The importance Of Akhlaq (A diary entry)

Dear Diary, 06/16/08

Few days back, I discovered something that has changed my life for ever. I found
the importance of Akhlaq at a whole different level! When i was reading the book
'Then I was guided' by Sayyid Mohamed Tejani Samaoui , I couldn't help but notice
the first impact that the shia's had on him. The major reason to why he was
attracted to them was because of their Akhlaq. When i kept reading the chapter 'My
first visit to Iraq' I felt as though I discovered the secret to attracting others towards
the religion. Surely there is intense depth to the laws of Islam and Allah has not
made anything for us to do, or follow without having a deep logical meaning to it. I
would like to Quote from the book the most clear cut thoughts of Mr. Tijani himself.
"I liked their manners and said to myself, "These people whom we accused of being
deviants seem to observe the religion more than us." "
This is such a brilliant way for us to have people want to know us without us trying
to push them or appear irritating!. If we were to keep our Akhlaq polished and
follow them with utmost responsibility the everyone would be attracted to Muslims
all over the world!. This would be something NO ONE would be able to ignore,
especially in todays time where being selfish and mean is like a trend!.
"During the days of our travel together I sensed in my friend his noble manners, his
self-esteem and his generosity. I also sensed in him modesty and piousness that I
had never experienced with anybody else before. I felt that I was not a stranger, but
as if I was at home."
Shouldn't we also exude this piousness and modesty?. Isn't it our responsibility
too?. The prophet is a great example for attracting people through good character
and manners, it was this consistently beautiful character he'd been maintaining for
the initial 40 yrs which gained the trust of the people on him. And he was given
many names as the truthful one, the trustworthy one etc. And surely it was worth it.
Who would not trust a man so just and so pious and selfless?

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: "I have been sent to complete the nobility of your
character"
I think it's time we start taking from him what is so important right now. There are
good people in the world too, but we as Muslims have to be better than them, we
have to be outstanding and not mediocre in any field, And if we have akhlaq that
are so noticeably inviting then how can we not attract people to the right path?
"The most complete in faith among the believers is he who has the best manners."
[Holy Prophet (s)]
We have such examples of people with pure faith and excellent akhlaq that not
having them in us is a shame! The aimma and the prophets have tried so hard and
taught us so many lessons with regard to akhlaq and treating the people around us
that we should be exuding all this learned treasures everyday and not only to
Muslims or our close family, but to EVERYONE. It is only when we truly represent
ourselves as the way a muslim is prescribed to be that people will start respecting
us and not judging us based on few people gone astray. Imam Ali (a) says:
"Habituate yourself to magnanimity, and choose for yourself the most excellent of
all etiquettes, for virtuous behavior is a habit. Avoid the most low of all etiquettes,
and struggle with yourself to avoid it, for evil is stubborn."
There is a dua called; Dua e makarimul Akhlaq, in sahife sajjadiyah. It's the 20th
Dua which is to be read especially to better ones akhlaq. What more do we need?.
All our problems I've realized in the present world are because we aren't following
Islam the way it's supposed to be. We are molding things to our convenience,
having unnecessary problems because we refuse to follow the teachings of the
Quran and the messengers of Allah and the infalliables. We are creating the
problems and then asking Allah to help us, we refuse to learn more and to stand by
the truth. How are we to practice Amr Bil Ma'ruf when we ourselves don't know
what right is?!.
This is the time for a wake up bigtime!. Starting form the basics and working
upwards. If we as Muslims are going to pray 5 times a day, and complete our

wajibaat but not have good akhlaq we are repelling the world not just from us but
the whole of the Muslim mankind!.
Articles

Ya ayyuhal
insanu
innaka
kaadihun
ilaa
rabbika
kadhan
famulaaqihi.
O man , surely you are striving towards your Lord with great exertion and you shall meet Him.
(Surah Inshiqaq 84:6)
Man is constantly moving and on a struggle looking for a path. At the beginning of his journey,
his efforts and endeavours in the world are normally confined to worldly life and motivated by
worldly desires; he is immersed in the depth of sinfulness and desperation. Then he realizes his
hopeless status before his Creator. He begins doing his own accounting and resolves to change
for the better. He takes the straight path to salvation. He establishes communion and proximity
with Allah (swt) and earns His pleasure. At the end of his journey, this enlightened and blessed
person will be called by his Lord and his accounting is going to be easy.
One way a mumin can establish communion and proximity with Allah (swt) is through the
medium of duas.
The Duas of Imam Zaynul Aabideen (A)
Alhamdulillah, we, the followers of Alhlul Bayt (A) are truly blessed for we have in our
possession treasures which have been gifted to us by our Aimma (A), in the form of duas,
treasures which are there just waiting for us to open them to see what lies inside them. If we
had made efforts to open the treasures we would have discovered inside true gem which shows
and directs us to the path of success and salvation in this world and the Hereafter.
One of these very beautiful duas is Dua e Abi Hamza Thumali by Imam Zaynul Abideen (A)
(The adornment of worshippers).
I shall quote two lines from this dua by the Imam (A)
ilayya liqaYa zal jalali wal ikram, habbib a-aka, wahbib liqaai
O the One who is full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour. Make me love meeting You and love my
meeting.
wajal li fi liqaika-r-raahata, wal faraja, wal karamata
And in meeting You, grant me comfort, happiness and honour.
Let us look at other gems. These you will find in Al-Sahifat Al-Sajjadiyyah the book of AlSajjad by our fourth Imam, Ali ibn al-Husain, Imam Zaynul Abideen (A) known in English as

the Psalms of the household of Muhammad (A). It is one of the oldest prayer manual in Islamic
sources in existence and is considered by the Shias only next to Quran, the Duas and Ahadith
of the Prophet (SAW) and Nahjul Balagha, the book of sermons, letters and sayings by Imam
Ali (A)

