Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was extremely brave, possessing unshakeable firmness in faith and the highest extent of piety. He spent his time in abstinence from worldly pleasures, and would worship Allah in abundance. One day, he was tending to his animals, when his son, ‘Umar bin Sa’d arrived and asked, “O beloved father! You are here tending to your camels and goats, when people are discussing issues of the caliphate.” Hearing this, Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ lovingly struck his hand against the chest of his son, and said, اُسْکُتْ - “Be quiet! I heard the final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stating, اِنَّ اللہَ یُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ التَّقِیَّ الْغَنِیَّ الْخَفِیَّ - “Allah indeed loves a servant who is righteous, independent and hidden.”^[1]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

The servants of Allah that He loves

Dear Islamic brothers! It was indeed a brief Hadith narrated by Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ to his son. He was showing that desiring for worldly rank and fame are not things to be proud of, nor are they anything praiseworthy. Rather, adopting taqwa and independence, as well as remaining unknown, are what leads a person to excellence and prosperity. This blessed Hadith also teaches us, that if these three qualities are found within a person, it means Allah loves them.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Let us now hear an explanation of these three qualities of taqwa, independence and being hidden. Firstly, let us begin with discussing taqwa.