Blessings, in arabic 'Barakah', refers to the goodness that Allah places in certain things. Allah, the Controller of the worlds, puts the Blessings to wherever He pleases.

Allah says in the Quran:

002.261 The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of God is that of a grain of corn: it groweth seven ears, and each ear Hath a hundred grains. God giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth: And God careth for all and He knoweth all things.

As you can see from the above verse, Allah multiplies the reward to whom He pleases. Seven Hundred, seven Thousand, Seventy Thousand, Seven Million, or more, many times over. If we can have Allah's blessings for our actions, the more reward we can earn in the Hereafter. Allah gives multiplied rewards to whom He pleases without limit.

It is very important for us to know that it is Allah that determines the outcome of an action. It is not on us to guide people, Allah guides whom He pleases. It is only for us to make the effort.

A Hadith in the Bukhari says:

4.74i:Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Once Solomon, son of David said, '(By Allah) Tonight I will have sexual intercourse with one hundred (or ninety-nine) women each of whom will give birth to a knight who will fight in Allah's Cause.' but he did not say, 'Allah willing.' Therefore only one of those women conceived and gave birth to a half-man. By Him in Whose Hands Muhammad's life is, if he had said, "Allah willing', (he would have begotten sons) all of whom would have been knights striving in Allah's Cause."

It is not us, by our actions that determine the outcome; It is Allah that determines the outcome. Everything is in Allah's Hands.

In an Hadith in the Bukhari:

4. 88: Narrated Anas: The Emigrants and the Ansar started digging the trench around Medina carrying the earth on their backs and saying, "We are those who have given a pledge of allegiance to Muhammad that we will carry on Jihad as long as we live." The Prophet kept on replying, "O Allah, there is no good except the good of the Hereafter; so confer Your Blessings on the Ansar and the Emigrants."

Allah has given His blessings to the Ansar and the Emigrants, i.e. the Companions of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace be upon him), known as the Sahabah. It is important for us to follow their ways and traditions. If we do this, Allah will put blessings in our efforts so that we get more rewards in the hereafter.

Another Hadith in Bukhari:

5. 22: Narrated Abu Said: The Prophet said, "Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allah's Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud spent by one of them."

Allah has given so much blessings to the prophet (May Allah's peace be upon him) and his companions. It is important for us to honor him and his companions, read about them, and follow their example for us to have the greatest success.

Jihad means striving in Allah's way. Jihad is not just by fighting with sword. It is striving for making Allah's name great. A person that strives in the way of Allah with his goods and with himself earns the greatest success. Allah has made the Jihad (Striving in His way) many many degrees higher than just doing regular actions.

When the prophet (May Allah's peace be upon him) and his companions went out in the way of Allah, their purpose was to spread the Word of Allah. It was not to gain the materials of this world. The believers were tested by this in the battle of Uhud. The purpose of the military Jihads was to open the land for the propagation of the Truth. This propagation of Allah's word is the purpose for all those military expeditions.

Hadith in Bukhari:

2.595: Narrated 'Ayesha: (the mother of the faithful believers) I said, "O Allah's Apostle! We consider Jihad as the best deed." The Prophet said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj Mabrur. "

The Best Jihad for women is the hajj mabrur. As this hadith shows, jihad is not just fighting with the weapons.

Another Hadith in Bukhari:

4.146: Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: The Prophet said, "A time will come when groups of people will go for Jihad and it will be asked, 'Is there anyone amongst you who has enjoyed the company of the Prophet?' The answer will be, 'Yes.' Then they will be given victory (by Allah) (because of him). Then a time will come when it will be asked. 'Is there anyone amongst you who has enjoyed the company of the companions of the Prophet?' It will be said, 'Yes,' and they will be given victory (by Allah). Then a time will come when it will be said. 'Is there anyone amongst you who has enjoyed the company of the companions of the companions of the Prophet?' It will be said, 'Yes,' and they will be given victory (by Allah)."

Hadiths in Bukhari:

5.127: Narrated Al-Bara: I heard the Prophet saying (or the Prophet said), "None loves the Ansar but a believer, and none hates them but a hypocrite. So Allah will love him who loves them, and He will hate him who hates them."

5.128: Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, "The sign of Belief is to love the Ansar, and the sign of hypocrisy is to hate the Ansar."

5.132: Narrated Abu Hamza: (A man from the Ansar) The Ansar said, "Every nation has followers and (O Prophet) we have followed you, so invoke Allah to let our followers be considered from us (as Ansar like ourselves)." So the Prophet said, "O Allah! Let their followers be considered as Ansar like themselves."

We must follow the ways of prophet Muhammad (May Allah's peace be upon him), and the example of his companions, as much as possible. We must love them. The blessings are from Allah. Allah has placed His blessings on His final Messenger and his companions. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. All praises are to Him. May Allah send his peace upon Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and may Allah accept from us all. Amin.