Gems 56 - 60

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Selected and concise advices / sayings of

 Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb

(Daamat Barakaatuhum)

56.

When we ask of Allah Ta’ala, our respect increases.

When we ask of people, our respect is lost.

57.

Implementing the Command of “Ittaqullah”, in our lives, bears the fruit of every good 

and is a prescription and a medication for all spiritual ailments. 

58.

We should not be deceived by our outward dress and/or titles which 

signify and allude to Taqwa (piety).

Taqwa is leaving off every form of disobedience to Allah Ta’ala.

59.

Rich is that person whose wealth is in his heart.

60.

Close your eyes to Haraam and open your eyes to Halaal (i.e. your wife) 

– and you will find your wife to be the most beautiful.

Understanding Ikhlaas

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

Many people misunderstand Ikhlaas (Sincerity). They think that Ikhlaas means that no one should know about or see the person’s actions.

Ikhlaas does not mean to hide. It is to do solely for Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu, seeking His Pleasure alone.

The intention when undertaking any deed should be for Allah Ta’ala and not for show (Riyaa). Our hearts must be pure of all objectives except for Allah Ta’ala.

If we do for show, then Allah Ta’ala will say on the Day of Qiyamah:  ‘Go to those who you showed off your deeds to, in the worldly life, then see if you can find any reward with them!’[1] ...Then all will be lost and our efforts will be in vain. May Allah Ta'ala protect us and protect our deeds.

Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would say: “For others to see one's action is not wrong, but for one to show (i.e. do out of Riyaa) is wrong.” 

Hadhrat also presented the following example, by way of understanding:

"If Saudi Airlines is landing at the O R Tambo Airport and the captain, who is a Muslim, announces: “We are all Muslims, and have just returned from performing Hajj. Our plane has the best wheels in the world. No other airline has wheels such as ours. However, we will not show them to anyone. To show them will be boastful. So we will land without taking out the wheels!”

All will say: “Please keep your Ikhlaas – of that level – for Tahajjud or for Makkah Sharief, but here, please take out the wheels. If not, we will go up in flames.”"

Hadhrat would say that some people overdo their Ikhlaas – meaning they do not understand the reality of Ikhlaas, and thus seek to hide everything.

If Ikhlaas meant that no one should know of our A’maal (actions) or see our A'maal, then the Fardh Salaah would not have been made Waajib (obligatory) with Jamaat, nor would Hajj have been made Fardh. …Everyone would have been ordered to make their Fardh Salaah at home, hiding away.

Hajj would then not entail spending 5 days with millions of other Muslims, engaging in the rites of Hajj and other Ibaadaat openly.

There is a Hadith, wherein Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Perform Salaah as you see me performing Salaah.”[2]

Regarding Hajj, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Take from me your rites.”

We learn how important it is to see - so that we can practise correctly. 

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) taught the Ummah practically all aspects of Islam. After him, the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhum) were the teachers of the Ummah, teaching us how to carry out our Ibaadaat – and this is Allah Ta’ala’s system, that to learn Dien, we have to see how our seniors practise on Dien.

We find in various narrations, the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu 'Anhum) showing others how to perform different acts of Ibaadah (worship), to teach them. 

On one occasion, a Sahabi (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to his companions: “Shall I perform Wudhu for you in the way that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would perform Wudhu?” He then took some water and performed Wudhu whilst they observed.

So in this manner, we learn Wudhu, Salaah, Hajj and so forth.

If everyone were to hide, then the practical side of Islam would be lost to us. We would be doing things based on our own understanding.

There is a need for the Sheikh or the Ustaadh to set an example : We learn from him by seeing his actions.

On one occassion, at our annual Jalsa, our Sheikh (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) was also present. After the Maghrib Salaah, the people were taking their places before the commencement of the Jalsa. Despite the huge crowd, Hadhrat Moulana, undeterred by the people around, performed his Awwabeen - tranquilly. This was his habit - and he did not forego his habit to hide it from the people.

Of course, in order for us to nurture and maintain sincerity and save ourselves from the tricks of nafs and shaytaan, we should try to keep our deeds, a secret from others, and hidden as far as possible. We should not make a show of what we do, nor should we unnecessarily and deliberately do our actions in front of people or talk about what has been done or is being done. This would then be Riyaa and a great sin.

After the demise of Zubaidah, the queen and wife of Harun Ar-Rashid, someone saw her in a dream and asked how she faired before Allah Ta’ala. She said that Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu had given her very high stages and great ni'mats of Jannah. The person asked if that was on account of all the social work she did in her life time. …Zubaidah had built a canal for the people of Makkah Sharief and had engaged in various great works. She replied: “No! On account of certain intentions which were hidden in my heart and no one knew of them!”

Imam Shaafi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said that every person should have certain ‘A’maal (actions) which are known to only Allah Ta’ala, even if these are Mustahab or Nafl! These secret good deeds will, Insha-Allah, help him tremendously on the Day of Qiyamah!

