Subject: Imam al-Haddad on Giving Good Counsel
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 07:25:08 -0000
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious and Merciful
Imam al-Haddad on Giving Good Counsel to Fellow Muslims.
Condensed from The Book of Assistance
Published by The Quilliam Press
You must be of good counsel to all Muslims. The highest point of this is that
you conceal nothing from them which if made known would result in good or
preserve from something evil. The prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)
has said, "Religion is good counsel" Part of this is to support a Muslim in his
absence as you would in his presence, and not to give him more verbal signs of
affection than you have for him in your heart. It is also part of this that
when a muslim asks you for advice, and you know that the correct course does
not lie in that which he is inclined to do, you should tell him so.
The absence of good counsel is indicated by the presence of envy of the
favors God has given other Muslims. The origin of such envy is that you find it
intolerable that God has granted one of His servants a good thing whether of
the religion, or of the world. The utmost limit is to wish that he be deprived
of it. It has been handed down that "envy consumes good deeds just as fire
consumes dry wood". The envious man is objecting to God's management of His
dominion, as if to say "O Lord! You have put your favours where they do not
belong."
It is permitted to be envious without rancour whereby when you see a favor
being bestowed on one of His servants, you ask Him to grant you the like.
When someone praises you, you must feel dislike for his praises within your
heart. If he has praised you for something you truly possess, say: "praise
belongs to God who has revealed the good things and hidden the ugly things."
And if he praises you for something you do not possess, say "O God! Do not call
me to account for what they say, forgive me what they do not know, and make me
better than they think."
In your case, do not praise anyone unnecessarily.
When you wish to give advice to someone regarding any behaviour of his that
you have come to know about, be gentle, talk to him in private and do not
express explicitly what may be conveyed implicitly. Should he ask you to tell
him who told you that which you know, do not tell him lest it stir up enmity.
If he accepts your advice, praise God, and thank Him. If he should refuse,
blame yourself.
If you are given something as a trust guard it better than if it was yours.
Return that which was entrusted to you, and beware of betraying trust. The
prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: "He who cannot keep a trust
has no faith" and "Three things are attached to the Throne of God: Benefaction
which says "O God! I am by you, therefore let me not be denied!" Kinship, which
says "O God! I am by you, thus let me not be severed!" and Trust, which says "O
God! I am by you, so let me not be betrayed!".
Speak truthfully and honor commitments and your promises, for breaching them
are signs of hypocrisy. "The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks he
lies, when he promises he breaks his promise, and when he is trusted, he
betrays that trust."
Beware of arguments and wrangling, for they cast rancour into the breasts of
men, alienate hearts and lead to enmity and hatred. If anyone argues against
you and has right on his side, accept what he says for truth must always be
followed. If on the other hand he is wrong, leave him, for he is ignorant, and
God has said "And turn away from the ignorant." [vii :199]
Renounce all joking, if very occasionally you do joke to assuage a Muslim's
heart, then speak only the truth. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him
peace) has said: "Neither argue with your brother nor quarrel, and do not make
him a promise and then break it."
Respect all Muslims, especially those deserving of merit, such as the
scholars, the righteous, the elderly.
Never frighten or alarm a Muslim, never mock or ridicule them, or despise
them.
Be humble for humility is the attribute of believers. Beware of pride for God
does not like the proud. Those who humble themselves are raised up by God, and
those who are proud are abased by Him.
There are signs that distinguish the humble from the proud: "that God may
separate the vile from the good" [VIII:37].
Signs of humility include a liking for obscurity, dislike of fame, acceptance
of truth whether it be from a lowly or noble person, to love the poor,
associate with them, to fulfil the rights people have upon you as completely as
you can, thank those who fulfil their duties to you, and excuse those who are
remiss. Signs of pride include a liking for positions of most dignity when in
company, praising oneself, speaking proudly, open haughtiness, arrogance,
strutting, and neglecting the rights of others upon you while demanding your
rights from them.
. . .The beginning of knowledge is the intention,
then listening, then understanding, then action,
then preservation, and then spreading it. . . .
[Imam Abdullah ibn Mubarak (r), Tartib al-Madarik]
. . . . Knowledge without action is insanity
and action without knowledge is vanity. . .
[Imam al-Ghazali (r), Ayyuhal walad]
ABDUL WAHID OSMAN BELAL
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