Believers are obligated to keep their promises,
just as decreed in the Qur’an: “Fulfill (every) engagement, for (every)
engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).” (Surat
al-Isra, 17:34)
Being trustworthy is one of the foremost characteristics of the believers.
All the messengers have proved their righteousness to their people and
been know as trustworthy and decent people. Fulfilling every engagement
is a significant part of this trustworthiness.
Believers should keep their promises, and never commit themselves to
anything which they think they will not be able to fulfill. It is said
in the Qur’an as follows:
“O you who believe, why do you say that which
you do not do? Greviously odious is it in the sight of Allah that you
say that you do not do.” (Surat as-Saff, 61:2-3)
NO DISPUTE AMONG THE BELIEVERS
One of the secrets of the believers’ success
is the warm brotherhood and solidarity among them. The Qur’an emphasizes
the importance of unity: “Truly, Allah loves those who fight in His Cause
in battle array as if they were a solid cemented structure.” (Surat as-Saff,
61:4)
Any statement or behaviour that may damage this close brotherhood would
be an adversary act against religion itself. Allah warns the believers
against this threat in the Qur'an:
“Obey Allah and His Messenger; and fall into no
disputes, lest you lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and
persevering: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.” (Surat
al-Anfal, 8:46)
Hence, the sincere believer must be extremely cautious of entering into
such disputes, avoiding words or manners that may hurt his brothers. Moreover,
he should behave in such as way as toincrease affection and confidence
among them. In the Qur’an, we have the clear decree:
“Say to My servants that they should only say
those things that are best: for Satan sows dissensions among them: Satan
is to man an avowed enemy.” (Surat al-Isra, 17:53)
If a believer does not have the same opinion as his brother on some issue,
he should nevertheless behave and talk in the most modest and humble way.
Sharing ideas should remain on the basis of “consultation” and not “debate”.
If a contention is observed among two other believers, then what one should
do is indicated in the verse below:
“The believers are but a single Brotherhood.
So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers;
and fear Allah, so that you may receive His Mercy.” (Surat al-Hujraat,
49:10)
It should be noted that even a minor argument of any kind may have very
negative effects on the Cause.
SEEKING ALLAH'S PROTECTION FROM
SATAN WHILE READING THE QURAN
The Qur’an is the divine book revealed by Allah to guide mankind. While
it helps increase the faith of the believers, it exposes the denial of
the unbelievers.
“He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book:
In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are
the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose
hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking
discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden
meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge
say: ‘We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord’, and none
will grasp the Message except men of understanding.” (Surat Aal-e-Imran,
3:7)
That means that some verses of the Qur’an have the capacity both to reveal
the transgressions of “those whose hearts are flawed by perversity” and
to increase the faith and submission of the believers.
It should be noted, however, that no one can guarantee
that he will continue to preserve his faith. Believers may also lose the
Qur’anic point of view with the effect of Satan’s temptations. Naturally
they would not perceive the wisdom in the Qur’an if they read it while
under the sway of Satan. That is why Allah commands believers to seek
refuge in Him from the evil influence of Satan before reading the Qur’an:
“When you read the Qur’an, seek Allah’s protection from Satan, the rejected
one.” (Surat an-Nahl, 16:98)
This command of Allah is important for it reminds believers of Satan's
constant presence and unceasing activities. Indeed, Satan is ever at work,
lying in wait for people on Allah’s straight path, and trying to assault
them “from before and behind, from their right and from their left.” The
strategies of Satan have been explained in many verses of the Qur'an.
Thus salvation from the deceits of Satan can be achieved only through
the Qur’an, which warns us against Satan’s tricks and tells us to avoid
them. As expressed in the 42nd verse of Surat al-Hijr, “Satan has no authority
over Allah's servants.” The solution is to accept the Qur’an as the only
guide and to read it after seeking refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan.
BEING CONSIDERATE
The members of a profane society are, in the main, rude, uncaring
and inconsiderate. The reason for this is the egoism of the unbelievers.
They all think of their own benefit. Others have no importance for them.
