Striving to be steadfast (III)

“As for the life of this world, Allah will help them to be steadfast in doing good and righteous deeds, and in the Hereafter (He will help them) to remain steadfast in the grave.” A similar interpretation was narrated from more than one of the Salaf.(Tafseer al-Qur’an al-‘Azeem by IbnKatheer, 3/421).Allah says: “… but if […]

“As for the life of this world, Allah will help them to be steadfast in doing good and righteous deeds, and in the Hereafter (He will help them) to remain steadfast in the grave.” A similar interpretation was narrated from more than one of the Salaf.(Tafseer al-Qur’an al-‘Azeem by IbnKatheer, 3/421).
Allah says: “… but if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their (Faith)” [al-Nisa’ 4:66], i.e., it would have strengthened them in their adherence to the Truth.
Sincerity in knowledge and deeds
There is no doubt that sincerity strengthens the soul of a believer, Many seekers of divine knowledge today are doing so because of material benefits and pride. This account for the mess in which the ummah are finding ourselves today.
Good company
Moving with or keeping a bad company with people that are sinners or wrongdoers weakens istiqamah. Allah says
“So remain on a right course as you have been commanded and those who have repented with you (to Allah), and do not  transgress. Indeed He is seen what you do. And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you will be touch by the fire, and you would not have other than Allah any protector, then you would not be helped.” (Q11V112-113)
These are people whose characteristics the Prophet (SAW) referred to in the hadith, “Among the people are some who open the way to goodness and close the way to evil.” (Hasan, reported by Ibn Majah).
Moderation and avoidance of extremism
To achieve istiqamah, one should avoid lackadaisical or exaggeration in any aspect of worship in Islam. Tendency to tend toward extreme in religious dictate is not peculiar to this generation of ours alone, The story narrated by Amr below is a reflection on this.
‘Amr ibn Yahya said: “I heard my father narrating from his father who said: ‘We were at the door of ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood before the early morning prayer. When he came out we walked with him to the mosque. Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari came up to us and said, “Did Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman come out to you yet?” We said, “No.” He sat down with us until [Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman] came out. When he came out, we all stood up to greet him, and Abu Moosa said to him: “O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, earlier I saw in the mosque something that I have never seen before, but it seems good, al-hamdu Lillah.” He said, “And what was it?”
He said, “if you live, you will see it. I saw people in the mosque sitting in circles waiting for the prayer. In every circle there was a man, and they had pebbles in their hands. He would say, ‘Say Allahu akbar 100times,’ and they would say Allahu akbar 100times; then he would say, ‘Say La ilaha ill-Allah one hundred times,’ and they would say La ilaha ill-Allah 100 times; then he would say, ‘Say Subhan Allah 100 times,’ and they would say Subhan Allah 100times.’ He asked, ‘What did you say to them?’ He said, ‘I did not say anything to them; I was waiting to see what your opinion would be and what you would tell me to do.’ He said, ‘Why did you not tell them to count their bad deeds and guarantee them that nothing of their good deeds would be wasted?’ Then he left, and we went with him, until he reached one of those circles. He stood over them and said, ‘What is this I see you doing?’ They said, ‘O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan, these are pebbles we are using to count our takbeer, tahleel and tasbeeh.’
He said: ‘Count your bad deeds, and I guarantee that nothing of your good deeds will be wasted. Woe to you, O ummah of Muhammad, how quickly you are getting destroyed! The Companions of your Prophet (SAW) are still alive, his garment is not yet worn out and his vessels are not yet broken. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, either you are following a way that is more guided than that of Muhammad or you have opened the door of misguidance!’ They said, ‘By Allah, O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, we only wanted to do good.’ He said, ‘How many of those who wanted to do good failed to achieve it!
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) told us that people recite Qur’an and it does not go any further than their throats. By Allah, I do not know, maybe most of them are people like you.’ Then he turned away from them. ‘Amr ibn Salamah said, ‘I saw most of the members of those circles fighting alongside the Khawarij on the day of Nahrawan.’” (Reported by al -Darimi, al-Sunan, no. 210,  Al-Albani classed its isnad as saheeh in al-Silsilat al-Sahehah under hadith no. 2005. ).
A Muslim seeking istiqamah, should not be extremely flexible and always looking for religious edict to suit his or her vain desires. In the same way, he or she should not see piety as an entity that can only be achieved through hardship in worship or extreme stand in religious dictates. A Muslim should be moderate and this moderation is not in the context of the orientalist or  modernist but rather by following the sunnah of our beloved messenger of Allah.
Concluded.
Dr. Nurudeen is member, Dawah Department, Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen (OTM), FCT chapter.