Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barkatauhu
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Muslims from going to Mosque."
"We can't keep them from reading their Quran and knowing the
truth."
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with
their
Allah and his messenger Muhammad."
"Once they gain that connection with Allah, our power over them is
broken."
"So let them go to their Mosques; let them have their covered dish
dinners,
BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a
relationship with
Allah and his messnger Muhammad."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Allah and maintaining
that vital
connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes
to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands
to work
6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their
empty
lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape
from the
pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still,
small
voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they
drive." "To
keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home
and see
to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays music
constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Allah and his
messenger
Muhammad."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes, and
every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products,
services
and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their
husbands
will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll
become
dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."
Give them headaches too!
"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will
begin to
look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them story books to distract them from teaching their
children the
real meaning of Salat."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on Allah's
creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and
movies
instead. "Keep them busy, busy, busy!"
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in
gossip and
small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to
seek power
from Allah."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their
health
and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!" "It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Muslims
everywhere to
get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their Allah or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Allah and his
messenger
Muhammad to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his
schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Zina/ Adultery Part 2
One of the Companions of the Holy Prophet PBUH is reported to have said, "Save yourself from Adulter, there are 6 evils in it. 3 in this world and 3 in the hereafter:
===> 3 Evils of this world are:
1. Blessings are taken away from his livelihood;
2. An adulteerer is deprivedof goodness; and
3. The normal man despises and curses him.
===> 3 Evils of the hereafter are:
1. He angers Allah SWT severely and he who angers Allah SWT, where will he be able to dwell in peace;
2. Because of adultery he will be trialled severely on the resurrecton day; and
3. An adulterer will be entered into hell.
(Taken from Tanbeeh ul Ghafileen page 237, in case any mistake in the translation kindly do tell me as im nothing but to err.)
===> 3 Evils of this world are:
1. Blessings are taken away from his livelihood;
2. An adulteerer is deprivedof goodness; and
3. The normal man despises and curses him.
===> 3 Evils of the hereafter are:
1. He angers Allah SWT severely and he who angers Allah SWT, where will he be able to dwell in peace;
2. Because of adultery he will be trialled severely on the resurrecton day; and
3. An adulterer will be entered into hell.
(Taken from Tanbeeh ul Ghafileen page 237, in case any mistake in the translation kindly do tell me as im nothing but to err.)
Some Rulings about Hajj
By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Posted: 6 Jamad-ul-Awwal 1424, 6 July 2003
Q.) A lady wants to perform Hajj but her husband is reluctant to accompany her. She does not have any Mahram. Is there any way she can perform Hajj? Give examples from Qur'an and Sunnah for our knowledge. [Qamar Zia Zuberi]
A.) If the lady in reference is a Hanafi, she has to be accompanied by her Mahram to perform Hajj. Her husband should be advised to assist his wife in fulfilling her Hajj. It is recorded in Tirmidhi that one Sahaabi, Radi-Allahu anhu, enquired from Rasulullah about joining the Jihaad or serving as a Mahram for his wife for Hajj. Rasulullah advised him to leave Jihaad and given preference to joining his wife for Hajj. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/hajj_without_mahram.shtml
By Moulana Imraan Vawda
Posted: 27 Zul-Hijjah 1423, 1 March 2003
Q.) I would like to send a pious friend of mine to hajj in the absence of my father ( Hajj Badal). This friend of mine got the information that since he has not done hajj before, he cannot do hajj badal. His concern is that I will be wasting my money on him and my father (who passed away) will not get the rewards. Please explain if this is true? [Roanaq Osman]
A.) If Hajj is Fardh upon your friend at this moment, i.e. he has all the means to go for Hajj, then it will be Makrooh Tahrimi for your friend to do Hajj-e-Badal. He will first have to perform his own Hajj.
However, if Hajj is not Fardh on him, i.e. he does not have the means to go for Hajj, then he can do Hajj-e-Badal even though he has not performed Hajj before. (Ahsanul Fataawa vol.4 pg.522)
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/hajj_badal.shtml
Posted: 6 Jamad-ul-Awwal 1424, 6 July 2003
Q.) A lady wants to perform Hajj but her husband is reluctant to accompany her. She does not have any Mahram. Is there any way she can perform Hajj? Give examples from Qur'an and Sunnah for our knowledge. [Qamar Zia Zuberi]
A.) If the lady in reference is a Hanafi, she has to be accompanied by her Mahram to perform Hajj. Her husband should be advised to assist his wife in fulfilling her Hajj. It is recorded in Tirmidhi that one Sahaabi, Radi-Allahu anhu, enquired from Rasulullah about joining the Jihaad or serving as a Mahram for his wife for Hajj. Rasulullah advised him to leave Jihaad and given preference to joining his wife for Hajj. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/hajj_without_mahram.shtml
By Moulana Imraan Vawda
Posted: 27 Zul-Hijjah 1423, 1 March 2003
Q.) I would like to send a pious friend of mine to hajj in the absence of my father ( Hajj Badal). This friend of mine got the information that since he has not done hajj before, he cannot do hajj badal. His concern is that I will be wasting my money on him and my father (who passed away) will not get the rewards. Please explain if this is true? [Roanaq Osman]
A.) If Hajj is Fardh upon your friend at this moment, i.e. he has all the means to go for Hajj, then it will be Makrooh Tahrimi for your friend to do Hajj-e-Badal. He will first have to perform his own Hajj.
However, if Hajj is not Fardh on him, i.e. he does not have the means to go for Hajj, then he can do Hajj-e-Badal even though he has not performed Hajj before. (Ahsanul Fataawa vol.4 pg.522)
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/hajj_badal.shtml
Rights of Wife In Islam - Must Read for Brothers
Allah u akbar .. Allah u akbar ..
Walillahil Hamd
Assalam u alaikum
Hope everybody is doing good By Allah's grace
I am the moderator of an Islamic group "Invitation To truth" and a brother had asked about the rights of the wife which i really felt like answering myself personally , I still will make an attempt in support of my sisters and of course in helping my brothers in knowing their obligations towards theor wives. Though i have read teh books "Gift to the bride" and various other books maybe 6 years back but i couldnt remember the exact traditions so i had to carry out a research to recall the whole thing in a more beter way so that i could communicate it rightly. After hours of research I have compiled my effort here and tried to be very precise and I ask Allah to give me the courage to speak nothing but the Truth and i seek refuge from slandering and exaggerating. and may Allah accept my humble effort and make it a path to my forgiveness and i hope it benefits teh Muslim ummah ... Aaameen
Firstly, The bond of a husband and wife is so pure and the rights are so equal that a marriage cannot take place against the consent of either the bride or groom. That is the first step which shows Equality in Islam regarding marriage. Each have an equal obligation towards each other all their life, though in different aspects. Marriage in Islam is for teh sake of modesty and comfort. The quran says:
"They are your
garments and you are their garments." (Surah Al Baqarah 2:187).
"And among His signs is this,
that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in
tranquillity with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts:
verily in that are signs for those who reflect." (Surah Al Rum 30:21)
The next verse is a verse that has always put me to great thought:
"You will not be able to deal equally between (your) wives, however, much you may wish to do so. But turn not altogether away (from one), leaving her in suspense, If you do good and be righteous, then surely Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful." (4:129)
In the above verse Allah Himself is syaing that you cannot balance two wives equally Allah u akbar but then u see he has indeed allowed 4 marriages. Despite who knows us better than Allah, It means that justice equally can never be done to both wives and i believe this to be the biggest obligation to a man who is having 2 or more wives, he should be awars that he will never be able to be just with both but must try to be so in the material aspect, The verse actually depicts teh fact that the heart is so infantile that it will be more towards one wife in sum aspects and more yearning for the otehr in other aspects. The Prophet May Allah bless him, would treat all wives equally but then he loved Aisha May Allah be pleased with her the most.
another aspect of marriage is when Allah says :
"…consort with them in kindness, for if ye hate them it may happen that ye hate a thing wherein Allah hath placed much good." (An-Nisa': 19)
Almighty Allah has addressed all Muslims, comhanding them to behave, and consort with women in kindness; associate with them in life with goodwill and sympathy and never give them trouble. This is a general guidance. This verse is, as it were, the heading and the text of this chapter. The Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] has explained this verse by his words and practice. He gave such importance to the need of showing misbehaviour to women at that he is reported to have said in a Tradition:
"Meaning: The best of you are those who behave well with their women and I am best of you in behaving well with my women. (Tirmidhi - chapter on right of a women over her husband Tradition no. 1172)
The Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] attached so much importance to the protection of the rights of women and ensuring good behaviour with them that he has explained this matter in many Traditions. The first Tradition on this subject is one narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah wherein the Holy Prophet is reported to have said:
"I advise you to wish well for the women. You should accept this advice of mine."
Allah u Akbar what more better examples can i get. The Prophet Peace be upon him took a race with his wife Ayesha May Allah be pleased with her and she had out ran him later when she gained weight he again took a race with her and out ran her. Subhan Allah such was teh love of the Prophet for his wives.
The man has the responsibilty of teh maintenance of the wife, which includes her clothing, her residence and her food. If teh wife goes out to work the Husband should appoint a lady to ease teh house chores for the wife. The wife may not spend any of her earning on teh household as it is the responsibility of teh man to take care of her, and if she does spend her earnings then it is indeed her goodness and may Allah reward her for it. The husband should appoint a wet nurse for the children hath the wife not be ble to feed the children coz of pain or any other reason. Today wet nurse is not a concept anymore, but if we turn back in time and we go to the time of the Prophet (PBUH) we see that wet nurses were appointed for teh children and the children were even fed by the wet nurses, just because teh mother had so many children to look after or sometimes the pain of feeding the child was too much. Allah u akbar
Halima was the wet nurse of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) The rights in Islam for teh wife are so much just that we are all so unaware.
The man should not get jealous of his wife and suspect her as
The Prophet (s) said: "Do not be excessively jealous of your wife lest evil be hurled at her on your account" (la tukthir al-gheerata `ala ahlika fa turama bi al-su'i min ajlik) and he said: "Allah is jealous and the believer is jealous; and Allah's jealousy is that the believer should not go to that which Allah has forbidden for him" (inna Allaha yagharu wa al- mu'minu yagharu wa gheerat Allahi in ya'tiya al-mu'minu ma harrama `alayhi).
Now i am going to highlight the most sever aspect which has actually annoyed a lot of men whom i have spoken to about, but its not a matter of getting anyone annoyed but a matter of putting forward facts :
Thereafter the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] has spoken a very serious sentence of far-reaching consequences. When the meaning of this sentence is explained to men they get annoyed. That sentence is:
"This means that according to the laws of the Shari'ah the only demand you can make of them is that they should live with you in your house".
the Jurists have deduced a ruling of delicate nature and which makes men annoyed. The ruling lays down that according to the Shari'ah it is not the responsibility of a woman to cook food for the household. For this purpose the Jurists have divided women into two classes. Women of one class are those who do household work, including cooking food in their parent's houses. The other class consists of women who do not cook food in their father's house where cooks are employed for this work. If after marriage a woman of the latter class goes to her husband's house she is not at all responsible to cook food, religiously, legally, morally or otherwise. On the other hand, that wife may ask her husband to hire a cook for her as man is obliged to provide her with food along with other necessaries of life. The Jurists write:
"It is the responsibility of the husband to provide his wife with cooked food."
The wife cannot be forced to cook food neither by force, nor by the law, because the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] has said in clear words:
"This means: You have a right to keep them in your house which it is not lawful for them to leave without your permission."
With this exception the laws of the Shari'ah have imposed no responsibility on them.
However, If she belongs to the first category the one who used to cook food in her parents' house she too is not legally responsible to cook food i.e. she cannot be compelled by law to cook food. However, the responsibility falls on her only morally. In such a case the husband is responsible only to provide the food materials. Even then it is not her responsibility to cook food for the husband and the children. A wife in this class cannot ask her husband to provide her with cooked food. However, if she refuses to cook food for her husband and the children, the court cannot force her to do it. The respected Jurists have explained these problems at great length.
Our society has teh tradition of Women cooking and cleaning but havent we just discussed in the beginning itself that Man should provide food (eatable or cooked) and clothes(wearbale and stitched) and a house(clean) These are the responsibilities of the man, But Alhamdulillah todays Muslim women are out doing their duties and Alhamdulillah, may Allah acceot their effort.
So my dear Brothers in Islam Apapreciate your wife's service to you, isnt it enough that she has left her whole family and come to live with you in your strange house with your strange family (with strange i mean no offence i mean she is not acquainted to your house)
I am not really trying to offend men but i am actually tryingto increase the awareness of men regarding their obligations towards their wife, This entire research of mine is dedicated to the forming of a better society and not for the women to give up their duties towards tehir husbands and neither for the man to get disheartened.
i have taken into consideration greatly
"Tirmidhi Book of Suckling, Chapter on the rights of a wife over her husband tradition no. 1162"
Okay my dear brothers and sisters, I hope we all comply to our duties and may Allah acceot my humble effort on this article.and please forward this article of mine to as many brothers who need to be made aware of their duties and to the sisiters who should teach their children their duties. and lets make it a Sadaqa Jaariah
Aaameen
Wa Akhir ud da'wana Anil Hamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen
JAzak Allah khair was salam
Walillahil Hamd
Assalam u alaikum
Hope everybody is doing good By Allah's grace
I am the moderator of an Islamic group "Invitation To truth" and a brother had asked about the rights of the wife which i really felt like answering myself personally , I still will make an attempt in support of my sisters and of course in helping my brothers in knowing their obligations towards theor wives. Though i have read teh books "Gift to the bride" and various other books maybe 6 years back but i couldnt remember the exact traditions so i had to carry out a research to recall the whole thing in a more beter way so that i could communicate it rightly. After hours of research I have compiled my effort here and tried to be very precise and I ask Allah to give me the courage to speak nothing but the Truth and i seek refuge from slandering and exaggerating. and may Allah accept my humble effort and make it a path to my forgiveness and i hope it benefits teh Muslim ummah ... Aaameen
Firstly, The bond of a husband and wife is so pure and the rights are so equal that a marriage cannot take place against the consent of either the bride or groom. That is the first step which shows Equality in Islam regarding marriage. Each have an equal obligation towards each other all their life, though in different aspects. Marriage in Islam is for teh sake of modesty and comfort. The quran says:
"They are your
garments and you are their garments." (Surah Al Baqarah 2:187).
"And among His signs is this,
that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in
tranquillity with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts:
verily in that are signs for those who reflect." (Surah Al Rum 30:21)
The next verse is a verse that has always put me to great thought:
"You will not be able to deal equally between (your) wives, however, much you may wish to do so. But turn not altogether away (from one), leaving her in suspense, If you do good and be righteous, then surely Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful." (4:129)
In the above verse Allah Himself is syaing that you cannot balance two wives equally Allah u akbar but then u see he has indeed allowed 4 marriages. Despite who knows us better than Allah, It means that justice equally can never be done to both wives and i believe this to be the biggest obligation to a man who is having 2 or more wives, he should be awars that he will never be able to be just with both but must try to be so in the material aspect, The verse actually depicts teh fact that the heart is so infantile that it will be more towards one wife in sum aspects and more yearning for the otehr in other aspects. The Prophet May Allah bless him, would treat all wives equally but then he loved Aisha May Allah be pleased with her the most.
another aspect of marriage is when Allah says :
"…consort with them in kindness, for if ye hate them it may happen that ye hate a thing wherein Allah hath placed much good." (An-Nisa': 19)
Almighty Allah has addressed all Muslims, comhanding them to behave, and consort with women in kindness; associate with them in life with goodwill and sympathy and never give them trouble. This is a general guidance. This verse is, as it were, the heading and the text of this chapter. The Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] has explained this verse by his words and practice. He gave such importance to the need of showing misbehaviour to women at that he is reported to have said in a Tradition:
"Meaning: The best of you are those who behave well with their women and I am best of you in behaving well with my women. (Tirmidhi - chapter on right of a women over her husband Tradition no. 1172)
The Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] attached so much importance to the protection of the rights of women and ensuring good behaviour with them that he has explained this matter in many Traditions. The first Tradition on this subject is one narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah wherein the Holy Prophet is reported to have said:
"I advise you to wish well for the women. You should accept this advice of mine."
Allah u Akbar what more better examples can i get. The Prophet Peace be upon him took a race with his wife Ayesha May Allah be pleased with her and she had out ran him later when she gained weight he again took a race with her and out ran her. Subhan Allah such was teh love of the Prophet for his wives.
The man has the responsibilty of teh maintenance of the wife, which includes her clothing, her residence and her food. If teh wife goes out to work the Husband should appoint a lady to ease teh house chores for the wife. The wife may not spend any of her earning on teh household as it is the responsibility of teh man to take care of her, and if she does spend her earnings then it is indeed her goodness and may Allah reward her for it. The husband should appoint a wet nurse for the children hath the wife not be ble to feed the children coz of pain or any other reason. Today wet nurse is not a concept anymore, but if we turn back in time and we go to the time of the Prophet (PBUH) we see that wet nurses were appointed for teh children and the children were even fed by the wet nurses, just because teh mother had so many children to look after or sometimes the pain of feeding the child was too much. Allah u akbar
Halima was the wet nurse of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) The rights in Islam for teh wife are so much just that we are all so unaware.
The man should not get jealous of his wife and suspect her as
The Prophet (s) said: "Do not be excessively jealous of your wife lest evil be hurled at her on your account" (la tukthir al-gheerata `ala ahlika fa turama bi al-su'i min ajlik) and he said: "Allah is jealous and the believer is jealous; and Allah's jealousy is that the believer should not go to that which Allah has forbidden for him" (inna Allaha yagharu wa al- mu'minu yagharu wa gheerat Allahi in ya'tiya al-mu'minu ma harrama `alayhi).
Now i am going to highlight the most sever aspect which has actually annoyed a lot of men whom i have spoken to about, but its not a matter of getting anyone annoyed but a matter of putting forward facts :
Thereafter the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] has spoken a very serious sentence of far-reaching consequences. When the meaning of this sentence is explained to men they get annoyed. That sentence is:
"This means that according to the laws of the Shari'ah the only demand you can make of them is that they should live with you in your house".
the Jurists have deduced a ruling of delicate nature and which makes men annoyed. The ruling lays down that according to the Shari'ah it is not the responsibility of a woman to cook food for the household. For this purpose the Jurists have divided women into two classes. Women of one class are those who do household work, including cooking food in their parent's houses. The other class consists of women who do not cook food in their father's house where cooks are employed for this work. If after marriage a woman of the latter class goes to her husband's house she is not at all responsible to cook food, religiously, legally, morally or otherwise. On the other hand, that wife may ask her husband to hire a cook for her as man is obliged to provide her with food along with other necessaries of life. The Jurists write:
"It is the responsibility of the husband to provide his wife with cooked food."
The wife cannot be forced to cook food neither by force, nor by the law, because the Holy Prophet [sallallaahu alyhi wasallam] has said in clear words:
"This means: You have a right to keep them in your house which it is not lawful for them to leave without your permission."
With this exception the laws of the Shari'ah have imposed no responsibility on them.
However, If she belongs to the first category the one who used to cook food in her parents' house she too is not legally responsible to cook food i.e. she cannot be compelled by law to cook food. However, the responsibility falls on her only morally. In such a case the husband is responsible only to provide the food materials. Even then it is not her responsibility to cook food for the husband and the children. A wife in this class cannot ask her husband to provide her with cooked food. However, if she refuses to cook food for her husband and the children, the court cannot force her to do it. The respected Jurists have explained these problems at great length.
Our society has teh tradition of Women cooking and cleaning but havent we just discussed in the beginning itself that Man should provide food (eatable or cooked) and clothes(wearbale and stitched) and a house(clean) These are the responsibilities of the man, But Alhamdulillah todays Muslim women are out doing their duties and Alhamdulillah, may Allah acceot their effort.
So my dear Brothers in Islam Apapreciate your wife's service to you, isnt it enough that she has left her whole family and come to live with you in your strange house with your strange family (with strange i mean no offence i mean she is not acquainted to your house)
I am not really trying to offend men but i am actually tryingto increase the awareness of men regarding their obligations towards their wife, This entire research of mine is dedicated to the forming of a better society and not for the women to give up their duties towards tehir husbands and neither for the man to get disheartened.
i have taken into consideration greatly
"Tirmidhi Book of Suckling, Chapter on the rights of a wife over her husband tradition no. 1162"
Okay my dear brothers and sisters, I hope we all comply to our duties and may Allah acceot my humble effort on this article.and please forward this article of mine to as many brothers who need to be made aware of their duties and to the sisiters who should teach their children their duties. and lets make it a Sadaqa Jaariah
Aaameen
Wa Akhir ud da'wana Anil Hamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen
JAzak Allah khair was salam
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Etiquettes of Mosques
Mufti-e-Azam Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Shafi' Usmani (Rahimullah) writes the following chapter in his Tafseer "Maa'riful Qur'an":
Scholars have named fifteen items as etiquettes of the mosques. They are:
On entering the mosque one should greet the people already sitting there, with salam and if there is no one then say 'Assalamu 'Alayna Wa 'Ala Ibadallahi-Saliheen' (but this is required when those present in the mosque are not offering their extra prayer or reciting Qur'an. If they are busy in any of these acts, then he should not greet them.)
After getting in the mosque one should offer two Rak'ats as tahiyyah tul-masjid. (This is required at a time when offering prayers is not prohibited, that is the time of sun rise, sun set or when sun is directly overhead.)
Should not carry out any transactions of sale or purchase in the mosque.
Should not carry any weapons in the mosque.
Should not make an announcement for the search for any of his lost items.
Should not raise his voice in the mosque.
Should not discuss worldly affairs in the mosque.
Should not quarrel with any one in the mosque.
Should not try to force his way into a row where there is no room.
Should not cross over in front of someone offering prayer.
Should avoid spitting or blowing of nose in the mosque.
Should not crackle fingers in the mosque.
Should not play with any part of the body.
Should keep clean of any filth, and should not take a baby or an insane along in the mosque.
Should keep busy in remembrance of Allah abundantly.
After listing these fifteen etiquettes Qurtubi has remarked that whoever has fulfilled these requirements has done justice with the mosque, and it has become a place of charm and security for him.
Scholars have named fifteen items as etiquettes of the mosques. They are:
On entering the mosque one should greet the people already sitting there, with salam and if there is no one then say 'Assalamu 'Alayna Wa 'Ala Ibadallahi-Saliheen' (but this is required when those present in the mosque are not offering their extra prayer or reciting Qur'an. If they are busy in any of these acts, then he should not greet them.)
After getting in the mosque one should offer two Rak'ats as tahiyyah tul-masjid. (This is required at a time when offering prayers is not prohibited, that is the time of sun rise, sun set or when sun is directly overhead.)
Should not carry out any transactions of sale or purchase in the mosque.
Should not carry any weapons in the mosque.
Should not make an announcement for the search for any of his lost items.
Should not raise his voice in the mosque.
Should not discuss worldly affairs in the mosque.
Should not quarrel with any one in the mosque.
Should not try to force his way into a row where there is no room.
Should not cross over in front of someone offering prayer.
Should avoid spitting or blowing of nose in the mosque.
Should not crackle fingers in the mosque.
Should not play with any part of the body.
Should keep clean of any filth, and should not take a baby or an insane along in the mosque.
Should keep busy in remembrance of Allah abundantly.
After listing these fifteen etiquettes Qurtubi has remarked that whoever has fulfilled these requirements has done justice with the mosque, and it has become a place of charm and security for him.
saying of Hazrat Umer RZA
Ahnaf Bin Qais (May Allah SWT be pleased with him) is reported to have said that he has heard Hazrat Umer (May Allah Be pleased with him) say :
1. He who laughs more, his fear is decreased;
2. He who jokes alot, he is despised;
3. He who does a specific task more, is to gain fame in that field/task;
4. He who talks more is disgraced and defamed;
5. He who is defamed besomes shameless;
6. He who becomes shameless, loses piety;
7. He loses piety his heart becomes (spiritually) dead;
8. Whose heart becomes dead; for him the fire of hell is most suitable.
Taken from (Tanbeeh ul Ghafileen Mukammal pg 167)
Any mistake in translation kindly let me know as I am nothing but to ERR!
