The sign of scrupulous
piety (al-wara`) is considering ten things mandatory upon oneself:
- Guarding the tongue from backbiting due to the saying of the Most High:
“Do not backbite one another.” [49:12]
- Shunning suspicion due to the saying of the Most High: “Avoid much
[negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.” [49:12] And also
due to the saying of the Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, “Avoid
suspicion, for airing suspicion is the most lying form of speech.” [Musnad
Ahmad]
- Shunning mockery due to the saying of the Most High: “Let not a people
ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them.” [49:11]
- Lowering gaze from forbidden things due to the saying of the Most High:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze.” [24:30]
- Truthfulness of the tongue due to the saying of the Most High: “And
when you speak, be just.” [6:152]
- Recognizing the blessings of Allah the Most High upon oneself in order to
avoid conceitedness due to the saying of the Most High: “Rather, Allah has
conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you should be
truthful.” [49:17]
- Spending one’s wealth on good rather than bad things, due to the saying of
the most High: “And those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or
sparingly.” [25:67] Meaning,
they do not spend on sinfulness and do not prevent obedience, “but are
ever, between that, [justly] moderate.” [25:67]
- Not seeking haughtiness and pride for oneself, due to the saying of the
Most High: “That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire
exaltedness upon the earth or corruption.” [28:83]
- Maintaining with care the five prayers on time, with proper bowing and
prostration, due to the saying of the Most High: “Maintain with care the
[obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle [`asr] prayer and stand
before Allah, devoutly obedient.” [2:238]
- Steadfastness upon the way of Sunnah and Jama`ah, due to the saying of the
Most High: “And, this is My Path, which is straight, so follow it; and do
not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He
instructed you that you may become righteous.” [6:153]
