Foreword

In Islam, steadfastness and firmness in religious routine are cherished virtues, as even small actions done regularly are beloved by Allah. Following the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shows the beauty of being steadfast.

Welcome to London Muslims, where we embrace the beauty of Islam through steadfastness and the importance of religious routine. Allah loves consistency, even in the smallest actions performed with firmness and dedication. Following the example set by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), we find inspiration in his life as a role model of steadfastness. Let us strive to embody this quality in all aspects of our daily lives, knowing that dedication and commitment lead to the path of true fulfillment in the eyes of Allah.

At London Muslims, we believe in the beauty of steadfastness and firm commitment to our religious routines. It is said that Allah loves even the smallest actions done regularly with firmness. Our goal is to inspire our community to embrace this spirit of consistency and dedication in our daily lives .Looking to the life of the Prophet (PBUH) as a role model, we see the embodiment of steadfastness. By following his example, we aim to strengthen our resolve and commitment to Islam. Let us together strive to maintain consistency in our actions and routines, knowing that staying firm in our beliefs is a key element of our faith.

Al-Quran & Steadfastness

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remained on a right course – the angels will descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.’” (Qur’an, Surah Fussilat, 41:30)

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَٰمُوا۟ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’, and then remained on a right course – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Qur’an, Surah al-Ahqaf, 46:13)

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Say, O [Muhammad], ‘I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your god is but one God; so take a straight course to Him (be steadfast) and seek His forgiveness.’ And woe to those who associate others with Allah.” (Qur’an, Surah Fussilat, 41:6)

What is istiqamah?

Istiqamah (استقامة) is an arabic word which is derived from the verb “Istaqaama” (إِسْتَقَامَ) meaning: to be straight, to be consistent. One who is consistent or upon consistency is called al mustaqim (المُسْتَقِيمَ). Such is mentioned in Surah Al Fatiha:

إِهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ المُسْتَقِيمَ (6) صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغْضُوبِ عَلَيهِم وَلاَ الضّالِّينَ (7)

“Guide us to thestraight path¹(6) The path of those whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (i.e. those whose intentions are perverted: they know the truth, yet do not follow it), nor of those who went astray (i.e. those who have lost the (true) knowledge, so they wander in error, and are not guided to the truth.(7)”

Note : THE word istiqamah comes from the Arabic root word قام(qaama)which means to rise, to stand upright. The word مستقيم (mustaqeem) is derived from the same root.

From the perspective of Shari’ah, it means “to remain consistent on the path you are in, no matter what happens.”

It is a quality that we continuously strive to attain in order to remain steadfast in deen, although we may fail many times in the process. It is one of the tools to attain the pleasure of Allah ﷻ and it strengthens our belief in Allah ﷻ.

Ahadith mubarikah & istaqamah

عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الثَّقَفِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ

قُلْ لِي فِي الإِسْلاَمِ قَوْلاً لاَ أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ أَحَدًا بَعْدَكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

قُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ فَاسْتَقِمْ

38 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإيمان باب جامع أوصاف الإسلام

Sufyan ibn Abdullah reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a word in Islam I will not need to ask of anyone after you.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Say, ‘I have faith in Allah,’ and then remain steadfast.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 38, Grade:Sahih(authentic) according to Muslim

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم

أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ ‏”‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏”‏ اكْلَفُوا مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ ‏”‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked, “What deeds are loved most by Allah?” He said, “The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few.” He added, ‘Don’t take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability.”

:Sahih al-Bukhari 6465

__another narration 

عن أبي هريرة قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اكْلَفُوا مِنْ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ

فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْعَمَلِ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ

4240 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب الزهد باب المداومة على العمل

3437 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في صحيح ابن ماجه

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4240

Grade:Sahih(authentic) according to Al-Albani

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لَا تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلَانٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ

1152 صحيح البخاري كتاب التهجد باب ما يكره من ترك قيام الليل لمن كان يقومه

1159 صحيح مسلم كتاب الصيام باب النهي عن صوم الدهر لمن تضرر به أو فوت به حقا أو لم يفطر العيدين والتشريق وبيان تفضيل صوم يوم وإفطار يوم

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me, “O Abdullah, do not be like a man who would stand for prayer at night but later abandoned his night prayer.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1152, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1159

Grade:Muttafaqun Alayhi(authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ إِيمَانُ عَبْدٍ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ قَلْبُهُ وَلَا يَسْتَقِيمُ قَلْبُهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ لِسَانُهُ وَلَا يَدْخُلُ رَجُلٌ الْجَنَّةَ لَا يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَائِقَهُ

13047 مسند أحمد

2554 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن في صحيح الترغيب

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The faith of a servant is not upright until his heart is upright, and his heart is not upright until his tongue is upright. A man will not enter Paradise if his neighbor is not secure from his evil.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 13047

Grade:Hasan(fair) according to Al-Albani

Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Remain upright and it is a blessing if you can do so. The best of your good deeds is prayer and none can preserve his ablution but a believer.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 279

Grade:Sahihli ghayrihi(authentic due to external evidence) according to Al-Albani

Al-Munawi said, “Preserving ablution means outwardly and inwardly. Outwardly are its external components and inwardly is purification of the inner-self from impurities.”

Source: Fayḍ al-Qadīr 994

عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

اسْتَقِيمُوا وَنِعِمَّا إِنْ تَسْتَقيِمُوا وَخَيْرُ أَعْمَالِكُمُ الصَّلَاةُ وَلَا يُحَافِظُ عَلَى الْوُضُوءِ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ

279 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب الطهارة وسننها باب المحافظة على الوضوء

199 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح لغيره في صحيح الترغيب

قال المناوي يُحَافِظُ عَلَى الْوُضُوءِ الظَّاهِرِيِّ وَالْبَاطِنِيِّ فَالظَّاهِرِيُّ ظَاهِرٌ وَالْبَاطِنِيُّ طَهَارَةُ السِّرِّ عَنِ الْأَغْيَارِ

994 فيض القدير

عَنْ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

أَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَحُجُّوا واعْتَمِرُوا واسْتَقِيمُوا يُسْتَقَمْ بِكُمْ

6897 المعجم الكبير للطبراني

1367 المحدث السيوطي خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في الجامع الصغير

Samurah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Establish prayer, give charity, perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, and be upright; your affairs will be made upright.”

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 6897

Grade:Sahih(authentic) according to Al-Suyuti

عَنِ الرُّبَيِّعِ بِنْتِ مُعَوِّذٍ قَالَتْ نُصَوِّمُ صِبْيَانَنَا وَنَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ اللُّعْبَةَ مِنَ الْعِهْنِ فَإِذَا بَكَى أَحَدُهُمْ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ أَعْطَيْنَاهُ ذَاكَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ عِنْدَ الإِفْطَارِ

1859 صحيح البخاري كتاب الصوم باب صوم الصبيان

1136 صحيح مسلم كتاب الصيام باب من أكل في عاشوراء

وقال ابن قدامة يجب صيام رمضان على كل مسلم بالغ عاقل قادر على الصوم ويؤمر به الصبي إذا أطاقه

1/41 عمدة الفقه

Al-Rabia’ bint Mu’awwidh reported: We would order our children to fast and we would make toys for them out of wool. If one of them cried for food, we would give them those toys until it was time to break fast.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1859, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1136

Grade:Muttafaqun Alayhi(authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Ibn Qudamah said, “Fasting the month of Ramadan is an obligation upon every adult, sane Muslim capable of fasting, and children are ordered to fast if they able.”

Source: ‘Umdat al-Fiqh 1/41

Dua 

the prophet ﷺ taught us, amongst which that is continuously read by the prophet ﷺ to ask Allah grant steadfast in Islam is:

يَا مُقَلِّبَ القُلُوبِ، ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ“

O Controller of hearts, make my heart steadfast in Your religion

Steadfastness on Deeds

Indulge with Quran

Get elevated by Quran

عَنْ عمر بن الخطاب أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْفَعُ بِهَذَا الْكِتَابِ أَقْوَامًا وَيَضَعُ بِهِ آخَرِينَ

817 صحيح مسلم كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها باب فضل من يقوم بالقرآن ويعلمه وفضل من تعلم حكمة من فقه أو غيره فعمل بها وعلمها

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah raises the status of people by this book, and by it he humbles others.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 817

Grade:Sahih(authentic) according to Muslim

Become very special before Allah

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ أَهْلِينَ مِنْ النَّاسِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْقُرْآنِ أَهْلُ اللَّهِ وَخَاصَّتُهُ

215 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب المقدمة باب فضل من تعلم القرآن وعلمه

179 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في صحيح ابن ماجه

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah has His own people among humanity.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are they?” The Prophet said, “They are the people of the Quran, the people of Allah and His chosen ones.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 215,Grade:Sahih(authentic) according to Al-Albani

