The Prerequisite to Devoutness | Alireza Panahian

The Prerequisite to Devoutness

It says in the beginning that if you are pious, this Book will guide you. “This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide for the pious (Muttaqin).” (Qur’an 2:2) It says in the beginning of the Qur’an that if you are pious, this Book will guide you. “But, we haven’t read it yet. Let us read it to see what’s going on. When we have become good Muslim believers, then talk about becoming pious. From the beginning I have to be pious just to start?”

Yes. Before coming towards religion, you should be pious. I didn’t talk about whether you pray or not, you fast or not, you go on Hajj or not. I didn’t talk about these things. These deeds are for Muslims. But, there is a non-Muslim piety too. “What is a non-Muslim piety? Let’s see if I have it or not?” Piety is either general, meaning that a person can be pious without religion too, or it is of the faithful and religious, which means a person is pious in the atmosphere of religion. The piety, which is mentioned in the beginning of the Qur’an, is general piety.

It says, “This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide for the pious (Muttaqin).” (Qur’an 2:2) This is a kind of piety, which a person can have without religion too.

“I want to become a Muslim.” Are you a pious person? Do you usually watch yourself? Or, do you live without having any sense of responsibility? Do you usually evaluate yourself? Or, do you generally live recklessly? Are you careful in your life? Or, do you live carelessly? Are you bound to some belief? Or, are you totally unconcerned?

In the stories about big people who repented, but used to be bullies, ruffians and alcoholics, they were all like this. None of them were without piety beforehand. You see that in a certain case, he stood up to his own will and was bound to something.

How did “Rasoul Tork” who was an alcoholic, ruffian, etc. repent? Surely he had piety beforehand, a general piety. He used to go to the ceremonies, which were held for Imam Husayn (‘a). But, this was not necessarily due to his piety! It may have been due to his love. So, where was his piety? He was an alcoholic. When he wanted to go to a ceremony, which was held for Imam Husayn, he would wash his mouth. He used to say, “It is bad to call Imam Husayn with an unclean mouth.” He had something. See! A politeness. This is having a little piety! These people observe something in their life. You see that in a certain situation, he stood up to his own will. He is bound to something. This is having a little piety!

I want to read the words of Ayatollah Khamenei for you. He said, “The Holy Qur’an says, ‘…is a guide for the pious.’ It doesn’t say, ‘…is a guide to those who believe.’ This means that it is possible that someone isn’t religious but has piety. It is based on this meaning that I said he will receive guidance from the Qur’an without a doubt and become a believer. But if a believer doesn’t have piety, it is up to his luck whether he keeps his belief or not. If he is in a good environment, he will keep his belief. If he isn’t in a good environment, he won’t keep his belief.”

Are you a pious person? Do you usually watch yourself? Or, do you live without having any sense of responsibility? Do you usually evaluate yourself? Or, do you generally live recklessly? Are you careful in your life? Or, do you live carelessly? Are you bound to some belief? Or, are you totally unconcerned?