Islam's Reformers .pdf

approval. But one cannot attain Allâhu ta’âlâ’s approval byridiculing the blessings in Paradise which Allâhu ta’âlâ praisesand tells Muslims to strive to attain. Because religion reformerswant ’ibâdât not in order to escape the punishment and to winreward in the next world but for worldly order and comfort, it isunderstood that they do not think of Allâhu ta’âlâ’s approval.Love of Allâhu ta’âlâ is the teaching which Islam considersas the most important. But saying that this love alone will sufficefor worldly order and regarding the fear of Allâhu ta’âlâinsignificant and unnecessary, although it is the source of everysort of happiness, is a clear sign of knowing nothing about theQur’ân al-kerîm and Hadîth ash-sherîf. Hadrat Muhammad(’alaihi ’s-salâm), the most exalted of men in every respect,said, “It is me who, among you, fears and stands in awe ofAllâhu ta’âlâ most!” This hadîth and the preceding one about“Suhaib’ point out that the fear of Allâhu ta’âlâ is necessary.Fearing Allâhu ta’âlâ should not be supposed like fearing acruel person! It is the fear combined with reverence and love. Inpoems which lovers wrote to their darlings there are manycouplets telling about similar fear in them. A lover who regardshis darling much higher than himself does not deem himselfworthy of this love and explains his feelings in such a fear.Fear of Allâhu ta’âlâ and love of Allâhu ta’âlâ are like twowings taking people to salvation and happiness. The Prophet(sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam) said, “If a person fears Allâhuta’âlâ, everything fears him. If he does not fear Allâhuta’âlâ, he fears everything,” and “The extent of one’sintellect will be evident in the extent of his fear of Allâhuta’âlâ.” A person who fears Allâhu ta’âlâ tries strictly to carryout His commands and to abstain from His prohibitions. Hedoes not harm anybody. He shows patience towards those whoharm him. He repents for his faults. He is a man of his word. Hedoes every goodness for Allâhu ta’âlâ’s sake. He does not castmalicious glances on the possession, life or chastity of anybody.He does not wrong anybody in trade. He does favours toeverybody. He abstains from doubtful things (between harâmand halâl). He never flatters the occupiers of high posts or thecruel. He respects men of knowledge and good morals. He likeshis friends and they like him. He gives advice to wrong-doersand does not follow them. He is compassionate towards thoseyounger than him. He shows honour to his guests. He does not- 77 -