Defining Piety I
Archived under Knowledge , Tazkiyyah .
Two nights ago, a sister and I were deep in a SMS conversation about the ever popular subject of marriage. While interrogating her about preferences for a possible future spouse, she mentioned something which I did not reflect upon immediately:
"... Is he pious?..."
Now, at first glance this question doesn't evoke any emotions or raise any questions. After all, the sister would like to have a God-fearing, pious brother - as any sister would. However, after a little thought I began to wonder, 'What is piety and who defines it?' If one ever has doubt or questions about a certain issue, the best place to begin looking for answers is the Qur`aan.
"It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masâkin (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfil their covenant when they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are the pious." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 177]
SubhaanAllaah - that seems alot just to be considered as being pious, huh? But wait. Let's break it down a little.
In Arabic, the word commonly used to mean piety or righteousness is 'birr' (ﺑﺮ) and in this aayah, Allaah says that birr is not to turn ones face to the east or west. This turning of the face to the east or west refers to the change in the qiblah/ direction of prayer. The first qiblah for the Muslims was Bayt-ul-Maqdis in Jerusalem, but they were later commanded to face the Ka'bah which the people of the book found hard to deal with. The reason for this change, as Allah later revealed, was to show the importance of obeying Allaah - therefore the actual turning of the face/ change in direction from the east to the west does not necessitate piety unless it is that which Allaah has legislated.
So, Allaah says that this turning does not define piety. Okay, so what does?
"...but Al-Birr is the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets..."
So, piety is to believe in Allaah - that He is alone without partners, aide, siblings or offspring and that none is like unto Him - and only He is worthy of worship; to believe in the angels; to believe in the books which He has revealed and that the Qur`aan supersedes all the books; and to believe in all the Prophets and Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was the last and final one.
We see that these are matters of faith - i.e. that which resides in the heart. That which follows in the aayah is a direct refutation of the 'I have Islaam in my heart' line that many people chime.
... to be continued inshaa`Allaah...
Your Thoughts
As-salaamu 'alaikum
Jazak'Allaahu khairan, I look forward to the next instalment.
Your article reminded me of something that I heard Shaykh Adnan ‘Abdul-Qadir say in a lecture he gave entitled ‘Love of Allaah’, and that is a question he asked regarding the performance of certain actions such as praying, giving in charity and fasting, he asked if all of these acts and their like are worship or merely signs of worship.
Your next instalment is about those who say that they have Islam in their heart; this reminds me of many brothers that I have met who say in defence of the fact that they are “dirty” shaven (i.e. they shave their beard off), “its what is in the heart that counts”, there is truth in their statement, but it is a statement which they use for falsehood, since Eemaan is not just about that which the heart contains, it is also statements upon the tongue and action upon the limbs.
Furthermore, if what is in the heart is good then surely this goodness would be manifested upon the tongues and limbs and we would be of those who are obedient to Allaah and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) right?! I remember an article by Shaykh Muhammad Moosaa Aal Nasr about the characteristics of the female hypocrites and one of the characteristics that he mentioned was tabarruj, he mentioned that such women are seeking to displease Allaah and His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) whilst showing love and obedience to ash-shaytaan.
Some may consider the Shaykh of being a little too harsh, but let us consider what he said in light of a hadeeth he cited in which the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Those who make tabarruj are the munafiqaat (female hypocrites).” Is hypocrisy nothing except something which dwells in the heart? Remember their saying though: “I have Islam in my heart.”
May Allaah guide me and you!
Was-salaamu ‘alaikum
Aboo Uthmaan
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Salaam Dear Sis, What you say about piety is so true. It is too easy to simply 'perform' and feel pious when in fact that can just be arrogance. To say 'I have Islam in my heart' with honesty then the heart must be completely surrendered to Allah (swt) and the ego (nafs) put aside. Surrender is, after all, the meaning of Islam.