The Four Layers of Armor of the Straight Path

Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) tells us in the Qur’an al-Karim: “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.” (An-Nisa, 69).

In its most general description, the sirat al-mustaqim, namely the straight path, is to be in line with Islam. The goal of being in servitude to Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) is to be on the straight path. Without exercising the requirements of Islam with our hearts, words, actions, and etiquette, one cannot reach this reality.

In every salah, we repeat a dua while reciting surah Al-Fatiha: “Guide us along the Straight Path, the Path of those You have blessed…” (Fatiha, 6-7). The first ayah we’ve provided above serves as an explanation for these two short ayahs. According to these ayahs, being on the straight path is achieved by obeying Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and His prophets. Anyone who meets these conditions is undoubtedly on the path of those Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has blessed.

As believers, there are things we need to be careful of, donning layers upon layers of armor in order to stay on the path of the blessed. The first is the state of taqwa.

Taqwa is obeying Allah’s (subhanahu wa ta'ala) commands and prohibitions, steering clear of and protecting oneself from anything contrary to them. Taqwa is to observe the etiquettes of Islam, abstain from anything that causes one to turn away from Allah the Most High, abandon the wicked desires of the nafs, and not get involved in anything haram. The best way to understand this is by following our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in all our actions and words.

Hujjatu’l-Islam Imam Ghazali (rahmatullahi alayh) said: “Taqwa is to abandon anything that has a chance of being sin, move towards things that have no chance of being sin, and abandon suspicious acts and even things that are mubah, for fear of falling under suspicious behavior in terms of sin.”

A man once asked the eighth caliph of the Umayyads, Umar bin Abdulaziz (rahmatullahi alayh):

- When does a servant of Allah reach the pinnacle of taqwa?

Umar bin Abdulaziz replied:

- When one reaches a point where, if they could place all their thoughts on a platter and show them to the people in the streets, they would not feel any shame…

Taqwa is the highest station. Virtue among believers is determined according to taqwa. Race, color, ancestry, and knowledge are not the basis for virtue.

Another layer of armor a servant of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) may wear is tafakkur. Tafakkur is to ponder the universe and creation, reflecting on and comprehending the might of our Creator. Even a moment of tafakkur by a person who has donned the mantle of taqwa and is on the true path is considered dhikr and worship.

Tafakkur will prevent a servant from being deceived by the world and having an inflated self-esteem due to their wealth and status, bringing them to their senses. Practicing tafakkur ensures that a person moves throughout life with an understanding of their powerlessness and takes each step accordingly. In our holy book, the Qur’an Al-Karim, approximately 500 verses end with “do you not reflect?” and “do you not think?”, inviting us to perform tafakkur and think.

Tawakkul is another requirement on the path to being a mature believer. It means taking all necessary precautions, using the resources at one’s disposal first, and accepting whatever the end result Allah the Almighty has ordained afterwards. Tawakkul is when a subject trusts the promises of Allah the Exalted with all of their heart.

Tawakkul, as opposed to the common misunderstanding by many people, does not encourage laziness, inaction, and carelessness. In fact, it spurs people to work harder simply because Allah (jalla jalaluhu) has ordered us to work, labor, and do what is necessary to obtain an outcome. Yet the servant does not believe the result is because of his work and labor; they know everything comes into being because of Allah’s (subhanahu wa ta'ala) will and power.

Maruf Al-Karhi (quddisa sirruhu), one of the great friends of Allah, once said:

“Whosoever has tawakkul, trusts in Allah and takes sanctuary with him, Allah will help him.”

Shaqiq Al-Balkhi (quddisa sirruhu) says:

“Whoever has tawakkul in Allah in terms of rizq (livelihood) will find their good virtues increasing, becoming generous, and finding that their worship contains no waswasa.”

Another armor every believer needs is qanaat, meaning contentment. Qanaat is being content with what one has, not desiring the world, and using what one has carefully and in a measured fashion.

Our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“True wealth is not in an abundance of worldly riches, but in wealth of the heart.” (Bukhari, Riqaq, 15. Muslim, Zakat,40)

In another hadith, he said:

“If a person had wealth that filled an entire valley, they would want a second. Only dirt (of the grave) will sate mankind's greed.” (Bukhari, Rikak, 10; Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 27)

While helping remove the anxiety of earning our livelihood, tafakkur, tawakkul, and qanaat help ease the weight of the world off our shoulders, instilling us with peace and contentment. By succeeding in epitomizing these characteristics, a servant will have an easier time performing actions that will please Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) because these practices nullify the fears and worries in the heart of mankind, which obstruct their submission to Him. 

These traits that a believer dons as armor will transform them into a stronger and perseverant servant, keeping them on the straight path. Just as we pray in each rakat of the daily prayers, they will be set to follow the way of the prophets, truthful servants, righteous, and martyrs whom Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has favored.

Let us end with the good tidings from Allah the Most High:

“Surely those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, saying, “Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.

- We are your supporters in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. There you will have whatever your souls desire, and there you will have whatever you ask for: an accommodation from the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful Lord.” (Fussilat, 30-32)

With His tawfiq and inayah...

Sheikh Sayyid M. Mübarek Elhüseyni