Living in Accordance with the Qur'an: Being Conscientious About Sleep; Not Sleeping More Than Needed
Contents
- Introduction
- Starting the Day Knowing that Every Moment is Predestined to Happen
- Being Aware Throughout the Day that We are Going Through a Trial
- Glorifying and Exalting God with the Deepest Respect
- Seeking Only God’s Approval and Contentment in Every Respect Throughout the Day Without Expecting Anything in Return
- Bearing in Mind that God Protects and Helps Believers
- Bearing in Mind that God Knows What Goes Through Our Minds and Our Hearts
- Devoting Our Undivided Attention to God, Turning to God in Every Thought and Action Throughout the Day
- Remembering and Mentioning God Very Often
- Remembering God Repeatedly When Meeting a Troop
- Knowing that Our Hearts Find Peace Only in the Remembrance of God
- Striving Towards Having a Good Grasp of Faith
- Keeping in Mind that Life is Short
- Keeping in Mind that God is the One Who Delivers Us from Every Hardship and Relieves Us of Every Trouble
- Acting with the Knowledge that God Will Greatly Reward Every Good Deed
- Keeping It in Mind that It is God Who Grants Beauty, Wealth, Science, Knowledge and All Other Qualities
- Giving Believers the Good News of God’s Approval and Lifting Their Spirits
- Knowing that God Loves Believers’ Deeds and Rewards Them Greatly for Their Benevolence
- Doing Good Deeds Only for the Sake of God
- Helping Each Other on Good Deeds and Piety
- Being Qualified for the Responsibilities Taken to Earn the Approval of God
- Fully Understanding that Love is the Reason Behind God’s Creation of the Whole Universe and the Trial on Earth, Deeply Loving God and His Manifestations
- Always Aspiring for Peace
- Not Sinking into Sorrow and Dismay in the Face of Troubles
- One Must Refrain from Behaving Ungratefully No Matter the Circumstances
- Overcoming Anger in the Face of Hardship
- Refraining from Being Aggressive and Skeptical
- Always Choosing the Most Pleasant Words When Speaking
- Refrain from Speaking Ill of Others or Using Hurtful, Sharp Language, a Characteristic of Idolaters and Hypocrites
- Always Maintaining a Compassionate and Lenient Demeanor
- Defending and Practicing Islam in the Sincerest Manner Through a Strong Personality, Even When Alone
- Being Brave and Unyielding in the Way of God
- Not Giving into Panic and Worry in the Face of Troubles
- Delighting in the Happiness and Joy of Faith
- Knowing that God Definitely Helps Those Who Help His Religion
- Delegating Duties
- Seeking the Advice of Others in All Affairs
- Remembering that Every Blessing We Enjoy is a Means of Trial
- Refraining from Breaching the Trust of Others; Keeping Any Given Promises
- Being Just in All Situations and Being Honest When Testifying
- Being Meticulous in Trade, Refraining from Making Ill-gotten Profits
- For Giving a Debt If the Debt or is in Dire Straits
- Holding Fast to the Causes Without Forgetting that God is the Creator of Everything
- Never Being Satisfied with Oneself
- It is God Who Teaches Knowledge. Refrain from Giving into Impertinence by Giving Credit to One’s Self for Being Knowledgeable
- Keeping in Mind that God Despises Those Who are Haughty and Refraining from Haughtiness No Matter the Circumstances
- Exhibiting a Sound Muslim Personality in Every Place and Circumstance
- Avoiding Hastiness
- Not Shying Away from Telling the Truth
- Being Resolute and Resilient
- Being Sincere in Serving Islam and Devoting One’s Life to God; Refraining from Making Excuses for Falling Behind
- Reconciling and Reuniting Believers
- Knowing that God Hears All Our Conversations; Refraining from Secret Talks
- Refraining from Talking About a Subject We Do Not Know About; Avoiding Gossip, Slander and Ill Thoughts
- Refraining from Being Quarrelsome and Engaging in Disputes with Believers
- Avoid Wasting Time in Pointless Activities and Idle Chatter
- Refraining from Giving Promises that Cannot be Kept
- Refraining from Insincere Behavior Such as “Bragging About Things One Did Not Accomplish”
- Standing United, Avoiding Separation and Dissent
- Not Following the Majority
- Refraining from Supporting Disbelievers, Traitors and Hypocrites
- Not Being Afraid of People
- Trusting Not in One’s Power and Means but God
- Holding No Fear of Being Condemned
- Spending One’s Wealth and Possessions in the Way of God Instead of Hoarding It
- Purifying the Self in Accordance with the Qur’an Instead of Defend and Justify It
- Being Helpful and Cooperative
- Refrain from Lying
- Using Reason Through Life
- Approaching Any Situation Rationally Rather Than Sentimentally
- Not Seeking Refuge in Disbelievers
- Not Submitting to Disbelievers
- Always Asking God for Help in Every Situation
- Not Giving into Despair in the Face of Any Hardship and Remaining Hopeful Under All Circumstances
- Keeping in Mind that God Helps His Sincere Subjects
- Keeping in Mind that God Stands by and Loves Those Who are Patient
- Exercising Great Patience in the Face of Troubles, Hardships, Illnesses and All Other Circumstances
- Not Showing a Tendency to Disbelief
- Painstakingly Preserving God’s Restrictions and Not Adhering to Unlawful Deeds
- Looking for Opportunities Throughout the Day that Will Help One Become Closer to God
- Having Due Fear and Awe of God
- Knowing that All Blessings Come Directly from God Without Attributing Any Power to the Causes
- Having a Profound Respect for God
- Meticulously Preserving Prayer and Performing Them Correctly in Reverence
- Reading the Qur’an
- Immediately Stop Talking and Listen to the Qur’an When It is Being Read
- Pondering the Verses of the Qur’an and Drawing Lessons from It
- Equating Nothing with God
- Being Forgiving
- Taking Only God and Believers as Confidant, Friend and Protector
- Not Aspiring After the Lives of Deniers and Refraining from Giving into the Illusions of the Worldly Life
- Being Constantly Aware of the Fact that Believers Always Prevail
- Commanding Good and Refraining from Evil
- Not Forgetting About One’s Self While Commanding Others to Do Good
- Restoring Prayer Sites and Mosques
- Keeping Homes, Mosques and Clothes Clean
- Dressing Elegantly When Visiting Mosques
- Eating of that on Which God’s Name is Mentioned
- Knowing that It is God Who Provides for Us
- Keeping in Mind that Believers are Responsible for Protecting All Believers
- Not Feeling Sorry for the Things We Have Lost or Becoming Spoiled by the Blessings Bestowed Upon Us
- Not Rubbing a Past Favor in a Person’s Face
- Making Room for Others in Mosques and Meetings
- Being Conscientious About Sleep; Not Sleeping More Than Needed
- Refraining from Any Turbulent Tone or Behavior and Corruption
- Not Sending a Believer Away
- Being Loyal to God, the Qur’an and Muslims
- Being Consistent in Good Moral Behavior and Benevolent Services
- Casting Evil Away in the Best Way
- Aiming for the Highest of Morals in One’s Attitude and Behaviors
- Refraining from Using Unpleasant Nicknames
- Leaving Any Place Where There are Those Who Expressively Reject the Verses of God and Make Light of Religion
- Treating Parents Well and Taking Great Care of Them in Their Elderly Years
- Treating Orphans Well and Being Meticulous About Their Rights
- Encouraging People to Feed the Poor
- Not Rebuking Those Who Beg of Their Own Accord
- Giving Away One’s Possessions Day and Night, Overtly or Covertly, in Prosperity or in Need
- Giving Away the Nice and Good Things One Likes; Refraining from Trying to Give Away the Things One Does Not Want or Like to Others
- Keeping in Mind that God Greatly Awards Those Who Give Their Possessions Away and Bestows a Great Blessing Upon Them
- Mentioning the Names of God While Praying
- Keeping in Mind that It is God Who Grants Wisdom and Praying to God to be Bestowed with Wisdom
- Inviting People to Belief in God and Islam by Preaching Religion
- Giving Advice and Preaching If It Will Prove Beneficial
- Not Requesting Any Payment for Preaching Religion
- Refraining from Coercion and Compulsion Where Religion is Concerned
- Saluting the Household When Entering a House
- Returning as a Lut at I on in the Same or a More Pleasant Manner
- Being Hospitable, Serving Pleasant Foods and Drinks Without Delay and Asking the Guests
- Refraining from Haughtiness; Always Adopting a Modest, Humble Attitude in the Way One Walks, Acts and Talks
- Refraining from Speaking Loudly
- Exalting God by Saying “Insha’allah” for Every Future Plan and Keeping in Mind that Every Plan is Materialized If God Wills
- Taking an Interest in the Subjects God Points Us Towards and Wants Us to Explore and Contemplate
- Devoting Considerable Effort to Serving Islam and the Qur’an Without Harboring Any Doubt
- Making Preparations for Struggling in the Way for God
- Duly Waging a Struggle in the Way of God with the Help of the Qur’an
- Never Adopting a Reluctant, Half-hearted Effort in the Struggle in the Way of God
- Continuing the Struggle Until All Mischief is Wiped Off the Face of the Earth and Islam Becomes the Predominant Religion
- Immigrating for the Sake of God in Case of Need, Providing Shelter to the Immigrants
- Painstakingly Refraining from Committing a Sin
- Refraining from Squandering Money or Wealth
- Never Giving into Satan’s Whisperings; Seeking Refuge in God from Satan’s Whisperings
- Not Allowing Satan to Influence One’s Behavior and Thoughts
- Knowing that Satan’s Deceit is Ineffectual and Does Not Have Any Influence on Those Who are Sincere in Their Belief
- Constantly Remembering and Reminding God’s Blessings and Expressing Gratitude for Them
- Asking God for Forgiveness and Mercy and Repenting Sincerely
- Asking for Forgiveness at Dawn
- Praying to God in a Hopeful and Fearful Manner
- Traveling in the Way of God
- Never Hanging Back and Slacking in Living in Accordance with Islamic Moral Values
- Worshiping Only God
The part of the night they spent asleep was small.
