islaah

What is Islaah

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.                           

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The concern of Islaah

ISLAAH THE CONCERN OF HADRAT SHEIKH R.A. Hadrat Maulana Ayub Surti Saheb of Bartley met me and narrated an incident. He then took a pledge from me that I will narrate this incident to the Ulema that I meet. Hadrat Maulana Zakariyya Saheb R.A. was returning from Nizaam-ud-Deen Markaz to Saharanpur by road. On the way they were passing Jalalabaad, so they decided to meet Hadratjee Maulana Maseehullah Saheb R.A.. When they stopped, Hadrat Sheikh R.A. enquired first whether Hadratjee was engrossed in some work. Students will always be students, so they said that Hadrat is resting. Hadrat Sheikh R.A. said, “Come on, Come on, Lets go! We shouldn’t cause inconvenience to anyone. The next day Hadratjee r found out that Hadrat Sheikh R.A. had come to visit, so he reprimanded the students. He said, “I wasn’t resting and even if I was resting then too you should have awoken me as Hadrat Sheikh r had come. The following day Hadratjee visited Hadrat Sheikh R.A. and met him. Hadrat Sheikh R.A. then asked all those that were in his room to leave. Finally, only Hadrat Sheikh and Maulana Maseehullah R.A remained. Hadrat Sheikh then cried for at least fifteen to twenty minutes. In between Maulana Maseehullah R.A. tried to say a few words but was unable to do so due to the excessive crying of Hadrat Sheikh R.A..   When he calmed down, Hadratjee asked, “What is the problem?” Is there a domestic problem that you are unable to discuss with anyone? We are at your service. If you require financial assistance we will organize whatever amount you require without any person coming to know. Hadrat Sheikh r then said, “In previous times when students would graduate, they would make their Islaah and then work in the Ummat.” Nowadays they start serving the Ummat without paying any attention to their Islaah. What will the condition of the Ummat be when Ulema are unconcerned of their Islaah, whereas they are the leaders of the Ummah?    NO CONCERN FOR ONE’S ISLAAH Maulana Akhlad Saheb of Muraadabaad who is the principal of Shaahee Madrasah and the grandson of Hadrat Madni R.A. had come to South Africa. He mentioned that in previous times the students as well as the teachers understood the importance of Islaah. Nowadays, a large number of students are involved in worldly activities and employment. This is not Haraam but the actual work of the Ulema is teaching in the Madrasah. The remainder either take up an Imaamat post, or teach in a Maktab, or Muslim school, or even take up a post at the Radio station. The Ulema at the Madaris are also not concerned of making Islaah of the people. The thought doesn’t even cross their minds that Islaah of the Nafs is the actual thing.   Maulana Yunus Poona said with great pain in the heart, “Think a little, we have reached the age of fifty or sixty, have we even made the Islaah of a single person?” Hadrat Madni R.A, Hadrat Maulana Ilyaas R.A. were always restless being concerned of the Islaah of the people. They would sometimes be Harsh, sometimes affectionate, sometimes give someone a Hadya, sometimes accept a Hadya, etc. all in the concern of Islaah. They will accept a Hadya so that the person will become pleased and then accept what will be said. Let us ponder, we are Imaams of Masajid and perhaps we are leading the community for the last fifty years, did we ever think of the fact that the Mutawalli doesn’t have a beard, in fact telling him of his beard is something farfetched. Did we even make mention of it in the Bayaan, did we tell an associate of his to inform him? In most of our Masaajid the Adhaan is pronounced incorrectly. Did we ever consider correcting the Muazzin? Perhaps we fear the Mutawalli, what is the need to fear the Muazzin? This is the consequence of not making one’s own Islaah.   WHAT IS ISLAAH? Islaah is to think and ponder how one’s life can be in conformity with Deen. Think, did we make Tilaawat of the Quraan Sharif today which is a basic requirement. The Huffaz only recite in Ramdaan and cover up for the entire year. How important is Durood, did we recite a single Durood Sharif or not? The favours of Allah and His Rasul upon us are enumerable. This is one way of saying Jazakallah to Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. A dog that receives a piece of bread at your door is so loyal. We are so disloyal that we cannot say Jazakallah even once whereas we don’t even have to spend a single cent in recitation of Durood. It is necessary to express love as well. A person says that he loves his wife, but does not pay the rental, nor the light bill, nor does he purchase the groceries, etc. Is this love? Certainly not! We should make an effort to bring Sunnats into our lives and the lives of people. These are important aspects for which we should be concerned. We have heard from Mufti Mahmood Saheb r on several occasions that in the previous times a person would graduate and make his Islaah, then the Sheikh would send him to serve the people of a certain place.   How did Deen reach Hindustan? Khwaja Nizaam-ud-Deen Chisti R.A and others were sent by their Mashaaikh to make an effort and correct others. This was their concern, that how can the Islaah of the people be made? This should be our concern as well. Nowadays, work takes place on a computer in an office. The actual way of propagating Deen is by mixing and developing a relationship with people.   Hadrat Shah Ismail Shaheed R.A. had been to an area filled with evil women. Outwardly, what a terrible scenario! What was in his heart that led him to this! How didn’t he make the Islaah of the people! May Allah Ta'ala make us understand the importance of this aspect of Deen.  

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Harms of Anger

Anger! There is no drink that is more beloved to Allah Ta’ala than the gulp of anger that one swallows. Obviously, this refers to that anger which one is able to exercise yet he swallows it. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “A powerful person is not one that is able to overpower another in wrestling, a powerful person is one who is able to swallow his anger when angry.” On the other hand, a person that gets angry, screams and swears is actually displaying his inferiority complex and weakness. One can be easily tested with one’s wife. In one Hadith Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “ When one is overpowered by anger due to his Nafs, it is compulsory for such a person to keep quiet.” An expert in the field of psychology had conducted a research on anger and concludes that anger is that evil of society that causes a person to lose his respect and honour to such an extent that one looks worse than an alcoholic. Harms of anger! A person that always gets angry with his family members at home is imitated and mocked at when he leaves home. Anger has an adverse effect on one’s nervous system, muscles, ligaments, etc. He is unable to think correctly and the memory of a person is affected. Anger is the translation of one’s nervous system and indicates that a person does not have control over himself. An angry person is always restless. According to the experts of yoga, anger and greed are such harmful diseases that they will destroy a person. In previous times, the elderly women would prevent a breastfeeding woman from feeding the infant in the state of anger as in doing so lies danger to the life of the child. Certain experts have stated that people suffering from anger die at an early age. Anger harms a person just as tobacco and high blood pressure harms a person. The conclusion of a seminar held by the heart association was that many people die at a young age due to enmity, jealousy and malice. Doctors agree that the physical condition of a person is governed by the mental condition. Remedies for anger! An angry person should recite Durood Sharif, which will cause him to completely cool down. If one is standing then he should sit down. If sitting, then he should lie down. One should also drink water when angry. Need for Islaah! From the above we understand that it is absolutely important for one to spiritually rectify himself. Those that do not take treatment from the Mashaaikh are actually destroying themselves. The purpose of taking spiritual treatment is not to remove the anger that is within a person, but to utilise one’s anger in the correct places. For example, If one’s anger is channelled in the correct direction then one will not get angry if the child happens to break a glass, but he will get angry if he is not performing Salaah. So, the anger is channelled  

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