Data Ganj Bakhsh and Lessons In Etiquette

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Data Ganj Bakhsh and Lessons In Etiquette
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Dear Islamic brothers! Etiquette is the essence of servitude. When Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم arrived at Mount Ṭūr, Allah Almighty addressed him with these first words:

اِنِّیْۤ اَنَا رَبُّكَ فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَیْكَۚ-اِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًىؕ(۱۲)

I am your Lord so remove your sandals; indeed you are in the sacred valley of Tuwā.^{^[1]}

The exegetes state: Allah Almighty commanded Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم to remove his blessed sandals. One reason for this was that appearing in the court of kings without shoes is a sign of etiquette- and Allah Almighty is the King of kings. Sayyidunā Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was present before the Creator of the universe, and the valley was also sacred. Therefore, the command was given: 'O Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم! Remove your sandals out of respect for your Gracious Lord and this blessed valley!'

اللہ اکبر! Dear Islamic brothers! Reflect on the importance of etiquette from this! It becomes clear that etiquette is the foremost expression of servitude, and through it, a person reaches elevated ranks. Sayyidunā Jalāl Baṣrī رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ states: Faith requires that a servant acts upon the Shariah. Therefore, whoever does not know the Shariah cannot be a (complete) believer. Since the Shariah teaches etiquette, whoever does not know etiquette possesses neither (complete) faith nor true understanding of Shariah.^{^[2]} Imam Aḥmad Raza Khanرَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ states: ‘لَادِیْنَ لِمَنْ لَااَدَبَ لَہٗ ' – 'He who has no etiquette, has no religion'.^{^[3]}

[1] Al-Quran, Ṭāhā, verse 12; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān

[2] Risālah Qushayriyyah translated, p. 494

[3] Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol. 28, p. 158

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