119-120

(This letter is extremely important.)

My ‘azîz, siddîq brothers,

In recent times, I have considered the principles of taqwâ and ‘amal as-sâlih, which, in the view of Al-Qur’an Al-Hakîm, are held to be the most fundamental principles after îmân. Taqwâ is to abstain from prohibitions and sins, and ‘amal as-sâlih is to act within the sphere of the command of Allah and earn sawâb through good deeds. While repelling sharr has at all times taken precedence over attracting good, in this age of destruction, dissipation (safahat) and alluring desires, this taqwâ — which consists of repelling corruption and abandoning kabâir — has become the primary foundation and gained supreme precedence.

Since negative currents and destruction have become terrifying in this age, taqwâ is the greatest principle against this ruinous destruction. Those who perform the fardh ‘ibâdah and do not commit the kabâir attain salvation. Amidst such grave kabâir, attaining ikhlâs in ‘amal as-sâlih is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, under these severe conditions, even a small act of ‘amal as-sâlih amounts to a vast amount.

Furthermore, a form of ‘amal as-sâlih is contained within taqwâ, for abandoning a haram is wâjib; and performing a single wâjib yields sawâb corresponding to many Sunnahs. In such times, amidst the onslaught of thousands of sins, taqwâ — through a single act of abstaining with a small deed — amounts to having performed hundreds of wâjibs by abandoning hundreds of sins. With the intention of this significant point, as taqwâ and with the resolve to avoid sin, it constitutes a significant ‘amal as-sâlih deriving from passive ‘ibâdah.

In this age, the most important duty of the students of the Risale-i Nur is to adopt taqwâ as their primary principle against destruction and sins, and to act upon it. Since, in the present way of social life, a hundred sins confront a person every minute, surely, through taqwâ and the intention of abstaining, he amounts to having performed a hundred ‘amal as-sâlih.