Three of the Most Difficult of Deeds – Sayyiduna Ali (Allah be pleased with him)
In the Name of Allah, the Benevolent, the Merciful
It is related that Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him) said,
“The most difficult of deeds are three:
1. Giving people their rights over oneself;
2. Remembering Allah Most High at all times; and
3. Letting your brother share your wealth.”
[Abu Nu`aym, Hilyat al-Awliya’, 1.85]
Explanation of the words of Sayyiduna Ali (Allah be pleased with him):
1. Giving people their rights over oneself is difficult, because the lower self inclines towards demanding its rights over others and denying or overlooking the rights of others over oneself.
If one can overcome this and become of those who are exacting in giving others their full rights over oneself, this is a sign that one has disciplined one’s wayward self, and is true in seeking the pleasure of Allah. It is difficult, though, and requires spiritual struggle (mujahada) and taking oneself to account (muhasaba). The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The smart person is the one who takes themselves to account, and then acts for that which comes after death.” [Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja]
The first step in this is to make the firm commitment to fulfill the rights of others. Second, one must learn about the rights others have over oneself. This requires study and commitment. After this, one must watch over one’s conduct, to ensure that one is within the limits of Allah and striving to fulfill the ways of Prophetic excellence in one’s dealings with others and in fulfilling their rights.
2. Remembering Allah Most High at all times is the key to felicity. Allah Most High tells us, “Remember Allah much, o believers, in order that you become of the people of felicity.” [Qur’an, 8.45]
This is difficult, too, because the lower self is given to distractedness (ghafla) and flees from the light of remembrance. Remembrance of Allah is both a means of sublimating one’s lower self, and a sign of spiritual discipline and sincere turning to Allah Most High. This is why the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him & his folk) advised the person who asked him about how to strengthen his religious practice, “Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah.” [Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja, Ibn Hibban, and Hakim]
The key to this is to have daily routines (awrad) of recitation of Qur’an, remembrance of Allah, and sending blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that one adheres to without fail. The most beloved of actions to Allah and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) are those a person does most consistently, even if they’re small. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) urged us to take advantage of three times for such worship: the early mornings; the late afternoons (after returning home from work); and a little of the depths of the night. With this, one should strive to stay in remembrance of Allah in one’s life–when walking, when driving, when fulfilling one’s chores–following the Prophetic counsel of keeping one’s tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah. This will give one light, spiritual strength, and unimaginable joy. “It is only by the remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest.” [Qur’an, 13.28]
3. Letting your brother share your wealth is difficult because the lower self seeks to amass wealth and desirable matters, and is disinclined to give. This is why the word for charity (sadaqa) is from the same root as the word for being true (sidq). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his folk) said, “Charity is manifest proof.” [Muslim, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Maja] It is said that this means that charity is a manifest proof of a believers trueness of love for their Lord (Most High)–because it is a sign of true awareness of Allah and true trust in Him. [Ibn Ajiba, Iqadh al-Himam, quoting Imam Zarruq]
Being willing to give to one’s family and friends–and preferring others over oneself–is easy to say but hard to do. It is, however, a sign of the perfection of faith, for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “None of you believes until they wish for others as they wish for themselves.” [Bukhari and Muslim] The highest of this is to be of those “prefer others over themselves, even if they are themselves in need.” [Qur’an, 59.9] Allah Most High tells us the secret in this right after: “And whoever is shielded from the stinginess of their self, they indeed are of the people of felicity.” [ibid.]
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani
SeekersGuidance (www.SeekersGuidance.org)
