IMAN, ISLAM AND IHSAAN

There are three primary sources of our knowledge, as follows.

• Messengers of Allah (SWT) convey and teach people what is sent to them from Allah (SWT).

• It is in Quran, O’ Prophet – SAWS convey and teach people what is sent down to you’ (Al-Ma’ida - 67).

• Acting upon the commandments of Allah (SWT) they show to the people the operational and practical side of the religion by elucidating details of Islamic deeds.

• It is in Quran - ‘ The Apostle Mohammad – SAWS is an exemplary model for - all of you’ . (Al-Ahzab -21)

• Prophets cleanse, purify and reform people from their personal attention.

• It is in Quran -

·         ‘Certainly Allah –SWT has done a favor on the believers when He sent to them an Apostle – SAWS, from among them, who reads them the divine verses and who purifies them and who teaches them the book and wisdom’ (Aal-e-Imran – 164).

·         ‘He is the Lord, who has sent to the unlettered people, from among them, an Apostle, who reads to them divine verses and cleanse them and teaches them the book and wisdom’. ( Al-Jum’a – 2 ).

·         ‘ O’our Lord send an Apostle from among them from whom they could hear your book, who would teach them from the divine book and wisdom and purify their hearts’. ( Al-Baqra – 129).

(This was the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) while re-building Kaba’a; which Allah (SWT) fulfilled by sending Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) as the seal of Prophets.)

From the above, it is clear that Prophets’ undertake the following tasks.

• They read out to people and teach what is sent down to them from Allah (SWT). This is Quran.

• Becoming a practical example they educate people how to carryout Allah’s (SWT) commandments.  This is Hadith.

• They cleanse and purify people’s hearts by their personal attention and training. This is Purification of Hearts (tazkia Nafs).

What is cleansing and purification of hearts ( tazkia nafs )?

 It is turning people’s attention away from the darkness of materialism to the light of Islam.

What is light of Islam?

It is people’s training in (i) sincerity of heart (Ikhlas), (ii) wisdom (Hikmah) of actions, and (iii) Islamic vision.

What is Islamic vision?

As per the Hadith of Ihsan, (Bukhari wo Muslim) people are commanded to see Allah (SWT) while doing Obligatory Salah.

Can anyone visualize Allah’s (SWT) presence when his heart is covered with materialistic darkness?

No, you need Islamic light.  Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) trained his companions to see in Islamic light.

Once you get Islamic vision you become stead fast in faith and deeds and never lose the straight path of Islam.

What is Ihsaan?

As per the Hadith of Ihsan, we are required to see Allah (SWT) while doing obligatory Salah.  It was Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) practice of Praying.

He also taught us to see and refrained us from arguing in the meaning of religions vision.

It was Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWS) training which helped his companions to acquire Islamic vision with which they visualized Allah’s (SWT) presence every where every moment.

It is in Quran –

• ‘(He is) Existing everywhere every moment’.

• ‘Wherever you are, He is with you’ (Al-Hadid– 4).

• ‘You turn your face anywhere, you will find Allah-SWT’. ( Al-Baqra – 115 ).

• ‘Allah is the light (existence) of the Heavens and Earth’. (An-Noor -35).

• ‘We (Allah-SWT) are closer to you than your jugular vein’. (Qaf – 16). At another place in Quran – ‘He is in your own self, will you not then see’.(Az-Zariyat – 21).

Among Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWS) companions, some acquired proficiency in Quran teaching and reciting, like Hazrat Othman (ru) and Hazrat Abbas (ru).   Some acquired proficiency in the subject of Hadith, like Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) and Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (ru).  Some became prominent in cleansing and purification of people’s hearts, like Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (ru) and Hazrat Ali (ru).

In the light of Hadith of Ihsan, Muslims can be categorized as:

• People of Iman – those who are good at faith but not good at Islamic deeds.

• People of Islam – those who are good at Islamic deeds but not good in Islamic faith.

• People of Ihsan – those who are good both in Islamic faith and deeds.

Who are Sheikhs of Ihsan?

They are friends of Allah (SWT).

It is in Quran - ‘Behold the friends of Allah –SWT! On them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve. These are they, who have believed in Allah –SWT and are mindful of Him (the feeling of closeness of Allah –SWT) and (have consequently abstained from everything evil). To them tidings come (from Allah-SWT) of a happy life both in this world and in Hereafter. The Word of Allah –SWT is never revoked. This in itself is a great felicity’ (Younus – 62- 64).

