NASEEHAH (The Advice)

Shaikh Usaamah al Khayyaat

The beauty of this life with all its glitter and joy can never be an obstacle for the humble believers, which prevents them from drawing close to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) and from being steadfast in this with firm steps and an unremitting determination which never weakens.

Those people whose main concern is worldly gains pay the utmost attention to this and jealously guard their gains and high positions in life. Likewise, the people of vision and direction who are upon the right path, the true slaves of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Most Merciful, are extremely eager to protect their high levels of faith, unyielding certainty in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), deep piety, purity of monotheistic belief, precision in following the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), and the soundness of their words and actions. This is why, as they aim to preserve the worldly bounties and great favors that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has bestowed upon them, such people always bear in their minds and hearts that the greatest bounty Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has bestowed upon them after that of belief in Him and being firm on Islamic monotheism is the gift of facilitating for them “sincere brothers in faith” who always give them advice (Naseehah) and remind them of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa); those who inform them of some of their mistakes which they are unaware of and enlighten them about the areas in which they have shortcomings, as well as advise them to avoid that which would lead to their destruction. Indeed by following their advice (Naseehah), such people draw closer to success and guidance.

Knowing all this makes the believer fully comprehend the wisdom and sincerity in the words of some of our pious predecessors, when they said:

“Know that the one who gives you advice (Naseehah) is the one who truly loves you and that the one who flatters you with sweet talk is in fact deceiving you.”

Accepting advice (Naseehah) and reminders are noble qualities and honorable manners. They reflect the soundness of ones mind as well as fine qualities and inward purity. People who possess such gracious characteristics fully understand that humans not only have faults and shortcomings, but are also prone to error and always make mistakes. They also realize that perfection is rare and that they cannot combat their wickedness and correct their mistakes except by the help of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) and then with the assistance of those honest believers who offer advice (Naseehah) to them.

The true accuracy of these words can only be understood by those who fully comprehend the meaning of the word “Naseehah” (advice), as the scholars of Islam have defined:

“The one who gains all that is good is the one who accepts advice (Naseehah).”

This is because the word “Naseehah” linguistically in the Arabic language means ‘to purify’ (i.e., a person will be purified from his mistakes as a result of the “Naseehah” he receives and acts upon).

How can anyone doubt the precision of these words after knowing that he who refuses to accept “Naseehah” becomes ensnared in the trap of arrogance and destroys himself by refusing to accept the truth? Do such people who refuse “Naseehah” not fear that they might be among those whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) describes in His Book when he says that which means:

“And when it is said to him: ‘Fear Allah,’ pride in the sin takes hold of him. Sufficient for him is Hellfire. And how wretched is the resting place.” (Al-Baqarah:206)

How can anyone doubt the accuracy of these words while they recite the Book of their Lord day and night and discover how Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) punished previous nations due to their arrogance, pride and rejection of the advice of their Prophets and Messengers; such as in the story of Thamood where the people of Prophet Saalih (Alaihis Salaam) refused to heed his “Naseehah” and closed their ears to his warnings, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) says that which means:

“So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said: ‘O Saalih! Bring us what you promise us, if you should indeed be of the Messengers. So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home (corpses) fallen prone. And he (i.e., Saalih) turned away from them and said: ‘O my People! I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised (i.e. gave Naseehah to) you, but you do not like Naasihoon (i.e. plural of Naasih – advisor).” (Al-A’raaf:77-79)

It is due to the noble status and lofty rank of those who give sincere “Naseehah” that the Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) greatly stressed upon it to those who came to him pledging to become Muslim. Hadhrat Ziyaad Ibne ‘Alaaqah said:

“I heard Jareer Ibne ‘Abdullaah on the day Al-Mugheerah Ibn Shu’bah died saying after praising Allah and glorifying Him: ‘Fear Allah alone, and maintain order and tranquility until a new leader comes to you.’ Then he said: ‘Ask Allah to forgive your deceased leader (Al-Mugheerah) because he used to love seeking forgiveness from Allah’ then he continued by saying: ‘I came to the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) and said to him: ‘I want to give you my pledge of becoming a Muslim’, so he greatly stressed upon this saying: “You must give advice (Naseehah) to every Muslim.” so I pledged to do so. I swear by the Lord of this Masjid! I am telling you this as sincere Naseehsh (advice) to you (as pledged to the Prophet, SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam).” (Bukhaari).

It is no surprise then that the definition of the entire religion of Islam given by the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) is ‘to give advice’. Hadhrat Tameem Ad-Daari narrated that the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said three times:

“The religion (of Islam) is the Naseehah (i.e. to give advice).”

His Sahaabah (Companions) asked:

“To whom O Prophet of Allah?”

He replied:

“To Allah, His book, His Messenger, to the leaders of Muslims and to the Muslims in general.” (Muslim)

Imam Ibn Hajar commented on this Hadeeth by saying:

• Naseehah to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) means to establish pure monotheism by believing in the oneness of Allah, His divine Lordship and all His names and attributes; to fully submit to Him inwardly and outwardly; to give precedence to the rights of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) over the rights of all others; to seek His pleasure by performing what He loves; to fear His wrath by refraining from His disobedience; and by working hard to aid the disobedient to return to the path of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa).
  




• Naseehah to the Book of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) means learning it; teaching it to others; acting upon it; learning how to correctly recite it, understanding its meanings; adhering to the boundaries it sets; and defending it from the liars and fabricators who strive to defame and distort it.
  




• Naseehah to the Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) means loving him; obeying him; supporting him (i.e., his Sunnah), reviving his Sunnah by learning it, teaching it to others and applying it; imitating him in his words and actions; and shunning innovations and extremism in all matters of religion. 
  




• Advice to the leaders of Muslims means helping them fulfill their responsibilities; warning them whenever they become heedless and uniting people under their leadership. The leaders of the Muslims also include those who are leaders in terms of their knowledge, such as the well known scholars; advising them means spreading the knowledge they impart as well as their good qualities.
  




• Naseehah to Muslims in general means being kind to them, facilitating whatever benefits them; preventing harm from afflicting them; loving for them what one loves for himself; and hating that harm would ever afflict them, just as one would hate it to afflict himself.