The immense blessings that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has bestowed upon us in the form of our eyes, ears, tongue, nose and sense of touch is something we take for granted. If on top of that we add all of the other blessings Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has bestowed on us, we will see that nobody does enough good to deserve Jannah. We do not even thank Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) enough for His blessings. We use our eyes every waking moment: Do we thank Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) for them every waking moment?

Jannah is such a great place that there is no chance that we could do enough good to deserve it. Allah bestows it on us out of His love for us. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said that even he would enter Jannah by virtue of Allah's mercy.

Those who have sight do not thank Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) enough for this blessing. Try to go half a day blindfolded to appreciate the enormity of this blessing. Allah (subhana wa ta'ala), therefore, promises Jannah to him/her who is patient with Allah's decree on losing their sight. Each person's life is an exam for them. For the person who goes blind, patience is the key to passing the exam.