Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Saheb
(Daamat Barakaatuhum)
During a trip to the United Kingdom, I gave a talk
in a Masjid in London. In the vicinity of the Masjid, Jews predominantly
reside.
In that talk, I mentioned that once, when Haaji
Bhai Padia (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) was travelling by air, a Jewish Rabbi was
seated next to him. In conversation, the Jewish Rabbi said to Haaji Bhai Padia
(Rahmatullahi ‘alayh): “We are not afraid of the Muslims today,
because Allah’s help is not with them, nor with us. Today, everything is about
power: The one who has more arms and more ammunition, wins. We have more, and we
are more powerful. However, when the Mosques (Masaajid) of the Muslims start
filling up for the Fajr prayer as the Masjids get full for the Jumu’ah prayer,
we will not be able to fight the Muslims, because Allah’s help will be with
them, and we can never overcome the one who is assisted by Allah.”
After this talk, a young man came to me and
informed me that he is from India (or Pakistan). He said: “I go home once a
year. Each time, on my return, my neighbour, who is Jew, asks me: ‘How many
people are attending the Fajr prayer?’ …This is the
question posed to me every time. Once, I asked him: ‘Why do you always ask me this
same question?’ He said: ‘Today, we have no fear for the
Muslims, but when their Masjids get full for the Fajr prayer as they do for
Jumu’ah, we will not fight them as Allah’s help will be with them and we cannot
fight Allah.”
Abdullah S’aud is a brother from South America,
whose homeland is Palestine. He related that he was a little child when his
family was exiled to South America. At that time, Ariel Sharon mentioned to the
father of Abdullah S’aud: “You will come back; but
not today and not tomorrow. You will come back when your Masjids are full for
Fajr like how they are for Jumu’ah.”
We clamour and we shout and we cry, for the rise of
Islam, yet we do not rise for the Fajr Salaah.
Our hypocrisy becomes evident in the light of the Ahadith. There is no doubt of a person’s Nifaaq (hypocrisy) if he is absent from the Fajr and Isha Salaah, in the Masjid.
Our hypocrisy becomes evident in the light of the Ahadith. There is no doubt of a person’s Nifaaq (hypocrisy) if he is absent from the Fajr and Isha Salaah, in the Masjid.
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “The
most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are ‘Isha and Fajr, but if they only
knew what they contain, they would come even if they had to crawl.”[1]
Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “A person who does not go for
Salaah after hearing the Azaan is committing a great wrong and is doing an act
of Kufr (disbelief) and Nifaaq (hypocrisy).”[2]
Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
had said: “If you neglect the Sunnah, you will go astray. Verily,
I have seen a time when no one stayed away from the congregational prayers
except for the hypocrites who were well known for their hypocrisy or a
sick man. I remember that a man would be brought leaning on two men and put in
the Saff (row) to attain its reward and escape the sins of missing it.”[3]
If the entire Ummah performed Salaah - established
Salaah - the entire Ummah would be in the protection of Allah Ta’ala, the One
who is Al-Mighty and All-Powerful. No power on the surface of the earth will be
able to overcome or defeat a people in the special protection of Allah Ta’ala.
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Whoever
prays the dawn prayer (Fajr), then He is under Allah’s protection. So
beware, O son of Aadam, that Allah does not call you to account for being
absent from His protection for any reason.”[4]
Boycotting, sanctioning and marching may find a
place in bringing attention to injustice and crippling an economy but they do
not draw the assistance of Allah Ta’ala. The assistance of Allah Ta’ala
comes only with obedience to Allah Ta’ala and with conforming to the Sunnah.
Muslims, today, see some kind of solution in
marching and boycotting – but sadly, do not see the solution where
it is: In practically implementing the teachings of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
We will only overcome the forces of Zionism and the enemies of Islam taking the route of obedience to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).
We will only overcome the forces of Zionism and the enemies of Islam taking the route of obedience to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).
Our condition is that Salaah is neglected; the beautiful Sunnah is disregarded - there is no care and no concern to identify ourselves with Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam), by adopting the Sunnah Libaas
(dress/garb), maintaining the beard one fist length and following in his noble footsteps. ...The majority do not want to give up the song
and dance, the interest and gambling, the western culture or
the Hollywood/Bollywood culture, and all other sins. ...Then how will we invite Allah Ta’ala’s Nusrah[5], in this manner?
