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.
