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Defining Piety II
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.
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Defining Piety I
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.
