The Roles of a Pious Muslim -By Abideen Zaynab Dasola

I will begin with a question, asking, “Who is a Muslim?”

Since Islam means peace and total submission to the will of Allah, the word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of Almighty Allah.

Muslims are monotheistic in belief and they worship the All-knowing God, who is Allah, following the first principle of Islam known as the Shahaadah (Testimony of Faith).

A Muslim can also be translated to be a person who believes and wholeheartedly follows the proclamation as revealed to Moses in the Torah, David in the Psalms, Jesus in the Gospel and the Prophet Muhammad (Sollallahu Alaehi Wasallam) in the Quran.

Who is a Pious Muslim?

Piousness is the condition of being godly/piety. According to the dictionary, piety is defined as reverence and devotion to God. It is also the similar reverence to one’s parents and family. Piety can also be referred to as a devout act or thought.

Piety, also known as “Sawab” in Islam, is one of the most important Islamic ethics which Muslims must not leave behind. It is referred to as “taqwa” by the Muslims. The Holy Quran considers piety as the main criteria for appraising the value and worth of individuals as said in Quran 49:13 that “piety” has been introduced as the best provisions for the hereafter, and the greatest means for achieving salvation”. Any Muslim that exhibits these characteristics is known to be a pious Muslim.

Hence, I will talk about the responsibilities of a pious Muslim.

As regarded earlier that piety is the reverence to one’s parents, family and devotion to God. A Pious Muslim should possess some of these good qualities.

A Pious Muslim should be truthful in all what he/she says. He/she should be reserved, humble, loving, honest, polite, generous, and not selfish. Moreso, a pious Muslim should be grateful and thankful for whatever he/she has, and must be sincere, spiritually oriented, diligent and vigilant.

In the relationship of a Muslim with his/her parents, he/she should be a good example of sincere filial piety, good treatment, politeness, long-lasting compassion and deep gratitude. In respect to the relationship of a Muslim with his/her relatives, kinship ties should be maintained and duties towards relatives should be known and discharged diligently.

A Pious Muslim is expected to understand the high status given to relatives in Islam, which makes him more of being pious, irrespective of any circumstance that shows to challenge him.

In a Muslim’s social relationships with everyone, he/she is expected to be well mannered, noble and civil, characterized by good attitudes which Islam recommends, and that also may qualify him being pious.

In the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, it is said that man will be brought to account for his/her good behavior, and vice-versa, therefore, a Muslim should have these good qualities so as to be rewarded with the beautiful rewards that await all pious Muslims.

Abideen Zaynab Dasola is a 300 level student of English Language, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.