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| Good Conduct in Islam Dr. Arafat K. El-Ashi Dear Muslims, In previous sermons we referred to levels
of iman, and the manners Muslims should adhere to, otherwise their faith
weakens, their balance is shaken and their steps will have difficulty in
following the right path. Today we continue our talk about the same
subject but from a different angle and a different style. Prophet Muhammad
p.b.u.h. said: The Muslim is the one from whose hands and tongue other
Muslims are safe, and the immigrant is he who abandons what Allah (S.W.T)
forbids. When the Messenger p.b.u.h. was asked: Which Islam is better? He
said the same thing. And when a man asked the Prophet the same question
the Prophet answered: That you provide food, deliver the salutation of
peace upon those you know or you don't know. Thus the fact is the same about Islam or
iman. In other words that there should be action, or behavior that
confirms faith in the heart of a believer so that his Islam is reflected
in good deeds, peace, and blessings in his movements and words. Thus he
would harm or hurt no one, he would destroy no buildings and would do no
wrong nor take the right of any one. On the contrary he would be a strong
and useful member of his society. This is clear in the Prophet's sayings
mentioned earlier which assert that the best Muslims are those who fulfill
the rights of Allah (S.W.T) as well as the rights of other Muslims. Practically speaking a Muslim should not
only discharge his duties through believing in Allah (S.W.T), His
Messenger and His books, neither just by establishing worships that are
obligatory on him, but in addition to this he has to fulfill the rights he
owes to other people. That is why good conduct and nice manners with other
people are the real signs of a true believer and a good Muslim. We notice from the above sayings that the
companions of the Prophet p.b.u.h. were keen to learn more about their
religion so that they could be sincere and strong in their faith. Thus
comes the question that showed their competition to acquire the virtues of
Islam to avoid sins and evils. This is how a Muslim should be. He should
ask about what he doesn't know and should learn all that benefits him and
his society and should seek to apply good manners, he should avoid all
evils and sins. That is why a Muslim is a person who abstains from hurting
other Muslims; a Muslim is he who tries to know other Muslims and make
peace with them by his words and actions; he delivers the salutation of
peace to them and grants them all that is good and useful. Dear Muslims! The Messenger of Allah
p.b.u.h. urges us to fulfill the highest standard of conduct; that is why
he concentrates in his teachings on these lessons of education and manners
so that we may become the best nation evolved for mankind. The Prophet
p.b.u.h. for instance, says: May Allah (S.W.T) have mercy on the person
who is tolerant when he sells, tolerant when he buys, and tolerant when he
seeks judgement. This saying is either a prayer from the
Prophet for the person who is tolerant in his dealings. It may also be a
piece of news about tolerant Muslims. In this case it is a glad tidings of
good and blessings and happiness. For a Muslim to be tolerant with other
Muslims requires that he should not be harsh or violent towards them,
neither should he insist on his mistakes, but should surrender part of his
right to the helpless, he should forgive those who offended him if they
apologize. He should give respite to those who owe him money, and should
do good to relatives even if they boycott him. Dear Muslims! We should remember here that part of true
faith is to love for the sake of Allah and to hate for the sake of Allah.
This is a sign of sound hearts that are free from vicious whims and
material greed. The Prophet p.b.u.h. says: Every time a Muslim enjoys
three things, he in fact, enjoys the sweetness of faith: that Allah and his Messenger are dearer to
him than any one else In another tradition the Prophet p.b.u.h.
says: Seven persons will be under the shade of Allah on the day when there
will be no other shade but His: A just leader, a young man brought up in
the worship of Allah, a man whose heart is committed to mosques, two
people who love one another for the sake of Allah, they meet and part for
His sake, a person whose left hand does not know what his right hand has
spent, a person whose eyes overflow with tears due to his remembrance of
Allah when he is all by himself and a person whom a pretty and influential
woman encouraged to commit adultery with her but he said "I fear
Allah" In a sacred tradition the Prophet p.b.u.h.
quotes Allah as saying: My love is binding for those who love one another
for My sake, who sit with one another for My sake , and who visit one
another for My sake. Dear Muslims! What do you learn from these great Prophetic traditions? First: that the Prophet p.b.u.h. gave good tidings to the believer who loves his brother believer that he will enjoy the sweetness of faith in his heart due to his love. In other words he will feel good, satisfied and will have faith and peace through his love to his brother without any worldly interests in that love. Second: that the Messenger p.b.u.h. also promises another good news in addition to the first one which is in this world namely his feeling of satisfaction and comfort . The second good news is that Allah (S.W.T) will shade him under his shade on the day of judgement, His special shade which is only for His slaves whom He loves and who love him and He will honour them with what he does not honour any body else with. Third: that the Messenger p.b.u.h. warns us
never to love other people for worldly gains or interests so that our love
for them will disappear once these gains vanish. Thus we stop our love or
visits to them accordingly. There is a warning for those who love a person
for his prestige, or authority or power and they don't dare to advise or
blame him or say the true words to him because they are afraid for their
interests, their positions and their livelihood. Those are the hypocrites.
They are in the lowest level of Hell fire. In Allah (S.W.T) we seek refuge
from that. Dear Muslims! Islam is such a wonderful religion that
urges its followers to be tolerant, gentle and loving; and how great is
the need of Muslims to abide by these teachings of the Prophet p.b.u.h.
for great supreme conduct. It is time that Muslims should review their
conditions, correct their concepts, mend their mistakes and straighten
their behavior. We are a nation created to lead other nations. This is a
fact clearly decided in the Book of Allah (S.W.T) and the traditions of
his Messenger p.b.u.h. Why then should some among us continue to insist on
argumentation and futile disputes doing their best to reject the truth,
losing their breath running after their material interests and gains? This is nothing but a sincere call to correct the wrong in ourselves and to cultivate love, and friendship in the hearts of men. It is a call to Paradise using vessels of piety, good conduct and sincere repentance. And indeed Allah (S.W.T) alone will have his way to pass. |