Prime Attributes of True Servants of Allah

‘And say to My servants that they should speak that which is best. Surely, Satan stirs up discord among them. Surely, Satan is an open enemy to man.’ (17:54)

In this verse, first and foremost, God’s message to people is to say what is best, and the best speech is that which pleases God. This is why the term ‘My servants’ has been used here signifying that those who are God’s servants or seek to be God’s servants do not have any wish/preference of their own because they prefer and wish for what pleases God. This has been further elaborated in Surah Al Baqarah: ‘And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: ‘I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way.’ (2:187)

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has explained the word Ebaadi (My servants) as: ‘Those people who believe in Allah the Exalted and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).’ These are the people who are Ebaadi and are thus close to God and those who do not believe are distant from God. God states that in order to become His true servant His commandment should be obeyed. This would bring good and prayers would be accepted. When God states that His servants should say what pleases God, it definitely demands enhancement of faith and requires one to bring one’s word and deed in congruity. One cannot practice contrary to what God commands but advise others to follow God and His Messenger. God has called discrepancy in word and deed a sin and states: ‘O ye who believe! why do you say what you do not do? Most hateful it is in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.’ (61: 3 – 4) Therefore discrepancy in word and deed is greatly disliked by God, in fact it is a sin. Claim to have faith and duplicity cannot go together.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘Pay heed to what I say and remember it well that if the word of a person is not sincere and has no feasibility, it will not be effective,’

An ehsan (good) word is that which is ehsan as defined by God; something that spreads goodness and forbids evil. Individuals cannot define themselves as believers merely based on the fact that there is no discrepancy between their word and deed. For example, the practice of a person who consumes alcohol cannot be emulated simply based on the fact that his words and deeds are consistent. In this society much indecency goes on in the name of freedom and is openly publicised on TV and the internet. Revealing clothes are exhibited in the name of fashion shows. Although there is consistency in word and deed in these instances but the practices are abominable in the sight of God. Some people and youngsters are influenced and say that so and so is straightforward with no duplicity. It should be remembered that absence of duplicity [in this instance] is not a virtue; rather it is promotion of indecency and distance from God. Men and women should avoid such environments and should pray for: ‘Guide us in the right path.’ (1:6) and should pray for remoteness from Satan and should seek what God has commanded. Search for those ehsan things through which God teaches ways of His nearness. God’s commandments should be sought so that the reality of what is ehsan and what is not ehsan is understood and one is included among those whom God has called, ‘My servants’ and has given the glad-tiding of acceptance.

A great responsibility lies on Ahmadis in this age for we have accepted the Imam of the age and have pledged that we will make our word and deed consistent and will try and do what is ehsan in the sight of God, we will have consistency in our word and deed and we will refer to the Holy Qur’an for ehsan things as it distinguishes between what is ehsan and what is not and tells us what will gain God’s nearness and what will incur His disp