How to be a Hero?
If one of us is given the choice between two ways: a hard one and an easy one, a simple one and a difficult one. The easy one is the most lovable and pleasant it could be and the hard one is the worst it could be;...
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In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All the praises and thanks be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the last and seal of the Prophets.
If it is destined for one of us to travel along a thorny way, he will deviate from the thorns, pass them or refrain from walking on such way.
If one of us is given the choice between two ways: a hard one and an easy one, a simple one and a difficult one. The easy one is the most lovable and pleasant it could be and the hard one is the worst it could be; the wise man will follow the way of ease and safety while the foolish will try to follow other than that way.
Even if one of us carries a hot pot, he will take a protection from the heat of such pot and will do his best to be safe and push harm away from him.
If one says: there is no need for the protection from the heat of the pot, we will say that this is craziness and foolishness. If one of us is asked to walk on a thorny land, he will get ready, walk and strive in walking.
If he neglects that, he will lose his walking machine (legs). If he stops, he will not fulfill his need. If he puts on protecting things such as shoes and the like, he will achieve his end without negligence and will pass the thorns without being affected.
O Blessed Man
Your confidant in your secrecy, your observer in your publicity, this Whom you are in His eyes, this Whom you cannot get out from His sovereignty, Whom there is no dominion but His dominion, and Whom there is no repelling for His blessing, no preventive for what He gives and no giver for what He prevents; He is worth that you make a shelter and refuge between you and His torture. There is no better shelter or refuge than deserting what He forbids and obeying what He orders. Fearing Allah is by deserting the forbidden and by performing righteous deeds. Fearing Allah is escaping from the Hellfire and the means of entering it; it is taking the appropriate means of entering Paradise.
It is: the straight path.
It is: faith and good deeds.
It is: the benefiting knowledge and the righteous deed.
It is: performing the ordained and deserting the forbidden.
It is: to make a shelter between you and the torture of Allah.
It is: fearing from the Majestic, acting according to what is revealed, being satisfied with the little and being prepared for the day of death.
It is: deserting all sins.
It is: to make Allah before your eyes.
Leave all the sins, what is great and what is small; this is fearing Allah
Be like a walker on a land of throne that he is cautious from what he sees
Do not depreciate what is little; mountains are from pebbles
The inerrant Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has advised Mu’âz ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with. He had said to him, “Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow the evil deed by a good deed to erase it, and treat people with good manners.” [Declared good by Al-Albani]
«اتق الله حيثما كنت، وأتبع الحسنة السيئة تمحها، وخالق الناس بخلق حسن» حسنه الألباني
His advice to one man is an advice to the whole nation. Allah Glorified and Exalted Who is the Most free One from needing the creatures says as an advice and instruction to all people, {O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam),} [Surat An-Nisâ’ 4:1]
{يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ} النساء: 1
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha alnnasu ittaqoo rabbakumu allathee khalaqakum min nafsin wahidatin
The order of fearing Allah is mentioned seventy nine times in the Quran. Allah ordains His servants to follow His orders and avoid His prohibitions by ordering them to be dutiful to Him. By Allah, the whole courage is to fear Allah and to obey Him.
Fear Allah as Fearing Allah never passed a man’s heart but he gained
Not this who crosses roads is a hero but this who fears Allah is the hero
Piety is more important than the tangible clothing … it is even the best clothing, {and the raiment of righteousness, that is better.} [Surat Al-A’râf 7:26]
{وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ} الأعراف: 26
Transliteration: walibasu alttaqwa thalika khayrun
It is one of the major things that help people to enter Paradise. When he was asked about the most things that make people enter Paradise, the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “(They are) Fearing Allah and good manners.” [Declared good by Al-Albani]
«سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما أكثر ما يدخل الناس الجنة؟ قال: تقوى الله، وحسن الخلق» حسنه الألباني
O You Who see the wings of the mosquito in the pitch black night, bestow upon the weak slave a sincere repentance, piety and fearing You, O Lord.
Truly the pious will be amidst Gardens and water-springs (Paradise).
The pious are by Allah, the people of nobility.
They are the people of real happiness in the two houses (this worldly life and the Hereafter).
They are the people of knowledge and fearing.