However, a real group of believers are completely different from such
people, because one of the significant characteristics of the believers
is their refusal to fall a prey to their own greed. Believers who overcome
their vain desires, will naturally be caring and considerate towards other
believers. The Qur’an tells of that kind of self-sacrificing relationship
between the refugees who fled with Mohammed to Medina and the faithful
people of Medina who helped them:
“And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah)
and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and entertain
no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), and give them
(emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need
of that. And those saved from the covetousness in their own souls, they
are the ones that achieve prosperity. ” (Surat al-Hashr, 59:9)
As is also mentioned in this verse, the believers should give other believers
preference over themselves. That is true faith, submission and brotherhood.
To give other believers preference is not confined only to offering them
physical terms. Brotherhood is also imparted with thoughtfulness. A believer
must consider the needs and problems of his brother more than those of
himself.
Rude and inconsiderate manners show the insufficiency of a person's faith.
A person who is not able to consider how his acts will affect the other
believers, and who acts only according to his own "wishes" and "as he
likes", is far removed from the example of the believer depicted by Allah.
The Qur'an emphasizes this subject with many examples of both considerate
and inconsiderate actions. And the most important is surely to be gracious
and respectful to Allah’s Messenger:
“O you who believe, do not put yourselves forward
before Allah and His Messenger; but fear Allah: for Allah is He Who hears
and knows all things.” (Surat al-Hujraat,49: 1)“O
you who believe, do not enter the Prophet’s houses-until leave is given
you- for a meal (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation:
But when you are invited, enter; and when you have taken your meal, disperse,
withoutseeking familiar talk. Such (behaviour) annoys the Prophet: he
is ashamed to dismiss you, but Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the
truth. When you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind
a curtain: that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. Nor is
it right for you that you to cause annoyance to the messenger of Allah,
nor that you should ever marry his wives after him. Truly, such a thing
is in Allah’s sight an enormity.” (Surat al-Ahzab, 33:53)
People who are reared on the teachings of the Qur’an are noble, polite,
upright and considerate. This is the natural attitude of the believer
who gives preference to his brothers over himself and who feed for the
love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan and the captive. Being considerate
is a characteristic of the companions of Paradise. For instance; not disturbing
a brother while he is on an important task, keeping silent when believers
pray, making the believers as comfortable as possible, asking if they
need something and serving them without being asked may be given as examples
to kind behaviour. However, these are only a few examples, and these considerate
manners may amount to hundreds and thousands according to changing conditions.
TURNING AWAY FROM THE IGNORANT
In the Qur’an, the believers are described as in the verses below:
“The servants of Allah (Most Gracious) are those
who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them,
they say, `Peace!’” (Surat al-Furqan, 25:63)
“And when they hear vain talk, they turn away
therefrom and say: ‘To us our deed and to you yours; peace be to you:
we seek not the ignorant.’ ” (Surat al-Qasas, 28:55)
Believers are innately peaceful, whereas those who disbelieve are extremely
uneasy, restless and aggressive. It is as if their torment of hell had
already started on earth. That is why they cause trouble and are also
constantly faced with difficulties. However, believers do not even communicate
with those people unless they attempt to give harm to the believers and
Islam. They behave honorably, as the above verses describe. When intervention
is necessary, they do notbehave rudely, but in the most civilized and
law-abiding way.
NOT ARGUING ABOUT THINGS ABOUT
WHICH ONE KNOWS NOTHING
In the Qur’an, man is typified as being “contentious in most things.”
(Surat al-Kahf, 18:54) In other verses, this criticism is levelled particularly
at the unbelievers:
“When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an
example, behold, your people raise a clamour thereat (in ridicule)! And
they say: 'Are our gods best or he?' This they set forth to you, only
by way of disputation. Nay! they are a contentious people.” (Surat az-Zukhruf,
43:57-58)
The reason for this tendency to argue about everything is not to reveal
and evaluate different opinions, but to satisfy the urge to quarrel. In
the arguments of the ignorant, neither side tries to evaluate the others'
ideas or find a correct solution. Beating the other is the one and only
aim. This explains the loud voices and the tense attitude during such
arguments, and the turning of what should merely be a discussion into
a quarrel.
