06-04-2003, 07:52 PM
The adjective of righteous came in countless Ayas of the Noble Quran. However, let us see in this particular Ayah how Allah defined them. In other words who are the pious what do they do.
“Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your lord, and for a garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of earth, prepared for the righteous, Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good; * And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, and ask for forgiveness for their sins, and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done* For such the reward is forgivenesses from their lord, and gardens with rivers flowing underneath, an eternal dwelling: how excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)” (Quran 3: 133-135).
At the beginning of the Ayah Allah attracted the attention of the reader making him alert and anxious to know the output or to be precise why should we race for forgiveness due to which gardens are prepared. Prepared for who? for the righteous. The righteous who do what? Those who spend, restrain anger which is first stage, comes next pardon and then a more encouraging point that Allah loves those who are Muhseneen (محسنين). Actually the word muhseneen in Arabic in this position comes as the maximum level in terms of interaction among mankind. In other words, in case of disputes, Allah encourages us to first restrain the anger, then pardon then which is the highest level to do good to the person who harmed us in order to attain Allah’s love. To be of the muhseneen (محسنين) may Allah make us all among them. To this effect Allah is helping us to establish a community based on mutual kind treatment.
This meaning is further explained in the Ayah “Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! * And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.” (Quran 41: 34-35). Indeed one who is capable of attaining this level of behavior is extremely fortunate. You know why? Because simply he/she will not be busy with anything except Allah’s satisfaction. Will sleep at night with a comfortable heart and soul not thinking of who did what to him and how he can retaliate. Also not thinking of how he was good to this person and in return got nothing but ungratefulness. He/she will realize that we are all servants of Allah. So if I am adopting a kind attitude with people, I only do so waiting for a Divine incomparable reward. Not degrading myself waiting for the human reward.
Praise be to Allah Who guided us to this and if it was not for him we wouldn’t have been guided and prayer and peace be upon His Messenger Mohamed Ibn Abdullah.