The Good and the Better
By: Mufeed
Quran [17.53] "And say to My
servants (that) they speak that
which is best; surely the Shaitan
sows dissensions among them;
surely the Shaitan is an open
enemy to man."
We know there is a right way of
doing things. We know there is one
God, and there is one Truth. What
we must also remember while on
followers will be called ghurral
mahajjalin."
And as we all know, it is only by
being “Shi’aan e Ali” (i.e. Followers
of Ali a.s) that we may trace the
acknowledged, has many differing
levels depending on the capability
must not simply strive to do good.
and ability of the spiritual traveller.
We must strive – indeed, we were
For instance, in the case of Salah, we
the best at what we do:
Quran [98.7] "(As for) those who
fallible persons opinion of what
constitutes Halal is the possibility
that in doing so, the best thing is
rejected. For example, the Night
Prayer (Witr). It is Halal to sleep
footsteps of the authentic Sunnah as
without performing it. But we have
practiced by the Prophet
many Hadeeth (traditions) bearing
Muhammad (s.a.w).
witness that the souls will be
But this Sunnah, it is not often
questioned on why they abandoned
our spiritual journeys is that we
created to strive – towards being
hidden within the disguise of a
have the command to accompany
the prayer with certain movements
and positions. However, if someone
is physically incapable of standing or
believe and do good, surely they are if it is not possible for that person
the - best of men (khayr ul bariyya) to perform the movements
it.
In the Qur’an there are examples of
Allah (swt) Presenting the believers
with two acceptable ways of doing
something: a permissible method,
and a better method.
Quran [2.271] "If you give alms
Quran [98.8] Their reward with
accompanying prayer, then until he
their Lord is gardens of perpetuity
or she is well again, it is not
openly, it is well, and if you hide it
and give it to the poor, it is better
for you; and this will do away with
some of your evil deeds; and Allah is
beneath which rivers flow, abiding
therein for ever; Allah is well
pleased with them and they are
well pleased with Him; that is for
him who fears his Lord."
obligatory on that person. Also, if
aware of what you do."
Haskani; in Shawahidut Tanzil,
The point we are trying to make
things."
here is that there is a Halal way of
Quran [2.280] "And if (the debtor)
doing things. This way is the
is in straitness, then let there be
postponement until (he is in) ease;
and that you remit (it) as alms is
narrates that the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w) said:
"O Ali, khayrrul bariyyah is your shiah (follower). I will meet your shi-
someone is too ill to keep the
fasting, they do not have to fast.
Quran [4.86] "And when you are
greeted with a greeting, greet with a
somehow, but the burden is lifted in better (greeting) than it or return it;
surely Allah takes account of all
view of their weakness.
They will have to compensate for it
permissible way. But we were not
created so we can only do the bare
ahs on the cistern of kawthar when minimum and die. It is a greater
achievement to stay away from
all the people will be gathered
together for the final reckoning.Your Haram (forbidden) and to stay firm
on the Halal (permissible). But
better for you, if you knew."
We also know that there are seven
Heavens. The highest level is for the