It is most abnormal surely, to argue over things about which neither
disputant has any certain knowledge. The most obvious example of this
is to be seen in discussions of religion, about which the arguers are
generally exceedingly ignorant. The error of such conduct is pointed out
in the verse below:
“Verily, you are those who have disputed about
that of which you have knowledge. Why do you then dispute concerning that
which you have no knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and you know not.”
(Surat Aal-e-Imran, 3:66)
NO MOCKING
The following verse clearly tells us that there should be no mockery
among the believers:
“O you who believe! Let not some men among you
laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former):
Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better
than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call
each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness,
(to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not repent
are (indeed) doing wrong.” (Surat al-Hujraat, 49:11)
Allah tells people to refrain from mocking. Mockery can take many forms:
open laughter at personal misadvantures, sly grins, verbal teasing under
the pretence of joking, or sidelong glances to convey something which
cannot be openly discussed. Such behaviour belongs to the culture of the
ignorant and does not befit true believers. The Qur’an tells us that people
who indulge in such behaviour will have tosuffer the Fire of Allah mounting
on to their hearts.
“Woe to every (kind of) scandal-monger and backbiter,
who piles up wealth and keeps on counting it, thinking that his wealth
would make him last for ever. By no means! He will be sure to be thrown
into the crushing Fire. And what will make you know what the crushing
Fire is? It is the Fire of Allah kindled (to a blaze), which mounts to
the hearts of men: Surely it shall be closed over upon them, (they will
be punished) in columns outstretched.” (Surat al-Humaza, 104:1-9)
It is not possible for a believer to behave in any cynical manner after
he knows this clear decree of Allah. Indeed, no believer behaves in that
way deliberately. However, if ever a believer slips into that manner,
he may be unaware of his wrong conduct and taking it as fun. But whenever
he realizes that what he is doing is wrong, he should immediately stop
and repent.
NOT CALLING BY NICKNAMES
It is the habit of unbelievers to call each other by offensive nicknames.
The idea behind it is again to humiliate others and to “prove” one’s own
superiority. The nickname may call attention to a physical defect or to
past errors. The unbelievers do not forget wrongdoing and always remind
the person of his mistakes, although he may not ever have repeated them.
However, believers are different from them. They are forgiving, and
there is a close brotherhood among them; they do not stoop to behave in
this way. Moreover, Allah has ordered the believer neither to “defame
nor be sarcastic to one another, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames.”
(Surat al-Hujraat, 49:11)
BEING WORTHY OF TRUST
The Qur’an describes the rendering back one's trusts to those to whom
they are due as a moral principle and a way to success. Believers should
always respect the trust reposed in them and thus win others' confidence
in return. Besides, believers should also determine to whom to hand the
trusts, that is, to whom they are due. On this, the Qur’an delivers the
following injunction:
“Allah commands you to render back your trusts
to those to whom they are due; and when you judge between man and man,
that you judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching which
He gives you! For Allah is He Who hears and sees all things.” (Surat An-Nisa,
4:58)
Another verse states;
“Whoever fulfills his promise and guards (against
evil) - then surely Allah loves those who guard (against evil).” (Surat
Aal-e-Imran, 3:76)
A trust may be something of financial value, or atask or a matter of
responsibility. The believers should use their wisdom and sense of discrimination
in determining those who are worthy of trust.
THE ILLUSIVE UNIVERSE
A major flaw in any society which is ignorant of the precepts of Islam
is its members’ view that the material world they touch and see is the
greatest and most absolute actuality of our earthly existence. In fact,
they reckon that matter has an “eternal and never-ending” existence. Eventually,
they start to deify matter, and seek help only from it. Consequently,
they start to think of Allah less and less and even deny His existence.
Their perception of Allah is of a “less realistic and more imaginary”
being when compared to matter. However, this is a great misconception
on the part of the unbelievers. The absolute being is not matter, but
Allah. The Qur’an is quite specific on this point:
“That is because Allah is the Reality; and those
besides Him whom they invoke are but vain Falsehood: verily Allah is He,
Most High, Most Great.” (Surat al-Hajj, 22:62).