It is in Quran - ‘Allah –SWT is the guardian of those who believe (in Him). He brings them out of darkness into light’. (Al-Baqarah – 257).

What is darkness?

Our excessive attention towards materialistic comforts.

What is light?

It is Islamic vision.

Teaching is different from training.  By teaching we increase people's knowledge.  But training we develop their skills.  Therefore, in addition to teaching of Quran and Sunnah; cleansing and purifying hearts of the people is important for every Muslim.  This insulates us from major sins, enlightens our hearts and exposes us to the truth of Islam.

It is in Quran -

• “Allah (SWT) loves those who practice Ihsan.” (Al-Baqarah 2:195; Aal-e-Imraan 3:134, 148; Al-Ma'idah 5:13, 93)

• “We have enjoined on man to behave with his parents with Ihsan.” (Al-Ahqaf 46:15)

• “Those who spend (in the way of Allah-SWT) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress their anger and who forgives people; and Allah(SWT) loves Muhsineen (those who practice Ihsan).” (Aal-e- Imran 3:134)

• “So, forgive them and overlook (their offensive behaviour), verily, Allah (SWT) loves Muhsineen.” (Al-Ma'idah 5:13)

• “Indeed, who maintains Taqwa and remains patient and steadfast, Allah (SWT) does not let those who practice Ihsan lose their reward.” (Yousuf 12:90)

•  “Verily, Allah (SWT) does not let the Muhsineen (who practice Ihsaan) lose their reward.” (At-Towbah 9:120, Hood 11:115, Yousuf 12:56, 12:90)

• “We do not let the reward of one who performs in the most excellent manner be lost.” (Al-Kahf 18:30)

• “Allah (SWT) is with those who have Taqwa and practice Ihsan.” (An-Nahl 16:128)

•   “Allah’s (SWT) Mercy is near those who practice Ihsan.” (Al-A’raaf 7:56)

• “Yes indeed, who turns his face submissively toward Allah (SWT) and he practices excellently, his reward is with his Lord.” (Al-Baqarah 2:112)

• “Is the reward for excellence other than excellent.” (Ar-Rahmaan 55:60)

• “To reward those who do their best with what is the best.” (An-Najm 53:31)

• “For those who perform excellently is the best (reward) and even more.”(Yunus 10:26)

• “Who can be better in deen than him who turns to Allah (SWT) in submission and practices Ihsan.” (An-Nisaa 4:125)

• “And Practice Ihsan, Allah (SWT) loves those who practice Ihsan.” (Al-Baqarah 2:195)

It is in Hadith - the Prophet (SAWS) once asked him companions -  “Should I guide you to the qualities, because of which, Allah (SWT) raises people’s ranks?” The companions said yes.  Then the Prophet (SAWS)  said, “Be patient (forbearing) with him who treats you ignorantly; forgive him who is unfair to you; give him who deprives you; and, fulfill social obligations to the relative who is delinquent in doing his part.” (Reported from ‘Ubadah Ibn Samit in Targheeb and Tarheeb - reference  At-Tabarani)

It is in Hadith -  The Prophet (SAWS) said, “My Lord has commanded me nine qualities (as follows)  -

• (i) Fearing Allah (SWT) both secretly and openly;

• (ii) Saying only the words of justice both when angry and when happy;

•  (iii) Maintaining moderation both during poverty and affluence;

• (iv)  Making up (social obligations and relationships) with a relative who shirks his obligation to me or breaks away from me;

• (v) Giving even to the person who deprives me;

• (vi) Forgiving him who is unjust to me;

• (vii) Reflecting when I am quiet; remembering Allah (SWT) when I speak; and, learning lessons from what I see;

• (viii) Enjoining good; and, (ix) Forbidding evil.”

(Reported by Abu Hurairah in Mishkaatul Masabih).

Balanced food and regular physical exercise is required to keep our body fit. Similarly, we need to balance our religious life with performance of daily obligatory prayers and keep all evil desires at bay.

Shaikhs’ of Ihsan teach you how to keep our desires at bay. This routine will make our soul (Rooh) stronger with which we become strong in both in Islamic belief and deeds.

Look at the strength of the belief of Prophet’s (SAWS) companions. Why they were like that? Because they were trained by Prophet Mohammad (SAWS).

