The Aspiration (5/5)

The Station of Attentive Care

15 - They alert creation to their complete need for Allah;

Continuously fearing a decrease in their faith.

This is the Station of Attentive Care (ri'ayah) of the realities of faith and of the milestone of ihsan. For it is not befitting for the worshipper to ever turn away from contemplating his own condition and reflecting upon the deficiencies in his own actions. Instead he should expend all his efforts - before, as well as whilst, performing an action - in making sure that it is performed correctly and excellently. He should also safe­ guard it from anything that may render it void, and remove from it any­ thing that may corrupt it. For indeed, preserving the action is actually greater than the action itself. Thus, whenever a person increases in his attentive care and increases in his striving in the action, his faith increase. If, however, his attentive care decreases, his faith diminishes in proportion.

From the greatest of matters wherein attentive care should be exercised is in performance of actions, and in the milestone of ihsan; which refers to the fervent desire to perform acts of worship with presence of heart and total devotion to Allah.

Likewise, from the most important matters that deserve attentive care are the favours of Allah that He bestows upon a person. It is desired for a person to greatly thank Allah for granting him the grace to perform that action.

Likewise, [from those matters that deserve] attentive care is fear and hope; fearing that the act may be rejected due to self-conceit (‘ujb), ostentation   (riya'), arrogance (takabbur), or by not fulfilling it in the way that it deserves to be fulfilled; yet hoping in its acceptance by Allah's mercy, benevolence and grace - which includes being granted the grace to perform that action in the first place.

The Station of Renunciation

This emptying will not be sufficient until and unless the heart is filled with beneficial thoughts and truthful resolves. So the servant's  ideas and thoughts should be concerned with all that will draw him closer to Allah; such as acquiring  knowledge, contemplating  over the Qur'an, remembering  Allah with presence of heart, reflecting over Allah's kind­ ness, the fear of slipping and committing  disobedience, reflecting over the Attributes  of the All-Merciful and the fact that they are free from every blemish and defect, and reflecting upon the grave and its states; the Day of Resurrection  and its events; Paradise and its delights; and Hell and its blazing fire.

16 - Their hearts turning away from all distractions;

Completely emptied of other than the Most-Merciful.

17 - Their movements,  concerns and their resolves;

Are all for Allah, not creation, nor the Devil.

Meaning that they empty their hearts of all that distracts them from Allah and distances them from His good pleasure; this being the reality of worldly renunciation (zuhd).[1]

Their thoughts revolve around these matters, away from those negative thoughts that engender nothing but grief, harm, wasting of time and psychological instability; all of which are unhealthy for a person, both in this life and the Afterlife.[2]

The Fellowship

18 - The best of friends is the seeker of these paths;

Which leads to acquiring goodness and ihsan.

These are the ones who will cause their friends to be happy, providing they follow their path. Theirs is the path that Allah has ordered we ask Him to guide us to, because of Him favouring them with true faith and with actualising it.

We ask Allah that He guides us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom He has bestowed His grace:

“Of the Prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the pious; they are the best of company.” [Surah al-Nisa' 4:69]

We ask that He save us from the paths of His anger and misguidance, which lead to disgrace and destruction, for He is the most generous of those who show generosity and the most merciful of those who show mercy. I ask Allah - seeking the means of nearness to Him by His most beautiful Names, Attributes and Favours - that He not prevent us from the good that is with Him of Divine benevolence and forgiveness, because of our evils, our deficiencies in fulfilling His rights and our transgressions; and that He makes this sincerely for seeking His Face and a cause for attaining bliss in the Gardens of Paradise.

May Allah shower abundant blessings and peace upon Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet, who was sent as a mercy to the worlds; and upon his Family, Companions and followers.