QUALITIES OF A PIOUS MUSLIM

According to the Islamic laws as explained in the Noble Qur’an, people have been generally classified into three types;

            Pious

            Infidel

            Hypocrite

Pious are the people who have accepted Islam completely from the bottom of their hearts.

Infidels are those who are openly against the pious people.

Hypocrites are the two-faced people. When they are with Muslims they show themselves as Muslims while in their hearts they are infidels.

Pious men have the following five qualities:

In the Noble Qur’an, Surah al-Baqarah, Ayah 2-4: “There is no doubt that this Book is a Guide for the pious. It is the pious who believe in the Unseen, attend to prayer, give in charity part of what We have granted them; who have faith in what has been revealed to you (Muhammad) and others before you and have strong faith in the life Hereafter.”

1. Believe in the Unseen: Followers of divine religions stand against the unbelievers of God, revelations and the Resurrection. The unbelievers regard death as the ultimate end of human beings while the believers of Unseen have the cognizance of an Omnipotent Power who had planned the creation of mankind with a purpose. For a believer, death is not a complete destruction of human being; it is one stage of the completion of human life. It is just a window of a much greater world awaiting his soul in the life Hereafter. The concept of accountability, reward and punishment for our deeds is linked with the Creator and the Day of Resurrection.

A materialist does not distinguish between man and animal; both die and their bodies disintegrate into the elements. Believe in Unseen includes not only the Creator but the domain beyond the physical world e.g. angels, revelations, Day of Judgment. It may include the re-appearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s.).

2. Relationship with Allah: The second quality of a pious man is the establishment of prayers. It is the eternal link of a pious man with God. They do not bow before statues or oppressive rulers but only before their God, the Creator. A person, with his whole heart and mind, stands five times in front of Allah, and sincerely utters invocations, his thinking and approach to life changes. It is impossible for such a man to defy orders of his Creator and commit sins, if he sincerely believes in All-Mighty and His Powers. Prayer is the pillar of faith, and means to attaining nearness to Allah.

3. Relationship with people: A pious man will not only have links with his Creator but also with His creations. The Noble Qur’an describes the third quality of a pious man as the one who give charity out of sustenance granted by Allah. Qur’an did not use “they spend (in charity) of what they have, but it says “of what We have provided them” which includes wealth, knowledge and intelligence, physical power and status. Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “It means that they share (and teach to those who need) the knowledge and science Allah has taught them.” In short whatever assets a pious man possesses should use it for the betterment of the needy without expecting any thing in return from them but only for the pleasure of Allah.

Relationship with Allah is attached to Relationship with people. A man who is linked with Allah does not regard his sustenance as his own but treats it as the gift from Allah and dispenses it as a trust of Allah. He feels pleased when he spends the resources granted by Allah on His creatures. This mental approach increases feelings of cooperation. Like sun, he shares his resources selflessly.

4. Believe in Messengers: The pious have faith in the Divine program of all guides for the betterment of humanity and they do not distinguish between any of them. All of them preached Unity of Allah, guided them towards virtuous deeds and salvation, and warned them of chastisement for sinful acts, and rewards for the virtuous deeds on the Day of Resurrection.

5. Believe in the Day of Judgment: This is the last quality of a pious man described in the above Ayah. He has the firm conviction that life is not given without any purpose. The journey of life does not end with the death but continues after death. He is cognizant of the Justice of Allah, the Creator, Who is All-Seeing and aware of all of our actions, whether potent or latent, even what we have in our hearts. Hence, He will take the account of every thing. He will order our limbs to testify against us for our deeds. In the end the sinners will be punished in the Hell Fire and the pious will be sent to Paradise for enjoying the fruits of their virtuous deeds. The life on earth is temporary abode. One has to sow the seed here to harvest the outcome in the Hereafter. Faith in the Day of Judgment has a profound impact on the life of a human being. This faith in Hereafter protects man from committing sins and stimulates him to treat other human beings kindly. The stronger the faith of a man is the fewer sins are committed by him. Holy Qur’an Surah Saad, Ayah 26, wherein Allah addresses Prophet Dawood: “Dawood, We have appointed you as Our deputy on earth so judge among the people with truth. D o not follow (worldly) desires lest you go astray from the way of Allah. Those who go astray from the way of Allah will suffer severe torment for forgetting the Day of Reckoning.”