These supplications of Imam Zayn al-bideen (A) help us understand the spiritual and inner
dimension of Islam and our relationship with Allah (swt).
Three lines from Dua Makarim Al-Akhlaq :
I should like to quote briefly three lines from Dua Makarimul Akhlaaq, Dua No. 20 in
SahifahAl-Kamilah. This is one of the most beautiful duas which we normally recite on the 23rd
night of the month of Ramadhan. It is a dua about the noble moral traits and those acts which
are pleasing to Allah (swt). Imam supplicates,
(Allahumma salli alaa Muhammadin wa aalihi ; wakfini maa yashghalunil ihtimamu bihi.)
O Allah, bless Muhammad and his household ; Keep me Occupied with those things which in
your estimation are important.
Wastamilni bima tas-aluni ghadan anhu
And employ me in that about which You will ask me tomorrow.
Wastafrigh ayyami feema khalaqtani lahu
and let me pass my days in that for which You have created me.
Let us expound on these three verses.
'wakfini maa yashghalunil ihtimamu bihi'
Keep me occupied with what is important to me, that is, something useful that I put some effort
into cultivating. For example when you grow a plant you have to take great care in nourishing it
by watering it and making sure that it is trimmed and receives enough sunlight. This is
ihtimam, anything that blossoms after putting in efforts and attention.
In other words the Imam is advising us to keep ourselves occupied in doing those things
which earn the pleasure and ridha satisfaction of Allah (swt). Our constant and continued
struggle in life must be for the sake of earning satisfaction of none other than Allah (swt).
Anyone who has only one concern, one desire in life and that is, to do anything and everything

sincerely for the sake of Allah (swt), Allah (swt) will fill his heart and make him so contented
and independent that he will no longer need to seek any help, comfort or confidence from
anyone except Allah (swt). This is achieved by those people who have resolved in their life that
their only direction is to Allah (swt).
Then Imam says,
wastamilni bimaa tasaluni ghadan anhu
Employ me in that about which You will ask me tomorrow.
What does it mean about that which we will be asked tomorrow? According to our ulama we
will be asked about two things only, about things that we have done and those things which we
have failed to do. We will be asked about what we did in all these years of our life that Allah
(swt) has given us. Did we serve Gods creation? Did we help the poor and the needy? As Shias,
what have we made of the Book of Allah and the seerah and the sunnah of the Prophet and the
Aimma (A)? Have they had any effect on our life? How have we treated our parents, our
wives, our children and our fellow human beings?
These duas are a journey of exploration, a journey of self-analysis, a journey which involves
transformation, a journey of our life, of where we came from and where we are heading to, what
steps must we take in order to arrive at the destination required by Allah (swt), a journey which
ultimately ends with success and salvation.
Wastafrigh ayyami feema khalaqtani lahu
and let me pass my days in that for which You have created me.
That is, let every day of my life be a testimony that I have fulfilled the purpose of my existence
in this universe which is to serve none other than Allah(swt) as Allah says, wa maa khalaqtul
jinna wal insa illah liyabudoon. I have not created jinn and men except that they may worship
me, they may serve Me.(Surah Az-Zaariyaat 51:56).
Let us see what Imam Redha (A) says about worship ibaadah. He says,
Laysatil ibaadatu kathrata-s-siyami was-salaati
Worship is not about fasting or praying much
wa innamal ibaadatu kathratu-t-tafakkuri fi amrillah
Rather worship is to reflect much on the affairs related to Allah(swt)
(Tuhaf al-uqool, p. 442).
What is important is to reflect upon the purpose of our existence which is to fulfil the commands

of Allah(swt) according to the Holy Quran and the teachings of Ahlul Bayt (A).
In Surah Al-Imran, Surah No. 3 Ayah No. 191. In this Ayah, Allah (swt) describes those people
who have understood and fulfilled the purpose of their existence.
allazina yazkurunllaha qiyaman wa qu oodan wa alaa junubihim wa yatafakkaruna fi khalqis-samaawati wal ardhi
Those who remember Allah standing and sitting and lying on their sides and reflect on the
creation of the heavens and the earth.
These people think deeply about the creation of the heavens and earth and so understand the
purpose of their creation on this earth. They do not pass their time in useless pursuits and vain
pastimes. And they say,
'Rabbana maa khalqta haaza baatilan subhanaka faqina 'azabannaar'
Our Lord! You have not created all this in vain. Glory be to You; save us then from the
chastisement of the Fire.
These are the people who with tears in their eyes call on their Lord with tadharruan wa
khufyah humility and in private (7:55) saying, You have not created this universe for no
reason.
Allah (swt) is calling upon us to live a meaningful life filled with good deeds. Otherwise, we
are mayyitoon we are spiritually dead. We are just carrying on in life that has no meaning and
no purpose.
Imam Ali (A) put all his thought and attention to none other than Allah (swt). He said,
maa ra aytu shay-an illa ra aytu-Llaha qablahu, wa mahu wa baadahu
I never saw a thing but saw Allah before it, with it and after it.
Let us pray to Allah (swt) to grant us tawfiq to understand the purpose of our creation and carry
out the commands of Allah (swt) and let us end with a prayer of our Prophet(saw)
Ilahi laa takilni ila nafsi tarfata aynin abadan
My God! Do not ever leave me by myself even for a moment
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 86, p.9)
Muallim Murtaza Bandali