Respect For Sacred Things
RESPECT FOR SACRED THINGS
In Islam these are called Mukaqdasat, holy things. The Holiest is Allah then the Prophet (saaws) then all Prophets, and then all true Alims, then parants, then family members then whole Muslim community then the Holy mosque in
We must approach and regard these with due respect and practise and conduct as Allah and His Rasul taught us towards them.
“Peace be upon you o occupants of the graves, Inshallah we will be soon be joining you”, he (sws) would recite upon entering any graveyard (sws).
Alongside with Allah, the book of Allah is to be respected at the highest level and the highest respect towards the Qur’an is learning what is in it and practising. The Qur’an should never be reduced to an idol adored but never consulted.
Around some sacred places the nearer some places is to them more Holiness it assumes so
Equally important is to show respect to holy times, the holiest of all times is the Jummu’ah. Then the days of Eid ul Adha. Then Eid ul Fitir, then holy nights like Lailatul Qadir, Lailatul Bara’at, Lailatul Miraj, Lailatul Mawlid, Lailatul Maghrib.
All mosques big or small are also sacred and in and around them there are some good manners to be observed.
- Talking loudly in or around them is Mekruh.
- Doing worldly things inside them unnecessarily or using them as play or leisure grounds except for small children are strongly Mekruh.
Next come Islamic schools where again manners and etiquette are important.
- All Muslims male or female young or old are also sacred. They should not be offended or abused or threatened for whatever reason.
- Punishing any of them is only allowed for those who are in charge of them like a father to his child or a sinner to the enforcers of law.
- Pivate punishments are Mekruh even when justified for some reason it is always Hasan (good) to take dispute to more senior brothers or sisters and find a way to repay offences and pay up liabilities instead of fighting things out. In fact fighting a believer is Fisq and hitting one is Balsphemy said Rasulullah (sas).
SOME RESPECTFUL ACTS CONCERNING SACRED THINGS
When Allah is mentioned it is good to add some glorification like Alhamdu-lillah, Azza wa Jalla, Subha-nallah wa Ta’aala. When Rasulullah (sas) is mentioned we say Salawat on him, the shortest being Sallallahu-aleyhi-wa-sellim.
When other Prophets are mentioned the shortest payment of respect is saying Aleyhi-assalam. This is also indicated for Rasulullah’s offspring although they share in the words of blessings payed to Sahaba so long they have been alive during Rasulullah’s time.
So we can say about our mother Fatimah daughter of Rasulullah (sas) both Radiyallahu-anha and aleyha-ssellam. We can say that about Maryam (as).
About Sahaba Ikram the respectful word is Radiyallahu-anhu or a bit longer Radiyallahu-anhu ardahu (Allah be pleases with him, I am pleased with him).
About later Muslims for men we say Rahmatullahi-aleyhim and woman Rahmatullahi-aleyha.
For great Sufi Sheikhs we can say as above or it has become a tradition to say of one wants Qadtassallahu sirrehu – may Allah sanctify his secret, or longer Qadtassallahu sirrehu azeez – which means may Allah sanctify his precious secret.
It is obligatory for a Muslim to say Salamu’aleikum to another or others and those receiving his salams return it as, Wa Aleikum Salam.
To stand behind our parents and behave towards them with utmost respect is obligatory even when they are non-Muslim. We must obey their wishes so long they are not against Allah’s commands or Rasulullah’s wishes. We must try never to break their hearts whatever their offences and if we need help to consult them on something out of love for them. We must go in roundabout ways like begging somebody more influential to talk to them.
Younger people must show respect to the old, less learned people to more learned people, host to guest, settled to the travellor.
Between the powerful and the weak must excel in respect and the powerful must excel in kindness.
Against non-Muslims or negligent Muslims we should never be rude, let alone aggressive. The best way to both stop them harming us or hating us is to behave towards them in most endearing terms except when they are too abusive in which case we must just wihdraw with dignity and not engage in arguments.
If we want to preech Islam or some pious subject we should never push it like an aggressive salesman to passers by or make cold calls but should proceed as follows:
1. Set an example, in such a way that even when our faith is not known, people like and admire us. The best argument for Islam are less words and more good Muslim.
2. Some people are created to be interested in and improved by religious faith. Some are not. Once we set a good example those with aptitude for religion will themselves enquire about our faith or may accidentally learn about it. When this interest is slowly aroused then we may profitably explain and show them our way but never doing it too much or too long or too instantly.
We must be very carefully observe their body language and direct and measure our presenting accordingly, if they show signs of boredom we should stop and change to a pleasurable subject.
Above everything else goodwill and charity towards our respondents is the surest way to succeed in preaching to suspectable subjects. If you have some worldly interests in your preaching you may be still able to persuade people but you are sure to disappoint and send them off sometime in the future.
That is as great sin as never preaching to them. Lastly all kinds of violence or insulting behaviour are out of bounds at all times. If such a confrontation appears to coming near the dialogue must be very politely and according to the circumstances either the subject should be changed or the meeting terminated.
