Who are the ‘Ibad ur Rahman’ (Slaves of Allah according to Quran)?
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In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
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Who are the ‘Ibad ur Rahman’ (Slaves of Allah according to Quran)?
In this Quran verse from Surah Al-Furqan, Allah provides a glimpse of some of the characteristics of His slaves that he calls “Ibad-ur-Rahman” .
Quranic Verses: surah Al-Furqan-V 63-65 slaves of Allah
Verse Translation
63. And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and somberness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.
64. And those who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing.
65. And those who say: “Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily! Its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment.”
Quran (Surah Al-Furqan, Verses 63-65)
Verse Tafsir / Interpretation
In these verses attention is being drawn to the two patterns of character and life: first of those who had accepted the Message of the Holy Prophet and were following it, and the second of those who persisted in the ways of ignorance.
The prominent characteristics of the true Believers are:
They walk on the earth with dignity, serenity and humility, not with arrogance and pride. (“Walking humbly” does not mean walking like a weak or sick person, nor does it imply the gait of a hypocrite who walks ostentatiously to show humility or fear of God. According to Traditions, the Holy Prophet himself used to walk with firm, quick steps.)
If the ignorant people insult them with bad words, they do not respond likewise, but they forgive and overlook, and say nothing but good words. (This is what the Messenger of Allah did: the more ignorant the people, the more patient he would be.)
The true servants of the “Merciful” do not believe in “vengeance”, though they may have to deal with ignorant people who behave rudely and insolently towards them. If they happen to come across such people, they wish them peace and turn away. (The same has been expressed in Surah AI-Qasas: 55, thus:
Surah al-Qasas
“And when they hear something vain and absurd they turn away from it, saying, `Our deeds are for us and your deeds are for you: peace be to you: we have nothing to do with the ignorant’.”
Quran (Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 55)
The true servants of Allah pass their nights in worshipping and remembering Him as much as they can.
In spite of all their worship and good deeds, they are so filled with the fear of the torment of Hell that they pray to their Lord to save them from it, for they do not depend upon their own work for success in the Hereafter but upon the mercy of Allah.
The torment of Hell is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment.
(Everything that strikes the son of Adam, then disappears, does not constitute an inseparable, permanent punishment. The inseparable, permanent punishment is that which lasts as long as heaven and earth.)
When they hear Al-Laghw (evil or vain talk), they withdraw from it.
(References: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi – Tafhim al-Qur’an and Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif