In Surah al Furqan, Allah mentions the qualities of his true servants “Ibadur Rahman“. Servants of the Most Merciful.
Servitude to Allah is choosing the best Master for oneself, and that is honourable. Because when you worship Allah, obey Him, remember Him, make du’a to Him and turn to Him, he will not let go of you. He will take care of you and His Mercy will become binding on you.
So who are these special servants? What do they do? What are their qualities?
1. They walk humbly and easily. And they don’t engage in unnecessary argument:
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا – 25:63
And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace,
They walk easily and gently, with calmness and a lot dignity. They are not arrogant or pretentious in their walk. They are careful, they don’t push others, they walk in such a way that doesn’t cause harm to those around them. They are not constantly looking behind them as they walk, and neither do they look around excessively. They don’t drag their feet lazily, nor do they stomp around, rather they walk with dignity and purpose.
And this can be applied to driving as well. Ibadur Rahman are such people who obey the rules of the road, they don’t fall prey to ‘road rage’, they don’t honk unnecessarily nor do they cut dangerously into other people’s lane. Even when they drive, they do so with ihsan, calmly, with a lot of gracefulness and dignity.
Ibadur Rahman are also emotionally intelligent people. They think before they speak. If people address them rudely, they diffuse the situation through their gentle words and actions. They remain calm and say the salaam, because their intention is to make peace (unlike the Jaahiloon, who are out to pick a fight.)
Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that a person said, “Allah’s Messenger, I have relatives with whom I try, to have close relationship, but they sever (this relation). I treat them well, but they treat me ill. I am sweet to them, but they are harsh towards me.” Upon this he (saw) said, “If it is so as you say, then you in fact throw hot ashes (upon their faces) and there would always remain with you on behalf of Allah (an Angel to support you or another human being) who would keep you dominant over them so long as you adhere to this (path of righteousness).” [Muslim]
2. They spend a part of their night in prayer:
وَالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَامًا – 25:64
And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]
3. They make du’a seeking refuge from Hellfire:
وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا – 25:65
And those who say, “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering;
إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا – 25:66
Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence.”
Ibadur Rahman are never content with their righteous actions. Even though they live their life doing good, they still fear Allah’s punishment and so they make du’a. They are asking Allah to ward off the punishment from them, by keeping them away from all those actions that lead to the Fire. And at the same time, they are seeking forgiveness for all those deeds that they have done, they warrants the punishment.
The fear they have makes them restless, and so they don’t consider themselves immune from the punishment.
4. They spend moderately:
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا – 25:67
And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate
5. They do not commit shirk, or kill anyone unlawfully, nor do they commit zina:
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا – 25:68
And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.
Abdullah bin Mas’ud (ra) said, “The Messenger of Allah (saw) was asked which sin is the most serious” He said (saw),“That you appoint a rival to Allah when He has created you.” He asked, “Then what?” He (saw) said, “That you kill your child for fear that he may eat with you.” He said, “Then what?” He (saw) said, “That you commit adultery with your neighbour’s wife.” ‘Abdullah (ra) said, “Then Allah revealed, confirming that, َ” …وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ (And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah..)” [al-Bukhari]
يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا – 25:69
Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated –
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا – 25:70
Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتَابًا – 25:71
And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance.
6. They do not testify to falsehood, nor do they engage in ill speech:
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا – 25:72
And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.
Ibadur Rahman are such people who don’t witness lies. They avoid places where wrong actions are being openly committed such as concerts, bars, clubs – places where there is music, singing, vulgarity and indecency, because they don’t want to be influenced by them. And if they ever come across places where people are engaging in ill speech, backbiting, profanity or conversations in which there is no benefit – they pass by them with dignity. They don’t stop and join in.
Abu Bakrah said, “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said three times, ‘Shall I not tell you of the greatest of major sins?’ We said, ‘Of course, O Messenger of Allah (saw).’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Associating others in worship with Allah and disobeying one’s parents.’He (saw) was lying down, then he sat up and added, ‘Beware of false speech, and bearing witness to falsehood.’ And he (saw) kept repeating it until we thought, would that he would stop.” [al-Bukhari]
7. They pay heed to the verses of the Qur’an:
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا – 25:73
And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind.
8. They are not only concerned about themselves, but they make du’a for their family members as well:
وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا – 25:74
And those who say, “Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.”
Ibadur Rahman don’t cut themselves off from the Dunya in the name of piety and righteousness. No, they get married, have children and they find comfort and joy in their families. Although they enjoy themselves within the limits of the Shari’a, they also take care of their duties and responsibilities towards their family members, especially where spiritual matters are concerned. They care deeply for the Iman of their family, because what brings most comfort to their eyes, is seeing the righteousness and piety of their spouse and children. This is their priority, because obedience to Allah as a family in this world, is a means of them being united as a family again in Jannah. And the Ibadur Rahman also understand that a righteous family is a Hibah (gift) from Allah, which is why they say “Rabbanna Hablana..”
Since these servants of the Most Merciful have such lofty ambitions, Allah recompenses them with a lofty reward..
أُولَٰئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَامًا – 25:75
Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace.
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ حَسُنَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا – 25:76
Abiding eternally therein. Good is the settlement and residence.
Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said, that the Prophet (Saw) said, “The people of Paradise will look at the people dwelling in the chambers above them in the same way that people look at a brilliant star shining far away on the horizon, in the east or west, because of their superiority [in reward] over them.” The people asked, “O Messenger of Allah (saw), are these the dwellings of the Prophets which no one else can attain?” He (saw) replied, “No by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, they are for the men who believed in Allah, and also in His Messengers.” [al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
The Prophet (saw) said, “In Paradise there are rooms that their inside can be seen from outside and outside can be seen from inside.” He (saw) was asked, “For whom are these rooms, O Messenger of Allah (saw)?” He (Saw) said, “They are for he who soften his speech, feeds the people, continues to fast, and prays at night while the people are asleep.” [Ahmad]
