Part one
Praise be to Allah, the Most High, the Most Omnipotent! I thank Him –may He be exalted– for
His abundant favours and overwhelming benevolence, and I bear witness that there is no deity
worthy of worship except Allah alone with no associate. He has no match and no equal. I also
bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, the herald of glad
tidings and a warner and the lamp(lighting our way). O Allah!Send your Salat(Graces, Honours,
Mercy) and Peace onto Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, his family, and his pious,
righteous, and benevolent Companions.
Nowthen,
I urge you, servants of Allah, to fear Allah. Fear the day you will be brought before Allah, when
each soul will be duly rewarded and brought to account as it has earned. Whoever does an
atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does am atom’s weight of evil
will see it [Az-Zalzalah: 7-8]
O Muslims! If people, in pursuit of their aspirations, follow various paths believing that their
efforts will bring them what they want and help them realize their aspirations toa high standard
Page 2 of 7
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.
of living and happiness, true believers are the forerunners in this respect. With their insight and
sound opinion, their living hearts, and uprightness on the straight path, granted to them by
Allah,theywillgain a sublime rank and the promised reward mentioned in Allah’s following
words, Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allâh (Alone)," and then they
stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death)
(saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise
which you have been promised! [Fussilat: 30]. Allah () also says, Verily, those
who say: "Our Lord is (only) Allâh," and thereafter stand firm and straight
on the Islâmic Faith of Monotheism, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they
grieve. [Al-Ahqaf: 13]
Hence, when Sufian ibn Abdullah Al-Thaqafi asked the Prophet () to tell him something in
Islam about which he may never ask anyone else, the Prophet answered, “Say I believe in Allah,
then keepyourselfupright.” [Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih]
Scholars say that this uprightness means following the straight path which is the true faith free
from crookedness. It involves performing all acts of worship, overt or covert, and abandoning all
acts of disobedience. The essence of uprightness is rooted in the heart’s uprightness on tawheed
(monotheism). Abu Bakr () and ohers explained the Qur’ānic verse, Verily, those who
say: "Our Lord is (only) Allâh," and thereafter stand firm and straight… as
“Those who took no notice of anything else, but stood firm in their belief that Allah is their
Lord.” If the heart, as the king of the other body parts, stood firm and straight on believing in the
oneness of Allah, fearing Him, glorifying Him, exalting Him, praying Him, supplicating Him,
loving Him, relying on Him, returning to Him, surrendering to Him, seeking Him and rejecting
Page 3 of 7
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.
others, theremaining parts of the body would also stand firm in obeying Allah by observing
fara’idh (religious duties), keeping away from nawahi (forbidden acts), and gettingclose to Him
by nawafil (voluntary acts of worship). It is mentioned in the two Sahihs that Nu’man ibn Bashir
() reported that the Prophet () said, “There isalittle lump of flesh in the body; if it is good,
the whole body will be good; if it is bad, the whole body will be bad. It is the heart.”
The next part of the body that should receive care and attention after the heart is the tongue. It is
the mouthpiece of the heart and the revealer of its concealed emotions. In his Musnad (a book of
Hadith), Imam Ahmad narrated with a good chain of narration, on the authority of Anas ibn
Malik () that the Prophet () said, “Nobody’s belief may be upright unless his heart is
upright, and nobody’s heart may be upright unless his tongue is upright.” However, human
weak and deficient disposition makes absolute uprightness hard to achieve throughout life. It is
inevitable for human beings to go astray here and there and to commitacts of dereliction in
performing religious duties on the way that pleases Allah. Therefore, Allah,the Almighty (),
has guided us to istighfar (asking Allah’s forgiveness) which should be coupled with sincere
repentance.
The sinner thereby returns to his senses and to obeying his Lord. Allah says, Say (O
Muhammad ): "I am only a human being like you. It is revealed to me that
your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God - Allâh), therefore take Straight Path to
Him (with true Faith - Islâmic Monotheism) and obedience to Him, and seek
forgiveness of Him. And woe to Al-Mushrikûn (the polytheists, idolaters,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh)[Fussilat: 6]. In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad and
the Sunan (a book of Hadith) of Ibn Baja with a good chain of narration Thawban () was
reported to have said, quoting the Prophet () as saying, “Keepupright, and you will not go
Page 4 of 7
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.
astray. Let it be known to you that prayers are the best of your deeds, and that none but a
believer maintains his wudu (ablutions).”
Therefore, in the hadith narrated by the Two Sheikhs (Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim), on the
authority of Abu Huraira that the Prophet (), while ordering those who have strayed or deviated
from the straight path, said, “Saddidū wa qāribū” which means “Befirm, steadfast and
balanced!” The Arabic word “sadād” means (to be right on target) in words, actions and
intentions, and this is the essence of istiqāmah (uprightness). “Muqārabah,” by analogy, means
to try be as close as possibleto the target with the intention to hit it and not to miss it. This is
mentioned in ahadith narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad and by Abu Dawud in his Sunan,
with a good chain of narration, on the authority of Al-Hakam ibn Al-Hazan Al-Kalfi that the
Prophet () said, “O people! You will not be able to carry out or withstand all that I ordered
you, so be firm, steadfast and rejoice(at the good news).”
