Tuesday 23 April 2013

Gems 21-25


Bi Ismihi Ta’ala


Selected and concise advices / sayings of 
Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)


21.

Deen is based on two solid pillars: Qur`aan and Hadeeth. It is not based on our thinking, 
which is generally weak and flawed.


22.

With the spark of love, marriage is enjoyable; 
with the spark of Allah’s Love, Deen is enjoyable.


23.

An angry person is a restless person; a person who allows his nafs 
to deprive him of peace and tranquillity.


24.

Where there is humility, there are no fights. Where there is pride, there are endless fights.


25.

The heart is destroyed by lustful glances. Since the heart is the home of Imaan, 
so Imaan is destroyed with lustful glances.





Friday 19 April 2013

The Need for Islaah


Bi Ismihi Ta’ala


Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)


There are many who take Bay`at, but without sincerely wanting to tread the path of Islaah (reformation). They are not genuinely interested in reforming themselves.

Sometimes, the intention is for Barakah[1], or for name and fame, or for Khilafat[2], or due to financial, health or other problems, or for some ulterior motive.


My respected Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would tell such people: “Sort out your problems first, then come for Bay'at. Bay’at is for Islaah and not to sort out these kinds of problems.”


Sometimes, the person considers himself independent of Islaah because of his Ilm (knowledge) and his Khidmat of Dien. So Bay`at is taken out of formality, and just for the sake of finding some credibility and acceptance amongst people, due to one’s association with a Sheikh. 


Those who are neglectful of their Islaah, easily become the toys of nafs and shaitaan. And any person who feels that he does not need anyone to guide him, is in deception.


Even if a person has made his Islaah and becomes a great Sheikh, with thousands of Mureeds, but he does not worry about his own Islaah, he will not remain a Muslih (one who reforms). He may not even remain Sawleh (pious).


وہ کیا مصلح ہوں گے ، صالح بھی نہیں  رہیں گے

‘Where will he be a guide; he, himself, will not be righteous.’


جو اپنے آپ کو مستقل بالذات سمجھتا ہے
وہ مستقل بد ذات ہوتا ہے ‎‎
‘He who regards himself as independent (and not in need of guidance or a Sheikh), 
will fall into evil.’


…Sometimes, the person gets Khilafat and that title and rank gets to his head. He thinks: My work is done. I am in a position to make Islaah.


Khilafat is only the starting point. There is a need for a lot more work. We have to keep an extremely vigilant eye on ourselves.


Moreover, Khilafat is generally given due to the spiritual progress of the Mureed, whilst in the company of the Sheikh. Khilafat usually indicates the potential of the Mureed to progress further in the field of Sulook if there is continuous effort, commitment and sincerity from the Mureed’s side. 


Hadhrat Moulana Husain Ahmad Madani (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had addressed some students who had graduated, saying: Those of you who think you have, today, become Aalim will remain Jaahil (ignorant). The one who continues seeking Ilm and continues teaching it, and becomes grounded in it, and strengthens his relationship with Ilm, by Amal, will become an Aalim.


Finishing the course, is only commencing the real course, and this course continues until one’s last breath comes out with Imaan. This course will continue until death.


This is the reality; otherwise the person misses the boat.


Many a time, a person’s Ilm becomes a test for him. Sometimes Khilafat becomes a great test for the person. …Because these stations can breed pride and arrogance. Then we find the person considers himself important, and there are great expectations from the people - that people must now do for him, people must now serve him, favour him, etc. He gets upset and angered if expectations are not met, or if someone has to advise and caution him.


The person even uses these positions to secure his name and fame, to secure Dunya – and in that agenda, he throws his weight around, and sometimes, many people are hurt, or wronged and oppressed. 


We find the attitude of : ‘Ana’, ‘Ana’… ‘I can do what I want to. I do not have to ask anyone…’


These are vices which creep and steal into the heart, and if not reformed, lead to many more base and evil qualities, and will ultimately be the cause of destruction, humiliation and disgrace. May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu protect us all. 


Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayih wasallam) said: “Two hungry wolves let loose on a flock of sheep cannot cause as much destruction to the flock than the damage inflicted to one’s Dien by one’s greed for wealth and fame.”[3]


…Sometimes the boss has to remind the employee: “You are just working here. You are not the boss; you are not in charge, despite your years of experience…”


Similarly, when we, who are the servants of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu, start entertaining our own greatness and importance, and exploit the position of Ilm or Khilafat, Allah Ta’ala then reminds the person as to who is in Authority – and the person is humbled. Allah Ta’ala brings him down. May Allah Ta’ala protect us all.


Islaah is the main concern. And Islaah is not something we can do on our own. Unfortunately, many decide their own “ilaaj” (cure) and sometimes find themselves worse off than when they started. As is commonly said:

رَاْيُ الْعَلِيْلِ عَلِيْل

The opinion / remedy prescribed by the one who is ill, is ill
(i.e. harmful, detrimental).