JAzak Allah khairan wa ahsnaul jaza
wa TAqabbal Allah minna wa minkum Ajmaeen
Allahumma aameen
1. He who laughs more, his fear is decreased;
2. He who jokes alot, he is despised;
3. He who does a specific task more, is to gain fame in that field/task;
4. He who talks more is disgraced and defamed;
5. He who is defamed besomes shameless;
6. He who becomes shameless, loses piety;
7. He loses piety his heart becomes (spiritually) dead;
8. Whose heart becomes dead; for him the fire of hell is most suitable.
Taken from (Tanbeeh ul Ghafileen Mukammal pg 167)
Any mistake in translation kindly let me know as I am nothing but to ERR!
JAzak Allah khairan wa ahsnaul jaza
wa TAqabbal Allah minna wa minkum Ajmaeen
Allahumma aameen
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Have we Had the Most of Ramadan this Year?
Assalam Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barkatuhu
Ramadan, as usual, has flown by. Despite planning beforehand, many of us may have gotten caught up in a normal routine after accustoming ourselves to the change in schedule the blessed month brings.
This may have affected our initial plans to increase our worship, contemplation and to seek Allah's Forgiveness and Mercy with greater fervor.
Ask yourself these questions and see what you could have done to make the most of Ramadan this year..Insha Allah..next year..also..
===========
1. Have I kept pace with the amount of Quran I wanted to read, or have I fallen behind?
2. If so, how much do I have to read on a daily basis the rest of Ramadan to catch up?
3. Have I tried to attend Tarawih regularly, or did I use weak excuses to get out of it?
4. Did I ever pray the night prayer?
5. Did I try praying my five daily prayers with more sincerity, concentration, and focus than usual?
6. Did I invite anyone over for Iftar?
7. Did I help any needy person, even a panhandler or beggar, when I was fasting?
8. Did I regularly seek Allah's Forgiveness and Mercy with sincerity, fear and hope?
9. Did I encourage my family to fast or participate in regular opportunities for more
rewards that come with Ramadan (i.e. good deeds in general, but also Tarawih, more reading of the Quran, etc.).
10. Did I memorize any more Quran than what I knew before Ramadan started?
11. Did I try to be more patient in Ramadan than I normally am?
12. Did I try to control my anger, especially while fasting?
13. Did I try harder to avoid backbiting and slander?
14. Did I constantly check my intentions, to make sure that my good deeds were for the sake of Allah alone, not to impress others, gain their favor, or to show off?
15. Was there even an atom of pride in my heart?
16. Was I quieter and more contemplative?
17. Did I cry in my prayers?
18. Did I read more Islamic literature apart from the Quran?
19. Did I make sincere repentance to Allah, really feeling sorry for my sins, or did I just verbally say "Astaghfirullah" with no real remorse for my bad deeds?
20. Did I forgive those who hurt me?
21. Did I avoid hurting anyone with my attitude, words, intentions or actions?
22. Did I give any more Sadaqah than I normally give?
23. Did I share the message of Ramadan and Islam with a non-Muslim?
24. Did I share the message of Ramadan and Islam with a non-practicing Muslim family member or friend?
25. Did I feel annoyed at being hungry while fasting or did I rejoice?
=========
Will I even meet Ramadan next year?
Think about ths !!
Ramadan, as usual, has flown by. Despite planning beforehand, many of us may have gotten caught up in a normal routine after accustoming ourselves to the change in schedule the blessed month brings.
This may have affected our initial plans to increase our worship, contemplation and to seek Allah's Forgiveness and Mercy with greater fervor.
Ask yourself these questions and see what you could have done to make the most of Ramadan this year..Insha Allah..next year..also..
===========
1. Have I kept pace with the amount of Quran I wanted to read, or have I fallen behind?
2. If so, how much do I have to read on a daily basis the rest of Ramadan to catch up?
3. Have I tried to attend Tarawih regularly, or did I use weak excuses to get out of it?
4. Did I ever pray the night prayer?
5. Did I try praying my five daily prayers with more sincerity, concentration, and focus than usual?
6. Did I invite anyone over for Iftar?
7. Did I help any needy person, even a panhandler or beggar, when I was fasting?
8. Did I regularly seek Allah's Forgiveness and Mercy with sincerity, fear and hope?
9. Did I encourage my family to fast or participate in regular opportunities for more
rewards that come with Ramadan (i.e. good deeds in general, but also Tarawih, more reading of the Quran, etc.).
10. Did I memorize any more Quran than what I knew before Ramadan started?
11. Did I try to be more patient in Ramadan than I normally am?
12. Did I try to control my anger, especially while fasting?
13. Did I try harder to avoid backbiting and slander?
14. Did I constantly check my intentions, to make sure that my good deeds were for the sake of Allah alone, not to impress others, gain their favor, or to show off?
15. Was there even an atom of pride in my heart?
16. Was I quieter and more contemplative?
17. Did I cry in my prayers?
18. Did I read more Islamic literature apart from the Quran?
19. Did I make sincere repentance to Allah, really feeling sorry for my sins, or did I just verbally say "Astaghfirullah" with no real remorse for my bad deeds?
20. Did I forgive those who hurt me?
21. Did I avoid hurting anyone with my attitude, words, intentions or actions?
22. Did I give any more Sadaqah than I normally give?
23. Did I share the message of Ramadan and Islam with a non-Muslim?
24. Did I share the message of Ramadan and Islam with a non-practicing Muslim family member or friend?
25. Did I feel annoyed at being hungry while fasting or did I rejoice?
=========
Will I even meet Ramadan next year?
Think about ths !!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Ahadeeth About Ramadan
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 125:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 144:
Narrated Anas:
Zaid bin Thabit said, "We took the Suhur with the Prophet . Then he stood for the prayer." I asked, "What was the interval between the Suhur and the Adhan?" He replied, "The interval was sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Quran."
my dear Muslim Brothers and sisters Miswaak is a sunnah try to start it as it has a lot of blessings..
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 154:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah." Narrated 'Amir bin Rabi'a, "I saw the Prophet cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can't count." And narrated Abu Huraira, "The Prophet said, 'But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution." The same is narrated by Jabir and Zaid bin Khalid from the Prophet who did not differentiate between a fasting and a nonfasting person in this respect (using Siwak).
Aisha said, "The Prophet said, "It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasures." Ata' and Qatada said, "There is no harm in swallowing the resultant saliva."
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 157:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
While we were sitting with the Prophet a man came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have been ruined." Allah's Apostle asked what was the matter with him. He replied "I had sexual intercourse with my wife while I was fasting." Allah's Apostle asked him, "Can you afford to manumit a slave?" He replied in the negative. Allah's Apostle asked him, "Can you fast for two successive months?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet asked him, "Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet kept silent and while we were in that state, a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet . He asked, "Where is the questioner?" He replied, "I (am here)." The Prophet said (to him), "Take this (basket of dates) and give it in charity." The man said, "Should I give it to a person poorer than I? By Allah; there is no family between its ( i.e. Medina's) two mountains who are poorer than I." The Prophet smiled till his pre-molar teeth became visible and then said, 'Feed your family with it."
Allah u akbar read the next Hadeeth ... i am just so surprised Allah u akbar
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 178:
Narrated Sahl bin Sad:
Allah's Apostle said, "The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."
Jazak Allah khair
was salam
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 144:
Narrated Anas:
Zaid bin Thabit said, "We took the Suhur with the Prophet . Then he stood for the prayer." I asked, "What was the interval between the Suhur and the Adhan?" He replied, "The interval was sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Quran."
my dear Muslim Brothers and sisters Miswaak is a sunnah try to start it as it has a lot of blessings..
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 154:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah." Narrated 'Amir bin Rabi'a, "I saw the Prophet cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can't count." And narrated Abu Huraira, "The Prophet said, 'But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution." The same is narrated by Jabir and Zaid bin Khalid from the Prophet who did not differentiate between a fasting and a nonfasting person in this respect (using Siwak).
Aisha said, "The Prophet said, "It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasures." Ata' and Qatada said, "There is no harm in swallowing the resultant saliva."
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 157:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
While we were sitting with the Prophet a man came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have been ruined." Allah's Apostle asked what was the matter with him. He replied "I had sexual intercourse with my wife while I was fasting." Allah's Apostle asked him, "Can you afford to manumit a slave?" He replied in the negative. Allah's Apostle asked him, "Can you fast for two successive months?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet asked him, "Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet kept silent and while we were in that state, a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet . He asked, "Where is the questioner?" He replied, "I (am here)." The Prophet said (to him), "Take this (basket of dates) and give it in charity." The man said, "Should I give it to a person poorer than I? By Allah; there is no family between its ( i.e. Medina's) two mountains who are poorer than I." The Prophet smiled till his pre-molar teeth became visible and then said, 'Feed your family with it."
Allah u akbar read the next Hadeeth ... i am just so surprised Allah u akbar
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 178:
Narrated Sahl bin Sad:
Allah's Apostle said, "The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."
Jazak Allah khair
was salam
Monday, August 25, 2008
What are we doing this Ramadan?
I have compiled a mail especially for Ramdan for all my Muslim Brothers and sisters, I am a moderator of an Islamic group and this mail was a humble contribution. I would avail this opportunity to share it with you and request you to share it with other Muslim Brotehrs and sisters.
Bismillahir Rahmaanir RAhim
Nahmaduhu wa nusaali ala Ibadihillazinastafa
Assalam u alaikum !!
This might be a long mail but I swear by Allah you will not loose a minute but you will learn as I did when I was compiling it and These are only a few questions i have posed to myself and other Muslim brothers and sisters. Please read it and lets analuse how are we going to spend the Month of Ramdan.
If we read the Quranic verse, " O you who believe, fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may learn self-restraint" (2:183), then we will know that one of the prime objectives of fasting is to control the promptings of the lower passions. Allah stands in no need of the fasting of one who fails to abandon his acts of dishonesty during this month. The Prophet (Pbuh) said, " He who does not refrain from lying and from all forms of ignorance, Allah cares little for his refraining from eating and drinking." Far too much emphasis is placed in a society which has commercialised Ramadan in order to sell more foodstuff to hungry Muslims and too little stress is placed on the spiritual advantages. The Prophet said, " Fasting is a shield so when one of you is fasting, he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: " I am fasting, I am fasting." It is indeed a great pity that many do not take heed of the lessons and wisdom of fasting. Their fasting infact becomes reduced to merely starving themselves for the day.
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah, the Mighty and Exalted said, 'Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except for fasting. It is Mine and I repay it.' Fasting is a shield. When someone is fasting, he should not have sexual relations nor quarrel. If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting'. By the One in whose hand the self of Muhammad is, the changed breath in the mouth of the faster is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk. The faster experiences two joys: when he breaks his fast he rejoices and when he meets his Lord he rejoices in his fasting." [Agreed upon]
Ramadan has knocked on our doors and here we are today fasting the first fast of Ramdan in some parts oif the world and the rest will fast tomoro.
Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not make up for it (Bukhari).
1. Have we all prepared for RAmdan, The month of blessings which is a guest to us.
Sahl ibn Sa'd reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There is a gate in the Garden called ar-Rayyan which those who fast will enter on the Day of Rising, and none but they will enter it." It will be said, 'Where are the fasters?' They will stand up and none but they will enter it. When they have entered it, it will be closed and no one else will enter it." [Agreed upon]
2. Have we ensured to avail the most of this month or not?
• The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, "Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]
3. Have we planned in advance of how to avail this month?
`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to strive more in worship during Ramadan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he strove in earlier part of the month.
[Muslim].
4. Have we scheduled ourselves so that we spend most time in acts of worship?
• Ibn Majah related from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas that the Prophet, (peace be upon him) said: "A fasting person, upon breaking his fast, has a supplication that will not be rejected".
5. Have we checked our faith and ensured that we will stop ourselves from all misdeeds as this is the only month in which Satan is jailed and we only have to control our selves from the habit of sins.
"When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious jinns are put in chains and the doors of hell are closed, none of them remains open. The doors of heaven are open and none of them remains closed. And a caller calls, `O seeker of goodness, come forward, and O seeker of evil, desist. And Allah has many (in this month) who will be freed from Hell.' This announcement is made every night." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 618)
1241. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink .''
[Al-Bukhari].
6. Have we decided to spend money on the poor?
Hadrat Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "There are two characteristics which are not combined in a believer: miserliness and a bad disposition." (Tirmidhi)
Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "A crafty one, a miser, and one who keeps reminding people of what he has given will not enter paradise." (Tirmidhi )
7. Have we done all our shoppings in advance so that in this Holy month we dont go wandering in the markets and waste our time?
8. Have we asked forgiveness from all those whom we have hurt intentionally and unintentionally and have decided to love all Muslims only for the sake of Allah?
Al-Tabarani, Ibn Ya'la, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim narrated: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "If two men love each other for the sake of Allah, the stronger in love to his brother will be more loved by Allah."
Ibn Iday narrated: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Allah is All-Forgiving and He loves forgiveness."
Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed narrated: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Allah said: My love is due to those who love one another for My sake."
9. Have we forgiven thise who have intentionally or unintentionally hurt us?(know that Allah loves the act of forgiving so forgive and Alalh will forgive us ,,, inshaAllah )
The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: Musa, the son of Imran once asked, "Oh my Lord! Who is the most honorable of Your servants? And He replied, the person who forgives even when he is in a position of power" (Baihaqi)
"The best deed before Allah is to pardon a person who has wronged you, to show affection for relatives who have broken ties with you, and to act generously towards a person who has deprived you" . Thereafter he recited the following holy verses: "Turn to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from ignorant" (7:199
10. Have we learnt how to make the best of this month?
1381. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge .''
[Muslim].
11. Have we studied how the Prohet (PBUH) used to spend this month?
1378. Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me are like abundant rain which fell on a land. A fertile part of it absorbed the water and brought forth profuse herbage and pasture; and solid ground patches which retained the water by which Allah has benefited people, who drank from it, irrigated their crops and sowed their seeds; and another sandy plane which could neither retain the water nor produce herbage. Such is the similitude of the person who becomes well-versed in the religion of Allah and receives benefit from the Message entrusted to me by Allah, so he himself has learned and taught it to others; such is also the similitude of the person who has stubbornly and ignorantly rejected Allah's Guidance with which I have been sent .''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
1384. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The world, with all that it contains, is accursed except for the remembrance of Allah that which pleases Allah; and the religious scholars and seekers of knowledge .''
[At-Tirmidhi].
12. Have we decided not to watch movies and stay away from songs?
Hadith - Bukhari 7:494
Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments as lawful. And (from them), there will be some who will stay near the side of a mountain, and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and Allah will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection. "
13. Have we decided not to miss a single prayer in this Holy Month?
"And I have chosen you,
so listen to that which is inspired to you.
Verily, I am Allah!
There is none worthy of worship but I,
so worship Me
and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance."
[Taha 13-14]
And before God prostrate themselves,
willingly or unwillingly,
all things and beings that are in the heavens and the earth,
as do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings.
[Qur'an 13:15]
Verily, the prayer keeps one
from the great sins and evil deeds"
[al Ankabut 45]
14. Have we decided that we will not use abusive language in Ramdan?
1240. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: `I am observing fas t.'''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
15. Have we planned how to teach other Muslims About the Benefits of Ramdan and how to teach the little we know about Islam?
1377. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Allah gives wealth, and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives knowledge which he applies and teaches it .''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Abu Dharr pointed to his neck and said, "If you were to put the sword here and I thought that I could finish one sentence which I heard from the Prophet before you finished me, I would say it."
Rasulullah(saw) said , "The best of charity is a Muslim who learns a knowledge and later teaches it to his Muslim brother."
1379. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said to `Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), "By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be better for you than a whole lot of red camels .''
16. Have we planned to practise all we know about Islam in this Holy month?
Ibn Mas'ud stated, "The Qur'an was revealed in order that men may direct their lives according to its teaching. But instead you have made it your life work."
Abu Allah ibn 'Ata' said, "Knowledge is dependent upon acting on it." It is just as Imam ash-Shafi'i said, "Knowledge is not what is memorised. Knowledge is what benefits
17. Have we scheduled to at least finish 1 Quran in this Month?
The month of Ramadan is that in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, with clear signs for guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).
(Al-Baqarah
Umamah(ra) related that Rasulullah(saw) said, "Read the Quran, for it will come in the Day of Qiyamah as a torch to those that had read and followed it's teachings."
18. Have we made up the intention to stop others from the bad and call towards the truth which is called Amr bil ma'ruf wa nahi anil munkar?
1382. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who calls others to follow the Right Guidance will have a reward equal to the reward of those who follow him, without their reward being diminished in any respect on that account .''
[Muslim].
Imaam Baghawi has noted that in Shariah-Al-Sunnah and Ma'aalim appear narrations from Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhiallahu Anhu) and Ayesha Siddiqah (Radhiallahu Anha) that
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
"Allah does not send His punishment on all the people for the sins of a certain group of immoral persons when He sees the virtuous people preventing the wrong-doers from their activities. In case they do not prevent them, then Allah will certainly send and spread His punishment."- Ma'aariful Qur'an Vol. 4. p. 212 .
19. Have we decided not to take and give bribe?
"And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as a bait (bribe) for the judges, with intent that you may eat up a little of (other) people's property." (Qur'an 2:188)
`Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-`As t narrated that he heard Allah's Messenger r saying, "Fornication will not appear among any people without their being punished by famine, and bribery will not appear among any people without their being punished by terror." (Tirmidhi Hadith 3582 and Ahmad)
`Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-`Ast narrated that Allah's Messenger r cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribe. (Abu Dawud Hadith 3573
20. Have we shifted our bank accounts to Islamic banks so as not take interest and eat haraam?
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2829 Narrated byAli ibn AbuTalib Ali heard Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) curse those who took usury, those who paid it, those who recorded it, and those who refused to give sadaqah. And he used to prohibit wailing. Nasa'i transmitted it.
21. Have we decided to Invite our Muslims Brothers and sisters to Iftaar?
According to a Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said : "Whoever in Ramadan provide a person who is keeping fast with Iftar, this act will become a source of forgiveness for his sins and safety from Hell Fire and he will get as much reward as will the keeper of fast get without any reduction in the recompense of the latter".
22. Have we started Asking Allah for Paradise and asked refuge from hell?
• Allah's Apostle said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]
23. Have we Started asking Allah earnestly for forgiveness?
Hadith Qudsi: Allah, the Almighty, has said: O Son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.
24. Have we planned to do Sadaqa for our loved ones who have left this world?
Mother of faithful believers, Hadrat 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that a man told the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) that his mother had died suddenly, adding that he thought she would have given sadaqa if she had been able to speak. He therefore asked if she would have a reward supposing he gave sadaqa on her behalf, and was told that she would. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
This Whole compilation has taken me hours and i pray Allah accepts my efforts, and i request you all to forward this mail to all Muslim Brothers and sisters as this is a Sadaqa Jaariyah and we all will benefit from it..
1383. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous decendant who prays for him (for the deceased ).''
[Muslim].
I beg Allah to bless Muslims who are present today and those who have gone and yet to come, I beg Allah for his mercy and i beg Him for He is the all forgiving....
I request you all to forgive me in case i have intentionally or unintentionally huert you all
Jazak Allah Khair
Wa aakhirudd da'wana anil Hamdulillahi Rab'il Alameen.
Please pray for the compiler: Qureshi
Bismillahir Rahmaanir RAhim
Nahmaduhu wa nusaali ala Ibadihillazinastafa
Assalam u alaikum !!
This might be a long mail but I swear by Allah you will not loose a minute but you will learn as I did when I was compiling it and These are only a few questions i have posed to myself and other Muslim brothers and sisters. Please read it and lets analuse how are we going to spend the Month of Ramdan.
If we read the Quranic verse, " O you who believe, fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may learn self-restraint" (2:183), then we will know that one of the prime objectives of fasting is to control the promptings of the lower passions. Allah stands in no need of the fasting of one who fails to abandon his acts of dishonesty during this month. The Prophet (Pbuh) said, " He who does not refrain from lying and from all forms of ignorance, Allah cares little for his refraining from eating and drinking." Far too much emphasis is placed in a society which has commercialised Ramadan in order to sell more foodstuff to hungry Muslims and too little stress is placed on the spiritual advantages. The Prophet said, " Fasting is a shield so when one of you is fasting, he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: " I am fasting, I am fasting." It is indeed a great pity that many do not take heed of the lessons and wisdom of fasting. Their fasting infact becomes reduced to merely starving themselves for the day.
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah, the Mighty and Exalted said, 'Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except for fasting. It is Mine and I repay it.' Fasting is a shield. When someone is fasting, he should not have sexual relations nor quarrel. If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting'. By the One in whose hand the self of Muhammad is, the changed breath in the mouth of the faster is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk. The faster experiences two joys: when he breaks his fast he rejoices and when he meets his Lord he rejoices in his fasting." [Agreed upon]
Ramadan has knocked on our doors and here we are today fasting the first fast of Ramdan in some parts oif the world and the rest will fast tomoro.
Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not make up for it (Bukhari).
1. Have we all prepared for RAmdan, The month of blessings which is a guest to us.
Sahl ibn Sa'd reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There is a gate in the Garden called ar-Rayyan which those who fast will enter on the Day of Rising, and none but they will enter it." It will be said, 'Where are the fasters?' They will stand up and none but they will enter it. When they have entered it, it will be closed and no one else will enter it." [Agreed upon]
2. Have we ensured to avail the most of this month or not?
• The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, "Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]
3. Have we planned in advance of how to avail this month?
`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to strive more in worship during Ramadan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he strove in earlier part of the month.
[Muslim].
4. Have we scheduled ourselves so that we spend most time in acts of worship?
• Ibn Majah related from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas that the Prophet, (peace be upon him) said: "A fasting person, upon breaking his fast, has a supplication that will not be rejected".
5. Have we checked our faith and ensured that we will stop ourselves from all misdeeds as this is the only month in which Satan is jailed and we only have to control our selves from the habit of sins.
"When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious jinns are put in chains and the doors of hell are closed, none of them remains open. The doors of heaven are open and none of them remains closed. And a caller calls, `O seeker of goodness, come forward, and O seeker of evil, desist. And Allah has many (in this month) who will be freed from Hell.' This announcement is made every night." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 618)
1241. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink .''
[Al-Bukhari].
6. Have we decided to spend money on the poor?
Hadrat Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "There are two characteristics which are not combined in a believer: miserliness and a bad disposition." (Tirmidhi)
Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) as saying, "A crafty one, a miser, and one who keeps reminding people of what he has given will not enter paradise." (Tirmidhi )
7. Have we done all our shoppings in advance so that in this Holy month we dont go wandering in the markets and waste our time?
8. Have we asked forgiveness from all those whom we have hurt intentionally and unintentionally and have decided to love all Muslims only for the sake of Allah?
Al-Tabarani, Ibn Ya'la, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim narrated: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "If two men love each other for the sake of Allah, the stronger in love to his brother will be more loved by Allah."
Ibn Iday narrated: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Allah is All-Forgiving and He loves forgiveness."
Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed narrated: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Allah said: My love is due to those who love one another for My sake."
9. Have we forgiven thise who have intentionally or unintentionally hurt us?(know that Allah loves the act of forgiving so forgive and Alalh will forgive us ,,, inshaAllah )
The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: Musa, the son of Imran once asked, "Oh my Lord! Who is the most honorable of Your servants? And He replied, the person who forgives even when he is in a position of power" (Baihaqi)
"The best deed before Allah is to pardon a person who has wronged you, to show affection for relatives who have broken ties with you, and to act generously towards a person who has deprived you" . Thereafter he recited the following holy verses: "Turn to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn aside from ignorant" (7:199
10. Have we learnt how to make the best of this month?
1381. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge .''
