Standard in Seeking Piety

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ ﴿١٢

[Allah] said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" [Satan] said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay." (12)

[Qur'an Al-'Araf 7:12]

"I am better than him" is the standard of Shaytan. The standards of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is humility, patience, mercy and kindness to the creation.

As a person reaches a level of knowledge of the deen (by understanding of a certain rulings) and attachment to this religion (by waking up in the night to pray and fasting during the day), the sign of truth in this is not just the image of the person, it is by the person's character and his interactions with people; and the sign of falseness in this, is that he has no character.

We see some people, as they worship more, as they gain more knowledge, or they are more attached to the religion, the more their faces grow angry; the more they are rude with people; the more harsh they become with their families who are less attached with the Deen; the more they are despised and disgusted with the community. Why are they like that? It is because of lack of sincerity in their seeking knowledge or performing acts of worship. The truth is realizing the interaction with Allah and realizing His bounties.

Therefore, if we are seeking piety, we should gaze at our hearts and find out what is the truth in our hearts.

When you come out of the masjid after an 'Isha or Friday prayer and you find someone's car blocking your car, how do you perceive the person who blocked your car? Will you have compassion and mercy towards the person? Based on the standard of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, you will say, "This person has not heard what I have heard, O Allah, provide this person to hear as well and give this person success." And when he finally came out, and he looked at you, you smile and say, "Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh." And you help him move his car while you remain patient and calm. What kind of impact this will have on the heart of the person and any onlookers? But if on the other hand, you looked at the person harshly and incessantly saying, Audhu billahi minash-Shaytanir rajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan), what is this showing? Are you better than him?

Wherever fine and pure character is present, religion is present; wherever fine and pure character is not present, there is no religion and no knowledge present. If you are confused between two sides, each side saying "we are upon the truth," look at the character of both parties.

May Allah grant us noble character and purify our hearts. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam