- Muslims must strengthen their faith in Allah and fully practice their religion amid an environment of growing Islamophobia and negative portrayals of Islam. - They should support each other through hardship, cooperate with authorities, and reciprocate the kindness of neighbors to demonstrate peace, justice, and gratitude. - Dawah efforts should convey Islam's positive message through wisdom and good words to clarify misconceptions, while rejecting terrorism but still supporting struggles for human rights.

2. So stand you (O
Muhammad) firm
and straight as you
are commanded and
those who turn in
repentance with you,
and transgress not.
Verily, He is All-Seer
of what you do ‫ير‬ ِ‫ص‬َ‫ب‬ َ‫ون‬ُ‫ل‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ۚ ‫ا‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫غ‬ْ‫ط‬َ‫ت‬ َ‫َل‬َ‫و‬

3. • Ibn Abbas (RA) said that no other verse from the
entire Qur’an was revealed upon the Messenger
that was harder upon him than this verse.
• It was due to this verse that the Prophet(SAW)
said :
“Surah Hood and its companions have made my
hair white”
• Why was this? Because Istiqamah is very
difficult to attain.
• The scholars said that Istiqamah is the hardest
thing to hold on to.

4. • “So unto this (religion) invite (the people).
Stand steadfast as you are commanded
and do not follow their desires…..

6. • “Verily, those who say: `Our LORD is Allah (Alone),’
and then they stand firm, on them the angels will
descend (at the time of their death) (saying): ‘Fear
not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of
Jannah which you have been promised! We have
been your friends in the life of this world and are
(so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all)
that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall
have (all) for which you ask. An entertainment
from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”‘
• (41:30-32)

7. • “Verily, those who say: `Our LORD is (only) Allah,’
and thereafter stand firm and straight (on the
Islamic Faith of Monotheism), on them shall be no
fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the
dwellers of Jannah, abiding therein (forever), – a
reward for what they used to do.”
• (46:13,14)

8. On the authority of Abu ‘Amr, though others call him
Abu ‘Amrah Sufyan bin ‘Abdullah (RA), who said:
I said: "O Messenger of Allah (SAW), tell me something
about Islam which I could not ask anyone about save
you." He answered: "Say: 'I believe in Allah', and then
stand firm and steadfast.“ (Muslim)

9. • The word Istiqamah (from the root
qaama) means to go straight into the
right direction, acting rightly, allowing
no deviation.
• It is from the same root that the word
mustaqeem is derived (i.e. sirat al-
mustaqeem – the straight path).
• It can be translated as ‘steadfastness’

10. • Abu Bakr (RA) when asked about the meaning of
Istiqamah, replied: “That you do not associate
partners with Allah.
• Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) said: “It is that you should
be steadfast on the matters that are obligated , and to
abandon the prohibitions.”
• Uthman ibn Affan (RA)said: “ To have ikhlas (sincerity)
to Allah only in doing actions .”
• Ibn Abbas(RA) said: “It means to fulfill your duties to
Allah.”

11. Ibn al-Qayyim (RA) says that good deeds must
be done:
• 1-for the sake of Allah alone (ikhlas)
• 2-on the basis of knowledge (‘ilm)
• 3-in the same manner that they have been
commanded and done (Sunnah)
• 4-in the best way possible (Ihsan)
• 5-in conformity to what is lawful (Halal)

12. • Keep the company of good people. (Man is
on the religeon of his friends)
• Keep connected to the Qur’an, through its
recital, study and implementation.
• Reflect and question yourself daily. e.g. are
you headed the right way? Are your
intentions sincere?
• Learn to take advice from others.

13. • Awareness of the Akhirah
• Commitment (Musharatah). One has to make a
commitment that he/she will be steadfast
• To make continuous efforts (Mujahadah) to bring that
commitment to reality
• Continuous checking and reviewing of one’s deeds
(Muraqabah)
• Self accountability (Muhasabah).
• Blaming oneself for not doing it perfectly after it has
been done
• Striving for improvement (Tahsin).
• To be humble towards Allah, realizing that no one is
perfect except Him (Ijiz)

14. • Seek the company of righteous. (Man is on
the religion of his buddies)
• Preserve linked to the Qur’an, by way of its
recital, examine and implementation.
• Query your self day by day. e.g. are you
headed the proper method? Are your
intentions honest?
• Seek knowledge from learned to take
recommendations from others.

