ভূমিকা

155 Imam Ali (PBUH) has said: “Certainly, fear of Allah is the medicine for your hearts, sight for the blindness of your spirits, and the cure for the ailments of your bodies.” Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon 198 *** Most people wish they would know “what is the factor behind prosperity and happiness and what is the key to guidance and salvation?” Many a man tries to find out “what will free him from bondage and save him from destruction?” Many a man wishes to know “what is the cure of his disease and his blind-heartedness?” Many a man always thinks to understand “in what lies the healing of the disease of hearts, peace of mind for his fears, the illumination of his eyes and his affairs?” Many a man is willing to reach honorable stations and to attain ease of life and safety.

There are many a man whose desire is to attain honor, to get blessings, to resolve his problems, to reject evil, to accept good deeds, to overcome enemies, to have good end, to distinguish between justice and injustice, to acquire real knowledge, to obtain divine pleasure and a provision for the hereafter. Nevertheless, they wonder what that factor is. Every group of people may consider an ideal for themselves but they will reach nowhere unless they come to know it through Islam.

Piety is what Islam has introduced as an answer and it will be elaborated in the following discussions. One must note that piety as presented by certain people is not against freedom rather it is immunity from bestial life as Imam Ali (AS) has said: “Observe piety so that you will be safeguarded.”[^1] The Imam has also said that piety is freedom from every servitude.

Therefore, being pious does not mean to be captive or to deny one’s freedom, rather, a pious man has freed himself from what is harmful to him and is safeguarded from all harms. When a person builds a strong house for himself or when he is in warm clothes they never say he is a captive or he has denied himself freedom, but they say it is for the protection of his life and wealth against illness and dangers. One must note that there are two types of piety or self-restraint.

Firstly a pious man tries not to expose himself to deviation or sin.