Topic of Discussion:

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In the name of All°h, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Discussion: The Characteristics of the True Believer – Part 11

Øad¢th #30
#30 [ Discussion #4
#42 ]
Lectures on Akhl°q given by His Eminence
Ayatull°h al-`U®m° al-Ø°jj ash-Shaykh N°•ir Mak°rim ash-Sh¢r°z¢ (may All°h protect him)
Translated by Saleem Bhimji – www.al-mubin.org – al-mubin@al-mubin.org

11 - :
Topic: The Characteristics of
the True Believer – Part 11
We are currently at the threshold of the commemoration of the births of the Prophet of Isl°m (blessings of
All°h be upon him and his family) and Im°m as-Æ°diq (peace be upon him) and due to this, the weekly
ethical Øad¢th which in the past concerned the characteristics of the true believer is continued and today, we
discuss six more qualities of the true believer.

Text of the Øad¢th:

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..=-A@ ? *> *&#( .=<;/ . ! * & 9:3( 128!#/ .7(6 ,) 5 43( ' 12 -0/
TRANSLATION: “…and if (the true believer) is in the company of the people of the material world (those who
TRANSLATION
love the material world), then he is the most alert and attentive (to the next world); and if he is in the company
of the people of the next life (who love the next life), then he is the one who possesses the most consciousness
(of All°h). He does not entertain any forms of doubt in relation to his earnings (his earnings are all from the
permitted means) and he does not permit any leave or departure from his beliefs, and if his brother in faith
makes a mistake or error, he forgives it; and he does not forget the good deeds which have been done in the
past by his acquaintances.”1

Commentary of Øad¢th:
Our researches and scholars from amongst the Sh¢`a and those of the Ahlus Sunnah are of the firm belief that the
text of the Noble Qur˜°n has not been altered (Ta¶r¢f) in any way, however there are some from amongst their
scholars and even some from amongst ours who are of the belief of the alteration of the Qur˜°n. The logical,
narrated proofs and history, etc… of the protection of the Qur˜°n have all been explained in detail in our book,
Anw°rul U•£l, and similarly, a summarized discussion of this has also been presented in our work, Tafs¢r-e-
Namuna.

1 Bi¶°rul Anw°r, Volume 64, Page 311

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There are a group of self-motivated people from amongst the Ahlus Sunnah (particularly the head-strong
Wahhabis) who are adamant that the Sh¢`a believe in the alteration (of the Qur˜°n) whereas we see that the Qur˜°n
which is printed in our country (Iran) and those which are printed in their country are no different from one
another - whereas they constantly say that, “You have a separate Qur˜°n”. It is these people who wish to see the
Sh¢`a taken out of the fold of Isl°m and thus, they are unyielding in this claim of theirs, however we have proved
to them - from their own books - that they too believe in the alteration of the Qur˜°n!

Alteration of the meaning is one of the branches of ta¶r¢f (of the Qur˜°n) and this issue has also been alluded to
within the Qur˜°n itself. The alteration of the meaning (of a sacred scripture) is something that has always been
present in Isl°m, Judaism and Christianity and the minimum level of this is to choose and select certain verses
and passages (which suit a person). By this we mean that only one portion of a verse which would be in the
benefit of a person would be accepted and the other section of it would be ignored, whereas we know and believe
that the verse of the Qur˜°n explain and elucidate upon one another.

Of those instances in which an alteration in the meaning of the Qur˜°n and the a¶°d¢th has taken place is in
relation to the material world such that every group of people have tried to explain it with their own biases and
predispositions.

There is one group of people who have been left behind (materialistically speaking) and do not have the energy to
work and thus, they have chosen a life of asceticism and abstinence (from the material world); there is another
group of people who live by the Øad¢th that states:

“The world is the planting ground for the next life.”

And thus, these people have attached themselves firmly to the life of this world and have become worshippers
of the world. We must state that both of these conditions are despicable and thus, we must see what it is that
the Noble Prophet (blessings of All°h be upon him and his family) has mentioned in this Øad¢th in relation to
the perfect believer.

Forty--eighth Characteristic: The Prophet has stated that, “ ! !

The Forty ” meaning that if the
complete and perfect believer is in a gathering with the people who only pay attention to this material world –
in areas such as production, farming, medicine, etc… then he is more aware and alert than others.

If we wish to not have any political relations (with others), then we must also not have any economic relations
with them, and if we wish not to have any economic relations with others, then we must also not have any
intellectual relations with them - however if we wish to have relations with others (other countries), then no
matter how much we cry out slogans in defense of freedom and independence, they will have no impact since
within the products which they produce and distribute (to us), we see that these people have infused their own
culture and traditions!

The Forty- haracteristic: He is “ "# !

orty-ninth Characteristic ” or that the true believer is one who, when in the
presence of those who are working for the next life, is the one who possesses the most consciousness of All°h
(Glory and Greatness be to Him) (Taqw°) and he does not seek this material world for pleasure and luxury nor
for enjoyment. Rather, he seeks this material world solely for the honour and esteem of the Muslim Nation.

Honour and esteem are not shown through mere slogans and chants, rather, they are shown through being
independent and needless of others. If the needs are reciprocal, then it is not a problem, however if we are only
in need of what the other side has to offer, and they do not need what we have, then this is of no benefit.

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 haracteristic: He is “ $%& '$ ! ( )* +” or that the perfect believer is one who not only fulfills the
The Fiftieth Characteristic:
obligatory acts which are upon him and refrains from the prohibited acts, but also, he does not go towards the
doubtful issues in life and thus, he stays away from these things as well.

For example, he would keep away and not participate in vain and useless gatherings which is one of the areas
of doubt.

In the Du`° of Ab£ Øamzah ath-Thum°l¢ as taught to us by Im°m `Al¢ ibn Øusain al-Sajj°d (peace be upon him),
we read that:

.. ,- 01 2 34$ 5 6 / . ,- # "#
“Or maybe You saw me in a gathering of those who are indulged in vain (acts) and thus, you rejected me.”

It is for this reason that it is stated that the doubtful acts are as the edge of a cliff and if a person falls into
negligence in relation to these deeds, then he will fall head first into the valley (of sins).

The Fifth haracteristic: He is that of “ 8 & ', 9 ( :; +"” meaning that the true believer is one who does not
ifth--first Characteristic:
permit himself any sort of departure or separation from his faith. The meaning of separation of the faith is
summed up in this saying that:

<- = >0- ! " :; = ?" @ !

“All makr£h acts are permissible to perform and all Musta¶ab acts are permissible to refrain from performing.”

The seminary student is one who stays away from doubtful things and from all sorts of acts which act as a
separation of faith.

The Fifty haracteristic: The true believer is one of “'-3 & ' # ) A4; ” meaning that the complete believer is
ifty--second Characteristic:
one who forgives the slips and errors of his brother in the faith.

Other than the Ma`•£m¢n, who else is there in the world that does not have errors or faults? If it was to be that
we were to preserve and remember all the slips that others had performed, then it would not be possible to live
in this world any longer.

The Fifth haracteristic The true believer is “B$0C D E )F G ” which means that the true believer is one
ifth--third Characteristic:
who does not forget the good things which his friends have done in the past.

We ask All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him) that He grant us the ability to enliven these characteristics within
ourselves.

…and all praise belongs to All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him), only the mistakes are mine
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