Admonition and Counsel Proves Effective for the Pious
Though guidance and advice is the means of walking straight for all, only god-fearing people benefit from it. The Holy Quran has hinted at this on many occasions:
1. Alif Lam Mim. This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard against evil.
2. This is a clear statement for men, and a guidance and an admonition to those who guard against evil.
3. And We reveal of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers, and it adds only to the perdition of the unjust.
Of course, the Holy Quran has been revealed for the guidance of entire mankind. Yet the reason of calling it a guide for the Godfearing and the Believers is that they submit to the Truth and follow it and hence according to it attain a higher degree of guidance for them.
But the unbelieving people are an obstinate group who are neither seeking the truth nor in case they know about it follow the truth. Rather they value their lust and passion above everything. Therefore, they not only remain deprived of the guidance of the Quran but it only multiplies their wretchedness. It is so because the temperament of their existence is deformed due to the effect of their denial and oppression and hypocrisy. Hence, whenever and wherever they come across the light of Truth they get up to fight with it and this encounter with truth only increase their dirtiness and strengthens the spirit of rebellion and insurgence within them.
For example, the Holy Quran can be compared with that helps the seeing person s walk on the straight path. But the blind do not get any benefit from it and remain only in the deviation of denial and hypocrisy. It means the main condition for getting guidance is readiness and worthiness.
The verses of the Holy Quran are like those life-giving drops of rain that enliven a pure land. But it does not benefit a salty land. Likewise in order to benefit from Quran it is necessary to first create readiness to accept it and, as a saying goes, besides the deed of the doer his ability is also required.
To summarise: For getting the benefit of any gift of life and creation, it is necessary to have readiness and a favourable background within man.
Islam Has Removed All Fanciful Prejudices
One of the most manifest features of Islam is that it has eliminated all imaginary privileges and distinctions like those of race and ancestry and lineage, wealth, position, colour of skin and country. The Holy Quran says: O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honourable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful of his duty
It is reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.): O people! Beware that verily your Lord is one, be cautious that your father is one, remember that there is no superiority or preference of an Arab over a non-Arab and/or of a non-Arab over an Arab, or of black-skinned over a red-skinned or of a red-skinned over a black-skinned but on the basis of Taqwa. Truly the most valued among you in the sight of Allah is the one who is the most fearful of Him. Have I conveyed my message to you? The people said: Yes, messenger of Allah! Then he said: So those who are present here should convey it to those who are not here.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), with a view to put this principle into practice, married his cousin sister daughter of Zubair bin Abdul Muttalib with Miqdaad bin Aswad who was black skinned, so that pride and prejudice based on race and lineage and beauty may go away from the Islamic society.
Somebody asked Isa (a.s.): who is superior? He took up two handfuls of earth and asked: which one is superior? Then said: you have been created from earth and most precious honourable among you is the one who is most God-fearing.
In Islam, distinction is based only on spiritual heights or status like knowledge, Faith and fear of God. The Holy Quran says: Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high degrees; and Allah is Aware of what you do.
And also says: Say: Are those who know and those who do not know alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful.
About the distinction based on Taqwa it says: Shall We treat those who believe and do good like the mischief-makers in the earth? Or shall We make those who guard against evil like the wicked?
So also the Holy Quran says: The holders back from among the believers, not having any injury, and those who strive hard in Allah's way with their property and their persons are not equal; Allah has made the strivers with their property and their persons to excel the holders back a high degree, and to each class Allah has promised good; and Allah shall grant to the strivers above the holders back a mighty reward.
In summary it can be said that is Islam, all external distinctions have been cancelled. Only the specialities in the matter of knowledge, Piety, and jihad are valuable.
Signs of Piety
Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said: There are some signs of the pious which make him or her distinct.
1. Truthfulness in talk.
2. Trustworthiness in every affair.
3. Fulfilment of promise.
4. No show of pride.
5. No miserliness.
6. Maintenance of bonds of relationships.
7. Kindness toward the weak.
8. Less mixing with women.
9. Promotion and propagation of good deeds and virtues. 10. Good behaviour and nice attitude.
11. Awareness of issues making people closer to God.
12. And finally said: How lucky is this lot and what a nice place they are to get!
Ranks of Piety
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said that Taqwa has three degrees: 1 Piety for the sake of God in the matters desired by Him and it is most special Taqwa, 2 Piety in the matters which are doubtful and it is Special taqwa and 3 Piety due to fear of the Hell and its chastisement and it is giving up of or restraining oneself from the prohibited Haraam and this is Taqwa-e-Aam ordinary taqwa.
The late Naraqi, in his book, has written: Some scholars have divided Wara in four categories: 1 Piety and abstinence called Udool which means avoiding everything which makes man disobedient to God, 2 Wara and Taqwa of the pious and it means refraining even from the doubtful things, 3 the carefulness which prevents man from a thing which is likely to make one indulge in the prohibited Haraam though that thing, in itself is neither prohibited nor doubtful and 4 the wara of the Truthfuls and it is keeping away from everything which is not related to a Divine matter even if it is lawful or permitted.
We conclude this discussion with some words of the leader of the pious, Ali (a.s.) and pray to Allah to make us his true followers:
Ali (a.s.), in his letter to Usman bin Haneef Ansari, says: Beware! Every follower has a leader who should be followed and his light must be taken benefit of. Know that your leader has left this world only in two old clothes and who had taken only two pieces of breads for food but you do not have the ability to do like that. Yet assist me through piety, effort, cleanliness and walking on the true path. By God, I have not hoarded gold and silver from your world and have not heaped treasures of wealth and money and even for this clothing, I have not provided an alternate pair. I have not owned even a little measure of land. I have not eaten from this world more then a little and insignificant food. In my view this worldly life is of no more value than the bitter seed which grows on the branch of the oak tree
As said by the Imam, we are certainly not able to live like him. Yet our like should have the likeness of his life. If the lust and greed and desire of the worldly beauties and gold and silver have overtaken our entire existence, we must understand that we have deviated from the path of that just leader, even though we consider ourselves to be his followers. We must realise that the aim of those who shed their blood for this Islamic Revolution was the revival of the Islamic laws and following of the ways and programmes of the innocent Imams (a.s.). So it is our duty and responsibility to pursue the aims of those martyrs and it is possible to attain only when we make it our goal to follow the ways of Imam Ali (a.s.) and his honourable son Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and put this ideal in practice. Otherwise it is likely that tomorrow, on the Day of Resurrection we may stand ashamed with our heads down before Almighty Allah and His Apostles and friends and the immortal martyrs.