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There are many sayings from some of the early scholars similar to the following from Abu al-Darda who said, "The complete taqwa occurs when a person has taqwa of Allah even in the smallest manners and when he leaves something that he believes is permissible out of fear that it may be forbidden in order to set up a barrier between him and what is forbidden."1 This portion of the hadith is a basis for many of the important principles of Islam. There is, for example, the concept of sadd al-dharaai ("blocking the means") in which something is prohibited simply because it may lead to something more harmful. Examples related to this principle include the prohibition of drinking a small amount of alcohol, prohibition of a male and a female being alone in private and so on. Indeed, an act may be prohibited although there is no real harm in the act itself. However, it is an act that can easily or commonly lead to something evil. The Beauty of this Parable Notice how beautifully the Prophet (peace be upon him) described this situation. One can imagine having some animals and setting them out to graze. They are grazing in lands that are used by many other animals. The land may be trampled upon and the vegetation eaten up. Then the animal sees a portion of land close by that is very green because not many animals are allowed to feed there. How tempting this must be for those animals. How will the shepherd keep all of his animals from straying over to that land that looks so inviting. He has two choices. He can either avoid getting close to that private land in the first place. In that case, he does not have to fear that his animals may stray into that inviting land. Second, he can keep a constant watch on all of his animals to make sure that none of them stray. Which option is easier and more productive? Suppose he loses sight of just one of his animals. Suppose he needs to rest just for a little or break for food. Who will be watching the animals then? The Prophet (peace be upon him), in a very beautiful and moving way, has shown that the wise person will not take such a risk. He will realize that his only sure way of success is to stay far away from that private pasture. When he does so, he will protect his religion and his honor, as is stated in this hadith. 1There is a weak hadith that states, "The slave does not attain taqwa until he leaves something that there is no fault with only out offear that there may be some fault with it." Commentary on the 40 Hadith of al-Nawawi "In the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be sound, all the body is sound and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. This part of the body is the heart." The Arabic word for "heart" is a word implying that it is a piece of flesh that is light in weight. However, it is great in its strength and importance. Allah distinguishes the humans from the rest of the creatures due to the human's heart and intellect. Allah says in the Quran, JJ ,,.. / J / J / ,,..,, ,,. ,,. ,. J ,. J ,. 1 · 1" @·1 Tए · ,.ી J ,. ,OJࢸJ !.