The Importance of Intention in Quran Study. Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim. In today’s world of materialism and secularism where religions in general, and Islam in particular, are seen as unnecessary, backward and unscientific, it is a great honour from Allah to be among those few who truly learn and practice the teachings of Islam in their lives despite facing social difficulties because of it. The Prophet (saws)said, Islam initiated as something strange, and it will revert to its (old position) of being strange. So, glad tidings to the stranger! [Muslim] The above hadith makes those of us who place ourselves in the category of “strangers” to feel special, and there really is nothing wrong with that. The problem starts when we begin to misuse Islam to fill up this void of self-esteem. We start by developing the desire to show off to others and begin to regard those whom we consider “non-strangers” as inferior, or as the “losers” mentioned in Surat al Asr. This is a huge test for the student of knowledge, as the great scholar Sufyaan ath Thawri (rahimahullah) has said: I did not treat anything more difficult than my sincerity. [Phillips 20] How the Problem Begins The problem can begin in either of two ways. Firstly, the person who is trying to learn about Islam and implement the knowledge in his life receives a lot of praise from those around him who may or may not be practicing Islam themselves. He is seen as almost an alim, and he is asked questions about fiqh and aqeedah which he proudly answers, sometimes without sufficient knowledge to answer such questions. Thus his feeling of being special and knowledgeable is fuelled. Soon he begins to forget that the reason he is special is that Allah has made him special, and not that he is special because of his own talents or accomplishments. Then he begins to criticize other people’s practice of Islam, even scholars, and if it diverts an iota from his own opinions, those others are labeled as misguided or innovators. Secondly, the person suffers socially because of the outward manifestations of Islam in his life. He is criticised by parents and he is seen as being “weird” by friends and relatives. He is either laughed at or openly scorned. His ego is thwarted again and again. Soon he begins to reciprocate the same attitude towards those people and begins to scorn them for their apparent lack of Islam and ridicule of the true Muslim identity. Consequences of Developing the Problem The arrogant person does not enter Paradise, as the prophet (saws) said, No one who has the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise. Someone said, Indeed, a man loves to have beautiful clothes and shoes. So the prophet said, Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people. [Sahih Muslim] Showing off (riya) is a lesser form of idolatry: Among the first people to enter Hellfire will be a scholar. Allah will say to him, You have lied because you learned religious knowledge so that it would be said you are a scholar and you recited the Quran so that it would be said you are a reciter.[Sahih Muslim] The prophet (saws) said, “Verily, what I fear most for you is the lesser idolatry.” They said, “What is the lesser idolatry, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said, “It is showing off. Allah the Exalted will say to them on the Day of Resurrection when the people are being rewarded for their deeds: Go to those whom you wished would see you in the world and look, do you find any reward with them?” [Musnad Ahmad] Developing a hard and argumentative nature is also forbidden: The prophet (saws) said, Whoever seeks knowledge in order to show off to the scholars, or to argue with the foolish, or to attract the attention of people, then he will go to Hellfire. [Shu’b Al-Iman Al-Bayhaqi 1635] Allah has said about the hypocrites, They think that every shout is against them.[Quran, 63:4] Earning the Displeasure of Allah (swt) It was also narrated from the Prophet that the most hated person to Allah is he who is Aladd and Khasim (meaning most quarrelsome). [Bukhari, Tafsir ibn Kathir] Losing reward for all good deeds: The prophet said, Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. [Bukhari, Tafsir ibn Kathir] If the intention is not for the sake of Allah, rather it is to please people or to make oneself appear superior, there will be no reward from Allah. The hypocrites will be in the lowest part of the hellfire: One of the signs of a hypocrite is ‘if you have a dispute with him, he is most quarrelsome.’.[Bukhari & Muslim ] Regarding the lifting of Allah’s guidance and blessings: Allah has said about the hypocrites, They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path). [Quran, 2:18] Also: So, a seal has been set on their hearts and therefore they are devoid of understanding. [Quran, 63:3] Remedies The student of knowledge has to sincerely make dua to Allah constantly for guidance: Guide us to the straight path: The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray. [Quran, 1:6-7] He also should establish a good relationship with Allah through prayer and remembrance, so that it is easy for him to remember Allah at times when he is bombarded with either praise or criticism, which is inevitable. He also needs to develop the correct attitude to these two. When he is praised, he should remind himself of his shortcomings, and his previous misdeeds which Allah has covered up for him from the people. He should remind himself of his humbleness in the sight of Allah. He should read about the prophet’s life, and the biographies of the Sahaba, the Tabi’in and the great scholars of Islam, to remind himself that he has only just started taking infantile steps in the path to knowledge. He should remind himself that all knowledge comes from Allah, as the angels said: Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise. [Quran, 2:32] When he is criticized, he should look truth in the criticism and accept it. He should tell himself that it is only a means by which Allah is testing his intention, and not become angry and scornful towards the criticizer. If people are scornful towards him, he should be extra polite towards them; because hatred can only be removed by love. He should be gentle and kind towards those who do not yet have the correct understanding of the deen, make dua for them and gently advise them. You must be gentle, for verily, gentleness is not in anything except that it beautifies it . . . [Sahih Muslim] He should remind himself again and again why he is seeking knowledge, and he should be vigilant at all times to detect any signs of hypocrisy and arrogance. If at any time he detects any of these signs within himself, he should immediately seek Allah’s forgiveness and correct the problem. These are some of the steps the student of knowledge can take in order to protect his intention. And Allah knows best.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:39:06 +0000
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