Attributes of Ibadu Rahman: Slaves of the Most Merciful-Part II

We will continue the description of the servant of Allah mentionned in surah al-Furqan. Allah says:

وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَاماً - يُضَـعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيـمَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَاناً 

"And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated" (25:68-69).   

*The true slaves of Allah do not worship other than Allah. It is the greatest sin that is not forgiven Allah. Allah says: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” (An-Nissa:116).

*One of the major sins that one commit is to kill others. Allah forbade such act. He Almighty says: “But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.” (An-Nissaa:93).

*being servant of Allah, one should not come near act of zina (Adultery). Allah says: “And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.” (Al-Israa:32).

Allah promised for those who commit such act that they will have great punishment in the hereafter. But for those who repent, Allah say:  “Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (25:70).

وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّواْ بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّواْ كِراماً

"And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.” (25:72)

 One of the characteristique of the slave of Allah that they do not bear witness to falsehood, including lies, immorality, disbelief, foul speech and false word.

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا 

“And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind.” (25:73)

The characteristic of true believer is that he reflects on verses revealed and act upon them. Allah says describing the true believers as “Those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Ayat are recited unto them, they increase their faith; and they put their trust in their Lord.” (8:2) 

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

“And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." (25:74)

Allah Almighty taught us beautiful supplication to say. Every Muslim who wants to be among the servant of the most Merciful should learn this du’aa.

The reward of Ibadu-Rahman (the Servant of the Most Merciful) is great. Allah says:

أُولَـٰئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَامًا

 حَسُنَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا

“Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace. Abiding eternally therein. Good is the settlement and residence.” (25:75-76).

Attributes of Ibadu Rahman: Slaves of the Most Merciful-Part I

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you hold to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet.” The Hadith teaches us that we should seek guidance through the Quran and the Sunnah. Allah Almighty said: “Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.” (17:9).

There is a chapter in the Quran that teach us how to be true worshipper of Allah.  Allah Almighty describes in detail the characteristics and attributes of good worshipper. The chapter is “Al-Furqan”, verses 63-76.  These are the most beautiful verses that every Muslim should read and reflect in its meaning. Allah is describing those who are most beloved to him and those will inherit the paradise as slaves of the Most Merciful. Being slave of Allah is an honor and elevates the person in status with Allah. Allah begins these verses by saying:

وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace” (25:63).

The fist attribute of the slaves of Allah are those who walk with humility and they do not show pride or arrogance. The prophet (Pbuh) was very humble that He used to tell his companion “Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle.”

Being arrogant and feeling superior over others bring only the anger of Allah. Allah said “And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.” (31:18).  And the prophet (Pbuh) said: “He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise.”

The verse also describes that the humble and worshipper of Allah, If the ignorant people insult them with bad words, they do not respond in kind, but they forgive and overlook, and say nothing but good words.

وَالَّذِينَ يِبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّداً وَقِيَـماً 

“And those who spend the night in worship of their Lord, prostrate and standing” (25:64).

The best act of worship that Allah loves is night prayer after obligatory prayer. Allah praised those who used to spend night worshipping him in many verses in Quran. Allah says: “They used to sleep but little by night. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness.” (51:17-18).

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَاماً

And those who say: "Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily, its torment is ever an inseparable punishment.'' (25:65).

The true believer is the one that he has fear of Allah’s punishment and he always seeks Allah’s protection from hell fire. The prophet (Pbuh) said: “Whoever seeks protection from Hellfire three times, Hellfire will say: O Allah, save him from the Hellfire”. This is best du’aa from Quran that we can memorize and say all the time. The prophet (Pbuh) used to say: “O Allaah, I ask of Your pleasure and for Paradise,and I seek refuge from Your displeasure and from the Hellfire.”

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَنفَقُواْ لَمْ يُسْرِفُواْ وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُواْ وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قَوَاماً

 “And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate.”

The slaves of the Most Merciful are described as those who are not extravagant in spending nor are they miser. But they follow the fairest way. Allah says in Surah Israa: “And let not your hand be tied to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach.” And He Almighty said: “And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.” (15:26-27)

May Allah make us of His slave and guide us to understand and follow the Quran and make the Quran the delight of our heart. Aameen

To be continued….