[Muslim].
11. Have we studied how the Prohet (PBUH) used to spend this month?
1378. Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me are like abundant rain which fell on a land. A fertile part of it absorbed the water and brought forth profuse herbage and pasture; and solid ground patches which retained the water by which Allah has benefited people, who drank from it, irrigated their crops and sowed their seeds; and another sandy plane which could neither retain the water nor produce herbage. Such is the similitude of the person who becomes well-versed in the religion of Allah and receives benefit from the Message entrusted to me by Allah, so he himself has learned and taught it to others; such is also the similitude of the person who has stubbornly and ignorantly rejected Allah's Guidance with which I have been sent .''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
1384. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The world, with all that it contains, is accursed except for the remembrance of Allah that which pleases Allah; and the religious scholars and seekers of knowledge .''
[At-Tirmidhi].
12. Have we decided not to watch movies and stay away from songs?
Hadith - Bukhari 7:494
Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments as lawful. And (from them), there will be some who will stay near the side of a mountain, and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and Allah will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection. "
13. Have we decided not to miss a single prayer in this Holy Month?
"And I have chosen you,
so listen to that which is inspired to you.
Verily, I am Allah!
There is none worthy of worship but I,
so worship Me
and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance."
[Taha 13-14]
And before God prostrate themselves,
willingly or unwillingly,
all things and beings that are in the heavens and the earth,
as do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings.
[Qur'an 13:15]
Verily, the prayer keeps one
from the great sins and evil deeds"
[al Ankabut 45]
14. Have we decided that we will not use abusive language in Ramdan?
1240. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: `I am observing fas t.'''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
15. Have we planned how to teach other Muslims About the Benefits of Ramdan and how to teach the little we know about Islam?
1377. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Allah gives wealth, and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives knowledge which he applies and teaches it .''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Abu Dharr pointed to his neck and said, "If you were to put the sword here and I thought that I could finish one sentence which I heard from the Prophet before you finished me, I would say it."
Rasulullah(saw) said , "The best of charity is a Muslim who learns a knowledge and later teaches it to his Muslim brother."
1379. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said to `Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), "By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it will be better for you than a whole lot of red camels .''
16. Have we planned to practise all we know about Islam in this Holy month?
Ibn Mas'ud stated, "The Qur'an was revealed in order that men may direct their lives according to its teaching. But instead you have made it your life work."
Abu Allah ibn 'Ata' said, "Knowledge is dependent upon acting on it." It is just as Imam ash-Shafi'i said, "Knowledge is not what is memorised. Knowledge is what benefits
17. Have we scheduled to at least finish 1 Quran in this Month?
The month of Ramadan is that in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, with clear signs for guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).
(Al-Baqarah
Umamah(ra) related that Rasulullah(saw) said, "Read the Quran, for it will come in the Day of Qiyamah as a torch to those that had read and followed it's teachings."
18. Have we made up the intention to stop others from the bad and call towards the truth which is called Amr bil ma'ruf wa nahi anil munkar?
1382. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who calls others to follow the Right Guidance will have a reward equal to the reward of those who follow him, without their reward being diminished in any respect on that account .''
[Muslim].
Imaam Baghawi has noted that in Shariah-Al-Sunnah and Ma'aalim appear narrations from Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhiallahu Anhu) and Ayesha Siddiqah (Radhiallahu Anha) that
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
"Allah does not send His punishment on all the people for the sins of a certain group of immoral persons when He sees the virtuous people preventing the wrong-doers from their activities. In case they do not prevent them, then Allah will certainly send and spread His punishment."- Ma'aariful Qur'an Vol. 4. p. 212 .
19. Have we decided not to take and give bribe?
"And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as a bait (bribe) for the judges, with intent that you may eat up a little of (other) people's property." (Qur'an 2:188)
`Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-`As t narrated that he heard Allah's Messenger r saying, "Fornication will not appear among any people without their being punished by famine, and bribery will not appear among any people without their being punished by terror." (Tirmidhi Hadith 3582 and Ahmad)
`Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-`Ast narrated that Allah's Messenger r cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribe. (Abu Dawud Hadith 3573
20. Have we shifted our bank accounts to Islamic banks so as not take interest and eat haraam?
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2829 Narrated byAli ibn AbuTalib Ali heard Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) curse those who took usury, those who paid it, those who recorded it, and those who refused to give sadaqah. And he used to prohibit wailing. Nasa'i transmitted it.
21. Have we decided to Invite our Muslims Brothers and sisters to Iftaar?
According to a Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said : "Whoever in Ramadan provide a person who is keeping fast with Iftar, this act will become a source of forgiveness for his sins and safety from Hell Fire and he will get as much reward as will the keeper of fast get without any reduction in the recompense of the latter".
22. Have we started Asking Allah for Paradise and asked refuge from hell?
• Allah's Apostle said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]
23. Have we Started asking Allah earnestly for forgiveness?
Hadith Qudsi: Allah, the Almighty, has said: O Son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.
24. Have we planned to do Sadaqa for our loved ones who have left this world?
Mother of faithful believers, Hadrat 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that a man told the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) that his mother had died suddenly, adding that he thought she would have given sadaqa if she had been able to speak. He therefore asked if she would have a reward supposing he gave sadaqa on her behalf, and was told that she would. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
This Whole compilation has taken me hours and i pray Allah accepts my efforts, and i request you all to forward this mail to all Muslim Brothers and sisters as this is a Sadaqa Jaariyah and we all will benefit from it..
1383. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous decendant who prays for him (for the deceased ).''
[Muslim].
I beg Allah to bless Muslims who are present today and those who have gone and yet to come, I beg Allah for his mercy and i beg Him for He is the all forgiving....
I request you all to forgive me in case i have intentionally or unintentionally huert you all
Jazak Allah Khair
Wa aakhirudd da'wana anil Hamdulillahi Rab'il Alameen.
Please pray for the compiler: Qureshi
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Way of Ghusl
Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhum
I was asked about The proper way to perform ghusl :
Source : http://www.muftisays.com/qa.php?viewpage=viewQA&question=1728
The farz of ghusl.
1. Passing water into and out of the mouth, i.e. Gargling.
2. Putting water into the nostrils.
3. Ensure that the navel and ears are all wet.
4. If the hair of a woman are plaited, she is excused from loosening her plaited hair but it is compulsory for her to wet the base of each and every hair, If she fails to do so then the Ghusl will not be valid.
As for men who grow long hair and plait them, they are not excused from leaving their hair DRY.
If a woman experiences difficulty or is unable to wet the very bottom of her plaited hair, then it is necessary for her to unplait her hair and wash her entire hair.
5. Ensure that the skin of the beard is wet.
6. Ensure the skin of the mustach, eyebrows and private part are wet.
8. If one is not circumcised, one should ensure the inner part is wet.
7. Passing water over the entire body.
Note: if any of the Faraid are left out or a hairs breadth place is left dry the Ghusl will be Incomplete.
(Nurul Idhah)
The sunnats in Ghusl and the ettiquettes.
1. To begin with Bismillah.
2. Washing hands upto the wrists.
3. Washing the private parts and the parts over which uncleanliness is found.
4. Niyyat of washing off Hukmi Najaasat.
5. Making Wudhu before washing the body. If one is making Ghusl on a stool or platform where water will rapidly flow away, then perform the complete Wudhu. If there is a fear of the feet being dipped in waste water during the Ghusl then postpone the washing of the feet to the end of the Ghusl. Ensure that the mouth and nostrils are thoroughly rinsed thrice.
6. Then passing water over the whole body thrice.
7. Thereafter pour water thrice over the right shoulder and over the left shoulder thrice
8. Clean the entire body by rubbing it.
All parts of the body should be rubbed with the hands to ensure that water has reached all parts of the body and no portion is left dry.
9. One should not face towards the Qibla and recite any Du'a etc.
10. Rings, earrings, etc. should be removed to ensure that no portion covered by them is left dry. If they are not wet Ghusl will be incomplete. (Nurul Idhah)
And Only Allah Taala Knows Best.
I was asked about The proper way to perform ghusl :
Source : http://www.muftisays.com/qa.php?viewpage=viewQA&question=1728
The farz of ghusl.
1. Passing water into and out of the mouth, i.e. Gargling.
2. Putting water into the nostrils.
3. Ensure that the navel and ears are all wet.
4. If the hair of a woman are plaited, she is excused from loosening her plaited hair but it is compulsory for her to wet the base of each and every hair, If she fails to do so then the Ghusl will not be valid.
As for men who grow long hair and plait them, they are not excused from leaving their hair DRY.
If a woman experiences difficulty or is unable to wet the very bottom of her plaited hair, then it is necessary for her to unplait her hair and wash her entire hair.
5. Ensure that the skin of the beard is wet.
6. Ensure the skin of the mustach, eyebrows and private part are wet.
8. If one is not circumcised, one should ensure the inner part is wet.
7. Passing water over the entire body.
Note: if any of the Faraid are left out or a hairs breadth place is left dry the Ghusl will be Incomplete.
(Nurul Idhah)
The sunnats in Ghusl and the ettiquettes.
1. To begin with Bismillah.
2. Washing hands upto the wrists.
3. Washing the private parts and the parts over which uncleanliness is found.
4. Niyyat of washing off Hukmi Najaasat.
5. Making Wudhu before washing the body. If one is making Ghusl on a stool or platform where water will rapidly flow away, then perform the complete Wudhu. If there is a fear of the feet being dipped in waste water during the Ghusl then postpone the washing of the feet to the end of the Ghusl. Ensure that the mouth and nostrils are thoroughly rinsed thrice.
6. Then passing water over the whole body thrice.
7. Thereafter pour water thrice over the right shoulder and over the left shoulder thrice
8. Clean the entire body by rubbing it.
All parts of the body should be rubbed with the hands to ensure that water has reached all parts of the body and no portion is left dry.
9. One should not face towards the Qibla and recite any Du'a etc.
10. Rings, earrings, etc. should be removed to ensure that no portion covered by them is left dry. If they are not wet Ghusl will be incomplete. (Nurul Idhah)
And Only Allah Taala Knows Best.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Shaikh Junaid Baghdadi R A
Shaykh Junayd Baghdadi went for a walk out of Baghdad. His students followed him. The Shaykh asked how Bohlool was. They answered, "He is a crazy person, what do you need from him?"
"Bring him to me because I have a need for him."
The students searched for Bohlool and found him in the desert. They took Shaykh Junayd to him.
When Shaykh Junayd went near Bohlool, he saw Bohlool in a state of perturbation with a brick under his head. The Shaykh greeted him. Bohlool answered and asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Junayd Baghdadi."
"Are you Abul Qasim?"
"Yes!"
"Are you Shaykh Baghdadi who gives people spiritual instructions?"
"Yes!"
"Do you even know how to eat?"
"I say Bismillah (In the Name of Allah). I eat from in front of me, I take small bites, put them in the right side of my mouth, and slowly chew. I don't stare at others' bites. I remember Allah while eating. For whatever morsel I eat, I say Alhamdolillah (Praise be to Allah). I wash my hands before and after eating."
Bohlool stood up, shook his garment on the Shaykh, and said, "You want to be the spiritual teacher of the world but you don't even know how to eat." Saying this, he walked away.
The Shaykh's students said, "O Shaykh! He is a crazy person."
"He is such a lunatic who is intelligent in his work. Listen to the correct statements from him."
Saying this he went after Bohlool, saying, "I have a need for Bohlool."
When Bohlool reached a deserted building he sat down. Junayd came near him. Bohlool asked, "Who are you?"
"Shaykh Baghdadi who doesn't even know how to eat."
"You don't know how to eat, but do you know how to talk?"
"Yes."
"How do you talk?"
"I talk in moderation and to the point. I don't speak unoccasionally or too much. I speak so the listeners can understand. I call the world's people towards Allah and the Prophet. I don't talk so much that the people would get bored. I care about the deepness of inner and outer knowledge." Then he described whatever was connected with manners and etiquette.
"Forget about eating, you don't know how to talk either." He stood up, shook his garment on the Shaykh and walked away.
The students said, "O Shaykh! You saw, he is a crazy person. What do you expect from a lunatic!"
"I have a need for him. You do not know."
Again he went after Bohlool until he reached him. Bohlool asked, "What do you want from me? You who don't know the manners of eating and speaking, do you know how to sleep?"
"Yes, I know."
"How do you sleep?"
"When I am finished with Namaz-e-Isha and reciting supplications, I don my sleepwear." Then he described the manners of sleeping which were transmitted to him by the learned people of religion.
"I understand that you do not know how to sleep either." He wanted to get up, but Junayd caught hold of his garment and said, "O Bohlool! I don't know; so for the sake of Allah teach me."
"You claimed knowledge and said you knew so I was avoiding you. Now that you confessed your lack of knowledge I will teach you. Know that whatever you described is secondary. The truth behind eating meals is that you eat lawful morsels. If you eat forbidden food likewise, with one hundred manners, it won't benefit you, but will be the reason for blackening the heart."
"May Allah grant you great reward."
Bohlool continued, "The heart must be pure, and have good intentions before you begin to talk. And your conversation must be to please Allah. If it is for any worldly or useless work, then however you express yourself, it will become a calamity for you. That is why silence and quietude would be best. Whatever you said about sleeping is also of secondary importance.
"The truth of it is that your heart should be free of enmity, jealousy, and hate. Your heart should not be greedy for this world or its wealth, and remember Allah when going to sleep."
Junayd kissed Bohlool's hand and prayed for him. The students who saw this incident, and had thought that Bohlool was crazy, forgot their actions and started a new life.
The lesson is that if someone doesn't know something, then he shouldn't be ashamed of learning it; like Shaykh Junayd learned the ways and manners of eating, talking, and sleeping.
"Bring him to me because I have a need for him."
The students searched for Bohlool and found him in the desert. They took Shaykh Junayd to him.
When Shaykh Junayd went near Bohlool, he saw Bohlool in a state of perturbation with a brick under his head. The Shaykh greeted him. Bohlool answered and asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Junayd Baghdadi."
"Are you Abul Qasim?"
"Yes!"
"Are you Shaykh Baghdadi who gives people spiritual instructions?"
"Yes!"
"Do you even know how to eat?"
"I say Bismillah (In the Name of Allah). I eat from in front of me, I take small bites, put them in the right side of my mouth, and slowly chew. I don't stare at others' bites. I remember Allah while eating. For whatever morsel I eat, I say Alhamdolillah (Praise be to Allah). I wash my hands before and after eating."
Bohlool stood up, shook his garment on the Shaykh, and said, "You want to be the spiritual teacher of the world but you don't even know how to eat." Saying this, he walked away.
The Shaykh's students said, "O Shaykh! He is a crazy person."
"He is such a lunatic who is intelligent in his work. Listen to the correct statements from him."
Saying this he went after Bohlool, saying, "I have a need for Bohlool."
When Bohlool reached a deserted building he sat down. Junayd came near him. Bohlool asked, "Who are you?"
"Shaykh Baghdadi who doesn't even know how to eat."
"You don't know how to eat, but do you know how to talk?"
"Yes."
"How do you talk?"
"I talk in moderation and to the point. I don't speak unoccasionally or too much. I speak so the listeners can understand. I call the world's people towards Allah and the Prophet. I don't talk so much that the people would get bored. I care about the deepness of inner and outer knowledge." Then he described whatever was connected with manners and etiquette.
"Forget about eating, you don't know how to talk either." He stood up, shook his garment on the Shaykh and walked away.
The students said, "O Shaykh! You saw, he is a crazy person. What do you expect from a lunatic!"
"I have a need for him. You do not know."
Again he went after Bohlool until he reached him. Bohlool asked, "What do you want from me? You who don't know the manners of eating and speaking, do you know how to sleep?"
"Yes, I know."
"How do you sleep?"
"When I am finished with Namaz-e-Isha and reciting supplications, I don my sleepwear." Then he described the manners of sleeping which were transmitted to him by the learned people of religion.
"I understand that you do not know how to sleep either." He wanted to get up, but Junayd caught hold of his garment and said, "O Bohlool! I don't know; so for the sake of Allah teach me."
"You claimed knowledge and said you knew so I was avoiding you. Now that you confessed your lack of knowledge I will teach you. Know that whatever you described is secondary. The truth behind eating meals is that you eat lawful morsels. If you eat forbidden food likewise, with one hundred manners, it won't benefit you, but will be the reason for blackening the heart."
"May Allah grant you great reward."
Bohlool continued, "The heart must be pure, and have good intentions before you begin to talk. And your conversation must be to please Allah. If it is for any worldly or useless work, then however you express yourself, it will become a calamity for you. That is why silence and quietude would be best. Whatever you said about sleeping is also of secondary importance.
"The truth of it is that your heart should be free of enmity, jealousy, and hate. Your heart should not be greedy for this world or its wealth, and remember Allah when going to sleep."
Junayd kissed Bohlool's hand and prayed for him. The students who saw this incident, and had thought that Bohlool was crazy, forgot their actions and started a new life.
The lesson is that if someone doesn't know something, then he shouldn't be ashamed of learning it; like Shaykh Junayd learned the ways and manners of eating, talking, and sleeping.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Fatwa On Colored Contact Lenses
As-Salamu `alaykum wa Ramatullah wa Barakatuh! Dear scholars, what does Islam say on wearing colored contact lenses, especially for women? Is it haram?
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear sister in Islam, we would like to thank you for showing keenness on knowing the teachings of Islam, and we appreciate the great confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations.
As regards your question, we'd like to cite for you the fatwa issued by Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee:
"I think that when men use contact lenses, they use them primarily to cure their sore eyesight. Such form of use both for curing long-sightedness and short-sightedness is purely for a medical purpose. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in using contact lenses in this case because they here resemble normal eye glasses. What applies to men, according to the previous ruling, applies also to women.
However, if women use those contact lenses for the purpose of exposing beauty, drawing men's attention and causing temptation, there is no doubt that such thing is strictly prohibited.
Here, we would like to refer to an important point, relating to the common habit noticed in some girls wearing colorful contact lenses and choosing the green in particular for the purpose of attraction, and physical appearance. So the ruling on this is based on the purpose and intention. If the aim behind wearing such contact lenses is to cause sedition and obtain gains out of deception, then there is no doubt that wearing such lenses in this case is forbidden."
Shedding more light on this issue, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, Imam and religious director at both the Islamic center of Toronto (Jami mosque) and the Islamic foundation of Toronto, and instructor at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, says:
"The Shari`ah has come to observe three categories of people's interests (Masalih), namely Daroriyyat (necessities), Hajiyyat (complementary), and Tahsiniyyat (embellishments). In all of its rulings the Shari`ah aims at the realization of one or the other of these Masalih.
As far as the issue of women wearing colored contacts is concerned, I would like to raise this question: under which category of the foregoing interests can we put this act? I cannot say it is Daroriyyat, nor Hajiyyat, or Tahsiniyyat because I wonder why do women think they should do that?
Further, some of these modern cosmetics aim at changing Allah's creation in some forms like changing the color of the eye. Allah has given each woman a beauty that she can adorn herself and beautify for her husband without going to the extreme and doing something which might be considered repugnant according to the Shari`ah.
I do not say wearing colored contacts is haram since there is no certain operation to be undergone with a view to changing the color of the eyes forever. But I would say it is a kind of excessive beautification which is not recommended in Islam. Islam, as a religion that is based on moderation, does not approve of going to the extreme in anything.
However, if such kind of lenses are used for medical purpose and for the sake of treating sickness in the eyes, then it is a necessity which is given exception in Islam."
Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajid, a prominent Saudi lecturer and author, adds:
"There are two types of contact lenses:
1- Ophthalmic contact lenses: Those that are used to correct sight defects. There is nothing wrong with using this kind of contact lenses on the advice of a specialist oculist.
2- Colored cosmetic contact lenses: These come under the rulings on adornment. If a woman wears them for her husband, there is nothing wrong with it. If she wears them for other to see her, then it should not cause any fitnah or temptation. There is also the condition that they should not cause any harm, and there should be no element of cheating or deceiving, such as a woman wearing them when she meets the man who is proposing marriage to her."
Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544976
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear sister in Islam, we would like to thank you for showing keenness on knowing the teachings of Islam, and we appreciate the great confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations.
As regards your question, we'd like to cite for you the fatwa issued by Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee:
"I think that when men use contact lenses, they use them primarily to cure their sore eyesight. Such form of use both for curing long-sightedness and short-sightedness is purely for a medical purpose. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in using contact lenses in this case because they here resemble normal eye glasses. What applies to men, according to the previous ruling, applies also to women.
However, if women use those contact lenses for the purpose of exposing beauty, drawing men's attention and causing temptation, there is no doubt that such thing is strictly prohibited.
Here, we would like to refer to an important point, relating to the common habit noticed in some girls wearing colorful contact lenses and choosing the green in particular for the purpose of attraction, and physical appearance. So the ruling on this is based on the purpose and intention. If the aim behind wearing such contact lenses is to cause sedition and obtain gains out of deception, then there is no doubt that wearing such lenses in this case is forbidden."
Shedding more light on this issue, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, Imam and religious director at both the Islamic center of Toronto (Jami mosque) and the Islamic foundation of Toronto, and instructor at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, says:
"The Shari`ah has come to observe three categories of people's interests (Masalih), namely Daroriyyat (necessities), Hajiyyat (complementary), and Tahsiniyyat (embellishments). In all of its rulings the Shari`ah aims at the realization of one or the other of these Masalih.
As far as the issue of women wearing colored contacts is concerned, I would like to raise this question: under which category of the foregoing interests can we put this act? I cannot say it is Daroriyyat, nor Hajiyyat, or Tahsiniyyat because I wonder why do women think they should do that?
Further, some of these modern cosmetics aim at changing Allah's creation in some forms like changing the color of the eye. Allah has given each woman a beauty that she can adorn herself and beautify for her husband without going to the extreme and doing something which might be considered repugnant according to the Shari`ah.
I do not say wearing colored contacts is haram since there is no certain operation to be undergone with a view to changing the color of the eyes forever. But I would say it is a kind of excessive beautification which is not recommended in Islam. Islam, as a religion that is based on moderation, does not approve of going to the extreme in anything.
However, if such kind of lenses are used for medical purpose and for the sake of treating sickness in the eyes, then it is a necessity which is given exception in Islam."
Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajid, a prominent Saudi lecturer and author, adds:
"There are two types of contact lenses:
1- Ophthalmic contact lenses: Those that are used to correct sight defects. There is nothing wrong with using this kind of contact lenses on the advice of a specialist oculist.
2- Colored cosmetic contact lenses: These come under the rulings on adornment. If a woman wears them for her husband, there is nothing wrong with it. If she wears them for other to see her, then it should not cause any fitnah or temptation. There is also the condition that they should not cause any harm, and there should be no element of cheating or deceiving, such as a woman wearing them when she meets the man who is proposing marriage to her."
Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544976
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Zina/Adultery - Part 1
Allâh Ta'âla says:
"And do not go near zina. It is indeed a shameful and an evil path." (Surah Al Isrâ', Ayah 32)
Allâh Ta'âla says:
"The woman and the man guilty of fornication - lash each of them with a hundred lashes. Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last day and let a group of believers witness their punishment". (Surah Al-Nûr, Ayah 2)
Rasûlullah (Peace be upon him) said: "…adultery of the eyes is when it looks at that which is Harâm; adultery of the ears is when it listens to that which is Harâm; adultery of the tongue is when it utters Harâm; adultery of the hands is when it touches Harâm; adultery of the feet is when it walks towards Harâm; adultery of the heart is when it desires and hopes for that which is Harâm; adultery of the private parts is when it succumbs to that which is Harâm." (Targhib wa Tarhîb)
From the above Hadîth it is clear and apparent that Islam forbids not only the act of adultery but all acts that invite and encourage the act of zina. Islam shuts the door to the root of every evil.
