Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad, the Faithful and the Honest. O Allah, we know nothing but what You teach us, You are the All-Knower, the Wise. O Allah our Lord, teach us what is useful for us, let us make use of what You have taught us and advance us in knowledge. O Allah, show us the righteous things as righteous and help us do them, and show us the bad things as bad and help us keep away from them. O Allah our Lord, make us amongst those who listen to the Word and follow the best meaning of It, and admit us, by Your Grace, to the ranks of Your righteous servants.
A review and reminder of last lesson
Dear believing brothers, this is the 2nd lesson on the interpretation of Surat Al-Mu'minun.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers.* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.* And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden). * And those who pay the Zakat . * And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts) * Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame; * But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors; * Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants; * And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours).* These are indeed the inheritors. * Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever. ﴿
Dear brothers, in our last lesson, I mentioned that true success is achieved through being a believer, and that this success is inevitable, unlike other types of success in this worldly life which may or may not be achieved. The proof of this point is the use of the particle 'Qad' in the beginning of this Noble Ayah [i.e. the transliteration of "Successful indeed are the believers" is "Qad aflaha al-Muminun" and 'Qad' is a particle of affirmation used in the Arabic language to confirm the occurrence of an action.
I also pointed out that there are some obstacles to success, such as injustice and wrongdoing. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him (to do an evil act), she closed the doors and said: "Come on, O you." He said: "I seek refuge in Allah (or Allah forbid)! Truly, he (your husband) is my master! He made my stay agreeable! (So I will never betray him). Verily, the Zalimun (wrong and evil-doers) will never be successful. ﴿
Someone may manage to take things that belong to others through fraud, deception, or other illegal means, thinking that he is successful, smart, or clever. However, the following Noble Ayaat refute this claim: Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Verily, the Zalimun (wrong and evil-doers) will never be successful. ﴿
﴾ And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other ilah (god), of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kafirun (the disbelievers in Allah and in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, pagans, idolaters, etc.) will not be successful. ﴿
So, in our last lecture I mentioned some of the obstacles to success. I also discussed some of the factors of success, such as fearing Allah, remembering His Graces, and striving hard in His Cause. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ They ask you (O Muhammad PBUH) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allah. So enter houses through their proper doors, and fear Allah that you may be successful ﴿
Do you wonder that there has come to you a Reminder (and an advice) from your Lord through a man from amongst you that he may warn you? And remember that He made you successors after the people of Nuh (Noah), and increased you amply in stature. So remember the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allah, so that you may be successful.
﴾ O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah and fear Him. Seek the means of approach to Him, and strive hard in His Cause as much as you can. So that you may be successful. ﴿
Then, I pointed out the true meaning of success which is mentioned in the following Noble Ayaat:
﴾ Indeed whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and accepting Islamic Monotheism) shall achieve success. ﴿
﴾ Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). ﴿
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers. ﴿
Actually, when a person's criteria for success are in line with those mentioned in Noble Quran, he will succeed in fulfilling the mission of his existence. In other words, every person has his own standards for success; the wealthy people believe that success lies in accumulating wealth, the powerful people believe that success means attaining positions of power, and those who seek worldly knowledge believe that success lies in obtaining the highest academic degrees. However, if your criteria for success align with those mentioned in the Noble Quran, then by Allah; the Lord of the Kaaba, you are rightly guided, otherwise, this is utter misguidance.
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers. ﴿
Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( He has indeed succeeded who purified his heart for faith. ))
[ Classified as weak Hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi ]
Also, Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn al-As, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( He has succeeded who embraces Islam, whose provision is sufficient, and whom Allah has made content with what he has given him. ))
Also, I pointed out last lesson that a characteristic functions as a restriction, and that it is not enough to be a believer in order to achieve success, but one must also possess other characteristics, which are mentioned one by one in the following Noble Ayaat. The more attributes you add, the narrower the circle of true believers becomes. I gave you the following example: If you say "a human being", the meaning of this word is broad enough to encompass 5 billion people, but if you say "a Muslim individual", the circle may narrow to include about 1 billion Muslims. Then, if you say "an Arab Muslim individual", the circle may narrow further to include about 100 million people. If you say "an educated Arab Muslim individual", the circle may narrow further to about one million. Then if you say "an Arab Muslim doctor", the circle may narrow even more to include only 200.000 people. Finally, if you add: "an Arab Muslim cardiologist", the number becomes less, and so on. Thus, the more attributes you add, the narrower the circle of people becomes. So, in order to achieve true success, you must be a believer, and you must possess all the attributes and characteristics mentioned in the Noble Ayaat that follow.
The Status and importance of Salah (Prayer) in Islam
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers. ﴿
Who are the true believers?
﴾ Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. ﴿
Actually, the spiritual connection with Allah the Almighty during Salah is the essential means of attaining spiritual elevation in His Sight. In other words, whatever religion that lacks a connection with Allah the Almighty is of no benefit, and whoever adheres to a religion but does not pray, it is as if he does not adhere to that religion at all. That is why the Islamic scholars say that whoever neglects Salah out of denial of its obligation has disbelieved, whereas whoever neglects it out of laziness has committed a grave transgression. Thus, those believers have achieved true success, because they offer their Salat (prayers) with full submissiveness.