ELEMENTS OF ISLAMIC MORALITY
IMAN
High morality is often rooted in good character and therefore many people who are non-Muslims and even Atheists can sometimes have some elements of high morality in them simply because they are born with a good character. One example is compassion, another is honesty. In other words one does not have to be a Muslim to feel compassion or believe in honesty but it is only in Islam that a man born with good character can attain his highest moral potential. Let us take a Muslim and a member of another major religion. Because the good Muslim will not drink while the other may drink, everything else equal the Non-Muslim is more likely to commit a bad act because he will sometimes be under the influence of drink. Another example a Muslim who believes in marriage as mandatory and marries and is concious of marital responsibilities is less likely to commit sexual indecencies that a Non-Muslim who is less certain about the value marriage and remaining celibate may succumb more easily to a temptation and there is no limit to the evils that may be triggered by a drunken act or a sexual transgression. Everything is in the book all the way to murder. That is why we put Iman as the first and highest source of high morality.
TAQWA
Taqwa means respectful and reverent fear of Allah. It is always wedded to love of Allah. Without love of Allah it is only a neurosis and such a person obeys Allah with some straining and secretely may resent it. Such a Muslim is an easy prey for Sheytan like an unhealthy kitten to be eaten by a male cat.
ILIM
Only through adequate Ilim both Iman and Taqwa can be operational at their most effective. Jahils are always at risk from a very skilful Sheytan.
ADAB
Good manners; without good manners none of the above three elements can work at their best under any circumstances. When a Muslim despite his strong faith and Taqwa is tactless, devoid of adequate social skills and uneasy in society and often offensive in disputation will not only repel otherwise good people of whatever faith but be confused by the bad reaction from others who may lose their faith entirely. He may think “despite I having so much faith and Taqwa I am unliked by almost everybody therefore faith and Taqwa must be wrong. I want to be loved so let me be like them”. Good manners is like a bird feathered camoflague for a hunter of hearts for Islam. Our Sheikhs give us an example. They say the best way to hunt a dear is to don a deer skin with a horny head that the dear will move to you and not run away. You cannot hunt dear wearing a lion’s mantle. All in all Adab is about showing yourself in a very good light and becoming socially very popular and sought after without falling into sins.
IKHLAS
This means total uncomplicated sincerity towards Allah, towards Rasulullah (sas), towards believers, and towards all men and woman of whatever persuation. To Allah you give your total devotion, to Rasulullah you give your total following, to fellow believers you give your total charity and to all men and woman you give your total goodwill. Not a single heart is to be broken whatever the situation. If it takes to keep silent we must keep silent we must keep silent in order not to break a heart.
IHSAN
This is going the extra mile in a matter which less will be adequate. Nothing can win and warm hearts of others and change their minds about things than an act of Ihsan.
OBEDIENCE
This is obeying any and every authority from Allah and Rasulullah (sas) to our employer to any government of whatever colour so long we live in its territory. The only exception is when we are asked to disobey Allah. Even this is only allowed if you are in natural danger and you make disobedience externally while remaining faith inside.
IKTISAD
Iktisat means thrift or economy. This is aquiring or buying or using or spending any assets in the most effective and least wasteful ways. The savings from a saving in thrift are not mean savings but intended to be redirected to Allah’s cause. It is not Iktisad to buy shoddy goods or unsuitable or unhealthy goods or food just to save money or pretend asceticism. Every Muslim must eat, drink, dress, shelter, travel in adequate quality to sustain not only his health but his good cheer. Deliberate suppression of one’s lawful needs and desires is a Satanic way which Sheytan uses to decieve the ascetic into believing that he is a saint.
One outlet for waste which is Israf in Arabic is improper preparation of food like preparing it to amateurishly making it distasteful or too much or too little to either or having to throw away some of it. Buying, giving preparation, and serving of food should consider the needs for food and the need for preservation of the food and the need to protect and promote health. It is better to eat one ounce of meat from a high quality (honest) shop than to eat dubious food from a low quality dubious shop.
ULFET
This is meeting, seeing and discovering/discussing with people with a view to socialising more, exchanging useful information and finding a social charitable role to play. Loneliness and self absorbtion which are valued by Non-Muslim mystics and ascetics as well as rare misguided sufi’s are totally contrary to Allah’s and His Propehts ways. A good Muslim should have as large a group of acqaintances as he can get so that he can always find some company and correspond with as many people as possible and learning about the welfare of others or let them know his condition so that they can exchange help.
In olden times Kings and other potentates like great merchants picked their successors not from among the most learned or thrifty of their sons but from among the most popular ones with most friends. So any lonely Muslim should try to climb out of his pit or exit his cell to go out and make as many good friends as possible.
EMNIYET
This is giving and receiving trust, to be trustworthy is perhaps the single most important quality of a prophet and that should be also the quality of a believer. We must not only be trustworthy ourselves but always live in a group of trustworty people and never rush anything by associating with treacherous people.
INSAF
Insaf means being fair. It does not only include Justice but Good-Will and Ihsan. All our rewarding or positive acts must have Insaf in it We should never go overboard or remain in a shortfall.