In truth, matter has the ability to exist only so longas it has been
created by Allah. Its existence is preserved only at His wish and by His
command. Consequently, the permanence of the absolute existence of matter
is out of the question: matter can exist only as a result of the “Be”
command of Allah. Allah states this fact in the Qur’an in the following
verse:
“It is Allah Who sustains the heavens and the
earth, lest they cease to function: and if they should fail, not one can
sustain them thereafter: verily, He is Most Forbearing, and Oft-Forgiving.
(Surat Fat’r, 35:41)
This means the complete world exists only with the sustanence of Allah
and when He so orders, it shall cease to exist. In fact, this means that
the entire universe is made of illusive matter, which will end when commanded.
This boundless will of Allah is beyond comprehension, but dreams may be
a way of understanding this creation to a certain extent. For instance,
when someone wakes up from a dream, the universe which existed with all
its details in the dream will fade from existence and disappear since
the reason for that universe’s existence is only one’s own mind during
sleep. When the mind stops “forming” such a universe, it suddenly “disappears,”
and does not exist anymore. Surely it had no material or independent being
at all.
The prominent Islamic scholar, Imam Rabbani, narrates this absolute
truth (the narration has been simplified and re-worded in translation):
“Allah has determined the reflection of each one of His names (the
Just, the often returning, the Compassionate, etc.) andhas given His
attributes to the created ones. And the beings for this reflection were
created out of sheer nothingness. The One and Only Allah with His Power
decreed a place of realization for His names and created them in the
illusive (imaginary, supposed) universe. Moreover, He did this in the
time and shape He wanted.
The existence of the universe is only in the illusive and sensational
state and not in externality. In this case this is a permanence in nothingness
and the illusive gains strength and soundness with the creation of Allah.
So, the created becomes alive, knowing, doing, asking, seeing, hearing
and speaking to the extent of His will. However, because of its being
a reflection and having only a shadow existence, there is no trace of
it externally. In the outside world, there is nothing other than Allah’s
Being and His names.
Everything has appeared on the mirror of the Superior Being and in
this way, they have acquired an external appearance: they have looked
as if existent in the outside world. But there is nothing other than
this on the outside. There is no one and nothing but Allah.” (Mektubati
Rabbani, Imam Rabbani, p.517-519)
Since there is no being other than Allah and everything in the universe
is a manifestation of His Being, then the author of all deeds is again
the Almighty. In the Qur’an this secret is revealed in a number of verses:
“It was not you who slew them; it was Allah:
when you threw a handful of dust, it was not your act, but Allah’s: inorder
that He might test the Believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for
Allah is He Who hears and knows all things.” (Surat al-Anfal, 8:17)
“But you will not, except as Allah wills; for
Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.” (Surat al-Insan, 76:30)
“Remember when you met, He showed them to you
as few in your eyes, and He made you appear contemptible in their eyes
so that Allah might accomplish a matter already enacted. For to Allah
do all questions go back for decision.” (Surat al-Anfal, 8:44)
The world has an immanent face as well as an evident one. In the evident,
everything looks to be independent and uncontrolled. However, in the immanent,
in accordance with their illusory creation, everything has bowed to Allah's
will. With the words of the Qur'an;
“I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord!
There is not a moving creature, but He has grasp of its fore-lock. Verily,
it is my Lord Who is on a straight path” (Surah Hud, 11:56)
Knowing that there is nothing other than Allah, unveils the secret reality
that no one can do anything by himself. This secret should always be in
the minds of the believers. Accordingly, the believers know that all perversions
and misdeeds of the unbelievers are again decreed by Allah. Believers,
therefore, interpret and evaluate all happenings according to their immanent
implication. This helps them to do right, and to behave in a way which
is most sincere, heedful, and wise.
They said: “Glory to You, of knowledge We have
none, save what You Have taught us: In truth it is You Who are perfect
in knowledge and wisdom.” (Surat al-Baqara, 2:32)