177- RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT JUST TO DIRECT YOUR FACE TOWARDS THE EAST OR WEST, BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO BELIEVE IN ALLAH, LAST DAY, THE ANGELS, THE BOOK, THE PROPHETS AND TO GIVE FROM YOUR WEALTH, LIVING IT, THE KINSFOLK, THE ORPHANS, THE POOR, THE WAYFARER, TO FREE SLAVES, TO STEADFAST IN SALAH, GIVE ZAKAH, THOSE WHO FULFILL THEIR COVENANT WHEN THEY MAKE COVENANTS, THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE IN AFFLICTION, ADVERSITY, AND IN BATTLE.  THOSE ARE SINCERE AND THOSE ARE THE PIOUS.

The Muslims and the Jews had a great deal of argument about the different Qibla after it has been changed.  Allah the Highest settles this argument and gives us a brief but precise account of the real meaning of righteousness.  They are:

1-    Believing in Allah, His Angels, Books and Prophets.  This is the first article of faith.  No deeds are of any value or consequence or shall have any reward with Allah the Highest if there is not belief.  Allah  the Highest said: “THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEIR DEEDS ARE LIKE MIRAGE IN A DESERT”  (S:24 A:39)

Following having Faith, the rest of the features of Righteousness and Piety are shown in behavior and manners of the Muslims.  They are:

2-    Giving charity out of our money, loving what we give and loving to give. Allah the Highest said: “YOU SHALL NOT ACHIEVE RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTIL YOU SPEND OUT OF WHAT YOU LOVE”.  (S:3 A:92)

Giving frees the soul from slavery to earthly things.  Also it brings the society together cementing social and family ties.

Some people might give charity while they are poor themselves.  Allah the Highest said about them: “AND THEY GIVE OTHERS IN PREFERRENCE TO THEMSELVES, EVEN IF THEY SUFFER POVERTY” (S: 59 A: 9)

Others give charity while they are rich. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The best charity is that given while wealthy, yet careful with money, desiring to be rich and fearing poverty” (M: Zakah; 92, 93 & N: Wasaya; 1 & A: 2; 231,415)

Allah the Highest then states who to give charity to:

a-     The Kinsfolk i.e.  The blood relations.  They come first in their priority for any good deed, charity or help.  It is also rewarded more.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The charity from a man to another is a charity, but to his blood relations are a charity and a being good to blood relation”.  (T:Sunah,26 & N:Zakah; 82 & Da:Zakah;38 & A:3;492)

b-    The Orphans: They are children under the age of puberty who lost their father, or both their parents.  These days, education takes longer and children are dependant on their parents before they can be independent for much longer than before.

Charity to orphans and looking after them is not only greatly rewarded, but also greatly esteemed by Allah the Highest.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever strokes the head of an orphan, doing this only for the sake of Allah, he shall have a reward for every hair his hand passes on.  And whoever is charitable to an orphan, male or female, he and I shall be like these in the Paradise (and he showed his index and middle finger together)”  (A:5;250)

c-     The Poor: This is the person who does not have enough for his basic needs and necessities.  A person might have enough to eat and drink but not to by cloth or medicines etc.  They are not the street beggars, for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The poor is not the person who goes around to be given a date or two, but the poor is the person who does not have enough for his needs, yet is unrecognized by people to give him charity”.  (B:Zakah;53 & M:Zakah;101,102)

d-    The Wayfarer: This is a traveler who ran out of money for food, drink, transport, place to stay etc.  He might be a rich person in his home country or two, but has no means to get to his money.  He might be rich, yet disparately in need.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Three kinds of people Allah does not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, neither look at them, nor purify them, and they shall have a painful punishment; a man in the desert having more than his needs of water, but he withholds it from a wayfarer, a man who bought goods from another after Asr for agreed price, but intends to pay him less, and a man who gave his allegiance to an Imam (leader) only for earthly gain, if the Imam rewards him he fulfils his covenant, but if he does not the man does not”  (B:Ahkam;48 & M:Eman;171,174 & D:Byou;6 & N:Byou;5,6)

In fact the Wayfarer is one of the 8 categories of people entitled for help from the Zakah money even when the Zakah was collected and distributed by the state.

e-     Those asking for help:  They might be people who fell on hard times.  They should be helped if genuine, otherwise just a kind word.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who asks for help has a right, even if he comes on the back of a horse”.  (D:Zakah; 33 & A: 1; 201)

f-      Freeing Slaves: There are many instances in Islam when it is required to free slaves besides being one of the desirable charities.  Ransoming an oath, in case of not fasting in Ramadan without a lawful reason, in case of accidental killing.  The Muslims were encouraged to free slaves whenever they can.

Although slavery is not an issue now, however this should answer these who wrongfully accuse Islam of encouraged slavery. 

3-    Steadfast in Salah:  Which is to pray Salah properly and at the right times, 5 times/day.  It is the direct daily contact between a slave and his God.

4-    To Give Zakah.  Zakah is the prescribed charity, it is a duty upon those who can afford it, and a right for those who need it.

Zakah means to purity, and Zakah purifies one’s money, which is what it does.  It can be spent of defense and general welfare of the Muslims.

5-    Fulfilling the Covenants; is a mark of decency and honesty, it is a character of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and should be a character of all the Muslims.  Allah the Highest said: “FULFIL YOUR COVENANT, FOR YOU SHALL BE ASKED ABOUT YOUR COVENANTS”.  (S:17 A:34) 

We should also remember that not fulfilling our covenants (agreements and promises) is a mark of hypocrisy as stated by Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him who said: “Four characters, he who has them all is a complete hypocrite, while he who has one of them, he has a character of hypocrisy until he leaves it; he lies when he speaks, does not fulfill his promises, betrays his covenants, and is very wicked and unjust in disputes”.  (B: Eman; 24 & M: Eman; 106 & D: Sunah; 15)

6-    Patience and Perseverance in the face of Poverty, Illness, and War.  For it is all parts of Allah’s tests and trials for us, for Allah the Highest said: “WE WILL TEST AND TRY YOU WITH SOME FEAR, HUMBER, SHORTAGE OF MONEY, SOULS, AND CROPS, BUT GIVE GLADE TIDINGS TO THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE”.  (S:2 A:155)

We will notice in the characteristics of the Pious described in this Ayah that it consists of two parts: 

-         Faith and Believe.

-         The deeds and practices resulting from this faith. 

They are acts or worship like Salah, and acts with people, like charity, keeping promises, patience, etc. 

It is clear then that Piety is not just the result of faith and worship, but it is largely actions of the believer in life and with people which mark him or her as pious in Allah’s estimate.

B: Bukhari  M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi