This point is very important. This is where lies the difference between the Sahaba (RA) and rest of the Ummah. Particularly what is it? It consists of two basic things: Iman and Ihtesab.
The gist of Iman is, to completely have the firm Faith on Allah Taala i.e. undoubtedly hold the belief that He is the Sole Doer and He possesses All Might and He – Who is the Creator, Sustainer and Controller of all the things, with whatever quality and state He desires. What are the characteristics in the deeds, i.e. what sort of outcome or attribute would the deeds result in, had been clearly informed to His Messenger, Prophet – Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam through Wahi and he (Sallallahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) had informed those to us clearly.
Ihtesab is, while doing any Good Deed have complete Faith on the Respective Promise of Allah Taala, i.e. hold firm belief that for this Good Deed it is certain that Allah Taala would give me the Reward He had Promised. Not only hold the Belief but while doing a Good Deed also bear the enthusiasm and zeal to achieve the Reward Allah Taala had Promised!
Indeed these two elements – Iman and Ihtesab are the Ruh or Essence of doing Good Deeds! These are the two keys through which a Good Deed’s uprightness can be measured and valued. A deed can be weighed through these two elements. And Iman and Ihtesab are the factors which reach a Good Deed to the Arsh of Allah Taala and help a slave achieve Grand Success! The lack of Iman and Ihtesab will hinder the Good Deed to rise up and without Iman and Ihtesab Deeds become worthless!
Think now, how Iman and Ihtesab had glorified the Sahaba (RA)! It was never the quantity of Good Deeds or Ibadat, which took them to that heights! Many people of the next generation [after the Sahaba (RA)] had accomplished much more Ibadat, but in case of Firm Belief and Sincerity none can make a match with Sahaba (RA) – the Noble Companions of Beloved Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. Among the Ummah, their Iman and Ihtesab is invincible (definitely it is because of the Suhbah i.e. the Company of the Prophet)!
Hazratji Ilyas (R) [Allah Taala has given him the ability to restart the revolutionary work of Dawah at this Age] emphasizes the necessity of Iman and Ihtesab and mentions:
It is essential that accomplishing Good Deeds we keep forth the Promises in Quran and Hadith of the respective Good Deed. We must always contemplate (do fikr) that doing a Good Deed is only possible if Allah Taala provides ability. In fact, it is our duty that whenever we initiate a Deed, we keep forth the Promises of Quran and Hadith related to it and believe it firmly. By constantly pondering this, the Faith (Iman) will strengthen. Good Deeds alone have no value unless there is obedience and sincerity added to it. Therefore efforts must be pursued to achieve obedience of Allah Taala through Good Deeds. If deeply thought we conceive that ‘The Good Deed itself ‘or ‘Pondering on the different aspects of the Good Deeds’ – neither are the objective of accomplishing Good Deed. Objective is Reach Allah Taala by fulfilling the His Commands! There are many ropes available among the Good Deeds, through which one can reach to Allah Taala; to steadily hold these ropes and try to reach to Allah Taala – always making this effort – is the real objective. For this, there must be great effort to engrave the Beliefs into the Heart what Allah Taala and His Rasul Sallallahu Aalaiyhi wa Sallam has promised. When one would keep on reading and pondering on the Commands of Allah Taala and keep on continuously making efforts sincerely in the hope of achieving Allah Taala’s Reward, every moment of his life would become Ibadat. Then Hazratji Ilyas (R) gave a very easy prescription to initiate this effort! Hazratji (R) said that Salat is the door, through which we need to initiate our efforts to reach Allah Taala by firmly believing all the Rewards associated with it.
Extracted from a writing of Shaiykh Abul Hasan Nadwi (R)
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