AND FOLLOW UP A BAD DEED WITH A GOOD DEED AND IT WILL WIPE IT OUT
Here are their qualities: Imaan that is anchored on the right aqeedah and fulfilling the obligatory rights of Allaah; steadfastness in their salaat with humility and paying the zakaat and standing firm in jihad. They do more than the obligatory; they give freely in charity and they are the best in their conduct, truthful, trustworthy and persevering. Again, are you one of them? Do you, O servant of Allah, have these qualities as you play your different roles of ,son, husband, father, employee or employer, or even the leader of men?
KEYS TO TAQWA: The keys to taqwa are four and you are on the right course if you have them.
The first key is KNOWLEDGE: The foundation of taqwa is to have knowledge of what one must guard against and how to guard against it. To have fear of Allah, you must have the true knowledge of reality of Allah, His Names and Attributes and your relationship to Him. The more of that knowledge that you have, the more you Will come to fear Allah and have true taqwa. Allah says: "It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that truly fear Allah". (Q35 [al-Faatir]:28)
NEXT COMES SINCERITY: You must strive to become sincere and truthful in your love for Allah with respect for the greatness of Allah.
The third key is FEAR: fear of what your score will be when the account of your deeds are taken, feeling shameful that Allah is watching you as you are performing the evil deeds, and the fear of Allahs punishment in this world and His punishment in the Hereafter. Finally, with HOPE, you will attain taqwa. You must be thankful and grateful for all of the bounties that Allah has bestowed upon you and then hope for further reward for your good deeds, both in this world an, the next. Allah says: "And be quick in the race for forgiveness from Your Lord and for Paradise as wide as the heaven and the earth, prepared for the muttaqeen: Those who spend [for Allahs cause] in prosperity and in adversity. who repress anger. and who pardon men. Verily, Allaah loves the doers of good. And those who...ask forgiveness for their sins...who do not persist in what wrong they have done ...How excellent is this reward for the doers [of taqwa]" (Q3[al-Imraan]: 133-136)
ALWAYS THE GOOD DEED: The muttaqeen are described with more good qualities in their dealings with others as, they exhibit ihsaan (goodness) to others by spending [on their behalf], repelling their anger, and forgiving them. They have been described as giving to others and putting up with others harm. This is the goal of the good character that the Prophet advised Muaadh to have. Then Allah describes them as, "those who, when they have committed some evil or wronged themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness of their sins." So, as you aspire to being a man of taqwa, always put the good deed forward.
Never indulge in or Will fully commit evil deeds. In the same way that good deeds wipe away evil deeds, evil deeds can also wipe a Way good deeds. That is the reward for the deed is removed due to the evil deed performed after it. This is especially true with respect to the great sins. In fact, it is narrated from Aisha that dealing With interest (riba) erases the reward of participating in jihad.
CARE ABOUT YOUR SLIPS: Even when you have taqwa, you may still slip sometimes arid commit sins. Repent when you err. Ibn Masud (RA) once said, "The believer looks at his sins as if he were at the foot of a mountain and they were all to fall on him. The evildoer looks at his sins as if they were a fly that landed on his nose. He simply [swats at it as if it were nothing]." (Bukhari) Therefore, rush to repentance and to perform the acts that will expiate.
TAKES CARE OF HIS LOOKS: Aisha (RA) narrated that a group of the companions of the Prophet (salallahu alayhiwa sallam) were waiting at the door for him, so he prepared to go out to meet them. There was a vessel of water in the house, and he peered into it, smoothing his beard and hair. (Aisha said) I asked him, "O Messenger of Allah, even you do this?" He said, "Yes, when a man goes out to meet his brothers, let him prepare himself properly, for Allah is beautiful and loves beauty." (Tafsir Qurtubi)
"..AND BEHAVE TOWARDS THE PEOPLE WITH A GOOD BEHAVIOUR." or remove those sins. If you committed an evil deed that violates the rights of others. then this is not simply wiped away by a good deed. Rather. you must return the right to the person or ask for. His forgiveness. If that is not possible. then you should pray for the wronged person as you ask Allah to forgive you.
LET YOUR FAITH SHINE FORTH: You must know that there is a relationship between your belief in Lai1aaha illa AIlaah and every action that you take in this world. If you have the correct and true concept of "There is no God but Allah". this belief should have complete effect on you. In fact. this is the goal you must aspire to. The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) said. "The believer with the most complete imaan (faith) is the one with the best behaviour." (Ahmad)
When talking about the purpose for which he had been sent. the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) stated. "I have been sent for the purpose of perfecting good morals" (sahih al-Jaami). Thus the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) stated clearly that he came to show the manners and behaviour that are consistent with the belief in Allah and to define. illustrate and teach these good morals and manners. Having good character is not just a matter for this world. it will add good weight for you in the Hereafter. Rasulullah (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) further explained that ﾓA believer reaches, due to his good character, the level of the one who fasts and performs the night prayer" (Abu Dawud) and that "there is nothing heavier in the scales than good character" (Abu Dawud) He also said. "I am a guarantor of a house in the highest part of Paradise for the one who makes his behaviour good". (Abu Dawood): and also equated piety with good character saying, "Piety and righteousness is being of good character" (Muslim).
FULFILL HUMAN RIGHTS TOO!: Many people think that taqwa implies fulfilling the "rights of Allah" without fulfilling the rights of humans. Therefore the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) explicitly stated that he must deal with people in a kind manner. Especially you as the man whom Allah may have put in a position of authority whether as father. husband, the boss at work or even the political head. The Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) was asked about the thing which most causes people to enter into Paradise and he stated. "the taqwa of AIlah and good behaviour" (Tirmidhi)
However, note that having "good manners" does not mean that one accepts everything that everybody else does and continues to treat them all the same. You should never ignore to correct others for the fear, that such would be impolite. particularly those under your .authority such as wife. children. employees etc.
MOVE CLOSE TO THE STANDARD: Note that this good behaviour and manners are as derived from the Quran and Sunnah. Your life and behavior should be an implementation of the Quran and sunnah, This was what mankinds best model was like. Aisha (RA), his wife. described him by saying "his character was the Quran", Do you ever worry about how your wife and children would describe you? The only way to improve your character is to look at the best example (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam), emulate his behaviour in as many different circumstances as possible. When you do that. then you will be moving toward the most noble character as Allah described: "And, verily, you [O Muhammad1 are of an exalted standard of character". (Q68[al-Qalam]: 4) providing Spiritual Guidance The prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)said: May Allaah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, and awakens his wife; if she refuses, he should sprinkle water on her face. May Allaah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays ,and awakens her husband, if he refuses, she should sprinkle water on his face.(Abu Dawood)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited