Islamic Concept of Adab - 10 Apr 2010

Ustaz Zhulkeflee starts the class with a 15-minute halaqah (study circle). I like this idea as I get acquainted with other sisters and learn from what they took away from the previous lesson.

He then impresses upon us to ikhtiyar towards attaining Qist (equity or distributive justice, a higher order of adab) and to do this is to instil ihsan in one's heart and we have the ability to do this. As mentioned in Surah al-Araf: 172 about the convenant, Allah SWT has equipped mankind with fitrah saleemah, the ability to acknowledge and testify the oneness of Allah SWT.

And insan, by design, is forgetful so daily solat and constant zikr will remind one to fulfil the rights and responsibilities of a Muslim (hablu minalLah and hablu minanNas)... this is one's personal jihad, to submit fully to the will of Allah SWT - "When his Lord said unto him: Surrender! he said: I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds." [Surah al-Baqarah: 131]

In our daily solat and constant zikr, every surah and doa we recite provides an opportunity for us to be grateful to Allah Azza wa Jalla for the bountiful provisions, reaffirm our convenant and instill the will for us to suppress our nafs and mischief, subhan Allah. Truly, Allah SWT dislike mischief.

Ustaz also highlights that a good Muslim manages to successfully balance wisdom, justice, courage and purity and constantly ikhtiyar to seek 'ilm. On another level, it is also pressing for parents (ummatan wasotan) to nurture a child via tarbiyah and then ta'dib to ensure that he lives his life justly - "O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire whereof the fuel is men and stones, over which are set angels strong, severe, who resist not Allah in that which He commandeth them, but do that which they are commanded." [Surah at-Tahrim: 6]

View the lesson's slides here.