In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
There is a ritualistic dimension of being a slave of Allah and there is the heart of slavery. Worship ('ibadah) to Allah has a physical form and a soul. Wudu', prayer, fasting, giving charity, hajj, dress code, diet, etc is all body of worship. Then there is soul of worship. At the end of the day it is an attitude. This attitude permeates not just when you are engaged in the act of worship, that attitude extends to business, studies, career goals, life plans -- who you want to marry, what you want to do with your family, what do you want your children to do, who you want your children to marry, etc.
The attitude of a slave is "I am going to live my life to serve Allah." It is possible that you have a person who has the body of worship but not the soul. It is possible that you have people dedicated to prayer, fasting, hajj, follow the dietary restriction of Islam, but they live a life of a materialist -- they still live for this world, their aspirations are limited to this life.
We have been given Qur'an for a purpose -- for us to make our lifestyle exclusively for Allah. We have to submit to what He has revealed. People who don't understand this, they would go to hajj/umrah but they come back still running a liquor store. People who don't understand this, they have weekly Qur'an halaqa in the home, the beard getting longer, the hijab getting longer, but the interest bearing savings account hasn't changed to checking account. This means they are just forms. You haven't change your lifestyle. The Deen came to change you inside and out.
Allah doesn't want partial 'ibadah from you. Allah wants pure Deen (religion, lifestyle). Allah Almighty says,
[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:1-3]
...تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَٱعْبُدِ ٱللَّـهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ﴿٢﴾ أَلَا لِلَّـهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْخَالِصُ ۚ
The revelation of the Qur'an is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (1) Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book, [O Muhammad], in truth. So worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. (2) Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion...(3)
Sincerity (nasihah) to Allah Almighty means that we should have correct belief in Allah and reject associating anything with Him. It means that we constantly try to purify our relationship with Him and be as true to this relationship as much as possible. We also do what is required of us and refrain from what is prohibited. Sincerity to Allah also means that we must know how to implement the shari'ah of Allah in our lives and how to journey towards Him.
On the authority of Tamim Al-Dari (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, 'The religion is nasihah (sincerity).' We said, 'To whom?' He (peace be upon him) said, 'To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.' [Related by Muslim]
Part of giving nasihah to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is knowing him, understanding his life and the struggles he went through and relating his struggles to our daily life. Loving the prophet more than anything else and loving him more than ourselves is part of giving nasihah to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Obeying the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), rejecting those whom had enmity towards him, being loyal to those who gave allegiance to him, honoring him, and reviving his manners and sunnah are all important aspects of giving nasihah to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Giving nasihah to the leaders of the Muslims involves making du'aa for them that Allah guides them, protects them and makes them able to carry out their responsibilities. Another way is to correct them when they are wrong, as Abu-Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked of the believers when he was entrusted with leadership, “As long as I command you to do what Allah and His Messenger commanded you to do, then you should obey me, but if don’t then you should set me straight.” Another way of giving nasiha to the leaders of the Muslims is to know them, interact with them, get involved in their efforts in a constructive way and not to sit back and criticize what they are doing without trying to help them.
Giving nasihah to the Muslims in general means giving them advice. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “The rights of a believer over a believer are six,” and then he mentioned that among them is "if he asks you for an advice you have to give him advice.” Giving nasihah involves guiding them towards that which will correct their affairs in both this life and the next. It involves protecting them from harm, helping them in times of need, providing what is beneficial for them, encouraging them to do good and forbidding them from evil with kindness and sincerity, and showing mercy towards them.
May Allah make us of those who are sincere in this Deen. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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