Wonderfully efficacious
for spiritual progress is to join the company of the pious. One should
endeavour to sit in the company of pious people so that talks of wisdom
and piety as well as virtuous habits are acquired. The life-stories
of the pious should be studied. This too serves the same purpose as
association with the pious. Virtuous character is acquired by reading
and studying the life-stories of the saintly men of Allah.
Allah Ta’ala has instilled in man the propensity to be influeced
by others. Such influence is derived without any concentration and any
special endeavour. The life and conditions of others generally influence
people greatly. This acceptance of influence applies to both good and
bad influence. The company of the pious is therefore extremely beneficial
while evil company is extremely harmful. The company of the pious refers
to acssociation with such a person who has sufficient knowledge of the
necessary laws of the Shariah, and whose beliefs are correct. The one
with whom association is struck up should be a person who refrains from
bid’ah (innovation) and evil customs and practices. He should
be one who is steadfast in Salaat, Saum and the essential acts of Ibaadat.
His relationship and affairs with others should be impeccable. He should
be a man of humility, piety and abstemious. He must be one who takes
precaution in matters pertaining to halaal and haraam. He must be of
uprighteous moral character. He must be man who does not hold the poor
and the needy in contempt. Both his external and internal character
must be virtuous. The fear and love of Allah should imbue his heart.
He must not be a man of worldly greed. For the sake of the Deen he should
care for nothing, neither for wealth nor honour. He should be a man
who prefers the life Hereafter to the life of this world. He must be
a man of sabr and shukr. A man of these capabilities and characteristics
is indeed an alchemy for one’s spiritual development.
These who lack the ability to discern or recognize the ability of a
man whether he is a man of peity or not should take the advice of the
pious people of the time described as pious will be worthy for company.
Furthermore, by being in the company of a pious man a few times, one
will discern in oneself an aversion for evil and an inclination towards
virtue. A man whose company produces this effect on the heart is indeed
a pious man.
Abstain as far as is possible from a man in whom evil qualities are
discerned. Unless necessity compels one, do not enter into his company.
Evil company utterly destroys one’s Deen. At times evil persons
harm not only one’s spiritual life, but one’s worldly life
as well. Such worldly loss could be sustained in a variety of ways,
such as in one’s wealth, property, honour and life.
Then there are such people in whom one cannot discern good or bad qualities.
Entertain good opinion about such people but do not cultivate their
company.
Experience has proven that pious company plays a great and effective
role in one’s spiritual progress while the company of evil persons
weakens the heart and ruins one’s spiritual life. Some verses
of the Qur’aan and ahadith pertaining to pious and evil company
will now be cited.
1. Allah Ta’ala says:
“O people of Iman! Fear Allah and join the company of the truthful.
Joining the company of the truthful is to associate with the pious and
follow their ways of rectitude.
2. Allah Ta’ala says:
“When you see those conjecturing (finding fault and jesting) in
our Laws then turn away from them until (such time) that they engage
in some other talk. And, if shaitaan caused you to forget (and you remained
sitting with them), then do not sit after remembering with an unjust
people.”
The Qur’aan here very explicitly warns against association with
those who jest with the Deen; with those who treat the Deen light-heartedly;
with those who show no respect for the Laws of Allah.
3. Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) was asked:
“Among those with whom we associate, who is the best?”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied:
“The one who reminds you of Allah when you look at him; his speech
improves your Deen and his acts remind you of the Aakhirah.”
(Abu Ya’laa)
Some of the important signs of a pious man, which have been mentioned
earlier, are stated in this hadith.
4. Hadhrat Abu Umaamah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Luqman said to his son:"
‘O my son! Associate with the Ulama. Make this an obligation on
you. Listen to the talks of the people of wisdom because Allah Ta’ala
livens a dead heart with the light of wisdom in the same way as the
dead earth is enlivened by abundant rainfull.” (Tibraani)
Wisdom refers to the subtle points of the Deen. Such words of wisdom
flow from the lips of truthful saints of Allah Ta’ala.
5. Hadhrat Muaaz Ibn Jabal (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“Allah Ta’ala said: ‘My love becomes incumbent for
such persons who love one another for My Sake and who associate for
My Sake…” (Maalik
and Ibn Habbaan)
The meaning of “for Allah’s sake” is for the sake
of the Deen or Deeni motives and not worldly motives.
6. Hadhrat Abu Musa (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“The similitude of a pious companion and an evil companion is
as a man standing with musk (this is the similitude of a pious companion),
and a man stoking a furnace (this is the similitude of an evil companion).
The man with the musk will give you some or (if he does not give) then
you will at least gain its fragrance while the stoker of the furnace
will burn your clothing (if a spark of fire falls on you) or (if he
does not burn you) then at least the smoke of the fire will reach you.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Even if one does not derive the full benefit of the pious company, one
will gain to a certain degree, and likewise even if the evil company
does not fully harm, one will to a certain extent be affected by the
evil.
7. Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (radiallahu anhu) narrates that he heard
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying:
“Do not associate with anyone except with a person of Imaan.” (Tirmizi,
Abu Dawood, Daarmi)
There are two possible meanings to this hadith, viz.,
a. Do not associate with a kaffir.
b. Associate with only one of perfect Imaan. Do not associate with a
man of imperfect Imaan.
