Acts of Worship Should Make You a Better Person - II
26/10/2011| IslamWeb
… Continued
It is worth mentioning that some of those whom Allah The Almighty has endowed with following the way of guidance or seeking knowledge of the Sharee‘ah (Islamic law) knowledge are heedless of this aspect, either because they are too busy seeking knowledge, or they erroneously think that this is characteristic of the laymen. This mistake should be corrected. Exalted be Allah! Where do these people stand in comparison to Muhammad, 
, and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them?
, and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them?Ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said, describing their state, "The Messenger of Allah used to give us instructions at intervals during the days, for fear that we might get bored." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
used to give us instructions at intervals during the days, for fear that we might get bored." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]This indicates that he, , used to instruct and remind his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, from time to time.
, used to instruct and remind his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, from time to time.Ibn Al-Jawzi, 
a prominent scholar and preacher once noted,
a prominent scholar and preacher once noted,"I have discovered that engagement in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and listening to Hadeeth are hardly sufficient for the rectitude of the heart, unless it is mixed with Raqaa’iq (heart-softening narrations), and reflection on the biographies of the righteous predecessors, because they realized the purpose of the transmitted texts, and went beyond the purpose of the enjoined acts and deeds to taste the sweetness of their meanings and intents. I informed you about that only after I had experienced and tasted it." [Sayd Al-Khaatir]
Why do many people not detect the effects of the acts of worship in their life? Knowledge has a great impact on increasing the slave's exaltation of the symbols of Allah, about which He Says (what means): {That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.} [Quran 22:33]
There is a great difference between the one who honors those symbols bound by custom and as a result of following the practice of those around him, like his parents and community; and the one who honors them because he receives that command fresh and directly from the texts of the Divine revelation and the biographies of the righteous predecessors. His exaltation, in the latter case, will be based on knowledge, fear and veneration for Him who deserves exaltation and veneration. That is the significance of His Saying (which means): {Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.} [Quran 35:28]
This indicates the superiority of knowledge, because it invites to the fear of Allah The Almighty. For this reason, one of the righteous predecessors said, "He, who has better knowledge of Allah, fears Him more."
If one is certain that a particular deed is one of Allah's symbols, he will honor it more. That is why we see some laymen honor the symbols of Allah The Almighty, like the one certain of the fact that this religion is based on knowledge and wisdom, because it originates from Allah The Almighty, and that is a general certainty (of faith). However, the learned scholars of different levels are distinguished by the detailed knowledge of many particulars, which increases their faith and certainty regarding the rulings of this Sharee‘ah, established on perfect knowledge and far-reaching wisdom, because (as Allah Says, what means): {If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction.} [Quran 4:82]
This is the reason why, towards the end of Chapter Al-Israa’, Allah The Almighty Says (what means), addressing those who belie the Quran, and clarifying the superiority of knowledge: {Say, "Believe in it or do not believe} [That is, Allah is not in need of you, because He has slaves other than you; and it is those whom He has endowed with the beneficial knowledge] {Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it - when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration, And they say, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Quran increases them in humble submission.} [Quran 17:107-109]
This is the first reason why some people miss the effects of acts of worship. It is lack of acquaintance with the Sharee‘ah texts about the act of worship.
To be continued …
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