(Ten Principles of Istiqamah)

Sheikh Abdur Razzaq Istiqamah: [steadfastness] is the happiness of both this dunya and the akhira. The slave will win both. Its knowledge and action and steadfastness until death.

Verily, those who say: Our Lord is (only) Allah," and thereafter Istaqamu (i.e. stood firm and straight on Islam..), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do. [Surat Al Ahqaf:13-14] Abu Bakr ( )made tafseer of thumma istaqamu" as being those who dont commit shirk. Ibn Abbas ( )said: It means the shahadatain" Istiqamah is taking the way of as-siraat al mustaqeem without going left of right. With action and speech. It is to do the halal and leave the haram. Ibn Al Qayyim said: Istiqamah is the whole deen. Principles: 1. To know that istiqamah is from Allaah. Its under Allaahs decision; He guides and misguides whom He Wills.

We have certainly sent down distinct verses. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path. [Surat an-Nur:46] So if its up to Allaah, what is our duty? It is to make duaa for guidance. One of the Prophet ( ) s most frequent duaas was:

Ya muqalib al quloob thabit qalbee ala deenek" O, Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm on Your religion. We make duaa for istiqamah 17 times a day [Surat al Fatiha]

2. Proof of istiqamah is to follow the true manhaj [manhaj as-salaf as-saalih] 3. The asil [foundation] of istiqamah is the istiqamah of the heart. The Prophet ( ) said: " The imaan of a slave will not be steadfast until his heart is [steadfast].." The heart is a king and the body parts are the soldiers. If the king is righteous, the soldiers will also be righteous. 4. The istiqamah thats needed is [ as-sadaad- doing the waajib properly]. If we cant do the sadaad, then we get close to it. Our intention has to be to fully get it. For example: You miss salaah because of sleep, but as soon as you wake up, you pray it- this is [ al muqarabaa getting close to it]. But your intention in the first place has to be to do the waajib properly.

5. Istiqamah is the heart and the tongue. If you fix those, the body is fixed. The tongue speaks for the heart. 6. Istiqamah is only for Allaah [ikhlas-sincerity in obeying Allaah, seeking His pleasure..], with Allaah [seeking His aid for it, trusting in Him], with the right understanding of this deen [salafiyyaah]. 7. We shouldnt depend on our actions alone to be saved from Hell -fire. We will be saved from Allaahs Mercy , Kindness and Generosity .

8. Whoever is firm on the sirat of this dunya will be firm on the siraat in the Akhira [the thin line which you will be asked to walk past on yawm al Qiyamaa]. Depending on amount of [ doubts] and [desires] one has, chains will grab and pull a slave down to jahannam. So if one has many doubts and desires in this dunya, chains that equal those doubts and desires will pull him down to hell-fire. Whereas if one doesnt have many doubts and desires, then its easier for him to cross the siraat.

9. Doubts and desires are the two things that prevent istiqamah. One who has strong desires is usually one with weak imaan/deen. However, one who has shubuhat is usually one who has more knowledge. Both things prevent being steadfast. :

10. Acting like the Jews/Christians gets you off istiqamah. Proof: Surat-Al Fatiha

Guide us to the straight path The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray. (those who earned Your anger) are the Jews because they knew the truth but left it. (the ones who are astray) are the Christians because they acted without knowledge. If we become like the Jews and the Christians, by leaving the truth or acting without knowledge, we will be walking off the straight path and will never reach istiqamah.