Commitment with Consistency

Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Daamat Barakaatuhu) mentioned:

Allah Ta‘ala speaks of two qualities that allowed the Bani Israaeel to be appointed as leaders i.e. guides for dispensing hidaayat. One is the quality of yaqeen and conviction. When a person has the conviction of anything then he will be prompted to achieve it. For example, a matriculant has the conviction that his success in life depends on him becoming a doctor. Hence, he will thereafter dedicate eight to nine years of his life to acquire a mastery in that field. When it comes to deen then this should also be our attitude and outlook.

The second quality was that of sabr. We normally confine sabr to a very narrow meaning and feel that it applies only at the time of a calamity. However, it has a very broad meaning. It actually means to commit oneself with consistency. Thus, in any given situation, one commits oneself to deen with consistency.

Among the things that one needs to commit oneself to, are the teachings of one’s elders. However, this again should be with consistency. It should not be for a day or two, or whenever one feels like. When one commits oneself to their teachings and informs them of all that relates to one’s islaah (spiritual reformation), this will allow one to gain progress in this path.