There are those who do not have the humility of seeking cure for their spiritual ailments. They recognize their weaknesses, they know their sins, but their pride won’t let them seek the cure.



Until the person does not submit to a guide, until the person does not humble himself and ask, the sickness will not be cured.


And if we are not conscious of our Islaah, nafs and shaitaan will assert their hold over us. Sometimes they keep the person in such a tight grip that the person, on his own, cannot free himself.


So this cannot be stressed enough : At all times, the concern should be of our Islaah, until our last breath. And for that, it is very important to have someone over us, to guide us.


If a child grows up without his parents, due to death or divorce (Allah Ta’ala forbid), in many cases, the child turns out to be a delinquent. In today’s time, we find that even if the parents are present, many children do not take heed of the advices of their parents.


When that child becomes a young adult, he does not want to listen to anyone, does not want to take any advice or accept any guidance and direction. He even argues that he knows what he is doing and he knows what to do. Everyone else is wrong.  This is his deception which he cannot see.


Similar is the case of those without 'spiritual' parents or those who think they do not need to draw from the experience and guidance of their spiritual guide. They are in deception. Nafs convinces and shaitaan whispers, that the person knows everything  – he is, after all, an Aalim and even a Sheikh; there is no need for anyone to advise or admonish him; no need to consult and seek the wise counsel of a spiritual guide.


This kind of independence is walking a very slippery path, and whoever walked this path, slipped.


Moreover, for each person, shaitaan comes to him according to his status and position.


Imam Ahmad bin Hambal (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) is counted as one of our greatest Fuqaha[4], whose Madhhab[5] is established in different countries. On his death bed, he was heard, repeatedly saying: ‘Not yet! Not yet!’


When asked, he replied that shaitaan kept coming to him, saying: ‘O Ahmad, you have succeeded! …O Ahmad, you have succeeded!’ … trying to delude him. 


Imam Fakhrudien Raazi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) was a brilliant and gifted Scholar. Yet on his death bed, shaitaan came to him with strong arguments that Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu does not exist. He presented one hundred proofs of Allah Ta’ala’s existence. His shaitaan was such an Aalim, who broke every single proof of his. He then saw his Sheikh in a vision, who said: ‘Say: I believe in Allah without any proof!’


سُبْحَانَ اللهِ …Now which proof is shaitaan going to break?


So when the attitude is: “I can manage on my own. I do not need guidance. I guide others,” …the person is in a very dangerous position. This kind of thinking indicates to Ujub (conceit) and Takabbur (pride). And the end of pride is disgrace.


Allah Ta’ala said: “Pride is My cloak and greatness is My garment; so whoever competes with Me regarding these two will be thrown into the Hellfire.”[6]


This Nasihah (advice) is not confined to the Ulama fraternity. These points have been brought up because the audience comprises mainly of students of Dien and Ulama-e-Kiraam. We do not paint everyone with the same brush; nor should we look down upon any single person.


Whilst we all have weaknesses, there is potential in all, for reformation and rectification of our weaknesses, and there is potential in all to reach the highest levels of Wilayat[7]


These advices are extended to and include all Saalikeen and Mureedeen. Each person knows his or her weaknesses and should strive in the direction of Islaah (reformation).


Pride, vanity, ostentation, the love for name and fame, the love of Dunya are inherent weaknesses in man. Every person has a nafs to contend with – and nafs is our worst enemy. However, with a little Mujahadah (striving) and some sacrifice, these spiritual ailments can be cured; these weaknesses can be overcome or re-channelled to what is praiseworthy.


May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu guide us all and give us the understanding of the purpose of Bay`at, the need for Islaah, and the Taufeeq and courage of working in the direction of self-reformation. May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu protect us from the deception of nafs and shaitaan.




[1] Barakah: blessings
[2] Khilafat : approved spiritual representative of the Shaykh
[3]  Tirmidhi 2482
[4] Fuqaha : Jurists
[5] Madhhab : School of Jurisprudence
[6] Abu Dawud 4090
[7] Wilayat: Friendship with Allah Ta’ala


Saturday 13 April 2013

In the Khidmat of Dien


by Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

Bismihi Ta'ala



An extremely wealthy businessman has to sign a cheque of millions. He has many pens in his pen holder, but he will choose one.


Figuratively speaking, if that pen boasts: “I have signed a cheque of millions!” … This is the foolishness of the pen. The businessman could have chosen any other pen.


For those of us who are in the Khidmat of Dien, we should keep this example before us.


Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu has billions of servants. Out of His sheer kindness and favour, He chooses someone to render some Khidmat of Dien. 


…Just like that pen is the means of a transfer of millions of Rands, Dollars or Pounds, there are those servants who are the means of conveying and transferring the knowledge of Dien to others, or they become the means of transferring people from Fisq[1] and Fujur[2] to Taqwa[3] and righteousness, from Kufr[4] to Imaan, from Jahannum to Jannat.  However, the real Giver and the actual Doer is Allah Ta’ala.  Let us not forget that.