Nabî said: "There are three such people with whom Allâh Ta'âla will not speak to (with words of mercy and kindness) nor will Allâh Ta'âla look at them (with eyes of mercy) nor will Allâh Ta'ala purify them, and for them is a painful punishment:
An old person who commits zina.
A king or leader who is exceptionally deceptive (he lies a lot).
A needy person who is proud." (Muslim)
Once Nabî remarked, "A dayyûth [cuckold] will never enter Jannah." The Sahâba enquired, "Who is a Dayyûth?" Nabî replied, "A man who is not bothered about who visits his wife." (Sunnats)
May Allah Guide us all from all that unpleases Him == Allahumma aameen
La Tans min al dua
wa JAzak Allah khairan wa ahsanul jaza
"And do not go near zina. It is indeed a shameful and an evil path." (Surah Al Isrâ', Ayah 32)
Allâh Ta'âla says:
"The woman and the man guilty of fornication - lash each of them with a hundred lashes. Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last day and let a group of believers witness their punishment". (Surah Al-Nûr, Ayah 2)
Rasûlullah (Peace be upon him) said: "…adultery of the eyes is when it looks at that which is Harâm; adultery of the ears is when it listens to that which is Harâm; adultery of the tongue is when it utters Harâm; adultery of the hands is when it touches Harâm; adultery of the feet is when it walks towards Harâm; adultery of the heart is when it desires and hopes for that which is Harâm; adultery of the private parts is when it succumbs to that which is Harâm." (Targhib wa Tarhîb)
From the above Hadîth it is clear and apparent that Islam forbids not only the act of adultery but all acts that invite and encourage the act of zina. Islam shuts the door to the root of every evil.
Nabî said: "There are three such people with whom Allâh Ta'âla will not speak to (with words of mercy and kindness) nor will Allâh Ta'âla look at them (with eyes of mercy) nor will Allâh Ta'ala purify them, and for them is a painful punishment:
An old person who commits zina.
A king or leader who is exceptionally deceptive (he lies a lot).
A needy person who is proud." (Muslim)
Once Nabî remarked, "A dayyûth [cuckold] will never enter Jannah." The Sahâba enquired, "Who is a Dayyûth?" Nabî replied, "A man who is not bothered about who visits his wife." (Sunnats)
May Allah Guide us all from all that unpleases Him == Allahumma aameen
La Tans min al dua
wa JAzak Allah khairan wa ahsanul jaza
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Deodorant - HAlal or Haram
Question:
if a deodrant has alchohol are we allowed to use it because i was told that alchohol used in deodrants is different from normal alchohol because it is made in labs in a different way.
Answer:
Bismihi Ta'aalaa
The general rule on the use of alcohol based perfumes/deodrants, etc is that if the alcohol has been extracted from grapes or dates their use will be forbidden since this is Najis (impure) and will thus make the body and clothes impure.
Further, it is mentioned in Muslim Food Guide (1420/200 edition) that Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is also impermissible as it is generated from the fermentation of sugars from cane, forming the intoxicating element of all fermented liquors. (A-20)
If the deodrants/perfume is made from synthetic/chemical alcohol, extracted and manufactured from items besides grapes or dates, then the use of such products is permissible.
Hazrat Mufti M. Taqi Usmani Saheb, (A leading contemporary scholar of Pakistan) writes in his commentary of Sahih Muslim, "The majority of alcohol used in medication and perfumes is not manufactured from grapes and dates, it is extracted from grains, peels or petroleum etc." (Takmilah Fathul-Mulhim Vol. 3 Page. 608)
Before using such products, it is advisable from the Shar'ee point of view to check with the manufacturers on the type of alcohol used. (i.e. whether natural or synthetic based).
Allah SWT Knows Best.
(Mufti) Abdullah Patel
Reply to Your Post
Delete Post
if a deodrant has alchohol are we allowed to use it because i was told that alchohol used in deodrants is different from normal alchohol because it is made in labs in a different way.
Answer:
Bismihi Ta'aalaa
The general rule on the use of alcohol based perfumes/deodrants, etc is that if the alcohol has been extracted from grapes or dates their use will be forbidden since this is Najis (impure) and will thus make the body and clothes impure.
Further, it is mentioned in Muslim Food Guide (1420/200 edition) that Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is also impermissible as it is generated from the fermentation of sugars from cane, forming the intoxicating element of all fermented liquors. (A-20)
If the deodrants/perfume is made from synthetic/chemical alcohol, extracted and manufactured from items besides grapes or dates, then the use of such products is permissible.
Hazrat Mufti M. Taqi Usmani Saheb, (A leading contemporary scholar of Pakistan) writes in his commentary of Sahih Muslim, "The majority of alcohol used in medication and perfumes is not manufactured from grapes and dates, it is extracted from grains, peels or petroleum etc." (Takmilah Fathul-Mulhim Vol. 3 Page. 608)
Before using such products, it is advisable from the Shar'ee point of view to check with the manufacturers on the type of alcohol used. (i.e. whether natural or synthetic based).
Allah SWT Knows Best.
(Mufti) Abdullah Patel
Reply to Your Post
Delete Post
Friday, June 6, 2008
Photos and videos - Islamic Ruling
Assalam alaikum wa rahamtullahi wa barakatuhum
Photos and Videos
By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Q.) I have always heard that taking photos and having the photos taken using a camera is not allowed in Islam. The Hadith (Allahu Alam) which is quoted more or less means that sketching pictures of a living object (most commonly a human being) is prohibited in Islam. This hadith is about sketching pictures with a person's hand.
What is the ruling for using a camera for doing this? Is it the same? If yes, please enlighten us according to Qur'an, Sunnah and Fiqh.
What if the photos of children only are taken (when they are mehram for all) and anyone can see their photos. According to one opinion, photography is prohibited because there is a possibility that a non-mehram can see that picture. Is it prohibited for all to take and see the photos regardless of being mehram or non-mehram?
What is the ruling according to Fiqh about movie making? It is a common practice now to relay Salat from Makkah Mukarammah during Ramadan in which Imam-e-Kaaba and the Namazis are shown during the prayers. As another example, our ulema and religious people also present various programs on television (TV) during Ramadan or otherwise, and have their movie made. Our religious scholars are always reluctant and avoid to have their photos taken, but isn't getting the programs recorded for TV the same as having the photos taken? [Talib Hidaya]
A.) Picture frames and photographs of animate objects are not permissible to display. Frames having pictures of inanimate objects e.g. trees, mountains, etc. are permissible.
Sayyidna Abu Talha, Radi-Allahu anhu, narrates that Nabi, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "Angels (of mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture." (Mishkat vol. 2 p.385)
Abdullah ibn Masood, Radi-Allahu anhu, narrates that Rasulullah, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "The people with the most severe punishment by Allah will be the picture makers." (Ibid).
Sayyidna Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates, "I heard the messenger of Allah saying, 'Every picture-maker will be in the fire. A life will be created for every picture the picture-maker made, and he will be tortured in Hell.'"
If you have to make pictures (says Ibn Abbaas) then make a picture of a tree or such things which are inanimate.' (Bukhari and Muslim)
However, if the frames are of inanimate objects but containing verses of the Noble Qur'an, Hadith and names of Allah Taala then extreme caution must be taken where these frames are hung. If hung at home in the lounge or sitting room then due respect should be shown by not using vulgar language or smoking there. And Allah Taala Knows Best.
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/photo_video.shtml
******************************************************
Moulana Qamruz Zaman
London, UK.
Question :
i have heard that keeping pictures in the house is haraam. 1) i have told some members of my family about this and they do not want to get rid of family photos especially of deceased. 2) we have newspapers in the house but they get recycled and thrown away anyway so would i have to delete the photos on the newspapers after purchasing then?because i feel like it would be just a waste of time.
Answer:
Bismillah
Al-jawab billahi at-taufeeq (the answer with Allah's guidance)
1) One must get rid of living pictures of the deceased etc. This ruling applies on all pictures of living objects whether they are alive or deceased.
In Surah Al-Anbiya 21:51-54, Allah Ta'ala says:
"And indeed We bestowed afore time on Ibrahim (Abraham) his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well-Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah, etc.). When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?"
They said:"We found our fathers worshipping them."
He said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error."
Narrated Aisha (RA):
When the Prophet became ill, some of his wives talked about a church which they had seen in Ethiopia and it was called Mariya. Um Salma and Um Habiba had been to Ethiopia, and both of them narrated its (the Church's) beauty and the pictures it contained. The Prophet raised his head and said, "Those are the people who, whenever a pious man dies amongst them, make a place of worship at his grave and then they make those pictures in it. Those are the worst creatures in the Sight of Allah." (Bukhari 2.425)
Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA):
Abul Hayyaj al-Asadi told that Ali ibn Abu Talib said to him: Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without levelling it. This Hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain of transmitters and he said: (do not leave) a picture without obliterating it. (Muslim)
Why should pictures not be kept:
It opens the door of idol worship. That is, it will turn into a common custom. There are different level of understanding among the masses so, there is always the possibility of mischief and misuse as indeed, had happened earlier. Those who made icons did not themselves worship them but cast them to keep alive the memory of righteous elders and saints. Finally, it led to idol worship. Therefore, to keep pictures is unlawful even from an angle of reasoning and intelligence. (The wisdom behind the commands of Islam Pg. 350)
It should be remembered that, true memories of a Muslim relative or friend reside in the heart, and One must remember them by praying for mercy and forgiveness for them.
However, if one has kept the picture of their deceased, they will not have any difficulties in the grave. Insha Allah.
2) Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said that, 'The Malaaikah (angels) do not enter into those homes wherein there are dogs and pictures (of animate objects).' [Reported by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim ].
This Hadith means that such an action constitutes violation and disobedience to Divine Orders. The presence of Angels manifests Allah's Mercy. So, the house in which there is no Mercy of Allah, is not good.
Also, In the light of the above Hadith, we understand that animate pictures should not be kept in the house. Hence, newspapers and magazines should be removed from the house after being used.
However, if one cannot remove it after use, it should then be covered with something or place it in the cabinet draw or something similar.
And Only Allah Ta'ala Knows Best.
Source: http://muftisays.com/qa.php?viewpage=viewQA&highlight=%20photo&question=1047
Photos and Videos
By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Q.) I have always heard that taking photos and having the photos taken using a camera is not allowed in Islam. The Hadith (Allahu Alam) which is quoted more or less means that sketching pictures of a living object (most commonly a human being) is prohibited in Islam. This hadith is about sketching pictures with a person's hand.
What is the ruling for using a camera for doing this? Is it the same? If yes, please enlighten us according to Qur'an, Sunnah and Fiqh.
What if the photos of children only are taken (when they are mehram for all) and anyone can see their photos. According to one opinion, photography is prohibited because there is a possibility that a non-mehram can see that picture. Is it prohibited for all to take and see the photos regardless of being mehram or non-mehram?
What is the ruling according to Fiqh about movie making? It is a common practice now to relay Salat from Makkah Mukarammah during Ramadan in which Imam-e-Kaaba and the Namazis are shown during the prayers. As another example, our ulema and religious people also present various programs on television (TV) during Ramadan or otherwise, and have their movie made. Our religious scholars are always reluctant and avoid to have their photos taken, but isn't getting the programs recorded for TV the same as having the photos taken? [Talib Hidaya]
A.) Picture frames and photographs of animate objects are not permissible to display. Frames having pictures of inanimate objects e.g. trees, mountains, etc. are permissible.
Sayyidna Abu Talha, Radi-Allahu anhu, narrates that Nabi, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "Angels (of mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture." (Mishkat vol. 2 p.385)
Abdullah ibn Masood, Radi-Allahu anhu, narrates that Rasulullah, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "The people with the most severe punishment by Allah will be the picture makers." (Ibid).
Sayyidna Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates, "I heard the messenger of Allah saying, 'Every picture-maker will be in the fire. A life will be created for every picture the picture-maker made, and he will be tortured in Hell.'"
If you have to make pictures (says Ibn Abbaas) then make a picture of a tree or such things which are inanimate.' (Bukhari and Muslim)
However, if the frames are of inanimate objects but containing verses of the Noble Qur'an, Hadith and names of Allah Taala then extreme caution must be taken where these frames are hung. If hung at home in the lounge or sitting room then due respect should be shown by not using vulgar language or smoking there. And Allah Taala Knows Best.
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/photo_video.shtml
******************************************************
Moulana Qamruz Zaman
London, UK.
Question :
i have heard that keeping pictures in the house is haraam. 1) i have told some members of my family about this and they do not want to get rid of family photos especially of deceased. 2) we have newspapers in the house but they get recycled and thrown away anyway so would i have to delete the photos on the newspapers after purchasing then?because i feel like it would be just a waste of time.
Answer:
Bismillah
Al-jawab billahi at-taufeeq (the answer with Allah's guidance)
1) One must get rid of living pictures of the deceased etc. This ruling applies on all pictures of living objects whether they are alive or deceased.
In Surah Al-Anbiya 21:51-54, Allah Ta'ala says:
"And indeed We bestowed afore time on Ibrahim (Abraham) his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well-Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah, etc.). When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?"
They said:"We found our fathers worshipping them."
He said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error."
Narrated Aisha (RA):
When the Prophet became ill, some of his wives talked about a church which they had seen in Ethiopia and it was called Mariya. Um Salma and Um Habiba had been to Ethiopia, and both of them narrated its (the Church's) beauty and the pictures it contained. The Prophet raised his head and said, "Those are the people who, whenever a pious man dies amongst them, make a place of worship at his grave and then they make those pictures in it. Those are the worst creatures in the Sight of Allah." (Bukhari 2.425)
Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA):
Abul Hayyaj al-Asadi told that Ali ibn Abu Talib said to him: Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without levelling it. This Hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain of transmitters and he said: (do not leave) a picture without obliterating it. (Muslim)
Why should pictures not be kept:
It opens the door of idol worship. That is, it will turn into a common custom. There are different level of understanding among the masses so, there is always the possibility of mischief and misuse as indeed, had happened earlier. Those who made icons did not themselves worship them but cast them to keep alive the memory of righteous elders and saints. Finally, it led to idol worship. Therefore, to keep pictures is unlawful even from an angle of reasoning and intelligence. (The wisdom behind the commands of Islam Pg. 350)
It should be remembered that, true memories of a Muslim relative or friend reside in the heart, and One must remember them by praying for mercy and forgiveness for them.
However, if one has kept the picture of their deceased, they will not have any difficulties in the grave. Insha Allah.
2) Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said that, 'The Malaaikah (angels) do not enter into those homes wherein there are dogs and pictures (of animate objects).' [Reported by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim ].
This Hadith means that such an action constitutes violation and disobedience to Divine Orders. The presence of Angels manifests Allah's Mercy. So, the house in which there is no Mercy of Allah, is not good.
Also, In the light of the above Hadith, we understand that animate pictures should not be kept in the house. Hence, newspapers and magazines should be removed from the house after being used.
However, if one cannot remove it after use, it should then be covered with something or place it in the cabinet draw or something similar.
And Only Allah Ta'ala Knows Best.
Source: http://muftisays.com/qa.php?viewpage=viewQA&highlight=%20photo&question=1047
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Ahadeeth from Book 43 of Bukhari shareef - Book of oppressions
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 622:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection . "
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624:
Narrated Anas:
Allah's Apostle said, "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, "O Allah's Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others."
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 625:
Narrated Muawiya bin Suwald:
I heard Al-Bara' bin 'Azib saying, "The Prophet orders us to do seven things and prohibited us from doing seven other things." Then Al-Bara' mentioned the following:--
(1) To pay a visit to the sick (inquiring about his health),
(2) to follow funeral processions,
(3) to say to a sneezer, "May Allah be merciful to you" (if he says, "Praise be to Allah!"),
(4) to return greetings,
(5) to help the oppressed,
(6) to accept invitations,
(7) to help others to fulfill their oaths. (See Hadith No. 753, Vol. 7)
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 629:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him."
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 632:
Narrated Said bin Zaid:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever usurps the land of somebody unjustly, his neck will be encircled with it down the seven earths (on the Day of Resurrection). "
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 645:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
The Prophet said, "Beware! Avoid sitting on he roads (ways)." The people said, "There is no way out of it as these are our sitting places where we have talks." The Prophet said, "If you must sit there, then observe the rights of the way." They asked, "What are the rights of the way?" He said, "They are the lowering of your gazes (on seeing what is illegal to look at), refraining from harming people, returning greetings, advocating good and forbidding evil."
JAzak Allah khairan wa ahsnaul jaza
May Allah help us implement all we learn
Taqabbal Allah minna wa mainkum
wa assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhum
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection . "
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624:
Narrated Anas:
Allah's Apostle said, "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, "O Allah's Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others."
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 625:
Narrated Muawiya bin Suwald:
I heard Al-Bara' bin 'Azib saying, "The Prophet orders us to do seven things and prohibited us from doing seven other things." Then Al-Bara' mentioned the following:--
(1) To pay a visit to the sick (inquiring about his health),
(2) to follow funeral processions,
(3) to say to a sneezer, "May Allah be merciful to you" (if he says, "Praise be to Allah!"),
(4) to return greetings,
(5) to help the oppressed,
(6) to accept invitations,
(7) to help others to fulfill their oaths. (See Hadith No. 753, Vol. 7)
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 629:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him."
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 632:
Narrated Said bin Zaid:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever usurps the land of somebody unjustly, his neck will be encircled with it down the seven earths (on the Day of Resurrection). "
Volume 3, Book 43, Number 645:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
The Prophet said, "Beware! Avoid sitting on he roads (ways)." The people said, "There is no way out of it as these are our sitting places where we have talks." The Prophet said, "If you must sit there, then observe the rights of the way." They asked, "What are the rights of the way?" He said, "They are the lowering of your gazes (on seeing what is illegal to look at), refraining from harming people, returning greetings, advocating good and forbidding evil."
JAzak Allah khairan wa ahsnaul jaza
May Allah help us implement all we learn
Taqabbal Allah minna wa mainkum
wa assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhum
Monday, May 19, 2008
Dua - May Allah accept it
O Allah, O Karim,
Please have Mercy on me.
O Allah, O Karim,
Please forgive me
for the sins I committed in the past
and those I will commit in the future.
O Allah,
have Mercy on all the Muslimeen,
and guide them.
Guide me O Allah,
and guide my parents,
my siblings, my cousins,
my aunts and uncles,
my nephews and nieces and so forth.
O Allah,
I ask You
to strengthen my iman and those around me.
I ask You to soften my heart
and to soften the hearts of the Believers.
O Allah,
forgive me for my shortcomings,
for only You are Perfect.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me
if I ever got too wrapped in a matter
that I didn't have the time to utter Your Name.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me for all the salat I missed
because of ignorance or laziness,
Please Forgive me for all the fasts I didn't make up,
thinking it was "alright, since I fasted most of the days anyway."
O Allah,
Please Forgive me
for the quarter I never dropped
into the metal cup for the homeless man begging on the street.
O Allah,
Please spark the love of Islam in my heart
and in the hearts of every single Muslim
until it gets implanted in their children
and their childern's children and so on.
O Allah,
I ask that You help me for I am weak
and will only grow stronger by Your Strength,
so Allah Please Strengthen me
to fight Shaitan and his whispers.
And if I ever fell into his trap
and followed my desire,
then sincerely forgive me,
for that displays not only my weakness,
but Your Greatness as well.
O Allah, Please lighten the punishment in the grave
for those before us and those after us.
Please Allah, lighten the punishment
and please shed light into every Muslim's grave.
O Allah, if I ever was too afraid
to stand up for Your Deen
because of what others would think,
then Forgive me, for I was a fool for doing so.
O Allah, Please Protect me and each Musilman,
and Protect especially the orphans and the widows.
O Allah, Please Strengthen the faith
of the destitute Muslims around the world,
so they have hope to live.
O Allah, if I ever forgot to do du'a
for even one suffering Muslim,
then Forgive me
for then it is as if I haven't done du'a
for the entire ummah.
O Allah,
Please be the Light of my eyes, ears and heart.
O Allah,
Please be the Light on the sides of me
and the Light behind me
and the light in front of me.
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for all the foul words I spoke
either out of ignorance or
because I was trying to be "cool."
O Allah, please forgive me
if I never stopped to think about You,
due to "other important things."
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for not having enough time
or creating time for reading the Qur'an.
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for listening to music
and watching movies and T.V.
O Allah, Please forgive me
for all the yelling I've done
and the arguments I've been in.
For the only time
the voice should be raised
is for Your Praises!
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for my disrespect towards my family,
elders, siblings and so on.
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for any backbiting I have been accused of,
whether I did it consciously or unconsciously.
O Allah, Rab al-Alamin,
Forgive me,
Forgive me for everything.
So for everyone,
every single Muslim,
dead or alive,
I do du'a that you forgive them
for all their sins.
O Allah,
Please Please Please
help the suffering Muslims
of Kashmir, Palestine, Chechnya,
Bosnia, Gujarat, Nigeria,
Iraq, Afghanistan and everywhere around the world.
Please O Allah, make the Mujahideen victorious,
and let the beauty of Islam reign!
O Allah, Give victory to the Muslims!
O Allah, Please let True Islam reign!
O Allah, Please increase our knowledge
of Your Deen and this world.
Oh Allah, Please Help us all and guide us,
for You are Everything to us.
O Allah,
I cannot stress how much I ask
for Your Forgiveness and Your Guidance.
O Allah,
I fear You,
I fear You soooo much words cannot describe.
I fear the day when I will meet You,
and I WILL meet You.
When we are one on one,
and I have no one's help or support.
No-one can take the blame for me
nor I for them.
The only thing I will have
is a little book given to me by You
that has my deeds.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me for my thoughts,
for even though I get sinned only for my actions,
I cannot help but feel guilty for my thoughts
and I ask You to Forgive me for them
and to clear my mind of any impurities
until You become the Only thing on my mind.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me
if I ever did anything out of gain
for this life and not for Your pleasure.
If I ever did anything to "show off"
then Please Forgive me for that.
O Allah,
I do du'a
that You grant us all God-Fearing spouses
and grant us righteous children.
Oh Allah,
I do du'a
that You continue to strengthen this ummah
until the Day of Resurrection.
O Allah,
Forgive me
for whatever I have not mentioned,
for I am bound to forget
.....but You,
through Your Greatness...
You Never Forget.
O Allah,
Please Grant
all the Muslims
Jannah-tul-Firdaus.
O Allah,
I ask that You shed Your Mercy
on all the Prophets (peace be upon them)
and on all the Angels (peace be upon them).
Lastly, I do du'a
You shed Your Mercy
on the Prophet Muhammad ,
his family and companions.
I do du'a
that you grant Muhammad
the Highest Station in Paradise.
Rabinna Aataina
Fiduniya Hasinathow
Wa Fil Akhirati Hasinathow,
WaKina Adhabin naar
( Aameen YaRabul Alameen ).
Please have Mercy on me.
O Allah, O Karim,
Please forgive me
for the sins I committed in the past
and those I will commit in the future.
O Allah,
have Mercy on all the Muslimeen,
and guide them.
Guide me O Allah,
and guide my parents,
my siblings, my cousins,
my aunts and uncles,
my nephews and nieces and so forth.
O Allah,
I ask You
to strengthen my iman and those around me.
I ask You to soften my heart
and to soften the hearts of the Believers.
O Allah,
forgive me for my shortcomings,
for only You are Perfect.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me
if I ever got too wrapped in a matter
that I didn't have the time to utter Your Name.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me for all the salat I missed
because of ignorance or laziness,
Please Forgive me for all the fasts I didn't make up,
thinking it was "alright, since I fasted most of the days anyway."
O Allah,
Please Forgive me
for the quarter I never dropped
into the metal cup for the homeless man begging on the street.
