WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.399 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:11.529 In the presence of Allah, happiness pours into the hearts. 00:00:11.529 --> 00:00:15.619 Draw ever closer to the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.619 --> 00:00:18.620 The Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Musa Mosque. 00:00:18.620 --> 00:00:21.620 Proudly presents: 00:00:21.620 --> 00:00:24.620 The Musk of Discourse. 00:00:24.620 --> 00:00:28.620 By Sheikh Usama Bahr, may Allah preserve him. 00:00:28.620 --> 00:00:35.619 For obedience to the Divine dissolves into the sweetest of feelings. 00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:40.920 Piety (Wara'). 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:42.920 Piety is a space of caution. 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:47.920 In which the believer stands before matters that are ambiguous to him regarding what is lawful and unlawful. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:50.020 It is the attribute of the God-fearing. 00:00:50.020 --> 00:00:54.020 Those who, when a doubt or suspicion arises in their souls regarding a matter, 00:00:54.020 --> 00:00:56.020 Pause. 00:00:56.020 --> 00:00:57.020 And say, 00:00:57.020 --> 00:01:01.020 "Rather, we shall abandon what is harmless for fear of what is harmful." 00:01:01.020 --> 00:01:06.019 Piety is refraining from what is harmful among the forbidden and the doubtful. 00:01:06.019 --> 00:01:11.019 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, summarized piety in a single phrase. 00:01:11.019 --> 00:01:12.019 He said, 00:01:12.019 --> 00:01:16.019 "Part of a person’s good Islam is leaving what does not concern him." 00:01:16.019 --> 00:01:21.019 This is general, encompassing the abandonment of all that does not concern one, whether in speech or looking, 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:24.019 Or listening, or grasping, or walking, or thinking, 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:28.140 And all other outward and inward movements. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:31.140 Piety is a sufficient and healing word. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:34.140 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:36.140 "O Abu Hurayrah, 00:01:36.140 --> 00:01:39.140 Be pious, and you will be the most devout of people." 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:42.140 A servant will not attain the reality of God-consciousness (taqwa) 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:47.140 Until he abandons every doubt that might lead him into the unlawful without him knowing. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:51.140 Thus, piety becomes his methodology in action and inaction. 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:53.140 Some of them said, 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:56.140 "We used to abandon seventy doors of the lawful, 00:01:56.140 --> 00:01:59.269 For fear of falling into the unlawful." 00:01:59.269 --> 00:02:03.269 Who does that now, when temptations are on every side, 00:02:03.269 --> 00:02:06.269 And the forbidden is in every direction? 00:02:06.269 --> 00:02:10.370 The pious are few, and the negligent are many. 00:02:10.370 --> 00:02:14.370 Piety cannot be realized except through knowledge. 00:02:14.370 --> 00:02:17.370 For how many people have practiced piety out of ignorance, 00:02:17.370 --> 00:02:21.370 Making their piety like one walking down the wrong path? 00:02:22.370 --> 00:02:26.370 Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned 00:02:26.370 --> 00:02:29.370 Important words on this subject. 00:02:29.370 --> 00:02:30.370 He said, 00:02:30.370 --> 00:02:34.370 "The perfection of piety is for a person to know the better of two good things, 00:02:34.370 --> 00:02:36.370 And the lesser of two evils." 00:02:36.370 --> 00:02:41.370 And to know that the Shari'ah is built upon securing and perfecting interests, 00:02:41.370 --> 00:02:44.370 And nullifying and minimizing corruptions. 00:02:44.370 --> 00:02:49.370 Otherwise, whoever does not weigh the Shari'ah-based benefit and 00:02:49.370 --> 00:02:51.370 The Shari'ah-based harm in an action or omission, 00:02:51.370 --> 00:02:54.370 May abandon obligations and commit the forbidden, 00:02:54.370 --> 00:02:57.370 Thinking that it is piety. 00:02:57.370 --> 00:03:00.370 Piety is among the greatest acts of worship. 00:03:00.370 --> 00:03:02.370 The foundation of religion is piety. 00:03:02.370 --> 00:03:04.370 The pious, ascetic jurist (faqih), 00:03:04.370 --> 00:03:08.370 Who remains steadfast upon the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:08.370 --> 00:03:11.500 Shall have his great reward on the Day of Judgment. 00:03:11.500 --> 00:03:16.500 A person should place himself in the correct position regarding matters of piety. 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:18.500 As al-Awza'i said, 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:20.500 "We used to joke and laugh, 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:22.500 But when we became people to be emulated, 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:25.500 I feared that such behavior would no longer befit us." 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:27.500 If a person practices piety, 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:29.500 He will not be deprived of the lawful. 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:32.500 Let no one think that through piety he is depriving himself; 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:37.500 Rather, he is placing a step between himself and the unlawful, standing behind it. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:40.500 If he steps forward, he falls into the sanctuary of the forbidden. 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:43.500 If he steps back, it is a safeguard for his religion and his honor. 00:03:49.550 --> 00:03:52.550 Happiness in the hearts. 00:03:52.550 --> 00:03:57.550 Draw ever closer to the Most Merciful, 00:03:57.550 --> 00:04:01.550 So that joy may embrace you. 00:04:01.550 --> 00:04:04.550 Attach your soul to your Lord, 00:04:04.550 --> 00:04:08.550 And fill the surroundings with light. 00:04:08.550 --> 00:04:12.550 Everyone who obeys the Divine 00:04:12.550 --> 00:04:16.779 Dissolves into the sweetest of feelings. 00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:24.779 For there is darkness, then light, and revelation thereafter. 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:33.420 If Allah wills a thing, He says to it "Be," and it is.