The Sultan of Prophets, Muhammad Mustafa—peace and blessings be upon him—when introducing his prophetic identity, first declared that he was a servant and a Messenger of Allah. The letters of invitation to Islam that he had written to the world leaders of his time (Byzantium, Egypt, and Persia) from the Medina in the seventh year of the Hijrah all began with: “From Muhammad, the servant and Messenger of Allah.”—peace and blessings be upon him.
In the exemplary conduct of Our Prophet, servitude begins with fulfilling the Almighty Creator’s commands as ordained and refraining from His prohibitions. It reaches perfection when one attains the state of ihsan—as expressed in the Prophetic tradition—by realizing, in all aspects of life, that one is in the presence of the Divine.
On the journey of servitude in the state of ihsan, a person faces obstacles both internally and externally. While the unlawful desires, delusions, and whispers of the nafs (self) attempt to lead one astray from within, unnecessary external engagements also stand as barriers on the path to reaching Allah.
As the most excellent teacher and nurturer, the Greatest Blessing from Allah, Muhammad Mustafa —peace and blessings be upon him—warned his community and demonstrated the best models of behavior. For a person, while striving to live by taqwa (piety), may at times be unaware of the subtle presence of fujur (sin).
According to the narration of Hazrat Thawban—may Allah be pleased with him—the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said:
“I certainly know people of my ummah who will come on the Day of Resurrection with good deeds like the mountains of Tihaamah, but Allah will make them like scattered dust.” Thawbaan said: O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us and tell us more, so that we will not become of them unknowingly. He said: “They are your brothers and from your race, worshipping at night as you do, but they will be people who, when they are alone, transgress the sacred limits of Allaah.” (Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 29)
Today, with the widespread availability of technology, a person can access sinful content even while sitting next to their closest family members. The fact that fingers and eyes engage in such prohibited acts reveals the absence of divine reverence in the heart. Indeed, every sin and mistake—if not repented for immediately—leads to another sin, and eventually, the heart becomes entirely rusted.
The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “When a servant commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness, and repents, his heart is cleansed and polished. But if he repeats the sin, the black spot grows until it covers his entire heart. This is the rust that Allah Almighty mentions in the verse: ‘Nay! Rather, what they used to do has rusted their hearts.’” (Mutaffifin 83:14)” (Tirmidhi, Tafsir, 83/3334; Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 29)
The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—commanded his ummah to evaluate their actions and always choose the most virtuous course.
“No sip is more beloved to Allah than the sip of anger swallowed for His sake or the sip of patience endured in the face of hardship. And no drop is more valuable in the sight of Allah than a tear shed out of His fear or a drop of blood spilled in His path.” (Bayhaqi, Shu’ab, VI, 314)
“Solitude is better than bad company, and a righteous friend is better than loneliness. Speaking good is better than silence, and silence is better than speaking ill.” (Hakim, III, 343; Bayhaqi, Shu’ab, 256/4993)
The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—warned his beloved companion, Hazrat Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—saying: “O Ali! If you happen to glance at something forbidden, do not look again. The first glance (which happens unintentionally) is forgiven, but the second is against you.” (Tirmidhi, Adab, 20)
“Beware of minor sins that you consider insignificant, for they can accumulate and destroy you.” (Haythami, III)
“A servant may utter a word thoughtlessly, unaware of its consequences, and because of it, he may fall into Hellfire further than the distance between the east and the west.” (Bukhari, Riqaq)
The Sultan of Prophets, who lived every moment of his life—both before and after prophethood—in a manner pleasing to Allah, reminded us that the greatest wealth for the Hereafter is the limited breaths we have been given. He emphasized that every moment of life will be accounted for, and that leaving matters that do not concern oneself is a sign of the beauty of one’s faith.
Those who lived the Sunnah of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—as a way of life became righteous and faithful individuals who set great examples for future generations.
There was a pious man who, after the morning prayer, would walk through the cemetery near his home, reciting one juz’ (section) of the Qur’an on his way and another on his return. He also prayed that Allah would grant him a meeting with Khidr (a.s.).
One day, as he started his walk and began reciting a‘udhu-basmala, a raggedly dressed man appeared beside him and started conversing with him. As they walked, the stranger asked about his family, his livelihood, and other worldly matters. The pious man answered all his questions.
When they reached the end of the path and turned back, the stranger finally said: “You have long asked Allah to let you meet Khidr. I am Khidr. You have now met and spoken with me. But more importantly, today you missed reading two juz’ of the Qur’an.”
If even a meeting with Khidr should not be prioritized over reciting the Qur’an, then how much more careful must we be in avoiding the waste of time in trivial matters?
Our Sheikh Mahmud Sami Ramazanoğlu—may Allah sanctify his soul—offered a profound reminder:
“Spending one’s short life on imaginary concerns is an excessive folly. Time is like currency and should be spent on the most valuable things. May Allah keep us from being occupied with useless matters. Do not engage in idle distractions and amusements. Turn to Allah with sincere supplication and know the value of the life He has given you.” (Musahabe 1)
Sheikh Abdullah SERT