O Allah,
Please spark the love of Islam in my heart
and in the hearts of every single Muslim
until it gets implanted in their children
and their childern's children and so on.
O Allah,
I ask that You help me for I am weak
and will only grow stronger by Your Strength,
so Allah Please Strengthen me
to fight Shaitan and his whispers.
And if I ever fell into his trap
and followed my desire,
then sincerely forgive me,
for that displays not only my weakness,
but Your Greatness as well.
O Allah, Please lighten the punishment in the grave
for those before us and those after us.
Please Allah, lighten the punishment
and please shed light into every Muslim's grave.
O Allah, if I ever was too afraid
to stand up for Your Deen
because of what others would think,
then Forgive me, for I was a fool for doing so.
O Allah, Please Protect me and each Musilman,
and Protect especially the orphans and the widows.
O Allah, Please Strengthen the faith
of the destitute Muslims around the world,
so they have hope to live.
O Allah, if I ever forgot to do du'a
for even one suffering Muslim,
then Forgive me
for then it is as if I haven't done du'a
for the entire ummah.
O Allah,
Please be the Light of my eyes, ears and heart.
O Allah,
Please be the Light on the sides of me
and the Light behind me
and the light in front of me.
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for all the foul words I spoke
either out of ignorance or
because I was trying to be "cool."
O Allah, please forgive me
if I never stopped to think about You,
due to "other important things."
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for not having enough time
or creating time for reading the Qur'an.
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for listening to music
and watching movies and T.V.
O Allah, Please forgive me
for all the yelling I've done
and the arguments I've been in.
For the only time
the voice should be raised
is for Your Praises!
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for my disrespect towards my family,
elders, siblings and so on.
O Allah, Please Forgive me
for any backbiting I have been accused of,
whether I did it consciously or unconsciously.
O Allah, Rab al-Alamin,
Forgive me,
Forgive me for everything.
So for everyone,
every single Muslim,
dead or alive,
I do du'a that you forgive them
for all their sins.
O Allah,
Please Please Please
help the suffering Muslims
of Kashmir, Palestine, Chechnya,
Bosnia, Gujarat, Nigeria,
Iraq, Afghanistan and everywhere around the world.
Please O Allah, make the Mujahideen victorious,
and let the beauty of Islam reign!
O Allah, Give victory to the Muslims!
O Allah, Please let True Islam reign!
O Allah, Please increase our knowledge
of Your Deen and this world.
Oh Allah, Please Help us all and guide us,
for You are Everything to us.
O Allah,
I cannot stress how much I ask
for Your Forgiveness and Your Guidance.
O Allah,
I fear You,
I fear You soooo much words cannot describe.
I fear the day when I will meet You,
and I WILL meet You.
When we are one on one,
and I have no one's help or support.
No-one can take the blame for me
nor I for them.
The only thing I will have
is a little book given to me by You
that has my deeds.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me for my thoughts,
for even though I get sinned only for my actions,
I cannot help but feel guilty for my thoughts
and I ask You to Forgive me for them
and to clear my mind of any impurities
until You become the Only thing on my mind.
O Allah,
Please Forgive me
if I ever did anything out of gain
for this life and not for Your pleasure.
If I ever did anything to "show off"
then Please Forgive me for that.
O Allah,
I do du'a
that You grant us all God-Fearing spouses
and grant us righteous children.
Oh Allah,
I do du'a
that You continue to strengthen this ummah
until the Day of Resurrection.
O Allah,
Forgive me
for whatever I have not mentioned,
for I am bound to forget
.....but You,
through Your Greatness...
You Never Forget.
O Allah,
Please Grant
all the Muslims
Jannah-tul-Firdaus.
O Allah,
I ask that You shed Your Mercy
on all the Prophets (peace be upon them)
and on all the Angels (peace be upon them).
Lastly, I do du'a
You shed Your Mercy
on the Prophet Muhammad ,
his family and companions.
I do du'a
that you grant Muhammad
the Highest Station in Paradise.
Rabinna Aataina
Fiduniya Hasinathow
Wa Fil Akhirati Hasinathow,
WaKina Adhabin naar
( Aameen YaRabul Alameen ).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Mangni (Engagement)
By Mufti Taqi Usmani
Posted: 27 Safar 1424, 17 April 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.) I have a question regarding Mangni (engagement). Many people in Pakistan perform this before a certain period from marriage in which guy and the girl agree to marry. And some times the promise is broken due to many reasons like change in liking between guy and the girl and may be some other reason.
Is this practice proved from Prophet Muhammad Companions, and their followers? If not, then it is an innovation in Islam. I want to know whether to be involved in this or not.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.) Mangni is a promise by which both the parties agree to enter into a marriage in future. This promise in itself is neither an innovation nor a sinful act. Obviously, even in the days of the Holy Prophet and the blessed Sahabah a marriage used to be preceded by a mutual understanding or a promise with the actual marriage taking place at a later stage. Nevertheless, no previous celebration or function is necessary for entering into a marriage nor was it a practice in the days of the Holy Prophet to celebrate this occasion. Therefore, if someone celebrates the occasion in the belief that it is a Sunnah or a part of religion then it would become a bid'ah or innovation. Even if it is celebrated without holding it as a part of religion it embodies many evil practices, therefore, celebration of mangni should be avoided.
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/0047.shtml
Jazak Allah khair wa ahsanul jaza
Posted: 27 Safar 1424, 17 April 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.) I have a question regarding Mangni (engagement). Many people in Pakistan perform this before a certain period from marriage in which guy and the girl agree to marry. And some times the promise is broken due to many reasons like change in liking between guy and the girl and may be some other reason.
Is this practice proved from Prophet Muhammad Companions, and their followers? If not, then it is an innovation in Islam. I want to know whether to be involved in this or not.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.) Mangni is a promise by which both the parties agree to enter into a marriage in future. This promise in itself is neither an innovation nor a sinful act. Obviously, even in the days of the Holy Prophet and the blessed Sahabah a marriage used to be preceded by a mutual understanding or a promise with the actual marriage taking place at a later stage. Nevertheless, no previous celebration or function is necessary for entering into a marriage nor was it a practice in the days of the Holy Prophet to celebrate this occasion. Therefore, if someone celebrates the occasion in the belief that it is a Sunnah or a part of religion then it would become a bid'ah or innovation. Even if it is celebrated without holding it as a part of religion it embodies many evil practices, therefore, celebration of mangni should be avoided.
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/0047.shtml
Jazak Allah khair wa ahsanul jaza
The Cure for Depression
Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhum
Today depression has got into our blood, the rate of suicide is rising. Kindly read the below article and forward it
Article :: The Cure for Depression
By: Hazrat Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab (db)
Tafweez - The Cure for Depression
Ulama-e-Kiraam, dear brothers and respected sisters... Depression, it seems, has become synonymous with living in a society overrun with innumerable problems. It is an ailment which has unfortunately reached epidemic proportions. In the search for a solution, we sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of depression. Hardly a day passes, without some person complaining about his failures or of the acute depression that he is suffering, due to various factors.
What I wish to discuss very briefly is Tafweez. If we learn Tafweez, then we have indeed found the antidote for depression.
We have to clearly understand, that we cannot escape the decisions of Allah Ta'ala with regard to any matter in our lives. Whatever Allah Ta'ala has decided will happen, no matter how much we may wish otherwise.
Our anxieties, depression and worries are all created because we first make the decisions and then expect Allah Ta'ala to conform; whereas what we plan and decide is subject to Allah Ta'ala's confirmation.
Advice of a Sheikh
One Mureed, after having spent many years in the company of Sheikh Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.), requested some parting advice before taking leave from his Sheikh. Sheikh Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.) told him : "Do not claim Divinity and do not claim Nabuwwat (Prophethood)."
The Mureed asked : "Does Hazrat think that after all these years in Hazrat's company, I will make such a claim ?"
Sheikh Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.) then explained what he meant ... It is imperative that we understand certain sayings of the Auliya Allah, otherwise we may misunderstand and then start issuing Fatwas on the basis of our misinterpretation.
A Famous Anecdote
Once, in Delhi, a Wali of Allah was heard saying : "You are not my ALLAH and I am not your servant. So why should I listen to you; why should I obey you?" Those who heard these statements regarded them as statements of Kufr. However, one sensible person asked the saint : "What do you mean ?".
The saint answered : " My Nafs was inciting me to fulfill its desire. I thus addressed my Nafs and said : 'You are not my Allah and I am not your servant. I am a servant of Allah so why should I worship you?' "
Returning to the advice of Hazrat Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.): He explained to his mureed that, "Do not claim to be Allah." means that do not wish that everything happens according to your will and desire. If you do so, then you are claiming to be Allah; whereas whatever Allah Ta'ala wills, will happen, for it is HE who makes the final decisions in all matters.
As far as we, human beings, are concerned, if we feel that our whims and fancies have to be fulfilled as is, then we are claiming to be Allah.
"Do not claim Nabuwwat" means that no matter how much of piety and Taqwa you acquire with your Tarbiyah and Tazkia, don't make the claim that you are sinless and never in the wrong. This is the sifat (attribute) of the Ambiya (A.S.), for they are 'ma'soom' (sinless) and 'mahfooz' (protected from sin).
Therefore, no matter how much of time you have spent in the suhbat (company) and khidmat (service) of your Sheikh and no matter what high rank you attain to, do not think that you are like the Rasul of Allah and that no slip can occur in your life. Do not claim that you will never err because of the years spent with your Sheikh and because of the Wilayat conferred upon you. Being human beings we are prone to slip.
The Story of the Snake-catcher
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) relates a story of a snake catcher who once went to the mountains. Due to the winter cold and heavy snow, many very big snakes lay motionless, as if they were dead.
The snake-catcher picked up one of these seemingly lifeless snakes and took it to Baghdad, with the purpose of using it for a show. Showing it off, he made big claims as to how he had brilliantly captured the snake. However, when the sun began to shine and its warmth cloaked the snake, the coldness in its body disappeared. The signs of life were soon apparent and when the snake began to move, the snake-catcher and all those around, fled.
Moulana Rumi (R.A.) then explains that our Nafs is like that snake. With Tazkia (purification), Mushaqqat (effort), our nafs (self) becomes frozen. It appears to be dead. But give it a little heat from the fire of sin and it will bite again. A little exposure to some past sins and the nafs swings back to life.
We should not think that we have killed our nafs and thus become unmindful. Yes, with some mujahadah (striving), suhbat (company) of the Sheikh, tilawat (recitation) of the Qur'aan Sharif, Zikrullah, following Deen and Shariah and in building up that contact and love for Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah e , the nafs can be frozen. However, a little taste of sin revives the evil nafs.
Hazrat Khwaja Azizul Hasan Majzoub (R.A.) says most aptly:
"Have no trust in this nafs, O devout one! Even if it becomes an angel, remain distrustful of it. Look at the snake of your nafs. As soon as you are negligent here, it bites there." The point being discussed was: "Do not claim divinity." (i.e. that you are Allah) and that everything must happen according to your will and desire.
Depression
Let us now consider the various causes of depression to be found presently in our lives. These simple, little things, which if ignored and we adopt a little Tafweez, we will find our lives free of depression.
To cite an example (and there are true incidents of this nature): A woman goes to a certain family with a proposal for her son, considering her son to be the best person in the world. If the son, himself, goes, then he believes that there is no one like him as a prospective husband. He has everything : the qualities, degrees and character. He is handsome as well.
Hence, mother and son believe that the moment a proposal is put forth, the girl's family will definitely accept, without any delay or further consideration. Thus, a decision has been made: If I propose, they are going to accept it.
This family rejects the proposal. Immediately there is depression and enmity. The mother starts thinking about the reason as to why the proposal was turned down : "What is wrong with us ? ... Are we bad people ? ... Is my son a drug addict ? ... What is wrong with him ?". Because Tafweez is not adopted, such thoughts surface and depression seizes the person.
Tafweez in this case would have been that the person put forward the proposal and thereafter left the decision to Allah Ta'ala. If Allah Ta'ala had willed and put an acceptance into their hearts, then they would have accepted. Since everything was done correctly there is no need to be annoyed or upset. Rather believe that there must be some good ('khair') in that.
If we can only learn and understand this that behind each and every decision made by Allah Ta'ala there is goodness and wisdom. It may appear that this person is very good but we can neither predict the future, nor can we foresee into the future. How many times have we heard of a person who was in the Musjid, in Zikr, etc. etc. but after some time the person suddenly changes? (Allah forbid. Allah protect us all.)
"There were so many who were good, who later in life became bad; And there were so many who were bad, Who later in life became 'Walis'" Thus, we do not know what is to happen in the future. The knowledge of what is to occur in the future lies only in the knowledge of Allah Ta'ala.
Istikhara
In Istikhara, as well, we must not think that whatever we have been directed towards is going to be problem free. Take for example : A girl is proposed . She makes Istikhara. The Istikhara is positive. She feels satisfied, with an inclination to accept and she follows this inclination and accepts the proposal.
After some time, problems arise and the marriage breaks down. Such persons come back to us and say : "Moulana, when I made Istikhara and related the dream (or the feeling) that I had, then you told me that it is good and that I should proceed. Now why is it that the marriage didn't last?"
Istikhara does not mean that the person will have a problem-free life. It means that at that time this was much better than perhaps marrying someone else. It was "the lesser of the two evils". The problems being experienced presently could have been worse had she married another person.
It could also mean that at the time of Istikhara, this was good, but then again, this is no guarantee that the marriage will be successful, if after the Istikhara, the person leads any kind of life, indulges in any Haraam he or she wishes to and displeases Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
It does not give a license to both, husband and wife, to watch plenty of filth on Television, read any sort of literature, neglect Salaah and then ignorantly and foolishly say : " We made Istikhara, therefore it must work out." ... It does not work like that.
So, perhaps, that Istikhara meant that that was 'better than', probably another person she would have married. Here again arises Tafweez : If the person made Tadbeer i.e. made use of the means that Allah Ta'ala has created, but after doing so, the marriage fails, then she adopts Tafweez; accepting that this is the will of Allah Ta'ala, and He knew before hand that this is how
the marriage would end.
She knows that both, she and her husband, did not purposely do those things which were contrary to Shariah or against the normal effort that a person should put in. They tried to the best of their ability but it failed ... now this is Tafweez : " Whatever Allah Ta'ala is happy with, then I too am happy with that." This understanding immediately brings consolation and peace to the heart. The person's depression will disappear.
* Taqdeer * A person had in mind that when a certain property or building comes onto the market, or comes under his control then, because of the ideal location, etc., business will thrive and he will be successful. The person bids but someone else is successful and the property is gone.
If this person has Tafweez then he will think : I did what was in my capacity to do but it was not in my Taqdeer. It was written in the Taqdeer of the other person, thus he got it. I must search for something else. Allah Ta'ala does not provide rizq (sustenance) through one business house in the world. It is not that I would have succeeded and received my sustenance and livelihood through only that.
The effort, which needs to be made, must then be made. What transpires thereafter is Taqdeer.
Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said :"Strive to acquire what is beneficial for you; seek the aid of Allah; do not lose courage and if a setback overtakes you, do not say : 'If I had done this then it would have happened like this
(i. e. not what had happened).' Instead say : 'Allah has ordained this. Whatever He has willed, has happened.'"
Failure
If a person fails after having made the correct effort, there is no need to resort to alcohol, drugs and suicide.
Many students succumb to such drastic measures. Some students work and study extremely hard but fail. Due to failure, they sink into such depression that they feel they have to take or inject themselves with drugs, tranquilizers, etc. for sleep. Why ? Because they failed.
If a person did not make Tadbeer, did not make a serious and concerted effort and thereafter fails, then he must blame himself. However, generally, we do make a reasonable effort but sometimes still meet with failure. For example : A person is fit and healthy when he started something but later becomes sick and is unable to complete what he undertook.
Tafweez is handing our matters over to Allah Ta'ala, trusting Him, placing our matters before Him and believing that in whatever Allah Ta'ala has decided, there is goodness. Outwardly, it may appear as if there is some problem that we are faced with, but great wisdom lies in the decisions of Allah.
The Story of an Eagle taking Rasulullah's sock
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) narrates a story in his Mathnavi; an incident which occurred during the time of Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) :
Once, after having performed wudhu, Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was about to wear his leather sock when an eagle came along, snatched it and flew away. Nabi (sallallu alayhi wasallam) was most distressed as he was preparing for Salaah.
In a short while, the eagle returned and turned the sock upside down, towards the ground, causing a snake that was inside, to fall out.
The eagle then presented the sock to Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)and addressed him :
"O Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)! The reason for me having taken the sock was that there was a snake hidden inside it. Otherwise I would never harm you, for Allah Ta'ala has ordered me to protect you. It was on account of the snake that I flew off with the sock."
Thus, outwardly there was some distress but it was a means of goodness. Whatever calamity befalls you, consider it warding off a greater calamity.
All Praise be to Allah in Every Condition
One morning, as a Wali was leaving his home, he struck his head against the doorframe (in India, many homes have doorframes which are low). The pain experienced, forced him to lie down. He uttered the words : "Alhamdu lillahi ala kulli haal" (All praise be to Allah in every condition).
In every decision and action of Allah's, there is both wisdom and good for His servant. Sometimes this remains unknown and hidden.
Nevertheless, a short while later, he was informed that on the path which he would have proceeded down, there lay in wait some of his enemies who intended to kill him. A little injury but he was saved from death at the hands of his enemies.
Thus, if something does happen, there must not be such concern in our hearts that we rush towards Haraam. To cite another example : A person's car is hijacked. He must believe that there is some goodness or 'khair' in this; that it was only the car. It could very well have been that the car was hijacked when the family was in the car and they could have been taken to some desolate spot and could have been killed.
Always think of something worse which could have happened. Adopt Tafweez : believe that everything is in the hands of Allah Ta'ala and if He has decided something, then there is definitely goodness therein. Then be satisfied with the decision of Allah Ta'ala. If we learn only this much : that after Tadbeer, follows Tafweez i.e. being pleased with Allah Ta'ala's decision, then there can be no question of depression, anxiety, contemplating or committing suicide, etc.
A Crippled Buck in the Jaws of a Lion
Hazrat Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) mentions an example in his Mathnavi Sharif of a buck which had a limp in its leg. As this crippled buck was hopping and jumping along, it was caught by a lion. Even though in the jaws of the lion, it tried to escape. The more it tried to free itself from the lion's mouth, the more difficulty it experienced.
Since it was already in the lion's mouth, it should have accepted the consequences. It could not run away. There was no question of running away, especially since the buck was limping. How could it then escape such a huge lion? It was better for the buck to remain still. It may have happened that the lion saw another buck and left the crippled one to prey on that one.
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) then explains that this is exactly our condition. Where and how are we going to escape the power of Allah Ta'ala? Can we escape the decision and will of Allah Ta'ala?
There is no doubt in the fact that there will be many tests, trials and difficulties. Allah Ta'ala says in the Quran Sharif : "We will definitely test you with some fear, some hunger and some loss in your wealth, in your health and in the fruits ('fruits' denote many things). Give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. And when any trial reaches them, they say :' Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon ' (from Allah we have come and to Him is our return). They are those on whom are the benefactions of their Lord, and receive His mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones." ( Al - Baqarah : 155/156/157 )
Allah Ta'ala is informing us, that in this world, ordeals are to be expected and patience, tested. Tidings of grace and peace are conveyed to those who patiently withstand such trials, not expressing ingratitude but rather turning to Allah and remembering Him.
Unfortunately, the moment a person suffers a little difficulty, he says : "I must insure everything." A little loss of some goods and the person says that the only way to protect everything is insurance. Instead of turning towards Allah Ta'ala or becoming strict in matters of Shariah, the person turns towards insurance and starts insuring everything. Then he suffers more and more.
Fatwas
Fatwas have, however, been issued because of the weakness of our Imaan. The principle of Shariah; the principles of Jurisprudence are applied. This is so, because of the environment we live in or the circumstances and difficulties we face. Therefore, we find, that in the community certain things are made permissible. This does not mean that Haraam becomes Halaal ... some laxity is given to insure certain things in certain areas to a certain extent. A good Mufti should be contacted for details.
For example : if a person is about to die, due to hunger, and the only food available is pork, then even the Qur'aan Sharif permits the consumption of something Haraam like pork. This would obviously not be done with pleasure and enjoyment, rather to just stay alive. Thus, a little Haraam is permitted in such dire circumstances.
A person is in financial difficulty and is extremely desperate. There is no one willing to provide him with any assistance of the Halaal kind e.g. an interest free loan, etc. At this time, if the person takes a loan to the extent that is necessary for him to survive, this would be permissible.
However, if a person rushes towards Haraam simply to live a luxury life or maintain a high standard of living, then this is certainly not permissible. This person's condition is likened to that fish which jumps for the tempting bait, and is then caught and hooked.
If that fish, in its struggle to free itself, starts to jump, the hook will sink deeper into the fish, increasing its desperation, but to no avail. Thus, if a person, in a little difficulty, 'jumps' towards Haraam and after taking the bait, is hooked, then the more he jumps, the more involved he will find himself in Haraam.
The difficulties will increase and everything will be void of barakat (blessings). Presently, there is no barakat in our lives, our homes and our businesses because as soon as a little difficulty or trial afflicts us, we immediately rush towards Haraam.
Thus, due to the weakness of our Imaan, Fatwas are given. Shariat takes everything into consideration; it can accommodate our every condition and solve our every problem.
A Fatwa of Mufti Mahmood (R.A.)
A person, from Bombay, once wrote to Hazrat Mufti Mahmood (R.A.) (a great Wali of Allah who passed away here in South Africa) explaining his plight. He had had a taxi which was 'freehold' and which was the only means of his livelihood. It was his only means of feeding his 5 children and paying his rental (which in Bombay is very high).
The taxi was smashed in an accident. He had tried to secure an interest free loan but without success. If he had to forego another car, it would mean great difficulty for his family. The only other option, which he had, was to obtain a loan from the bank on H.P. (hire purchase) and buy another car, paying in installments. So he asked Hazrat as to what he should do ?
Hazrat replied that in his case, the car was the only means of support. If he did not purchase another, his family would suffer considerably. Since he had tried to get an interest free loan but to no avail, he could then take it from the bank. He must, however, regard the payment of interest as Haraam and try to pay it off as quickly as possible. At the same time, he should make plenty of Taubah and Istighfaar.
This was the Fatwa of a Mufti of an exceptionally high caliber. He issued this Fatwa because the person was in a genuine need.
If the person was not in a genuine need, then a Fatwa of this nature would not have been issued. For example : If a person had in his possession many 'luxury' items, then he would be told to dispose of some of those luxuries and buy another car or try to obtain a loan within the boundaries of Shariah.
Lesson
The lesson of this Majlis is that we must not become despondent. If something does not work out or does not come our way, then we should not despair. If we had made certain decisions or plans which were not fulfilled or we expected some venture to be profitable and it was not, then we should not weaken to depression.
Turn to Allah Ta'ala, make extra Zikrullah and you will find in your heart sukoon (tranquillity) and chen (peace). Depression and despondency will not be found in that person who adopts
Tafweez.
Tafweez on the path of Sulook
Like we should adopt Tafweez in worldly matters, so too must we adopt it in spiritual matters. Sometimes, Allah Ta'ala gives a person who is making his Islah (reformation), an enjoyment or an experience of ecstasy (In Tasawwuf, this state is termed 'Bast'). The person is on a high. Others take drugs for a 'high', but the Allah Waalas, with their Zikr, Ibaadat and Ma'rifat, experience a special 'high', and there is a world of a difference between these two 'highs'.
Nevertheless, there are times when these pious ones, who despite doing everything correctly and not disobeying or displeasing Allah Ta'ala, suddenly experience a 'low' (In Tasawwuf, this state is called 'Qabdh'). That 'high' is no longer enjoyed. They begin to wonder as to what had happened...Why ? And they too suffer depression.