As I explained last lecture, Salat is an intimate conversation with Allah the Almighty and a means of getting closer to Him. Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, says:
﴾ Nay! (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him))! Do not obey him (Abu Jahl). Fall prostrate and draw near to Allah! ﴿
Also, Salah is a form of Allah's Remembrance, because Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. ﴿
Furthermore, Salah requires understanding and awareness, since the reward for Salah is based on a person's level of awareness during it. (i.e. Salah is not just physical movements; it requires the one who performs it to be aware and engaged in what he is doing and to reflect on the Ayaat recited during it). The proof of this point is the following Noble Ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ O you who believe! Approach not As-Salat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Janaba, (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving ﴿
Furthermore, Salah is an act of submission and heartfelt devotion to Allah, as Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. ﴿
Thus, Salah is a means of spiritual elevation in the Sight of Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, and getting closer to Him, as it is said, "Prayer is the believer's spiritual ascension." Buraidah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( The covenant between us and others is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he has become an infidel. ))
[ Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, classified as Sahih Hadith ]
Actually, Islam is based on two core principles: having a spiritual connection with Allah, the Creator, and doing good to His creation; to others. These two principles capture the essence of Islam.
True believers perform Salah with humility and submissiveness
Scholars say that being submissive during Salah is not merely a desirable act, but it is an obligation; one of the mandatory aspects of Salah is to perform it in a state of submissiveness and heartfelt devotion.
Actually, the place of humility and submissiveness is one's heart, but it manifests itself in his actions. That is to say when a person stands in prayer and repeatedly makes unnecessary movements during it such as looking left and right, playing with his fingers, fixing his clothes, or touching things in his pocket, it indicates a lack of submissiveness during Salah.
Consider the following example to clarify the meaning of submissiveness: If you are in the presence of a great figure, though he may lack worth in the Sight of Allah, you find yourself standing before him in reverence, respect, humility, calmness, and submissiveness without paying attention to anything else. Then how submissive should you be while standing in Salah before Allah the Almighty; the King of all Kings? Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. ﴿
If you are a true believer, you have achieved ultimate success in life. As it was said, "O Allah, what has he lost who found You? (i.e. Whoever gets to know Allah and has a spiritual connection with Him has achieved true success, even if he misses everything else). O Allah! What has he found who lost You? (i.e. whoever fails to know Allah and lacks a spiritual connection with Him is truly a loser, even if he has reached the pinnacle of success). If Allah is with you (with His Support and Help), who can stand against you? And if Allah is against you, who can do you any benefit?
Worldly measure of success vs. Islamic Law's measure of success
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers. ﴿
According to the worldly standards of success, if someone buys a piece of land and then a road is built in front of it, raising its price 40 times, if he has a very profitable business, if he has attained a high position, or if he has a very beautiful wife, people would consider him a truly successful person. Whereas true success in the Sight of Allah the Almighty is to be a true believer; Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers. ﴿
So, are you a true believer? According to the Quran's standards of success, true success lies only in being a believer, offering Salah with full submissiveness, and purifying yourself, because Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds)* And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism, etc. or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds). ﴿
I would like to repeat what I mentioned last lecture so that the meanings of these Ayaat will be in complete harmony with each other as a whole, for these Noble Ayaat are like a precious necklace, with each piece firmly connected to the next.
True believers turn away from vain talk and actions
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness* And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden). ﴿
Some scholars says that the term (Al-Laghw) 'idle talk (and action)' refers to things that are permissible but have no benefit in the Hereafter. This is a very precise measure, because when something is forbidden in Islam, there are some Noble Ayaat in the Noble Quran that clearly indicate its prohibition. For example, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ He has forbidden you only the Maytatah (dead animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ﴿
Also, He says:
﴾ O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. ﴿
Thus, the prohibition of forbidden matters is clearly mentioned in the Noble Quran. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH): "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand. ﴿
The term (Laghw) 'idle talk (and action)' refers to things that are permissible but have no benefit and no reward in the Hereafter. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( The truest poetic verse ever said by a poet, is: Indeed! Everything except Allah, is perishable. ))
[ Sahih Al-Bukhari, by the authority of Abi Hurairah ]
Some of you may be displeased with this interpretation and find it a bit difficult to apply, because as common people say, "Dedicate one hour of your time for you, and the other hour for your Lord (i.e. time should be divided between worldly matters and acts of worship)", whereas everything that is not performed for the Sake of Allah is worthless. So, how can we find a balance between these two concepts? Actually, "Everything except Allah, is perishable" implies many things; if you sit with your wife with the intention of comforting her and guiding her to Allah, or if you go to work with the intention of earning your daily sustenance lawfully to feed your children (in a Halal way), you will be reworded in the Hereafter for these actions (i.e. one's everyday actions turn into acts of worship with the intention of seeking Allah's Pleasure). The proof of this point is the following Hadith:
(( Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib Ibn Karb, may Allah be please with him, narrated the the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "What you feed yourself is regarded as a sadaqa for you, what you feed your child is regarded as a sadaqa for you, what you feed your wife is regarded as a sadaqa is for you, and what you feed your servant is sadaqa for you." ))
[ Sahih At-Targhib – Classified as Sahih Hadith ]
Actually, there are many actions like this; if you go to buy food with the intention of using it to maintain your strength in order to obey Allah the Almighty, it is not considered Laghw. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness* And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden). ﴿
On the other hand, the permissible actions that have no lasting benefit or reward in the Hereafter are considered Laghw, such as reading the Iliad by Homer or reading about the history of the ancient Greeks; it may enrich your knowledge in one way or another, but what effect does reading such things have on your relationship with Allah or with people, or on your status in the Sight of Allah? So, there are permissible actions that do not bring any reward or benefit in the Hereafter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
(( Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, loves lofty matters and hates the lowly among it. ))
[ Sahih Al-Jami', classified as Sahih Hadith ]
You may sit with your family, discussing meaningless topics and talking about silly matters such as: Why did so-and-so marry that woman? Why did so-and-so divorce his wife? Why did not so-and-so divorce his wife? What dowry did he give her? Why did they have a quarrel? Where did that couple buy their house? What kind of furniture did they buy? And so on.
