Chapter: On Steadfastness

فی الاستقامۃ — استقامت کے بارے میں

فِي الِاسْتِقَامَةِ — On Steadfastness (Istiqama)

فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ

"So remain steadfast as you have been commanded." (Hud, 11:112). The author observes: Istiqama is among the most difficult virtues — it is one thing to begin upon the straight path, quite another to remain upon it without deviation, throughout one's entire life.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ ۝ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ

"Indeed, those who have said 'Our Lord is Allah' and then remained on a right course — the angels will descend upon them, [saying:] 'Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request.'" (Fussilat, 41:30–31)

عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِاللَّهِ الثَّقَفِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قُلْ لِي فِي الْإِسْلَامِ قَوْلًا لَا أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ أَحَدًا بَعْدَكَ قَالَ: آمِنْتُ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَقِمْ

Narrated by Sufyan ibn 'Abdillah al-Thaqafi (may Allah be pleased with him): He said: 'O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam that I shall not ask of anyone other than you.' He said: 'Say: I believe in Allah — then remain steadfast (istaqim).' (Muslim)