A person, experiencing such a spiritual 'low' should reason that there is the great wisdom of Allah Ta'ala behind this state, otherwise it may be that pride enters the person's heart and he begins to consider himself very great.
This is Allah Ta'ala's way of keeping a balance. This 'low' offsets pride and thus saves a person from spiritual ruin. After this, if Allah Ta'ala so wills, He can always return him to his previous condition.
Thus in worldly as well as spiritual affairs, we need to make an effort and then adopt Tafweez. Ask Allah Ta'ala to make the best decision for us. Plead to Him and beg of Him to give us the best of this world and the best of the hereafter.
A Blessing or Punishment ?
Sometimes, a sickness, disease, etc. comes in the form of a blessing and sometimes in the form of an Azaab (punishment). For a Mu'min, it is a blessing and mercy if it causes him to turn towards Allah Ta'ala.
I will conclude with an incident that occurred a few years ago. I went to visit a person who was suffering from cancer. On entering his room, I found him surrounded by 3 television sets - one to his right, one to his left and one in front of him. This was, indeed, very surprising ... a sick person in extreme pain who could well be in his last moments, in such a situation.
On inquiry, his relatives explained, that due to his being confined to bed, it became necessary to turn him in these 3 positions; sometimes left, sometimes right, otherwise flat on his back. The 3 sets were placed in such a manner so that he would not miss any part of the program being watched.
If in that sickness, which was meant to have brought us to the door of Allah Ta'ala, we continue to indulge in sins and more so, then who do we blame for the problems which we thereafter have to face?
May Allah Ta'ala protect us all from loosing trust and faith in Him.
From a Supplementary Discourse on Tafweez, Radha bil Qadha and Fanaa'iyat.
As had been discussed , the major cause of depression and worries is that we have not as yet learnt Tafweez, Fanaa'iyat and Radha-bil-Qadha.
These three concepts mean basically one and the same thing : that we hand all our affairs and decisions over to Allah Ta'ala, and that we be satisfied with whatever He decides for us.
However, the illusion we live in, is that whatever we have decided, will happen accordingly. We expect Allah Ta'ala to oblige us, accommodate us and follow through with our decisions, exactly as they are. When this does not happen, then as is expected, we suffer anxiety, frustration, depression and worry. Why? ... Because we forget that we are the slaves of Allah Ta'ala and that He is not our slave. As our Master, He can decide for us, whatever He wishes to. This is His prerogative.
Examples
Several examples had been cited last week and there are many more that could be alluded to. Some which had been mentioned were :
1. ) A proposal is put forward with a 'surety' and confidence that it will be accepted, but it isn't. Since Tafweez was not adopted, the person suffers acute depression.
2. ) A businessman has his sights on a prospective business venture, which he believes would make him successful. Somewhere along the line the transaction does not go through, and depression seizes him.
3. ) A student works very hard for his examinations and then fails, for whatever reason. Depression overwhelms him to such an extent that it leads him to contemplate suicide, if not commit suicide
Within the framework of Shariah, we have to make an effort. After making the correct effort in the desired direction we should hand all our matters to Allah Ta'ala. Just as a person wanting to go to Cape Town, will board a plane headed for Cape Town and not a Johannesburg-bound plane, so too do we need to make the effort towards what we want to achieve... but the final decision must be left to our Infinitely Wise Allah.
Hidayat
In the different fields and spheres of Deen, there is much aspiration to be found in those that are rendering service of Deen. The Jamaat goes out for gusht, taleem and tabligh, desiring to bring Deen into the lives of others as well. The Asaatiza at the Madrassahs and Darul Ulooms, impart taleem, endeavour to educate their students and aspire to mould the ways and lives of their students. Likewise others, in whatever effort they make, they wish to see change, reformation, acceptance and implementation.
Sometimes, an Alim teaching at a Darul Uloom may desire to reform a particular student or a Shaikh may desire to reform a certain mureed and they thus make a concerted effort in Da'wah, Tarbiyyah, etc. towards the change of the student or the mureed. Yet, despite the effort made, the student or mureed does not change. As a result, the teacher or Shaikh sometimes becomes despondent.
A very important incident in the life of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is a lesson to heed : Rasulullah's (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) uncle, Abu Talib, had been like a father to Rasulullah (sallallahu alyhi wasallam), bringing him up and caring for him. When Rasulullah (sallallhu alayhi wasallam) declared his prophet hood, then Abu Talib supported him with everything which he had at his disposal. Thus, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) loved his uncle very much and encouraged him to accept Islam.
When Abu Talib was on his deathbed, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said to his uncle : "O my uncle! Declare (your faith in) 'La ilaha Illallah', so that I may argue for you before Allah on the Day of Judgement." Despite the effort made and the encouragement given by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), Abu Talib did not accept Islam and died on Kufr.
Allah Ta'ala informed Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) :
" Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He pleases; and He knows best those who receive guidance. "
Even though Allah Ta'ala is the one who guides, the pre-condition of being recipient to Hidayat is to WANT hidayat and make a concerted effort in that direction, otherwise Allah Ta'ala states that if a person is not interested in being guided, then He will not thrust guidance down such a person's throat.
Nevertheless, if Allah Ta'ala so wills then He will use the Ustaadh, Sheikh, and others rendering service to Deen, to be a means of the Hidayat for, sometimes, not just one person but millions of people.
Our endeavor is to make the correct effort and thereafter trust completely in Allah Ta'ala. Depression and restlessness will not draw near to the heart which has resigned itself to the will and wish of Allah Ta'ala. The heart of such a person is akin to a garden.
The outward conditions surrounding the person could be difficult but the heart of that person is a flower blooming amidst thorns. Allah Ta'ala grants this person peace and contentment, because of the Tafweez (i.e. accepting Allah Ta'ala's will) adopted.
The Route to Allah
Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ahmad Saheb (R.A.) mentions in his poetry :
"In whichever condition He keeps me, it is the best condition for me. Through whichever route He takes me it is the easiest route for me." Thus, whatever condition befalls a person, there is Tafweez. Of course, this person will take treatment if he is ill, apply ointment to his wound, if he is injured. On his dua and Tadbeer, restlessness, anxiety and worry will not touch upon his heart. He understands that Allah Ta'ala knows best what is best for him. This condition of heart reminds me of a beautiful explanation which Mullah Ali Qaari (R.A.) has written in his commentary of Mishkaat Shareef about Halawat-e-Imaan (Sweetness of Imaan).
The Sweetness of Imaan
I have mentioned previously that when the sweetness and ecstasy of Imaan enters the heart of a person, then his whole life changes.
When a person does something out of his love for Allah Ta'ala and His Rasool, and not merely out of a sense of obligation, then Allah Ta'ala blesses this person with the sweetness of Imaan.
Fulfilling our Deeni obligations i.e. Salaah, Fasting, Zakaat, etc. just because it is our duty to do so is very different from fulfilling them out of love for Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah e. Our weakness is that everything we do stems from 'duty' and 'obligation' and not love.
This is comparable to a person working for me and I tell him to go to the post office and fetch the post therefrom. Since no car is available, the person has to take a walk. He will not find enjoyment in his heart in having to walk to the post office.
Take a person who enjoys jogging. It is the pleasure of his life. Now if he is told to run the errand, then if the distance is 5 km, he will consider this too short a distance.
Then again, there are many of us, whose objective in fulfilling our Deeni obligations is that we derive pleasure, enjoyment and happiness as a reward for fulfilling them. We are therefore not Aashiqs (lovers) of Allah Ta'ala, rather Aashiqs of pleasure, enjoyment and happiness.
It is not Haraam to ask Allah Ta'ala for peace, contentment, pleasure, enjoyment and happiness - indeed, we should ask and continue asking Allah Ta'ala for these things. But since, most of the virtuous deeds we do revolve around a sense of duty and not the love of Allah Ta'ala, we don't achieve this sweetness of Imaan.
For example : we render some service to Deen, but we do so because we think : "People are going astray and there is so much of corruption. It is our duty to make an effort."
Yes, indeed, it is our duty, on which, we will Insha-Allah gain Thawaab (reward) but we will not taste of the sweetness of Imaan, because everything done stems from a sense of duty and not from the love for Allah Ta'ala and the desire to gain His pleasure.
Such khidmat (service) to Deen needs to be rendered out of love for Allah Ta'ala, with a deep-felt concern for those going astray, that some attempt be made to save them from deviation and that all the Ummaties of Nabi e follow the path laid out by him and gain salvation in the Akhirah.
Added to this, Deeni work should be undertaken with the understanding that it is Allah Ta'ala who has blessed us with life, with health, with wealth, with the faculties of sight, hearing and speech and He has granted us intelligence, coupled with knowledge. It is thus only befitting that a servant utilizes all these invaluable bounties of Allah Ta'ala for His pleasure alone.
Even though - the reality and essence of the sweetness of Imaan is not acquired so easily. To obtain such a precious commodity, we have to sit in the company of those whose hearts are aflame with the Love of Allah Ta'ala and who thus do everything for His pleasure alone. In their blessed company, where the lessons of Divine love are taught and where we may draw from their hearts, that fire of love, there we will reap the sweetness of Imaan.
Signs of the Sweetness of Imaan
1. Enjoyment in Ibaadat
The acquisition of the Sweetness of Imaan brings immense enjoyment in the Ibaadah undertaken. The pleasure a person finds in his Salaah, impels him to delay his Sajdas. His Zikr of Allah Ta'ala emanates from the deep recesses of his heart, intoxicating him. The requirement for this intoxication and ecstasy is neither wine nor worldly love; the requirement for this 'high' is neither heroine nor cocaine; it is the remembrance of his beloved Allah.
When he recites the Qur'aan Sharif, then it is as if he is conversing and communicating with his Rabb. The speech of Allah Ta'ala, which he recites, deeply impresses upon his heart and establishes a profounder and stronger Imaan within him. With a deep hearted enjoyment, he believes that his Allah is listening to His own Kalaam (speech) from the tongue of His sinful servant.
The mercy and kindness of Allah Ta'ala is such that despite us having used and abused the tongue in Gheebat, lies, false oaths and Qasms and so many other evils, Allah Ta'ala still grants us the 'towfeeq' to read His Kalaam. He would have given it to the angels to read, because to read such pure and untainted speech, we require tongues which are sinless.
The objective will not be to complete as many paras or Qur'aans as is possible and thus read at breakneck speed, hastily and disrespectfully. There will be calm, dignity and beauty which will adorn the Qur'aan Sharif and which will win one special 'audience' from Allah Ta'ala.
When expending his money in the path of Allah Ta'ala, in charities and Zakaat, then this person does not feel financially burdened. There is an enjoyment in this person's generosity, kindness, in his concern for the poor and needy and in the fulfillment of the rights of his kith and kin, neighbors and others.
Because every sphere of his life has become an Ibaadat, his entire life is blissful. When a person does any good deed, for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala, then the heart is rewarded immediately with pleasure and joy.
2. Suppressing the Nafs
Another sign indicating that a person has tasted the sweetness of Imaan, is that this person will overcome and suppress all his evil and carnal desires. He will not succumb to his haraam passions and desires. He will regard them as cursed passions; the fulfillment of which earns him the displeasure of his Beloved Allah.
"We regard such pleasures As worthy of being cursed, By which, O friends, My Lord becomes displeased."
When evil thoughts enter the mind and evil desires enter the heart, then we should overcome them by ignoring them and not entertaining them. Let them pass by, but pay no attention to them. We should not invite these thoughts and lay out the dastarkhan (table) for them and amiably say: "O you wonderful thoughts, please remain in my heart for a long time because I am deriving much enjoyment from this visit of yours."
It is natural that these thoughts and desires will come ... this is expected, but it is sinful to entertain them. At such times, we should immediately focus our attention to something permissible.
Imaan
It is mentioned that some of the Sahabah (R.A.) once presented themselves to Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and said : "Our condition is that sometimes we experience such evil thoughts and sentiments in our hearts that it is most painful even to mention them."
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) enquired : "Is it really so ?"
They replied : "Yes, this is our condition."
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) exclaimed : "But that is pure faith." ... meaning, that to feel grieved and distressed at such thoughts and sentiments is a sign of good Imaan.
In another narration, a person said to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam):
"Sometimes such wicked ideas come to my mind that I would prefer to be burnt down and reduced to charcoal than to give utterance to them."
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied : "Praise be to Allah who turned back the matter towards thought and sentiment." ... meaning, that it is the grace of Allah Ta'ala that these thoughts and desires were not accepted and adopted but remained as is.
Thus a person who has achieved this sweetness of Imaan, will not act upon his evil desires and thoughts. He will burn up these evil desires in the furnace of Taqwa and light up his heart with the Noor of Taqwa.
Figurative beauty
A beautiful woman passes by and one happens to cast an accidental glance at her. Thereafter a strong desire plagues at the heart of the person and he feels that he simply cannot forego the sight of such a beauty. What is he to do ? If he suppresses this desire �
" I will not look, I will not look, Never will I look at one, Looking upon whom, displeases my Lord."
� then Allah Ta'ala rewards him on this sacrifice.
Allah Ta'ala has stated in a Hadith-e-Qudsi : "Verily evil glancing is an arrow from the poisonous arrows of Shaitaan. Whosoever fears Me (Allah) and refrains from it will receive from Me such Imaan, the sweetness of which he will taste (feel) in his heart."
If, on the other hand, he appeases the evil desires of his nafs, and continues glancing lustfully at the woman, then the end results of having displeased Allah Ta'ala will be restlessness, restlessness and more restlessness.
Allah Ta'ala promises a life of restlessness, difficulty and anxiety for those who indulge in sin.
Allah Ta'ala states in Surah Ta Ha :
" Whosoever turns away from My reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship ..."
Ayaaz and the Priceless Pearl
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) mentions in his Mathnavi, a story of Sultan Mahmood : One day the Sultan decided to test his ministers and ordered them to crush the most prized pearl of his treasury. One by one, each of 65 ministers declined, stating that the pearl was far too valuable to be destroyed.
The King then summoned his closest and trusted courtier, Ayaaz, and ordered him to crush the pearl. Without any delay or hesitation, Ayaaz crushed the pearl into fragments. When the ministers expressed disbelief and shock at such audacity, the King asked Ayaaz to inform them as to the reason for him having broken the pearl.
In response, Ayaaz asked these ministers : " Which is more important, the Royal Decree or the pearl ? "
The question we pose to ourselves is : " Which is more important, the command of my Allah or the desire of my heart ?"
The desires of the heart are akin to pearls, which appear to be quite beautiful but we should not fulfil these desires at the cost of breaking the decrees of Allah.
Ayaaz attained closeness to the king through his loyalty and faithfulness and his obedience and submission. Similarly, we will gain the extreme nearness and intimate closeness to the King of Kings through loyalty and faithfulness. This in turn is dependent upon sincere obedience and complete submission to His decrees.
The Test of Imaan
Imaan will not be tested in the Musjid because a Musjid is not a place for the testing of Imaan. It would obviously be very easy to be pious and abstain from sins therein. The testing grounds of Imaan are the streets, universities, bazaars and businesses.
What kind of Imaan do we display, if we indulge in illicit relationships at the high schools, universities, etc., if we cast lustful glances at every woman who passes by us on the streets and if we cheat our customers, commit fraud and employ semi-nude women to work along side us in our businesses, believing that by employing them we will be saving on salary ?
Know that at such places our Imaan will definitely be tested. At such times we have to project and assert our Imaan and Islam. If the person passes the tests here, then indeed this person has tasted of the sweetness of Imaan.
3. Sacrifice for Deen
The third sign of the sweetness of Imaan, is that one will be prepared to undergo all forms of difficulties and hardships for the sake of Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). When a difficulty comes in the way of him fulfilling the commands of Allah Ta'ala, he will say :
" For the pleasure of my Allah and His Rasool (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) , I will suppress my desires and withstand the difficulties which come my way."
Thus, out of his love for Allah Ta'ala, he will walk to the musjid for Fajr Salaah even on the severest of winter mornings. If, however, he is ill or has some valid reason for missing his Jamaat Salaah, then this is different from not going to the Musjid due to laziness.
Such a person will also be prepared to defend his Deen on the battlefield and will even sacrifice his life for it. Of course, he must not beg or ask Allah Ta'ala for difficulties and hardships, rather for goodness and well being.
We are not of the caliber of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahabah (R.A.), yet Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) taught the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (R.A.) to always ask Allah Ta'ala for Aafiyat, ease and comfort. We too should seek the same goodness from Allah Ta'ala.
Nevertheless, if a difficulty comes this person's way, as a test, he will remain firm and steadfast in his beliefs and actions and endure it for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala.
Duaa
We receive many calls from people saying that they make dua and read their Salaah, read Ishraaq, Chasht and Salaatul Haajaat and even awaken for Tuhajjid, but then say that despite all this, Allah Ta'ala still does not want to hear their duas (Na-oozo-bil-lahi-min-zaalik)... as if Allah Ta'ala is obliged to do so.
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) has said : "Sometimes Allah delays in answering the prayers so that one may continue to call on Him earnestly and crying in humility. While this is done, He is Aware thereof and He greatly approves thereof."
Delay in acceptance of one's duas is not a sign that Allah Ta'ala has rejected the dua. On the contrary, it is a sign of the pleasure of Allah; that His servant has recognized Him to be the only one who can fulfill all his needs. In fact, the person who sincerely asks of Allah, not despairing and losing hope in Allah, Allah enshrouds him in His Mercy.
Nabi Yacoob (A.S.) made dua that he be reunited with his missing son, Hazrat Yusuf (A.S.). After 40 years, this dua of Hazrat Yacoob (A.S.) was answered.Thus, Allah Ta'ala, knows best when and in what manner to answer a person's duas. Therefore Nabi e has explained :
"Any Muslim who makes a dua and his dua does not contain a request for anything sinful or anything regarding the severance of family ties, Allah grants him one of three things most assuredly, namely,
1. ) What he has asked is granted immediately, or
2. ) What he has asked is saved for him as a treasure in the Aakhirah, or
3. ) Allah wards away some calamity from him in lieu of the object asked for."
Our condition is that we make dua to just get over the problems we are faced with. There is that restlessness at heart because we are waiting for the problem to make a quick exit from our lives so that we may revert to our old lifestyle. To cite an example : many students are to be found in the Musjids at the time of their examinations ... the dua, Ibaadah is merely done in order that we overcome the difficulty or problem at hand.
4. Sabr and Shukr
In the midst of difficulties, a person with the sweetness of Imaan, exercises Sabr and is neither found to be disturbed nor perplexed. He does not complain of his Master, Allah Ta'ala, rather he adopts patience and views this patience as the gateway to the closeness, Ma'rifat and Muhabbat of Allah Ta'ala.
When blessed with abundance in bounties from Allah Ta'ala, like wealth, prosperity, etc. he makes Shukr and regards this gratitude as the gateway to the proximity, Ma'rifat and Muhabbat of Allah Ta'ala.
In both conditions, the person retains his trust and his faith in Allah Ta'ala. When afflicted with difficulties and trial, then Sabr is exercised and the heart is blessed with the sweetness of Imaan. When granted the best of bounties and gifts, plenty of gratitude and appreciation is expressed and the heart is blessed with the sweetness of Imaan.
Rasulullah(sallahu alayhi wasallam) has said :
"The Mu'min is a wonderful being. If goodness/prosperity comes his way, he praises Allah and offers Shukr (gratitude). And, if hardship/adversity strikes him, he (also) praises Allah and adopts Sabr (patience)."
This relationship with Allah Ta'ala is analogous to two pages stuck firm by glue. That glue has created such a 'strong' bond that the page can be torn, but the two pages will not separate. This is the kind of relationship we need to build with our Allah; that irrespective of the condition, we will not separate ourselves from Allah Ta'ala.
A Lesson from Children
Many a time we have seen mothers slap or hit their children when they have been naughty or disobedient, yet those children cling on to their mothers and refuse to leave them. That little child is teaching us a lesson : Although I am getting a hiding well deserved, how can I leave my mother ? Where would I go ?
If that child is not prepared to leave its mother, then where are we going to go, leaving our Allah? There is no one else for us, except Allah.
It is mentioned in the Mathnavi of Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) that once Allah Ta'ala said to Nabi Moosa (A.S.) :
"I love My bondsmen very much when they behave towards Me like infants, who in spite of their mother's punishment and anger still attach themselves to her, instead of fleeing. When that mother gives him a slap, he still flees to her and while crying, holds onto her strongly. The small child does not want help from anyone save the mother. He even shows no inclination to his father. Instead he looks upon his mother as the source and origin of all good and evil. O Moosa (A.S.), your imagination and connection with us in good and evil is similar to that; that except for Us, your attention is not drawn to anyone else ..."
Thus, no matter what the condition or circumstance, our dependence upon Allah Ta'ala should be as the child's dependence upon its mother.
On the acceptance, patience, tolerance and fortitude exercised, Allah Ta'ala blesses a person with the sweetness of Imaan. As I have mentioned, this quality of Imaan is, however, acquired from the Ahlullah, those who possess the same in their hearts. This then is transferred and kindled into the hearts of those who keep their company.
The companions of Nabi(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) are known as 'Sahabah' because they spent time in the company of Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)and received from his heart, the great wealth and treasure of Imaan and Ishq of Allah Ta'ala.
My Sheikh, Hazrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (D.B.) says most beautifully and aptly in one of his poems : " ... the condition (of success) is (some) kind attention of the men of love, otherwise this gem of love cannot be had ..."
5. Radha-bil-Qadha
The quality of Radha-bil-Qadha has also been cultivated within the person who has this sweetness of Imaan and is implemented under all conditions.
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.) once asked Hazrat Moulana Abdul Ghani Phulpoori (R.A.) :
"Is there any stage higher than Ikhlaas (sincerity) ?"
Hazrat Moulana Abdul Ghani (R.A.) replied :
" Ikhlaas is a very high stage; I cannot think of anything higher than that."
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.) then said :
" Higher than even Ikhlaas, is Radha-bil-Qadha - that you be satisfied with whatever Allah Ta'ala gives to you."
This does not mean that a person can do the wrong thing and expect Allah Ta'ala to decide in his favour. We must not blame Taqdeer for our own mistakes. If a person takes a knife and slashes his throat, this is not 'Taqdeer'. But if someone else slashed this person's throat, then yes, this is Taqdeer.
One person gave his very young daughter in marriage to a very old man. For some wealth and property, the father pressurized his daughter and so, even though unwilling and unhappy, she was left no choice. As would be expected, plenty of problems surfaced. When the matter was brought before Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.), he asked the father as to where his intelligence had disappeared for him to have arranged such an unsuitable match for his daughter. The father replied : "Taqdeer."
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.) got very angry, saying :
"You made the mistake and now blame Taqdeer."
We should not deliberately do the wrong thing and then blame Taqdeer for the end result. Using the means which are available, the correct effort should be made; thereafter accept whatever transpires.
Handing all matters to Allah Ta'ala, resigning oneself to the decisions of Allah Ta'ala and believing that there is great wisdom in His decisions, creates peace in one's life.
Allah Ta'ala has mentioned in a Hadith-e-Qudsi :
"... Some of My slaves are keen to offer special type of (optional) prayers, but I do not let them do so, for it may lead to vanity; some of them are such, who can have sound faith only when in good health, if I destine sickness for them, they are adversely affected; there are others who can maintain their faith only in sickness, if I order health for them, they may go astray. I give orders befitting the affairs of My slaves, because I know all that which is in their minds."
Thus, to protect the Imaan of His servants, Allah Ta'ala, out of His Infinite Kindness, grants some people favourable conditions and blesses them with plenty of wealth and prosperity and keeps them happy; for if He inflicts them with poverty and difficult conditions they may commit Kufr.
To some people Allah Ta'ala gives them poverty and less material wealth, because He knows fully well that if He were to give them plenty of wealth, then instead of coming to Him, making Ibaadah and Shukr, they will expend and squander this money in Haraam avenues e.g. gambling, prostitutes, etc. So Allah Ta'ala deprives these people of wealth so that their Imaan remains intact... such is the wisdom Allah Ta'ala has in everything which He does.
