During his virtual meeting with the members of Majlis Ansarullah (elderly Ahmadi men’s auxiliary) from France on Sunday, 7 January 2024, responding to a question on how to attain righteousness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, the Worldwide Head and the Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community expounded on the Islamic concept of righteousness and explained how true love of God would naturally inspire a fear of earning His displeasure. His Holiness said:
The Promised Messiahas has said:
“Friends! Piety is this that you give up arrogance;
Give up the habit of pride, haughtiness and stinginess.”[1]
What is righteousness? Righteousness is to fear Allah, not out of being scared of Him, but out of concern for His displeasure and the possibility of losing His love. When a person loves someone, they strive not to displease them. Some people quarrel with their wives so as to not upset their parents, out of love for them. However, as far as Allah is concerned, He has commanded us to fulfil both the rights of wives and parents. Nonetheless, there is love and fear, owing to which you listen to your parents.
This is what Allah the Almighty has said, that one should attain fear of Him in their hearts that emanates out of love for Him. In this way, when one will develop love for Allah—for which I have mentioned various means—then they will attain high standards of righteousness.
Furthermore, one should adhere to the commandments of Allah the Almighty. There are numerous commandments in the Holy Quran, which amounts to 700 in number, or 1200 according to some sources. Regardless of how many there are, one ought to find them, and where Allah has invoked fear, one should become fearful and repent. Similarly, whilst reciting the Holy Quran, where there are commandments to fulfil one’s obligations, one should fulfil them.
In this way, one can attain high standards of righteousness. We have a guide before us. Hence, I need not say anything more when Allah the Almighty has given us a Book.
Besides, I have summarised the concept in a couplet. One should abandon pride, arrogance, conceit and stinginess. The fact is, stinginess is not limited to wealth. Rather, it can be found in everything. Stinginess can manifest in relationships. Some people are stingy in expressing their positive sentiments, which should not be the case.
Hence, there are many things, improving upon which would help one attain the love of Allah and attain righteousness.
END NOTES
[1] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya: Part V, Ruhani Khazain, v. 21, pp. 17-18
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