WAKE UP UMMAH

WHAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS ?

PROPHETS SOLOMON, JOSEPH AND

OTHERS PRAYED FOR IT

THE VIRTUE OF TRUE MUSLIMS

(By: M. Javed Naseem)

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم

مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّينَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـٰئِكَ رَفِيقاً

“All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the

company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,

of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth),

the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who

do good). Ah! What a beautiful fellowship!”

(al-Quran 4:69)

Islam is the ‘Deen’ of nature – everything right, just, correct and based on Truth. Those who follow it, are called Muslims or the believers. The true Muslims are also called the ‘righteous’ as they are always on the right path. Allah has defined the righteousness in the Holy Quran:

لَّيْسَ ٱلْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ

وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلآخِرِ وَٱلْمَلاۤئِكَةِ

وَٱلْكِتَابِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى ٱلْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ

وَٱلْيَتَامَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَاكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ

وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلاةَ وَآتَى ٱلزَّكَاةَ وَٱلْمُوفُونَ

بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُواْ وَٱلصَّابِرِينَ فِى ٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وٱلضَّرَّاءِ

وَحِينَ ٱلْبَأْسِ أُولَـٰئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوآ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُم ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ُ

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to

the East and the West; but righteous is he who believes

in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the

Scripture and the prophets; and gives his wealth, for

love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy

and the wayfarer and to those who ask. …”

(al-Quran 2:177)

This is the definition of the “righteous”, coined by Allah. If we want to prosper in this world and want protection from the Hellfire in the Hereafter, we should pay attention to the above verse. We should obey the commands of Allah and give as much in charity (Sadaqah) as possible. A hand that gives, is thousand times better than the hand that takes.

Islam is a system of life that revolves around community and promotes social justice. Every act of a true believer (Muslim) has at least three aspects. First: He is obeying his Lord’s command and that action becomes a part of the prayer (Ibadah). Second: He is taking care of his fellow humans by helping those who need help – a great act of charity. Third: He is promoting social justice and thwarting evil living by helping the needy who might, otherwise, resort to corruption, crime or prostitution. A great service to community! This is the way of the righteous.

يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ

عَنِ ٱلْمُنْكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ
“They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin

what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten

(in emulation) in (all) good works. They are in the ranks

of the righteous.”

(al-Quran 3:114)

We are commanded to help and cooperate with each other in good cause and not to help or cooperate in evil affairs. We should promote piety and righteousness, and ward off sin.

وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلْبرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُواْ

عَلَى ٱلإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَانِ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ آلْعِقَابِ

“Help you one another in righteousness and piety, but

help you not one another in sin and rancour; fear Allah;

for Allah is strict in punishment.”

(al-Quran 5:2)

رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِى نُفُوسِكُمْ إِن تَكُونُواْ صَالِحِينَ

فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ لِلأَوَّابِينَ غَفُوراً

“Your Lord knows best what is in your hearts. If you do

deeds of righteousness, verily He is Most Forgiving to those

who turn to Him again and again (in true penitence).”

(al-Quran 17:25)

There are very clear instructions to believers that they should give in the name of Allah, for the sake of Allah and for the love of Allah. In return, the Almighty Allah will multiply the reward and shower His blessings upon them. At so many places in the Holy Quran, the Almighty has commanded us to give, share with others and help the needy.

وَأَنْفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ

إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ وَأَحْسِنُوۤاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

“Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah, and

cast not (yourselves) by your own hands to ruin;

and do good. Lo! Allah loves the beneficent.”

(al-Quran 2:195)

Spending  for  the  cause  of  Allah  (Sadaqah)  is  the  best guarantee  against the Hellfire. Those who are materially rich, they are on trial by Allah. They are on a long leash in this world.  What they do   with   their wealth is being observed by the Sole Provider. On the Day of Judgment they will be questioned about this wealth. And if they are not sharing it with the needy, they are casting themselves into the Fire.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِيۤ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ

لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ 
“It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and

the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even

though the pagans may detest (it).”

(al-Quran 9:33)

يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّ كَثِيراً مِّنَ ٱلأَحْبَارِ وَٱلرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ

أَمْوَالَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ

ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
“O you who believe! There are indeed many among the priests

and anchorites, who, in falsehood, devour the substance of men

and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those

who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah.