Of course, this is useless talk; not to mention, if you criticize others or mention some of their bad traits, it can also become backbiting. Thus, even if you do not engage in backbiting, and you spend the whole evening in idle chatter, discussing trivial and meaningless topics, this is still considered idle talk. The believer never engages in such trivial conversations. That is why the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( A sign of man's good observance of Islam (his piety) is to keep away from that which does not concern him. ))
[ At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abi Hurairah, classified as Hasan Hadith ]
So, the believer should not engage in such permissible actions that have no reward in the Hereafter. However, when it comes to gossip, slander, offensive language, belittling others, cursing, hurting, or diminishing others' worth, it is completely forbidden.
(( Abu Hudhaifah narrated from the mother of believers Mrs. Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: "I told the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, about a man, so he said: 'I do not like to talk about a man, even if I were to get this or that (for doing so)." She said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Safiyyah is a woman who is ..." and she used her hand as if to indicate that she is short - "So he said: 'You have said a statement which, if it were mixed in with the water of the sea, it would pollute it." ))
[ Sunan Al-Tirmidhi – Classified as Hasan Sahih Hadith ]
So, even if you do not gossip others, you should not indulge yourself in idle talk such as: so-and-so married so-and-so, and she was before that engaged to someone else, and other meaningless topics related to marriage and divorce. The same thing goes for business matters, such as: so-and-so has bought this, so-and-so has sold that, so-and-so has made a profit, so-and-so has suffered a loss, so-and-so is having a serious financial issue with his brother, so-and-so has traveled, and so-and-so has just returned from travel, and so on. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden. ﴿
This refers to idle talk. Also, there are idle actions; the meaningless deeds that have no benefit or reward in the Hereafter, such as giving too much attention to personal possessions. Allah the Almighty, says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness* And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden). ﴿
[ Al-Mu'minun, 1-3
]
Laghw is anything that provides no benefit in the Hereafter or in the worldly life
Some scholars on the interpretation of the Noble Quran say, "Laghw (idle talk or action) refers to anything that does not draw you closer to Allah the Almighty." Other scholars say, "The permissible actions for which one will be rewarded in the Hereafter are not considered Laghw, such as one's job that he earns his daily sustenance from, since earning a living is necessary for the continuation of life, as our Master Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "How good is money! It enables me to preserve my reputation and to draw closer to my Lord."
If an engineer stays updated with the latest articles in his field in order to excel at his work, because he, as a believer, is under scrutiny by others, with the spotlight on him, and if he does not do that, people will criticize his religion for the slightest flaw or shortcoming, then what he does is not considered Laghw. In other words, if he exerts every effort to remain updated on the latest engineering books and articles on building construction in order to be superior in his field, then this is not considered to be Laghw. Similarly, if a doctor exerts considerable effort to remain informed of the recent medical books and articles in order to be superior in his field, then people will hold his religion in high regard and admiration, because he is a distinguished skilled Muslim doctor. As a result, this effort is related in a way or another to the Hereafter (i.e. he will be rewarded for it in the Hereafter).
Likewise, if a person spends some time browsing the market for neat clothes and takes care of his appearance, so that he looks respectable at meetings, gatherings, or parties and thus avoids being looked down upon, then the time he has spends shopping and taking care of his appearance—without extravagance, arrogance, or wastefulness—is also not considered Laghw (idle actions). Thus, perform good deeds that will benefit you in the Hereafter, but at the same time, do not forget to take care of your worldly life, so that you, as a Muslim, will look distinguished among people.
Sahl Ibn al-Hanzaliyya al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated on the authority of Qays at-Taghlibi, may Allah be pleased with him, who used to sit with Abi ad-Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, in Damascus, that there was a man from the companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, known as Ibn al-Hanzaliyya al-Ansari. He was a man who preferred solitude, rarely sitting with people. He remained engaged in prayer. When he was not praying, he was occupied in glorifying Allah and exalting Him until he went to his family.
Once he passed us when we were with Abi ad-Darda', may Allah be pleased with him. Abu ad- Darda' said to him: Tell us a word which benefits us and does not harm you. He said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, sent out a detachment and it came back. One of the men came and sat in the place where the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, used to sit, and he said to a man beside him: Would that you saw us when we met the enemy and so-and-so attacked and cut through a lance. He said: Take it from me and I am a boy of the tribe Ghifar. What do you think about his statement? He replied: I think his reward was lost. Another man heard it and said: I do not think that there is any harm in it. They quarreled until the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, heard it, and he said: "Glory be to Allah! There is no harm if he is rewarded and praise." I saw that Abi ad-Darda', may Allah be pleased with him, was pleased with it and began to raise his hand to him and say: Did you hear it from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him? He said: Yes. He continued to repeat it to him so often that I thought he was going to kneel down. He said: On another day he again passed us. Abu ad-Darda' said to him: Tell us a word which benefits us and does not harm you. He said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said to us: "Whoever spends on preparing horses for jihad is like the one who spreads his hand to give alms and does not withhold it."
He then passed us on another day, Abu ad-Darda' said to him: Tell us a word which benefits us and does no harm to you. He said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "Khuraym al-Asadi would be a fine man were it not for the length of his hair, which reaches the shoulders, and the way he lets his lower garment hang down." When Khuraym heard that, he hurriedly, took a knife, cut his hair in line with his ears and raised his lower garment half way up his legs. He then passed us on another day. Abu ad-Darda' said to him: Tell us a word which benefits us and does not harm you. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, say: "You are on your way to meet your brothers, put on a nice dress and fix your riding so you appear distinct among people as a fleck [on a beautiful face]. Allah does not like roughness nor rough manners."
[Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Classified as Hasan Haidth]
If someone, for example, spends some time and money on rearranging the rooms of his house to dedicate one for his daughters and another for his sons, it is not an idle action, rather, it is an act of following the Sunnah. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
(( Command your children to perform Salat (prayer) when they are seven years old, and beat them for (not offering) it when they are ten, and do not let (boys and girls) sleep together. ))
[ Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut: Zad al-Ma'ad, classified as Hasan Hadith ]
Thus, this is not regarded as an idle action. Also, if someone takes care of his home and makes it comfortable for his family, this is neither idle nor meaningless deed, because being a believer does not mean to be a person who lives on the margins of life, as some people think, or to be a naive person who is content with anything (i.e. who lacks ambition.) On the contrary, the believer is a person of good taste, and all his affairs are well-organized, whether in his home or at his workplace.
Unfortunately, you may see a person who is recognized by others as a believer because he prays the five prayers, yet his shop is disorganized, lacks order, is filled with dust, its items are scattered everywhere, and is so dirty that rats can be found inside, while a non-believer's shop is clean and tidy! This goes against the teachings of Islam; you must be clean, organized, and disciplined. Consider the following Noble Ayah in which Allah the Almighty describes the people of this worldly life:
﴾ And keep yourself (O Muhammad PBUH) patiently with those who call on their Lord (i.e. your companions who remember their Lord with glorification, praising in prayers, etc., and other righteous deeds, etc.) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost.﴿
So, when one takes care of his life in accordance with Shari'ah rulings (Islamic Law), this is not considered to be an idle deed, since the idle deed is the one that has no benefit in this worldly life or in the Hereafter.
Actually, there are many deeds related to this worldly life but at the same time have benefit in the Hereafter. For example, you need to earn money to spend on your wife and children and meet their needs. Therefore, when you spend time to earn money with the intention of fulfilling your family needs and pleasing them, it becomes an act of worship. So, when you earn money to provide for your wife and children to make them feel proud of you and to impress them with your generosity, then this is not an idle deed.
Similarly, spending time taking care of one's body to stay active and strong is not idle deed. Thus, any lawful deed in this worldly life that enables one to perform acts for which he will be rewarded in the Hereafter is not considered to be an idle deed. On the other hand, any lawful deed that has no benefit in this life or in the Hereafter is an idle and meaningless deed that should be avoided.
Let me give you an example of an idle deed. If you may meet some people who do not listen to you, do not care about your advice, and do not respect you, and when you visit them, they spend the whole meeting talking about trivial and silly matters, preventing others from speaking about meaningful topics, then what is the point of visiting them?! Visiting such people is an idle deed that you should avoid. On the other hand, if you visit someone who listens to you, values your advice, and appreciates your knowledge and faith, such a visit—whether you go because he is sick, because he has returned from a trip, or to congratulate him on a new job—can have a profound influence on him, so it is not an idle deed.
Actually, the believer always has a great goal; to bring people closer to Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He. For example, if your coworker falls ill, so you visit him in the hospital or at home and bring him a gift, then buying this gift is not considered an idle deed, because it will strengthen the friendship between you. Later on, if you call him to Al-Haqq (if you advise him to get closer to Allah, Exalted and Sublime b He), he will be willing to listen to you. So, the believer has long-term goals.
Similarly, if one spends some hours in the market with his friend, helping him buy items, even if he himself does not need those things or does not have the time to do so, but he does that with the intention of strengthening the relationship between them (so that his friend will be willing to listen to him when he calls him to Allah), then this is not regarded an idle deed. Thus, the believer has great insight, he performs many good deeds for the Sake of Allah, such as visiting someone, checking on another who is sick, offering some a gift, helping someone, or fixing up his house to make it more comfortable for his family, and so on. All these deeds are not considered idle ones. On the other hand, Laghwu (idle action) refers to actions that are neither related to the Hereafter nor to worldly deeds that lead to a reward in the Hereafter. This is the precise definition of Laghwu (idle talk or dee); any action that is neither related to the Hereafter nor to a worldly deed for which one will be rewarded in the Hereafter.
In contrast, if a deed leads to a reward in the Hereafter, then it is not considered Laghwu. In fact, the reward of such a deed aligns with its relation to the Hereafter, or to a worldly deed for which one will be rewarded in the Hereafter, such as when one sits with his family, his wife, or his neighbors to discuss some issues related to their shared building, then at the end of the meeting, he shares with them an insightful interpretation of a Noble Ayah or a Hadith to draw them closer to Allah the Almighty, then this blessed meeting is not regarded an idle deed.
Actually, the believer is proactive, not passive or isolated, and he does not retreat from social interactions. Furthermore, he possesses an open, positive, and friendly nature. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden). ﴿
Thus, the word: 'Al-Laghw' refers to idle talk, idle actions, and idle deeds. The believer is well aware of his life goal, so if there is a talk or a deed that is related to his long-term goal, he performs it with a strong intention, seeking the Pleasure of Allah the Almighty.
Spending for Allah's Sake is one of the qualities of true believers
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who pay the Zakat. ﴿
The transliteration for: "those who pay" is 'faa'iloon' which means 'doers' in Arabic. Some of you may ask: Why does Allah Almighty intend this meaning (faa'iloon) instead of referring to spenders? Some scholars answered this inquiry by saying, "If you ask someone to take medicine, he might say: 'I will drink it,' but if he says: 'I am faailoon (doer) of that', then it carries a stronger meaning than simply saying, 'I will drink it.'
