Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
On one occasion, I was sitting in the kitchen at home and Aapa was
breaking eggs and frying them. To my surprise, the eggs were being broken
directly into the frying pan.
It came to mind that it was not long ago that when we broke an egg, we
would break it in a saucer or a bowl, because it could come out rotten.
Thereafter, we would put it into a frying pan. If there had been one rotten egg
broken directly into a frying, which already had five or six eggs, all would be
spoilt.
…Such machines have been manufactured whereby eggs can be tested and
the rotten eggs can be identified. We now buy a tray of eggs – 30 eggs – and
there is not one rotten egg. In previous times, we expected to find two or
three bad ones.
An interesting article mentioned the high standard established in the
processing and packaging of eggs. This includes cleaning and washing the eggs,
drying them and grading them.
Eggs are graded based on both their interior quality
and their exterior quality. In a dark room, light is shined onto
the eggs, to grade them, or the eggs are passed over bright light. This is
termed as candling, whereby the interior of the egg can be seen. A person, who
has experience in the field, is able to gauge the inside condition of each egg
with this light.
On the outside, the egg is examined in its appearance - for
cleanliness, texture, an uncracked shell, etc. Accordingly, it is graded as 1
or 2, or Grade AA or A or B. Broken eggs are discarded.
…In these days, we also find that the rice we purchase is clean and
polished. I was present at a Nikah where the brothers were doing the cooking
using dhegs. I observed how they just slit open the plastic bags and emptied
the rice into the dheg. …So now there is no cleaning and washing of rice. There
are no stones, grass and twigs that have to be removed anymore. So much effort
on rice and so much effort on eggs have been made - in fact on all food
products. Man has established a grading system for the food industry whereby
meat is graded; tea, coffee, fruit and vegetables and all other foods are
graded.
In the domain of education, business, travel, holiday and other worldly
work and activity, man places great importance on grading and rating. Sadly,
man makes no real effort on himself - on his heart and on his soul. He improves,
develops and upgrades everything else except himself.
If man is rated in stars – like how he rates hotels, restaurants and
other places, then perhaps the majority of us would be conferred a zero star.
If we are rated from A-Z, we will receive the lowest grade – because we find
such rotten hearts and bad characters.
There are some ‘rotten’ spouses – and as a result every other Nikah
ends in failure. There are many children who are a
clear sign of Qiyamah; children who disrespect, trouble and physically, emotionally
and mentally abuse their parents. Some parents describe their own
children as a curse, whereas children were meant to be blessings and mercy.
We have all kinds of criminals, tyrants, oppressors walking the face of
the earth – and causing so much of harm and injustice to the creation – to
human beings and to animals! They are in the form of human beings but have no
humanity, no mercy, no compassion … as if they don't possess hearts.
Very
sadly, there is no end to the complaints about man.
Hadhrat Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had very aptly
said: “Humanity is not the name for the physical form of man.
It is not the name for flesh, bones and skin. Humanity is the name given to the
attributes, character and deeds through which Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure is
attained.”
In the time of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), the effort was made
on man. Things were not advanced like what we find today, but man was advanced… advanced
in his character, morality, virtue and ethics.
…On one occasion, Hadhrat
Jibra`eel (‘Alaihis Salaam) was with Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).
As a Sahabi approached them, Hadhrat Jibra`eel (‘Alaihis Salaam) said to Nabi (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam): “Here is Abu
Dharr.”
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam) asked: “Do you
know him?”
Hadhrat Jibra`eel (‘Alaihis
Salaam) replied: “Abu Dharr is more famous amongst the angels in the
heavens than he is in Madinah.”
When asked how Hadhrat
Abu Dharr (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had gained such fame, Hadhrat Jibra`eel (‘Alaihis
Salaam) responded that he had two qualities in him that were most beloved to
Allah Ta’ala: He would recited Surah Al-Ikhlaas in abundance and he thought
nothing of himself. He had the quality of Tawaadhu (humility) and Abdiyyat
(servitude).
This was the effort made on man which then made him famous in both
worlds. Allahu Akbar!
…Wherever,
the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) went in the world, they were of benefit and
goodness to the people. They were guides for the people. They were a blessing
for whoever came into contact with them!
From Allah Ta’ala’s side, there is also grading! The Sahabah-e-Kiraam
(Radhiyallahu anhum) were tested and they were graded. Allah Ta’ala gave them
the certificate of:
رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوْا
عَنْهُ
“…Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him…”
[Surah
At-Taubah 9 : 100]
They are of such a superior grade that we have been directed to also develop
the qualities of the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu anhum) :
اٰمِنُوْا كَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ النَّاسُ
“Believe
as the people have believed
(i.e. the
Sahaba-e-Kiraam (رَضِيَ
اللهُ عَنْهُمْ)) …”
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2 : 13]
If
we do so, we will, Insha-Allah, make the grade for Najaat (salvation) and
Jannah (paradise)!
Allah Ta'ala also mentions that He will grade
us according to His Friends if we tread the path of obedience and work towards
developing Taqwa. We will be graded with the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam), the
Siddiqeen (Truthful), the Shuhadah (Martyrs) and Sawliheen (Righteous), Insha-Allah.
And what honour this is!
“And whoever obeys
Allah and the Messenger, then they will be with those on whom Allah has
bestowed His favor – the Ambiyaa (Messengers), the truthful, the martyrs, and
the righteous…..”
