Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (Daamat Barakaatuhu)
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “…For verily ahead of you are such (difficult) days, staying steadfast on Dien will be like holding onto burning coal. Those who do good deeds in those days will receive the reward of fifty people who carry out deeds like you.”
The Dien referred to is that which was brought by Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and upon which the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were; that Dien which the enemies of Islam have made us, Muslims, believe and call, ‘stone age Islam’ and ‘camel age Islam’ – Na-uzu Billah. We are living in a time where those who are trying to follow the path of the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) are called orthodox, fanatics and so forth. Here, in this Hadith, Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam mentions that for such people, holding onto Dien would be like holding onto hot, burning coal. However, on their struggle and steadfastness they will receive the reward of fifty people.
It was asked: “O Rasulullah! Will they receive the reward of fifty people like them or fifty of us?”
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam replied: “Fifty of you!”[1]
That is, fifty Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). …Of course, this does not make anyone equal to or better than the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). The Hadith is alluding to the great and lofty rewards that will be obtained for persevering in Dien at such a difficult time – the reward will be of fifty Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). These people will be following the true Dien, practising upon the true Dien but they will have to contend with the people opposing and condemning them; criticising and mocking them. When they want to do the right, they are met with conflict and censure.
HADITH AL HAUD
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) related that Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam came to the graveyard and said: “Peace be upon the abode of believing people; and if Allah wills, we will join you soon. Would that we could see our brothers.”
They said: “Are we not your brothers, O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)?”
He said: “You are my companions. Our brothers are those who have not come yet.”
They said: “How will you recognize those of your Ummah who have not come yet, O Rasulullah?”
He said: “Do you not see that if a man has horses that have white blazes and white feet among horses that are all black, will he not recognize his horses?”
They said: “Of course, O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).”
He said: “They will come to me with bright faces and limbs (like the white markings of a horse) because of the traces of wudhu. I will reach the Haud (the great lake) before them, and men will be driven away from my Haud as stray camels are driven away. I will call out to them, ‘Come here!’ but it will be said: ‘They changed after you were gone.’ And I will say, ‘Away with you! Away with you!’”[2]
In another version of the Hadith: Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “I will reach the Haud ahead of you. He who comes to me will drink, and whoever drinks will never thirst again. There will come to me some people whom I will recognize and they will recognize me; then they will be prevented from reaching me. I shall say: ‘They are of me (i.e. my followers),’ but it will be said: ‘You do not know what they introduced after you were gone.’ So I shall say: ‘Away, away with those who changed (the religion) after I was gone.’”[3]
Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam will be calling them to come near but the Malaa’ikah will be chasing them away. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam will be informed that it is because they changed Dien … they brought innovations (Bid'aat) into Dien, modernised Dien, altered and amended Dien.
On the Day of Qiyamah, Rahmatul lil- Aalameen, Rasulullah's Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam mercy will be at its height but he will then say: “Away with you; Away with you!” – May Allah Ta’ala safeguard us from that humiliation and being deprived of the drink of al-Haud.
The Muhadditheen describe the Hadith as “Hadith al-haud” and there are many versions of the Hadith but the message is the same.
On that Day of severe difficulty and relentless heat, the drink of Haud will offer great relief and will quench the thirst of those who were true Believers and true followers of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Those who were not Believers, those who were hypocrites, those who were disobedient to Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and discarded his Sunnah, who followed their whims and fancies and changed the Dien of Allah Ta’ala, will be prevented and deprived.
Let us be careful not to bring new features into Dien, or
adopt the Dien of the White House of America, or the Kremlin of Russia or of
the United Nations. Bring the pure and pristine Dien and Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam. Don’t associate with and don’t keep close ties and
friendship with those who are promoting a modern Dien and who are advocating the
liberal agenda – where there is free mixing of men and women, where Dien is
propagated via television and YouTube, where the Masaajid are closed, Interfaith is promoted, where scholars visit churches and temples and
participate in the rites of other religions and even support and show
solidarity with the abnormal LGBTQ movement. …We cannot be friends with such
people let alone follow them. They have moved away from the
noble teachings of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Their actions are inconsistent
with what they declare and their activities are not sanctioned by Shari’ah. Following them would take us far off the Straight Path (Siratul Mustaqeem).
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Never was a Nabi sent before me by Allah to his people but he had, among his people, (his) disciples and companions, who followed his ways and obeyed his command. Then there came after them their successors who proclaimed what they did not practise, and practised what they were not commanded to do. And (he) who strove against them with his hand is a Believer; he who strove against them with his heart is a Believer; and he who strove against them with his tongue is a Believer; and beyond that there is no grain of Faith.”[4]
If we want the drink of Haud-e-Kauthar and we want the company of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam in the Aakhirah, we will have to be firm on what he brought to us. We will have to practise and live by the true Dien. In this era of great mischief and fitan, let us also strive in the defence of the Truth - with our hand, tongue and heart.
Glad tidings are given to the one who maintains steadfastness upon Dien in these times. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Islam began as something strange and it will return strange as it began, so glad tidings for the strangers.”[5]
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the reality of Dien and let us recognize the Haq as Haq and follow it, and recognize falsehood as falsehood and refrain from it.
[1] Sunan Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawood
[2] Sahih Muslim
[3] Sahih Al-Bukhari
[4] Sahih Muslim
[5] Sahih Muslim
