Defining Piety II
Archived under Knowledge , Tazkiyyah .
In the first instalment, we looked at the first part of aayah 177 of Soorah al-Baqarah:
"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..."
We said that these are matters of the heart and that which follows is a direct refutation - or what I like to call a slap in the face - to those who claim that Islaam is in the heart. Yes, eemaan is in the heart and the six articles or pillars of eemaan (faith) are matters of the heart. However, what then do they say about the 4 pillars of Islaam which are a direct link to the first and main pillar: belief in Allaah?
But wait, lets' continue with this aayah first.
"...and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it..."
Here are points of benefit:
1. Although eemaan (faith) is based in the heart, it should also manifest itself on the tongue (in forms of supplications and remembrances etc.) and more so on the limbs.
2. Allaah knows us better than we know ourselves as He should, for He is our Creator. He knows that we are weak, in need of Him and furthermore, He knows that many of us, if not all of us, have a weakness for wealth. Here He says that the pious are those who give from their wealth, though they love it; and what an honourable act this is:
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The best charity is when you give it away while still healthy and thrifty, hoping to get rich and fearing poverty." [Saheeh Muslim, 2: 716]
Additionally, Allaah ta'aala has said:
"By no means shall you attain piety (birr) unless you spend of that which you love." [Soorah `aali-'Imraan (3): 92]
So the next time you see the charity box and want to chuck in your loose change, try throwing in some notes instead. Or when you see that you have something which your brother (or sister) needs more than you, why not let it go? Indeed, Allaah loves those who are charitable, especially when it is from that which you love; in accordance to this aayah, the pious give:
"...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..."
Then Allaah goes on:
"...performs As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and gives the Zakât..."
Now the praying does not refer to that which we see nowadays - that which can be likened to exercise than prayer to Allaah subhaanahu wa ta'aala. Here Allaah is referring to those who pray on time and give the prayer its due right; the bowing, prostration and the necessary attention and concentration.
"...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)..."
We know that the opposite of one who keeps his covenant is the hypocrite.1 Ah, and the reward for the patient are numerous and patience is a virtue that Allaah mentions time and time again in the Qur`aan, but look:
"...Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning." [Soorah az-Zumar (39): 10]
Allaah ta'alaa concludes:
"Such are the people of the truth and they are the pious."
The truthfulness here refers to those who are truthful in their faith. Meaning, that those who give from that which they love; those who pray and give zakah and those who are patient with poverty, ailments and at times of battle, they are the truthful as they have achieved eemaan (faith) in their hearts, manifested it on their tongues and displayed it through their action.
May Allaah make us from amongst the pious, aameen. Inshaa`Allaah there will be a third and final instalment on this topic.
Was-salaamu 'alaikum
~ Umm Junayd.
1 Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise). If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)" [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, vol. 1 #32]
Your Thoughts
Bismillaah
Was Salaamu 'Alaykum,
This was a tremendously wonderful read. Your approach to da'wah is growing in proficiency wal hamduillaah. Quite the prolific writer. I am enjoying your work. May Allaah bless you with more and to accept your work as being Purely for His Sake.
And when people tell you about the Imaan being in the heart you can also remind them:
1. Belief in Allaah is established in the heart, sure, but as you said the du'aa is one of the greatest forms of emaan from the tongue. So Imaantu billaah means you "call upon Allaah" and not the loan shark for your supplies. That is from the tongue.
2. If you really believe in the angels, you would say the things from your tongue that you want them to record on your behalf and hold your tongue from what you don't want them to record.
3. If you believe in the Books (mainly the Qur'aan) we would keep our tongue's most with it recitation, like the Blind Brother you mentioned.
4. If we believe in the Messengers we would recite the many du'aa that Rasuwlullaah has taught us for every situation.
5. If we believe in the Last Day we would recite the du'aa constantly seeking protection in such a day.
6. If we believe in Qadr we would make du'aa constantly as that is the only thing that affects the qudaa (the execution of the Qadr).
So there is no establishing complete Imaan in the six pillars of Imaan without some resulting action from the tongue And Allaah knows best.
Jazaakum Allaahu khayran.
Was Salaamu Alaykum
Your Brother In Islaam
Abu Jamiylah
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Ma sha Allah! Asalaamu alayku Sister!
I am back to your site for the third time and it gets better every time. May Allah through your efforts touch many hearts and lead them to true Islam, to true "Iman" and the Gardens of Jannat.