[Surah
An-Nisaa 4 : 69]
This is the success that
follows on Islaah (reformation) and Tazkiyah (purification). Allah Ta’ala
states:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكّٰهَا
“Indeed he
succeeds who purifies his ownself.”
[Surah Ash-Shams 91 : 9 ]
Allah Ta’ala also grades those who transgress all bounds – as the
lowest of the low or worse than animals.
ثُمَّ
رَدَدْنٰهُ أَسْفَلَ سٰفِلِيْنَ ۙ
‘…The lowest of the low.’
[Surah
Tin
95 : 5]
أُولٰۤئِكَ
كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ط أُولٰۤئِكَ هُمُ الْغٰفِلُوْنَ ◌
They are like cattle,
nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones.
[Surah Al-A’raaf 7 : 179]
These are the ones who don’t make the grade for Najaat
and Jannah. They return to Allah Ta'ala with the burden of injustice - of Kufr,
Shirk and other major sins. They, themselves, broke their relationship with Allah
Ta'ala and they allowed the rot of Kufr and Shirk to destroy their hearts and
souls. ...Their souls are thus discarded to Jahannum.
وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ
ظُلْمًا ◌
“…And he will have
failed who carries injustice.”
[Surah TaHa 20 : 111]
وَ قَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسّٰهَا
“And indeed he
fails who corrupts his ownself.”
[Surah Ash-Shams 91 : 10]
May Allah Ta’ala protect us from such a miserable fate.
For ourselves, we need to introspect and reflect over the condition of
our hearts. …Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu) had said: Take a
reckoning of your deeds before a reckoning is taken from you. …Judge yourself
before you are judged. ...Weigh your deeds before your deeds are weighed.
In
the same vein, we should grade and rate our own hearts before our hearts are
graded and rated by Allah Ta’ala.
Let us not waste time in developing this heart and making it worthy
that it can be graded with the Friends of Allah Ta’ala!
If we were to assess the Ummah today, then very sadly, the condition of
the Muslim is not a praiseworthy condition. Our characters do not portray the
character of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Our dealings do not
depict Islam’s noble teachings. We have become, in the words of Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam): “…You will be froth and scum like
that carried down by a torrent (of water)…”
What value does froth and foam have? No value…
Why is this description given? …Because of the poor and bad
condition of our hearts and souls!
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) mentioned two weaknesses in
this particular Hadith: Love for the world and dislike for death.
And indeed, the love of this world is such a sin which give rise to
many more sins.
On the outside, there are so many sins: gambling, fraud, interest,
adultery, drugs, Gheebat, lies, etc. Our dressing is in emulation of the
Kuffaar – on the style of Hollywood and Bollywood – with no resemblance to our
Beloved (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and his noble companions (Radhiyallahu
‘anhum).
The beard – which should be kept one fist length, and which is Waajib
(compulsory) – is not to be seen. Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad
Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would say that just as the awe and beauty of
a lion is in its mane, so the awe and beauty of a man is in his beard! The lion
does not seek to look like its counterpart, the lioness (who has no mane) – but
how sad, that man chooses to look more female than male – by removing this
great Sunnah, which is the Sunnah of all the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam)!
Today, a person cannot accept and acknowledge his faults. …There is so
much of pride that we justify Haraam and we find excuses to continue in the
line of disobedience to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam). There is so much of pride that we cannot even apologise when in the
wrong. Yet the Hadith clearly states that a person, who has a tiny
grain (or an atom) of pride in his heart, will not be admitted into Jannah.
Sometimes, as a customary practise we say ‘Astaghfirullah’ and
ask Allah Ta’ala for forgiveness – only to return to our sins. If we have
wronged some person, we sometimes superficially ask for Maaf – with no
sincerity and reality – and we go back to causing harm and hurt. Sometimes, we
apologise and show humility, seeking praise. …There is a myriad of diseases in our hearts. There is jealousy, hatred, anger, Ujub (vanity/conceit), Riyaa (show/ostentation), the love of this world, and so much else. …Our hearts
are in a distressing state.
In
grading us, Allah Ta’ala examines both the inside and outside. The heart has to
be sound and clean (Qalb-e-Saleem) and the outside must be in conformity with
His Beloved (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) – in deed, character, dressing, etc.
Wallah, if we make our Tazkiyah – we purify our hearts and we purify
our souls –we will enjoy great blessings and bounties, even in this worldly
life.
When a person achieves Tazkiyah, what goodness is reaped! What success
is achieved!
Within
the inner self, there is joy.
An example comes to mind:
There is a principle on which a torch works. The torch has a very small
globe but gives a bright light. The cause of the brightness is the reflector
which is behind and around the globe. By means of the reflector, the brightness
increases and illuminates a dark place. ...If the reflector is dirty, the same brightness will not be experienced. When the reflector is clean, then a small globe can give out
bright light.
If
the heart is clean, then just one drop of Noor will brighten and illuminate the
person’s life – will be a means of brightening not only this dark, worldly
life, but also the darkness of the grave and the darkness on the Day or
Resurrection. Not only will his life be brightened,
but all who come in contact with him, will benefit from this brightness. They
too will find their hearts illuminated, Insha-Allah.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the Taufeeq of undertaking this process
of Islaah and Tazkiyah and may Allah Ta’ala grade us as worthy of salvation and
Jannah!
By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
