Author: Shoaib Ahmad Ghaznavi
Piety and Righteousness (Part Two)
Means and Ways of Achieving Piety:
Achieving and strengthening this sacred goal is possible in various ways, including:
1. Connecting People with the Quran:
[وَكَذلِكَ أَنْزَلْناهُ قُرْآناً عَرَبِيًّا وَصَرَّفْنا فِيهِ مِنَ الْوَعِيدِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ أَوْ يُحْدِثُ لَهُمْ ذِكْراً] Translation: “And thus We have sent down an Arabic Quran and have explained in it the warnings (in various ways) that they may guard (against disbelief and sin), or that it may remind them.”
[كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ الله آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ] Translation: “Thus does Allah make His signs clear to mankind, that they may become righteous.”
2. Moving on the Path of Divine Guidance through Struggle and Effort:
[وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زادَهُمْ هُدىً وَآتاهُمْ تَقْواهُمْ] Translation: “And those who are guided, Allah will increase them in guidance and grant them piety.”
[وَالَّذِينَ جاهَدُوا فِينا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنا وَإِنَّ الله لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ] Translation: “And those who strive for Us, we will guide them to our paths, and indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” Those on whose side Allah is are successful and prosperous.
3. Fasting:
If performed in accordance with Sharia and with the awareness of the heart, fasting is one of the ways to attain piety: [يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيامُ كَما كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ] Translation: “O you who have believed! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous.”
4. Obedience and Servitude:
Cultivating the heart with the love of Allah and His sovereignty over the inner and outer realms is also a factor of piety: [يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ] Translation: “O mankind! Worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.”
5. The Companionship of Honest People:
One of the means of attaining piety is: [يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا الله وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ] Translation: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with the truthful.”
Obstacles to Piety:
Worldliness, neglect and forgetfulness of Allah and oneself, sin and lust, enmity with others, betrayal, lack of control over the tongue, and lack of contentment are among the obstacles in the pursuit of piety.
Allah Almighty says: “In addition to distinguishing right from wrong, the result of piety is that:” [وَ یُکَفِّرْ عَنْکُمْ سَیِّئاتِکُم] Translation: “Allah will cover your sins and remove their traces from you.” [وَ یَغْفِرْ لَکُم] Translation: “And in addition (to the forgiveness of sins), He will make you eligible for His forgiveness.” [وَ اللهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظیم] Translation: “And many other rewards await you that no one knows except Allah; for Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.”
These three effects are the fruits of the tree of piety.
Piety in Social Relationships:
Allah Almighty emphasizes the observance of piety in the most challenging situations within social relationships, such as divorce. Divorce can lead to destruction and end the bonds of a family. Therefore, when someone chooses the path of piety regarding the sensitive issue of divorcing his wife, it will facilitate adherence to piety in other social behaviors.
In Surah Al-Talaq, we read: [يا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّساءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَاتَّقُوا الله رَبَّكُمْ] Translation: “O Prophet! When you wish to divorce women, divorce them at the appointed time, and keep the reckoning, and fear Allah, your Lord, and be righteous.”
Piety and Worship:
Undoubtedly, the worship and prayers performed by the servants do not increase the glory of Allah; just as abandoning them does not diminish His greatness and status. Worship is, in fact, a training course for teaching piety. [يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ] Translation: “O mankind! Worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.”
Piety is the Most Important Provision:
Piety is the provision for the body and soul of a person, and the heart and soul draw strength and energy from it. The wise person is the one who turns to piety and follows its path. [وَ تَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوى] Translation: “And take provision, for indeed, the best provision is piety.”
Just as Allah has called piety a provision, He also refers to it as clothing: [وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ] Translation: “The clothing of piety is the best clothing.”
What a clear and eloquent analogy! Just as clothing protects the human body from cold, heat, and various dangers, covers physical defects, and beautifies its appearance, piety likewise covers a person from the ugliness of sins and protects them from personal and social harm. Furthermore, piety serves as a spiritual adornment. It conceals the private parts of the heart and enhances its beauty, just as clothing covers the private parts of the body and enhances physical appearance.
Continues…
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