In fact, the term Zakat here refers to the spending of a portion of wealth that is ordained by Allah the Almighty. In other Noble Ayaat, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those in whose wealth there is a known right* For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened) ﴿
The above-mentioned Noble Ayaat indicate the obligation of Zakat. Also, in another Noble Ayah, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And in their properties, there was the right of the beggar, and the Mahrum (the poor who does not ask the others). ﴿
[Adh-Dhariyat, 19]
The Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, derived from this Ayah that:
(( There is a right in money other than Zakat (which refers to voluntary charity "Sadaqah". ))
Actually, Zakat is the act of giving a portion of your wealth for the Sake of Allah as an expression of your sincere faith, because Zakat is referred to in other Noble Ayaat as "Sadaqat" [derived from the Arabic word 'Sidq' which means truthfulness, honesty or sincerity, and in this context, it means paying money sincerely for the sake of Allah], like the following Noble Ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat) are only for the Fuqara' (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah's Cause (i.e. for Mujahidun - those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.) ﴿
The word "Sadaqah" is called so, because it proves the 'Sidq' (the sincerity) of the one who gives it. In other words, Zakat is spending, and spending is an indication of one's true faith; because faith is belief and acceptance that is hidden deeply inside one's heart. However, good deeds reveal it, meaning Zakat and spending for the Sake of Allah are the practical manifestations of one's true faith.
In fact, true faith has three aspects: the heartfelt aspect, which is belief, the emotional aspect, which is acceptance, and the practical aspect, which is performing righteous deeds and adhering to Allah's Orders. So, these believers are those who pay Zakat (which reveals their true faith). Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. ﴿
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them... ﴿
As you know, when a person spends some of his lawful money that he has earned through hard work and effort for the Sake of Allah, while he could have spent it on himself, his children, or on food and drink, then Allah the Almighty will fill his heart with spiritual tranquility and delight. In other words, when one pays Zakat, he feels that his heart is filled with an indescribable feeling of peace and tranquility, out of Allah's Mercy, that he has never experienced before. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who pay the Zakat. ﴿
Actually, a believer is not considered truly successful unless he performs Salah with full submissiveness and unless he avoids idle talk and actions. Idle talk; such as discussing meaningless and trivial topics, and being preoccupied with superficial matters in life, undermines the believer's dignity and lowers his status in the Sight of Allah the Almighty. Thus, the true believer loves lofty and valuable matters in life and hates trivial and despicable ones, because when a person attends a meeting in which people only talk about the pleasures and temptations of this worldly life, he will feel that he has become distant from lofty spiritual environments.
Guarding one's chastity is one of the qualities of true believers
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who pay the Zakat* And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). ﴿
As I often say, according to Allah's Deep Wisdom, He has made some of the Divine Laws incompatible with some man-made laws. For example, stealing is prohibited in Islam, and all man-made laws also forbid it. Furthermore, there is severe punishment for theft; in some countries, a thief's hand is cut off, while in others, he is imprisoned. Thus, in every country in the world, a thief is held accountable when he is caught red-handed, of course.
On the other hand, there are some matters that are only prohibited in the Divine Law, and no man-made law holds one accountable for them, such as looking at forbidden things and not lowering one's gaze. For example, if one looks at a woman walking down the street, revealing her beauty, there is no man-made law that will call him accountable for that, rather this act is only prohibited in the Divine Law.
Thus, the believer lowers his gaze for the Sake of Allah the Almighty Alone. For example, when the believing doctor performs a physical examination on a female patient, he lowers his gazes and focuses only on the area being treated. Allah Almighty says:
﴾ Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal. ﴿
Let me give you the following example of the fraud of the eye: a doctor may sneak a glance at a part of his female patient's body unrelated to the medical examination, therefore, some pious doctors place a white cloth over the female patient's body with an opening positioned over the area being treated, so that they will only see this area and no other areas are unnecessarily exposed.
Also, a true believing shopkeeper lowers his gaze when a woman enters his shop to buy something, while other shopkeeper may fail to lower his gaze and may stare at her, captivated by her beauty.
The same applies to public transportation; when a woman sits next to a man, he may either steal glances at her or choose to lower his gaze. Thus, only the Divine Law holds people accountable for not lowering their gaze, so when one abstains from looking at forbidden things for the Sake of Allah, it is a sign of his love for Him and his sincerity towards Him. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). ﴿
In another Ayah, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. ﴿
It is as if Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, shows us the path or the key to guarding chastity, which is lowering one's gaze. As it was said: "Looking (at non-mahrams with lust) is a poison arrow from Shaitan's (Satan's) arrows, and those who avoid it for the Sake of Allah the Almighty, He will grant them sweetness in their heart until they meet Him..."
(( Jarir Ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, about an accidental glance and he instructed me to turn my gaze away." ))
[ Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Jarir Ibn Abdullah ]
Also:
(( Buraidah Ibn Al-Husaib Al-Aslami, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "O Ali, do not follow up one glance with another and look again deliberately (at forbidden things), for the first accidental gaze is not sinful, but the second is not." ))
[ Shu'aib Al-Arna'ut, classified as Hasan Hadith ]
Actually, Muslims should avoid unnecessary mingling with (non-mahram) women. For example, if someone wants to climb a staircase and there is a woman next to him, he should wait until she climbs it. Also, if he wants to enter an elevator and there is a woman alone inside it, he should refrain from entering, as he should not be alone with a non-mahram woman in a closed space. The believer holds Allah's Orders in high regard, therefore, he takes many precautions to avoid situations that could lead to sin, such as being alone with a non-mahram woman.
(( Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "Whenever a man is alone with a woman the devil makes a third." ))
[ Ibn Abd Al-Barr, on the authority of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab ]
In fact, most major incidents that lead to divorce and accordingly the destruction of homes start with a lustful glance. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). ﴿
[ An-Nur, 30
]
Therefore, the key to guarding one's chastity is lowering the gaze. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). ﴿
[ Al-Mu'minun, 5
]
How does one guard his chastity? It is by lowering his gaze. In other words, when one lowers his gaze, Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, will protect him. In contrast, if he fails to control his gaze and looks at non-mahram women with lust, it may lead him to adultery. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him). ﴿
Allah the Almighty does not say: "Do not commit adultery." Rather, He says, "And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse."
A desire could be likened to a rock at the top of a mountain. You may push it down or leave it alone. Once you push it, it will inevitably settle deep in the valley. Similarly, once a desire is left without control, it will lead to destruction or crime. Furthermore, it may cause someone to divorce his wife, even after a long marriage and having seven children. All this occurs because of a single lustful glance. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). ﴿
In fact, man has two shortcomings: women and money. However, the true believer is safeguarded against both of these shortcomings. A person may be a highly respected prominent scholar, yet he may fall into error because of a woman; he cannot resist her temptation or allure. As a result, he may sacrifice his values, such as his religion, honor, and his loyalty to his homeland and nation for the sake of having an unlawful relationship with her. Similarly, man may compromise his religion, and his loyalty to his homeland and nation in pursuit of illegal money. In contrast, the true believer is protected against the temptation of women by lowering his gaze and is protected against the temptation of money by practicing chastity and abstaining from illegal ways of making money.
Every desire has a lawful and pure way through which it can be fulfilled
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts), except from their wives ﴿
Every desire Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has placed within us has a lawful and pure means of fulfillment. For example, the desire for women can be fulfilled through marriage, the desire for wealth can be fulfilled through earning money in Halal ways, and the desire for high social status can be fulfilled through being remarkably knowledgeable. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ O you who believe! When you are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out and) make room. Allah will give you (ample) room (from His Mercy). And when you are told to rise up [for prayers, Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause), or for any other good deed], rise up. Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do. ﴿
Are you pursuing excellence? Do you seek to elevate your social status? Then you should seek knowledge. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?" It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah's Signs and Verses)." ﴿
Also, Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Then High above all be Allah, the True King. And be not in haste (O Muhammad PBUH) with the Quran before its revelation is completed to you, and say: "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge." ﴿
Thus, the pure and lawful means to fulfill the desire for women is marriage, the pure and lawful means to fulfill the desire for money is making lawful earnings, and the pure and lawful means to fulfill the desire for high social status is seeking religious knowledge.
Imam Ash-Shafi'i, may Allah be pleased with him, was once asked by a poet:
If a hand's compensation is valued
at five hundred dinars,
Then how is it that it is cut off for stealing
only a quarter of a dinar?!
This means the financial compensation for a hand (paid to the family of a victim in case of accidental injury) is 500 dinars, which is a large amount of money, but why is the hand cut off upon stealing only a quarter of a dinar? Imam Ash-Shafi'i, may Allah be pleased with him, replied:
The honor of trust made it invaluable
While the disgrace of betrayal made it worthless.
So, understand the wisdom of the Creator
So, when it was trustworthy, it was valuable, but when it betrayed, it became cheap.
Marriage is lawful and a is source of pride
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts), except from their wives. ﴿
[ Al-Mu'minun: 5-6 ]
That means of course it is permissible for a man to look at his wife with lust, and he is not to be blamed for that. In other words, marriage is lawful and it is something to be proud of. The evidence for this is that when a person gets married, he holds a wedding party, since it is Sunnah that marriage should be made public and announced. That is why, as you see nowadays, the cars in the wedding convoy honk their horns joyfully as they make their way home from the wedding celebration, celebrating the couple's marriage, whereas in the past, people used to strike drums as a means of celebrating weddings.
The Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, taught some of the Ansar to say in celebration:
We have come to you, we have come to you,
so greet us, we greet you…
In fact, it is Sunnah to announce the marriage and to keep the engagement private. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ For then, they are free from blame ﴿
Actually, lawful actions lead to inner peace, while unlawful actions cause discomfort and unease. For example, when one sits with his wife and children at his home, he feels at ease and relaxed, whereas if you observe a young man talking to a non-mahram young woman in public, you will find that they become uneasy at the slightest sound, because their action is unlawful and against the social traditions, the Islamic laws, the lawful path, and the right principles.
Looking at a non-mahram woman is a transgression of Allah's Limits
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame* But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. ﴿
This means whoever looks (with desire) at a non-mahram woman is committing a transgression against her and against himself as well; he is committing a transgression against himself, because he distances himself from Allah the Almighty, and he is committing a transgression against that woman, because he may lead her astray, and he may give her false hope that their relationship will lead to marriage, while in reality, he has no intention of marrying her. This is a type of aggression.
It is really regrettable that many men tend to be overly kind to non-mahram women, and flatter them with sweet words, which goes entirely against the teachings of Islam. On the contrary, one's extraordinary kindness, gentleness, humor and a cheerful personality should be shown to his own wife, not to the woman who works with him in the same profession. So, direct all your kindness and sweet words towards your wife, because that is the lawful way to express them, whereas when one treats a non-mahram woman with so much kindness and cheerfulness, it becomes a form of temptation an aggression, as he is committing aggression against her emotions by making her wish that he will marry her; she may make a great effort to look attractive to him, hoping that he will consider marrying her, while he is already married. So, it is a type of aggression; he is committing aggression against himself and against her at the same time.
