A few years ago I came across a book that had a huge impact on me. It is a book that is published in Arabic called 'Iman First, and how we should apply it'. The book takes you through the practical steps of applying Iman and growing it in your heart. There is no English translation (believe it or not!) and so I decided to create a series of posts summarising the main chapters of the book. I hope that it will be useful to you and will guide you in increasing Iman in yourself and in your children through practical steps.
Here is the introduction:
There is not a single Muslim who believes in Allah and the Hereafter that does not come across moments of regret at his state and is left overcome with feelings of fear at meeting Allah in his current state of forgetfulness and poor level of actions.
Many people wonder how they can achieve a spiritual link and connection with Allah whilst living amongst their spouses and children, continuously working and without having to isolate themselves from people and devote their entire lives for worship.
Yet before you begin to assume that achieving this balance between the needs of the body and soul is an impossible equation, we must remember that the companions' generation, the best generation of Muslims were able to achieve this balance.
Remembering the companions' generation will also help us to see that the general state of Muslims will not improve without the steps of improvement that were applied in the companions' era. If we examine the history of this unique generation, we find ourselves faced with several important observations:
1. They did not fast or pray that much more than the generations that succeeded them. One of the earlier followers remarked: Abu Bakr did not attain his higher position with lots of fasting and prayer; he did so through something that moved in his heart.
2. Nor did they isolate themselves for worship and neglect their lives and responsibilities in this world; they continued their lives in a natural manner, eating all that was permissible, and not forbidding anything upon themselves that was not forbidden by Allah. They continued to laugh and enjoy themselves were playful and loving toward their spouses and children, they bought and sold and traded; in other words, they were in total harmony with their human nature.
They were physically living amongst others, yet maintained their spiritual relationship with Allah…So how were they elevated to this level?
The education of companions began by filling their hearts with a connection to Allah. We find that forbidding of intoxicants did not take place except in Madina, nor was fasting ordained before the second year of Hijra. Likewise, the five prayers did not become a duty before the journey of the Israa and Mi'raj. Night prayer however was ordained in the beginning of the call to Islam and this necessitates a stop since its early ordainment contained much hardship, as Allah states:
{O you enwrapped in your garments!- Stand in prayer at night, but not all the night- Half thereof or lessen a little- Or add to it a little, and recite the Qur'an with distinct recitation} [The Enwrapped: 1-4].
So why did night prayer come before the rest of the duties?
Allah says, {Truly the rising by night is the most potent for controlling the soul and most suitable for humbling in prayer and purifying the soul in remembrance of God} [The Enwrapped: 6].
It is through the night prayer-whilst most people are asleep- reciting the Qur'an and observing its verses, the long stand, bowing and prostration that all barriers that surround the heart can be removed, and the blocked pathways between the person and Allah opened, thus establishing the needed link, closeness and association with Allah.
If these hearts become close to Allah and the link created, then change can easily follow with the least effort.
Someone may remark that we all agree that an upbringing or education based on faith should precede others, yet we do not know the practical steps that we should take to help us establish that link with Allah.
This book is therefore an attempt to show the outlines needed in such an upbringing and more specifically those factors essential for the awakening of the heart, and reviving its link with Allah.
InshAllah over the next few posts, I will summarise those practical steps one by one.
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