Adab/iman

"Adab is like a land with fortresses: the first one (fortress) made of gold, the second of silver, the third of iron, the fourth of baked clay, and the fifth with normal brick. If the fifth is defended properly, the enemies will not get it but if they become lazy and neglectful, they'll break into the first, and then to the second and then to the third until they destroy the lot. Likewise, imaan is five fortresses: the first is yaqeen, the second is ikhlaas, the third fulfilling the obligations, the fourth is fulfilling the sunan and the fifth is the preservation of the adaab. As long as the fifth is preserved and focused upon, Shaytan will never get in but if he leaves adab then the Shaytan will start to devour his sunan then his fara'id and then his ikhlaas and then finally his yaqeen."


Thus the salaf used to say. Many of us know that having good adab is important but few of us have little idea of the relationship between adab and other facets of imaan, and the importance of adab in fortifying our imaan. I think this statement of the salaf sums it up in a very concise manner. That becoming lax in our adab is the door to weakening in our 'ibadaat and internal aspects of imaan is a concept I certainly wasn't familiar with. Perhaps that is why the salaf likened adab to the weakest fortress, because people don't generally give it it's due significance therefore neglecting to guard, maintain, and strengthen it. Many a time we delude ourselves with our acts of worship, thinking them to be sufficient for our salvation, for ourselves to be qualified to be called "a good pious person". Perhaps that is the reasoning of those of us practising brothers and sisters who mistreat others. But if the above gem is anything to go by then no doubt our 'ibadah if not our ikhlaas and yaqeen is suffering if good adab is non-existent in us. And, if we preserve and strengthen the Adab Fortress, no doubt this will preserve and strengthen our 'ibadah and imaan insha'Allah.