The true believer never does that, because he follows the halal way to express his sweet wards and kind emotions, which is to direct them towards his wife, whereas a deviant person is overly kind to non-mahram women and excessively rude to his own wife! This entirely contradicts the teachings of Islam.
(( The mother of believers Mrs. A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "The best of you is he who is best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family" ))
[ Sahih at-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Mrs. A'ishah ]
So, man should be kind to his wife and should express his love for her with sweets words, but it is not permissible for him to speak in a loving manner to a non-mahram woman. Likewise, it is not permissible for a woman to speak softly or in an affectionate tone to a non-mahram man. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner. ﴿
There are many small actions, such as saying a sweet word to a non-mahram woman, that may lead to the destruction of one's family, divorce, and to deep emotional and mental impact on children.
Actually, since it is not permitted for a man to look at a non-mahram woman with desire and he must lower his gaze from her, it is forbidden for him for a greater reason to speak to her in a loving manner. So, speaking to a non-mahram women in loving manner in public places, in offices, or during meetings or visits, is incompatible with a true believer's character; he never does that even if people accuse him of being unfriendly, because pleasing Allah the Almighty is more important to him than pleasing people, and he prefers to adhere strictly to the Allah's Commands.
In fact, the true believer never crosses Allah's limits when treating non-mahram women. For example, if a woman comes to visit his wife while his wife is out, he never invites her to enter his house, even if she has come from a distant place (because it is not permitted for a man to sit in seclusion with a non-mahram woman). The Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( Whenever a man is alone with a woman the devil makes a third. ))
Thus, one should be very cautious in such sensitive situations.
Let us ask the following question: How does one fall into temptation? Most Muslims do not fall into major sins such as drinking alcohol, gambling, committing adultery, or stealing, etc. However, Shaitan makes them fall into temptation through (the allure of) women.
(( Usamah bin Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "I have not left behind me a trial more injurious to men than women." ))
[ Sahih al-Bukhari, on the authority of Usamah bin Zaid ]
Thus, the believer should not become careless in following the Islamic teachings related to interacting with women, even with a smile, a look of love, a sweet word, or a sweet comment, because such actions may lead to something greater and may end in adultery, divorce, or turning away from Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He. Consider the precise meaning of the following Noble Ayat: Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts) * Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame* But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors ﴿
Do you see how modesty is a fundamental principle in our religion? Is there any speech more polite than this? Does anyone, including children, feel embarrassed when reading such words? Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ But whoever seeks beyond that… ﴿
The phrase "beyond that" implicitly includes all types of immoral actions such as adultery, homosexuality, and all kinds of corrupt actions that you hear and read about nowadays. All of these kinds of deviant acts are referred to in this Noble Ayah: "But whoever seeks beyond that…" That means whoever seeks to fulfill his desires beyond the permissible and lawful way, which is marriage, is a transgressor because any other way is prohibited. In addition, "Then those are the transgressors" means whoever does that is a transgressor, because he commits transgression against himself by turning it away from Allah the Almighty, and he commits transgression against that woman, who is his sister in humanity, by leading her astray.
Preserving the trust is one of the true believer's qualities
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants. ﴿
[ Al-Mu'minun, 8
]
Actually, Al-Amanah (trust) is a highly sensitive matter that requires deep understanding; Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, says:
﴾ Truly, We did offer Al-Amanah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allah's Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results). ﴿
[ Al-Ahzab, 72
]
According to the scholars of Tawheed (monotheism), there are many types of Amanah. Let me explain the first type, which is the trust of the Divine Assignment: Allah the Almighty has created you in this world, granted you unique characteristics and identity, placed desire within you, and bestowed upon you the freedom of will. Furthermore, He has subjected everything in the heavens and the earth for your benefit, granted you mind, and revealed His Divine Law to His Prophets (peace be upon them). Thus, the Divine Law, the human mind, the universe, the freedom of choice, and human lusts are the constituents of the Divine Assignment. In other words, Allah the Almighty has entrusted you with the responsibility of purifying yourself; He says:
﴾ Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds).* And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism, etc. or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds). ﴿
This is the most sublime type of Amanah that Allah the Almighty refers to in the following Noble Ayah in which He says:
﴾ Truly, We did offer Al-Amanah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allah's Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results). ﴿
Second, there is the Amanah of conveying the Divine Message, which is related specifically to the Noble Messengers and Prophets, peace be upon them. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Those who convey the Message of Allah and fear Him, and fear none save Allah. And Sufficient is Allah as a Reckoner. ﴿
Conveying Al-Haqq (the truth) means to convey it to people without distortion, modification, change, addition, or deletion. This is the true meaning of fulfilling the Amanah. When one visits the Prophetic Masjid in Al-Madinah and stands at the door of his room, it is desirable to say: "O Messenger of Allah! I bear witness that you conveyed the Message, fulfilled the Amanah, and advised the Ummah, and I bear witness that Allah has revealed the darkness of ignorance through you, and that you strove in the Cause of Allah as is due." This is the meaning of the Amanah of conveying the Message.
Thirdly, there is the Amanah of completely clarifying Al-Haqq, which is specifically related to the Islamic scholars; Allah the Almighty has taken a covenant from them to make Al-Haqq clear to people and not to conceal it. This is the meaning of the Amanah of clarifying Al-Haqq.
Fourthly, there is the Amanah of correctly performing one's duty. In other words, there are various professions, including carpenters, tailors, teachers, doctors, pharmacists, etc. so, when one performs his job correctly, without deficiency, fault, or deceit, he fulfills this Amanah, whereas when he falls short in performing his duty, neglects it or deceives others, he betrays it.