When this training and daily routine became scarce and diluted, true faith slipped away from Muslims resulting in their steep downfall in the world.

What happened when this training became scarce? 

People started forming groups/sects away from the mainstream Islam.  The first sect which came into being was of Kharijis. Among other issues, Kharijis did not like the authority of Khalifa-e-Islam and started their independent groups.

Similarly, Shias did not like the sequence of Khilafah from Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (ru), to Hazrat Omer (ru), to Hazrat Othman (ru). They claimed that since Hazrat Ali was the cousin of Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) who was married to Hazrata Fatima (ru), the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (SAWS), he should have been made first Khalifa. When it did not happen, they made their separate groups.

Other reasons for formation of new sects

Prominent Shaik’s of Ihsan who spent their lives tirelessly in cleansing people’s heart (tazkia nafs) throughout the history of Islam, were generally very famous. Many people visited them to get answers to their religious and other problems. Those who visited, gave a lot of respect not only to the Shaikhs, but to their children, family members and close associates.

Shaikh’s close associates failed to understand why they were respected in society.  Apparently, they were unaware of the fact that all people are equal in the eyes of Allah (SWT) and His Apostle Mohammad (SAWS). The standard of respect in Islam is Taqwa, religious virtue, abstinence from worldly desires. Looking at the respect they received from the people, they started thinking that they were important and sacred because of their close connection (nisbet) with the Shaikh. They thought their connection with Shaikh was sufficient for them to get salvation.

In spite of Shaikhs’ sincere efforts, they did not pay attention to the training, Shaikhs were giving to the people. As the crowd of visitors swelled, sheikhs got busier and found less time to pay active attention towards their families. In such a scenario, many people from outside benefited from Sheikh’s personal attention and training, but the close circle became captivated in ritual side of Islam and lost sight of the important aspect of Ihsan, (purification of their hearts).

What happened after the deaths of these Sheikhs? Their children got involved in unnecessary rituals and fell prey to worldly desires.

The situation became more pathetic in successive generations. Great grand children of the Shaiks of Ihsan, did not know what is Taqwa, what is Islamic training. They even lost interest in Quran and Hadith education and fell prey to worldly pursuits. Often they exploited people who came to them for religious and family problems. They proudly celebrated annual “Urs” of their Shaikhs and thought that Shaikh’s connection (nisbet) will take them into heaven without good faith and honest deeds.  Since they did not heed to the training of Ihsan when Shaikhs were alive, they were unable to provide answers to people as to why they were doing certain things, like Sama, “Urs”, etc.

The above situation continued for centuries.  When people could not get satisfying answers from the successors of prominent Shaikhs of Ihsan (who served Islamic nation tirelessly during their life times), they started thinking in different directions.  Some scrupulous selfish people took advantage of this situation and started founding new sects. There are many reasons for people’s deviation from the straight path of Islam.  Some people hated the successors of prominent Shaikhs who were involved in all kinds of wrong doings in the name of religion.

Everywhere, in every era, we find some people indulging in excesses in society in the name of religion, community, group, region, etc. Rather than searching for truthful Shaikhs of Ihsan and get trained, some people alienated themselves from this important aspect of Islam and formed new groups.

In their attempt to remove a wrong from society, they committed a bigger blunder.

They should have corrected the ills of society without altering Islamic beliefs.

It is in Quran – ‘Hold on firmly to the rope of Allah and do not allow differences to occur among yourself ’. (Aale-Imran – 103).

The glaring example of this is Shaikh Abdul Wahab (1699-1792) who  developed grudge against Sunni rulers / Otomon empire  and founded a new sect.  He convinced Sauds about his new thinking.  When this Sauds expanded their rule to the whole of Arab Peninsula, they implemented Salafi dogmas developed under this sect and declared this was the real Islam.

When Sunnis, who were in majority in the Arab world at that time, objected, the monarchy ruthlessly eliminated them from their territory. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the conflict which continued for decades. They did not stop at that. They destroyed all traces and everything that was kept as legacy of Islam for centuries.

When we study Islamic history, we come to know that people’s anger against each other became the primary cause of founding of new sects throughout the history of Islam.

The current situation is very volatile. New groups, new jama’ats and new theories are coming into being on  weekly basis. The situation has worsened to an extent that we do not know who is real Muslim among this lot.

