Perfecting Our Faith (Iman)

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

Allah Most High says,

إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣

Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:13]

Surah Al-Hujurat is about perfecting one’s Faith (Iman). The more Iman you have the better your manners are. So, learn and try your best to implement the manners in this Surah.

1. Submit to Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam

O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not. [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:2]

If we are not allowed to raise our voices above the voice of the Prophet sallallahu alayi wasallam, what do you think of sombody who think his opinion is better than the verdict of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam? Be careful and submit to Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam and that will be your ultimate success.

2. Learn to be patient

And if they had been patient until you [could] come out to them, it would have been better for them. But Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:5]

3. Always ask Allah for His forgiveness

4. Verify information with trustworthy people

O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful. [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:6]

5. Love Iman and obedience. Hate disbelief, defiance and disobedience

... but Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided. (7) [It is] as bounty from Allah and favor. And Allah is Knowing and Wise. [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:8]

6. Bring reconciliation between two believers.

If two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.[Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:9-10]

Muslim has a duty to bring together two fighting brothers. Anyone whom you know, of your friends and relatives, who are not getting along it is your job as a good Muslim to bring about some type of reconciliation between them. The Book of hadiths mention that you are allowed to give white lie (say a little bit of gentle positive things about the other to the other person) in order to bring them together again because unity is more important.

7. Don't let people ridicule or insult another people.

Do not let a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers. [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:11]

8. Avoid much [negative] assumption and do not spy or backbite each other.

O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful. (12) [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:12]

If our Islamic society start implementing this basic level of Surah Hujurat, all the scandal, backstabbing and gossips will be minimal. Most of our societal and family problems is because some of these rules are not being followed. If we follow these rules, society will be peaceful.

9. Strive with your properties and your lives in the cause of Allah.

The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful. [Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:15]

May Allah make us of the righteous and bring peace to our hearts, our families, societies and the Ummah. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam