The Farasah and Affection of the Believer

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (radiyallahu anh), one of the Prophet's companions, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Beware of the believer's farasah, for indeed he sees with Allah's light” (Tirmizi, Tafsir Al Quran, 15). Then he recited: “Surely in this are signs for those who see.” (Al-Hijr, 75)

Farasah is the ability for someone to discern the truth of the reality around them, allowing them to look at events and facts with a deep insight that is inspired in their heart by Allah. A believer with farasah has great discernment in determining their decisions and actions about life; they determine their istiqamah with prodigious acumen.

As told by the verse “Surely in this are signs for those who see” (Al-Hijr, 75) recited by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), a look of farasah is needed to be able to draw lessons from what happens to us. Having farasah relies on keeping the heart awake at all times. Our scholars indicate that the first step of keeping the heart awake is to love and hate for the sake of Allah. As narrated by Abu Zarr (radiyallahu anh), the Messenger said: “The best of the actions is to love for the sake of Allah and to hate for the sake of Allah.” (Abu Dawud, Sunnah, 2)

To love and hate for the sake of Allah is the most essential manner to ensure an awareness of the world, a world created with the hikmah of good and evil and divided into two halves as halals and harams. The first duty of a Muslim is Iman. A person gains nothing from duties fulfilled without Iman. Iman engraved on a heart shapes the state of the heart, and of course, shapes love and hate.

A believer loves what Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) orders, recommends, and likes. Halal things look pleasant to him. Hardships become easy, and bitterness becomes sweet for the sake of Iman. Under the guidance of Iman, he hates shirk (polytheism), kufr (Not believing in Allah and His Messenger), and haram things. He has no fondness towards those who exceed the limits set by Allah, and he hates them for the sake of Allah.

If a believer loves and hates for the sake of Allah constantly and does it candidly, then he acquires the light of farasah, which makes darkness light and immediately distinguishes the good from the evil. The dua “O Allah, allow us to see truth as truth, and falsehood as falsehood” is a prayer for asking for farasah from Allah. He certainly responds to sincere efforts and prayers.

To love and hate for the sake of Allah is not composed of feelings only. It is not only in the heart but is also seen everywhere, such as our work, homes, streets, words, and actions. A believer corrects misdeeds when he sees them if he is able to.  If he is not, then he shows the right way with his words. If this is not possible either, then he hates in his heart. He hates the oppression of the oppressor, stops it, and advises against it if he can. He does not accompany oppressors for the sake of worldly goods. He runs away from haram as if he runs away from predators. According to Islamic sourcebooks, the Noble Companions ran away from the words of deniers and munafiqs in the same way that someone would run away from predators. This, by the way, is an attitude that needs to be reconsidered today.

A believer who loves for the sake of Allah gives sadaqah, serves believers, and works for the goodness of humanity. Failing to recognize what is for Allah and those who are on the path of Allah is very dangerous. It means that the believer has lost his farasah. The eye and the heart recognize haram and doubtful acts with farasah just as the tongue recognizes bitter and sweet, hot and cold. Rasullullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) refers to this awareness as: “The believer should not be stung from the same hole twice,”(Bukhari, Adab, 83) meaning a believer should not repeat the same mistake.

Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says that a heart could get stained, tarnished, and eventually sealed. A person whose heart is closed is - in the words of our flawless, infallible book - deaf, mute, and blind. His farasah is shut, and he can no longer distinguish good from evil.

Believers love Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), his companions, tabiin, imams, scholars, awliya (friends of Allah), ghazis and, Muslim emirs. They remember them with gratitude because of their virtue of loving for the sake of Allah and their insightful wisdom. To love them is to love and choose the Right Path. Similarly, we hate polytheists, infidels, oppressors, and those who bring disorder to the world because we hate for the sake of Allah; failing to care about them causes weakness of Iman, as well as a loss of the ability to distinguish good from evil. A quote comes to mind: “He who does not live in the way of his beliefs starts to believe in the way he lives.”

Let our last words be a hadith Qudsi, one which explains this matter in hand nicely.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah the Exalted has said: 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him, and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him.”

Sheikh Sayyid M. Mübarek Elhüseyni