Sincerity and Good-will

The word nasiha is derived from the word nasaha which carries a wide range of meanings. Nasiha for Allah would imply that man’s heart is cleansed from all impurities and alloys with regard to belief in Allah, i.e. one should believe in Him as the Sole Creator and Master with all His Attributes and with an earnest desire to obey all commands given by Him. Nasiha in the case of Allah’s Book means that it should be sincerely believed as a revelation from the Lord and be read and understood with the same zeal and enthusiasm in which the Divine Message is read, and all its commands must be carried out in a spirit of devotion.

Nasiha for the Messenger signifies that his Apostlehood must be affirmed with perfect sincerity of heart, and whatever he has vouchsafed to humanity must be respected as the Word and Will of God, and he should be respectfully followed in all his precepts and examples and all his commands be obeyed with utmost devotion.

Nasiha for the leaders and rulers implies that they should be respected, obeyed and given support in all the affairs which they conduct according to the Islamic Shari’ah. But if and when they deviate from the path of righteousness, they should be advised and admonished and sincere efforts made to bring them to the right path.

Nasiha for the general Muslims is that they should be advised in all matters concerning the good of this world and the hereafter, their life, honour and dignity should be protected and sincere endeavour made to ameliorate their lot. Nasiha thus covers the whole field of religion and its scope is as wide as that of Islam itself. It is fard-i-kifaya and essential to maintain the society on healthy moral grounds.