Gardens of the Righteous: Class 22 The Garden of Steadfastness Part 2 16 th November 2014 24 Muharram, 1435 A.H.
The Garden of Steadfastness Today we will continue studying the Garden of Steadfastness. For steadfastness we need firmness and moderation. The provision for steadfastness is repentance. In Surah Mulk, Ayah 22 Allah compares a person who is walking on his face to a person who is walking upright on the straight path. The one who is upright and walking on the straight path is guided and will reach his destination. Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path? The main prerequisite for steadfastness is belief. We need to be firm and moderate on the religion of Allah. PAGE 1
The Garden of Steadfastness contd.. Hadith of the Prophet SAW There is another Hadith of the Prophet SAW where we are told there are two types of steadfastness in order to be on the straight path. In this hadith we are given two commands: 1. Be around the straight path e.g. I need to be steadfast during prayer. None of us can perform the prayer with 100% steadfastness and neither can we leave the prayer. We need to be as close as possible to being steadfast while praying. PAGE 2
2. To hit the target i.e. bullseye. This tells us both is steadfastness whether we hit the target (doing something with Ihsaan) or we need to be as close to the straight path as possible. This tells us we should not judge people. Maybe in a situation we may act differently than the others. We don t know if the other person is trying his best. Steadfastness depends on our capability. It also tells us we should not burden the people with more than they can take. Then the Prophet SAW said, You need to know that none of you will be saved by his deeds. We should not think that our firmness and steadfastness would save us from hellfire. Then the companions asked the Prophet SAW, Not even your (the Prophet s) deeds will take you to Paradise. The Prophet SAW replied, No, not even him. The Prophet SAW said that when Allah surrounds me in his mercy, then I am saved from Hellfire. This tells us if we are doing anything with steadfastness then we should not give the credit to ourselves. When we do any good deed we should not feel proud because it is Allah who made the deed easy for us. PAGE 3
Dua for Steadfastness We make this dua as part of Surah Fateha in all our prayers. At a minimum a person recites this dua 17 times a day. When we take the straight path there is blessing (barakah) in our time. PAGE 4
Dua for Steadfastness The Prophet SAW used this Dua as the opening supplication for the night prayer. 1. The Dua starts by invoking Allah by His name Rabb, The lord of Jibraeel (leader of the Angels) and Mikael (the Angel for controlling the rain) and Israfeel (the Angel who is responsible for blowing of the trumpet) What is the common thing between these three angels? a. Angel Jibraeel His responsibility is to bring revelation that gives life to the dead hearts b. Angel Mikaeel His responsibility is to give water to the dead land through rain. c. Angel Israfeel His responsibility is to bring the soul to the dead bodies to give them life again. PAGE 5
2. Then we praise Allah by saying you are the creator of the heavens and the earth. 3. Then we say You (Allah) are the All knower of the Unseen and the Seen. 4. Then we say, You (Allah) who will judge between your servants with for what they differ / dispute about. Till here we are praising Allah and after this the Dua starts. 5. We ask Allah to Guide me in what the people are differing by your permission. We don t want to be a follower of anyone, and only follow Allah and his Messenger. PAGE 6
6. Then we say Verily You (Allah) guides whomever you will to the straight path Dua for Steadfastness - 3 We can say this Dua at any time in the Sujood, before Salam etc. We are asking Allah to guide us and give us wisdom. We ask Allah for Guidance and Steadfastness. If I speak I speak correct. We hit the target in everything we do. Guide me to the middle and steadfastness. PAGE 7