In the Name of Allah, the Most Benevolent, the Merciful. Millions of salutations to Allah’s beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad, and the people of his household, and his companions.

Almost all religions of the world have given a certain definition of a perfect man, but no definition of perfect man is comparable with what the Holy Quran has given, though it covers only few aspects of human life. The real picture of a perfect man  emerges when we combine the Word of Allah and its elaboration in the sayings of the Holy Prophet.  During the Mi’raj,  the Holy Prophet was given the gifts of Namaz. Surah No. 17 of the Quran, entitled ‘Al-Isra’ contains the Divine Commandments, which can truly be termed as the guidelines or directives for a perfect man. The Holy Quran says:

 “ Your Lord commands you to worship none but Him and to be kind to your parents. Should any one of them be under your care until he reaches old age, do not say to him as much as ‘Fie’ and do not speak harshly to him but rather speak kindly.  Humble yourself to your parents in love, and pray: ‘May Allah have mercy on them as they nursed me when I was young.’ Your Lord knows well that which is in your soul, especially whether or not you are truly virtuous. Allah forgives those who repent. Give the next of kin his due, as well as the poor and the wayfarer, but do not be a spendthrift. The spendthrifts are associates of the devil, and the latter is disobedient to Allah. Even if you have to avoid your parents on account of your fulfillment of Allah’s call give them a kind and compassionate explanation.  Do not hold your hand back when it is time to give, nor give all you have so that you throw yourself in need.  Allah spreads His bounty to whomsoever He wishes. He measures it carefully, for He cares for His servants and knows their need.  Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Moreover, to kill them is a great misdeed.  Do not commit adultery. It is an evil and its consequences are always bad.  Do not kill any man – That is Allah’s prohibition! - except after due process of law.  To the heir of whoever is killed unjustly, a right of revenge is established. But he may not take the revenge wantonly, for his right shall be recognized. Do not touch the wealth of the orphan, unless it be to increase it. Be true to your covenants, for a covenant is a serious and responsible affair. Fill the measure when you measure, and when you weigh, weigh with the true weight; for that is better and more rewarding.  Do not claim that of which you have no knowledge, and remember that as cognitive faculties, your hearing, sight, and heart were given to you for a responsible function.  Do not walk around with impudence and false pride, for you will never measure up to the mountains of the earth. All these actions are evil and deemed undesirable by you Lord.” (The Quran, 17: 23-38)

In this book I have tried to deal with the notions which can be termed as the pre-requisites of righteousness. Anyone,  who believes in the Oneness of Allah and His Prophet, can achieve a perfection in his life by adopting these notions. Islam is not a religion that concerns with only spiritual life of its followers; it governs each and every movement of the believer right from his birth till his death. The Quran and Hadith have regulated each and every step of human behaviour with a guarantee that anyone, who adopts these steps, would surely win the favours of Allah and achieve salvation.

May Allah guide us to the straight path, the path of those on whom He bestowed His Favours and not the path of those who earned His Wrath, and went astray. Amen.

Syed Aley Rasool Nazmi

Sajjadah Nasheen, Marehra Shareef, India

Camp: Mumbai

Dhul Hajj, 1420 A.H.