Definitions of Al Birr (Righteousness)

 Al Birr is attaining purity in the heart. It is an effort to make the outer and inner worlds of the disciple to resemble the state of our Prophet PBUH .

اَلْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ اَحَبَّ إليه : Hadith

“A person will be with whom he loves.” (Bukhari, Adab, 96)

In order to be with the Messenger of Allah PBUH, it is essential to take on his states, deeds and character (Sunna).

 Adherence to the Sunna is the only education for this task of fully taking on the prophet example not just with our deeds but with our character and inner states.

Sometimes, the prophet passed through the most severe tests a person can go through. However, he did not lose his trust and submission even for a moment.

Sometimes, he was stoned but he never cursed those who treated him with cruelty. On the contrary, he sought refuge with his Lord and prayed for their descendants to be Muslims. 

At times, he passed through a thousand troubles and tribulations but he became the peak example of patience and gratitude. 

Quite often, he was subjected to the heaviest insults and persecutions by the pagans but he never gave up on his cause and always took refuge with his Lord and submitted to Him. 

He was never arrogant. There was no selfishness, jealousy, pride or haughtiness in any moment of his life. On the contrary, he always lived at the height of humbleness. He never attributed the blessings and success he achieved to himself. Instead, he always said: 

O Lord! All my success is only your blessing, it is your grace and bounty...”

His heart was softer than cotton toward all creatures. He has always been the ocean of mercy. Even when he was in need, he preferred others. 

He always thought of his ummah before himself. He became a “monument of generosity” through putting all his means to the service of his followers.

He was always at the peak of working hard and courage. 

Ali RA says:

“I remember the day of Badr, when we were seeking shelter with the Messenger of Allah PBUH and he was the closest of us to the enemy and the most courageous of the people on that day.” (Ahmad, I, 86)

Kindness and grace in his daily life were part of his nature.

The Prophet had an extremely fine and sensitive heart. One day the Messenger of Allah PBUH saw spittle on the wall towards Qibla, he was so affected that his blessed face turned red. A woman from the Ansar got up right away, she scraped it and put a nice fragrance on it. Thereupon, The Prophet PBUH relaxed and said; “How nice it became.” (Nasa’i, Masajid, 35; See. Muslim, Masajid, 13) 

Even in his first declaration, he first asked them how they knew him, and all the Meccans bore witness to his truthfulness and uprightness, after this he invited them to eternal salvation.

 Hence it is very important for a believer to 

gain the trust of his fellow believers. All the friends of Allah have always been favorably remembered by the Muslims. The prayers that are made for them continue with the words 

 that is, “May Allah’s mercy and forgiveness be upon “عَلَيْهِ الرَحْمَةُ وَالْغُفْرَانُ”them”. Allah Almighty demands such a character from us too.

The aim of Al Birr is to  transform the heart to a state that will please Allah Almighty. Which means to strive to be an inheritor of the Prophet’s spiritual universe. In other words, it is to reach a consistency that will make the heart go through stages in “mahabbatullah” (Love of Allah) and “marifatullah” (Direct Knowledge in Allah). 

Al Birr: It is the art of living with taqwa.

Al Birr: It is the art of not getting overwhelmed by all the ups and downs and surprises of life.

Al Birr: It is the art of forgetting complaints under the changing conditions, keeping the balance and always being content with Allah’s will.

Al Birr: It is the art of attaining good manners.

Al Birr: It is a sacred education.

Al Birr: It is the effort of a believer to be a support for all creatures and make up for their shortcomings.

Al Birr: It is the way that brings the servant to the presence of Allah. 

Al Birr: It is to realize the knowledge of the Book and Sunnah and live in spiritual ecstasy.

Al Birr: It is to prepare for the last breath.

Al Birr: It is to spend life with the consciousness and realization that we are under divine supervision.

Al Birr: It is divine love and spiritual ecstasy that result in the admiration of God’s blessings and the purification of low emotions.

Adherence to the Sunna which is the school of such a spiritual state, is also called taqwa, 

ihsan (excellence) and zuhd (doing without); is like a spiritual window that opens from hearts towards ascension in terms of mahabbatullah (Love of Allah) and marifatullah.

® Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️