SYMPTOMS OF A TRUE MUSLIM (I)

The first piece of advice is to correct the belief in accordance with the tenets which the Ahl as-sunna savants communicate in their books. For, it is this madhhab only that will be saved from Hell. May Allâhu ta’âlâ give those great people plenty of rewards for their toil! Those scholars of the four madhhabs who reached up the grade of ijtihâd and the great scholars educated by them are called Ahl as-sunna scholars. After correcting the belief (îmân), it is necessary to perform the acts of worship taught in the branch of fiqh, i.e. to do the commands of the Sharî’at and to abstain from what it prohibits. One should perform namâz five times each day without reluctance and slackness and in compliance with its conditions and ta’dîl-i arkân. He who has as much money as nisâb should pay zakât.[1] Imâm-i a’zâm Abû Hanîfa says, “Also, it is necessary to pay the zakât of gold and silver which women use as ornaments.”

We should not waste our valuable lives even on unnecessary mubâhs. It is absolutely unwarrantable to waste it on harâm. We should not busy ourselves with taghannî, singing, musical instruments, or songs. We should not be deceived by the pleasure they give our nafses. These are poisons mixed with honey and covered with sugar.

We should not commit giybat. Giybat is harâm. [Giybat means to talk about a Muslim’s or a Zimmî’s secret fault behind his back. It is necessary to tell Muslims about the faults of the Harbîs, about the sins of those who commit these sins in public, about the evils of those who torment Muslims and who deceive Muslims in buying and selling, thereby helping Muslims to beware their harms, and to tell about the slanders of those who talk and write incorrectly about Islam; these are not giybat. (Radd-ul-Muhtâr: 5- 263)].