What has worth by Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu is sincerity! Imaan without sincerity is Nifaaq (hypocrisy), and A’maal without sincerity is Riyaa (show) – Shirk-e-Asghar, the minor Shirk.

There are so many extremes which we fall prey to. A person who is sincere thinks that he is not sincere, while a person who is a show-off makes his outward sincerity the cause and basis of his show and ostentation!

It is due to the inherent weakness of the nafs that a person should consult with his Sheikh, regarding his A’maal. This is for the purpose of Islaah. He should be honest in respect to his intentions when undertaking his deeds – because the nafs, by nature, wants to be credited and seeks attention also. 

Alhamdulillah, our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alaih) explained and corrected us in regard to these matters. 

May Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu guide us, give us the correct understanding, forgive us and grant us the reality of Ikhlaas. Aamien.

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[1] Musnad Ahmad

[2] Sahih Bukhari

In the Love of Rasulullah ﷺ

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

EXTRACT

THE SCALE OF DEEDS BECOME HEAVY BY

DUROOD SHARIEF

It is narrated in a Hadith that a person will have his bad deeds out-weighing his good deeds, by far, on the scales. He will lose all hope and be very despondent. Suddenly a handsome young man will appear and put a small piece of paper in his pan of good deeds, by which it will outweigh all of the huge amounts of his bad deeds! He will exclaim, “Who are you and what did you put in my pan of good deeds - that it immediately outweighed all my bad deeds?”

He will reply : “I am your Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and 

this was your Durood you recited on me!”

READ THE BOOK HERE

Take Responsibility

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

ON ONE OCCASION, we were sitting at the dastarkhan[1] and our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ was also present. One of the brothers dropped a tumbler and water spilt across the dastarkhan. On hearing the disturbance, Hadhrat Moulana رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ asked: “What happened?”

Someone responded: “The glass fell.”

Hadhrat Moulana رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ asked: “Did the glass fall on its own?”

In correcting the Mureed and all of us, Hadhrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ said: “Learn to take responsibility for your actions. Say: ‘I dropped the glass.’”

This was a lesson for everyone. Hadhrat Moulana رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ was bringing to our attention the great need to bear the responsibility or blame of whatever we do. …Till the person does not take responsibility, his Islaah (reformation) will not be made. Regrettably, we don’t and we won’t take responsibility of our actions. Sometimes we refuse to acknowledge that we are doing something wrong or that there is a weakness in us. There is denial.  We find this same denial with many drug addicts, alcoholics and others. As long as the person is in a state of denial, he or she does not take help.

If a sick person is in denial, the person will not seek treatment. Similarly, a person is spiritually sick – he has an anger problem or he cannot control his gaze, but he says: “I don’t have any problem.” …This denial makes Islaah very difficult. Once a person acknowledges there is a problem, then that is half the battle won and half way to solving the problem. If a person admits he has faults and weaknesses and he goes to a Sheikh for this purpose, there will be Islaah, Insha-Allah. …Unfortunately, some go for worldly reasons, such as obtaining Khilafat, and not with a sincere intention.

Sometimes there is stubbornness in our stance that we are right – when, in fact, we are wrong. If there is a car accident, each party blames the other. The other driver was at fault. Most drivers will declare that they were abiding by the rules and regulations and are blameless – despite driving through the red traffic light, speeding or violating some other traffic law.

If there is a fight between husband and wife, the husband will say: “She is the problem.” And the wife will say: “He is the problem.” …Do we ever hear anyone saying: “I am to blame. I am the problem.”? …And this is where the problem lies. Most people are not truthful and sincere enough, nor humble to take the blame when in the wrong. Between brothers and sisters, other family members, or in business dealings, if any problems arise, the same scenario is found. We are not prepared to accept responsibility; rather we blame the other party.

People, in general, have this great weakness of shifting responsibility to others and are very quick to blame everyone else, seeking to absolve themselves. …If anything goes wrong, we look for someone to blame. If anything goes right, we are in the front line to take the credit. This is a common weakness and is a very serious matter. It is a sickness if we think that everyone else is wrong and we are always right.

This denial is a form of pride. The person refuses to acknowledge that he is wrong or refuses to acknowledge what is true. He is also not being sincere to himself. Say: “I am wrong.” Learn to acknowledge and admit: “I am wrong. I am to blame.” What is so difficult in this?

There is progress in taking responsibility of our actions and accepting blame.  This humility will melt hearts and will solve our problems. It is a beautiful quality to have. Unfortunately, shaytaan whispers: If you say that you are wrong, your wife (or your employees) will take advantage and won’t listen to you in future. Your wife will say: “You are always wrong!”… You have to wield control. You have to show her that you are in charge, so that she listens…. You have to show your employees who is in charge!

Don’t listen to shaytaan. Listen to Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. That person who adopts noble character, humbles himself, forgives, overlooks, and abandons arguing when he is right, opens the doors of reconciliation, Muhabbah (love), unity and happiness. Allah Ta’ala says:

  “The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with that which is better (to be patient, forgive, etc.), then verily, he between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.”

