Ten Virtues of a Mumin – (7) Put your Trust in Allah Ta’ala & His Awliyaa’

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّه،

'Do not give up hope in Allah Ta’ala’s Mercy.'

(Surat Yusuf: 87)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

مَنْ رَزَقَهُ اللهُ وَلايَةَ عَلِيّ ابنِ ابيطالب صع فَقَدْ أَصَابَ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا والآخِرةِ، ولا أشُكُّ لهُ بِالجَنةِ، وإنَّ في حُبِّ عَليٍّ وَوَلايَتِهِ عِشْرِينَ خَصْلَة، عَشَرةً مِنها في الدُّنيا وعَشَرةً في الآخرة* (1) الزهد (2) والحرص على العلم (3) والورع في الدين (4) والرغبة في العبادة (5) وتوبة نصوح (6) والقيام في الليل للصلوة (7) الإياس من الخلق

He who is given the sustenance/bounty (rizq - rozi) of the valaayat of Ali has attained the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, and I do not doubt that he will enter jannat. In Ali’s love and valaayat are twenty virtues: 10 in this world (dunya) and 10 in the Hereafter (aakherat). 1) renouncing materialism, 2) desire to seek knowledge, 3) piety and scrupulosity, 4) eagerness/desire for worship, 5) sincere repentance, 6) waking up in the night for prayer, 7) putting your trust in God, not people.

(Rasulullah SAW)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2015.

Rasulullah SA said, “he who is given the gift (rizq, rozi) of the valaayat of Ali has attained the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, and I do not doubt that he will enter Jannat.” In Ali’s love andvalaayat are twenty virtues: 10 in this World (dunya) and 10 in the Hereafter (aakherat). The ten in this world are: 1) renouncing materialism; 2) desire to seek knowledge; 3) piety and scrupulosity; 4) eagerness and desire for worship; 5) sincere repentance; 6) waking up in the night for tahajjud prayers; 7) to put trust in God and not people; 8) memorizing the Quran Majeed; 9) aversion to this world; and 10) generosity.

This year during Ashara, Syedna TUS narrated this Hadith and explained the many facets of this Hadith and the individual virtues. Syedna introduced the Hadith saying that this is a bishaarat for the Shi’a of Amirul Mumineen SA. He added that in one sense, those with true valaayat would necessarily have these virtues. If for some reason one with valaayat does not possess these virtues, then upon hearing this bayaan he/she should make a firm commitment to acquire them. The seventh virtue is to put trust in God and not people (al-iyaasu min al-khalq).

Al-iyaasu min al-khalq, literally means, “not keeping hope in people.” Syedna explained that the intent of the phrase is to emphasize that one must keep faith, hope, and trust in Allah Ta’ala and his Awliyaa’ Kiraam and not in people; one should seek help from and pray to Allah Ta’ala and his Awliyaa’ and not to people. The Qur’an Majeed states: “do not lose hope in Allah Ta’ala’s mercy” (la tay’asu min rawhillah - Surat Yusuf: 87).

Amirul Mumineen SA said that there are four types of faith and reliance (tawakkul): 1) reliance on one’s wealth (al-mutawakkilu ‘ala maalihi); 2) reliance on one’s body and strength (al-mutawakkilu ‘ala badanihi); 3) reliance on people (al-mutawakkilu ‘alan-naas); 4) reliance on Allah Ta’ala (al-mutawakkilu ‘alal-laah). The one who relies on his wealth, does not give zakaat and feels that if he gives it he will lose out and become dependent on people. He does not remember that it is Allah Ta’ala who gave him this wealth in the first place. Wealth comes and goes - one does not know if the wealth he is relying on today will exist tomorrow. The one who relies on his body and strength believes that his physical strength provides him with his sustenance and he is therefore reliant on it. He does not realize that health is Allah Ta’ala’s blessing and the human body is fragile. The one who relies on people seeks to please people even if he displeases Allah Ta’ala. However, the one who relies on Allah Ta’ala is the one who is at peace regardless of whether he retires as a wealthy or poor man.

Having faith in Allah Ta’ala, tawakkul, is a manifestation of the realization of our purpose in this world, and the acknowledgement of Allah Ta’ala’s Strength and qudrat. It is their absolute faith in Allah Ta’ala that enables our Awliyaa’ Kiraam to stand firm in their conviction even in times when masses of people are against them (see Sijill Article Sijill 49 – Resolve, Faith & Conviction in Allah Ta’ala - the Example of Rasulullah’s SA Conviction and Sijill Article 77 – Faith in Allah Ta’ala – Faith in the Truth – the Example of 13^th Dai Syedna Ali bin Ibrahim RA).

This seventh virtue prescribes that we make decisions with our faith, hope, and trust in Allah Ta’ala, and that we don’t make our decisions based on the consideration of “what will people think.” Keeping faith in Allah Ta’ala enables us to make the right decisions in the context of both deen and dunya. When we keep tawakkul, we are provided with clarity to stand firm with the truth even if it means being alienated by people. In every aspect of our life, keeping tawakkul gives us the clarity to do what is morally right. It gives us the strength and confidence to move forward in life without hesitation and fear. It gives us strength in times of despair and sustains us with hope in Allah Ta’ala’s mercy and grace.

This virtue is the key to acquiring the greatest strength in life. May Allah Ta’ala strengthen our faith in Him and His Awliyaa’. May we always recite the Quranic Ayat “Allah Ta’ala is sufficient for us and He is our Guardian” (hasbunallahu wa ni’mal-wakeel- Surat Aale-Imraan: 173).

After Syedna Burhanuddin’s RA wafaat, Syedna Qutbuddin’s words and actions are a true manifestation of faith, hope, and trust in Allah Ta’ala and his waliyy Imam-uz-zaman SA. May Allah Ta’ala grant him fathe-mubeen and longest life in sehhat and aafiyat. May Syedna TUS continue to guide mumineen to have faith in Allah Ta’ala and inspire them by leading by an excellent example.