Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Thursday, 23 January 2025
Follow Those on The Right Path
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
In Surah Yusuf, when Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) was unjustly imprisoned, two prisoners, on observing his virtue and piety, requested him for the interpretations of their dreams. As is inherent in the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam), Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) first invited them to Imaan, to the Oneness of Allah Ta’ala, before fulfilling their request for the dream interpretations. He said to them:
“He said: ‘No food provided for you shall come to you but i can give you its description before it comes to you. This is the knowledge my Lord has given me…”
[Surah Yusuf 12 : 37]
Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) revealed to them a miracle that Allah Ta’ala blessed him with – that is, he was able to inform them of the exact food that would be provided for them. This was a clear proof of his Nubuwwah and was meant to increase their confidence when calling them to accept Dien. Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) also proclaimed his severance with those who were disbelievers, saying:
“…I have abandoned the ways of a people that believe not in Allah and who deny the hereafter.”
[Surah Yusuf 12 : 37]
Thereupon, Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) announced his affiliation and connection with the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam) and his firm belief in Tauheed, renouncing any kind of shirk and acknowledging the favour and grace of Allah Ta’ala:
“And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Ibraheem, Is’haq and Ya’qub. And it is not for us to associate any partners with Allah. That is from the favour of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.”
[Surah Yusuf 12 : 38]
In these beautiful words of da’wah, Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) summarised and brought together fundamental guidance and weighty counsel for our spiritual well-being and salvation. The criteria outlined in these Aayaat are:
1. We do not follow the ways of the disbelievers, nor do we follow our elders if they tread upon the wrong path and instruct us to falsehood.
2. We follow our elders when they are on the right path themselves, and are guiding and teaching us what is right.
As Believers, our allegiance is first to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Thereafter, the first category of people a person obeys and follows are his parents. Parents are meant to be guides for their children, bringing them up on Imaan and Islam; in obedience to Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Parents are to teach, train, guide, advise and correct the child.
The great rights of the parents are clearly outlined and emphasised in the Qur’aan Sharief as well as in the Ahadith. While kindness is much more to the mother, there must be respect and obedience to both. Allah Ta’ala mentions:
“We commanded man (to be good) in respect of his parents. His mother carried him (in her womb) despite weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years.
(We said to man,) “Be grateful to Me and to your parents. To Me is the ultimate return.”
If we follow through in fulfilling the rights of our parents, we will find a lot of goodness in our lives.
Keeping this in mind, we know that there are others who also have great rights over us such as the Ustaadh and Shaykh. Foremost are the rights of parents; thereafter the Ustaadh and then the Shaykh. This is the correct tarteeb (sequence) and it is important to keep to this order:
1. Our Parents
2. Our Asaatiza (teachers)
3. Our Shaykh (spiritual mentor)
Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) has substantiated this order in his kitaab, Aadabul Mu’asharaat and other writings, with Shar’i proofs. We should not upset this arrangement; for example, we should not give preference to the Shaykh or the Ustaadh over the parents.
After commanding us to respect and be grateful to our parents, Allah Ta’ala instructs:
“But if they force you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of (other gods), do not obey them….”
[Surah Luqman 31:15]
If the person has brought Imaan and accepted Islam, and his parents are non-Believers and they pressurise him to give up Islam and ascribe partners to Allah Ta’ala – then the command is: Do not obey them. …Do not follow them.
Allah Ta’ala has given this clear prohibition when parents force the person to kufr and shirk. The prohibition will also apply if parents force to any other form of disobedience to Allah Ta’ala. It will not be permissible to obey at such times.
Similarly, this injunction will apply to the Ustaadh, Shaykh or anyone else who instructs or influences towards falsehood. Although Allah Ta’ala does not mention the Ustaadh or the Shaykh, a person can clearly understand that if parents are not to be obeyed when they command to kufr and Haraam, it will apply moreover to others. Thus, a person cannot follow the Ustaadh if he directs or instructs to anything that goes against the Shari’ah. The person cannot follow the Shaykh if he orders to anything which is wrong. Dien is given priority over parents, Ustaadh, Shaykh and everyone!
Allah Ta’ala reward our mashaa’ikh. They too had this concern and would even address their khulafa and close associates and say: The day you see that I have strayed from Dien and am not following the Dien properly, leave me and follow Dien. …May Allah Ta’ala give us the concern, the understanding and taufeeq.
Hadhrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) encapsulated these vital matters very beautifully, which have been explained in other places in the Qur’aan Sharief as well. This is a great teaching of the Qur’aan Sharief.
If a person understands this, he will not go astray; he will be on hidayat in this world and when he reaches his qabr, he will be able to answer the questions of the qabr correctly. On the other hand, if we feel that we must follow our parents when they command us to wrong, we will have problems in this world and severe problems in the qabr. Likewise, if a person feels that respect and obedience to the Ustaadh and the Shaykh is binding in matters which go against the grain of Shari’ah, the person will go astray and will have to contend with the consequences. The Ahadith state very clearly: “There is no obedience to the creation if it entails disobedience to the Creator.”[1]
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “…There is no obedience to anyone in sinful acts; obedience is only in meritorious acts.”[2]
THE SAHABAH-E-KIRAAM (RADHIYALLAHU ANHUM)
We find, at times, in the lives of the Sahaba (Radhiyallahu anhum) that if anyone broke the law of Shari’ah or went against the instruction of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam – even if it was a close family member – ties were cut, because Dien comes before family and before any other friendship or association. The Sahabah (Radhiyallahu anhum) held every command of Dien in high regard and could not bear anyone breaking them. Thus, it is permissible to remain aloof and even break off ties with one who is involved in innovation and sin. Of course, this stance should not be due to the nafs or some worldly excuse.
In the same way, if a person not only breaks the laws of Shari’ah but commands us to also do so, it will not be permissible to follow or obey him. …If the Ustaadh or the Shaykh departs from Siratul Mustaqeem (the straight path); moves away from the teachings of Deen and openly engages in wrong actions or instructs us towards the wrong, it is not permissible to follow him. This is especially vital in these times when many scholars adopt a liberal stance in matters of the Shar’iah. They obscure the teachings of the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah, and advocate and encourage towards permissive and Haraam conduct such as intermixing of men and women, photography, interfaith, etc.
The criterion is the Dien of Allah Ta’ala – the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah. Family ties and other associations, wealth and worldly ranks will not assist us in the hereafter. What will count is our Dien and our a’maal; our good deeds. Allah Ta’ala says:
“Then, when the Trumpet will be blown, there will be no ties of kinship between them on that Day, nor will they (even care to) ask about one another.
And those whose scales are heavy (with good deeds) - it is they who are the successful.”
[Surah Al-Mu’minoon 23 : 101/102]
To recap: We should not follow our elders and seniors if they are leading us down the wrong path. However, if they are teaching us correctly and guiding us aright, we must follow them very strongly. We must firmly attach ourselves to their guidance and teachings because they are Rijaalullah (the men of Allah Ta’ala); they convey and explain the true knowledge of the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah. They guide the creation to recognising the Creator and fulfilling their objective of this worldly life and gaining salvation in the hereafter.
Allah Ta’ala grant us taufeeq to adhere to what is Haq and
bless us with the guidance of the Ulama-e-Haq. Aameen.
[1] Musnad Ahmad
[2] Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 7257, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1840
Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Wednesday, 4 December 2024
The Attacks on Islam and the Muslim Ummah
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (Daamat Barakaatuhu)
The Dien of Islam has been fully safeguarded till today, close to 1500 years. This preservation and perpetuation of Dien was upon the great sacrifices of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, his family and his companions (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). The pure, pristine Dien of Islam was conveyed to us as revealed from Allah Ta’ala. It is our good fortune that Allah Ta’ala has blessed us with Imaan and Islam. From our side, we should be willing to expend ourselves for Dien.
Today, Islam is under attack from all sides. Even Muslims who are conscious of Dien are unaware of the matter and the Ummah at large remains in a slumber. Worse than this is that we are immersed in dunya, obsessed with acquiring it and engrossed in everything that takes us away from Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam; meanwhile the teachings of Islam are being destroyed and Muslims are being oppressed, tortured and killed. What a sad state of affairs.
To end all the misery and suffering, instead of turning to Allah Ta’ala, giving up our sins and increasing in good deeds, we do the opposite. We look towards marching, playing sport, having luncheons and fairs as a solution for the suffering Muslim Ummah; none of which has brought the help of Allah Ta’ala.
