Forty Gems of Beauty — Page 60
60 that, as soon as he hears a command, he should implement it forthwith. If simple obedience were the object, the word “obey” would have been enough and served the purpose without the addition of the word “hear. ” The addition of this word is definitively for the purpose of replacing barren and formal obedience with enthusiastic and positive compliance. The gist of the Islamic code of obedience therefore is: 1. Obedience of every command of one’s officer whether one likes it or not. 2. To hear the officer with a devoted attentiveness, lest one should miss some of his instructions. 3. Should however, the officer command one to do something contrary to the commandment of God and His Prophet or a superior officer, then one should not obey him within the meaning of this excepting clause.