Eagerly Obeying God, His Commandments and Messengers
You who believe! Obey God and His Messenger. And do not turn away from him when you are able to hear.
When God and His Messenger have decided something it is not for any man or woman of the believers to have a choice about it. Anyone who disobeys God and His Messenger is clearly misguided.
We sent no Messenger except to be obeyed by God’s permission. If only when they wronged themselves they had come to you and asked God’s forgiveness and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them they would have found God Ever-Returning, Most Merciful.
Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed God. If anyone turns away, we did not send you to them as their keeper.
They will ask you about booty. Say:
‘Booty belongs to God and the Messenger. So have fear of God and put things right between you. Obey God and His Messenger if you are believers.’
Obey God and His Messenger and do not quarrel among yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. God is with the steadfast.
Ibrahim was a community in himself, exemplary, obedient to God, a man of pure natural belief. He was not one of the idolaters.
They say, ‘We believe in God and in the Messenger and we obey.’ Then after that a group of them turn away. Such people are not believers.
The reply of the believers when they are summoned to God and His Messenger so that he can judge between them, is to say, ‘We hear and we obey.’ They are ones who are successful.
(The angels said,)
‘Maryam, obey your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow.’
These are God’s limits. As for those who obey God and His Messenger, We will admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever. That is the Great Victory. All who obey God and His Messenger and have awe of God and fear of Him, they are the ones who are victorious.
Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers, men and women who are obedient, men and women who are truthful, men and women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble, men and women who give charity, men and women who fast, men and women who guard their chastity, men and women who remember God much:
God has prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward.
They will say on the Day their faces are rolled over in the Fire,
‘If only we had obeyed God and obeyed the Messenger!’
There is no constraint on the blind, nor on the lame, nor on the sick. We will admit all who obey God and His Messenger into Gardens with rivers flowing under them. But We will punish with a painful punishment anyone who turns his back.
The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in God and His angels and His Books and His Messengers. We do not differentiate between any of His Messengers. They say,
‘We hear and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord! You are our journey’s end.’
Say, ‘If you love God, then follow me and God will love you and forgive you for your wrong actions. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’
Perform prayer and give the alms and obey the Messenger so that hopefully mercy will be shown to you.
So have fear of God, as much as you are able to, and listen and obey and spend for your own benefit. It is the people who are safeguarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful.
Obey God and the Messenger so that hopefully you will gain mercy.
Men have charge of women because God has preferred the one above the other and because they spend their wealth on them. Right-acting women are obedient (to God), guarding the unseen as God has guarded…
Whoever obeys God and the Messenger will be with those whom God has blessed:
the Prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. What excellent company such people are!
They command what is right and forbid what is wrong, and perform prayer and give the alms, and obey God and His Messenger. They are the people on whom God will have mercy. God is Almighty, AllWise.
Say: ‘Obey God and obey the Messenger. Then if they turn away he is only responsible for what he is charged with and you are responsible for what you are charged with. If you obey him, you will be guided.’ The Messenger is only responsible for clear transmission.
The desert Arabs say,
‘We believe.’ Say: ‘You do not believe. Say rather, “We have become Muslim,” for faith has not yet entered into your hearts. If you obey God and His Messenger, He will not undervalue your actions in any way. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’
You who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger and those in command among you. If you have a dispute about something, refer it back to God and the Messenger, if you believe in God and the Last Day. That is the best thing to do and gives the best result.
Remember God’s blessing to you and the covenant He made with you when you said, ‘We hear and we obey.’ Have fear of God. God knows what the heart contains.
You who believe! Obey God and His Messenger. And do not turn away from him when you are able to hear.
He will put your actions right for you and forgive you your wrong deeds. All who obey God and His Messenger have won a mighty victory.
You who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger. Do not make your actions of no worth.
Obey God and obey the Messenger. But if you turn your backs, the Messenger is only responsible for clear transmission.