Who of us makes time for Dua for the protection and preservation of Islam? Who of us makes Dua for the Muslims in Syria, Palestine, Kashmir, China, Sudan and other places where they are under the yoke of great affliction and difficulty? …Dua does not cost any money. Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Sahib (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would say that Dua is more powerful than atom bombs. …Unfortunately, we remain neglectful, revealing our weak faith in Allah Ta’ala.
The Hadith mentions: “The Muslims are like (the body of) one man; if his eye pains, his whole body pains and if his head pains, his whole body pains.”
The suffering and hardship of the Ummah should deeply grieve us. …But do we feel anything? Do we feel any pain? …If we don’t feel anything, are we part of the Ummah?
There are two separate matters:
- Islam under attack
- Muslims being oppressed
Muslims are supposed to give their lives for Islam; not that Islam must sacrifice for Muslims so that Muslims may live according the Jews and Christians and western norms. In this kind of concession, we find that changes are introduced to Islam so that the Muslims’ desires are accommodated. The pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam do not feature in our lives because we live to please nafs. …Many scholars are also treating the matter in this way; changing Islam to suit the politicians, the media and the public - whereas Muslims should give their lives for the defence and protection of Islam.
If anything, we are chasing Islam out of our lives. There is no Islam on our faces … the beard is not kept and that too, as it should be – one fist length. The women make a show of themselves - there is no concern for hijab and niqab and having any semblance with the wives and daughters of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Our young boys and girls are under the spell of shaytaan, caught up in drugs, liquor, fornication, tattoos and other Haraam. Sins have become the order of the day. Our homes have no similarity to the homes of the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). Our furniture and décor are in keeping with the trends and ways of the kuffaar. Such is our weak condition that we cherish and love the ways of the kuffaar and we have a dislike for the way of life of the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). We frown upon simplicity and humbleness.
Allah Ta’ala warns us:
“Indeed, shaytaan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his followers to be among the companions of the Blaze.”
[Surah Fatir 35 : 6]
Instead of taking shaytaan as our enemy, we have befriended him. We have also befriended nafs – and nafs is worse than shaytaan. It was nafs that made shaytaan, shaytaan. Whatever our nafs likes, we do; whatever shaytaan directs us to do, we do. However, what Ar-Rahmaan (The Most Merciful), Allah Ta’ala guides us to, we find that hard to accept and follow. For nafs and shaytaan, we are readily prepared to do … cast lustful gazes, take interest, give bribes, steal, gamble, etc. Very sadly, we are not prepared to do for Allah Ta’ala.
Shaytaan vowed:
“Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left; and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).”
[Surah Al-A’raaf 7 : 16/17]
With great resolve and arrogance, shaytaan said to Allah Ta’ala that he will come to Bani Aadam from every direction and take as many with him to Jahannum. He won’t go alone to Jahannum.
The kuffaar; the enemies of Islam are the agents of shaytaan. They are doing his work, inviting us to Jahannum through various avenues and we are happy to accept their invitation. In fact, we express great happiness going in the direction of the fire of Jahannum.
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “The parable of myself and the people is that of a man who lit a fire. When it illuminated its surroundings, the moths and other creatures which are attracted to light began to fall into it. He began to pull them out of the fire, but they overwhelmed him and continued to fall into it. I am the one pulling you away from the fire, but you keep going headlong into it.”[1]
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam wants to protect us from the fire but we are determined to enter it and are rushing recklessly towards it. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam wants to take us to Jannah. Shaytaan wants to take us to Jahannum. The choice is ours. Regrettably, most of us are giving in to shaytaan.
Over the centuries, various efforts were made to destroy the Muslim Ummah and Islam. We had the Crusades where many wars took place. However, the Ummah was one and kept strong. Allah Ta’ala’s Help was with the Muslims. Thereafter, the orientalists came onto the scene. They would write about Islam, praising Islam and honouring the men of Islam but would deliberately yet deviously inject their poison to undermine the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). When this effort did not have the desired results, the next plan was to use the Muslim public to stand against the Ulama. As an example: In Turkey, the young Turk movement/coalition was created to oppose the Khilafah. It was to dismantle the Khilafah and introduce a modern Islam. Similarly, in other parts of the world, the younger generations opposed the mainstream of the Ummah and the Ulama.
