Attributes of a Perfect Believer

While Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has bestowed great number of attributes and qualities upon the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ also blessed the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with incredible blessing of wisdom and intellect in its complete and perfect form. Ra’ees-ul-Mutakallimeen Mufti Naqi Ali Khan Hanafi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْه has quoted the blessed saying of Sayyiduna Wahb Bin Munabbih رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْه in his book, Suroor-ul-Quloob: I have seen this written in 71 books that the intellect of all people in comparison with the blessed intellect of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is like a grain of sand to the desert. Undoubtedly, the blessed intellect of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is well above the intellects of all people, and his blessed opinion is superior to all. (Al-Shifa, vol. 1, pp. 67)

The excellent instruction and pieces of advice that were given to the blessed companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم and Ummah by the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم are the means of guidance and a medium to attain perfection until the world lasts. In the previous editions of ‘Faizan-e-Madinah magazine’, a topic namely ‘how should a believer be?’ was beautifully described in the light of the ‘commands and rulings’ of the glorious Quran. This time, we are going to read, ‘how should a believer be?’ In the light of the blessed sayings of the greatest and perfect personality, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

*  ‘Foundation and completion’ of Iman is based on the love and affection of Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. No bondsman can be a Kamil Momin [perfect believer] unless he shows devotion to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم more than he shows to all of the mankind and even more than his parents and children. (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 17, Hadees 14)

It is the beauty of the religion of Islam that it doesn’t hold a person good or bad and complete or incomplete based merely on his individual life but rather it also teaches what should be his role in a collective and social system. It is for the reason, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared it a great sign of a perfect Muslim: He [Muslim] is the one from whose tongue and hands the other Muslims are safe. (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 16, Hadees 11)

Putting the attributes and qualities of a perfect believer into practice is an excellent means of developing healthy relations in a society. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, treasure of knowledge and wisdom, told us another sign of a perfect believer: He [Muslim] should like for his Muslim brother what he likes for himself. (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 16, Hadees 13)

In fact these branches of Iman described in the blessed Ahadees are the attributes of a believer. In other words, picking fruits from these branches is as if one advances one’s faith to the rank of perfection. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said about these branches: ‘Iman has somewhat more than seventy branches. The most superior of which is the declaration ‘لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ’ and the lowest of which is to remove a harmful thing from the path, and modesty, too, is a branch of Iman. (Muslim, pp. 45, Hadees 153)

As one continues reading the blessed sayings of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, one keeps discovering new chapters of knowledge and wisdom. Reform and progress of a society is not possible without acting upon the blessed sayings and the pieces of advice of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Saying good words, respecting neighbour and treating guests well are also included in the attributes of a believer. (Muslim, pp. 48, Hadees 173)

A man always wants to be a good and a righteous person. Remember! Righteousness should always be based on Iman alone. The more practicing one will be and the stronger Iman he possesses, the more righteous and perfect he will be. Regarding a perfect believer, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: The one with perfect Iman amongst believers is the one who has best moral character. (Mustadrak lil-Haakim, vol. 1, pp. 147, Hadees 1)

Perfection in Iman is a key factor in making one’s personal life beautiful and to make it the one that is liked by Allah Almighty. Sayyiduna Abu Umamah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrated, a man humbly asked the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘What is Iman?’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘If your good deed pleases you and your bad deeds sadden you, then you are a believer.’ Thereafter, he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ humbly asked the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ‘What is sin?’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘If you find anything doubtful in your heart, then leave it.’ (Mustadrak, lil-Haakim, vol. 1, pp. 162, Hadees 34)

Mutual affection and understanding is also a great blessing of Allah Almighty. One remains protected from the problems such as depression, tension, unnecessary anger, immorality, misconduct etc. Blessed strategy and perfect thoughts of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم are impeccable indeed!  Regarding the attributes of a believer, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also said: Undoubtedly, a believer is the one who shows affection and there is no goodness for the person who does not show affection to others nor he is loved by anyone’. (Mustadrak lil-Haakim, vol. 1, pp. 176, Hadees 67)

The mutual love of Muslims, fulfilling needs of one another and sharing pain and suffering etc., are also included in the attributes of Iman. In a Hadees, believers have been likened to one body with respect to showing mercy to one another, having friendship and affection for one another, that when any part of body is hurt, whole of the body feels pain. (Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 103, Hadees 6011)

Humbleness and humility are like such a weapon for a believer that protects him against worldly ignorance, pride and arrogance. A believer is not stiff like a dried stick but rather, he is supple like a tender plant. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم explained this with an impressive example; ‘Example of a believer is that of a tender plant of a field which is bent over by the wind [coming] from whatever direction and when the wind stands still, its leaves become straight [normally]. In this way, a believer is saved from trials. But the example of an infidel is that of a hard pine tree which keeps standing straight up until Allah Almighty uproots it when He wills. (Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 564, Hadees 7466)

Dear Islamic brothers! Have a brief look at the attributes of a perfect believer mentioned in the light of Ahadees:

* After believing in Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, we have to have devotion to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم more than our parents, children and our lives.

*  Ensuring that other Muslims remain safe from our hands and tongue.

*  Feeding and serving others.

*  Saying Salaam to everyone whether we know them or not.

*  Choosing a good thing for Muslim brother

*  Adopting a modest lifestyle

*  Showing respect to neighbours and guests

*  Adopting good moral conduct

*  Considering an evil to be an evil

*  Living with mutual love and affection

*  Humbleness and humility are those great attributes that can mould a believer into a perfect believer.

If one ponders over these attributes, one sees something common in each attribute i.e. we come in contact with people for various matters and affairs several times in our life. Our contact or interaction is either aggressive or friendly. One of the reasons of being aggressive or friendly with others is based on giving importance to mutual affairs or taking it for granted. for granted. If a perfect believer considers the affairs of other to be the affairs of the servants of Allah Almighty, then the outcome will be positive. That is why we should adopt the attributes of a perfect believer. To make these attributes to be the part of our practical life, we should consider every affair of people as the affairs of the servants of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ so that we remain protected from ‘arrogance and unnecessary aggressiveness’ and become a perfect believer.

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ make us a perfect believer.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم