The Golden Rule

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Religion is Naseeha.

The root word “naseeha” holds a profound metaphorical significance, originating from cleaning honey from wax or any undesirable elements that detract from its pure taste and essence.

In a similar vein, Naseeha embodies the process of purifying and refining our hearts and actions from impurities and shortcomings in the context of our faith.

This encapsulates the essential spirit of our faith and serves as a compass for our spiritual journey and communal actions.

How do we offer this naseeha to Allah, who is self-sufficient and free from dependence?

The answer lies in our sincerity, dedication, and adherence to Him.

How truthful are we in our submission to Him and diligent in our commitment to live by His mandates?

The Prophet’s ﷺ companion exemplified this sincerity to Allah during the battle of Tabuk.

Even when he couldn’t contribute physically or monetarily, he demonstrated a profound sincerity to Allah by offering his only and most valuable possession—his horse.

To offer naseeha to the Qur’an means reading, understanding, and living by its teachings. Make the Holy Qur’an a beacon of guidance, a healing remedy for our sufferings, and the ultimate mediator in our affairs.

Likewise, extending Naseeha to the Prophet ﷺ entails adhering to his Sunnah, teachings, and actions in every facet of life.

Embracing and living by the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance exemplifies sincere naseeha, reflecting profound love and reverence for him.

Sincerity extends to its leaders, scholars, and rulers within the Muslim community.

Respecting their authority, adhering to their guidance when it reflects Islamic teachings, and providing constructive advice are all naseeha directed towards them.

The tale of Shaykh Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi, a renowned scholar from the Indian subcontinent, offers a profound lesson in accepting naseeha.

Towards the end of his life, as his health declined, his sight had become weak. He would have his students read his letters, which a lot of them were hate mail, cursing at him and calling him foul names.

He would emphasize reading them over the others, hoping for naseeha that he can use to improve himself.

Finally, naseeha is extended to all of humanity.

Comradeship in Islam requires a sincere concern for each other’s well-being and sincerity towards our self-betterment.

Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Tirmidhi have a simple way of showing this sincerity towards each other:

• Saluting when meeting

• Offering advice when asked

• Praying for mercy when the other person sneezes and praises Allah

• Visiting when sick

• Attending funerals

• Desiring for your Muslim brother what you desire for yourself.

Naseeha towards all these fundamentally equates to sincerity towards ourselves.

May Allah grant us wisdom, patience, and perseverance.

Stay blessed and continue to shine your light. Peace and blessings be upon you all!