[Surah Fussilaat 41 : 34]

Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “I guarantee a house in the outskirts of Paradise to the one who gives up arguing even if he were on the right side.”^[2]

On another level, there are those who say that they did not get an opportunity to learn Dien, learn Qur’aan Sharief, do Hifz, and were not taught the practical side of Dien – because their parents were neglectful and indifferent and did not send them to Madrasah, etc. They say that their parents deprived them of all those opportunities. Again, the fault is placed on the other party. No doubt, in such a circumstance, the parents are to be blamed. Parents have a responsibility of seeing to the Tarbiyyah and spiritual nurturing of their children – but what stops a person now from learning Dien, learning the Qur’aan Sharief and getting occupied in good?

Your failure is not outside of you. …Our success or failure does not lie outside of us. Our success or failure lies inside of us.

Take lesson from the cow: Its diet comprises mainly of grass, grains and water – so limited! However, with that grass, it produces milk and from that milk, what not is made! Cheese, cottage cheese, yoghurt, butter, ghee, condensed milk, fresh cream, buttermilk, ice-cream, etc. are produced.

If a person had limited opportunities in life, it does not mean that he now cannot make the most of what he has of life, skill and resources! Where there’s a will, there’s a way. We have heard of people in their seventies and eighties completing Hifz of the Qur’aan Sharief. Allahu Akbar! Nothing deterred them from pursuing noble goals – not even their old age!

Let us take responsibility of our actions and our lives. No one else is accountable for our lives, except ourselves. It is up to us to utilise the gift of life productively; instead of wasting it by blaming others for what has past.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and the Taufeeq of practising.

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Sahib (Daamat Barakaatuhu)

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[1] floor mat for eating

[2] Abu Dawood

Ermelo Islaahi Jalsa

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Khanqah Akhtari 

Stepping up our Security

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

The December period is the peak season for the businessmen. Many step up their security to protect their earnings and profits – especially here in South Africa, where hijackings, robberies and other crimes become the order of the day. (May Allah Ta’ala protect us all). The holiday season becomes the peak season for criminals, who work to steal the hard earned money and valuables of others.

We find, perhaps, an even greater concern and effort to step up security when it comes to our homes, since our wives and children are our main concern. Naturally, we also want to secure our belongings and valuables, which many work so hard for.

Besides installing burglar guard and gates, many people step up security by contracting a security company, as well as adding CCTVs, automated gates and electric fencing. Some even go further with laser beams, security guards, etc.

A great amount of money is spent for all of this additional protection and safety, but the objective is to safeguard what is so valuable in our homes – our families, our earnings, our valuables.

The Muslim’s heart is home to the most valuable commodity on the face of the earth, and that is his Imaan in Allah Ta’ala.

In the home of the heart are the treasures of Ishq of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). The heart is also the storehouse of the Anwaar of his virtuous deeds and thus requires great security and strong fortification from the enemies, nafs and shaitaan.

These times of great, great Fitnah are the peak seasons for our enemies, nafs and shaitaan. They work to steal all the wealth accumulated in our hearts.

Our treasure of Imaan and whatever is earned by way of good deeds needs to also be safeguarded.  

…To a greater extent, we should step up the security of our heart, otherwise nafs and shaitaan will steal into the heart – and they are skilled and accomplished in clearing all the goods and stocks of the heart in seconds.

…If the security guard is negligent, robbers easily overcome him and enter the home. We are our own security guards. If we are ‘ghaafil’ (negligent), nafs and shaitaan will floor us, and will enter the home of the heart and ravage it of its wealth.  (May Allah Ta’ala protect us all).

Nafs and shaitaan come into the heart through different sins – lustful gazes, music, gossip, lies, gambling, adultery, drugs, alcohol, and so forth. And they also come into the heart through Riyaa (show), Ujub (vanity/conceit), Takabbur (pride), Hirs (greed), Hasad (jealousy) and other such sins. 

Taqwa is the security of the spiritual heart, and keeping the company of the pious, offers protection to one’s Taqwa.

Allah Ta’ala guides us to the security system of the heart and guides us to the security company of the heart:

“O You who Believe, Fear Allah and join the company of the Truthful ones

(the pious, the Auliya Allah).”

[Surah Taubah 9 : 119]

These spiritual "security companies" are the Suhbat of the Ahlullah. Their company is not like the ones we contract for our businesses and homes, where the employees and personnel of the security company are sometimes found to be accomplices to the crimes of the businesses and homes they are paid to protect.

The Ahlullah are the special servants for Allah Ta'ala - His Friends, who are blessed with His Special Protection. Those who keep their company will also experience this protection, Insha-Allah.

The Muslim improves and steps up the security of his heart by guarding the gaze, hearing, speech and limbs at all times. If these areas are secure, the home of the heart will be secure. The treasure of Imaan, the wealth of Anwaar and the Sukoon which descends in the heart, will remain well-fortified.

Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would make Dua, and we too should make the same Dua:

‘O Allah, wherever I am, whether on earth or in the skies, my Taqwa must always remain safe.’

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and Taufeeq.