15. • Committing sins (ma'siah), insisting on
repeating them again and again, without
Istighfar (seeking Allah’s forgiveness) and
without practicing repentance.
• Shirk (associating anything with Allah)
whether in intentions, by showing off our
good deeds to others, or to seek rewards from
others than Allah.
• Nifaq (hypocrisy). There are two forms of
nifaq: in belief and in action

16. • Bida'ah (innovations in worship)
• Recklessness,
• Reluctance,
• Heedlessness,
• Being overwhelmed by a deceiving
enjoyment,
• Being mislead by self interests and desires.

17. • You will never be steadfast if you worry what
others think about you and when you busy
yourselves with other people’s ‘business’
Mufti Ismail Menk
Fudail Bin Ayad (RA)
You will never be steadfast if you worry what
others think about you and when you busy
yourselves with other people’s ‘business’

18. :
• First we must emphasize deep and sincere faith in
Allah.
• Let us build that relationship with our Creator with
more worship and more devotion.
• Let’s have full trust in Allah Who has power over all
things. He controls all affairs and if we remain with
Allah, He will be with us, help and support us.
• We must entertain no doubt about Allah, His Prophet,
His Book and His religion. Allah is the Truth and Islam is
the right way. No matter what is the propaganda and
no matter who misrepresents Islam, we must be sure
that we are on the right path
• We should practice our religion fully, in all details and
as much as possible.

19. • We should be closer to our families. Forget
your petty differences and quarrels.
• Be more loving and caring to your spouses.
• Pay special attention to your children. Let
them not feel neglected and frightened. It is
pretty scary to sit in front of the TV and watch
all those talk shows and hear the angry words
against Islam and Muslims.
• Let not our children become alienated,
frightened, split personalities or angry

20. • We should be more caring and more united within
our community.
• We need each other all the time, but at the time of
crisis we need each other more.
• There are many people who may lose jobs, go
through hardships.
• There might be discriminations and harassments.
• We must take care of each other without supporting
or harboring any wrongdoers.
• In the climate of suspicion, people become very
frightened and uncaring.
• We should discuss how we can help each other in the
right way without breaking any laws of the land.

21. • In the environment of Islamophobia, there were
some shocking incidents of hate crimes.
• Authorities are willing to meet and talk to Muslims
and discuss any fears and concerns and provide
safety to individuals and religious institutions.
• We must cooperate in law enforcement and
measures for safety and security of all citizens.
• We must make clear that Islam and Muslims stand
for peace, justice and civil rights for all.
• We must acknowledge with thanks the people
who showed compassion and empathy.

22. • A great effort are made by many neighbors
and civic authorities to affirm and display
kindness, tolerance and generosity.
• We must reciprocate this and do even more
to show our gratitude and our Islamic
behavior.
• Muslims have always been good to their
neighbors, but now we should be even more
conscious of our duties towards them.

23. • Dawah is not to convert people.
• Dawah is to convey the message with wisdom
and with good words.
• We should give the noble and positive message
of Islam.
• We should try to emphasize more commonalties
and explain the difference without getting into
theological arguments and without claiming the
superiority of one position over the other.
• There is a great interest among the people to
know about Islam and we should do our best to
give the right message.

24. • Misconceptions and misunderstandings about
Islam and Muslims are on the rise.
• We must speak in clear terms about issues such
as: Jihad, polytheism, relations with non-
Muslims, status of women, status of minorities
in Islam, Islam and religious freedom, Islam and
democracy, the separation of church and state.
• Some verses from the Qur’an are quoted out of
context. We have to explain their correct
meanings without becoming apologetic.

25. • We reject and condemn terrorism
without any reservation, but this does
not mean that we give up peaceful
support for the struggle for justice and
human rights in Palestine, Kashmir,
Chechnya or any other land.
• We should not accept the sufferings of
any innocent people, neither here or
abroad.