Monday, 31 October 2022

Accept Who and What You Are

 

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

  Allah Ta’ala says:

 

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللّٰهُ بِهٖ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ ط لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيْبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُوْا ط وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيْبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ ط وَاسْأَلُوا اللّٰهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ ط إِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيْمًا

“And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of His bounty. Indeed, Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing.”

[Surah An-Nisaa 4:32]

 

With regard to this Ayah and its teachings, we are instructed by Allah Ta’ala not to covet and pursue those bounties which others have been given, in preference over us. People are recipients of different bounties from Allah Ta’ala and certain bounties cannot be otherwise achieved. We should not pursue vain desires and fall behind those things. Rather, we should ask Allah Ta’ala for those bounties which are possible to attain and within our means. With Dua, we should also make an effort.

 

In Allah Ta’ala’s perfect distribution, He knows who to give, who not to give, how much to give and when to give. Allah Ta’ala’s Wisdom accompanies all that He does. We should understand this point and accept Allah Ta’ala’s decisions and decrees as He has given the best to everyone. If a person is not content with his or her lot, there will be jealousy, hatred, revenge and even murder. Life will be very miserable.

 

REASON FOR REVELATION

 

This verse was revealed when Umm Salamah (Radhiyallahu anha), the noble wife of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam as well as other women expressed their desire to also get the rewards men get, on what is specifically prescribed to them, such as performing Salaah in congregation, attending the Jumu’ah Salaah, participating in military expeditions and Jihad, etc. …Allah Ta’ala has established a system and delegates different and unique roles to males and females, and rewards both according to what is commanded of them. The Ayah encourages that we should instead ask Allah Ta’ala for His Bounty.

 

Women should be pleased with their roles as wives, mothers, etc. This is their Jihad. Although not on the battlefield, women are regarded as forefront fighters. They are the ones who are tasked with the great work of nurturing and raising generation after generation. Thus, if she leaves her post to work on a factory floor, in an office, as an air-hostess, etc. there is nobody else who can fulfil her role as a wife, mother, etc. – as she would. As such, we find the present chaos! There is no boredom or uselessness for a woman to be at home! It is her greatest honour. It is also her wonderful support to her family and contribution to humanity! 

 

Women should not be deluded by the call and stance of feminists, modernists and others. Their distorted ideas divest women of respect and dignity and leads to a displaced life, outside of the safe haven of her home, where she is vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation and evil.

 

CHANGING THE CREATION

 

In our times, on a very different level, people are consumed with vanity and pursuing physical changes and transformations. …We all know that people are born of different nationalities, colours and features - Chinese, Arab, African, Indian, etc. People are of different heights, have different skin colours, different eye colours, different hair colours and so forth. …This variety and diversity in the creation opens the door to the Ma’rifah of Allah Ta’ala. There is no end to the originality of Allah Ta’ala’s creation. Man merely copies or clones and thereafter dishonestly and fraudulently credits himself.

 

Unfortunately, there is much stereotyping when it comes to beauty, colour, race, ethnicity and so forth. These are matters which are not in our control. If we pursue them, we will fall into depression or go to extremes. For example: many want to lighten their complexion and they use all sorts of creams and undergo different treatments. Others are light-skinned and want to tan themselves. Many are unhappy with the type of hair they have and will spend thousands on hair pieces, extensions, etc. Others are obsessed with tattoos and body piercings to look different. People undertake cosmetic surgery because they are unhappy over what Allah Ta’ala has granted them of their shape and form, yet Allah Ta’ala says:

 

 

وَصَوَّرَكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُمْ

 

“…And (He) has given you shape and made your shapes beautiful…”

[Surah Taghabun 64 : 3]

 

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِىْٓ أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ ◌

 

“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds.”

[Surah Tin 95 : 4]

 

When we look into the mirror, we read the Dua:

 

اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِىْ فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِىْ

 

“O Allah, You have beautified my features, so beautify my character as well.”

 

In this Dua, we express our gratitude to Allah Ta’ala, who beautified us in our appearance. The Dua then draws our attention to what takes precedence to physical beauty, and that is beautiful character. These extreme measures and procedures, which are undertaken to change physically are an expression of ingratitude to Allah Ta’ala.

 

Today, people have gone further, wanting to change their gender and they undergo complex procedures. In the process, they suffer tremendous physical, emotional and psychological harm. And once this kind of gender re-assignment surgery is done, it is irreversible – with so many deeply regretting their decisions and dealing with painful consequences life-long.

 

All of these efforts to change are from shaytaan. It is shaytaan’s promise:

 

 وَلَاٰمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللّٰهِ ط

 

“… and I will surely order them so they will surely change the creation of Allah.”

[Surah an-Nisaa 4 : 119]

 

It is Haraam – totally forbidden – to undergo a gender change. Be content with what Allah Ta’ala has made you. You are what you are and accept what you are. If Allah Ta’ala has made you a man, be a man. Don’t try to become a woman or vice versa. Don’t pursue what is not in your control. All these evils, which stem from shaytaan and the enemies of mankind, are meant to destroy humanity; not better humanity. …If we learn our Dien, all these matters will be resolved.

 

THOUGHTS

 

Thoughts will come. …The Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) also experienced bad thoughts. On one occasion, some of the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) presented themselves to Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and said: “Our condition is that sometimes we experience such evil thoughts and sentiments in our hearts that it is most painful to even mention them.”

 

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said to them: “But that is pure faith.”[1]

 

The Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were not comfortable or happy with those thoughts; on the contrary, they were concerned and uneasy, which is a clear indication of Imaan.

 

We will not be taken to task or held accountable for what thoughts comes on their own, into our minds. However, to invite, accommodate and entertain the wrong thoughts, pursue them and try to attain them will lead to great problems.

