​In the Quraan Sharif Allah Ta'ala states,

يٰايّها الّذين اٰمَنُوْا اٰمِنُوْا

O people of Imaan, bring Imaan.

This is referred to in Arabic as Tahseel-e-Haasil (to obtain what has already being obtained), which is impossible. For example, “I got a glass in my hand and somebody tells me to hold the glass.” This is impossible as the glass is in my hands. Allah c is instructing the man of Imaan to bring Imaan, what does this mean? It simply means that you have got the name and sketch of Imaan, now bring the reality of Imaan.

Most of us were born in Muslim homes so we consider ourselves as Muslims. Ml Ahmed Hathurani R.A. has written a Kitaab with some very interesting incidents and great morals; it is worthwhile reading the Kitaab. In one particular incident he mentions, that an Ustaad once asked the students whether they were Muslims. They replied, “Yes, we are Muslims.” He then asked one student, “How do you know that you are a Muslim?” He replied, “I wear a Topi.” The Ustaad said that you are a Muslim that wears a Topi. Nowadays, many people wear the Topi, and some robbers even ask us to give them our Zakaat. Some robbers even instruct the members of the household not to recite Aayatul Kursi. He then asked another student the same question who replied, “I am a Muslim as I eat meat.” The Ustaad said, “You are a meat eating Muslim.” Another student said that he is a Muslim as he has a Muslim name. The name of a person doesn’t make one a Muslim. We had applied for Trinidad visas and were called in for an interview. The lady that called us in was Ayesha, so I thought that she was a Muslim. When I spoke to her, she said that she is not a Muslim. The name Fatima is very common amongst the non-Muslims.

Finally, one student said, “I am a Muslim as I believe in the oneness of Allah Ta'ala and I believe that Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is His Rasul.” The Ustaad said, “You are a true Muslim.” Merely saying that we are Muslims is not sufficient, but the reality has to enter a person.

قرب کی لذت چکھا کر اے خدا             پھر رنج دوری میں نہ کر مبتلا

آپ کا قرب اور حضوری اے خدا           سد سالہ  عبادت سے  بہتر ہے

After making us taste the enjoyment of Your closeness O Allah, let us not become involved in grief and being distant from You

Your closeness and presence O Allah! Is better than a hundred years Ibaadat.

The Imaan that we posses should be protected to the extent that we are able to take it with us into the grave. When a person enjoys closeness with Allah Ta'ala, Allah Ta'ala protects such a person. Once I told our Sheikh R.A that I am very concerned as to how death will come to me. Hadrat said, “Why are you thinking ill of Allah c?” Will a friend ever dessert a friend at a time of need? If Allah Ta'ala is made our friend, Shaytaan will never be able to trouble us at the time of death, in fact, Allah Ta'ala will order the angels to treat us kindly.

We will have to make an effort to bring reality into our existing Imaan. In another verse Allah Ta'ala says,

قالت الاعراب اعراب اٰمنّا قل لم تؤمنوا ولكن قولوا اسلمنا ولمّا يدخل الايمان فى قلوبكم

The Bedouins said, “We have brought Imaan. Say, you did not bring Imaan but say we have submitted (brought Islam) and Imaan has not yet entered your hearts.

Hajee Ahmad Nakhooda Saheb had mentioned a very interesting incident that had taken place in Cape Town recently. A person saw a young boy crying so he asked him the reason for his crying, perhaps he thought that the boy wanted some intoxicants or drugs. He replied, “I am crying as my mother has turned away from Islam (become Murtad).” She has given up Islam after 25 or 30 years. The Jamaat brothers and Ulema tried explaining to her but she wouldn’t listen to them. A particular Alim that has a Islaahi relationship with Hajee Ahmad Nakhooda Saheb D.B. said, “Tell your mother that I will be coming to have a cup of tea.” The mother laughed at this as she knew the objective of the Alim but permitted him. He practiced on Muraaqaba-e-Dua which Hajee Saheb stresses upon, this is a Dua that is made without lifting the hands and moving the tongue. This used to be prescribed by Hadrat Sheikh r. When the mother went to prepare the tea, the Alim acted on this and she returned smiling. She said, “A dove that was sitting on my heart has entered my heart” referring to the Imaan that was out of the heart has returned in the heart. 

I had the good fortune of being with Hadrat Sheikh R.A. when he practised upon this. Hadrat would sit in the courtyard of Madinah Munawwarah from approximately 10.30am until Zuhr where he would remain engaged in Muraqaba-e-Dua. This is an effective remedy against the Fitna’s in this time and age.

Some Arabs were in Jamaat, they found that Hadratjee Maulana Inaamul Hassan Saheb r would only come out to conduct programmes and the rest of the time, he would remain in the room. What would he do in the room for such lengthy durations? Hadrat r would spend three hours making Dua for one, one country in the world. Hafez Saheb Patel R.A would take the names of single individuals and make Dua for them to Allah Ta'ala to take them out in Jamaat, solve their problems, etc. We are unmindful of these things and given importance to the matters of Dunya. We have forgotten Deen and our Aakhirat. May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to make Dua for ourselves, families, the Ummat, our Dunya, our Aakhirat, and for every person from the time of Adam n till Qiyaamah.