Due to the deficiency in our understanding we do not accept, acknowledge and appreciate Allah Ta'ala's benevolence, loving-kindness and favours upon us as we should. Yet Allah Ta'ala informs us in the Qur'aan Sharif :
"Many a time you dislike a thing while (in fact) it is good for you, and many a time you love a thing while it is evil for you. And Allah knows while you do not know."(Surah Baqarah 2 : 16)
Conclusion
As the servants and slaves of Allah Ta'ala we should understand that our Master will grant to us only that which is good for us. Our duty and endeavor is that we supplicate and ask of Allah Ta'ala, then make the correct effort (tadbeer) and thereafter leave the final decision to Allah Ta'ala. This brings peace, contentment and happiness into our hearts.
Allah Ta'ala grants the sweetness of Imaan, together with all the accompanying conditions of peace, tranquility, happiness, etc., to those who are faithful and sincere servants. And if the Kings of this world knew of this condition of the heart, they would go to great lengths to snatch it away. However, this is something which Allah Ta'ala gives to whomsoever He chooses to.
Whilst this in itself is not difficult to attain, effort is a precondition. The effort is directed more in suppressing the nafs from Haraam because, in comparison, finding enjoyment in Ibaadat is a little easy. We sometimes derive enjoyment in Zikr, Tilawat, Haj, etc. The real test is in suppressing the nafs from Haraam. On doing this, Allah Ta'ala will ignite our hearts with the Noor of Imaan.
My sheikh mentions an example : he says that that area which is struck by a flood, earthquake or any other disaster, then due to the damage, the government declares it a disaster area and supplies the material - the sand, cement, etc. - for the reconstruction of those homes and buildings destroyed in such a disaster.
In a similar vein, when evil desires make their way into our hearts and we smash and destroy them for the pleasure of Allah, then this fragile building of our heart is shattered into thousands of fragments. On the pain and grief experienced at this destruction, Allah Ta'ala will reconstruct our hearts with the sweetness and the Noor of Imaan.
When a person experiences this, he will then really know and understand what it is ... It will be as if he is here but not here; eating, drinking, laughing and joking, talking to his friends, etc. but his heart will always be connected to Allah Ta'ala ...
" Whilst occupied in the world, he is still with Allah.
And in spite of being with everyone, he is still away from everyone."
Dua
May Allah Ta'ala grant us all the 'towfeeq' of practising upon the teachings of the Qur'aan Sharif and the 'towfeeq' to follow the beautiful lifestyle of our beloved Nabi, Sayyedena Muhammad(sallallahu alayhi wasallam). May He bless us with implicit trust and faith in Him. May He strengthen our Imaan so that we accept all decisions made by Him, to be the best for us. May He give us the understanding that He is the Creator of means so that after adopting the means we may not trust in those means gaining us our desired objective but instead trust in Allah Ta'ala and pray to Him to grant us success in our endeavors. May Allah Ta'ala forgive us all and bless us with the best of both worlds.
Wa Sal-lal-lahu alan Nabiyil Kareem wa ala aalihee Wa as-habihee ajma'een
Source: http://www.khanqah.org/
Today depression has got into our blood, the rate of suicide is rising. Kindly read the below article and forward it
Article :: The Cure for Depression
By: Hazrat Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab (db)
Tafweez - The Cure for Depression
Ulama-e-Kiraam, dear brothers and respected sisters... Depression, it seems, has become synonymous with living in a society overrun with innumerable problems. It is an ailment which has unfortunately reached epidemic proportions. In the search for a solution, we sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of depression. Hardly a day passes, without some person complaining about his failures or of the acute depression that he is suffering, due to various factors.
What I wish to discuss very briefly is Tafweez. If we learn Tafweez, then we have indeed found the antidote for depression.
We have to clearly understand, that we cannot escape the decisions of Allah Ta'ala with regard to any matter in our lives. Whatever Allah Ta'ala has decided will happen, no matter how much we may wish otherwise.
Our anxieties, depression and worries are all created because we first make the decisions and then expect Allah Ta'ala to conform; whereas what we plan and decide is subject to Allah Ta'ala's confirmation.
Advice of a Sheikh
One Mureed, after having spent many years in the company of Sheikh Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.), requested some parting advice before taking leave from his Sheikh. Sheikh Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.) told him : "Do not claim Divinity and do not claim Nabuwwat (Prophethood)."
The Mureed asked : "Does Hazrat think that after all these years in Hazrat's company, I will make such a claim ?"
Sheikh Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.) then explained what he meant ... It is imperative that we understand certain sayings of the Auliya Allah, otherwise we may misunderstand and then start issuing Fatwas on the basis of our misinterpretation.
A Famous Anecdote
Once, in Delhi, a Wali of Allah was heard saying : "You are not my ALLAH and I am not your servant. So why should I listen to you; why should I obey you?" Those who heard these statements regarded them as statements of Kufr. However, one sensible person asked the saint : "What do you mean ?".
The saint answered : " My Nafs was inciting me to fulfill its desire. I thus addressed my Nafs and said : 'You are not my Allah and I am not your servant. I am a servant of Allah so why should I worship you?' "
Returning to the advice of Hazrat Abdul Qader Jailani (R.A.): He explained to his mureed that, "Do not claim to be Allah." means that do not wish that everything happens according to your will and desire. If you do so, then you are claiming to be Allah; whereas whatever Allah Ta'ala wills, will happen, for it is HE who makes the final decisions in all matters.
As far as we, human beings, are concerned, if we feel that our whims and fancies have to be fulfilled as is, then we are claiming to be Allah.
"Do not claim Nabuwwat" means that no matter how much of piety and Taqwa you acquire with your Tarbiyah and Tazkia, don't make the claim that you are sinless and never in the wrong. This is the sifat (attribute) of the Ambiya (A.S.), for they are 'ma'soom' (sinless) and 'mahfooz' (protected from sin).
Therefore, no matter how much of time you have spent in the suhbat (company) and khidmat (service) of your Sheikh and no matter what high rank you attain to, do not think that you are like the Rasul of Allah and that no slip can occur in your life. Do not claim that you will never err because of the years spent with your Sheikh and because of the Wilayat conferred upon you. Being human beings we are prone to slip.
The Story of the Snake-catcher
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) relates a story of a snake catcher who once went to the mountains. Due to the winter cold and heavy snow, many very big snakes lay motionless, as if they were dead.
The snake-catcher picked up one of these seemingly lifeless snakes and took it to Baghdad, with the purpose of using it for a show. Showing it off, he made big claims as to how he had brilliantly captured the snake. However, when the sun began to shine and its warmth cloaked the snake, the coldness in its body disappeared. The signs of life were soon apparent and when the snake began to move, the snake-catcher and all those around, fled.
Moulana Rumi (R.A.) then explains that our Nafs is like that snake. With Tazkia (purification), Mushaqqat (effort), our nafs (self) becomes frozen. It appears to be dead. But give it a little heat from the fire of sin and it will bite again. A little exposure to some past sins and the nafs swings back to life.
We should not think that we have killed our nafs and thus become unmindful. Yes, with some mujahadah (striving), suhbat (company) of the Sheikh, tilawat (recitation) of the Qur'aan Sharif, Zikrullah, following Deen and Shariah and in building up that contact and love for Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah e , the nafs can be frozen. However, a little taste of sin revives the evil nafs.
Hazrat Khwaja Azizul Hasan Majzoub (R.A.) says most aptly:
"Have no trust in this nafs, O devout one! Even if it becomes an angel, remain distrustful of it. Look at the snake of your nafs. As soon as you are negligent here, it bites there." The point being discussed was: "Do not claim divinity." (i.e. that you are Allah) and that everything must happen according to your will and desire.
Depression
Let us now consider the various causes of depression to be found presently in our lives. These simple, little things, which if ignored and we adopt a little Tafweez, we will find our lives free of depression.
To cite an example (and there are true incidents of this nature): A woman goes to a certain family with a proposal for her son, considering her son to be the best person in the world. If the son, himself, goes, then he believes that there is no one like him as a prospective husband. He has everything : the qualities, degrees and character. He is handsome as well.
Hence, mother and son believe that the moment a proposal is put forth, the girl's family will definitely accept, without any delay or further consideration. Thus, a decision has been made: If I propose, they are going to accept it.
This family rejects the proposal. Immediately there is depression and enmity. The mother starts thinking about the reason as to why the proposal was turned down : "What is wrong with us ? ... Are we bad people ? ... Is my son a drug addict ? ... What is wrong with him ?". Because Tafweez is not adopted, such thoughts surface and depression seizes the person.
Tafweez in this case would have been that the person put forward the proposal and thereafter left the decision to Allah Ta'ala. If Allah Ta'ala had willed and put an acceptance into their hearts, then they would have accepted. Since everything was done correctly there is no need to be annoyed or upset. Rather believe that there must be some good ('khair') in that.
If we can only learn and understand this that behind each and every decision made by Allah Ta'ala there is goodness and wisdom. It may appear that this person is very good but we can neither predict the future, nor can we foresee into the future. How many times have we heard of a person who was in the Musjid, in Zikr, etc. etc. but after some time the person suddenly changes? (Allah forbid. Allah protect us all.)
"There were so many who were good, who later in life became bad; And there were so many who were bad, Who later in life became 'Walis'" Thus, we do not know what is to happen in the future. The knowledge of what is to occur in the future lies only in the knowledge of Allah Ta'ala.
Istikhara
In Istikhara, as well, we must not think that whatever we have been directed towards is going to be problem free. Take for example : A girl is proposed . She makes Istikhara. The Istikhara is positive. She feels satisfied, with an inclination to accept and she follows this inclination and accepts the proposal.
After some time, problems arise and the marriage breaks down. Such persons come back to us and say : "Moulana, when I made Istikhara and related the dream (or the feeling) that I had, then you told me that it is good and that I should proceed. Now why is it that the marriage didn't last?"
Istikhara does not mean that the person will have a problem-free life. It means that at that time this was much better than perhaps marrying someone else. It was "the lesser of the two evils". The problems being experienced presently could have been worse had she married another person.
It could also mean that at the time of Istikhara, this was good, but then again, this is no guarantee that the marriage will be successful, if after the Istikhara, the person leads any kind of life, indulges in any Haraam he or she wishes to and displeases Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
It does not give a license to both, husband and wife, to watch plenty of filth on Television, read any sort of literature, neglect Salaah and then ignorantly and foolishly say : " We made Istikhara, therefore it must work out." ... It does not work like that.
So, perhaps, that Istikhara meant that that was 'better than', probably another person she would have married. Here again arises Tafweez : If the person made Tadbeer i.e. made use of the means that Allah Ta'ala has created, but after doing so, the marriage fails, then she adopts Tafweez; accepting that this is the will of Allah Ta'ala, and He knew before hand that this is how
the marriage would end.
She knows that both, she and her husband, did not purposely do those things which were contrary to Shariah or against the normal effort that a person should put in. They tried to the best of their ability but it failed ... now this is Tafweez : " Whatever Allah Ta'ala is happy with, then I too am happy with that." This understanding immediately brings consolation and peace to the heart. The person's depression will disappear.
* Taqdeer * A person had in mind that when a certain property or building comes onto the market, or comes under his control then, because of the ideal location, etc., business will thrive and he will be successful. The person bids but someone else is successful and the property is gone.
If this person has Tafweez then he will think : I did what was in my capacity to do but it was not in my Taqdeer. It was written in the Taqdeer of the other person, thus he got it. I must search for something else. Allah Ta'ala does not provide rizq (sustenance) through one business house in the world. It is not that I would have succeeded and received my sustenance and livelihood through only that.
The effort, which needs to be made, must then be made. What transpires thereafter is Taqdeer.
Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said :"Strive to acquire what is beneficial for you; seek the aid of Allah; do not lose courage and if a setback overtakes you, do not say : 'If I had done this then it would have happened like this
(i. e. not what had happened).' Instead say : 'Allah has ordained this. Whatever He has willed, has happened.'"
Failure
If a person fails after having made the correct effort, there is no need to resort to alcohol, drugs and suicide.
Many students succumb to such drastic measures. Some students work and study extremely hard but fail. Due to failure, they sink into such depression that they feel they have to take or inject themselves with drugs, tranquilizers, etc. for sleep. Why ? Because they failed.
If a person did not make Tadbeer, did not make a serious and concerted effort and thereafter fails, then he must blame himself. However, generally, we do make a reasonable effort but sometimes still meet with failure. For example : A person is fit and healthy when he started something but later becomes sick and is unable to complete what he undertook.
Tafweez is handing our matters over to Allah Ta'ala, trusting Him, placing our matters before Him and believing that in whatever Allah Ta'ala has decided, there is goodness. Outwardly, it may appear as if there is some problem that we are faced with, but great wisdom lies in the decisions of Allah.
The Story of an Eagle taking Rasulullah's sock
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) narrates a story in his Mathnavi; an incident which occurred during the time of Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) :
Once, after having performed wudhu, Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was about to wear his leather sock when an eagle came along, snatched it and flew away. Nabi (sallallu alayhi wasallam) was most distressed as he was preparing for Salaah.
In a short while, the eagle returned and turned the sock upside down, towards the ground, causing a snake that was inside, to fall out.
The eagle then presented the sock to Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)and addressed him :
"O Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)! The reason for me having taken the sock was that there was a snake hidden inside it. Otherwise I would never harm you, for Allah Ta'ala has ordered me to protect you. It was on account of the snake that I flew off with the sock."
Thus, outwardly there was some distress but it was a means of goodness. Whatever calamity befalls you, consider it warding off a greater calamity.
All Praise be to Allah in Every Condition
One morning, as a Wali was leaving his home, he struck his head against the doorframe (in India, many homes have doorframes which are low). The pain experienced, forced him to lie down. He uttered the words : "Alhamdu lillahi ala kulli haal" (All praise be to Allah in every condition).
In every decision and action of Allah's, there is both wisdom and good for His servant. Sometimes this remains unknown and hidden.
Nevertheless, a short while later, he was informed that on the path which he would have proceeded down, there lay in wait some of his enemies who intended to kill him. A little injury but he was saved from death at the hands of his enemies.
Thus, if something does happen, there must not be such concern in our hearts that we rush towards Haraam. To cite another example : A person's car is hijacked. He must believe that there is some goodness or 'khair' in this; that it was only the car. It could very well have been that the car was hijacked when the family was in the car and they could have been taken to some desolate spot and could have been killed.
Always think of something worse which could have happened. Adopt Tafweez : believe that everything is in the hands of Allah Ta'ala and if He has decided something, then there is definitely goodness therein. Then be satisfied with the decision of Allah Ta'ala. If we learn only this much : that after Tadbeer, follows Tafweez i.e. being pleased with Allah Ta'ala's decision, then there can be no question of depression, anxiety, contemplating or committing suicide, etc.
A Crippled Buck in the Jaws of a Lion
Hazrat Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) mentions an example in his Mathnavi Sharif of a buck which had a limp in its leg. As this crippled buck was hopping and jumping along, it was caught by a lion. Even though in the jaws of the lion, it tried to escape. The more it tried to free itself from the lion's mouth, the more difficulty it experienced.
Since it was already in the lion's mouth, it should have accepted the consequences. It could not run away. There was no question of running away, especially since the buck was limping. How could it then escape such a huge lion? It was better for the buck to remain still. It may have happened that the lion saw another buck and left the crippled one to prey on that one.
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) then explains that this is exactly our condition. Where and how are we going to escape the power of Allah Ta'ala? Can we escape the decision and will of Allah Ta'ala?
There is no doubt in the fact that there will be many tests, trials and difficulties. Allah Ta'ala says in the Quran Sharif : "We will definitely test you with some fear, some hunger and some loss in your wealth, in your health and in the fruits ('fruits' denote many things). Give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. And when any trial reaches them, they say :' Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon ' (from Allah we have come and to Him is our return). They are those on whom are the benefactions of their Lord, and receive His mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones." ( Al - Baqarah : 155/156/157 )
Allah Ta'ala is informing us, that in this world, ordeals are to be expected and patience, tested. Tidings of grace and peace are conveyed to those who patiently withstand such trials, not expressing ingratitude but rather turning to Allah and remembering Him.
Unfortunately, the moment a person suffers a little difficulty, he says : "I must insure everything." A little loss of some goods and the person says that the only way to protect everything is insurance. Instead of turning towards Allah Ta'ala or becoming strict in matters of Shariah, the person turns towards insurance and starts insuring everything. Then he suffers more and more.
Fatwas
Fatwas have, however, been issued because of the weakness of our Imaan. The principle of Shariah; the principles of Jurisprudence are applied. This is so, because of the environment we live in or the circumstances and difficulties we face. Therefore, we find, that in the community certain things are made permissible. This does not mean that Haraam becomes Halaal ... some laxity is given to insure certain things in certain areas to a certain extent. A good Mufti should be contacted for details.
For example : if a person is about to die, due to hunger, and the only food available is pork, then even the Qur'aan Sharif permits the consumption of something Haraam like pork. This would obviously not be done with pleasure and enjoyment, rather to just stay alive. Thus, a little Haraam is permitted in such dire circumstances.
A person is in financial difficulty and is extremely desperate. There is no one willing to provide him with any assistance of the Halaal kind e.g. an interest free loan, etc. At this time, if the person takes a loan to the extent that is necessary for him to survive, this would be permissible.
However, if a person rushes towards Haraam simply to live a luxury life or maintain a high standard of living, then this is certainly not permissible. This person's condition is likened to that fish which jumps for the tempting bait, and is then caught and hooked.
If that fish, in its struggle to free itself, starts to jump, the hook will sink deeper into the fish, increasing its desperation, but to no avail. Thus, if a person, in a little difficulty, 'jumps' towards Haraam and after taking the bait, is hooked, then the more he jumps, the more involved he will find himself in Haraam.
The difficulties will increase and everything will be void of barakat (blessings). Presently, there is no barakat in our lives, our homes and our businesses because as soon as a little difficulty or trial afflicts us, we immediately rush towards Haraam.
Thus, due to the weakness of our Imaan, Fatwas are given. Shariat takes everything into consideration; it can accommodate our every condition and solve our every problem.
A Fatwa of Mufti Mahmood (R.A.)
A person, from Bombay, once wrote to Hazrat Mufti Mahmood (R.A.) (a great Wali of Allah who passed away here in South Africa) explaining his plight. He had had a taxi which was 'freehold' and which was the only means of his livelihood. It was his only means of feeding his 5 children and paying his rental (which in Bombay is very high).
The taxi was smashed in an accident. He had tried to secure an interest free loan but without success. If he had to forego another car, it would mean great difficulty for his family. The only other option, which he had, was to obtain a loan from the bank on H.P. (hire purchase) and buy another car, paying in installments. So he asked Hazrat as to what he should do ?
Hazrat replied that in his case, the car was the only means of support. If he did not purchase another, his family would suffer considerably. Since he had tried to get an interest free loan but to no avail, he could then take it from the bank. He must, however, regard the payment of interest as Haraam and try to pay it off as quickly as possible. At the same time, he should make plenty of Taubah and Istighfaar.
This was the Fatwa of a Mufti of an exceptionally high caliber. He issued this Fatwa because the person was in a genuine need.
If the person was not in a genuine need, then a Fatwa of this nature would not have been issued. For example : If a person had in his possession many 'luxury' items, then he would be told to dispose of some of those luxuries and buy another car or try to obtain a loan within the boundaries of Shariah.
Lesson
The lesson of this Majlis is that we must not become despondent. If something does not work out or does not come our way, then we should not despair. If we had made certain decisions or plans which were not fulfilled or we expected some venture to be profitable and it was not, then we should not weaken to depression.
Turn to Allah Ta'ala, make extra Zikrullah and you will find in your heart sukoon (tranquillity) and chen (peace). Depression and despondency will not be found in that person who adopts
Tafweez.
Tafweez on the path of Sulook
Like we should adopt Tafweez in worldly matters, so too must we adopt it in spiritual matters. Sometimes, Allah Ta'ala gives a person who is making his Islah (reformation), an enjoyment or an experience of ecstasy (In Tasawwuf, this state is termed 'Bast'). The person is on a high. Others take drugs for a 'high', but the Allah Waalas, with their Zikr, Ibaadat and Ma'rifat, experience a special 'high', and there is a world of a difference between these two 'highs'.
Nevertheless, there are times when these pious ones, who despite doing everything correctly and not disobeying or displeasing Allah Ta'ala, suddenly experience a 'low' (In Tasawwuf, this state is called 'Qabdh'). That 'high' is no longer enjoyed. They begin to wonder as to what had happened...Why ? And they too suffer depression.
A person, experiencing such a spiritual 'low' should reason that there is the great wisdom of Allah Ta'ala behind this state, otherwise it may be that pride enters the person's heart and he begins to consider himself very great.
This is Allah Ta'ala's way of keeping a balance. This 'low' offsets pride and thus saves a person from spiritual ruin. After this, if Allah Ta'ala so wills, He can always return him to his previous condition.
Thus in worldly as well as spiritual affairs, we need to make an effort and then adopt Tafweez. Ask Allah Ta'ala to make the best decision for us. Plead to Him and beg of Him to give us the best of this world and the best of the hereafter.
A Blessing or Punishment ?
Sometimes, a sickness, disease, etc. comes in the form of a blessing and sometimes in the form of an Azaab (punishment). For a Mu'min, it is a blessing and mercy if it causes him to turn towards Allah Ta'ala.
I will conclude with an incident that occurred a few years ago. I went to visit a person who was suffering from cancer. On entering his room, I found him surrounded by 3 television sets - one to his right, one to his left and one in front of him. This was, indeed, very surprising ... a sick person in extreme pain who could well be in his last moments, in such a situation.
On inquiry, his relatives explained, that due to his being confined to bed, it became necessary to turn him in these 3 positions; sometimes left, sometimes right, otherwise flat on his back. The 3 sets were placed in such a manner so that he would not miss any part of the program being watched.
If in that sickness, which was meant to have brought us to the door of Allah Ta'ala, we continue to indulge in sins and more so, then who do we blame for the problems which we thereafter have to face?
May Allah Ta'ala protect us all from loosing trust and faith in Him.
From a Supplementary Discourse on Tafweez, Radha bil Qadha and Fanaa'iyat.
As had been discussed , the major cause of depression and worries is that we have not as yet learnt Tafweez, Fanaa'iyat and Radha-bil-Qadha.
These three concepts mean basically one and the same thing : that we hand all our affairs and decisions over to Allah Ta'ala, and that we be satisfied with whatever He decides for us.
However, the illusion we live in, is that whatever we have decided, will happen accordingly. We expect Allah Ta'ala to oblige us, accommodate us and follow through with our decisions, exactly as they are. When this does not happen, then as is expected, we suffer anxiety, frustration, depression and worry. Why? ... Because we forget that we are the slaves of Allah Ta'ala and that He is not our slave. As our Master, He can decide for us, whatever He wishes to. This is His prerogative.
Examples
Several examples had been cited last week and there are many more that could be alluded to. Some which had been mentioned were :
1. ) A proposal is put forward with a 'surety' and confidence that it will be accepted, but it isn't. Since Tafweez was not adopted, the person suffers acute depression.
2. ) A businessman has his sights on a prospective business venture, which he believes would make him successful. Somewhere along the line the transaction does not go through, and depression seizes him.
3. ) A student works very hard for his examinations and then fails, for whatever reason. Depression overwhelms him to such an extent that it leads him to contemplate suicide, if not commit suicide
Within the framework of Shariah, we have to make an effort. After making the correct effort in the desired direction we should hand all our matters to Allah Ta'ala. Just as a person wanting to go to Cape Town, will board a plane headed for Cape Town and not a Johannesburg-bound plane, so too do we need to make the effort towards what we want to achieve... but the final decision must be left to our Infinitely Wise Allah.
