In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Human beings are not all alike. Among them there are those who believe and have faith. And among the latter, there is someone who is the best in deeds. And it goes without saying that, among the progeny of Adam (alayhissalaam), the best in deeds is our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), who is the best model for humankind until the Last Day.
Allah Almighty says,
... وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا[Qur'an, Hud 11:7]
And He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was on water so that He might test you as to who among you is best in deed...
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ ﴿٢[Qur'an, Al-Mulk 67:2]
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] who among you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving - (2)
There is something we should take note that Allah said: أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلً (who among you is best in deed), and Allah says nothing about the number of deeds. From here we learn that Allah favors the quality of deed more than He does the abundance or profusion or frequency of good deeds such as, prayers, fasting, giving charity, reciting of Qur'an and Dhikr of Allah. This beauty or excellence of deeds has been expressed through the word: 'ihsan' in the well-known hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) known as Hadith Jibreel. When the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), is asked to define ihsan, he replies: "It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for though you do not see Him, surely He sees you."
Essentially, 'ihsan' means the doing of a deed for the good pleasure of Allah alone with no worldly motive attached to it. It is also necessary to do it in a way that is liked in the sight of Allah. This way has been demonstrated by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) through his conduct and he has made it necessary for his community to follow his Sunnah.
The idea of ihsan is powerful, not some abstract, and the definition of ihsan, as explained by the Prophet is clear. It is the highest form of worship. It is the act of excellence defined above we must keep that as our goal in anything we undertake in this life from now on.
This Ramadhan, while we may be doing a lot of worship and doing good deeds, strive for excellence. I keep seeing youth in the masjid, doing taraweeh without proper hijab or praying sitting on chairs. Similarly, when I looked down from the upper level of the women prayer hall (to see if my sons made it to the first row behind the imam), I keep seeing able bodied men sitting on chairs to pray. Where do all these come from? It is not ignorance so much, but they see this habit from their parents and other adults and elders around them, so it didn't compel them to return to the way of the Sunnah.
We are examples of people around us especially for our children. Examples of excellence are the greatest motivator towards excellence. Most children can identify excellence in action. If we, as parents or someone people look up to, are satisfied with our mediocre work, children and people who look up to us, will absorb that as a habit. So, remember the hadith: “Verily, Allah loves that when anyone of you does a job he should perfect it" (Al-Bayhaqi). Though Allah alone is perfect, we should strive for it in all of our endeavors.
وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣٠﴾ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَآءُونَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣١[Qur'an, An-Nahl 16:30-31]
...For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous - (30) Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward the righteous - (31)
May Allah enable us to do much good deeds and with excellence. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
Full text of Hadith Jibreel
On the authority of `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down close by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) rested his knees against the knees of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and placed his palms over his thighs, and said: "O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam." The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) replied: "Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wassallam), that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it)." He said: "You have spoken the truth." We were astonished at his thus questioning him (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and then telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, "Inform me about Iman (faith)." He (the Prophet) answered, "It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadr), both in its good and in its evil aspects." He said, "You have spoken the truth." Then he (the man) said, "Inform me about Ihsan." He (the Prophet) answered, "It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you." He said, "Inform me about the Hour." He (the Prophet) said, "About that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." So he said, "Well, inform me about its signs." He said, "They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings." Thereupon the man went off. I waited a while, and then he (the Prophet) said, "O `Umar, do you know who that questioner was?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better." He said, "That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion." [Muslim]
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