[1] The Sublime Qualities of the Leaders of Guidance

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِى ڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولاً أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ‌ۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ‌ۚ فَسِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ

And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). [An-Nahl. 36]

Ibrahim, peace be upon him, was an  [alayhis upright Imam, obedient and he was Hanifan (Worshipped Allah alone)

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Verily, Ibrihim was an Ummah [leader], Qaanitan [obedient], Haneefan [one who worshipped Allah alone], and he was not one of the Mushrikeen [polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and those who associate partners with Allah]. [Surah An-Nahl. Verse 120]

Three Qualities:

Imam – a leader of guidance and an upright guide for the people.

Qaanitan – constant in worship and obedient to Allaah.

Haneefan – turning away from Shirk, and he was not one of those who associate partners with Allah.

Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, stated in another verse:

قَدۡ كَانَتۡ لَكُمۡ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ۬ فِىٓ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُ ۥۤ إِذۡ قَالُواْ لِقَوۡمِہِمۡ إِنَّا بُرَءَٲٓؤُاْ مِنكُمۡ وَمِمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibraaheem (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: “Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allaah…” [Al-Mumtahinah  4]

These qualities of Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, are that of a person who fulfils Tawheed and an encouragement for others to emulate him, just as Allah stated:

قَدۡ كَانَتۡ لَكُمۡ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ۬ فِىٓ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibraaheem]. (1)

Gentleness

Look at Ibrihim’s gentleness?!

“O My father! Why do worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything, O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you”. He did not say: “O father you’re ignorant”, but he said that he has received knowledge which his father has not received. (2)

[1] An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed- Audio Number 2. By Shaikh Abdur Razzaq al-Badr

[2] Qisas Al-Anbiyaa by Imam Sadi p45