Therefore, servants of Allah, fear Allah and make of your commitment toistiqāmah (uprightness)
the best means and the most straightforward path to follow towards attainingwell-being in this
life. Blessed be those who stand firm and upright on Allah’s commandments, and blessed be
those who attain Allah’s satisfaction and dwell in His Paradise.
May Allah grant me and you the benefit of the guidance of His Book and of the Sunnah of His
Prophet ()! I say this and ask Allah to forgiveyou and me and all Muslims of all sins; He is the
All Forgiving!
Part two
All praise be to Allah! We thank Him and seek His aid. We ask His forgiveness and we seek
refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves and from our evil deeds. He whom Allah guides, may
never go astray, and he whom Allah allows to go astray will never find guidance. I bear witness
Page 5 of 7
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.
that there is no deity except Allah alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is
His Servant and Messenger. O Allah send YourSalat(Graces, Honours, Mercy) and Peace onto
Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, as You have sent Your Salat onto Ibrahim and his
family, and send Your Blessings onto Muhammad and his family as You have sent Your
blessings onto Ibrahim and his family, for You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious!
Now then,
What indeed helps Allah’s servants to observe istiqāmah is to remember the aim behind His
creation. Allah, may Hebe exalted, has created mankind for the sole purpose of worshipping
Him. Allah () says, And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except
that they should worship Me (Alone). 57. I seek not any provision from
them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that
they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures). Verily, Allâh ()
is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.[Adh-Dhariyat: 56-58]
Thinking of this aim calls for the glorification and love of Allah () in a way that brings man
soundness of the heart, and makes him return to his Lord in obedience, get closer to Him,
renounce what He has forbidden, and abandon suspicious acts as a precaution against sins. By
contrast, negligence of the intended aim causes hardheartedness that may lead to deviation from
the straight path and ultimately tumble the offender into the abysses of disobedience and the dark
recesses of sin. The consequence would be total loss; we seek refuge in Allah. Therefore,
servants of Allah, I urge you to fear Allah and to stand upright on Allah’s command. Send your
salat and peace unto the best of Allah’s mankind –Muhammad ibn ‘Abdillah– as you have been
ordered to do in Allah’s Book:Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings,
Page 6 of 7
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.
Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad ), and also His angels (ask Allâh to
bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to
bless) him (Muhammad ), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the
Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum).[Al-Ahzab: 56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat(Graces, Honours, Mercy) and Peace on Your Servant and
Messenger Muhammad! O Allah! Be pleased with his four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman
and Ali, on all the Companions of Your Prophet Muhammad (), and the tabi’în, and those who
righteously followed them till the Day of Judgment! O Allah! Be pleased with us all, along with
them, by Your pardon and generosity, O You, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O
Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Rout polytheism and polytheists (who
associate partners with You) and all the tyrant corruptors! O Allah! Unite the hearts of the
Muslims and their ranks, set right their leaders, and unite them on what is right! O Lord of the
worlds! Grant victory to Your Religion, Your Holy Book, Your Prophet’s Sunnah, and Your true
mujahideen and servants!
O Allah! Grant us security in our homelands, and set right our Imams and leaders! O Allah!
Entrust our government to those who fear You and seek Your satisfaction! O Lord of the
Worlds! O Allah! Guide our leader, his deputies and brothers to do and say whatever you please
and accept, O You the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian, to Whom everything returns on the
Day of Judgment! O Allah! O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and ours in any way that
pleases You, O Lord of al-'ālamîn (the Worlds)! O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and
ours in any way that pleases You, O Lord of al-'ālamîn! O Allah! We leave Your enemies and
ours to You (to deal with them) and seek refuge in You from their evils! We leave Your enemies
and ours to You and seek refuge in You from their evils!
Page 7 of 7
Translated by Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.
O Allah! Make better our religion which is our bond, and make better our Dunya (life in this
world) which is the source of our living, and make better our Hereafter towhich we are returning,
and make life for us an increase of all that is good, and death arelief from every evil!
O Allah! We ask You to guide us to do good deeds, forsake reprehensible actions and love the
needy! O Allah! We ask You to forgive us and have mercy upon us! O Allah! If You want to
send an affliction on a nation, we beseech You to take our lives before your affliction is sent!
(They say): "Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after
You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the
Bestower." [al-Imran: 8]. They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If
You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly
be of the losers." [al-A’raf: 23]. Our Lord! Cure our sick, have mercy on our dead, and help
us realize our aspirations in what pleases You!
… Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter
that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire![Al-Baqarah:
201]
O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on Your Servant and
Messenger, Muhammad, his familyand Companions!And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of
the Worlds!
