picture credit to http://www.warehousesuitsalela.com
day in day out, we see a lot of human wearing fancy tie to work, to school, for meeting, for leisure etc. various color, design, material, even differing length and tying technique. with simple yet complicated steps, people tie their ties around their neck, wear them with pride.on the other hand, we can see iman as a tie. worn by people each day, with various strength, attitude, differing level and faith. we can't see literally one's iman like their tie, but if we look deeper, we can see how people wears it. so, what is iman?Among the things which Jibril asked the Prophet was: “Tell me about 'Iman (Belief).”
The Prophet sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam said:
"أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ باللهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ واليَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بالقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ"
It means: “To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Revealed Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in destiny (qadar)--both good and evil.” Narrated by Muslim.
notice the way Rasulullah explain what is iman? He replied in order of priority, the most important matters of the belief.the word IMAN is used in two ways : a) to refer to the aqidah of the muslim, which never goes up and down but is constant b) to refer to the motivation, or rather, the awareness one has of Allah in their life. This goes up and down with emotion/environmentso, with daily routine, people around, our iman goes up and down like the tie tied short and long. which at time, worries us. how are we calling ourself a true muslim when our iman is like a roller coaster ride? hold on a minute and lets reflect back thro history, even the sahabah experienced this.From Hanzalah al-Usayyidee, radiyallahu `anhu, who said:
“Abu Bakr met me and asked: How are you O Hanzalah? I replied: Hanzalah is guilty of hypocrisy! He said: Free is Allah and far removed from all defects! What are you saying? I said: When we are with Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, and he reminds us of the Fire and Paradise it is as if we are seeing it with our own eyes. Then when we depart from Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, to attend to our wives, children and our business, then much of this slips from our minds. Abu Bakr said: By Allah we also experience the same. So I went with Abu Bakr until we entered upon Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam. I said: When we are with you, you remind us of the Fire and of Paradise and it is as if we are seeing it with our eyes. Then when we depart from you and attend to our wives, children and business then much of this slips from our minds. So Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: By Him in whose Hand is my soul if you remained continually as you are when you are with me and in remembering (Allah) then the angels would shake hands with you upon your beds and upon your roads. But O Hanzalah, (there is) a time for this and a time for that, (there is) a time for this and a time for that, (there is) a time for this and a time for that.
[Muslim, no. 6623]
as a human, as an insaan, we will always bound to this. As Rasulullah said 'Al-Iman Yazid wa Yankus'. but that is not an excuse for us just to let surrounding determine where and how is our iman. look how the sahabah were so worried when they realized it. how concern they are about their iman. the sahabah placed an amazing example on this matter. flip thro their history, and make note of what we can do to improve ourself.
day by day we should notice what increase and what decrease our iman. and at times we might be lost in the daily routine that we forgot to check how our ties is worn. the best way to recharge our iman is by reading His Love Letter :)The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely - 8:2
with more knowledge and iman, we should be more humble and strive for Him. be careful of the disease of heart - takabbur. we should remember nothing is definite for us. we can't confidently declare that 10 years from now, we will still be in iman, and we will still be working for Him. for takabbur is a sign of iman is decreasing.
And never say of anything, "Indeed, I will do that tomorrow," Except [when adding], "If Allah wills." And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct." 18 : 23-24
so my dear friends, lets take few minutes out of our day, try to check our iman today. is our iman today is sick, or is it healthy? is it dieing or pink in health? lets recharge our iman towards Him, and always make duaa and pray for Allah grant us everlasting iman, today, tomorrow, till the day we close our eyes. pray to Him as He is The Almighty, The Creator, as He who hold our heart.
أللهم يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلوبنا على دينك وعلى طاعتك
p/s lets always check what 'tie' we are wearing, lets make sure it is as colourful as Islam, as wonderful as Iman, and as neat as Ihsan wallhu'alam