We should not boast of what work we are doing; rather we should be most thankful and appreciative that we are being used to do some Khidmat of Dien – that Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu selected us from amongst billions, despite our many shortcomings and weaknesses.


Moreover, a pen is, after all, a pen. It holds a limited amount of ink. After using it for some time, the ink dries up or finishes. Either the cartridge is replaced or the pen is replaced.


Similarly, we have limitations and this worldly life has to come to an end. We are used for a certain period of time, and then we are replaced. If, like a pen, we ‘dry up’ – that is, we ‘dry up’ our intentions and carry out our deeds for name, fame and material gain, and we ‘dry up’ the rewards of our Khidmat of Dien, with boasting or pride and arrogance, we will be thrown out, and replaced.


No one is indispensable. Allah Ta’ala has many servants to serve as replacements. And Allah Ta’ala is not in need of us; rather it is His Favour upon us.


In the same way, if, figuratively speaking, a cheque of millions was made out, and that cheque page boasts: “I am worth millions.” …This is its folly and ignorance. That amount of money could have been written on any other cheque.


Allah Ta’ala is using us for some Khidmat of Dien; which is in reality, priceless. Its rewards cannot be truly explained or fathomed, but will be enjoyed in both worlds, if there is Ikhlaas (sincerity).


We should continuously express our Shukr (gratitude) to Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu for the bounty of serving His beautiful Dien. If we entertain pride and conceit, and we boast of the little we do, these are big "mistakes", which will invite big losses. 


Whilst from Allah Ta’ala’s side, there is no mistake and no error, in worldly transactions, when there is a mistake made writing a cheque, ‘CANCELLED’  is written across the cheque. The cheque is thrown away in the waste paper basket, and another cheque is utilized.


Similarly, if the person considers his Khidmat, to be his achievement and boasts about it, then ‘CANCELLED’ will also be ‘written’ - so to say - across the person's Khidmat, and he will lose the great rewards that could have been his. 


Like that cancelled cheque is thrown away in the waste paper basket, this person is sometimes totally cut off from the Khidmat of Dien, or his Khidmat is not accepted in the Court of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu, and sometimes there is even punishment which will be his lot in the Hereafter. May Allah Ta'ala protect us all. 


In a lengthy Hadith[5], we have been told that the men who will be judged first, on the Day of Resurrection, shall be a man who was martyred, a man who acquired knowledge and taught it and who recited the Holy Qur'aan, and a man to whom Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu had been generous and had given great wealth.


These men will acknowledge Allah Ta’ala's favours upon them, and will claim that they carried out these deeds for His sake alone. However, each one will be exposed as a liar, for their deeds were contaminated with other intentions, and were not solely to earn the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.


The martyr fought only to be called brave and courageous, the Scholar or reciter of the Qu'raan had sought to gain a reputation – he sought name and fame, and the third person acted thus, to be called generous and to be acknowledged for his generosity.


Since deeds are according to their intentions, each one secured what he had sought through his deeds, but will not receive any reward on the Day of Judgment. In fact, each one will have to endure the punishment of the fire of Hell. (May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu save us all.)


Just as a person can easily write out another million on another cheque, so Allah Ta’ala can easily replace with someone else.


...Allah Ta’ala uses whomsoever He wishes to. It is His Favour upon the person. However, acceptance will only be known on the Day of Qiyaamah. 


We, who are rendering the Khidmat of Dien, yet are caught up in sins and disobedience, should be greatly worried by the Hadith wherein Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "Allah will strengthen His Dien, even if it be by the means of a sinful person."[6]


May Allah Ta'ala grant us recognition of our nafs, Taufeeq of complete Islaah and Tazkiyyah, Ikhlaas in whatever Khidmat is undertaken, and acceptance, despite our shortcomings and failings.



[1] Fisq:  Transgression
[2] Fujur : Immorality
[3] Taqwa : Piety and abstinence from sins
[4] Kufr : Disbelief
[5] Sahih Muslim 5032
[6] Sahih Bukhari 3062



Friday 5 April 2013

Masnoon Duaas


Bismihi Ta'ala

EXTRACT
"Dua is a great gift that Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu) has given us.

We know that even the dearest person – whether a father, husband, or whoever else, can say, “…ask what you want and I will fulfil your request.” …But how much can they give ?

Even if they are really sincere, their resources will be depleted at some stage. No person in this world has unlimited resources. It is only Allah Ta’ala Who has unlimited resources and treasures.

Moreover, no matter how much of love a person has, the kindness or assistance may extend a few times, with happiness. If more requests are made, then excuses are presented or apologies tended, declining to assist.

With Allah Ta’ala, it is very different. Allah Ta’ala loves that we ask and that we keep on asking. And He gives and He keeps on giving.

Allah Ta’ala has commanded us to ask of Him. And He has promised in advance that He will accept our Duas. It is only for us to ask of Him.”

Read the book here