Friday 30 October 2015

Love of the World



Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem


Dunya comes with innumerable dangers and diversions, and it also comes in many disguises - which easily lead to Haraam and the destruction of a person. Often a person does not even realise he has fallen into a trap of Dunya because the traps of Dunya are in various camouflages.


If a person makes use of this world to earn the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and to earn the Hereafter, he has understood his purpose and is fulfilling his objective of life.


Unfortunately, we leave our hearts unattended and this opens the doors to negligence in Dien and Love for Dunya. Instead of earning the Hereafter, we obsess over earning and accumulating this world; and instead of seeking Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure, we expend ourselves in satisfying the whims and fancies of nafs.


Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said that the absolute minimum amount of love for Allah Ta’ala is 51% in the heart – that is, against the love for anything else.


The love of Ghayrullah[1] in the heart should not exceed 49%. To love anything else more than Allah Ta’ala, is Haraam (forbidden).


Of course, we should never be content with a just 51% of Love for Allah Ta’ala. We must endeavour to keep on increasing our love for Allah Ta’ala and we should strive for 100%.


Allah Ta’ala states:
وَالَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّٰهِ ط
 “…And those who have Imaan are more intense in their
love for Allah…”
 [Surah Al-Baqarah 2 : 165]


For some special servants, even 1% of Ghayrullah in the heart is not permitted.


DUNYA-DAAR & MAAL-DAAR


Often, people assume that every wealthy person is Dunya-Daar[2]. This is a misnomer and we should understand the difference between being Maal-daar (wealthy) and Dunya-daar. The former is permissible, whilst the latter is Haraam. A person can be poor and Dunya-daar and a person can be rich (maal-daar) as well as Diendar! In all cases, whether rich or poor, a person must be Diendaar[3].


Mufti Mahmood Hasan Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had narrated an incident of a poor Buzurg, who was considered pious, more so because of his poverty. He was on his way for Hajj when he met a friend, who was a very wealthy Buzurg, who was not really regarded as a Buzurg due to his wealth!


The poor Buzurg invited him to accompany him for Hajj, and the friend immediately got ready and joined him. Enroute, when they stopped for Salaah, the poor Buzurg realised that he left his lota (jug) for Wudhu behind. He was very agitated, restless and worried. The second Buzurg said to him: “I left my mansion and riches without any thought, and you are so distressed about one lota?!”


Despite having so much of Dunya, the wealthy Buzurg had no attachment with his wealth that would make him restless in his separation from it. This made evident his Ta-alluq with Allah Ta’ala and his Tawakkul in Allah Ta’ala. The lota was a small material commodity, yet the first person was restless and anxious when he realised it was not with him – which made apparent that his gaze and attention was on worldly goods and not on Allah Ta’ala.   


May Allah Ta’ala make us Dien-Daar no matter what our worldly positions are!


So a person can be wealthy and prosperous and be free from the vestiges of Hubbud Dunya (the love of the world). It is really Allah Ta’ala’s Fadhl if a person reaches that stage where he is able to recognise the deception and reality of Dunya, disentangle himself from it and keep aloof of its temptations.


"In this World they resided - yet devoid of worldly ties.
In its Oceans they have been submerged - yet no wetness touched their clothes."


Such a person can have a ten million cheque in his top pocket, right next to his heart and that amount of money will not have any effect on his heart. Because his heart is saturated with Allah Ta’ala’s Love and brightened with His Ma’rifat.


Knowing and experiencing this sweetness and this Noor, the person is able to distinguish and recognise the bitterness and darkness of Dunya’s love and he endeavours to protect himself from it.


...On one occasion, while Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) was teaching his students, a person came and informed him that a ship carrying a huge quantity of his merchandise had sunk. Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) lowered his gaze towards his heart, reflected awhile and said: “Alhamdulillah”. He then continued with his discussion. After some time, the same person returned and reported that the earlier information was false. The ship carrying his merchandise was safe. Again, Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) looked towards his heart, reflected awhile and said: “Alhamdulillah”.


He then resumed the lesson. Later, he was asked about his actions when he was given information about his merchandise. 


Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) said: “When I heard that the ship had sunk, I checked the condition of my heart – to see if it was agitated and distressed upon the news of the loss of so much of wealth. Since there was Ridha-bil-Qadha[4] and acceptance of Allah Ta’ala’s Will and the tranquility of my heart was not disturbed, I said: “Alhamdulillah”. When I was informed that the news was incorrect, and that the ship was, in fact, safe, I again checked the condition of my heart and found that even that information did not affect my heart, and thus said: “Alhamdulillah.”


This should be the condition of the heart of the Believer in respect to the material world. We should endeavour to keep our hearts detached from Dunya.


ROOT OF ALL EVIL


Hadhrat Moulana Jalaluddeen Rumi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had presented the analogy of a ship on the waters of the ocean. So long as the water is outside, the ship is afloat and sails towards its destination. The moment water enters the ship, the ship sinks.


Similarly, living in this world, we make use of the world to reach the Hereafter. This worldly life is to accumulate the provisions for our journey ahead and for our destination – Jannah, Insha-Allah.


However, when the love of the world enters the heart, it begins to sink in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The love of the world is the root of all evil”[5]


The person becomes involved with accumulating the commodities of Dunya instead of the provisions for Aakhirah. The person’s greed for Dunya increases and leads to Ghaflat (heedlessness) and more sins: gambling, stealing, fraud, embezzlement, jealousy, rivalry, enmity, and so forth.


The love of Dunya then consumes the person to such an extent that the person is averse to leave this world. He hates death because he has invested everything of himself in this world – and has sent nothing ahead of him, to look forward to.


Hubbud-Dunya[6] is a major sin and is a very, very common trait in the Ummah. It has, in fact, not only led to the destruction of the individual, but it has been a key factor in the ruin and disunity of the Ummah at large – until we find ourselves in this day and age, where we are living the Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) who described us as the froth on the ocean’s water – which holds no value.


Rasullullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "The People will soon summon one another to attack you as people, when eating, invite others to share their food."


Someone asked, "Will that be because of our small numbers at that time?"


He replied, "No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be froth and scum like that carried down by a torrent (of water), and Allah will remove the fear of you from the hearts of your enemy and cast Al-Wahn into your hearts."


Someone asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is Al-Wahn?" He replied, "Love of the world and dislike of death."[7]


No one is advocating that the world be abandoned and discarded. …So long as we are living in this world, we have no choice but to make use of it. However, there should not be any strong attachment and obsessive love – which would inevitably alienate us from Allah Ta’ala. This is what is disapproved and denounced.


REMEDY


To remedy this sickness of Hubbud Dunya, we should ponder over the reality of this worldly life. Every single thing comes with an expiry date – including ourselves. There will be separation, and one day, we will be entering the grave – and the only thing which will be of value to us will be our Imaan and our good deeds.


We find in the Ahadith, an incident narrated where Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam) passed by the market place and passed by a dead kid goat (i.e. a baby goat) which had very short ears. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam) held it by its ears and said: "Who amongst you would like to have this for a Dirham[8]?" 


The Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) said: “We would not want it even for less than that! What can we do with it?”


He (Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam) said: "Do you wish to have it for any price?" 


They said: “By Allah, even if it were alive it, we would not want it, as it has very short ears, let alone now when it is also dead!”


Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam) said: "By Allah, this world is more insignificant to Allah than this (dead goat) is to you all."[9]


Hafez Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) advised that we inculcate the love of Allah Ta’ala by pondering over His signs, His blessings, His Kindness, His perfection, and His Grandeur and Loftiness. And explained that Allah Ta’ala designed the heart to love Him; so if we love Him, it becomes extremely easy to abandon sins – including this sin of Hubbud Dunya.


Reading about Jannah and the wonderful bounties of Jannah will also create desire in the heart for Jannah. This will then result in a person working towards building his Jannah and he will realise that this world is a station on his journey home, Insha-Allah.


Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “What relationship do I have with this world? I am in this world like a rider who halts in the shade of a tree for a short time, and after taking some rest, resumes his journey leaving the tree behind.”[10]


Connect with Allah Ta’ala before you return to Him. Connect with the Hereafter before you return to it. 


How beautifully Allah Ta’ala reminds and cautions us:


“You prefer the worldly life (to the Hereafter), whereas the hereafter is best and ever-lasting.”
[Surah al-A'la : 16-17]


May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding, the Taufeeq of Amal and may Allah Ta'ala purify our hearts of all traces of Hubbud Dunya and all spiritual maladies.



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




[1] Everything other than Allah Ta’ala
[2] Dunya-Daar: worldly person / lover of the material world / seeker of the material world.
[3] Dien-Daar : love of Dien
[4] Ridha-bil-Qadha: Contentment with the divine decree
[5] Mishkaat
[6] Hubbud-Dunya : Love for the world
[7] Abu Dawood and Ahmad
[8] Dirham : Silver coin
[9] Sahih Muslim
[10] Ahmad / Tirmidhi


Thursday 15 October 2015

Essential Reading | Muharram

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem



EXTRACT
We have now entered a new Islamic year, and this is a great occasion for us to reflect upon many points. Firstly, this is the month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. ...When our children are in grade two or so, they learn the Islamic calendar, the number of months, the days of the week, etc. …Did we learn our Islamic calendar and after learning it, did we bring an Islamic related life?
Very sadly, many people even forget the simple names of our Dien such as ‘Musallah’. We forget the Salaah times and how many Salaah there are, and how many Rakaats in each Salaah, etc. If we do not keep contact with our Dien and practise it, we will forget all these things.
Today, this is a reality in Malawi. Many born Muslims have forgotten their Dien and now believe in three gods. One of our students opened a Madrasah there and out of forty students, thirty five of them said that there were three gods.
In the world, whether it be Palestine, Iraq or anywhere else, wherever Muslims mixed excessively with non-Muslims, they forgot their identity and adopted all their un-Islamic concepts...

READ THE BOOK HERE



Monday 12 October 2015

Muharram | Taking Stock


Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

A Time for Reflection
By Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)


At the end of the financial year, the businessman takes stock, calculates his financial statements, assesses his profits and losses, etc.

At the end of the academic year, the student takes an examination which finalizes whether he has passed or failed. If a student does poorly, he gives attention to those subjects he is weak in, and he works to improve his marks.

Life is like a business enterprise, with each year-end representing our spiritual financial year: Each year carries profits and losses – according to our actions. Each good deed is profit and each sin is loss.

Additionally, we find, that in our lives, we are writing the examination of the Aakhirah (Hereafter). Every passing year is either a year passed or failed - based on our actions.

Muharram is a wonderful opportunity of reflection and rectification:

A Muslim reflects over the net result of his year:  He expresses Shukr (gratitude to Allah Ta’ala) for the Taufeeq of good deeds, by which he secured spiritual profits. He reviews his weaknesses or losses, and accordingly, he makes Taubah (repents). He then works to improve his new year.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and Taufeeq of Aml.  



Saturday 10 October 2015

Gems 76 - 80


Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

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

76.

The heart which is connected to Allah Ta’ala moves closer to Him in times of difficulty. The heart which is not connected to Allah Ta’ala moves further away from Him in times of difficulty.

The need is to connect with Allah Ta'ala and maintain that connection in all conditions.


77.

We are what we eat. Not only will our food determine our health; our food will determine our character, our morals and our thinking. Most important is that it will determine our level of Imaan and will inevitably be a great concluding factor for us at the time of Maut (death) – as to which way we are going. So we have to be very particular and serious about the food we consume.

78.


Like a computer virus can be the cause of corruption of files and deletion and loss of all work, the viruses of Riyaa (show / ostentation), Ujub (vanity / conceit), Kibr (pride) and other sins have similar consequences. They destroy and delete all good works. May Allah Ta’ala protect us.


79.

If an employee does not do his work a few times, we want to get rid of him. If he persists in his negligence, we fire him.

Look at Allah Ta’ala’s Tolerance and His Kindness upon us. We are so negligent in the work we were created for, of worshipping Allah Ta’ala and earning His Pleasure. Despite our heedlessness, He gives us chances. He does not fire us for even the major sins committed, giving us opportunity upon opportunity for Taubah (repentance).

80.

Let us ask ourselves : In the last 24 hours, have we devoted more time to Dien or to Dunya? Have we spent more money for Dien and for earning our Aakhirah or have we spent more on Dunya’s luxuries? 
Dunya is Daarul Ghuroor – a place of deception. We give our time to and spend so much on something we have to leave behind and something that has no value in the Sight of Allah Ta'ala.