WEBVTT 00:00:00.210 --> 00:00:03.669 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.669 --> 00:00:08.619 Milestones on the path to steadfastness. 00:00:08.619 --> 00:00:12.650 Excellence (Ihsan). 00:00:12.650 --> 00:00:17.699 Among the means of steadfastness: 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:20.859 Excellence in one’s relationship with the Truth and with creation. 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:23.960 Excellence with Allah through His Oneness (Tawhid). 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:26.059 And excellence toward creation. 00:00:26.059 --> 00:00:30.760 By offering them benefit for the sake of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:34.159 This is among the greatest of deeds in the sight of Allah. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:36.560 The Almighty says: 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:43.750 “Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.” (17:23) 00:00:43.750 --> 00:00:46.850 This verse mentions two types of excellence: 00:00:46.850 --> 00:00:48.950 Excellence with the Creator, 00:00:48.950 --> 00:00:52.149 By worshipping Him alone, with no partner. 00:00:52.149 --> 00:00:54.649 And excellence toward creation. 00:00:54.649 --> 00:00:57.049 The people most deserving of your excellence are: 00:00:57.049 --> 00:00:59.079 One’s parents. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:02.479 Just as the greatest of sins is wrongdoing: 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:05.980 Wrongdoing through polytheism and disbelief in Allah, 00:01:05.980 --> 00:01:08.579 And wrongdoing toward creation. 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:11.530 As in His saying: 00:01:11.530 --> 00:01:15.730 “Hast thou observed him who belieth religion?” (107:1) 00:01:15.730 --> 00:01:20.329 For that is the one who drives away the orphan, 00:01:20.329 --> 00:01:26.799 And does not encourage the feeding of the poor. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:29.700 He committed wrongdoing against Allah through denial, 00:01:29.700 --> 00:01:31.400 And wrongdoing against creation, 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:34.000 By mistreating the vulnerable orphan, 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:37.900 And failing to encourage charity toward the poor. 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:42.760 Thus, his recompense was the great torment on the Day of Resurrection. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:44.659 The Almighty says: 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:49.459 “But as for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say: Oh, would that I had not been given my book” (69:25) 00:01:49.459 --> 00:01:54.260 “But as for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say: Oh, would that I had not been given my book” (69:25) 00:01:54.260 --> 00:01:57.459 And I did not know what my account was. 00:01:57.459 --> 00:02:01.359 “Oh, would that it had been death!” (69:27) 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:05.459 “My wealth hath not availed me,” (69:28) 00:02:05.459 --> 00:02:09.759 My authority has perished from me. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.159 Seize him and shackle him, 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:17.750 Then into the Hellfire drive him, 00:02:17.750 --> 00:02:26.990 Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him. 00:02:26.990 --> 00:02:32.789 “Lo! He used not to believe in Allah the Tremendous,” (69:33) 00:02:32.789 --> 00:02:37.689 And he did not encourage the feeding of the poor. 00:02:37.689 --> 00:02:43.189 “Therefor hath he no lover here this day,” (69:35) 00:02:43.189 --> 00:02:48.289 “Nor any food save filth” (69:36) 00:02:48.289 --> 00:02:54.729 “Which none but sinners eat.” (69:37) 00:02:54.729 --> 00:02:57.030 Among the forms of excellence toward creation: 00:02:57.030 --> 00:02:59.960 Spending in the way of Allah. 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:01.960 The Almighty says: 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:07.360 Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.860 Then do not follow up, 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:17.860 Then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders of generosity, 00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:22.360 Nor injury, for them is their reward, 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:24.259 With their Lord, 00:03:24.259 --> 00:03:26.259 And no fear will there be upon them, 00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:28.960 Nor will they grieve. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:38.460 “A kind word with forgiveness is better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute, Clement.” (2:263) 00:03:38.460 --> 00:03:42.879 And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:44.479 And He said: 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:51.479 “Those who spend their wealth by night and day, by stealth and openly, verily their reward is with their Lord, and their shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.” (2:274) 00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:54.280 Secretly and publicly. 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:58.280 Secretly and publicly. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:07.280 For them is their reward with their Lord, 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:09.280 And no fear will there be upon them, 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:12.280 Nor will they grieve. 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:14.569 The reward for those who excel (the Muhsinin) 00:04:14.569 --> 00:04:16.569 Is that Allah is with them, 00:04:16.569 --> 00:04:20.569 Granting them steadfastness, guidance, and success. 00:04:20.569 --> 00:04:22.569 As the Almighty says: 00:04:22.569 --> 00:04:36.569 “Nay, but whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, his reward is with his Lord; and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.” (2:112) 00:04:36.569 --> 00:04:41.569 And no fear will there be upon them, nor will they grieve. 00:04:41.569 --> 00:04:43.629 And He said: 00:04:43.629 --> 00:04:52.629 “Lo! Allah is with those who keep their duty unto Him and those who are doers of good.” (16:128) 00:04:52.629 --> 00:04:54.699 And He said: 00:04:54.699 --> 00:05:06.699 “And when he reached his full strength and was ripe, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the good.” (28:14) 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:08.920 And He said: 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:22.920 “As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good.” (29:69) 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:28.519 Milestones on the path to steadfastness.