Surah al-Kahf

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

[Surah al-Kahf (18): verse 28]

“Keep yourself patiently with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face. Do not let your eyes turn away from them, desiring the adornment of this worldly life. And do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who follows his own desires, and whose affairs are in neglect.” (28)

When a servant wishes to follow someone’s example, he should consider: Is this person among those who remember Allah or among the heedless? Is he governed by desire or by revelation? If he is governed by desire and is among the heedless, then his affairs are in neglect.

The word furut has been interpreted as neglect: that is, the duty he must observe and fulfil, upon which his right guidance and success depend, has been neglected and squandered by him.

It has also been interpreted as excess, meaning that he has gone to ruinous extremes, and as opposition to the truth. These interpretations are all closely related.

The point is that Allah, glorified and exalted is He, has forbidden obedience to anyone who combines these qualities. A person should therefore carefully consider his teacher, his role model, and the person he follows. If he finds him to be like this, he should keep away from him. But if he finds him devoted above all to remembering Allah Most High, Mighty and Majestic, and to following