09/04/2026
In Pursuit of the “Comfort of the Eyes”
The following supplication from Surat al-Furqan — “Our Lord, grant us from among our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us a leader [i.e., example] for the righteous” (25:74) — indicates the completion of the degrees of faith through embodying the qualities described in the verses that begin with Allah’s saying, “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth with humility” (25:63), and culminating in this supplication.
The completion of the degrees of faith is attained when one is blessed with finding comfort and joy in the righteousness of one’s spouse and offspring. The phrase “comfort to our eyes” encompasses both perfection in religion and uprightness in one’s worldly life. The heart cannot experience complete joy, nor can the eyes of believers truly find comfort, except through righteous and believing spouses and children. This supplication, therefore, demonstrates a sincere desire and determination to undertake the deeds that bring about such comfort and joy, foremost among them, the prayer. Likewise, hoping for the righteousness of one’s spouse and children is, in essence, hoping for the righteousness of the foundational unit of society, which consequently contributes to the righteousness of society as a whole. This supplication also indicates the supplicant’s ultimate objective and sincerity in seeking to attain it: the great success of attaining Allah’s pleasure and entering Paradise together with one’s family and offspring. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “And those who believe and whose descendants follow them in faith — We will join their descendants with them, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds” (52:21). Conversely, Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Indeed, the losers are those who have lost themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection” (39:15).
The second matter indicated by this supplication is the hope of becoming an imam for the righteous — that is, becoming an example and role model for them. This requires the believer to strive and hasten toward good deeds, so that they may become among the best of them. In striving to attain the rank of a role model, a societal movement emerges, founded upon competing in good deeds and creating positive momentum among believers. In this way, they fulfill Allah’s command “And hasten toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous” (3:133). And likewise His saying: “Race [i.e., compete] toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth” (57:21).
Reflecting on the elements of this supplication, we find that it encompasses the central framework of Ittiba — following the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Whoever rises to the level of sincere qualification to follow the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, fulfilling the requirement of remembrance and striving in order to join Al-Mufarridun — that is, “the men and women who remember Allah frequently” (33:35) — will recognize in the qualities of the Servants of the Most Merciful mentioned in the verses of Surat al-Furqan, culminating in the supplication above, a summary of the Prophetic guidance that shaped his Companions. Through that guidance, they became distinguished leaders and great role models. Thus, a fundamental element of Ittiba lies in becoming a role model, as expressed in the supplication: “And make us an example for the righteous” (25:74).
The objective of following the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is to embody the qualities of the Servants of the Most Merciful. The foundational principles of this path can be derived from this supplication. Therefore, for believers to realize true Ittiba, benefit from following the Prophetic example, and embody the qualities of the Servants of the Most Merciful, they must make the comprehensive elements that characterized the Prophetic way their highest priorities. In doing so, they establish a methodology of practice and build a sound framework within which their deeds can grow and flourish.
Among the foremost of these elements is being a role model, followed by the comprehensive and foundational qualities of patience, certainty, and hope.
Patience is the condition for attaining the reward; certainty elevates believers to the level envisioned by this supplication; and hope provides them with the energy and determination needed to fulfill the requirements of that reward.
– Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Those will be awarded the Chamber (high mansion) for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace” (25:75). This verse demonstrates that patience is a condition for attaining the reward. It represents the foundation upon which action is built: the starting point and basis for every deed, and the foundation that gives a servant humility, stability, and steadfastness. It enables reflection and thought to be grounded in deliberation and contemplation, so that actions are carried out with care rather than haste, wisdom rather than illusion, and knowledge rather than ignorance. This is the essence of patience.
– As for being a role model, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was the greatest example and finest model, embodying the perfection of worship within the framework of perfect moderation. This example lies at the heart of Ittiba, following the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Thus, the servant strives to become a role model for others, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was a role model for his Ummah. This is reflected in the comprehensive Hadith: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.” Striving to become a role model according to the way of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to be compassionate, gentle, kind, and easygoing, leads believers to constantly hold themselves accountable and thereby attain the first degrees of the station of Ihsan. As the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said when defining Ihsan: “Worship Allah as you see Him. And if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you.” This is Muraqabah: the constant awareness that Allah (swt) is watching.
– As for certainty, it is what enables the servant to act with steadfastness, strength, and insight. This certainty is learned from the life and example of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. One example is when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “Will you not seek victory for us?” He responded, in the context of the Hadith: “By Allah, Allah will certainly complete this matter, until a rider will travel from Sanaa to Hadramawt fearing no one but Allah and the wolf for his sheep. But you are being hasty.” Likewise, during Hudaybiyyah, he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I am the Messenger of Allah, and He will never forsake me.”
– As for hope, it was a quality that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, constantly instilled in the hearts of the Muslims in every circumstance, until hope and optimism became part of the believers identity. A believer never despairs of Allah's mercy. We see the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, giving the believers glad tidings, even in circumstances of weakness, tidings whose fulfillment would have been unimaginable to anyone lacking faith. He gave Suraqah ibn Malik the glad tidings that he would wear the bracelets of Kisra. He gave the believers glad tidings that they would ultimately possess the land, and of the conquest of Syria and Yemen, the conquest of Makkah, and their entering it for Umrah while it was still under the control of the polytheists. He also gave them glad tidings of victory over Hawazin despite their overwhelming numbers at Hunayn.
Whoever hopes that Allah (swt) will answer the supplication mentioned at the beginning of this article must see the Prophetic Seerah as an extension of the Book of Allah and a practical interpretation of its verses. They should make the Quran their primary reference, while the Prophetic Seerah and following the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, provide the means by which its guidance is brought into their lived reality. In this way, they attain the perfection of love for the Chosen One, peace and blessings be upon him, as well as the perfection of love for Allah, Exalted is He, as Allah says: “Say, ‘If you truly love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you’” (3: 31).
Following the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, means drawing from the wellspring of the life and example of the Chosen One, peace and blessings be upon him. When patience becomes difficult, let them look to his circumstances; when despair overtakes them, let them look to the glad tidings he gave; and when weakness afflicts them, let them look to his certainty and steadfastness. If they sincerely intend to elevate themselves to the rank of being an Imam for the righteous, then they should persist in the instruction of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to say after every prayer: “O Allah, help me to remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You well.”
Among the radiant examples of those who drew from his light, peace and blessings be upon him, is Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, when he was being tortured in the open grounds of Makkah. He was asked, “How did you endure the torture?” He responded, in meaning: “The sweetness of faith was mixed with the bitterness of suffering, and the sweetness of faith overwhelmed the bitterness of suffering, so I endured.” And there is Khalid ibn Al Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, who besieged an impregnable fortress. He was told, “We will not surrender until we see a sign.” They brought him poison, which he drank, and it did not harm him, by the permission of Allah, Exalted is He. This was a manifestation of his courage, certainty, and steadfastness — qualities he had witnessed in the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and drawn from the Book of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
Article by Sh Jamel Ben Ameur PhD
