Shaykh Yasir Qadhi delves on the verse 177 of Surat al-Baqarah in this mesmerising Khatirah.
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.
This verse was revealed when the Qiblah was changed from Baitul-Maqdis to the Ka'bah and all hell broke loose when this matter became aware to the public of the time.ensued a long drawn out controversy and conflict in the public. It was then that this verse was revealed.the key aspects of this verse are:
Righteousness in belief.
Righteousness in rituals like Sadaqah, Prayer , Zakah.
Good manners.
Ihsan or internal spirituality -Sabr or patience.
The ones who tread on the path that is laced with the above essential traits are the true believers and those who have the best form of Iman.
Listen intently to comprehend the importance and lesson for us to imbibe and inculcate through this verse.