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excellence in belief (ih'san)

 

 
   

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Belief (Iman)

The second state in the journey towards GOD is faith (Iman) . This state expresses that what is recognised with the tongue is confirmed by the heart. The first stage is experienced by everyone but not necessarily the second. The believer who lives in a state of faith is not satisfied with the mere adherence to the five pillars of Islam.  His very inner life reflects that.  These levels of belief are expressed in a Prophetic tradition (hadith) related to us by the Companion, Omar Al-Khattab, may GOD be pleased with him.

"One day we were sitting with the Messenger of GOD, (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) when a man came among us. He wore clothes of shining white and his hair was of the deepest black. He bore no signs of travel in his appearance, yet was known to none among us. He seated himself right in front of the Prophet (may the prayers and the peace of GOD be on him), pressing his knees against the Prophet’s knees (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) grasping his thighs with the palm of his hands and asked him “Oh Muhammad! Tell me about Islam.”  The Messenger of GOD  (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) replied:   “Islam is that you bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is His Prophet; that you keep the obligatory prayers; that you pay the obligatory alms; that you fast during the month of Ramadan, and that you make the pilgrimage to the sacred House if it is within your means.” 

“You speak the truth” said the newcomer.  We were astonished to see him questioning the Prophet and approving. The man continued: “Tell me about Faith (Iman). ”  The Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) replied that "faith is to believe in GOD, His angels, His books and His prophets and in the final judgement and to believe in destiny as accorded to good and evil ".

The man said “You speak the truth” and went on to ask: “And what of Excellence of conduct (Ih'san)”.  The Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) declared “That you pray to GOD as if you see Him and if you do not see Him know that He sees you.”

Again the man asked “Tell me about the Last Day.”  The Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) replied “The one you ask knows no more than the one who asks this question”. 

“And what are the signs of the Last Day?”  the man continued. The Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) said “When the servant girl gives birth to her mistress, when you see simple bare footed country people vying with each other to build ever higher buildings.”

Thereupon the man left our company.  As for me, I was left in astonishment. Then the Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) asked me “Oh Omar, do you who was questioning me?.” To which I replied “ GOD and His Prophet know better than I”

“That was the angel Gabriel” said the Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) “Who came to teach you your religion.

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Excellence of conduct (Ih'san)

The last of the states is that of excellence of conduct (Ih'san)  The Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) described it in this way:  “Pray to GOD as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, know that He sees you". This state of mind is one of certainty and inner perception. One does not pray to GOD just because one has to, but because one sees Him. In this final stage, knowing is not enough. One must see. The Prophet said “Pray to GOD as if you see Him”.  The meaning of “As if” describes a frontier which distinguishes those who see Him from those who will never see Him. It is neither habit nor faith which conditions the prayer but certainty. This spiritual state can only be achieved by an inner desire and motivation in the voyage towards GOD. In order to facilitate the voyage, it is advisable to follow those who have completed the voyage and have achieved this spiritual state: the friends of GOD and spiritual masters. These people have arrived at this spiritual state by practice, by faith and by an intense desire to get close to GOD. They have transformed their inner selves because they have escaped their habitual limitations. The Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) said “Within man there exists a spiritual force, which if it aspired to the Universe, The Universe would come to it ”.

Our Mind is plagued with material pre-occupations and by diverse emotions: love, hate, joy, sadness and fear. These are only knots which restrict our range of spiritual accomplishment. With exercise, a man can acquire true spiritual tools. But these can only truly transform the mind if one perseveres in a Sufi method.  This brings tranquility of the spirit, a calming of the mind and delivers us from the fear of death. For the adept of a Sufi method death loses its aspect of finality and becomes a mere stage in the spiritual voyage.  It is the most sought after goal and reward.  The Prophet (may the prayers and peace of GOD be on him) said “Die before you die”.  To die before dying means to be liberated from obsession with the self and the material world.  It enables us to live the eternal life in unfettered joy.  The Sufi way helps the adept to bring about the death of the ego and to establish divine unity and love in his heart.

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Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists)..


 

Islam can only be understood through the realisation of the knowledge that dispels ignorance.  One should not forget that the first revealed word of the Quran was the command: “Read!” (IQRA)  GOD did not declare first in the Quran “I am your GOD. Adore me!” Right from the start GOD invites men and women to knowledge. It is with knowledge that we can understand why we should worship GOD and remain His faithful servants.

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