In the light of this hadith, only a man of perfect Imaan a man who is
fully pious is worthy of association.
8. Hadhrat Aby Razeen (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said to him:
“Should I not inform you of something which is a (great) pivot
of this Deen and by means of which you can acquire the success of this
world and the hereafter? Firstly, adhere to the gatherings of the people
of Thikr (those who remember Allah much); secondly, when in solitude,
keep your tongue moving with Thikrullah as much as is possible; thirdly,
love for the sake of only Allah and hate for the sake of only Allah.”
(Baihaqi in Shu’bul Imaan)
Experience too has established that pious company is the root or basis
of the Deen. Among the various ways of strengthening one’s Deen
and experiencing the sweetness of Deen, the most efficacious is the
company of the pious.
9. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah narrates that once he was in the company of
rasulullah (sallalahu alayhi wasallam) who said:
“In Jannat are pillars of Ya’qoot (a precious stone of Jannat).
On these pillars are erected mansions of zabarjad (a material of Jannat).
In these mansions are open doors which glitter like bright stars.”
The people asked: ‘Who will occupy these lofty mansions?”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied:
“Those who loved one another for the sake of Allah; those who
associated with one another for the sake of Allah and those who met
one another for the sake of Allah.” (Baihaqi in Shu’bul Imaan)
10. Hadhrat Samurah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“Do not live with the mushrikeen nor be together with them. Whoever
lives with them and associates with them is one of them.” (Tirimizi)
From these aayaat and ahadith it is abundantly clear that association
should be with men of piety so that one may gain spiritually and be
influenced by the virtue and statements of wisdom and piety of the pious
men. The derivation of spiritual benefit from the company of the pious
has been amply proven from the aforegoing references. Such aayaat and
ahadith will now be cited by which it will be provedn that this same
benfit is also attainable by studying the life-conditions of the pious.
11. Allah Ta’ala says:
“We narrate all these stories of the Ambiyaa (Nooh, Hood, Saalih,
Ibraheem, Loot, Shuaib and Musa – alayhis salaam) to you so that
We strengthen your heart.” (Surah
Hood)
This then is one benefit of reading and studying the stories of the
pious people. The heart is strengthened and imbued with comfort and
contentment. The heart becomes fortified against falsehood just as the
pious people were strong and steadfast against falsehood. As a result
of such steadfastness, Allah Ta’ala bestows His Aid. In another
aayaat Allah Ta’ala declares:
“We aid Our Messengers and the people of Imaan here in this world
and We will also aid them on that Day when these (Angels) bearing testimony
will stand.”
(Surah Mu’min)
It is evident that the Aid on that Day of Qiyaamah will be only for
the obedient ones. They will be the successful ones while the disobedient
will be met with failure.
As a result of the stories of the pious people, one gains strength and
firmness on the Deen while at the same time it is learnt that these
pious ones will attain the loftiest states of the Aakhirah, hence one
is encouraged to follow in their footsteps thereby also gaining the
lofty ranks in the Hereafter.
12. Ibn Mas’ood (radiallahu ahu) says:
“Whoever wishes to adopt the path of piety forever, should adopt
the path of those (pious ones) who have passed away.”
There is no absolute certainty that a man who is living will remain
firm on the path of piety unto the end. The danger always remains of
him going astray. Hence, the path of piety of a living man could be
adopted only as long as he remains on that path.
The perpetual path of piety is the path of the Sahaban of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam). It is also stated in the hadith that the
character and habits of the Sahaabah should be established as a standard
as far as is possible. (Jam’ul Fawaaid) It is quite obvious that
the adoption of the character and ways of the Sahaabah can be possible
only if one is aware of their life-stories. It is therefore essential
to study books on the lives of the illustrious Sahaabah.
13. Like The Qur’aan Majeed, the Ahadith similarly narrate the
stories of the Ambiya, Ulama and Auliya with a view of inducing in people
the urge to follow the uprighteous and pious personalities of the past.
This purpose is stated in the order:
“Therefore, follow their guidance.”
The Ahadith are replete with the stories of pious and accepted personalities.
These stories are an effective way of exhorting people towards piety
and spiritual progress. It is precisely for this reason that we find
the Auliya always making it a point to compile such books.
The following are some books in this regard. Do make a special effort
to read these books or let someone read and explain the books to you.
If the services of an Alim are available for this purpose then it will
be most beneficial.
· Taarikh Habeebullah
· Nashrut Teeb
· Maghaazi-e-Rasool
· Qasasul Ambiya
· Futuhush
Shaam wal Misr wal Ajam
· Futuhul Iraq
· Futuhaat
Bhunsa
· Firdaus Aasiyah
· Hikayatus
Saliheen
· Tadhkaratul
Auliya
· Anwarul Muhsineen
· Nazhatual
Basateen Imdadul Mushtaq
· Naik Beebiyan
N.B. Certain things
in some of these books will be above the understanding of most people.
Such difficult and incomprehensible sections should be omitted.