Nafsiya Reflections: Hand in Hand

Welcome to another episode of Nafsiyah Reflections - Hand in Hand

We have heard these conversations before; talking about how Imaan is all in the heart, or who are we to judge? A woman without a hijab may have more faith, more Imaan, than the one wearing the hijab. “Why all this talk on the hijab...? I mean I know plenty of girls who have way more Imaan than this “hijabi” She doesn’t even act that “religious”.

As Rasool Allah, peace and blessings be upon him related,

أَنْ رجُلاً قال : "واللهِ لا يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لِفُلانٍ وإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ : مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَتَأَلَّى عَلَيَّ أَنْ لا أَغْفِرَ لِفُلان،فَإِنِّي قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لِفُلانٍ، وأَحْبَطْتُ عَمَلَكَ"

A man said: By Allah, Allah will not forgive So-and-so. At this Allah the Almighty said: Who is he who swears by Me that I will not forgive So-and-so? Verily I have forgiven So-and-so and have nullified your [own good] deeds (1) (or as he said [it]). (1) A similar Hadith, which is given by Abu Dawud, indicates that the person referred to was a goldly man whose previous good deeds were brought to nought through presuming to declare that Allah would not forgive someone's bad deeds. It was related by Muslim. We don’t know what is in one’s heart; that is not something one is capable of judging.

The Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him also said,

"ثَلاثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ فَهُوَ مُنَافِقٌ وَإِنْ صَامَ وَصَلَّى وَحَجَّ وَاعْتَمَرَ وَقَالَ إِنِّي مُسْلِمٌ إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ"

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever has three traits is a hypocrite, even if he fasts, prays, goes to Hajj and Umrah, and claims to be a Muslim. When he speaks, he lies. When he promises, he breaks it. When he is trusted, he betrays it.”

See, any of us could be a hypocrite, the one who prays, and the one who doesn’t. The one who fasts and the one who doesn’t. The one who wears the hijab and the one who doesn’t. It is all in the heart. And Allah knows every atom's worth of faith in our hearts, or what is not in our hearts. But my questions then become, why do we care who has more “Imaan”? Why are we even comparing? Sometimes it seems like we compare finding faults in others to find comfort in knowing that the other person isn’t perfect either; or sometimes it gives us an excuse to not push ourselves harder. Sometimes... it truly is because we feel judged by someone who is observantly more “righteous”.

What we need to know is this, only Allah can judge what is in our hearts. Only Allah knows why we do what we do. But that does not mean, Allah (swt) did not tell us to watch out for each other. To guide each other, to advise each other, as brothers and sisters. For Allah (swt) said in Surah At-Tawba, Ayah 71:

(وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ)

"The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."

We are allies of one another... We were meant to help each other, to point out what is right from wrong. To stand together as one body. See, yes we can’t judge what is in each other’s hearts. But what we will not disagree on this... when true Imaan fills one’s heart, it pours into their actions. It is visible in the way they talk, the way they walk, the way they dress... in the way one carries themselves. It’s apparent!

What will also be apparent, is that we were created sinners as well.

«كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ»

"All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who are given to repentance."

This is not a matter that Allah (swt) has left to people (insaan) to decide. It is not in the category of Mubah or even Mandub, rather Allah (swt) has made it an obligation so when we consider our thought on a deeper level - are we then suggesting that we know better? Astagfirullah! In fact, we know that in the main these ideas exist as result of understanding of the Deen that has been eroded in society and the conflicting pressures women feel - especially in so-called liberal societies whether that is in the West or those who wish to imitate the West.

We are not are perfect, none of us can be perfect. We must always try our hardest to establish the obligatory acts, Obligations (Furood), and follow the Messenger Muhammad’s, peace be upon him, footsteps and truly repent for our neglections. What are the morals of Islamic character, khuluq, without the Furood, and the Furood without the morals of Islamic character, khuluq? Islam is not something we pick and choose from. All go hand in hand. May Allah (swt) assist the honoured woman in Islam to wear her crown with obedience to her Creator in the way He (swt) as commanded and for His (swt) sake only.

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