Truestrength often does not lie in one's physique or muscle-power, but isalmost always an issue going much deeper. Many are those who seemstrong-willed and distinguished amongst people until there occurs athand something which exposes their true reality, showing a weak andbrittle state. Then there are those few individuals who may remainunknown to society, but who hold a high rank with their Lord. They maybe seen to be weak and insignificant, but their reality is such thatwhen Mankind is wandering in darkness and heedlessness, they never losetheir path. Were the people to be enveloped in fear and hardship, theseindividuals would not flinch. Such is the power of having Istiqaama.
What is Istiqaama?
Istiqaama is often translated to mean 'uprightness, correctness, integrity, soundness and so forth. It comes from the root word قام (qaama) meaning 'to rise' or 'to stand upright' and it's from this that we derive words like مستقيم (mustaqeem) as in 'Siraat al-Mustaqeem' (Straight Path).
Forthe believer, Istiqaama is a virtue and a caliber that cannot be donewithout. It's a quality that we continually strive to attain althoughwe may fail at times.
Inthis age where fitaan (tribulations) have become widespread and opensin is the norm, many people have lost the istiqaama they once had inthem - the strength to stay upon the straight path with firmness hasescaped through their fingers.
Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) mentions in Surah Fussilat,
"إن الذين قالوا ربنا الله ثم استقاموا تتنزل عليهم الملائكة ألا تخافوا و لا تحزنوا
و أبشروا بالجنة التى كنتم توعدون"
"Verily,those who say 'Our Lord is Allaah' and then they istaqaamu (remain firmand straight), on them the angels will descend (at time of death)saying: 'Fear not, nor grieve! But receive glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!" [Fussilat:30]
He (subhaanahu) also says,
"فاستقم كما أمرت و من تاب معك و لا تطغوا إنه بما تعملون بصير"
"Sostand you firm and straight as you are commanded - and those who turnin repentance with you, and transgress not. Verily, He is All-Seer ofwhat you do." [Surah Hud:112]
The reward of istiqaama in this world is nothingother than Jannah as is mentioned in the first of the two verses above.It comes next to our declaration of Imaan in Allaah, and it is whatwill aid and strengthen our Tawheed (belief in Allaah). In addition touprightness and firmness, istiqaama also entails leaving sin andavoiding transgression as Allaah said in the previous verse, "andtransgress not" - making it part of the command given in the aboveayah. Our istiqaama is not complete until and unless we stay within theboundaries set for us by Allaah through the Shari'ah (Islamic Law).
In a beautiful hadeeth of the Prophet (s), it is related that Sufyan ibn 'Abdullaah رضي الله عنه came to him and said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Tell me something about Islaam which I can ask of no-one except you." He (s) said, "Say: I believe in Allaah and thereafter be upright" [Sahih Muslim]
Asupholders of Islaam, we have to realise that developing this istiqaamawithin us, is a long-term process. It does not occur overnight or afterlistening to one lecture, but rather it's a continuous struggle inwhich we may find ourselves failing more often than once.
Istiqaamais in our words, actions, intentions, and state (our condition). It iswhat our character builds upon and it is what determines our destiny onthe Day of Judgement.
ThroughoutIslamic History, reflections of istiqaama have shone from greatfigures. The Prophets being at the forefront leading this world underthe guidance of Allaah (s.w.t) were truly upon istiqaama. Calling anation engrossed in disbelief and shirk is not easy when you are alone.How simple it must be for one to walk away at the first sign ofrejection - but not the Prophets (alaihumusalaam). Allaah had kept themfirm upon His path and established within them the istiqaama theyneeded to carry out such testing tasks.
The companions of the Prophet Muhammad (s) were nurtured by the Qur'aanwhich not only changed them so drastically, but built them uponfirmness and integrity. So great was their istiqaama and patience thathorrific ordeals poured out on them was not enough to shake them ormake them utter false statements. They were the ones who stood liketowering blocks against the current of what surrounded them.
