Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Allah Ta’ala has commanded us:
“O You Who Have Believed, Enter Into Islam Completely.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2 : 208]
Islam is submission to Allah Ta’ala and it entails practical implementation by way of Salaah, Fasting, Zakaat, Hajj and fulfilment of all the other Commands of Allah Ta’ala, including staying away from sin and disobedience. Islam is an entire package and covers our Aqaa’id, Ibaadah, Mu’amalaat, Mu’asharaat and Akhlaaq. This is Dien and it necessitates that we live it.
For many of us, we select from Dien what suits us and we leave off what does not suit us. This is not true Islam. Entering into Islam ‘completely’ means that we do so with our entire person – body, mind, heart and soul. …On the one hand, the Ummah at large is generally negligent and heedless in practising Islam. On the other hand, many of us are fortunate to be involved in serving Dien but we too fall short in living Dien; in practising Dien.
It is important to differentiate and understand Dien itself and the effort of Dien; otherwise an entire life passes without fulfilling the objective. Sometimes, in our effort to serve Dien, we forget the objective. The effort is ‘the means to the end’ but it is not the end. As an example: These days, we tend to introduce an Aalim: “Moulana gave his whole life for Dien. Moulana has done ‘this’ and ‘that’ in the khidmat of Dien.” …Yes, Alhamdulillah, Moulana may have spent his entire life serving Dien but the primary and fundamental obligation is Dien itself. How much of Dien is in Moulana’s life?
If a very good cook prepares healthy, delicious meals and provides these meals to everyone free of charge, but does not eat himself, he will not gain the health benefits nor the enjoyment of the delicious food. If he does not eat at all, himself, and is only busy feeding others, he will become weak and frail and will not be able to serve and benefit anyone!
To talk about Dien, learn, teach, preach and serve Dien is preparing wholesome spiritual meals. However, we should be the first to benefit and gain in spiritual health and also share with others. Our intention should thus be to follow up with practising Dien. As is said: “to walk the talk”. We are meant to live Dien. Dien should be in all aspects and facets of our lives. If a person is living Dien, his entire life becomes Ibaadah. He will be fulfilling his purpose in this world:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْن
“I did not create the Jinn and Mankind except for the purpose that they should worship Me.”
[Surah Zaariyaat 51 : 56]
There is no doubt that the efforts of Dien are extremely great and meritorious, whether Tabligh, Khanqah, Makaatib, Darul Ulooms or Jihad. All these noble efforts are for Dien to come into our lives. Despite their many merits, Dien is the objective and priority.
Moulana Ibraheem Dewla (Daamat Barakaatuhu) explained this same point very beautifully. He said that the Azaan is the call to Salaah. In the Dua after Azaan, we read:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ
“O Allah, Rabb of this complete/perfect call…”
Azaan is a “complete Da’wah”. …Sometimes, a person may think that it is not a complete da’wah and many more things can be said. But what is our thinking? It is nothing. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam declared it as a complete call. …Although it is complete, if the Mu’azzin now gives ten Azaans, one after the other instead of performing Salaah in Jamaat, we will question his state of mind and perhaps even take him for a psychological evaluation. If he is only calling out the Azaan and not joining the Jamaat Salaah, he has not fulfilled the objective. Whilst the Azaan was given, the Salaah was not established and Dien was not established.
Similarly, a person continuously performs wudhu but this is as much as he does. He does not perform Salaah. He has thus lost sight of the important objective.
Both Azaan and wudhu have great value. Chapters are devoted in the kitaabs of Hadith to the great virtues of Azaan and wudhu. Likewise, every effort of Dien is necessary and in itself is very great and carries immense virtue, merit and rewards. However, compared to Dien, the effort is like a shadow. The culmination of all efforts is for Dien to be established. It is for all of us to actively follow and live out the teachings of Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah.
To present a few examples: A person did a 3-year Hifz course, thereafter, he completed a 6-year Aalim course and followed it up with the Mufti course. He gets married and the first morning after his Nikah he is not in the Masjid for Fajr Salaah. He may read his Salaah at home or even miss it. The reality of Dien is not in his life. The noble effort was undertaken; many years were given, but Dien itself was not realised.
A person goes in Jamaat for 40 days. During that time, he follows the Sunnah, sits on the floor and eats. However, when he returns home, he is back at his breakfast nook, sitting on a chair at the table. He spent 40 days reading Salaah in Jamaat but on return home, he is missing Salaah in Jamaat. Dien has not come into his life fully.
Alhamdulillah, so many efforts are made for Dien. Mubarak. We must continue in those efforts. May Allah Ta’ala grant us Ikhlaas and accept. However, let us introspect, analyse and evaluate: How much of Dien is in my life? How much have I improved in my Salaah? Am I giving time for Zikr and Dua? Am I reading Qur’aan Sharief? …This is priority. And above even these a’maal are sifaat (qualities).
Sifaat are the qualities of Dien: Imaan, Sabr, Shukr, Tawakkul, Taqwa, Tawaadhu, Ikhlaas and so forth. A’maal are carried out for a duration of time. However, Sifaat are with a person all the time: whilst he is awake or sleeping, in the Masjid, workplace or even in the toilet! All the time; everywhere! We, perhaps give some importance to A’maal, but are often inattentive to Sifaat! In the Qur’aan Sharief, we find that Allah Ta’ala’s often draws attention to Sifaat – those who have Imaan, who adopt Sabr, who have Taqwa, who trust in Him, etc.
Together with our Ibaadah, we need to assess and review the level of our Imaan and develop praiseworthy qualities within us. In these times of fitan, the attacks are on Imaan. Our beliefs must be correct and we should strive to build up our Imaan to yaqeen. We have to also examine our Mu’asharaat, Mu’amalaat and Akhlaaq. Are we fulfilling the rights of the creation as we have been commanded to? Have we developed our character in resemblance to the Sunnah? How do we treat our spouses? How do we engage with our neighbours? How do we deal in business?
It is for this reason that we are commanded to keep the company of the Siddiqeen because they have the reality of Dien. They are true in their Imaan and Islam. It is by virtue of their Suhbat, we will learn how to also live Dien correctly.
يٰٓأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُوْنُوْا مَعَ الصّٰدِقِيْنَ
“O You who Believe, Fear Allah and join the company of the Truthful ones
(the pious, the Auliya Allah).”
[Surah Taubah 9 : 119]
Hadhrat Moulana Maseehullah (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) explained very beautifully that in this Ayah, Allah Ta’ala mentions Imaan, Taqwa and Suhbah. For the nourishment and development of Imaan, the requisite is Taqwa. For the sustenance and progress of Taqwa, the requisite is Suhbah of the Auliya Allah.
Even if we are deficient in practising Dien, it does not mean we cut out all efforts of Dien. Without the effort, Dien won't come into existence. However, stopping at the effort and not practicing on it is defeating the purpose and objective.
May Allah Ta’ala correct our understanding and give us the Taufeeq of living Dien and cultivating noble Sifaat.
