وَ قِیْلَ لِلَّذِیْنَ اتَّقَوْا مَا ذَاۤ اَنْزَلَ رَبُّكُمْؕ-قَالُوْا خَیْرًاؕ-لِلَّذِیْنَ اَحْسَنُوْا فِیْ هٰذِهِ الدُّنْیَا حَسَنَةٌؕ-

وَ لَدَارُ الْاٰخِرَةِ خَیْرٌؕ-وَ لَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِیْنَۙ(۳۰)

Translation Kanz-ul-Iman: And it was said to those who fear, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ They said, ‘Goodness.’ (Thus) for those who did good in this world, there is goodness for them, and undoubtedly the final home is the best; and definitely what an excellent final home for the pious. (Surah An- Nahl, Parah. 14, Ayah 30)

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! People who are believed to be insignificant on this earth and they obey, pious pushed away from the rich doorsteps; yet they are, Allah’s commandments offer Salah punctually, fast, earn and feed their families a halal livelihood, fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, emulate the Sunnah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, safeguard their eyes and hearts, and perform other good deeds as well, will be treated with tremendous reverence in the afterlife. Pious believers are not only loved by Almighty Allah in fact also by His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, hence: Mother of the believers Sayyidatuna Ayesha Siddiqah Tayyibah Taahirah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا states: “Our Merciful Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was never amazed by anything and nor did any worldly thing (ever) put him صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in amazement except a devout individual (muttaqi).’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 9, pp. 361, Hadees 26657)

Our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘Excellence of knowledge is more than the excellence of worship; and the best thing of your Deen (religion) is Taqwa (piety).’ (Mu’jam-e-Awsat, vol. 3, pp. 92, Hadees 3960)

Most esteemed (respected) individual

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ narrates that someone asked: “Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم who is the most honourable individual?” “The one who is the most pious among people.” He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied.

(Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 621, Hadees 3353)

According to another narration the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم counselled Sayyiduna Abu Zar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ “You are not superior to any red or black man, unless you excel him in piety.”

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 8, pp. 93, Hadees 21666)

Dear Islamic sisters! We have learned that the (Islamic) standard of excellence is not hereditary (family background) popularity, one’s social status or whiteness or blackness of one’s skin complexion; rather superiority is judged by piety and religious devotion. Piety, religious devotion, is such a