Gems (6 - 10)

Bi Ismihi Ta’ala

Selected and concise advices / sayings of 

Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

6.

Anyone who wants to learn Good Character will have to go to the threshold of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Good character is his Sunnah and it is from him and those who follow him that we too will learn good character.

7.

We are not here for the sake of Dunya. We are here for the sake of Aakhirah. We have to prepare here, to live it up there.

8.

A mureed should not ride on the crest of his Shaykh’s name and honour – that is, he should not take advantage of others or have expectations of others, by virtue of his connection with his Shaykh.

9.

If a person sees his wife as a gift from Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu), his marriage will be one of greater enjoyment.

If the wife sees her husband as a gift from Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu), she too will experience greater joy.

10.

‘Today, people want to give Islam a facelift; to make Islam fit into modern society. Islam does not need a facelift – Islam is ever-beautiful, ever-youthful. It is not a way of life that becomes old or out-dated.

Rather, it is modern society that needs to change and conform.’

Conforming to Dien

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (DB)

 

Allah Ta’ala, out of His Infinite Grace and Kindness, gifted us with this beautiful Dien of Islam. It is unfortunate that we look at Dien today and see it to be something that does not fit into our lifestyles, something which does not comply with our whims and fancies, and something which needs to be amended because the societies of the world frown upon it… (نَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ َ)

 

Due to our weakness, we look towards “trimming” Islam down.

 

On an individual level, many are lax in fulfilling the Faraa`idh^[1]. They consider the Sunnah^[2] as trivial, and totally disregard those actions which are Mustahab^[3] and Nafl^[4]. The thinking is: I can leave out Fajr because I find it too difficult to wake up for. But this is okay because I will still be a Muslim. I can leave out the beard and I can be a Muslim without a beard…  and I can leave off (this) and (that) and there is no problem because I will still be a Muslim.

 

Many women also think along the same lines:  I can leave off the Hijaab, I can leave off the scarf, I can do (this) and (that). As long as my heart is clean, I am still a Muslim.

 اِنَّا للهِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ  

 

We have been granted the priceless gift of Islam. It is perfection. Allah Ta’ala says:

 

اَلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِيْنَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِيْ وَرَضِيْتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِيْنًا ^ط

 

“Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and have chosen Islam as Dien (religion) for you.”

[Surah Al-Maa`idah 5 : 3]

 

We cannot carve and chisel Islam to suit our nafs; rather it is for us to cut our nafs down to size, to humble ourselves before Allah Ta’ala – as slaves and servants, and conform and comply with Dien and Shari’ah^[5].

 

Allah Ta’ala instructs us :

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا ادْخُلُوْا فِى السِّلْمِ كَاۤفَّةً ^ص

 

“O those who Believe, enter Islam completely…”

[Surah Al-Baqarah 2 : 208]

 

We cannot also chop and chip Islam to fit into modern society. We cannot cut or trim Islam to fit into modern times. Let modern day fit into Islam!

 

To make society happy, to blend in with society, to be accepted by the society, we want to downsize Islam; whereas, there is nothing as fresh, beautiful, progressive and “up-to-date” as Islam.

 

What is the modern day of today?

 

It is immorality, adultery, pornography, drugs, rape, gambling, theft, deception and every kind of evil…  Must Islam fit into that kind of filthy society? نَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ

 

Let us value this pure and beautiful religion by practising upon it entirely. Let us not subtract and divide, select and discard, as if we are an authority over Islam.

 

Through the practical implementation of Dien and Shari’ah – as it is, in its pristine and pure form - the societies of the world will be left in admiration for Islamic teachings; they will be left in awe and will be wonder-struck at the beauty of the Sunnah. This, then, will become the catalyst for thousands upon thousands entering into the fold of Islam.

 

May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu grant us the understanding, the appreciation, and bless us to live by Islam, die by it and be resurrected by it. (Aamien)

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[1] Faraa`idh:  Obligatory duties

[2] Sunnah : The practices of Nabi (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ) and his noble  companions (RA)

[3] Mustahab : Recommended deeds

[4] Nafl : Optional

[5] Shari’ah : Islamic Law

 

Taking the Name of Allah Ta'ala

          Bi Ismihi Ta’ala

  About the Book

This compilation was prepared for those Mureedeen and Saalikeen who attend the Zikr Majaalis of Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum), but do not know the meaning of the poetry, which is rendered in the Urdu language.

In conformity with the teachings and methodology of Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum), Zikr is made with the punctuations of the inspiring ash'aar (poems).

The poems are not the Zikr, nor are they the objective. The poems keep the object in mind, so that Zikrullah does not become a ritual. The beautiful poetry also facilitates concentration and enjoyment in taking the name of Allah Ta’ala.

Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) had explained that the true and complete benefits of Zikrullah are realised when one makes Zikr punctually and with sincere love.

Read the book here

The Blockage of Sins

By Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

Sometimes a car engine does not seem to get enough fuel or any fuel. The problem can be due to different reasons: a blocked fuel line or fuel filter or some fault with the fuel pump or carburettor.

