From `Abdul `Aziz Bin `Abdullah ibn Baz to His Honor, Minister of Health, Dr. Yusuf AlHajiri, may Allah guide him to all goodness! Assalamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!).
I have been informed that you have been appointed as Minister of Health. May Allah grant you success, guide and help you to carry out your duties in the best manner that pleases Him and benefits people. He indeed is He Who responds to supplications. It is not proper for me to congratulate you on this post, for as you know its responsibilities and dangers are great. However, it is proper to congratulate you for having gained the confidence of the officials. I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to guide you to goodness beyond their expectations and to fulfill by your hands Muslims' hopes of righteousness, progress, and success.
Marking this occasion, I recommend you to have Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared) in all matters. Taqwa brings about all good and removes all evil. Taqwa rectifies matters in this worldly life and in the Hereafter and earns the servant the right to Allah's Help and success. Taqwa relieves all disasters, facilitates all matters, and guarantees a good end. Allah (Glorified be He) states:
And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.
and whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.
And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At Taqwa (piety, righteousness).
O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you
Verily, for the Muttaqûn (the pious See V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.
Allah calls His Religion Taqwa, for He (Glorified be He) saves the upright person from all evils of this world and the Hereafter and grants him happiness in this life and the eternal life, if he remains upright and patient. Reality of Taqwa is devotion to Allah in all matters, glorifying, being mindful, fearing Him, and hoping for His Favors. It is being obedient to Him and His Messenger (peace be upon him). It is Taqwa to feel responsible, undertake work with vigorousness, determination and patience, and avoid laziness, boredom, and discontent with hard work. Taqwa means submission to Allah, seeking His Help in everything and believing wholeheartedly that there is neither might nor power except with Allah! It is reported in the Sahih (authentic) Hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Abu Musa:
Shall I not inform you about one of the treasures of Jannah (Paradise)? I said: Yes O Messenger of Allah. He (peace be upon him) said: There is neither might nor power except with Allah.
Taqwa involves lowering the gaze from looking to the adornments of the life of this world, avoiding competing for them, and hoping for the Hereafter instead. The advice of `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to Abu `Ubaydah when he appointed him as leader of the army in AlSham (The Levant): "I advise you to fear Allah Who remains while all others vanish, Who guides us from aberrance and takes us out from darkness to light. Lower your gaze from the world and divert your heart from clinging to it. Beware of being destroyed by it as it destroyed the generations before you, as you have seen their fate." Taqwa involves advising all Muslims in all cases and seeking help from the people of faith, honesty, and power as much as possible. Beware of appointing those notorious for vice, betrayal, and weak Islamic commitment in the official positions. He who fears Allah, Allah will grant him success and ease of matters. Allah (Exalted be He) states:
and whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.
Taqwa also means to enforce those who are under your authority to abide by the Truth and to encourage them to follow it by pointing out its good outcome and warning them against the opposite. You should be a high ideal and good example of honesty, power,
and trustworthiness in work, and all other good morals, so that he who is under your supervision above you, or like you may emulate you. Remember that Allah (Exalted be He) states:
and be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are AsSâbirûn (the patient).
As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allâh's religion Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allâh is with the Muhsinûn (good doers)."
I beseech Allah with His Most Beautiful Names and Honorable Attributes to grant you success, to guide your confidants, and to help you carry out your duties in the best manner that pleases Him and benefits people. Allah is the Guardian and the One Able to do this.
Assalamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)
Vice President of the Islamic University in AlMadinah AlMunawwarah