Whenever a new sect is formed, the founder of the sects and his close associates make sure that they identify themselves differently from other Muslim sects. They take lot of pain in alienating themselves from the practices of other sects.

When Wahabi movement succeeded in Arabia, they made sure that they differ with other sects, particularly, Sunnis (their main rivals) in all areas of religious practice.

Sunnis give a lot of respect to Prophet of Islam (SAWS), celebrate his Nativity (birth day), write poetry in his eulogy, arrange Sama programs, recite poetry (Na’at) in his praise in which sometimes music is used and often cry and rapture remembering their Prophet (SAWS). These practices are their show of love for their Prophet (SAWS). They consider their love of Prophet (SAWS) will indeed help them in getting his intercession (Shafa’a) and their ultimate salvation on the Day of Judgment. They arrange Zikr gatherings where they recite various names of Allah (SWT) in chorus in different styles, sometimes sitting in rows, sometimes standing in a circle etc.

These above practices were adopted by Shaikhs of Ihsan to cleanse and purify people’s hearts and to turn their attention towards Allah (SWT) away from the materialistic world.   Sunnis also respect Companions of the Prophet of Islam (SAWS) and well known Shaikhs of Ihsan. Whenever they cook special food, they recite certain verses of Quran before eating, and call it Fateha. They visit the graves of prominent Shaikhs and consider it to be good for their worldly and religious well being. They consider  all these practices are proved by Quran and Hadith.

When Wahabi sect came into power, they seem to have made detailed notes of the practices of other sects, particularly their rivals, Sunnis. They stayed away from all of these. Whatever Sunnis did was regarded as Shirk, biddah (innovation).

They interpreted Quranic verses and Hadiths to prove their contention. Prophet’s (SAWS) nativity celebrations were banned, graves of prominent As-habe Rasulullah, Prophet Mohammed’s (SAWS) family members and close relatives were razed to the ground and all places of remembrance of Prophet of Islam (SAWS) and his companions were destroyed.

In their attempt to equate all people, they started counting Prophets as mere human beings on par with masses. Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) eulogy, reciting of na’at in his praise was regarded as associating divinity with Prophet-hood. This was their way of purifying Islam.

When we read the history of Islam it looks that all these reforms were actually the acts of vengeance against other sects of Islam, particularly Sunnis.  Soon Wahabism spread leaps and bounds across Arabian Peninsula and Sunnis all over the world were divided into many sub groups.

Similar is the case between Shias and other sects. Whoever came to power, tried to cleanse their territory from other sects.   Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, etc., are great examples of this cleansing.   Previously Iran consisted of a sizeable Sunni population.  Now, they are no more. Shia influence also spread leaps and bounds across Arab world and we see many countries in Central Asia dominated by this sect.  In recent Shai-sunni scuffle in Iraq, Shias have taken control of Iraq and in this process, hundreds of thousands of people were killed in Iraq.  Similarly, entire Afghanistan has been Talibanized at the cost of hundreds of thousands of human lives.

Salafis, Wahabis, Shias, Sunnis and you name any sect, all have been divided into multiple sub sects/groups professing different ideologies and practices throughout the world.   Everyone thinks that their sect is on the right path and try to shift blame on other sects for the present state of affairs of Muslims in the world.  How can this be true?

It is in Quran ‘ These are those who ripped their religion and divided themselves into sects. Allah (SWT) has nothing to do with them. Their matter is with Allah (SWT) and then He will point out to them what (exactly) they were doing (in the World).’ (Al-Ana’am – 159).

The Sunnis may have faltered on the important aspect of Ihsan, but Wahabis went a step further and made it an unpardonable sin.  Similar is the case with other sects.

Imagine, if we ban physical exercise from a country, what will happen to its citizens. They all will fall sick and soon die of various ailments. Something similar has happened to Muslims.  Their souls are critically sick and they have lost track of the straight path. We need to do something about it soon so that we get back to the right path of Islam and acquire both, inner strength of religion, and outer strength, for peaceful living in this world.

O’our Lord ! call us not, to account, if we have forgotten or have fallen into error.

Our Lord ! Lay not on us a burden (of responsibilities) such as you have laid on those gone before us. Our Lord ! Lay not on us that which we cannot bear, and overlook our faults; and forgive us; and have mercy on us. You are our protector; help us then against the unbelievers.’ (Al-Baqara – 286).

O’our Lord give us good in this world, and good in the world to follow, and protect us from the punishment of Fire’.