prestigious quality that even the most sublime and most devout of all creations the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prayed for the bestowal of piety when he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم raised his glorious hands in supplications; hence: Sayyiduna Ibn Mas’ood رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ narrates that the most Beloved Rasool      صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to pray: اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْئَلُكَ الْهُدٰى وَالتُّقىٰ وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنىٰ, O Allah! I implore you to grant me guidance, piety, purity, and independence (free from want).”  (Sahih Muslim, pp. 1657, Hadees 2721)

Hakeem-ul-Ummat, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه elaborates: “Guidance here refers to praiseworthy beliefs; piety refers to praiseworthy deeds, purity refers to abstinence from sins, and richness refers to being self-sufficient (independent/not needing other people), only depending on Allah Almighty and His Most Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, this supplication incorporates all religious virtues.’ (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, pp. 71)

صَلُّوۡ اعَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                   صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic sisters! Remember, the acquisition of fortune, status, authority etc., is nothing extraordinarily amazing, rather it is a test (a delicate predicament to be in). Many people possess the aforementioned qualities, yet very very few possess the priceless asset of piety. Piety is not an ordinary asset (virtue), rather it is an invaluable treasure which is not bestowed upon everyone. Hujjat-ul-Islam Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: ‘Piety is a rare treasure; if you succeed in acquiring it you will find in it invaluable gems and pearls along with an incredible treasure of knowledge, spiritual fortune, venerated sustenance, remarkable success, incredible blessings, and ownership of a grand kingdom (heaven). Think of it this way; piety encompasses all blessings pertaining to this life as well as the afterlife. Just ponder over the Glorious Qur’an; in one place it declares: ‘If you become pious, you shall own all forms of virtue and blessings’; in other places the Glorious Qur’an promises us astounding spiritual rewards for being pious, and in some places the Magnificent Qur’an declares piety and devoutness to be the sole route to felicity (good fortune).’

Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه lists 12 benefits of piety from the Glorious Qur’an:

1- Allah the All-Merciful praises pious individual.

2- Pious individuals are saved and protected from enemies.

3- Almighty Allah supports and helps pious people.

4- Pious people will be guarded from horrors and calamities in the afterlife.