Announce unto them a most grievous penalty:”

(al-Quran 9:34)

يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنوبُهُمْ

وَظُهُورُهُمْ هَـٰذَا مَاكَنَزْتُمْ لِـأَنْفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُواْ مَاكُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ 
“On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in

the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads,

their flanks, and their backs: "This is the (treasure) which you

buried for yourselves; taste you then, the (treasures) you buried!"

(al-Quran 9:35)

Yes! The Hellfire. That’s what hoarding and accumulation of wealth can bring us if we don’t share it with the less fortunate. They have a share in our wealth. Allah says:

وَفِيۤ أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لَّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ

“And in their wealth the beggar and the outcast

had due share”. – (al-Quran 51:19)

Here is a beautiful story:

Once, there was a man who lived in an Arab village. He went to see a friend whom he had not seen for years. His friend was very happy to receive the man at his place.  He entertained him well and asked about his well-being. The visitor told him that he was going through tough times and he had   accumulated a debt because he kept borrowing money to survive. He had come to seek some help.

The friend asked him how much debt he had. The man said it was 400 Dirhams. The good friend immediately gave him 400 Dirhams. When the poor man had left, the good friend started to cry.

His wife saw that and thought that he was probably crying by the thought that he will never get his 400 Dirhams back. So, she said to her husband: ‘If you were so worried about the money, you should have not given the man that much money in the first place’.

The good friend replied: ‘I am not crying for 400 Dirhams. I am crying because this poor man had been my long-time friend and still I was unaware of his situation. Why had it come to that point that he had to ask me for help? As a friend, I should have known’.

Now, that is a friend. I wonder how many of us have gotten such a friend who’ll do a great act of righteousness and still think that it was not enough!

Righteousness is the state of Faith (‘Iman’) that even the prophets of Allah have desired. It is, actually, the state of Islam. Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) went through the hardest of trials from his childhood until his marriage with Zuleikha. Eventually, by the time he was united with his father Prophet Yaqoub (Jacob) and eleven brothers, Allah had raised his status to the Governor of Egypt. Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) thanked his Lord and prayed with these words:

رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلأَحَادِيثِ

فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِيِّى فِى ٱلدُّنُيَا وَٱلآخِرَةِ

تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِماً وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّالِحِينَ

“O my Lord! You have given me (something) of sovereignty

and have taught me (something) of the interpretation of events.

Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Protecting

Guardian in the world and the Hereafter. Make me to die as

Muslim (unto You), and join me to the righteous.”

(al-Quran 12:101)

It was a great honour for Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), who entered Egypt as a slave boy, to eventually become the Governor of Egypt. But he still wished to remain in the state of Islam and die as a righteous Muslim, as this was even a greater honour. Subhan-Allah!

Another chosen-one of Allah, Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon), whom Allah had blessed with  special knowledge of languages of the beasts, birds and animals; and gave him a great kingdom with sovereignty over Jinns, humans, birds and animals, wanted to achieve the state of righteousness with his strong Faith (Iman). Here’s his supplication:

فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكاً مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِيۤ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ

نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيۤ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحاً

تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ

“So he (Solomon) smiled, amused at her speech; and he said:

"O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for your

favours, which you have bestowed on me and on my parents,

and that I may work the righteousness that will please you.

And admit me, by your Grace, to the ranks of your

righteous servants."

(al-Quran 27:19)

If the prophets of Allah had been striving to achieve that level of piety that could bring them to the ranks of “the righteous” people, you can imagine what “righteousness” really means. It is a passport to Paradise. Subhan-Allah!

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلأَرْضَ

يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّالِحُونَ

“Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the

Message (given to Moses): My servants the Righteous,

shall inherit the earth."

(al-Quran 21:105)

وَٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلصَّالِحِينَ

“And those who believe and work righteous deeds, them

shall We admit to the company of the Righteous.”

(al-Quran 29:9)

إِنَّ ٱلأَبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍ

“As for the Righteous, they will be in bliss.”

(al-Quran 82:13)

Islam is a religion of community. In a Muslim society everybody is responsible for the wellbeing of their neighbours. And everybody is supposed to contribute towards the welfare of the community – materially or otherwise. It is a great social system that takes care of the less fortunate and, at the same time, brings harmony.

The righteous are the people who fear Allah, who seek Allah’s pleasure and serve the mankind. They are declared “successful” by the Almighty. They care and share. They understand that everything comes from Allah and He can take it back whenever He wills. He wants people to take care of each other.