Allah Ta'ala has His conditions. These will have to be met first, before we can overcome our enemies.
Allah Ta'ala has His conditions. These will have to be met first, before we can overcome our enemies.
Allah Ta’ala
clearly defines His conditions and His promises:
“Allah has
promised, to those among you who believe and perform righteous deeds,
that He will, of surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power),
as He granted it to those before them…
So establish
Salaah (Prayer) and give regular Charity (Zakaah); and obey the Messenger that
you may receive mercy. ”
[Surah Nur 24
: 55 / 56]
The Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were able
to overcome the super powers of their time because they were living Islam.
The keys of Masjid-e-Aqsa were willingly handed over to Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Ameerul Mu’mineen, whose reign as the Khalifa saw the establishment of justice on the face of the earth. This justice was through the implementation of the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah and standing firm and resolute on its teachings.
The keys of Masjid-e-Aqsa were willingly handed over to Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Ameerul Mu’mineen, whose reign as the Khalifa saw the establishment of justice on the face of the earth. This justice was through the implementation of the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah and standing firm and resolute on its teachings.
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu), himself, said: “We
are a people whom Allah Ta’ala elevated with Islam.” – i.e. true
and sincere submission to Allah Ta’ala.
We talk about Masjid-e-Aqsa and the violation and
desecration of Masjid-e-Aqsa by the Israeli Zionist forces. However, the
condition of Masjid-e-Aqsa is only a reflection of the condition of the Ummah
at large.
Sheikh ‘Ali Abbaasi, the Imam of Masjid-e-Aqsa, had
asked Hadhrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Daamat Barakaatuhum), the principal of Madrasah
Taleemuddeen, about the sad and distressing condition of Palestine and asked
why there is no support from the Muslim countries.
Hadhrat Mufti Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) explained
that he had read in the Tafsier of Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi
(Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) that Allah Ta’ala has different systems for Masjidul
Haraam in Makkatul Mukarramah and for Masjidul Aqsa.
Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh) had explained
in his Tafsier that Masjidul Haraam is continuously under the protection of
Allah Ta’ala. The Kuffaar will not be able to gain control of Baitullah, and
the condition of the Muslim Ummah does not affect this protection. This protection
has no interruption.
The condition of Masjid-e-Aqsa is centred and based on the
condition of the Muslim Ummah.
If the Ummah is obedient to Allah Ta’ala, then Masjid-e-Aqsa would be in their full control. If the Ummah is in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala, then the Muslim Ummah loses control of Masjid-e-Aqsa and the land of Palestine. Control is handed over to our enemies.
If the Ummah is obedient to Allah Ta’ala, then Masjid-e-Aqsa would be in their full control. If the Ummah is in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala, then the Muslim Ummah loses control of Masjid-e-Aqsa and the land of Palestine. Control is handed over to our enemies.
This is what we see today. A great majority of the
Muslim Ummah are heedless of the Commandments of Allah
Jalla Jalaaluhu; even engaging recklessly in sins.
We raise our voices against the Israeli Zionist forces who desecrate our beloved Masjid-e-Aqsa; we march against the injustice,
we wave the Palestinian flag everywhere, and we wear its colours in some way or
the other - all in solidarity. ...However, if we are not performing Salaah and if,
in our lives, there is disobedience to Allah Ta'ala, then let us understand the
very, very sad reality: We are instrumental in the desecration and violation
of Masjid-e-Aqsa and the oppression of the Palestinian people. Then our role is
not constructive; rather it is destructive - because we are a contributing
factor to the Israelis having control of Masjid-e-Aqsa.
Imam Maalik (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) had said so aptly, in his time: "The last generations of the Ummah can only be reformed by that which reformed its first generations. What was not part of the religion then, cannot become part of the religion now."
The first step is establishing Salaah in our lives and working towards bringing the whole of Islam into our lives, practically. If we really want to solve our problems, this is the only way.
May Allah Ta’ala forgive us, have mercy upon us, guide us, and grant us the understanding
and the Taufeeq of becoming practical on Dien.
