By Hazrat Maulana Abdul
Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
Bismihi Ta’ala
Many of us who own
printers know that that a good quality printer is required if we want good
quality prints. A colour laser printer will produce high resolution print outs,
with enhanced, clear and finely detailed images that are colourful and bright,
in comparison to a black and white inkjet printer.
All of us who use printers
know that there are times when the print is of poor quality. Sometimes the
print is so faint, it is not even legible; or there are white or black streaks
and lines running across the page or down the page, spoiling the print.
At such times, the light
indicator flashes red, indicating the toner is low and needs to be replaced.
The light indicators also tell us which colours need to replaced.
Whilst there are other
reasons for poor printing, it is the toner that makes the image. The printing is dependent on whether the
cartridge has sufficient toner. Colour printers require colour cartridges with
adequate toner as well.
Our A’maal (actions) can be likened to print outs.
Each “aml” is like a print out – a good one or bad one.
The colours of the toners, for the cartridge of the spiritual
heart, are: Taubah and Istighfaar, Ikhlaas and Ishq of Allah Ta’ala.
Unlike the printer, where toner cartridges are generally changed every few months, there is a need to constantly replenish our hearts with
the toner or ink of Ikhlaas, Taubah and Istighfaar.
If we do so, the a`maal
that are then carried out by the ‘machine’ of this human body, will be print
outs that are bright and clear and beautiful.
If there is no effort
to maintain and upkeep one’s Taubah and Ikhlaas, the print outs of our actions
begin to fade, and become lighter and lighter - until, sometimes even the
Salaah, though performed regularly, comes out “blank” - because the heart
is empty of the toner of Ikhlaas.
Added to this, indulgence in sins depletes the Noor
in the heart, which then spoils the print out of our deeds.
Sometimes the print
head becomes blocked … and the print is poor. The same happens with our hearts:
Sometimes, Riyaa (ostentation), Ujub (conceit) or Kibr (pride), creates a block and the print is ruined. Or there
may be some other defect in the heart which results in a bad ‘print job’ or a
totally blank ‘print out’. When nafs and shaytaan interfere with our
intentions, this is exactly what happens.
The effect of our
fasting, our Salaah, Umrahs, Ziyarah, Tilawat, and other Ibaadaat is not
experienced because the heart is empty of Ikhlaas or due to sins. So our “prints” (a’maal)
are blank and many times, just a messy print out, which is squashed and thrown
away.
The Ahaadeeth also
alludes to this:
Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said : ‘When
a person finishes his Salaah, he gets one tenth, one ninth, one eighth, one
seventh, one sixth, one fifth, one fourth, one third or one half of the maximum
reward (according to the quality of Salaah performed by him).
…If the toners of Ikhlaas,
Ihsaan and Khushoo are utilized in Salaah (and other Ibaadaat), the print out
will be clear and beautiful, otherwise blurred or faint, dependent on what was
given in that Salaah.
In another Hadeeth,
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘When a person offers his Salaah at its fixed hours with proper Wudhu,
with humility and submission, and with Qiyaam, Ruku and Sajdah done
satisfactorily, then such a Salaah rises up in a bright and beautiful form and
blesses the person in words: ‘May Allah guard you as you have guarded me.’
…On a beautiful print
out of good deeds, glad tidings are given, Allah Ta’ala’s pleasure is obtained
and Insha-Allah, many other rewards enjoyed in this world and the next.
The Hadeeth continues:
“…On the other hand, if a person is not
punctual with his Salaat nor does he perform Wudhu, Qiyaam, Ruku and Sajdah
properly, then Salaat rises up in an ugly and dark shape, and curses the
person, saying: “May Allah ruin you as you have ruined me!” Then it flung back
like a dirty rag at the face of the person.”
…The print out of Salaah was “dirty” due to the defects in the actions of the
human ‘machine’ and due to insufficient toner (Ikhlaas and Khushoo).
So we learn that when
the print out of our actions is bad, we are deprived of Allah Ta’ala’s pleasure
and invite a host of problems and misery into our lives.
When the condition of the heart is bad, prints are ruined with
streaks of zulmat (darkness). Then we ask : Why can we not find peace of mind,
contentment at heart, why is there no Noor in our hearts?
…It is because of our weaknesses and indulgence in sins.
Furthermore, we find
that some of today’s printers come with a “smart panel” application
which displays details and information of toner levels, printer status, set-up, network,
problem alerts, etc.
Allah Ta’ala has also given us a ‘smart panel’ application whereby
we know the condition of our hearts and our actions. This is found in the
Suhbat of the Auliya Allah.
In their company, the indicator lights flash when our Salaah
is not in order, flash when there is deficiency in our Akhlaaq or Mu`aasharaat,
alert us when there is a block on Ikhlaas, alert us when there is Takabbur and
Riyaa … and like this, we can accordingly get the ‘machine’ back, in good
working condition, and learn how to replenish the toners in the hearts.
This is
acquired from the Suhbat of the Ahlullah.
May Allah Ta’ala grant
us the understanding and Taufeeq.