Istiqaamais also needed during times of ease just as much as it would be neededduring times of hardship. This is because when the heart begins to feelfalse security, ease and becomes arrogantly confident from thepunishment of Allaah then this is a heart that has been exposed tofitnah (test), and has subsequently failed. It is during these periodsthat the masses start to suffer from forgetfulness. Their vision shiftsfrom the Aakhira to the Dunya and so their actions begin to be onesdone solely for attaining and reaping worldly benefits at the expenseof their Deen.
It is during these times that a person becomes blind to their sins, andtherefore hardly sees a need for repentance - increasing one'soutstanding punishment. Istiqaama however, doesn't allow a person to beas easily misled as that. It prevents a person from occupying suchweakness in their Islaam, and keeps their heart and feet planted firmlyupon the Straight Path. It serves as the distinguishing factor whichkeeps them firm and focused whether in hardship or in ease.
Thisis why the pious predecessors feared for themselves when theyexperienced prolonged periods of ease and comfort in their lives - theyfeared that any due punishment or atonement for sin had been delayedfor the hereafter, where every reward or punishment increases inmagnitude and length.
Istiqaama of the Heart
Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said, "The root of istiqaama lies with the heart being firm upon Tawheed."
Havingcorrect Tawheed is essential in every minute and detailed aspect of aperson's Islaam - recognizing Allaah as our Lord and Creator.Dedicating all our worship to Him Alone and purifying our belief inHim. Learning to love Him, having fear of His punishment and havinghope for His reward. Learning to have Tawakkal (reliance) upon Him andmaking sure to negate and reject all other false deities, as Abu Bakrرضي الله عنه was once asked, 'what is istiqaama?' he replied by saying, "It is to not associate partners with Allaah" and by this he meant that one's istiqaama is based on sincere and correct Tawheed.
The heart been at the center of the life is often the driving force for many of our actions. This is why the Prophet (s) said, "Verily,in the body is a morsel of flesh, were it to be upright, then the wholebody would be upright and were it to be corrupt then the whole bodywould corrupt. Verily, it is the heart."
Therefore,it can only follow that a heart established upon Tawheed will order andcall for righteous actions to be performed. Ibn Rajab (rh) called theheart 'King of the body' in that it is obeyed and naturally followed.
Some sayings of the Salaf regarding Istiqaama
Different scholars and righteous figures from Islamic History have given several statements and advise regarding Istiqaama.
Mujahid: Be upright and stand firm on laa ilaaha illallaah until you meet Allaah.
Ali ibn Abee Taalib and Ibn Abbaas (radi Allaahu 'anhumaa): Istiqaama means to carry out the faraa'idh (obligations in Islaam).
'Uthmaan ibn 'Affaan رضي الله عنه: It is to purify your actions for Allaah, i.e. to be sincere in deeds.
Al-Hasan al-Basri: Be firm and upright upon the commands of Allaah, work to His obedience and keep away from His disobedience
Ibn al-Qayyim mentions that some knowledgeable people would say, "Bethe companion of Istiqaama and not the seeker of respect and nobility[amongst the people], because your soul seeks this respect and nobilitywhile Allaah has called it to seek Istiqaama." He (rahimahullaah) also said, 'I heard Ibn Taymiyyah say, "The greatest nobility lies in the presence and requirement of Istiqaama"
Toconclude, this is the Istiqaama that we so ardently need in order tosafeguard our Deen, make it out of this Dunya and arrive safely in theAakhira. It is what will aid us against our enemies, against Shaytaanand his army and it is also what will help us make strong and wisedecisions throughout our lives, and remain firm upon them.
"Verily,those who say 'Our Lord is Allaah' and thereafter remain firm andstraight (istaqaamu), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise abiding therein - a reward for what they used to do." [Al-Ahqaaf: 13-14]
Weask Allaah to bestow upon us His Grace, forgive us of our sins andplant our hearts firmly upon the Word of Truth (the Shahaadah). May Hegive us the Istiqaama we need to face the challenges of life, and liveup to the title of being Muslims. Ameen
Anythinggood I've said is from Allaah due to His never-ending Mercy and Grace.Anything wrong I've said is from me and Shaytaan.
Based on the book "Ni'matul-Istiqaama" by Shaykh Mahmood al-Masri
