Many of us are Bay’at for many years, in fact we are now even making others Bay’at. However, what is actually the purpose and objective of Bay’at? The objective of Bay’at is our Islaah (correction) and Tazkiyah (purification). How much of Tazkiyah has practically come within us?

If a pimple bursts out on our body, we immediately attend to it without any delay. On the other hand, we don’t attend to our spiritual illnesses which are much more serious than physical illnesses.

Allah Ta'ala  blessed us with great Ambiya A.S, the Sahaaba R.A, and great Ulema that sacrificed for Deen. When Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam undertook the miraculous journey of Me’raj, Allah Ta'ala provided a Buraaq to transport Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. However, when Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam made Hijrat to Madinah Munawwarah, the Buraaq was not made available. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam had to travel through the various stations until he reached his destination. Similarly, a person has to travel the various stages of Sulook until he finally reaches his destination. We want to fly and reach our destination, whereas the great Awliya had to undergo great sacrifices until they reached their abode.

When a person sincerely wants to reach Allah c, then in attempting to attain his objective he is even prepared to be cut into pieces. We do not ask to be cut into pieces, rather we ask for Aafiyat all the time. However, many of our great Ulema had endured great difficulty in reaching Allah Ta'ala. Imaam Ahmad Bin Hanbal R.A. suffered for a period of 2 years and 4 months, until finally his head was severed from his body. This was on account of remaining steadfast on Deen.

Currently, the people of Syria are experiencing great difficulty as well. Within our circles also there are people that are experiencing great difficulty from a different angle. The difficulty at the time of death is also to finally come, the life of the Qabr will have to be experienced, the difficulty of the day of Qiyaamah is also a reality, etc. In preparation of all these stages, we are required to make our Islaah and correct ourselves. The greatest Jihaad is to fight the Nafs, as the Nafs continuously commands a person to do evil.

The Ulema have written that if a person is not concerned of his Islaah then sins will enter his life without him even knowing and he won’t even be concerned of it, even though he may be the greatest Alim rendering great services to Deen. Pride enters a person so easily, a person sits down to give a Bayaan and his gaze falls on someone in the congregation which leads him to think of the evil past of this person. By regarding himself as superior, he now falls in the gaze of Allah Ta'ala. Sometimes, a person speaks of another person in a way that he belittles him or regards him as inferior which causes him to fall.

Another illness pertains to lustful glances, a person looks at a woman and his mind takes him in a totally different direction. How conscious are we of these illnesses? If a person is diagnosed with cancer, then he cannot sleep any longer. The family cannot sleep any longer, yet on the other hand, we are suffering with diseases worse than cancer but are not concerned of these illnesses.

The Ulema have written that when wrong is committed then initially it is considered as evil, but as time progresses the seriousness of the sin leaves a person. Even worse, there are so many things that are wrong yet we regard it as correct and vice versa. Hadrat Sheikh Ul Hadith R.A says, “When people regard poison as medication and medicine as poison, then what remedy can one hope for?” A worse stage is where many use the Quraan and Hadith to prove the incorrect things as correct.

Islaah is not a matter of merely completing Wazaaif. How many complete their daily Wazaaif or their daily recitation? How many of us have thought of the quality of our Salaah, and are we even concerned of improving the quality of our Salaah? Is our Salaah even accepted? We are fasting yet we are not concerned of improving on the quality of our fasts. Is our recitation really Tilaawat as the Quraan Sharif explains? Is our Imaan improving and becoming like the Imaan of the Sahaaba R.A? How many of us fear in regards to how we will leave the world?   

We should all have hope in the mercy of Allah Ta'ala, but coupled with that we should be concerned. We shouldn’t be complacent with ourselves thinking that we have no problems. For this, we should have Taqwa within us, we should be conscious of the presence of Allah Ta'ala at all times.

Maulana Qamaruz Zamaan Saheb D.B said, “When an Alim sits on the Mimbar to address the congregation, he should think that he is the deputy of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam.” What would Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam have said if he were to be sitting here?  Do we think in these lines? How many of us give Bayaans to please the people and how many of us are speaking to please Allah Ta'ala? For many, Allah Ta'ala is not even in the mind. We got to be conscious of all these aspects. Maulana Ilyaas Saheb R.A said, “Knowledge is light, but it refers to that knowledge that will take a person onto Amal.”

The Sahaaba R.A were concerned of their Islaah at all times. Hadrat Hanzalah R.A finds himself in a different condition when he was away from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and considered himself as a Munaafiq (hypocrite). He then approached Abu Bakr R.A, who also complained of the same condition and both then proceeded for Islaah. When last did we even forward an Islaahi question? We discuss everything else but our Islaah. Some complain that they do not receive any reply as they haven’t even written in regards to their Islaah. If a person forwards his health issue to the water department, he won’t even receive any reply as it doesn’t concern them.

Some Mureeds desire long replies which is not required. If the patient requires a single tablet per day, the doctor won’t prescribe 30 tablets for the day. Then we feel that the doctor is not good. The Amil that gives plenty of Taweez is considered as a good Amil, whilst the Amil that states that you do not need any Taweez is considered as one that doesn’t know his work. This path of Islaah is very easy, just follow the simple advices and you will reach your destination. How many have changed their lives in these times? Evidence is given by their very own people. May Allah give us all Taufeeq! Ameen.