Allah’s words better than all other speech

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ 

فَضْلُ كَلَامِ اللَّهِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَلَامِ كَفَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ

2926 سنن الترمذي  كتاب فضائل القرآن باب ما جاء كيف كانت قراءة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم

2926 المحدث الترمذي خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن غريب في سنن الترمذي

Abu Sa’id reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The superiority of the words of Allah over all other words is like the superiority of Allah over His creation.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2926,Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Tirmidhi

 Single recited letter is ten good deeds

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا لَا أَقُولُ الم حَرْفٌ وَلَكِنْ أَلِفٌ حَرْفٌ وَلَامٌ حَرْفٌ وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ

2910 سنن الترمذي كتاب فضائل القرآن باب ما جاء فيمن قرأ حرفا من القرآن ماله من الأجر

5/33 المحدث الترمذي خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن صحيح في سنن الترمذي

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will receive one good deed as ten good deeds like it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is one letter, but rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2910,Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Tirmidhi

Readers of Quran never enter Hellfire

عن عقبة بن عامر قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

 لَوْ جُعِلَ الْقُرْآنُ فِي إِهَابٍ ثُمَّ أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ مَا احْتَرَقَ

قال البيهقي يعني أن من حمل القرآن وقرأه لم تمسه النار

3310 سنن الدارمي كتاب فضائل القرآن باب فضل من قرأ القرآن

3562 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث إسناده حسن في السلسلة الصحيحة

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If the Quran were placed in a leatherskin and then thrown into the fire, it would not burn.”

Al-Bayhaqi said, “It means whoever carries the Quran and recites it will never be touched by Hellfire.”

Source: Sunan al-Dārimī 3310,Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani

Quran should recited with its understanding

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ

 لَمْ يَفْقَهْ مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ

2949 سنن الترمذي كتاب القراءات باب ما جاء أن القرآن أنزل على سبعة أحرف

2949 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في صحيح الترمذي

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One has not understood the Quran if he reads it in less than three days.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2949,Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

Allah attentively listens to recitation of Quran

عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

 لَلَّهُ أَشَدُّ أَذَنًا إِلَى الرَّجُلِ الْحَسَنِ الصَّوْتِ بِالْقُرْآنِ يَجْهَرُ بِهِ مِنْ صَاحِبِ الْقَيْنَةِ إِلَى قَيْنَتِهِ

1340 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها باب في حسن الصوت بالقرآن

2/26 المحدث ابن تيمية خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في جامع الرسائل

Fadalah ibn ‘Ubayd reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah listens more intently to a man reciting the Quran aloud in a beautiful voice than an employer of singers listens to his singers.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 1340,Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Ibn Taymiyyah

another narration

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

مَا أَذِنَ اللَّهُ لِشَيْءٍ مَا أَذِنَ لِنَبِيٍّ حَسَنِ الصَّوْتِ يَتَغَنَّى بِالْقُرْآنِ يَجْهَرُ بِهِ

7544 صحيح البخاري كتاب التوحيد باب قول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الماهر بالقرآن مع الكرام البررة

792 صحيح مسلم كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها باب استحباب تحسين الصوت بالقرآن

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah does not listen to anything as he does to the beautiful voice of a prophet, reciting the Quran aloud pleasantly.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7544, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 792

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Recite and ascend the levels of Paradise

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ

يُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ اقْرَأْ وَارْتَقِ وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَأُ بِهَا

2914 سنن الترمذي كتاب فضائل القرآن باب ما جاء فيمن قرأ حرفا من القرآن ماله من الأجر

5/35 المحدث الترمذي خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن صحيح في سنن الترمذي

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and ascend as you recited in the world! Verily, your rank is determined by the last verse you recite.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2914,Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Tirmidhi

Heart without Quran like a ruined house

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

 إِنَّ الَّذِي لَيْسَ فِي جَوْفِهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ الْقُرْآنِ كَالْبَيْتِ الْخَرِبِ

2913 سنن الترمذي كتاب فضائل القرآن

2913 المحدث الترمذي خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن صحيح في سنن الترمذي

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, one who does not hold anything from the Quran in his heart is like a ruined house.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2913,Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Tirmidhi

Carry on Having Istiqamah Until:

وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ
[ الحجر: 99]

And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).

( and worship your Lord till that last hour which is sure to come)

عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال

 وَإِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالْخَوَاتِيمِ

6607 صحيح البخاري كتاب القدر باب العمل بالخواتيم

Sahl ibn Sa’d reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, deeds are only judged by how they were at the end of life.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6607,Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

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