Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!crackers!m2c!wpi.WPI.EDU!zahle.wpi.edu!shari From: gt8145a@prism.gatech.edu (FADEL,AYMAN HOSSAM) Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam Subject: training the soul (part 3 of 7) Message-ID: <1991Apr30.174346.11921@wpi.WPI.EDU> Date: 30 Apr 91 17:43:46 GMT Sender: news@wpi.WPI.EDU (News) Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology Lines: 158 Approved: shari@zahle.wpi.edu Originator: shari@zahle.wpi.edu Nntp-Posting-Host: zahle.wpi.edu DESCRIPTIONS IN THE QURAN OF GOOD MORALS Many of us believe that avoiding the forbidden things (Haraam) makes the struggle with the nafs unnecessary. If, however, we pondered some of the ayaat in al-tanziil al-`aziiz which describe the true believers and then compared ourselves with these descriptions, we would realize that mujaahadat al-nafs (struggle against the soul) is a necessity for everyone. God tabaraka said in the first 10 ayaat of surat al-mu'minuun : (qad aflaHa al-mu'minuun alladhiina hum fii Salaatihim khaashi`uun walladhiina hum `an al-laghwi mu`riDuun.....'uulaa'ika hum al-warithuun) (The believers are indeed the successful--those who tremble in fear and hope in their prayers and those who avoid idle talk, those who pay zakaat (poor dues), those who guard their private parts, except for their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for whom they are not blamed-- and whosever desires more than that is indeed a transgressor--the ones who are conscious of their trusts and contracts, and the ones who are steadfast in prayer. Indeed they will be the inheritors.) God ta`aala said in the 223rd ayaa of surat al-baqara (please note that this ayaa is not the 223rd of al-baqara. (the footnote in the edition i was looking at was incorrect. I would appreciate it if anybody who does know this aya's location would tell me.) It begins with al-taa'ibuuna al-`aabiduun. Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise God... and give good tidings to the believers.) God ta`aala said in the 2nd and 3rd ayaat of surat al-anfaal (Indeed the believers are those who when God is mentioned their hearts tremble in fear; those who, when they hear God's signs recited upon them, their belief is strenghtened; those who put complete trust in their Lord; those who establish prayer and spend of that which God has provided for them. They are the true believers.) God ta`aala said beginning with the 63rd ayaa of surat al-furqaan: (The worshippers of God who walk gently and softly, and if the argumentative address them, they bid them farewell with "peace"; those whom night finds prostrating to their Lord and standing in prayer to Him; those who say "O our Lord, divert from us the torture of hell, indeed its torture is eternal, never departing. Indeed, it is a bad resting place and a bad abode; those who, when they spend, do not do so except in obedience to God and do not withhold from spending when God commands--they are balanced between the two--; and those who do not call with God any other god, nor do they kill a soul which God has forbidden its killing, except with justice; nor do they fornicate--and whoever does any of that will find the rewards of his sins. His punishment will be doubled on the day of Judgment and he will live with his punishment forever, disgraced--Except those who repent and believe and do good works, for those God will replace their bad deeds with good deeds. Indeed God is oft-forgiving, full of mercy. Whosoever repents and does good deeds has indeed repented in truth--and those who do not give false witness; and those who, when they walk by people talking idle talk, continue walking, maintaining their dignity. Those who, when they are reminded of God's signs, do not lean close to listen while remaining deaf and blind (like the hypocrites); those who say, "O God, grant us from our wives and children happiness, and make us a good example for the God-conscious." They will be rewarded precious rooms because of their perseverance, and they will be greeted with the greetings of "salaam (peace)." They will abide therein forever, a good resting place and a good abode. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BELIEVERS IN THE PROPHETIC TRADITIONS Anas radiy allahu anh reported that God's messenger salla allahu alayhi wa sallam said: The believer loves for his brother what he loves for himself. Abu ShurayH al-khuzaa`i and abu hurayra radia allahu anhuma both reported that the messenger alayhi ssalaam said: Whoever believes in God and the Day of Judgement should honor his guests. They also reported that the messenger alayhi ssalaam said: "Whoever believes in God and the Day of Judgement should honor his neighbors." They also reported that he alyahi ssalam said: "Whoever believes in God and the Day of Judgement should say good things or remain silent." It is reported that the messenger of God alyahi ssalam said: "If you see a believer who is silent and respectable in his manner (Samuut wa waquur) then get closer to him, for he teaches wisdom." THE SALAF'S DESCRIPTION OF GOOD MORALS Some of them tried to give a listing of good morals and they said: "Good morals is to be quick to feel shame, to hurt people as little as possible, to reform as much as possible, to be truthful in speech, to speak rarely, and to work hard. Good morals is to make few errors and have little curiosity in the affairs of others. It is to be righteous, to mend that which has been torn (waSuul), to be dignified in manner , to be perseverent, and to be thankful. It is to be content, forebearing, gentle, undemanding, and full of pity for others. It is no to be one who curses others, or one who insults others, nor one who backbites. Nor is it to be hasty, petty, miserly or envious. It is to be friendly in greeting and happy to be asked to help (bashshaash wa hashshaash). It is to love for God and hate for God, to be content for God and be angry for God. Haatim al-aSamm said: "The believer is busy in thought and pondering, while the hypocrite is concerned with material things and hopes false hopes. The believer has lost hope in all but God, while the hypocrite hopes from all except God. The believer feels secure from everybody except God, while the hypocrite fears everyone except God. The believer will sacrifice his money before his religion, while the hypocrite will sacrifice his religion before his money. The believer will do a good deed and cry, while the hypocrite will do a bad deed and laugh. The believer likes empty places and being alone, while the hypocrite likes mixing with people. The believer plants for good, yet fears corruption, while the hypocrite stirs things up and hopes for a good harvest. The believer commands and forbids to ensure the correct policy is implemented, while the hypocrite commands and forbids in order to become the leader, and thus he causes corruption. yuusuf ibn asbaaT said: "There are ten characteristics of good morals: to disagree rarely, to be just and fair, not to ask about the mistakes of others, to explain away what appears to be bad deeds of others, to seek out excuses for others, to blame oneself, to busy oneself exclusively with finding our one's own shortcomings instead of others', to have a smile on one's face for both the young and the old, and to be beautiful in speech to those below you in station as well as those above you." sahl ibn Hasan was asked about good morals so he said: "The least of them is to bear the hurt caused by others, not to ask for compensation for a good deed, to have mercy on a transgressor, to ask for his forgiveness and have pity for him. EXAMPLES OF THE PRACTICE OF THE COMPANIONS AND THE SALAF OF GOOD MORALS `ali bin abi Taalib karrama allahu wajhah was reported to have called to a servant, but he didn't answer. He called a second time, and then a third. So he went to him and found him lying down on his side. He said, "Did you not hear me?" The boy said, "Yes, I did hear you." He then asked, "Why didn't you come then?" He replied, "I feel secure from your punishment so I became lazy." He then said, "Go away, for I free you for God's sake." It is said that a man was insulting al-aHnaf ibn Qays. Al-aHnaf didn't respond to the insults. Then, when he approached his neighborhood he turned and said, "If you have anything else you want to tell me, say it here and now because I'm scared that if some of the foolish people in the neighborhood hear you they might hurt you." `umar ibn `abd al-`aziiz was asked, "When should I speak?" He replied, "Speak when you desire to remain silent." He was then asked, "When should I remain silent?" He replied, "Remain silent when you desire to speak." -- FADEL,AYMAN HOSSAM Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 uucp: ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!gt8145a Internet: gt8145a@prism.gatech.edu