Qur'an, Al-Sajdah (The Prostration) Sura 32: Verse 15-17

"Only they believe in Our revelations who, whenever they are reminded of them, fall down prostrating themselves in adoration, and extol their Lord's limitless glory and praise; and who are never arrogant; who drag themselves out of their beds at night to pray to their Lord in fear and hope; and who are charitable with what We provide for them. No one can imagine what blissful delights have been kept in store for them as a reward for what they used to do."

This is a pleasant image of believing souls which are so gentle and sensitive. They are sincere in the devotion they address to God alone. No arrogance or pride creeps into their hearts. They receive God's revelation with interest and acceptance, eager to understand and act on them. When these believers are reminded of God's revelations, they "fall down prostrating themselves in adoration." They are keenly influenced by what they are told, glorify God and feel His majesty. Hence, their first reaction is to fall down prostrating themselves. This is the best expression of their feelings, putting their foreheads on the ground in adoration. With this physical gesture, they "extol their Lord's limitless glory and praise." They are never arrogant. Their response is genuine, expressing their true feelings in God's glory.

The surah then describes their physical attitude and inner feelings in a vivid expression that brings the movement and the feeling before our eyes. They stand up for night prayer, which is the obligatory Isha prayer and the Witr prayer that follows it, and they add voluntary night prayer and supplication. This is described here, however, as dragging themselves out of beds. Thus we see the beds and their attraction, inviting people to take rest and sleep. Yet those believers do not respond, and make every effort to resist such attraction, because they have something else that preoccupies them. They want to stand before their Lord, in adoration, with feelings of fear and hope present in their minds. They dread disobeying God and long for His help. They fear God's anger and punishment and hope for His mercy and acceptance. With such sensitivity and devoted, earnest prayer, they do their duty towards their community, in obedience to God: "And who are charitable with what We provide for them."

This splendid, glorious image is accompanied by another one showing the marvellous and special reward which reflects the special care, honour and generosity God bestows on them. God Himself welcomes these people, and He takes it upon Himself to prepare the reward He has in store for them. Furthermore, it is He who will give them a warm reception and and honourable position which will delight them. All this though is known to God alone, no one else has any idea of it. It remains with Him until it is shown to those who will be given it when they meet Him. What a splendid meeting with the Lord of the universe!

Compiled From:
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 13, pp. 467, 468

Understanding the Prophet's Life

Moderation

One of the manifestations of extremism is an obsessive pursuit of fault-finding in others and making exacting demands of them. The Prophet, peace be upon him, condemned this in a hadith when he urged the Muslims to 'Avoid extremism (al-ghuluw), for people before you were led to destruction because of extremism in religion.' [Musnad ibn Hanbal] In another hadith, the Prophet rigorously spoke against the extremists when he said: 'Perished are the hair-splitters, perished are the hair-splitters, perished are the hair-splitters.' [Muslim]

When two of the Prophet's leading Companions, Muadh bin Jabal and Abu Musa al-Ashari were leaving as judges to the Yemen, the Prophet instructed them to:

"Be gentle to the people and avoid harshness to them; bring them good news and scare them not [with gloomy predicaments]." [Muslim]

With regard to the implementation of penalties, the Prophet instructed the judges and rulers to 'Suspend prescribed punishment (hudud) as far as you can. For it is better to err in forgiveness than making an error in punishment.' [Abu Yusuf]

Compiled From:
"Shariah Law - An Introduction" - Mohammad Hashim Kamali, pp. 292, 293

BlindSpot!

Ostentation

The root source of ostentation (riya) is desire, wanting something from a source other than God. The cure for ostentation is actively and sincerely seeking out purification of the heart by removing four things:

· love of praise;

· fear of blame;

· desire for worldly benefit from people; and

· fear of harm from people.

This is accomplished by nurturing the certainty (yaqeen) that only God can benefit or harm one. This is at the essence of the Islamic creed.

Helen Keller once said that there is no slave in this world that didn't have a king somewhere in his ancestry; and there is no king that didn't have a slave somewhere in his ancestry. This world has peaks and valleys. Nothing in creation is permanent. To spend time and energy seeking permanence in the fleeting things of the world - like praise - and then neglect what lasts forever with our Maker is the summit of human folly.

So recognizing that there is no harm or benefit except with God purifies the heart of vain pursuits and ostentation.

Compiled From:
"Purification of The Heart" - Hamza Yusuf, pp. 57-59