“Know that true obedience to Allah and true worship of Him
involves following the commands and prohibitions of Shari’ah in both words and
acts” ~ Imam Ghazali (rahmatullah alai)
Of all the scholars, Imam Ghazali is the one I admire and whose
work I pray I get the chance to study. I
am in awe of his intelligence and understanding of the faith. This quote is
from his book of advice to his son, written almost a thousand years ago.
This quote makes me think of balance and the middle way. On the one hand the zealots that will follow
the letter of the law without compassion or spirituality. One the other hand
the laid back person who fails to act on any of the laws and requirements of
Islam, saying that it is what is in the heart that matters. Neither finding the balance of following the
commands and prohibitions of the law of our faith but doing so with love for
Allah (SWT) and humanity.
I like that this quote makes it very clear that it is not enough in
Islam to say you have faith in your heart and then not make any effort to carry
out the actions mandated by the faith. The
least that is expected is that you act on what is in your heart if it is
genuine and make what effort you are able to practice the practical elements of
the faith.
For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had
God willed, He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by
that which He has given you. So vie one with another in good works. Unto God
you will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein you differ. ~ Quran,
5:48
My servant approaches Me with nothing more beloved to Me than what
I have made obligatory upon him, and My servant keeps drawing nearer to Me with
voluntary works until I love him. And when I love him, I am his hearing with
which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes,
and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and
if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him (Bukhari)
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