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Describe desirable characteristics of true servants of the

Allah (Merciful SWT)

In Surat al Furqan, there is a passage (ayah 63 to 76) in which Allah Azza wa Jall
describes a special group of people. This group is given a name by Allah – ibadur
Rahman, the Servants of the Most Merciful, and they enjoy a special mercy from
the Most Merciful. Allah describes in this passage what it takes to be an Abd ar
Rahman, the qualities which distinguish this special group of people.

1. Easy-going

And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily

2. Forbearance

And when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace

When someone makes fun of them, insults them or hurts them, they don’t strike
back or seek revenge. They forgive and overlook. They have this attitude towards
disbelievers who insult them. Then imagine how much more leniently we should
behave to our believing brothers and sisters.

Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief
after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has
become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allah delivers His command.
Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. [2:109]

3. Devotion in Tahajjud

And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in
prayer]

The Prophet said:

The best month for observing Saum (fasting) next after Ramadan is the month of
Allah, the Muharram; and the best Salat (prayer) next after the prescribed Salat is
Salat at night (Tahajjud prayers). [Muslim]

4. Fear of Allah’s Punishment

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And those who say, “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its
punishment is ever adhering; Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence.”

For these people, Hellfire is not a theoretical concept, but a reality.

5. Moderation

And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but
are ever, between that, [justly] moderate

Allah says in another verse (translation):

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but
be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. [7:31]

On the other hand, we shouldn’t be miserly to the point of harming ourselves and
our families.

6. Leaving sins

And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah
has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual
intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is
the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated

7. Tawbah

Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will
replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. And
he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted]
repentance.

8. Leaving lying

And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood

The Prophet s.a.w.s. said:

I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids

quarrelling even if he were in the right, a house in the middle of Paradise for a man
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who avoids lying even if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise
for a man who made his character good. [Abu Dawud]

9. Remain away from evil conversation

And when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.

10.Accept admonition

And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them
deaf and blind.

11.Turning to Allah

And those who say, “Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring
comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.”

From amongst descriptions of the believers in the Qur’an are the consecutive
verses which characterize the true slaves of Allah in Surah Al-Furqan. The true
slaves of Allah are those whom He loves, and no matter how challenging it may
seem, we must endeavor to belong to this blessed category.

The prerequisites needed to belong to this chosen category are:

1. “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth
easily, and when the ignorant address them (harshly), they say (words of)
peace” (Surat Al-Furqān; 25:63) this verse addresses the attitude of humility
which is often attributed to true believers. It is to acknowledge that whatever
good you are blessed to do is but a mercy of the Creator, hence, there really
is no reason to feel boastful.

Moreover, they do not walk upon the earth proudly, nor do they respond
aggressively to others, rather wisely and peacefully; as that is what generates
the best results.

2.  “And those who spend (part of) the night to their Lord prostrating and
standing (in prayer)”. (Surat Al-Furqān; 25:64)The act of worship
highlighted in this verse is the night prayer. The night prayer is one of the
most beloved acts to Allah , as it is a way of showing gratitude to your
Sustainer when almost all of those around you are sound asleep. Abu
Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger  said: “… And the most
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virtuous Salat after the obligatory is the night prayer.” Getting up from the
comfort of your bed, sacrificing the much needed sleep and fighting your
nafs are indeed noble actions of a true believer.
3. And those who say, “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell.
Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering; indeed, it is evil as a settlement and
residence.” (Surat Al-Furqān; 25:65-66)The mercy of Allah is simply one
which cannot be captured in words. It is beyond our comprehension. It is
enough that one good deed is recorded as ten, whereas one bad deed is
recorded as one, and even that one deed is forgiven when we sincerely
repent. SubhanAllah! True believers know that Hellfire is not a place anyone
wants to be in- neither for a split-second, nor for eternity; hence they
constantly seek refuge in Allah from it. We should recite this dua’ at all
times, may Allah protect us, Ameen.
4. “And (they are) those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or
sparingly but are ever, between that, (justly) moderate”. (Surat Al-Furqān;
25:67)And yet another quality of true believers is depicted in this verse, and
that is their spending attitude. They do not spend recklessly and
extravagantly on useless matters that are neither beneficial in the dunya nor
for the akhira. Instead, they spend wisely and sufficiently without being
miserly. Moderation is the key to success in all aspects of a Muslim’s life,
thus it must be embodied in matters of spending as well.
5. “And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul
which Allah has forbidden (to be killed), except by right, and do not commit
unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a
penalty.” (Surat Al-Furqān; 25:68)True Muslims do not commit shirk- they
worship Allah alone, supplicate to Him alone, and depend upon Him
alone to handle their affairs, in spite of how trivial a matter may seem. The
greatest wrongdoing of all is to associate partners with Allah the All-
Mighty.Narrated `Abdullah: A man said, “O Allah’s Messenger which sin is
the greatest in Allah’s Sight?” The Prophet said, “To set up a rival unto
Allah though He Alone created you.”. Furthermore, they do not commit
unlawful sexual intercourse- as chastity is heavily emphasized in Islam and
is not a matter to be taken lightly. 

These pointers only give us a glimpse of what Allah expects from us as His slaves.
Many other verses in the Qur’an address the characteristics we must live by in
order to attain Allah’s pleasure.

 
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Conclusion
At the end of this passage, Allah mentions the reward of the Ibadur Rahman:

Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will
be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace.