Uprightness

Introduction: the position of uprightness.

Allah the Great spoke a lot about uprightness, He said:

« Those who have said: “Our Lord is GOD” and then have been upright, angles descend upon them and say: “fear not nor grieve, rejoice in the glad tidings of paradise that you were promised”». [Surat Fussilat/ The Expounded, 30].

« Surely those who say: Our Lord is God, and remain upright, they shall not fear nor shall they grieve. Those shall be the dwellers of the Gardens, abiding therein forever as a reward for what they did ». [Surat Al Ahqâf/ The Sand Dunes, 13-14].

« Therefore stand upright as you have been commanded, and whoever requests with you, and do not transgress, surely He sees well that you do». [Surat Hood, 112].

Uprightness is the highest moral and the most exalted. It is reached only by some persons. The pious implore God to guide him to the right way seventeen times a day in his prayers through reciting the Opening of the Book: “Al Fatiha”. He says in each prostration: «Guide us to the upright way ». [ Surat Al Fâtiha/ The Opening of the Book, 06].

A Sahabi said to the prophet -may peace be upon him: «O prophet of Allah! Tell me something in Islam, I ask no one else about it ». The prophet said: «Say: I believe in Allah, then be upright ». [Reported by Muslim].

I. The definition of uprightness.

Uprightness is pertinence and the non wrapping of characters. It signifies non oppression and not going beyond the prescribed limits. It is a medium between extravagance and negligence.

- Abu Bakr was asked about uprightness, he said: «Uprightness is to associate no partner with Allah» i.e. to adopt monotheism.

- Omar Ibnu El-Khatab said: «Uprightness is to do what is ordained and ovoid what is forbidden».

- Otman Bnu Afan said: « "They are upright" means that all what they do is for the sake of Allah».

II. Some Ahadith that incite on uprightness.

One Sahabi said to the prophet may peace be upon him: «O prophet of Allah! Tel me something in Islam, I ask no one else about it ». The prophet said: «Say: I believe in God them be upright ». [Reported by Muslim ].

The prophet-may peace be upon him- said: «Successful is the one who devoted his heart to faith, and made his heart sound, his tongue truthful, his self peaceful and his character upright ».[Reported by Ibnu Habân from Abi Dhur ].

III. The types of uprightness.

1-The uprightness of intentions: The prophet- may peace be upon him- said :«Each person is rewarded according to his intention…». [Agreed on ].

Allah the Great said: « Say, “Surely my prayer and my devotion, my life and my death are all for God, the Lord of the worlds. No partner has He, and this what I have been commanded, and I the first of those who are Muslim”. [Surat Al An’âm /The cattle, 162-163 ].

2- The uprightness of thought.

The thought of the upright person can not deviate or contain destructive ideas. The methodologists affirmed that methodology leads to the uprightness of thought, expression and reduction.

3- The uprightness of expression (sayings).

Allah the Great said: «Not a word does he utter, but there is an observer ever ready». [Surat Qâf, 18].

4- The uprightness of deeds.

Allah the Great said: « And say, “Do as you will, and God will see your deeds, and His Messenger and the believers, and you shall be returned to the knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will inform you of what you were doing». [Surat At-Taubah / The Repentance, 105].

5- The uprightness of transactions either commercial or civil.

IV. Conclusions: The fruits of uprightness.

1- To follow the right and correct path. The Almighty Allah said: «Indeed this is my upright way, therefore follow it, and do not follow diverse paths, lest they lead you away from His path . This is what we have enjoined on you that you may be God fearing ». [ Surat Al Anâm /The cattle, 153 ].

He also said: «Guide us to the upright way ». [surat Al Fatiha /The Opening of the Book, 06].

2) To please Allah and meet him without fear or grief. He said: « Those who have said: Our Lord is God ,and them have been upright, angles descend upon them and say: “Fear not, nor grieve, rejoice in the glad tidings of paradise that you were promised!». [Surat Fussilat /The Expounded, 30].

3) To observe balance in all the contradicting and the opposing matters with no excess or negligence. Among these matters, we have:

- Life and the Hereafter.

- The body and the self.

- Squandering and staginess.

- Cowardice and imprudence.

Some predecessors said: « Satan has two tendencies about all that is ordained by Allah: he either leads to extravagance or to negligence, and he does not mind either of them the person follows».

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