To summarize, there is the Amanah of Divine Assignment, the Amanah of conveying the Divine Message, the Amanah of conveying Al-Haqq completely, and the Amanah of performing one's duty correctly.
Fifthly, there is the Amanah of meetings (i.e. not to disclose what is said in those meetings outside of them). To make this point clear, let me give you the following example: If someone is telling you something, then he suddenly stops when he hears the footsteps of someone approaching, fearing that he might hear him, you should never share what he tells you to others, even if he does not explicitly ask you to keep it private, because as long as he stops upon hearing footsteps approaching, this conversation is considered to be private. Thus, this is the Amanah of meetings (i.e. the trust of not revealing to others what is said privately in meetings.)
Abdullah Ibn Umar, may Allah be please with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( All of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects, the man is a guardian of his family, the woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husband's house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects. ))
[ Sahih al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Umar ]
Thus, the wife is a guardian in her husband's house, the servant is a guardian over his master's property, and the father is a guardian over his children. Furthermore, employees, doctors, teachers, craftsmen, and business owners, etc. are guardians in their jobs and should fulfill the Amanah faithfully. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Those faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants ﴿
Thus, Allah the Almighty describes the true believers as those who preserve Amanat (plural of Amanah); He says:
﴾ Who are faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants" ﴿
You, as a believer, should preserve the Amanah of the Divine Assignment, the Amanah of clarifying Al-Haqq, and the Amanah of performing your job faithfully, because you are trusted with them.
(( Tamim Ad-Dari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "The essence of Islam is giving sincere advice." We asked, "To whom we give it, O Messenger of Allah?" He, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, replied, "To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk." ))
[ Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Tamim Ad-Dari ]
In fact, there are acts of betrayal related to business transactions, such as lying, fraud, concealing a defect in a product, changing its quality, providing misleading information about the product's name, origin, source, and type, and manipulating its price, quantity, and type. These acts are regarded betrayal of the Amanah of performing one's job with sincerity. Also, if a doctor exploits a patient (for example when recommending unnecessary surgery), if a pharmacist erases the expiry date of a medication, or if a lawyer agrees to take a case he believes that it is definitely a losing one, yet he accepts it in order to gain illegal financial profits from his client, they have betrayed the Amanah. Thus, whatever one's profession is, whether a noble profession or a less noble one, he can either fulfill the Amanah (by performing it with sincerity) or betray it (by acts of betrayal). Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who are faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants ﴿
[ Al-Mu'minun, 8
]
Also, there is the Amanah of meetings (i.e. the trust of not revealing to others what is said privately in meetings), and the Amanah of any deposit that is entrusted to you (when someone gives you a deposit to take care of), so when you keep it safe (and return it when expected), it is a sign of being trustworthy. Thus, the concept of trust is very broad.
(( Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said: "He who is not trustworthy has no faith, and he who does not keep his covenant has no religion." ))
[ Ad-Darqutni: Al-Ahadeeth Al-Mukhtarah, classified as Mursal ]
This means whoever betrays the Amanah of the Divine Assignment, the Amanah of conveying the Message, the Amanah of clarifying Al-Haqq, the Amanah of fulfilling one's duty with sincerity, the Amanah of not revealing to others what is said privately in meetings, or the Amanah of taking care of one's family, etc. has no faith.
It was said: The person whom Allah the Almighty has granted abundance in provision, yet he is stingy with his children, is not one of us (i.e. is not one of the true believers.). So, such a person has betrayed the Amanah. Also, whoever does not care for his wife, does not feed her as he eats, and does not clothe her as he dresses, has betrayed the Amanah. So, whoever betrays the Amanah has no faith. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who are faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants ﴿
Also, the Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( He who is not trustworthy has no faith, and he who does not keep his covenant has no religion. ))
(You must adhere to any covenant you made, for breaking a covenant is one of the signs of hypocrisy, as it was said: "Muslims must keep to the conditions they have made.")
You have to adhere to all the conditions you agreed upon. The Prophet, may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, said:
(( He who is not trustworthy has no faith, and he who does not keep his covenant has no religion. ))
Preserving the prayer is one of the true believers' attributes
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants; * And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours). ﴿
[ Al-Mu'minun, 8-9
]
To emphasize the importance of Salah, these Noble Ayaat, that describe the attributes of true believers, begin with a reference to it; Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. ﴿
Furthermore, these Noble Ayaat are also concluded with a reference to Salah. However, "Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness" refers to its quality; to the spiritual connection with Allah and to the complete submissiveness to Him during it, while "And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours)." refers to maintaining the times, the recommended and the obligatory elements of Salah. Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ Successful indeed are the believers* Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. ﴿
﴾ And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours). ﴿
Thus, guarding Salah means maintaining its obligatory and recommended elements, offering it with full submissiveness to Allah, and offering it on time. However, some scholars add that by remaining steadfast on Allah's Path and adhering to His Orders, the believer will preserve his spiritual connection with Allah the Almighty during Salah. In other words, when one falls short in remaining steadfast on Allah's Straight Path, he will definitely fall short in performing Salah properly (i.e. with submissiveness), causing it to become hollow and without true value.
Whoever possesses these qualities will be admitted to Paradise
Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours). *These are indeed the inheritors* Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever. ﴿
Whoever possesses the qualities of true believers that are mentioned in these Noble Ayaat; offering Salah with full submissiveness to Allah, turning away from falsehood, performing Zakat, guarding his private part, observing his Amanat and covenants, and preserving his prayers, deserves to be admitted to Paradise based on the following Noble Ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:
﴾ These are indeed the inheritors* Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever. ﴿
May Allah the Almighty help us continue interpreting these Noble Ayaat in the next lesson, inshallah.
