While teaching the students at Qalam Institute Seminary during our tazkiyyah class, we came across an incredible perspective by Imam Al Ghazali. In his Ihya, he writes about the rights of sisters and brothers on one another (حقوق الأخوة والصحبة), listing things like financial and material assistance, hiding ones' faults, appreciating and praising one another, etc. The section that we read through last week was on pardoning and being light with mistakes when your brother or sister is engaged in wrongdoing. He highlights how the goal of community is to uplift one another, and mentions specifically that isolating someone due to a sin that they commit will not soften their hearts to return, rather forgiving, loving, and encouraging one another is a much more logical approach. Then he said something amazing: وهذا لأن التفريق بين الأحباب من محاب الشيطان كما أن مقارفة العصيان من محابه؛ فإذا حصل للشيطان أحد غرضيه فلا ينبغي أن يضاف إليه الثاني "And this is because causing separation between loved ones is of the most beloved things to Shaytan - just like getting someone to commit sins is also from the things he loves. So, if Shaytan is able to attain one of his goals [in getting someone to commit sins] then don't be the reason he attains the second!" When someone has moments of shifts upwards in their devotion to Allah, they grow strong enough to abandon old diseases of the heart, but are also made weak and vulnerable to new ones. Arrogance, judging others, being condescending, lack of mercy - all of these are diseases that run rampant within the self-identified "religious" person - may Allah protect us! Don't ever let a superficial increase in iman be a reason for you to separate yourself from others, to look at them as lowly and living their life without purpose, etc. All of us make mistakes. No one is perfect. Don't abandon others, because you would also hate to be abandoned. Find the good in people, for everyone has some amazing good that you and I don't possess. Magnify the good, mute the bad, and never forget that you are as close as you are to Allah because someone was soft and pardoning with you.












