Virtues of the righteous

CHAPTER 12

SPIRITUAL CHIVALRY AND MANLINESS

The essence of magnanimity and courage

Know that even if expressions differ in explaining the reality of both futuwwa (magnanimity) and muru’a (manliness); the meaning around which they revolve is the same, which is: sincerity of the tongue, tolerance of the mistakes of brothers, the giving of kindness to the people and not harming the neighbors.

Abu al-Hasan al-Bushanji was asked about chivalry, to which he replied, «It is the renunciation of using that which is not permitted, as you have angels with you who record all your deeds (i.e. continually).»

Al-Antaki said, «Manliness is performing acts of obedience, avoiding prohibitions, and leaving rejection of the enjoyment of bodily passions.»

One of the righteous said, «The basis of magnanimity is the constant striving of a servant to fulfill the needs of other people.»

Junaid was asked about magnanimity and said, “It is that you do not repulse the poor and do not oppose the wealthy. And truthfulness is the friend of magnanimity and freedom.”

Courage and manliness – from the requirements of the tariqah

O Muslims, the followers of tariqah were in agreement that humaneness, courage and chivalry are necessary requirements on the path to knowledge of Almighty Allah. I prefer, like a mountain tur, to reject what is in people’s hands and turn away. I do not want to be like a goat, accepting largesse from people in the form of worldly goods, which for Almighty Allah do not possess the weight of a mosquito’s wing, even if all worldly riches were to be united together.

When Imam al-Khawwas was asked what is the reason that prevents muridin from accepting kindness from people? He replied, “Because of the fear of indebtedness, arising out of their magnanimity and good nature which induces them to compensate people for their kindness, fulfillment of their due rights and their attention to them.”

The Prophet ﷺ alerted his companions to the importance of observing manliness and cautioned them against committing that which could violate or defile it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Refrain from sitting on the roads. But if you do, then accord the road its due.» They asked, “And what is due to the road, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ ?” He replied, «Lowering the gaze, refraining from harm, responding to greetings, enjoining good and forbidding evil.» When Almighty Allah praised the people of the Cave (Ashab al-Kahf), He praised them for being young and from their youth their courage that drew them to monotheism, which is the source of perfection.

The Almighty said (meaning), “We narrate to you their story with truth. They were young men who believed in their Lord and We increased them in guidance.” (Sura Al-Kahf, ayah 13) The Men of the Cave were called ‘(chivalrous) young men’, because they believed in their Lord at first behest; they believed without delay when the reasons for the connection with Almighty came to them.

And it is said that they were young because they rose towards God and did not settle until they reached God. And it is said that the origin of courage is faith and so God named the companions of the cave young men, and He said (meaning), “They were young men who believed in their Lord.” (Sura alKahf, ayah 13)]

Beautiful statements about chivalry and manliness

The righteous predecessors spoke luminous words about spiritual chivalry and manliness:

1. One of the righteous said, “Our manliness is to give to those who deprive us, to forgive those who have wronged us, to connect with those who have cut us off and to do good to those who offend us.»
2. Imam al-Junaid said, “Manliness resides in Sham (Syria), eloquence in Iraq and truthfulness in Khorasan.”
3. Fudayl noted, «Manliness means forgetting the faults of your brothers.»
4. Abu Bakr al-Warraq said, “A chivalrous person is one who has no opponent whatsoever.”
5. Muhammad ibn Ali at-Tirmidhi said, «Manliness means that you are your own enemy before Allah (i.e., you are always the first to acknowledge your failings before God).»
6. They say, «A chivalrous person cannot be an adversary to anyone (but himself)»
7. It is also said that a chivalrous person is one who has broken idols, for Almighty Allah said: “We heard a (chivalrous) young man named Ibrahim making mention of them (the idols of his people).” (Sura Al-Anbiya, ayah 60) The idol of every person is his nafs, therefore he who goes against his own passions is a truly courageous person.
8. They say, «Chivalry means that you act justly, while not demanding justice for your own self.»
9. `Amr ibn `Uthman al-Makki said, «Manliness means having good moral character.»
10. An-Nasrabadhi noted, «Manliness is part of chivalry. It means turning away from both worlds in disdain (turning entirely to Allah only)»
11. Muhammad ibn Ali at-Tirmidhi said, «Manliness is when you provide the same hospitality to those in your household as to those who come to visit as guests.»
12. When one of the righteous was asked about manliness, he replied, “It is abandoning what you are longing for, for the sake of what you dread.”
13. Someone asked a Sufi about manliness. He replied, “It means that you do not care whether the guest whom you entertain at your table is a saint or an infidel.”
14. Junaid said, «Manliness is refraining from committing harm, fulfilling only that which is good and refusing to complain.»
15. Sahl ibn Abdullah noted, “Manliness means adhering to the custom of the Prophet ﷺ.”
16. It was also said, “Manliness is being faithful and observing the limits set by God.»
17. «Manliness is a virtue that you perform without attributing it to yourself.»
18. «Manliness is not hiding from those who seek your assistance.»
19. “Manliness is showing your gratitude for God’s bounty and hiding hardship (inflicted upon you by God).»
20. «Manliness is when you invite ten guests (for a meal) and do not care whether eleven or nine come instead.»
21. «It is not manliness to take advantage of friendship.»
22. «Manliness is to accord preference to others before oneself, after having given them preference in all that is connected with this and the eternal worlds.»
23. «Manliness is to do good to everyone, whether they are worthy or not.»
24. «Manliness is always being occupied with fulfilling the needs of other people, for the Prophet ﷺ said, “Almighty Allah attends constantly to the needs of His servant as long as His servant attends to the needs of his fellow Muslims.»
25. «Manliness is the forgiveness of others’ mistakes and the concealing of their shortcomings.»
26. «Manliness is when you do not consider yourself superior to others.»
27. One of the pious said, «It is not noble to draw on a guest to work.»

FROM THE BOOK “VIRTUES OF THE RIGHTEOUS” BY SHEIKH AHMAD-AFANDI MUFTI DAGESTAN