Three Qualities Of The Servants Of Allah – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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Who are true servants of Allah? What does it mean to be of “the servants of the All-Merciful,” praised and described in the Qur’an. Shaykh Faraz Rabbani explains four of the key qualities of these blessed, beloved servants of God, as mentioned in verses 63-77 of Surat al-Furqan.

Shaykh Faraz explains what a true servant (abd) of Allah is; why Allah describes Himself as the All-Merciful (al-Rahman) when ascribing these servants to Himself; what mercy (rahma) is, and how it is expressed; what it means that such servants “tread lightly on earth.”

In explaining this, Shaykh Faraz explains the key quality of humility, concern for Allah’s creation, and how one expresses this concern in making merciful—concerned, caring, principled—choices in life.

Shaykh Faraz highlights the importance of ethical eating, dress, and consumption—out of seeking to be a true servant of the All-Merciful, and through having merciful concern for the wellbeing of humans, animals, and the environment, as manifest in our choices.

How is this consciousness nurtured? The verses continue: “Those who spend the night in prostrating and standing in prayer.” It is this turning to Allah—out of concern for Allah—that is then mirrored into concern and care for Allah’s creation.

63 The servants of the All-Merciful are those who tread lightly on earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace’;
64 those who spend the night in prostration and standing in prayer,
65 who plead, ‘Our Lord, turn away from us the suffering of Hell, for it is a dreadful torment to suffer
66 It is an evil home, a foul resting place!’
67 They are those who are neither wasteful nor niggardly
when they spend, but keep to a just balance;
68 those who never invoke any other deity beside God, nor take a life, which God has made sacred, except in the pursuit of justice, nor commit adultery. (Whoever does these things will face the penalties:
69 their torment will be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and they will remain in torment, disgraced,
70 except those who repent, believe,and do good deeds: God will change the evil deeds of such people into good ones. He is most forgiving, most merciful.
71 People who repent and do good deeds truly return to God.)
72 [The servants of the Lord of Mercy are] those who do not give false testimony, and who, when they see some frivolity, pass by with dignity;
73 who, when reminded of their Lord’s signs, do not turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to them;
74 those who pray, ‘Our Lord, give us joy in our spouses and offspring. Make us the foremost exemplars for Your mindful servants.’
75 These servants will be rewarded with the highest place in Paradise for their steadfastness. There they will be met with greetings and peace.
76 There they will stay – a happy home and resting place!
77 [Prophet, tell the disbelievers], ‘What are you to my Lord without your supplication? But since you have written off the truth as lies, the inevitable will happen.’

This Friday khutba was delivered at the Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga.

Cover photo by Qusai Akoud.

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