Hidayat
In the different fields and spheres of Deen, there is much aspiration to be found in those that are rendering service of Deen. The Jamaat goes out for gusht, taleem and tabligh, desiring to bring Deen into the lives of others as well. The Asaatiza at the Madrassahs and Darul Ulooms, impart taleem, endeavour to educate their students and aspire to mould the ways and lives of their students. Likewise others, in whatever effort they make, they wish to see change, reformation, acceptance and implementation.
Sometimes, an Alim teaching at a Darul Uloom may desire to reform a particular student or a Shaikh may desire to reform a certain mureed and they thus make a concerted effort in Da'wah, Tarbiyyah, etc. towards the change of the student or the mureed. Yet, despite the effort made, the student or mureed does not change. As a result, the teacher or Shaikh sometimes becomes despondent.
A very important incident in the life of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is a lesson to heed : Rasulullah's (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) uncle, Abu Talib, had been like a father to Rasulullah (sallallahu alyhi wasallam), bringing him up and caring for him. When Rasulullah (sallallhu alayhi wasallam) declared his prophet hood, then Abu Talib supported him with everything which he had at his disposal. Thus, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) loved his uncle very much and encouraged him to accept Islam.
When Abu Talib was on his deathbed, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said to his uncle : "O my uncle! Declare (your faith in) 'La ilaha Illallah', so that I may argue for you before Allah on the Day of Judgement." Despite the effort made and the encouragement given by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), Abu Talib did not accept Islam and died on Kufr.
Allah Ta'ala informed Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) :
" Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He pleases; and He knows best those who receive guidance. "
Even though Allah Ta'ala is the one who guides, the pre-condition of being recipient to Hidayat is to WANT hidayat and make a concerted effort in that direction, otherwise Allah Ta'ala states that if a person is not interested in being guided, then He will not thrust guidance down such a person's throat.
Nevertheless, if Allah Ta'ala so wills then He will use the Ustaadh, Sheikh, and others rendering service to Deen, to be a means of the Hidayat for, sometimes, not just one person but millions of people.
Our endeavor is to make the correct effort and thereafter trust completely in Allah Ta'ala. Depression and restlessness will not draw near to the heart which has resigned itself to the will and wish of Allah Ta'ala. The heart of such a person is akin to a garden.
The outward conditions surrounding the person could be difficult but the heart of that person is a flower blooming amidst thorns. Allah Ta'ala grants this person peace and contentment, because of the Tafweez (i.e. accepting Allah Ta'ala's will) adopted.
The Route to Allah
Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ahmad Saheb (R.A.) mentions in his poetry :
"In whichever condition He keeps me, it is the best condition for me. Through whichever route He takes me it is the easiest route for me." Thus, whatever condition befalls a person, there is Tafweez. Of course, this person will take treatment if he is ill, apply ointment to his wound, if he is injured. On his dua and Tadbeer, restlessness, anxiety and worry will not touch upon his heart. He understands that Allah Ta'ala knows best what is best for him. This condition of heart reminds me of a beautiful explanation which Mullah Ali Qaari (R.A.) has written in his commentary of Mishkaat Shareef about Halawat-e-Imaan (Sweetness of Imaan).
The Sweetness of Imaan
I have mentioned previously that when the sweetness and ecstasy of Imaan enters the heart of a person, then his whole life changes.
When a person does something out of his love for Allah Ta'ala and His Rasool, and not merely out of a sense of obligation, then Allah Ta'ala blesses this person with the sweetness of Imaan.
Fulfilling our Deeni obligations i.e. Salaah, Fasting, Zakaat, etc. just because it is our duty to do so is very different from fulfilling them out of love for Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah e. Our weakness is that everything we do stems from 'duty' and 'obligation' and not love.
This is comparable to a person working for me and I tell him to go to the post office and fetch the post therefrom. Since no car is available, the person has to take a walk. He will not find enjoyment in his heart in having to walk to the post office.
Take a person who enjoys jogging. It is the pleasure of his life. Now if he is told to run the errand, then if the distance is 5 km, he will consider this too short a distance.
Then again, there are many of us, whose objective in fulfilling our Deeni obligations is that we derive pleasure, enjoyment and happiness as a reward for fulfilling them. We are therefore not Aashiqs (lovers) of Allah Ta'ala, rather Aashiqs of pleasure, enjoyment and happiness.
It is not Haraam to ask Allah Ta'ala for peace, contentment, pleasure, enjoyment and happiness - indeed, we should ask and continue asking Allah Ta'ala for these things. But since, most of the virtuous deeds we do revolve around a sense of duty and not the love of Allah Ta'ala, we don't achieve this sweetness of Imaan.
For example : we render some service to Deen, but we do so because we think : "People are going astray and there is so much of corruption. It is our duty to make an effort."
Yes, indeed, it is our duty, on which, we will Insha-Allah gain Thawaab (reward) but we will not taste of the sweetness of Imaan, because everything done stems from a sense of duty and not from the love for Allah Ta'ala and the desire to gain His pleasure.
Such khidmat (service) to Deen needs to be rendered out of love for Allah Ta'ala, with a deep-felt concern for those going astray, that some attempt be made to save them from deviation and that all the Ummaties of Nabi e follow the path laid out by him and gain salvation in the Akhirah.
Added to this, Deeni work should be undertaken with the understanding that it is Allah Ta'ala who has blessed us with life, with health, with wealth, with the faculties of sight, hearing and speech and He has granted us intelligence, coupled with knowledge. It is thus only befitting that a servant utilizes all these invaluable bounties of Allah Ta'ala for His pleasure alone.
Even though - the reality and essence of the sweetness of Imaan is not acquired so easily. To obtain such a precious commodity, we have to sit in the company of those whose hearts are aflame with the Love of Allah Ta'ala and who thus do everything for His pleasure alone. In their blessed company, where the lessons of Divine love are taught and where we may draw from their hearts, that fire of love, there we will reap the sweetness of Imaan.
Signs of the Sweetness of Imaan
1. Enjoyment in Ibaadat
The acquisition of the Sweetness of Imaan brings immense enjoyment in the Ibaadah undertaken. The pleasure a person finds in his Salaah, impels him to delay his Sajdas. His Zikr of Allah Ta'ala emanates from the deep recesses of his heart, intoxicating him. The requirement for this intoxication and ecstasy is neither wine nor worldly love; the requirement for this 'high' is neither heroine nor cocaine; it is the remembrance of his beloved Allah.
When he recites the Qur'aan Sharif, then it is as if he is conversing and communicating with his Rabb. The speech of Allah Ta'ala, which he recites, deeply impresses upon his heart and establishes a profounder and stronger Imaan within him. With a deep hearted enjoyment, he believes that his Allah is listening to His own Kalaam (speech) from the tongue of His sinful servant.
The mercy and kindness of Allah Ta'ala is such that despite us having used and abused the tongue in Gheebat, lies, false oaths and Qasms and so many other evils, Allah Ta'ala still grants us the 'towfeeq' to read His Kalaam. He would have given it to the angels to read, because to read such pure and untainted speech, we require tongues which are sinless.
The objective will not be to complete as many paras or Qur'aans as is possible and thus read at breakneck speed, hastily and disrespectfully. There will be calm, dignity and beauty which will adorn the Qur'aan Sharif and which will win one special 'audience' from Allah Ta'ala.
When expending his money in the path of Allah Ta'ala, in charities and Zakaat, then this person does not feel financially burdened. There is an enjoyment in this person's generosity, kindness, in his concern for the poor and needy and in the fulfillment of the rights of his kith and kin, neighbors and others.
Because every sphere of his life has become an Ibaadat, his entire life is blissful. When a person does any good deed, for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala, then the heart is rewarded immediately with pleasure and joy.
2. Suppressing the Nafs
Another sign indicating that a person has tasted the sweetness of Imaan, is that this person will overcome and suppress all his evil and carnal desires. He will not succumb to his haraam passions and desires. He will regard them as cursed passions; the fulfillment of which earns him the displeasure of his Beloved Allah.
"We regard such pleasures As worthy of being cursed, By which, O friends, My Lord becomes displeased."
When evil thoughts enter the mind and evil desires enter the heart, then we should overcome them by ignoring them and not entertaining them. Let them pass by, but pay no attention to them. We should not invite these thoughts and lay out the dastarkhan (table) for them and amiably say: "O you wonderful thoughts, please remain in my heart for a long time because I am deriving much enjoyment from this visit of yours."
It is natural that these thoughts and desires will come ... this is expected, but it is sinful to entertain them. At such times, we should immediately focus our attention to something permissible.
Imaan
It is mentioned that some of the Sahabah (R.A.) once presented themselves to Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and said : "Our condition is that sometimes we experience such evil thoughts and sentiments in our hearts that it is most painful even to mention them."
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) enquired : "Is it really so ?"
They replied : "Yes, this is our condition."
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) exclaimed : "But that is pure faith." ... meaning, that to feel grieved and distressed at such thoughts and sentiments is a sign of good Imaan.
In another narration, a person said to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam):
"Sometimes such wicked ideas come to my mind that I would prefer to be burnt down and reduced to charcoal than to give utterance to them."
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied : "Praise be to Allah who turned back the matter towards thought and sentiment." ... meaning, that it is the grace of Allah Ta'ala that these thoughts and desires were not accepted and adopted but remained as is.
Thus a person who has achieved this sweetness of Imaan, will not act upon his evil desires and thoughts. He will burn up these evil desires in the furnace of Taqwa and light up his heart with the Noor of Taqwa.
Figurative beauty
A beautiful woman passes by and one happens to cast an accidental glance at her. Thereafter a strong desire plagues at the heart of the person and he feels that he simply cannot forego the sight of such a beauty. What is he to do ? If he suppresses this desire �
" I will not look, I will not look, Never will I look at one, Looking upon whom, displeases my Lord."
� then Allah Ta'ala rewards him on this sacrifice.
Allah Ta'ala has stated in a Hadith-e-Qudsi : "Verily evil glancing is an arrow from the poisonous arrows of Shaitaan. Whosoever fears Me (Allah) and refrains from it will receive from Me such Imaan, the sweetness of which he will taste (feel) in his heart."
If, on the other hand, he appeases the evil desires of his nafs, and continues glancing lustfully at the woman, then the end results of having displeased Allah Ta'ala will be restlessness, restlessness and more restlessness.
Allah Ta'ala promises a life of restlessness, difficulty and anxiety for those who indulge in sin.
Allah Ta'ala states in Surah Ta Ha :
" Whosoever turns away from My reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship ..."
Ayaaz and the Priceless Pearl
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) mentions in his Mathnavi, a story of Sultan Mahmood : One day the Sultan decided to test his ministers and ordered them to crush the most prized pearl of his treasury. One by one, each of 65 ministers declined, stating that the pearl was far too valuable to be destroyed.
The King then summoned his closest and trusted courtier, Ayaaz, and ordered him to crush the pearl. Without any delay or hesitation, Ayaaz crushed the pearl into fragments. When the ministers expressed disbelief and shock at such audacity, the King asked Ayaaz to inform them as to the reason for him having broken the pearl.
In response, Ayaaz asked these ministers : " Which is more important, the Royal Decree or the pearl ? "
The question we pose to ourselves is : " Which is more important, the command of my Allah or the desire of my heart ?"
The desires of the heart are akin to pearls, which appear to be quite beautiful but we should not fulfil these desires at the cost of breaking the decrees of Allah.
Ayaaz attained closeness to the king through his loyalty and faithfulness and his obedience and submission. Similarly, we will gain the extreme nearness and intimate closeness to the King of Kings through loyalty and faithfulness. This in turn is dependent upon sincere obedience and complete submission to His decrees.
The Test of Imaan
Imaan will not be tested in the Musjid because a Musjid is not a place for the testing of Imaan. It would obviously be very easy to be pious and abstain from sins therein. The testing grounds of Imaan are the streets, universities, bazaars and businesses.
What kind of Imaan do we display, if we indulge in illicit relationships at the high schools, universities, etc., if we cast lustful glances at every woman who passes by us on the streets and if we cheat our customers, commit fraud and employ semi-nude women to work along side us in our businesses, believing that by employing them we will be saving on salary ?
Know that at such places our Imaan will definitely be tested. At such times we have to project and assert our Imaan and Islam. If the person passes the tests here, then indeed this person has tasted of the sweetness of Imaan.
3. Sacrifice for Deen
The third sign of the sweetness of Imaan, is that one will be prepared to undergo all forms of difficulties and hardships for the sake of Allah Ta'ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). When a difficulty comes in the way of him fulfilling the commands of Allah Ta'ala, he will say :
" For the pleasure of my Allah and His Rasool (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) , I will suppress my desires and withstand the difficulties which come my way."
Thus, out of his love for Allah Ta'ala, he will walk to the musjid for Fajr Salaah even on the severest of winter mornings. If, however, he is ill or has some valid reason for missing his Jamaat Salaah, then this is different from not going to the Musjid due to laziness.
Such a person will also be prepared to defend his Deen on the battlefield and will even sacrifice his life for it. Of course, he must not beg or ask Allah Ta'ala for difficulties and hardships, rather for goodness and well being.
We are not of the caliber of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahabah (R.A.), yet Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) taught the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (R.A.) to always ask Allah Ta'ala for Aafiyat, ease and comfort. We too should seek the same goodness from Allah Ta'ala.
Nevertheless, if a difficulty comes this person's way, as a test, he will remain firm and steadfast in his beliefs and actions and endure it for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala.
Duaa
We receive many calls from people saying that they make dua and read their Salaah, read Ishraaq, Chasht and Salaatul Haajaat and even awaken for Tuhajjid, but then say that despite all this, Allah Ta'ala still does not want to hear their duas (Na-oozo-bil-lahi-min-zaalik)... as if Allah Ta'ala is obliged to do so.
Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) has said : "Sometimes Allah delays in answering the prayers so that one may continue to call on Him earnestly and crying in humility. While this is done, He is Aware thereof and He greatly approves thereof."
Delay in acceptance of one's duas is not a sign that Allah Ta'ala has rejected the dua. On the contrary, it is a sign of the pleasure of Allah; that His servant has recognized Him to be the only one who can fulfill all his needs. In fact, the person who sincerely asks of Allah, not despairing and losing hope in Allah, Allah enshrouds him in His Mercy.
Nabi Yacoob (A.S.) made dua that he be reunited with his missing son, Hazrat Yusuf (A.S.). After 40 years, this dua of Hazrat Yacoob (A.S.) was answered.Thus, Allah Ta'ala, knows best when and in what manner to answer a person's duas. Therefore Nabi e has explained :
"Any Muslim who makes a dua and his dua does not contain a request for anything sinful or anything regarding the severance of family ties, Allah grants him one of three things most assuredly, namely,
1. ) What he has asked is granted immediately, or
2. ) What he has asked is saved for him as a treasure in the Aakhirah, or
3. ) Allah wards away some calamity from him in lieu of the object asked for."
Our condition is that we make dua to just get over the problems we are faced with. There is that restlessness at heart because we are waiting for the problem to make a quick exit from our lives so that we may revert to our old lifestyle. To cite an example : many students are to be found in the Musjids at the time of their examinations ... the dua, Ibaadah is merely done in order that we overcome the difficulty or problem at hand.
4. Sabr and Shukr
In the midst of difficulties, a person with the sweetness of Imaan, exercises Sabr and is neither found to be disturbed nor perplexed. He does not complain of his Master, Allah Ta'ala, rather he adopts patience and views this patience as the gateway to the closeness, Ma'rifat and Muhabbat of Allah Ta'ala.
When blessed with abundance in bounties from Allah Ta'ala, like wealth, prosperity, etc. he makes Shukr and regards this gratitude as the gateway to the proximity, Ma'rifat and Muhabbat of Allah Ta'ala.
In both conditions, the person retains his trust and his faith in Allah Ta'ala. When afflicted with difficulties and trial, then Sabr is exercised and the heart is blessed with the sweetness of Imaan. When granted the best of bounties and gifts, plenty of gratitude and appreciation is expressed and the heart is blessed with the sweetness of Imaan.
Rasulullah(sallahu alayhi wasallam) has said :
"The Mu'min is a wonderful being. If goodness/prosperity comes his way, he praises Allah and offers Shukr (gratitude). And, if hardship/adversity strikes him, he (also) praises Allah and adopts Sabr (patience)."
This relationship with Allah Ta'ala is analogous to two pages stuck firm by glue. That glue has created such a 'strong' bond that the page can be torn, but the two pages will not separate. This is the kind of relationship we need to build with our Allah; that irrespective of the condition, we will not separate ourselves from Allah Ta'ala.
A Lesson from Children
Many a time we have seen mothers slap or hit their children when they have been naughty or disobedient, yet those children cling on to their mothers and refuse to leave them. That little child is teaching us a lesson : Although I am getting a hiding well deserved, how can I leave my mother ? Where would I go ?
If that child is not prepared to leave its mother, then where are we going to go, leaving our Allah? There is no one else for us, except Allah.
It is mentioned in the Mathnavi of Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) that once Allah Ta'ala said to Nabi Moosa (A.S.) :
"I love My bondsmen very much when they behave towards Me like infants, who in spite of their mother's punishment and anger still attach themselves to her, instead of fleeing. When that mother gives him a slap, he still flees to her and while crying, holds onto her strongly. The small child does not want help from anyone save the mother. He even shows no inclination to his father. Instead he looks upon his mother as the source and origin of all good and evil. O Moosa (A.S.), your imagination and connection with us in good and evil is similar to that; that except for Us, your attention is not drawn to anyone else ..."
Thus, no matter what the condition or circumstance, our dependence upon Allah Ta'ala should be as the child's dependence upon its mother.
On the acceptance, patience, tolerance and fortitude exercised, Allah Ta'ala blesses a person with the sweetness of Imaan. As I have mentioned, this quality of Imaan is, however, acquired from the Ahlullah, those who possess the same in their hearts. This then is transferred and kindled into the hearts of those who keep their company.
The companions of Nabi(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) are known as 'Sahabah' because they spent time in the company of Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam)and received from his heart, the great wealth and treasure of Imaan and Ishq of Allah Ta'ala.
My Sheikh, Hazrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (D.B.) says most beautifully and aptly in one of his poems : " ... the condition (of success) is (some) kind attention of the men of love, otherwise this gem of love cannot be had ..."
5. Radha-bil-Qadha
The quality of Radha-bil-Qadha has also been cultivated within the person who has this sweetness of Imaan and is implemented under all conditions.
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.) once asked Hazrat Moulana Abdul Ghani Phulpoori (R.A.) :
"Is there any stage higher than Ikhlaas (sincerity) ?"
Hazrat Moulana Abdul Ghani (R.A.) replied :
" Ikhlaas is a very high stage; I cannot think of anything higher than that."
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.) then said :
" Higher than even Ikhlaas, is Radha-bil-Qadha - that you be satisfied with whatever Allah Ta'ala gives to you."
This does not mean that a person can do the wrong thing and expect Allah Ta'ala to decide in his favour. We must not blame Taqdeer for our own mistakes. If a person takes a knife and slashes his throat, this is not 'Taqdeer'. But if someone else slashed this person's throat, then yes, this is Taqdeer.
One person gave his very young daughter in marriage to a very old man. For some wealth and property, the father pressurized his daughter and so, even though unwilling and unhappy, she was left no choice. As would be expected, plenty of problems surfaced. When the matter was brought before Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.), he asked the father as to where his intelligence had disappeared for him to have arranged such an unsuitable match for his daughter. The father replied : "Taqdeer."
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (R.A.) got very angry, saying :
"You made the mistake and now blame Taqdeer."
We should not deliberately do the wrong thing and then blame Taqdeer for the end result. Using the means which are available, the correct effort should be made; thereafter accept whatever transpires.
Handing all matters to Allah Ta'ala, resigning oneself to the decisions of Allah Ta'ala and believing that there is great wisdom in His decisions, creates peace in one's life.
Allah Ta'ala has mentioned in a Hadith-e-Qudsi :
"... Some of My slaves are keen to offer special type of (optional) prayers, but I do not let them do so, for it may lead to vanity; some of them are such, who can have sound faith only when in good health, if I destine sickness for them, they are adversely affected; there are others who can maintain their faith only in sickness, if I order health for them, they may go astray. I give orders befitting the affairs of My slaves, because I know all that which is in their minds."
Thus, to protect the Imaan of His servants, Allah Ta'ala, out of His Infinite Kindness, grants some people favourable conditions and blesses them with plenty of wealth and prosperity and keeps them happy; for if He inflicts them with poverty and difficult conditions they may commit Kufr.
To some people Allah Ta'ala gives them poverty and less material wealth, because He knows fully well that if He were to give them plenty of wealth, then instead of coming to Him, making Ibaadah and Shukr, they will expend and squander this money in Haraam avenues e.g. gambling, prostitutes, etc. So Allah Ta'ala deprives these people of wealth so that their Imaan remains intact... such is the wisdom Allah Ta'ala has in everything which He does.
Due to the deficiency in our understanding we do not accept, acknowledge and appreciate Allah Ta'ala's benevolence, loving-kindness and favours upon us as we should. Yet Allah Ta'ala informs us in the Qur'aan Sharif :
"Many a time you dislike a thing while (in fact) it is good for you, and many a time you love a thing while it is evil for you. And Allah knows while you do not know."(Surah Baqarah 2 : 16)
Conclusion
As the servants and slaves of Allah Ta'ala we should understand that our Master will grant to us only that which is good for us. Our duty and endeavor is that we supplicate and ask of Allah Ta'ala, then make the correct effort (tadbeer) and thereafter leave the final decision to Allah Ta'ala. This brings peace, contentment and happiness into our hearts.
Allah Ta'ala grants the sweetness of Imaan, together with all the accompanying conditions of peace, tranquility, happiness, etc., to those who are faithful and sincere servants. And if the Kings of this world knew of this condition of the heart, they would go to great lengths to snatch it away. However, this is something which Allah Ta'ala gives to whomsoever He chooses to.
Whilst this in itself is not difficult to attain, effort is a precondition. The effort is directed more in suppressing the nafs from Haraam because, in comparison, finding enjoyment in Ibaadat is a little easy. We sometimes derive enjoyment in Zikr, Tilawat, Haj, etc. The real test is in suppressing the nafs from Haraam. On doing this, Allah Ta'ala will ignite our hearts with the Noor of Imaan.
My sheikh mentions an example : he says that that area which is struck by a flood, earthquake or any other disaster, then due to the damage, the government declares it a disaster area and supplies the material - the sand, cement, etc. - for the reconstruction of those homes and buildings destroyed in such a disaster.
In a similar vein, when evil desires make their way into our hearts and we smash and destroy them for the pleasure of Allah, then this fragile building of our heart is shattered into thousands of fragments. On the pain and grief experienced at this destruction, Allah Ta'ala will reconstruct our hearts with the sweetness and the Noor of Imaan.
When a person experiences this, he will then really know and understand what it is ... It will be as if he is here but not here; eating, drinking, laughing and joking, talking to his friends, etc. but his heart will always be connected to Allah Ta'ala ...
" Whilst occupied in the world, he is still with Allah.
And in spite of being with everyone, he is still away from everyone."
Dua
May Allah Ta'ala grant us all the 'towfeeq' of practising upon the teachings of the Qur'aan Sharif and the 'towfeeq' to follow the beautiful lifestyle of our beloved Nabi, Sayyedena Muhammad(sallallahu alayhi wasallam). May He bless us with implicit trust and faith in Him. May He strengthen our Imaan so that we accept all decisions made by Him, to be the best for us. May He give us the understanding that He is the Creator of means so that after adopting the means we may not trust in those means gaining us our desired objective but instead trust in Allah Ta'ala and pray to Him to grant us success in our endeavors. May Allah Ta'ala forgive us all and bless us with the best of both worlds.
Wa Sal-lal-lahu alan Nabiyil Kareem wa ala aalihee Wa as-habihee ajma'een
Source: http://www.khanqah.org/
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