By Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Jaza’iry
A Muslim thinks about the countless blessings that Allaah has bestowed upon him. He considers the numerous bounties that Allaah has given him from the time that he was a “drop of fluid” in his mother’s womb. The bounties continue until he meets his Lord. Therefore, a Muslim must thank Allaah for these bounties with his tongue, by praising Him and Extolling Him in a proper manner. He must also thank Him with his limbs by using them in obedience to Him. This is how he should behave towards Allaah. Obviously, it is never considered proper etiquette to be ungrateful for bounties one has received, or to reject the favour of the One Who gives, nor to deny His beneficence and kindness. Allaah has said:
“And whatever blessings or good thing you have, it is from Allaah.” [An-Nahl 16:53]
“And if you count the blessings of Allaah, never will you be able to count them.” [Ibrahim 14:34]
“Therefore remember Me [by prayer and glorification], I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and never be ungrateful to Me.” [Al-Baqarah 2:152]
A Muslim thinks about Allaah’s Knowledge and the fact that He is watching everything that he does in every circumstance. The Muslim’s heart then becomes filled with awe, respect and veneration for Allaah. He becomes shy and too embarrassed to go against His commands and disobey Him. This is how he should behave towards Allaah. Obviously, it is not proper etiquette at all for a servant to go against his master by disobeying him or by treating him with evil and disrespect while his master is observing him and watching him.
Allaah has said:
“What is the matter with you, that [you fear not Allaah [his punishment], and] you hope not for reward [from Allaah or you believe not in His Oneness]. While He has created you in [different] stages.” [Nuh 71:13-14]
Allaah the Almighty also says:
“And Allaah knows what you conceal and what you reveal.” [An-Nahl 16:19]
And:
“Neither you [O Muhammad] do any deed nor recite and portion of the Qur’aan nor you [O Mankind] do any deed [good or evil], but We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it. And nothing is hidden from your Lord [so much as] the weight of an atom [or small ant] on the earth or in the heaven.” [Yunus 10:61]
A Muslim also ponders over Allaah’s Power and Control over him, how his forelock is in the Hand of Allaah. He knows that there no escape or fleeing from Him. There is no refuge or shelter except in Allaah Himself. Therefore, the Muslim flees to Allaah and throws himself before Him. He leaves his affairs with Allaah and puts his trust in Him. This is how he should behave with his Lord and Creator.
It is not proper etiquette to attempt to flee from One from Whom there is no fleeing. Nor is it proper to rely or put one’s trust in one having no power or ability. Allaah has said:
“There is not a moving [living] creature but He has grasp of its forelock.” [Hud 11:56]
Allaah the Almighty also says:
“So flee to Allaah. Verily, I [Muhammad] am a plain warner to you from Him.” [Adh-Dhariyat 51:50]
Allaah the Almighty says:
“Put your trust in Allaah if you are believers indeed.” [Al-Ma’idah 5:23]
A Muslim also considers how generous and compassionate Allaah has been to him in all of his affairs. He considers how Allaah has been merciful with him and all of His creation. He desires to have more of that mercy. He then humbles himself to Allaah with sincere humility and supplications. He seeks a means of approach to Allaah with the best of speech and good deeds. This is how he should behave towards his Lord Allaah. It is not proper behaviour whatsoever to despair of receiving more of His Mercy which encompasses everything. Nor should one despair of receiving more of His Goodness that encompasses all living creatures and His Generosity that is for all existence. Certainly, Allaah has stated:
“My Mercy embraces all things.” [Al-A’raf 7:156]
Allaah the Almighty also says:
“Allaah is very Gracious and Kind to His servants.” [Ash-Shura 42:19]
Allaah the Almighty has also said:
“Certainly, no one despairs of Allaah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” [Yusuf 12:87]
And:
“Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah.” [Az-Zumar 39:53]
A Muslim considers Allaah’s extreme power and ability to punish. He also considers Allaah’s swift reckoning. Then he makes sure that he obeys Allaah and tries to die without disobeying Him. This is all part of his proper behaviour towards Allaah. People of intelligence know that it is not proper behaviour for a weak and incapable servant to commit acts of disobedience and wrong towards the Lord Who is the Powerful, the All-Capable, the Strong, the Dominant. He has said:
“But when Allaah wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning back of it; and they will find besides Him no protector.” [Ra’d 13:11]
Allaah the Almighty also says:
“Verily, the strike of your Lord is severe and painful.” [Al-Buruj 85:12]
Allaah the Almighty also says:
“Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Able or Retribution.” [Aali Imran 3:4]
A Muslim should also think about Allaah whiles he is disobeying Him as if Allaah’s threat for that action is already affecting him and His punishment has already come upon him. He should also sense that Allaah’s promise has already come true and His Pleasure has already been granted whiles obeying Him and following His laws. This is part of having good expectations of Allaah, and having good thoughts about Allaah is part of proper etiquette before Him. It is not proper whatsoever for a person to have bad thoughts about Allaah and, therefore, disobey Him and think that Allaah is not watching what he is doing or will not take him to account. Allaah has said:
“But you thought that Allaah knew not much if what you were doing. And that thought of yours which you thought about your Lord, had brought you to destruction; and you have become [this Day] of those utterly lost.” [Fussilat 41:22-23]
It is also not proper behaviour for a person to fear Allaah and obey Him while suspecting that he will not be rewarded for the good deeds he performed or that he shall not be recompensed for his obedience and acts of worship. Certainly, Allaah the Almighty has stated:
“And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger, fears Allaah, and keeps his duty [to Him], such are the successful.” [An-Nur 24:52]
Allaah the Almighty also said:
“Whosoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he [or she] is a true believer, verily to him We will give a good life, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do.” [An-Nahl 16:97]
Allaah, the Almighty says:
“Whoever brings a good deed, shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit; and whoever brings an evil deed, shall have only the recompense of the like thereof, and they will not be wronged.” [Al-An’am 6:160]
In conclusion, a Muslim must be thankful to his Lord for the favours He has done for Him; he must be shy of his Lord whenever he is close to sin; he must sincerely turn to his Lord, put his trust in Him, hope for His Mercy and fear His punishment. He must have good expectations that Allaah will fulfil His promised and carrying out His threats with whoever He wills of His creatures. This is how he should behave towards Allaah. The more he sticks to these matters and guards them, the greater his position will be and the more elevated his rank will be. He shall be greatly blessed by Allaah and he shall become one of the devoted servants of enveloped in Allaah’s Mercy and be granted His Blessings. This is the most that any Muslim could hope to achieve and this is what he should seek during his entire life.
O Allaah, make us from Your devoted servants. O Allaah, do not prevent us from being among those whom You protect. O Allaah, make us from those who are close to You, O Allaah Lord of the Worlds.
Transcribed [by islamictexts.wordpress.com] from: Minhaj al-Muslim, Vol. 1, Pgs. 150-155, by Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Jaza’iry, Published by Darussalam
