Ethics of Islam

The third reason why one wants to acquire a ranking position
in society is the desires and pleasures of the nafs. The nafs
derives pleasure from wealth, property as well as from rank or a
leading position. Even though it is not prohibited to satisfy
desires of the nafs which do not involve things contrary to Islam,
it would still indicate a lesser degree of piety and zeal. There is
the danger that a person who acquires ranks to satisfy the desires
of his nafs might commit hypocrisy or compromise his religion
(mudâhana) or act ostentatiously in order to win the hearts of his
constituents. There are even further dangers such as committing
hypocrisy and mixing truth with falsehood, lying and fraud. One
should not do actions which involve mixing of forbidden and
permissible things. This third reason for wishing to acquire a
leading position or rank in society, even though it is not
forbidden, is not a virtue. Therefore, one should know its remedy
and apply it. First, one should think that the position is
temporary and has many built-in dangers and harms. In order to
protect oneself from fame and from becoming proud and
contemptuous because one acquires the respect of the people,
one should do actions which are permissible (mubâh, jâiz) in
Islam and which people generally do not think much of. In the
past, a leader (amîr) visited a person who abstained from worldly
affairs (zâhid). When the “zâhid” sensed that the visiting leader
and his companions wanted to receive his favor, he gave a dinner
for them. During the dinner, he ate the food in a fast and greedy
fashion in order to give them a false impression, i.e., he is not a
real “zâhid”. The visiting leader did not like the zâhid’s
behaviour and left. The “zâhid” seeing that his tactic was
successful said, “Alhamdulillah! My Rabb has saved me.” The
best medicine which cures the desire of wishing to have a ranking
position is seclusion (Uzlat). One should not engage in any
unnecessary activity among the people other than routine
religious and worldly duties and chores. This medicament is
recommended in a hadîth-i-sherîf. This remedy was commanded
in a hadîth.
4– THE FEAR OF BEING ACCUSED OF
HAVING FAULTS
The fourth of the maladies of the heart is to worry and
become sad because of ill treatment by other people, such as
their unjust criticism or gossip. The third reason which causes
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