They are the people accompanying Allah, {Truly, Allâh is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinûn (good-doers)} [Surat An-Nahl 16:128]
{إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ} النحل: 128
Transliteration: Inna Allaha maAAa allatheena ittaqaw waallatheena hum muhsinoona
They are the people of accompanying success, bless, support, aid and protection.
The pious are the people of the high status for Allah Glorified and Exalted. He, Glorified and Exalted has said, {Beautified is the life of this world for those who disbelieve, and they mock at those who believe. But those who obey Allâh’s Orders and keep away from what He has forbidden, will be above them on the Day of Resurrection.} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:212]
{زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۘ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ} البقرة: 212
Transliteration: Zuyyina lillatheena kafaroo alhayatu alddunya wayaskharoona mina allatheena amanoo waallatheena ittaqaw fawqahum yawma alqiyamati waAllahu yarzuqu man yashao bighayri hisabin
The righteous are the people of benefiting from the reminder, advice and the Noble Quran. Allah, Glorified and Exalted has said, {Alif-Lâm-Mîm. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings.] (1) This is the Book (the Qur’ân), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqûn [the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism who fear Allâh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allâh much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:1-2]
{الم ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ} البقرة: 1-2
Transliteration: Aliflammeem (1) Thalika alkitabu la rayba feehi hudan lilmuttaqeena
They are the people of useful knowledge and righteous deeds. He, the Almighty has said, {So be afraid of Allâh; and Allâh teaches you.} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:282]
{وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّـهُ} البقرة: 282
Transliteration: waittaqoo Allaha wayuAAallimukumu Allahu
This who fears Allah, Allah will open the gates of his heart and brain, so He teaches him and uses him in obeying Him.
In addition, the pious are the people of Paradise. They are the people of the everlasting delights and the permanent happiness. Allah Glorified and Exalted has said, {For Al-Muttaqûn (the pious) there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow.} [Surat Al-’Imrân 3:15]
{لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ} آل عمران: 15
Transliteration: lillatheena ittaqaw AAinda rabbihim jannatun tajree min tahtiha alanharu
They are the people of ranks. They are gathered to the Most Merciful like a delegation (presented before a king for honor). Paradise is brought close to them. They have the built chambers in which its outside is seen from its inside and its inside is seen from its outside. They have the secure place. They have a seat of truth near Allah. The Most Merciful loves them. He, Glorified and Exalted has said, {Surely Allâh loves Al-Mattaqûn (the pious)} [Surat At-Tawbah 9:4]
{إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ} التوبة: 4
Transliteration: inna Allaha yuhibbu almuttaqeena
Have you been keen for that O you blessed man?!
This who looks with insight to his status will see what makes him sad, except those whom Allah has mercy on.
He sees all negligence. However, this who has the complete happiness is the one who benefits from the times of his life. He prepares and gets prepared. He knows with certainty that he is approaching to his Lord; he will stand before His Hands and that He is well aware of all that he did.
Verily, it is from benefiting from the times of life knowing the essence of fearing Allah, the fruits and benefits that are gained from it. One of the greatest fruits is the acceptance of righteous deeds, {Verily, Allâh accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)} [Surat Al-Mâ’idah 5:27]
{إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّـهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ} المائدة: 27
Transliteration: innama yataqabbalu Allahu mina almuttaqeena
Moreover, one of the fruits of piety is the success of the one who fears Allah in differentiating between the truth and falsehood; He, Glorified and Exalted has said, {O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins,} [Surat Al-Anfâl 8:29]
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ} الأنفال: 29
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo in tattaqoo Allaha yajAAal lakum furqanan wayukaffir AAankum sayyiatikum
In addition, gaining the protection of Allah Glorified and Exalted, {Allâh is the Walî (Helper, Protector) of the Muttaqûn (the pious).} [Surat Aj-Jâthiyah 45:19]
{وَاللَّـهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ} الجاثية: 19
Transliteration: waAllahu waliyyu almuttaqeena
There is also safety and security from terror and sorrow, {then whosoever becomes pious and righteous, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.} [Surat Al-A’râf 7:35]
{فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ} الأعراف: 35
Transliteration: famani ittaqa waaslaha falakhawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoona
Fearing Allah bestows upon the one who fears Allah blessings from the earth and the heavens and mercies are revealed, {and fear Allâh, that you may receive mercy.} [Surat Al-Hujurât:10]
{وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ} الحجرات: 10
Transliteration: waittaqoo Allaha laAAallakum turhamoona
