An Exemplary True Muslim

The first piece of advice is to correct the belief in accordance with those which the scholars of (the credal Madhhab called) Ahl as-sunnat teach in their books. For, it is this Madhhab only that will be saved from Hell. May Allâhu ta’âlâ give plenty of rewards for the work of those great people! Those scholars of the four Madhhabs (in matters pertaining to acts and practices of worship), who attained the grade of ijtihâd, and the great scholars educated by them are called Ahl as-sunna scholars. After correcting the belief (îmân), it is necessary to perform the acts of worship which are named and prescribed in (the books written on the Islamic science termed) fiqh, i.e. to do the commandments of the Sharî’at and to abstain from what it prohibits. One should perform namâz five times daily without reluctance and slackness, and with utmost diligence concerning its principles and observing the (practical technicalities termed) ta’dîl-i arkân. A person in possession of money or property amounting to (the border of richness and termed) nisâb should pay zakât. Imâm-i a’zâm Abû Hanîfa ‘rahimahullâhu ta’âlâ’ says, “Also, it is necessary to pay the zakât of gold and silver which women use as ornaments.”

The human life is too valuable to waste enjoying the (worldly pleasures and tastes which Islam tolerates and terms) mubâhs. Then afortiori it should not be squandered by committing (acts which Islam prohibits and terms) harâms. We should not busy ourselves with music, singing, musical instruments, or songs. We should not be deceived by the pleasure they give our nafs. These are poisons mixed with honey and covered with sugar.

We should avoid ghiybat. Ghiybat is harâm. [Ghiybat means to talk about a Muslim’s or a zimmî’s secret fault behind his back. It is necessary to tell Muslims about the faults of the harbîs, about the sins of those who commit these sins in public, about the evils of those who persecute Muslims and who deceive Muslims in buying and selling, thereby helping Muslims to beware of their harms, and to confute the slanders of those who talk and write about Islam wrongfully; these are not ghiybat. Radd-ul-Muhtâr: 5-263)].

We should not spread gossip (carry words) among Muslims. It has been declared that those who perpetrate these two types of iniquitous acts will be subjected to various kinds of torment. Also, it is harâm to lie and slander, and must be avoided. These two evils were forbidden in all the previous dispensations. It is very blessed to conceal Muslims’ defects, not to spread their secret sins and to forgive them their faults. We should be compassionate towards our inferiors, those under our command [such as wives, children, students, soldiers] and towards the poor. One should not reproach them for their faults. We should not hurt or beat or insult those poor people for trivial reasons. We should not violate anybody’s property, life, honour, or chastity. Debts to everyone and to the government must be paid. Bribery, accepting or giving, is harâm. However, it would not be bribery to give it in order to get rid of the oppression of a cruel tyrant, or to avoid a disgusting situation. But accepting this would be harâm, too. Everybody should see their own defects, and should every hour think of the faults which they have committed towards Allâhu ta’âlâ. They should always bear in mind that Allâhu ta’âlâ does not hurry in punishing them, nor does He cut off their sustenance. The words of command from our parents, or from the government, if they are compatible with the Sharî’a, must be obeyed, but the ones incompatible with Sharî’a should not be resisted against lest we should cause fitna.