SEBAT
This is endurance and persistence. So long we have a worthy aim we must persist in its promotion no matter what obstacles come our way except when mortal danger or scandal shows up. Then we can stop.
JUUD
Juud means generosity, open handedness among all morals, manners or character traits it is dearest to Allah. This is not the same as waste but it means heart winning ampleness of legitimate giving. Allah is the most genrous of all things followed by His Messengers and then the rest of humanity. No human being can beat a prophet in generosity and no trait can convert opposition to freindship than generosity can buy. It can perhaps buy everything under the sun. Perhaps the first thing an intending sufi should consider and address is to see whether he is generously enough disposed or has some sticking miserliness. If the last is the case he has no hope of being anybody.
HUSNU ZAN
It is having a favourable opinion about anybody and everybody unless there is definate signs to the contrary. There is hardly anything meaner than a disposition to instant or arbitrary suspicion of anybody or any act. It is especially mandatory that a believer has total Husnu Zan of Allah and His prophet and his teachers and in general every Muslim in the last case without dropping ones guard. Our grandsheikhs said ‘do not trust anybody 100% unless he is a prophet or a very long proven Wali of Allah. For the rest leave at least 1% caution so that if it comes to the worst you have a way out. The opposite of Husnu Zan is Sui Zan – unfounded bad opinion.
HIFZ UL LISAN
Guarding your tongue. There are a few points to consider:
1. Do not talk before thinking long and hard enough.
2. Try to state your proposition in the most harmless and diplomatic way you can come up with.
3. Avoid saying anything when you are not sure or there is a danger of retribution.
Rasulullah (saaws) said: “When you do not respond to a provocation Allah takes on Himself to defend you.”
HIKMET
Wisdom. It is not enough to be intelligent but you must also be wise. We must exercise our minds to attain wise decisions more than to find clever solutions to situations. Hikmet is when winning hearts and minds and promoting charity and social peace otherwise there can only be intelligence and not Hikmet.
HILM
Hilim is the opposite of anger and vindictiveness. A person with Hilim is called Haleem. It is one of Allah’s most beautiful names and signifies Allah bearing with a lot of our sins, covering them up and not hitting back. This graceful quality of Allah is also seen in His prophets and should be in all good believers.
HAYA – SENSE OF SHAME
Rasulullah (saaws) said “Haya is an integral part of Iman. A shameless person can no more make claim to Iman or Islam.”
KHUSHU’A
This means to maintain good manners out of both love and respect for somebody. It is most precious when maintained towards Allah.
ZIKR
Zikr is the consolidated habit of never or almost never forgetting Allah but always feeling Him watching you awaiting your obeidient service and doing as He Wants. Only this Zikr is real Zikr. Ceremonial Zikr can only be a dream to hopefully make one gain the habit.
SATR
This is covering the defects, shortcomings and sins of yourself from others and your covering theirs. If one removes the Satr/cover from others and exposes them unecessarily he commits a very grave sin and most likely will not die without commiting the same sins. Uncovering your own sins makes difficult you being forgiven. When you have no other witnesses of your sin other than Allah you may hope that Allah may keep your cover here and there and will just ignore it.
RIZA
Rada means acceptance, conformity, being pleased and contented despite perhaps some things being missing. It is a manifestation of your grceful acceptance of Allah’s choices for you. The opposite is Shakwa, which means complaining which Allah does not love unless you are oppressed by somebody.
RIFQ
Rifq means compassion, tenderness. It is especially valuable towards people who distress us but don’t know better like an innocent if demanding patient.
SA’Y
Means effort. Hardworking. A believer should be hardworking and never lazy or negligent. It is no use to conceal laziness with extra religious demonstration. It is better to work for the obtainment of your need or helping others than indulging in idle devotions.
SHUKR
Shukr means giving thanks both to Allah and both to people and saying it to them explicitly and emphatically, don’t just smile back, say “thank-you”. Rasulullah said “If you don’t thank people then you don’t thank Allah”.
SILA AL RAHM
Means proper and adequate care of ones blood relations even when they are Non-Muslims after all we have more obligation towards Non-Muslims then Muslims in the matter of winning hearts. That is because thanks to our kindness they may be won.
ADL
Adl is Justice. Perhaps this is the first commandment. Without being just all else are futile.
IFFAH
Iffah means valuing and practising innocence. Avoiding all sins especially financial and sexual. You must not cheat your business partners, empolyees, nor your spouse.
A’FW
A’fw means forgiving and tolerating those who offend you.
KARAM
Karam means noble disposition in general. It can be anything from forgiveness of enemies to lavishing others with gifts, in wise ways.
MUDAARAH
Mudaarah means being pleasantly diplomatic. It especially extends to accomodating people who may be lying or are too sensitive or are in the wrong but not prepared to admit, then we show Mudaarah to them to prevent them doing something worse.
MUHABBAH or HUBB
Means love in Islam. Legitimate love is loving Allah and all that Allah loves. This include love between married people as well as between friends all are legitimate and praiseworthy.
MURUWWA
Means manliness, chivalry. In most unexpected situations you should be able to show humane qualities towards anybody who may be in need or in a situation when your noble conduct will prevent a lot of evil.