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Akhlaq of Islam |
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THE AKHLAQ OF ISLAM (Extracted from the
book Shariat and Tasawwuf by Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah RA) Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam explained the limit of shouq in the following way: "(O Allah!) I petition You for shouq for meeting You; such shouq which is devoid of hardship and which does not harm; such shouq which is not a trial leading astray." Sometimes excessive affection and love bring about destruction. It brings about a disturbance in righteous acts (a’mal) which are in fact the medium for attaining Divine Proximity. The true goal is achieved via the agency of executing the Divine Commands. Excessive shouq (eagerness) and ishq (love) interfere with this means. At times when shouq is overpowering, one transgresses the limits of respect and makes such statements which are disrespectful. Most ush-shaq (those immersed and lost in love) are guilty of disrespectful statements which they utter in states of ecstasy. This disrespect is harmful although such disrespect uttered in ecstasy is forgiven. But, it is not a condition of kamaal (excellence). Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam was perfect in obedience, respect and love, hence he made the du'a mentioned above. ACQUIRING SHOUQ Shouq being a necessary corollary of muhabbat, its acquisition is by inculcating Muhabbat of Allah Ta'ala. THE NATURE OF UNS Uns is a state of delight and pleasure induced by true recognition of certain known attributes of an object. In this state the object is known only partially, part of it being hidden. The known attributes on which the gaze is focused induce the condition of uns. Uns is also a necessary corollary of muhabbat. Its acquisition is along with muhabbat of Allah Ta'ala. KHAUF Allah Ta'ala commands in the Qur'an Shareef: "And Fear Me." Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "He who fears, sets off (on the journey) at night; he who sets off at night, reaches the destination; Hark! The merchandise of Allah is expensive. Hark! The merchandise of Allah is Jannat." NATURE OF KHAUF Khauf is the painful condition of the heart, which arises as a result of thinking of something reprehensible and the fear of it materializing. The nature of khauf consists of the possibility of athab (punishment). This possibility extends to every person, for he may be overtaken by athab. This is the extent of khauf which has been commanded and imposed upon the servant. This extent, viz. fearing the possibility of athab, is a compulsory condition of Imaan. It is also known as khauf-e-aqli (intellectual fear). At the behest of sin this faculty (khauf-e-aqli) has to be put into operation. The warnings and punishments of Allah Ta'ala should be recalled and ruminated over so as to be saved from sin. This degree of khauf is Fardh (compulsory). Its non-existence induces and involves one in sin. It is the medium of exhorting towards virtue and steering one away from sin. Allah Ta'ala has combined the noble attributes of hidayat (guidance from Allah), rahmat (mercy), ilm (knowledge) and ridha (contentment) for those who are imbued with the khauf of Allah Ta'ala. All beings fear the one who fears Allah Ta'ala. Allah Ta'ala has stated that in the servant, two fears will not combine. This means that the servant of Allah, who on earth entertains the khauf of Allah Ta'ala, will be fearless in the Akhirat; and, he who had no khauf of Allah Ta'ala on earth, will be overtaken by fear and calamity. |