My favourite Video in the Islamic category this week is a German talk by the Imam Ferid Heider, who I have the pleasure of knowing personally, living in Berlin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CYZjfFubkM
In this specific talk he talks about steadfastness which translates to thabat or Istiqama in Arabic. He says that every Muslim has to deal with it, deal with his jihad-un-Nafs (struggle against the Self) and the Shaytan daily. Allah swt. does not want that we are just Muslims on Eid, or in Ramadan or on Jumuah.
In Surah Al-Anam 162-3 the Prophet saw. is ordered to say:
Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah , Lord of the worlds. || He has no partner. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims.”
Allah swt. doesn’t tolerate Shirk, he doesn’t tolerate it that one worships and lives for someone other than Him.
And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death). [15:99]
On the authority of Abu ‘Amr, though others call him Abu ‘Amrah Sufyan bin ‘Abdullah, radiyallahu anhu, who said:
I said: “O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam which I could not ask anyone about save you.” He answered: “Say: ‘I believe in Allah’, and then stand firm and steadfast.”
[Muslim]
For this we ask Allah swt. at least 17 times a day in every rakah, ihdina sirat al-Mustakeem (Guide us to the straight path). Islam is the straight path we know it but how many times do we come of this path. So we ask Allah swt. to cement us and our hearts in it.
One specific dua’ the Prophet saw. recited often regarding the steadfastness and the heart and that is:
Allahumma ya Muqallib al Quloob thabbit qalbi ‘alaa Deenik,” “O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your Religion.”
We have to force ourselves to be steadfast in respect to the prohibitions that Allah swt. set us and not to go over his boundaries and to continuously set ourselves new boundaries in respect to our lusts and cravings. We have to realise that every day is a new battle against our Nafs. We have to be patient in terms of obeying and not disobeying Allah swt. as well as being patient with tragedies that affect us.
True Steadfastness is that our outward appearance matches our inward appearance. Meaning that we stay away from doing sins openly and in secret. Then we need to increase our good deeds to foster our relationship with Allah swt. as He says in Surah Al-Fussilat verse 30-32:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ٣٠
As for those who say, ‘Our Lord is God,’ and take the straight path towards Him, the angels come down to them and say, ‘Have no fear or grief, but rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.
نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَآؤُكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِىٓ أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ ٣١
We are your allies in this world and in the world to come, where you will have everything you desire and ask for
نُزُلًۭا مِّنْ غَفُورٍۢ رَّحِيمٍۢ ٣٢
as a welcoming gift from the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful One.’
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Since it is in German I’ll post another video I liked for your viewing pleasure inshaAllah.
Wa Salam,
Abdur-Rahman
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