We know that the fuel lines control and regulate the flow of fuel. If it is clogged or blocked, there is difficulty to start the car since fuel does not make its way to the engine. The engine generally does not restart until the blockage is removed. A blocked fuel line also results in smoke since the fuel overflows. If there is some leak and contact with an ignition source, such as the engine, then this results in smoke and can be dangerous, even causing a fire.

In the light of this example, we can draw parallels to the consequences of our indulgence in sins.

Sometimes a sin, for which there was no repentance, creates a blockage at the time of death. Due to commission of sins, persistence in sins, and not making sincere Taubah, the spiritual heart becomes clogged and blocked. This creates great difficulty at the time of death. There is no free flow for the Kalima Tayyibah to be recited and for the soul to leave the body with ease.

Sometimes the blockage of sins become so dangerous for one’s Imaan that it prevents the person from reading the Kalima and this results in having to come into contact with the smoke and fire of Jahannum – in the Qabr and in the Aakhirah. Allah Ta’ala save us all.

It is therefore necessary to engage in Taubah and Istighfaar daily. Through the blessings of Taubah and Istighfaar, these sins which would otherwise create blockages for an easy death, are removed.

Hazrat Maulana Shah Wasiullaah (RA) had said so beautifully in poetry:

‘Is tarah se tai ki manzile, chale, gire, uthe, chale'

“We journeyed to Allah Jalla Jalalaaluhu in this way: We crawled, fell,  got up, walked!”

Let us not stay stuck in the filth, dirt and grime of sins. Repair the “car” (heart and soul) with Taubah, and continue on your journey, in piety, to Him.

Hearing is Believing

By Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

The age-old adage: ‘Seeing is believing and hearing is deceiving,’ is known to most of us, and it is also used in our speech, but without much thought and reflection.

However, on deliberating the message in these words, we come to understand that these words conflict and contradict the essential teachings of Imaan and Islam.

As Muslims, we understand that our Imaan (faith) is in the unseen. Our belief is without seeing.

“Who believe in the Unseen…"

[Surah Baqarah 2 : 2]

In spite of this belief, the observation is that what we see of things happening about us are due to the causes of the material world. People generally go by the principle of ‘cause and effect’. For example, a person takes medication (cause) and his health improves (effect). We see that he got better by taking medication, but we hear that it is Allah Ta’ala who gives cure. Our belief is thus on what we hear from Qur`aan and Ahaadeeth.

“And when I become sick, He heals me.”

[Surah Ash-Shu’ara 26 : 80]

We find that the indoctrination of ‘cause and effect’ also substantiates the belief that seeing is believing – based on what is material, physical, visible, measurable or in solid form. This is what is firm in the minds of people. And as a result, we find that what is found in the Qur`aan and Sunnah is disregarded and flouted, because Deen is based on the Unseen. Doubt is created in respect to what we hear from our elders, about Deen, because it is not what we see with our physical eye.

Since we only ‘hear’, and we do not ‘see’, many look upon different Islamic teachings as deceiving (Na uzu Billahi min zaalik). Why? …Because the concept of ‘cause and effect’, and ‘seeing is believing’, does not serve as a basis.

Even though not a water tight principle, the truth is that hearing is believing and seeing is sometimes deceiving.

When Hazrat Moosa (AS) led the Bani Isra’eel away from Fir`aun, they reached the Red Sea. Before them was the deep blue sea and behind them was Fir’aun and his army.

As is commonly said in English, and which holds so true in this instance: They were ‘sandwiched’ between the devil and the deep blue sea. At this point in time, the Bani Isra’eel saw their total destruction.

And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moosa said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!"

[Surah Ash-Shu`ara 26 : 61]

They saw the water to be their destruction, but they heard from Hazrat Moosa (AS) that that was to be their salvation.

[Moosa] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."

[Surah Ash-Shu`ara 26 : 62]

Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu) commanded Hazrat Moosa (AS) to strike the water of the sea, with his ‘asaa (staff).

Then We inspired Moosa, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain.

[Surah Ash-Shu`ara 26 : 63]

What they saw to be their destruction immediately changed to their salvation. When Hazrat Moosa (AS) struck the waters of the sea with his staff, the waters parted, providing dry pathways for the Bani Isra’eel to cross in safety.

"And We saved Moosa and those with him, all together."

[Surah Ash-Shu`ara 26 : 65]

Fir’aun, on the other hand, saw the water as his salvation : He claimed that the water flowed by his command and in turn, irrigated their lands and provided drinking water for them. However, that very water was his destruction.

We read that Fir`aun pursued the Bani Isra`eel into the sea. When he and his army were in the middle of the sea, the waters suddenly closed around him and his men, drowning them all.

This was what was heard :  that Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) would destroy him if he did not bring Imaan. But it was not believed and that disbelief sealed his fate.

"Then We drowned the others."

[Surah Ash-Shu`ara 26 : 66]

A Muslim should have the firm and grounded belief that ‘Hearing is Believing’ – that is, hearing and believing in the words of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). This is our salvation and our success – in both worlds.

"The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and we obey."

And those are the successful."

[Surah An-Noor 24 : 51]