Be mindful of Allah

Being mindful of Allah involves observing His obligations, adhering to His injunctions and abstaining from his prohibitions with the realization that He is watching over you. If we are mindful of Almighty Allah, He will safeguard us and elevate our status like He did for the Muslims of the early days. The basis of mindfulness is the knowledge that Almighty is watching over us at every moment, seeing our deeds, knowing our feelings, and hearing our innermost thoughts.

Abu Huraira (Companion of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) narrated that archangel Gabriel approached Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and asked him about faith, Islam and Ihsan (excellence in worshipping Allah). The Prophet (PBUH) answered all his questions, and regarding the last one, he said, “’Al-Ihsan’ (ie, excellence in worship) is attained or manifested in worshipping Almighty Allah as though you see Him, and if you don’t see Him, He definitely sees you.” (Al-Bukhari # 50)

There is no place a person can hide from Almighty Allah. Allah says in the Noble Quran, translated as: “Allah knows what every female carries in her womb and what the wombs lose (prematurely) or exceed. And everything has its fixed measure with Him. He is the Sole Knower of the (realms of the) invisible and the visible, Infinitely Great, the Supremely Exalted. It is the same to Him whether any of you keeps secret his words or publicizes them, or whether one hides himself by night or walks around in the broad daylight.” (Ar-Ra’d – the Thunder 13: 8-9)

You may hide yourself and evil acts from people, but you cannot hide them from Almighty Allah. The Majestic Allah tells us in the Noble Quran, translated as: “The treacherous people conceal (their evil) intentions and deeds from people, but they cannot conceal them from Allah, and He is with them (in His Knowledge) when they spend the night deliberating on an (evil) discourse with which He is not pleased.

And ever is Allah All-Encompassing of what they do.” (An-Nisa’a – Women 4: 108)

A believer who is mindful of Almighty Allah will always feel shy to let any of his body parts commit a sin whether in private or public because he knows Allah is watching over him. Abdullah bin Masoud (ra) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Be sincerely shy to disobey Allah!” We (the narrator relates) said, ‘We are always ashamed to disobey Allah – and all praises are due to Allah.’ He said, ‘Not that, but being bashful from Allah is to protect the head and what it contains from sins, and to protect the stomach and the internal organs from sins. Moreover, you should remember death and decaying in the grave. And whoever focuses on the Hereafter, abandons the ornaments of this world.’” (Al-Albani rated it as authentic in Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 2, 458)

A young milkmaid was married to the son of Umar bin Al-Khattab’s (RA) because she was mindful of Almighty Allah. During Umar’s caliphate, he used to patrol the streets of Madinah during the night. It was in fact his routine to do so in order to make sure that everyone was safe. Zaid bin Aslam narrated from his father, who narrated from his grandfather that on one such night, he was patrolling the streets with his servant. Becoming tired after a while, both of them stopped to rest at a house, leaning against its wall. They could clearly hear the voice of an old woman from inside the house as she was ordering her daughter to adulterate milk with water so that they earn more profits. The daughter refused to obey her. Instead, she said, “Indeed, the Leader of the Believers has sent someone to announce that it is forbidden to mix milk with water.”

The mother tried to reason with her daughter, saying, “Where is Umar now? Verily, he does not see us.” Her believing and trustworthy daughter answered, “If Umar does not see us, then indeed, the Lord of Umar sees us.” The Leader of the Believers was very impressed by what he heard from that young woman. On the following morning, he asked about her and found out that she was unmarried. He then married her to his son Aasim (may Allah be pleased with him). Allah blessed their marriage; for one of their grandchildren turned out to be a just and pious Caliph – Umar bin Abdul-Aziz. (Refer to Sifat al-Safwah by Ibn Al-Jawzei and Tareekh Dimashq,

by Ibn Asakir 70/253)

A shepherd gained his freedom because of being mindful of Almighty Allah. Abdullah bin Dinar narrated, “I traveled with Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) from Madinah to Makkah. After covering a considerable distance, we decided to alight and rest. As we were resting, a young shepherd descended upon us with his flock of sheep. Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA), testing him, asked him to sell him one sheep. The young man refused saying that the flock of sheep did not belong to him and that they were entrusted to him by his master.

Umar (RA) told the young man that if his master asked about the missing sheep, he would tell him that it was snatched by a wolf, and thus, he wouldn’t retrieve it because he was unarmed. Upon hearing that, the young shepherd exclaimed, “And where is Allah?” Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) was intrigued and fascinated by the young man’s piety, mindfulness of Allah, honesty and trustworthiness – among others. He eventually decided to pay money to buy his freedom with no strings attached. (Refer to Sayar A’lam An-Nubala’a, page # 310)

If you are always mindful of Almighty Allah, He will surely protect you in various aspects: Abdullah bin Abbas RA (cousin Prophet Muhammad PBUH) related, “Once, I was riding a riding animal behind the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), when he said, ‘O young man, I will teach you some words (of great significance). Be mindful of Allah, and He will take care of you. Be mindful of Him, and you will find Him at your side (guiding and protecting you). If you should ask (for anything), ask of (Almighty) Allah. If you need help, seek it from Allah. And know that if the whole world were to gather together to help you, they would not be able to help you except if Allah had preordained it. And if the whole world were to gather together to harm you, they would not harm you except if Allah had predetermined it. The pens have been lifted, and the pages are dry.’” (Rated as authentic in Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 2, 516)

There is tremendous freedom from the hindrances of fear and loneliness when we rely only on Almighty Allah. Great acts of courage, patience and independence become possible, because the individual senses the company of the Majestic Allah by his or her side. When Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) was about to be burned alive after he destroyed the idols of his people, the angel Jibreel came to him and asked him, “Do you need help?” Ibrahim (PBUH) replied, “From you, no, but from Allah, then yes!” — Courtesy of Kuwaiti Society for Cultural Dialogue