If anyone is asked about the foundations of his path, he should reply,
The foundations of our path are five:
- Taqwā – mindfulness of Allāh, privately and publicly
- Adherence to the Sunnah in word and deed
- Indifference to whether others accept or reject one
- Contentment with Allāh in times of both hardship and ease
- Turning to Allāh in prosperity and adversity.
The realization of mindfulness of Allāh is through scrupulousness and uprightness. The realization of adherence to the Sunnah is through caution and excellent character. The realization of indifference to others’ acceptance or rejection is through patience and trust in Allāh. The realization of contentment is through acceptance of what one is given and turning over the management of one’s affairs to Allāh. The realization of turning back to Allāh is through praise and gratitude in times of prosperity and taking refuge in Him in times of affliction.
Full article, translated by Shaykh Hamza Yūsuf, here.
Shaykh Abū’l-’Abbās Ahmad az-Zarrūq
Usūl at-Tarīqah
I’m reading no3. ‘Indifference to whether others accept or reject one’. What’s the ‘one’ here referring to? Could it be (a) nos 1 to 4 (b) a turuq…. not sure I must have missed something here.
I believe the ‘one’ could be read as ‘oneself’.