The Forty Rules of Guidance

1. The Forty Rules of Guidance Rule One Prepared by: Hacene Chebbani

2. The Unique Generation of the Sahaba • The Quran was the only source of guidance for the sahaba. • Allah has taken the responsibility for preserving the Quran on Himself. • Allah knows that Islam can be established on earth after the time of the Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam). • “By Allah, if Moussa had been alive among you today, he would have no recourse except to follow me.”

3. Continued • Second Reason for their Greatness: • They did not approach the Quran for the sake of increasing their knowledge or for the sake academic enjoyment. • One of them would not read many verses in one session, rater he would read 10 verses, memorize them and act upon them. [Abdullah bin Masou’d].

4. Continued • Third Cause for this phenomena: • When a person embraced Islam during the time of the Prophet –Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam- he would disassociate himself from Jahillilya. • We must return to the Quran with a spirit of “learn to act.”

5. Rule OneThe Power of Words • “And speak to people good words…” 2/83 • We all depend on the Proper Use of words. • Muslims are invited to master the skills of communication • Our faith is based on the power of words.

6. Context of this Ayah. • “And [recall] when we took the covenant from the children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], “Do not worship except Allah, and be kind to parents, relatives, orphans and the needy. And speak to people goodwords and establish the prayer and give the zakat. Then you turned away, except few of you, and you were refusing.” 2/83

7. continued • Allah commanded them to worship Him and to associate none with Him in worship ”و ما أرسلنا من قبلك من رسول إلا نوحي إليه أنّه لا إله إلاّ أنا فاعبدون“ الأنبياء/25 ”و لقد بعثنا في كل أمة رسولا أن اعبدوا الله و اجتنبوا الطاغوت“ النحل/36

8. The Rights of His creation • Rights of the parents. ”أن اشكر لي و لوالديك إلي المصير.“ لقمان/14 “Give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination.” 31/14 ”و قضى ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إيّاه و بالوالدين إحسانا، إمّا يبلغن عندك الكبر أحدهما أو كلاهما فلا تقل لهما أف و لا تنهرهما و قل لهما قولا كريما* و اخفض لهما جناح الذل من الرحمة و قل رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيرا“ 23-24/17

9. Continued • “And your lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age in your life, say not to them {so much as}, “uff” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.17/ (23) • And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [dearly] during my childhood.”17/ (24)

10. Rights of Others • The Rights of your Relatives • The Rights of the orphans • The Rights of the Needy (al-Masakeen)

11. Good Speech • After he commanded kindness in Action, He (taa’la) commanded to speak to people good words. • Then at the end, He commanded to perform Salah and give Zakah. • Good manners are mentioned before some pillars of Islam. What is the message in here?

12. Other Verses • “And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Shaytaan induces dissension among them. Indeed, Shaytaan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.” 17/53 • Spoken words are like bullets. • The best weapon the Shaytan uses to create fitna. • “Not a word does he utter, except that there is an angel watching, ready to record it.” Qaaf/18

13. Beautiful Advice • “Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day then let him speak good or remain silent.” (B) • “He is the one from whose hand and tongue Muslims are safe.” (M) • “O you who have believed, Fear Allah and speak a word that is right (70) He will then amend for you your deeds and forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great achievement (71)” al-Ahzaab

14. Part of our Faith • It is part of our faith to speak the truth. • “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right, or bring reconciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking Allah’s pleasure, then we shall grant him a great reward.” 4/114

15. Silence is Golden • The prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mua’th! Does anything topple people headlong into the fire save the harvest of their tongues?” (Tirmithi/Ibn Maajah). (part of a hadith)

16. Double-edged Sword • The Prophet (sallah Allahu alaihi wa sallam): “A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and the west.” (B/M)

17. Practical Applications of this Ayah • Dawah: In the Field of Dawah,we are commanded to use beautiful preaching, rather than words of anger or abuse. This is what the Quran prescribes. • “And invite to the path of your Lord, using wisdom and beautiful preaching.” 16/125 • “Go both of you to Pharoah…” 20/43-44

18. Continued • Debating with the People of the Book. “And do not argue with the people of the scripture except in a way that is best, except those who commit injustice among them, and say, ‘We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” 29/46

19. Clear Agenda • Ihsan and Excellence while debating with them. • Focus on the common ground • Explain the oneness of God. • Explain the Muslim identity and be proud of it. Allah knows Best.