Piety is a protection for man from the incitements of Satan’s. It is preservation for him, glad tidings, in the life of the present worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change can there be in the Words of Allah. This is indeed the supreme success. The good end is for them, {the (good) end is for Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)} [Surat Hûd 11:49]
{إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ} هود: 49
Transliteration: inna alAAaqibata lilmuttaqeena
It is the way out from seductions. It contains relief, sustenance and happiness. Allah Glorified and Exalted said, {And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). [2]. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.} [Surat At-Talâq 65:2-3]
{وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ} الطلاق: 2-3
Transliteration: waman yattaqi Allaha yajAAal lahu makhrajan (2)Wayarzuqhu min haythu la yahtasibu
It is, by Allah, the whole nobility, {Verily, the most honorable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwâ [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqûn (the pious).]. Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.} [Surat Al-Hujurât 49:13]
{إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ} الحجرات: 13
Transliteration: inna akramakum AAinda Allahi atqakum inna Allaha AAaleemun khabeerun
Such nobility is decided by the Lord, Glorified and Exalted, not by a human organization, a global body or a terrestrial entity. It is decided by this Who has created this Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul) and has perfected him in proportion; then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him. Woe to him who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allâh has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds), and how happy he is who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allâh ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds).
O you blessed man: I ask you by this Who has created your hearing and sight:
Do you not like to be a hero?
Do you not like to be resurrected with the pious?
Do you not like to be one of the people of nobility for Allah?
Do you not like to have the best reward from Allah?
Do you not like to be happy with the full meaning of such word?
Do you not like to be called on the Day of Resurrection with the pious, so you stand under the protection of the Most Merciful?
Do you not like to obey Allah under the light of Allah asking for the reward of Allah?
Do you not like that your Lord makes for you a relief for each grief and a way out from each distress and a good health from each scourge?
Do you not like that your deed is accepted by your Lord?
Do you not like that all?
It is as if I am hearing you saying, “Yes, yes, who does not like that?”
So, O you blessed man: hurry in joining the way of the righteous and hold firmly from Allah by the most trustworthy handhold. May Allah make both you and us among the righteous and turn the evils of devils away from us. He is the supporter for that and He has the power to do it.
The pious are the real heroes. Last but not least, we are still slaves for our master and Lord. The Master is Allah. Allah says to those of old and those of later times, {And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allâh, and keep your duty to Him} [Surat An-Nisâ’ 4:131]
{وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ} النساء: 131
Transliteration: walaqad wassayna allatheena ootoo alkitaba min qablikum waiyyakum ani ittaqoo Allaha
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has advised us, “Fear your Lord, pray your five [prayers], fast your month, pay the zakat of your money, obey your commanders, so you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«اتقوا الله ربكم، و صلوا خمسكم، و صوموا شهركم، و أدوا زكاة أموالكم، و أطيعوا ذا أمركم، تدخلوا جنة ربكم» صححه الألباني
O you blessed man, after all that … I will ask you just one more question:
Do you know how to be a hero?
I will leave the answer for you … yes for you. At these moments I will raise the white flag to you and to the reader, announcing surrender before this issue.
It is, by Allah, a very important issue. A one like me does not have the right to go through it. It is, however, a recommendation of a compassionate person and an advice of a lover who loves goodness for you as he loves it for himself.
Yes, by He Who has created souls and split grains; the subject, however, is very long. I am just satisfied with a consolation like the consolation of a responsible person and a hint like the hint of a warning cautioner.
The aim is reached by the aforementioned. I conclude the words by the saying of a man from yonder:
A non-pious orders people to be pious
[Is like] a physician who cures people while he is ill.
All in all, the aforementioned was written hastily with a clear defect. I ask Allah the protection and safety in both houses (this worldly life and the Hereafter), to make us benefit from what we have learned and teach us what we do not know, to bless our lives, times and deeds, to bless us with sincerity in both words and deeds, to follow the master of the sons of Adam, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, and to gather you and us with the pious. Allah is the Highest and He knows best and attributing knowledge to Him is safer. Prayers and peace of Allah be upon Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
Mohamed ibn Sirrar Al-Yami
Ibn Khuzaymah House