Reflections From The Qur’an (6): How Is Righteousness Measured?

Alhamdulillāh… All praise and thanks are due to the Almighty Allāh. I send peace and blessings upon Ḥabībī Muḥammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path, till the Day of Judgement.

This is part 6 of the ‘Reflections from the Qur'an’ series, which is posted here on GSalam.Net, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, throughout the holy month of Ramaḍān 2014. I pray that Allāh grants us more understanding of His book and religion.

The entire life of the Muslim on the earth is meant to be devoted to Allāh alone. This devotion is determined by the level of righteousness one has attained. However, how is righteousness itself determined? And how is it measured after it is being determined?

There are two qualities mentioned in the Qurʾān, which when attained, they bring us nearer to righteousness. One of such two qualities is mentioned in Sūrah al-Baqarah, and the other in Sūrah al-Māʿidah.

In the first Allāh says:

وَأَن تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

“To forego (forgive) is nearer to righteousness (taqwā).” [Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:237]

And in the other He says:

اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

“Deal justly, for that is nearer to righteousness (taqwā).” [Sūrah al-Māʿidah, 5:8]

To let go and to do justice, are two qualities that require one to sacrifice his ego [and arrogance] in the first place. Sacrificing one’s ego (as far as creatures of the Creator are concerned) is what caused Ibliss (Satan) to be cursed end ejected out of heaven.

The instruction for us to let go in one verse, and to be just in the other came to guide us when dealing with people whom we are in dispute with. And the most difficult time to be fair is when an enemy is involved; when you have to give him his rights justly.  After all, doing so is nearer to righteousness, but does not exactly conclude to righteousness.

We understand from this, that good deeds lead to righteousness. But righteousness is not measured based on the amount of deeds. Righteousness is rather measured based on the heart and its willingness to commit; to forgive and be just.

The Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, said in a hadith reported by Imām al-Bukhari and Muslim from the narration of Sayyiduna Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu:

إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى

“Deeds are [rewarded] according to their intentions, and a person will be rewarded according to his intention.”

If this is understood, we then shouldn’t be surprised, when two different people carry out the same deed and get rewarded differently.

Also, The Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam,said in a hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu:

الإِسْلامُ عَلانِيَةٌ، وَالإِيمَانُ فِي الْقَلْبِ. ثُمَّ يُشِيرُ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ: التَّقْوَى هَاهُنَا، التَّقْوَى هَاهُنَا

“Islam is public, faith (iman) is in the heart.” Then the Prophet signaled to his chest saying: Righteousness is here… Righteousness is here.”

The word ‘taqwa’ is repeated in the Qur’an 258 times. 182 of that number came in verb form which requires action. And the remaining 76 of that number came in noun form, which gives information.

Taqwa is derived from the root word w-q-y. And “Waqaa” or “Wiqayah” mean “protection“, “to keep”, “to safeguard” or “to preserve.” Taqwa therefore means “Protecting oneself from the prohibition of Allāh or from the punishment and anger of Allāh. This is where some scholars defined it in a nicer way when they said:

Taqwa is ensuring that Allah doesn’t see you where He has prohibited you, and that He finds you where He has commanded you to be.

Practical example of taqwa is to forgo and to be just in difficult times. One really needs to try, and only then; he will understand how it feels.

The main verses (the first two mentioned in this article) which we are reflecting upon suggest that, even letting go and being just will only bring one nearer to righteousness “Taqwa” and will not necessarily get him next to Taqwa.

Let’s check our heart desires, learn to forgo sincerely and to be just when applicable, so we may be nearer to righteousness. And in the process, let’s not forget to narrow our intentions to that which pleases Allāh and invites His Ultimate Pleasure and Forgiveness.

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Allāh knows best.
Allāhu Ḥāfiẓ 🙂