One recent incident sheds light on the strategies of the enemies of Islam and how they make inroads and cause havoc in the Ummah.
An Aalim was travelling to Bosnia for welfare work. Allah Ta’ala made it such that he would sit next to a Jew during the flight. In their conversation about religion, the Jew surprised the Aalim by saying: “We have studied Islam; we have studied the Qur'aan and Hadith in such detail that perhaps we know your religion better than yourself.”
...A Jew said this to an Aalim. And this is my experience as well. They have studied Islam; not for Hidayah (guidance); not out of interest, respect or admiration; rather it is with the sole intent to destroy Islam. When an enemy looks at Islam, he will see what he wants to see. A suitable analogy is that of a pig that is only attracted to dirt. If it enters the most beautiful garden, it will not take cognisance of the beautiful roses and other flowers, or the wonderful fragrance from the flowers because it is searching for mud and dirt. The enemies of Islam look at Islam with a pig’s eye.
The Jew said: “After researching and analysing Islam, we have understood that Muslims have Divine assistance from Allah. This is why the Jews have not been able to fully defeat the Muslims. We studied your religion to find your weaknesses and those deeds that will deprive you of the Divine Help of Allah. We then gathered that we needed to adopt just 4 strategies whereby you lose the help of Allah.
...Presently, Allah Ta’ala’s Help is not fully with us. This is because are not practising Islam fully. The majority in the Ummah are negligent of Salaah and of so many other Commandments of Allah Ta’ala. As far as Mu’amalaat (business dealings), Mu’asharaat (social interaction) and akhlaaq (character) are concerned, we have disregarded these aspects of Islam. We pay no attention and have no concern.
Today, even the scholars of Islam sit on the fence; if not, they support and legitimize Haraam – what we never heard of previously. The scholars were to stand up for the truth but today many stand up for falsehood. They remain silent regarding the suffering of the Palestinians, Uighar Muslims, Rohingya and Muslims in Syria, Kashmir, India, Sudan, etc. because of their ties to the interfaith movement. On the local scene, here in South Africa, scholars encourage following the kuffaar constitution – supporting the marriage bill and shelving Islamic Law, endorsing interfaith – when Allah Ta’ala has clearly stated that the only religion accepted by Him is Islam. We live in this day and age where the scholars are now destroying the Ummah.
The Jew thereafter outlined their line of attack as follows. The import of his explanation was:
1. Engross the Muslims in sports and all kinds of entertainment and amusement. In doing so, they will lose direction in Dien and become negligent of their Dieni obligations. They will ignore the rights they owe to Allah Ta’ala and the creation.
2. Remove the Muslim women from their homes. Accord them different worldly positions. In this, they will interact with strange men and get entrapped in various immoral deeds that will divest them of modesty and even Dien.
3. Immerse the Muslims in Riba (interest/usury). Enslave them to the banks and entrap them in the banking system, thereby drowning them in interest-bearing loans.
4. Lastly: Create internal disunity and discord among the Muslims. Cause the masses, the laypeople to lose confidence in the Ulama-e-Haq and thus separate from them. When they are cut off from the Ulama-e-Haq, each person walks his own path and follows Islam as per his whims and fancies and goes astray.
...The outcome is for Islam to be ruined, its teachings to be shredded and the Muslim Ummah to be disintegrated and estranged.
The Jew thereafter said to the Aalim that their plans proved very successful as the Muslim Ummah has lost their religious orientation and focus. The consequence is that the Divine Help of Allah Ta’ala is withheld.
The fault is not with them. We are to blame. Animals are animals and will behave like animals. However, when human beings behave like animals, then what a sad situation. Similarly, the kuffaar are the kuffaar and will do as they do but when Muslims follow the kuffaar and do as they do, then what to say of our condition?
We were supposed to protect ourselves and the Ummah, and lead them to righteousness. However, we neither protect ourselves nor set an example for them to follow. Instead, we follow them on the road to Jahannum and we are also happy to do so.
Islam is being attacked, Muslims are attacked and we are quite complacent. Let us make a change. Let us implement Dien in our lives and give up all our sins. …We have to die. We will have to face Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. When he Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam asks us: For all the sacrifices that I made, is this what you did to Islam? …What answer will we give?
May Allah Ta’ala guide us, give us the understanding and taufeeq.
[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari
Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Wednesday, 2 October 2024
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