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Race to Welfare, Inner Dimension of Fasting, Self-Appraisal

Issue 394 » September 15, 2006 - Shaban 22, 1427

General

Living the Quran

Al-Muminun (The Believers)
Chapter 23: Verses 60-61

Race Towards Welfare
 "And those who dispense their charity with their hearts full of fear, because they will return to their Lord; It is these who hasten in every good work, and these who are foremost in them."

Unwavering Belief in the truth of the Hereafter:

This verse is describing the inner state of mind of the believers who are always conscious about the acceptance of their good deeds by Allah. They worry whether their charities are accepted or not. This concept of "fear" was the corner-stone that strengthened the sense of responsibility among the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

There was a deep certainty in their hearts that one Day they would have to rise and account for all the worldly deeds, small or big. Their whole life was divided between hope for Allah’s mercy and fear of His punishment. Only Islam, unlike any other faith, is able to strike such a perfect balance between the two.

The Source of their Struggle and Patience:

They had already known that life, with all its pains, was worthless when compared with the Hereafter. Such deep convictions brought about in them a sense of indifference to all troubles and hardships that attended their life for the sake of Islam.

Compiled From:
"The Sealed Nectar" - Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
"Towards Understanding the Quran" - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi
Understanding the Prophet's Life

Inner Dimensions of Fasting

See not what displeases Allah:

The Prophet, said: "The furtive (secret) glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God, will receive from Him, Great and Gracious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart."

Jabir relates from Anas that God's Messenger, on him be peace, said: "Five things break a man's fast: lying, backbiting, scandalmongering, perjury and a lustful gaze."

Speak no evil:

Guarding one's tongue from twaddle, lying, backbiting, scandalmongering, obscenity, rudeness, wrangling and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of Allah and with recitation of the Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue.

The Prophet said: "Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say :'I am fasting, I am fasting!'"

Compiled From:
"Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship" - Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali
Blindspot

Ihtisab

One of the most valuable instrument of character-building is ihtisab or self-appraisal and self-criticism. We must try to criticise or appraise ourselves and we should be as honest, as frank, and as 'cruel' to ourselves as we can. In appraising our behaviour we should be harsh on ourselves while being lenient with others. The best method of self-criticism is to devote just two or three minutes, before going to bed each day for evaluation. Make it a habit; a conscious effort. Review our day so as to know how we spent it. Evaluate how we have spent our time, our money, the talents and resources that God gave us, the responsibility that has been entrusted to us. Assess each aspect of our life. Where we have succeeded offer shukr or thanks to Allah. Where we have failed make istighfar or repentance. This is the best form of self-criticism. And, indeed, the Prophet, upon whom be peace, has recommended doing our own self-appraisal before we are appraised on the Day of Reckoning. To do so would better prepare us for that fateful day.

Compiled From:
"Instruments of Character Building" - Khurshid Ahmad