They are the sincere Muslims who exert themselves in their submission to Allaah, regularly keeping in check the contents of their heart, the reality of their thoughts and the course of their actions.
They are from amongst the ‘Ibaadur-Rahmaan – the true servants of the Allaah, the Most Gracious.
“And the slaves of the Most Gracious (Allaah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness and when the foolish address them, they reply back with words of peace.” [Surah al-Furqan: 63]
Throughout the Qur’aan, Allaah regularly mentions their characteristics. Characteristics such as patience and piety, gratitude and steadfastness, humbleness and courage, justice and equity to name but a few. In the above verse, the first trait mentioned by Allaah as belonging to His servants is one of tawaadu’ – humbleness and humility.
It is an extremely important attribute sprouting from a pure and believing heart, having a direct affect on one’s action. It is an attribute which totally eliminates any presence of arrogance and false pride, leaving ground for only goodness to grow. A well-known human trait is that people often respond fiercely to verbal abuse as they see it to be an attack on their personal self. It pierces their pride and ego – hence the backlash.
However, for the Muslim, when the ignorant addresses him in such a manner, it holds no weight in his sight and little does it affect him for his main concern is not the ignorant, but rather his Lord. He thus replies back with words free from any evil or sin.
“And those who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing.” [v.64]
The night prayer also termed ‘the prayer of the righteous’ is never found missing from the life of the believer. The servants of Allaah are those who are found awake when the masses are asleep, they are found engaged in prayer and supplication, out of their love for their Lord at a time when He descends to the lower heaven.
They realise the great opportunities that lie here and so they hasten to perform much good. Their imaan has taken them beyond establishing the obligations of Islam in their life to establishing and being steadfast upon the performance of the nawaafil (supererogatory deeds) – and as Allah mentions
“My slave continues to draw near to me with supererogatory works (nawaafil) until I love him”. [1]
“And those who say: ‘Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily, its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment.” [v.65]
Recalling the humbleness of such ‘ibaad (servants of Allah), it is only a natural quality of theirs that they never feel safe from the punishment of the Hereafter. Despite the good deeds they have sent forth for themselves, they never reach a state of false self-confidence wherein they are at ease with regards to the Aakhira (Hereafter).
They realise that deeds alone do not guarantee one a dwelling place in Paradise as is narrated from the Messenger of Allaah (s.a.w) when he said,
“Know that the deeds of one of you will not save him (from the hell-fire)” The sahaabah replied, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allaah?” He (s.a.w) said, “Not even I, except if Allaah bestows upon me His Mercy and Favour” [2]
“And those who when they spend are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium way between those.” [v.67]
Imam Ash-Shaafi’ee mentions interestingly that “extravagance is to spend wealth in other than its right.”
In other words, were one to spend pennies in something useless, than one may be guilty of extravagance despite the little he or she has spent, as Ibn ‘Abbaas said,
“Whoever spent a hundred thousand in due right (i.e. in good), then he is not a spendthrift. Whosoever spent a dirham (i.e. small amount) in other than its right, then he is a spendthrift…” [3]
It’s not for a believer to waste and be careless with wealth, which is itself a blessing and a trust from Allaah, the Provider. Whilst many people have made acquiring wealth to be their goal, the reality is that it is simply a means for one to reach the ultimate goal of acquiring the Pleasure of Allah.
It is a characteristic of the believer that he or she is never found to be abusing this trust of wealth, but rather is always spending it in its due right and in goodness.
“And those who invoke not any other god along with Allaah, nor kill such life as Allaah has forbidden, except for a just cause, nor commit fornication – and whoever does this, shall receive the punishment.” [v.68]
There is no doubt that to associate others in the worship of Allah is the greatest sin by which one leaves the fold of Islam, and so it is made clear that the servants of the Most Gracious are they who purify their worship for Him Alone and do not call upon other than Him. They stay away from anything that can possibly jeopardize their belief, including the rest of the major sins mentioned in the verse.
However, for those who may have committed the sins (with the exception of shirk), Allah says shortly afterwards:
“Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds, for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [v.70]
The characteristics of ‘ibaadur-Rahmaan continue:
“And those who do not witness falsehood, and if they pass by some evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.” [v.72]
Justice....A known element within the true Muslim character and an attribute to be observed by all claimants of Islam, regardless of where the interest lies. Hence, to bear false witness only amounts to lies, often resulting in social chaos and injustice.
Inner strength often needs to be developed to keep our soul away from doing injustice to ourselves or to others and also to keep it away from engaging in idle or evil talk which it may be unsurprisingly attracted towards.
The servants of Allaah naturally find dignity in their faith which allows them to not only avoid evil, but to be unaffected by it altogether. And those, when they are reminded of the Ayaat of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat.” [v.73] They do not turn away from the Revelation of Allaah, but rather they rush to listen to it attentively. They are not from amongst those about whom Allaah has said,
They are the deaf, dumb and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path).” [4]
Instead they are counted as being amongst those mentioned in the verse,
“Only those believe in Our Ayaat, who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate, and glorify the Praises of their Lord, and they are not proud.” [5]
They are the ones who turn their ears and hearts fully in acceptance to what their Lord has to say. The characteristics of the servants of Allaah in the passage of Surah Furqan draw to an end with:
“And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqoon" [v.74]
“Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.” [v.75] May Allaah make us from amongst His true, believing ‘Ibaad.
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Footnotes: [1] Related by al-Bukhari [2] Al-Bukhari [3] Al-Jaami’ li-‘ahkaam al-Qur’aan by al-Qurtubi [4] Surah al-Baqarah, verse 18 [5] Surah as-Sajdah: 15
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