Ethics of Islam

suggestions to human beings is called “hannâs”. If a human
being does not follow an evil suggestion of the devil, the devil
gives up that suggestion and starts with another one. The nafs
always wishes to do destructive and evil things. In order to
prevent the accomplishment of a very useful and beneficial deed,
the devil will insinuate a person into doing a less useful deed. In
order to coax him into a grave sin, it will infuse into him the wish
to do a trivial good deed. The trivial good deed which is
accomplished upon the suggestion of the devil will taste very
sweet to that man and he will wish to do it in a hurry. For this
reason, Rasûlullah ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’ said “Hurry is
ignited by the devil. Following five things are exceptions to this
rule: hurry to marry off one’s daughter, hurry to pay back one’s
debt, hurry to make preparation for the burial of the deceased,
hurry to feed a guest, and hurry in repentance upon committing
a sin.” The following hadîth-i-sherîf which is written in the
section which expounds on the atrociousness of postponing a
daily prayer (termed namâz) (until its prescribed time is over),
of the book Eshi’at ul-lama’ât, reads as follows: “O Alî! Do not
postpone the following three things! Perform the ‘salât’ prayer
in its early prescribed time! Perform the ‘salât’ prayer for a dead
Muslim immediately when the corpse is ready for interment!
Marry a girl or widow immediately when someone with proper
qualifications proposes to marry them.” The phrase “with
proper qualifications” in this hadîth-i-sherîf refers to a man who
performs his (five) daily prayers (termed namâz or salât), who
doesn’t commit sins and who earns his money by permissible
means. The good things that are inspired by an angel must be
done with the fear of Allâhu ta’âlâ without rushing, or
contemplating the results. Rasûlullah ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’
states as follows in a hadîth-i-sherîf: “An inspiration which
comes through an angel will be compatible with Islam. The evil
suggestions ‘waswasa’ which are insinuated by the devil will
cause one to depart from Islam.” One should strive to do the
inspired things and fight against one’s nafs and the devil lest one
should indulge in the evil suggestions. A person who follows the
advice of his nafs also follows the evil suggestions of the devil.
Alternately, it becomes very easy to carry out the good thoughts
inspired by an angel for those who do not follow the desires of
their nafs. Rasûlullah ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’ states in a
hadîth-i-sherîf: “The devil gives evil suggestions ‘waswasa’ to the
heart. When the name of Allah is made dhikr of, (i.e. when
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