 

WHISPERINGS OF SHAYTAAN

 

Shaytaan will whisper all kinds of evil to mislead us and create doubts in us. At such times, we should turn to Allah Ta’ala. Seek protection in Allah Ta’ala:  

 

مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ لا الْخَنَّاسِالَّذِىْ يُوَسْوِسُ فِىْ صُدُوْرِ النَّاسِ

 

 

“…from the mischief of the Whisperer (of evil), who withdraws (after his whisper). He who whispers into the hearts of mankind.”

[Surah An-Naas  114 : 4/5]

 

Recite Ta’awwuz:

اَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْم[2]

 

 

Establish the habit of daily reciting the three ‘Quls’[3], three times each, after Fajr and Maghrib. …Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Sahib (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would stress the importance of the recitation of the ‘Quls’. It is a great fortification against every evil, fitnah and mischief – including the mischief of the nafs.

 

When leaving home, read the Dua:

 

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ   لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰه

 

 

In the name of Allah, I rely on Allah.

There is no protection (against evil) and no power (to do good) except with the help of Allah.

 

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: ‘Whoever recites this Dua, it is proclaimed to him, ‘You have been guided, you have been sufficed (i.e., your needs have been taken care of), you have been protected,’ and shaytaan leaves his path.’[4]

 

DESIRES

 

If a person has desire to be something else or somebody else – this does not mean that he must give into the desire and fulfil the demands of the nafs. We are not the slaves of our desires. We are the slaves of Allah Ta’ala. …Just as a car has brakes and hand brakes and will have to be used, so a Mu’min applies brakes on his evil desires by fearing Allah Ta’ala, remembering death and the hereafter. 

 

If one’s desires are in the right direction and fulfilled in a Halaal, permissible way – there is no problem. However, when we give into wrong desires, there is great danger. We should understand that at times, these wrong things are put as a test for us.

 

What is carrying on presently – all the unnatural and abnormal behaviour of the ‘pride’ movement – is not for a Muslim. A Muslim must not go in that direction. Don’t go in the direction of Haraam. If caught up in fitnah, make the effort to come out. Change the direction from Haraam to Halaal. If people are allowed to fulfil their evil desires, this world will be a jungle of animals in human form. …In fact, this whole fitnah has made man worse than animals.

 

Fulfilling one’s evil desires will drive one further into Haraam. Hadhrat Moulana Jalaluddeen (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had equated sins to the salty water of the ocean. Drinking sea water does not quench one’s thirst; rather it increases thirst and causes serious harm. Similarly, giving into one’s evil desires increases one in sins, and inevitably wrecks one’s spiritual well-being and health. Don’t be deceived by shaytaan.

 

A Muslim restrains himself from Haraam and strives against the evil demands of the nafs. In this Jihad against the nafs, there will be great spiritual progress. Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Sahib (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would say: “Don’t make Dua that Allah Ta’ala removes one’s desires. If there is no desire, one’s spiritual progress is stunted. Spiritual progress is when you have evil desires and you suppress and sacrifice them for Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure.”

 

Allah Ta’ala promises Jannah for those who restrain themselves from evil desires:

 

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوٰى ۙ  فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِىَ الْمَأْوٰى

“But as for him who feared (in this world) to stand

before his Lord (in the Hereafter) and restrained himself from (unlawful indulgence in) lust, Lo! Paradise will be his home.”

[Surah An-Naazi’aat 79 : 40/41]

 

WHO IS PROMOTING THIS FITNAH?

 

The actual enemy is shaytaan who deploys his agents. We should be careful not to become an agent of shaytaan. A true Muslim can never subscribe to these evils or promote them in any way. We should not promote their agenda by talking about their pride month, participating in their marches, etc.

 

Many non-Muslims also cannot tolerate these evils and shamelessness. They are speaking out against these vices because of their own religious and traditional beliefs, wanting to protect their children and preserve humanity. …As for governments – almost all are bought out and are sell-outs; if not they are coerced and threatened. We cannot look towards them as flag bearers of justice, morality and goodness. As for the media, it is merely a propaganda tool to delude the people and mislead.

 

Don’t fall prey to all these immoralities. To combat them, we must speak about the truth. Don’t keep quiet. Unfortunately, we shy away. The agents of shaytaan talk of the wrong thing and they continue ceaselessly. They do not stop. We, on the other hand, worry about others and keep quiet.

 

Concealing the truth invites great punishment. The Bani Isra’eel received the curses of Allah Ta’ala because they concealed the truth. This warning is not only applicable to the Ulama. It is very easy to blame the Ulama and similarly for the Ulama to blame the people. All are responsible in their capacity. Each one will be questioned and held accountable.

 

Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyas Sahib (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would advise that one way to annihilate falsehood is to talk about Haq. Talk about the right thing. What you talk about will flourish in the people. Our effort is to promote true, correct morals and ways. Bring goodness in the people and it will spread. If we want righteousness, bring righteousness alive.

 

We must not condemn those who have become victims; rather try to bring them back ‘home’; to the safety of Dien. Make them also understand that shaytaan, the devil, is our evil, open enemy, determined to destroy humanity and take as many to hell with him. Nafs is our other evil enemy - within us! Allah Ta’ala is our Protector. We have to turn to Him, seek His help and seek His protection against the assaults and deceptions of shaytaan, as well as the mischief of nafs. We must also make every effort to obey Allah Ta’ala, earn His Pleasure and Jannah.

 

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq and give us firmness and steadfastness in Dien. 

 

 

by Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (Daamat Barakaatuhu)

 

 

 



[1] Sahih Muslim

[2] I seek protection with Allah from shaytaan, the cursed one.

[3] Surah Al-Ikhlaas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas

[4] Sunan Abi Dawud / Sunan al-Tirmidhi