وَآتِ ذَا ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَٱلْمِسْكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَلاَ تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيراً

“Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and

the wayfarer; and squander not (your wealth)

in wantonness”. (al-Quran 17:26)

If we find the hungry, needy and poor homeless people around us, it means that we as community, as well as the rulers or administrators are not doing their job honestly or correctly. They are far from the righteousness. There must be something wrong with the system. It should be changed and the people responsible for the malfunction should be taken to task. Public money must be spent on public and for public; simple as that. Anything else is corruption.

Now, the million dollar question: What is the key to righteousness? The plain and simple answer is: The Holy Quran. It is the real source of guidance for the Jinn and humans alike. Allah says:

قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ ٱسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَقَالُوۤاْ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآناً عَجَباً

يَهْدِيۤ إِلَى ٱلرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَن نُّشرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَداً

“Say (O Muhammad): It is revealed unto me that

a company of the Jinn gave ear, and they said: Lo!

We have heard a marvellous Quran, which guides

unto righteousness, so we believe in it and we

ascribe no partner unto our Lord.”

(al-Quran 72:1-2)

That was the view of a group of the Jinn. Now, here’s a course of action for human beings who believe in One God and strive for the righteousness.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ

وَٱلْقَانِتِينَ وَٱلْقَانِتَاتِ وَٱلصَّادِقِينَ وَٱلصَّادِقَاتِ وَٱلصَّابِرِينَ

وَٱلصَّابِرَاتِ وَٱلْخَاشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَاشِعَاتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ

وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وٱلصَّائِمِينَ وٱلصَّائِمَاتِ وَٱلْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ

وَٱلْحَافِـظَاتِ وَٱلذَّاكِـرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيراً وَٱلذَّاكِرَاتِ

أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْراً عَظِيماً

“Lo! For Muslim men and women, for believing men

and women, and men who obey and women who obey,

and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth,

and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who

persevere (in righteousness), and men who are humble and

women who are humble, and men who give alms and women

who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and

men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their

modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women

who remember, for them Allah has prepared

forgiveness and a great reward.”

(al-Quran 33:35)

Now is the age of materialism. We try to make life as luxurious as possible. This race is based on greed and has no end. The saints say that money is evil (‘fitnah’). It is never enough. We always want more. And in this process we forget Allah. We forget that it is He Who blesses us with all comforts. But we turn to Him only when we don’t get what we want or when we are hurt.

وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ ٱلضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ

“And whatever of comfort you enjoy, it is from Allah.

Then, when misfortune reaches you, unto Him

you cry for help!”

(al-Quran 16:53)

We always get into trouble because of our own misdeeds and evil desires. As long as we get away with our unfair means and injustice to others, we feel good and give credit to our ‘smartness’. But once we get caught and taste the punishment for breaking the rules, we start complaining. When we achieve something by unfair means, it is not ‘smartness’. It is rather ‘stupidity’ that will eventually create problems for us and for others too. Smartness is when we avoid those situations and remain honest. Even after making mistakes, we can repent and ask Allah for His forgiveness. He is Infinite Mercy. He is ‘Rahman’ and ‘Raheem’. See what He can do for us:

إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحاً فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ

سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً

“Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds,

for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good,

and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

(al-Quran 25:70)

وَٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ

وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ 
“Those who believe and work righteous deeds, from

them shall We blot out all evil (that may be) in them, and

We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds.”

(al-Quran 29:7)

Subhan-Allah! Only Allah can do that because He loves us. We are His children and He does not want injustice to us.

The Almighty Allah has given some people more than the others and in that lies a test for them. If all neighbours do what Allah has told them in the Holy Quran to do, we won’t need to look up to the government for the welfare of that neighbourhood. We can make a difference only if we try.

When we share Allah’s bounties with others, it promotes love and sympathy among us. It does not diminish our wealth. On the contrary, Allah grants us ten times the reward here in this world and seventy times (or more) in the Hereafter. We need to have strong faith. Only those who try to stay on the right path and take care of others, are declared ‘successful’.

فَآتِ ذَا ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَٱلْمِسْكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ذٰلِكَ

خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ وَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

“So give to the kinsman his due, and to the needy, and

to the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek Allah’s

countenance. And such are they who are successful”.

(al-Quran 30:38)

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