Turn Our Holidays into Holy-Days

Seerah Majlis - Leicester

Spiritual Retreat 2009

Allah's Mercy Seeks an Excuse

Here is an insight to what My Respected Teacher mentioned in the Jumu'ah sermon on 20/11/2009:

Allah Most High says in the Noble Qur'an:

'...and man was created weak.' (Qur'an 4:28)

Man is weak in terms of opposing his desires and remaining steadfast upon the obedience of Allah Most High. Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

'The children of Adam are all profuse wrongdoers, but the best of profuse wrongdoers are those who repent.' (Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi)

One wisdom behind man being weak is so that he may invoke the vast mercy of Allah Most High. There is virtually nothing more beloved to Allah Most High than when His servant repents in all sincerity to Him so that He may forgive him. Allah has set out countless 'excuses' to forgive the wrongs of His servants; following are a few examples from the sayings of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace):

'Whoever performs ablution, and perfects the ablution, his sins leave from his body to the extent that even from beneath his nails.' (Bukhari, Muslim)

'The five prayers, jumu'ah to jumu'ah, Ramadan to Ramadan, are expiators for those [sins committed] in between if the enormities are avoided.' (Muslim)

'No strain, illness, worry, grief, pain, afflicts a Muslim, to the extent that even a thorn that pricks him- except that Allah removes his sins as a result of it.' (Bukhari, Muslim)

'Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Faith, anticipating reward, his past sins are forgiven. Whoever stands in prayer in Ramadan with Faith, anticipating reward, his past sins are forgiven. Whoever stands in prayer in Laylat al-Qadr with Faith, anticipating reward, his past sins are forgiven.' (Bukhari, Muslim)

'Whoever performs the pilgrimage for Allah and does not behave obscenely nor commits sin returns [free from sin] like the day his mother gave birth to him.' (Bukhari, Muslim)

These are just a few examples of the mercy of Allah Most High seeking out an excuse. Yes, for the enormities one commits one must repent with remorse to Allah and resolve never to commit that sin again, as well as fulfil any rights of anyone that have been neglected.

The Blessed days of Dhu 'l-Hijjah

These blessed ten days of Dhu 'l-Hijjah are another such occasion of the manifestation of the mercy of Allah Most High. Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

'There are no days Allah loves to be worshipped in more than the ten of Dhu 'l-Hijjah; the fasting of each day amounts to the fasting of a year and standing in prayer in each of its nights amounts to standing in prayer in Laylat al-Qadr.' (Tirmidhi)

These days should be spent in:

1) Fasting (See above hadith)

2) Standing in prayer at night (See above hadith)

3) Glorifying Allah (tasbeeh: saying Subhan Allah), expressing the greatness of Allah (takbeer: saying Allahu Akbar), proclaiming His oneness (tahleel: saying La Ilaha Illa Allah), and praising Him (tahmeed: saying Alhamdu lillah).

Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

'There are no days in which actions are more valued or more beloved to Allah than in the ten days [of Dhu 'l-Hijjah]; thus, during these express tasbeeh, tahmeed, tahleel, and takbeer in abundance.' (Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabeer)

4) Sacrificing an animal (on the Day of Sacrifice)

Sayyidah A'ishah (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

'On the Day of Sacrifice, the son of Adam carries out no action more beloved to Allah than shedding the blood [of a sacrificial animal]...' (Tirmidhi)

It has also been reported that a persons sins are forgiven when the first drop of the animal's blood falls to the ground (Bazzaar)

Allah Most High give us the ability to value these days.

Whispers of Shaytan

In the monthly Spiritual Gathering on Saturday, 31st October, my Respected Teacher mentioned three things that can aid a person in the fight against satanic whispers (wasawis):

1) To remain in the state of purity (with wudu) as much as possible.

2) To ask Allah Most High for His help. One should recite the following verse:

رَبِّ أعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِيْنِ وَأعُوْذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أن يّحْضُرُوْنِ

3) To avert one's attention towards something positive.

Spiritual Halaqah

Hajj Seminar

Programmes After Ramadhan

Hold on to Four Things...

My Respected Teacher left us with four things to hold on to on what was possibly the last night of the blessed month of Ramadan. Four things, which if we hold on to, my Respected Teacher said we would find it easier to stay on the beautiful straight path of Islam, and to stay away from sin and disobedience to our Creator. They are:

   1) Recitation of the Noble Qur'an- even if it be that we only recite FIVE lines, but to ensure that we are steadfast upon it, reciting a small fixed amount EVERYDAY.

   2) Sending Salat ala l'Nabi -salutations upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) as often as we can; sitting, standing, lying down, walking- as much as possible.

   3) Contemplation- of the blessings of Allah Most High upon us, of death, of the purpose of our life and creation.

   4) Dhikr - constant rememberance of Allah Most High; to make a habit of saying Bismillah (in the name of Allah) when doing anything, to say Alhamdulillah (all praises are for Allah) after completing anything. Even better, would be to read the ad'iyah (supplications) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught us to read at the time of carrying out any task, or completing a task etc.

Mysteries of the Five Pillars of Islam

My respected teacher mentioned in his talk on Monday (14/9/2009):

The five pillars of Islam are: Shahadah (testification of faith), Salah (daily prayers), Saum (fasting), Zakah (alms) and Hajj (pilgrimage).

If we look into the realities of each pillar we find that two of the pillars are required to be discreet, two are required to be out in the open, and one should be publicised totally!

As for the two that should be discreet, they are: Saum and Zakah.
When one fasts, it is impossible for an onlooker to recognise that this person is fasting, nor should the one who is fasting inform anyone.
As for the giving of charity, it is required to be done so secretly that the "right hand does not know what the left hand is giving".

As for the two that should be out in the open, they are: Salah and Hajj.
It is preferred that the obligatory prayers are offerred in the mosque, with congregation.
As for the pilgrimage, it is performed in one place, where all pilgrims are required to gather. Thus, for both, there is no command to hide when carrying them out.

As for the one that must be declared even more openly, it is: the Shahadah- that, after one believes in Allah Most High and all the articles of faith, he verbally gives testimony to his faith saying, for example: "I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) is His final messenger."

Golden Point to note: The one common factor in the four pillars that are of worship, is that Allah Most High has commanded us to either remain totally silent, or at least keep careful control of our tongues.

In Salah if one speaks, his prayer is nullified. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: "This is salah. Any speech of people does not befit it; it is only [comprised of] glorification, proclaiming Allah's greatness, and the recitation of the Qur'an." (Muslim: 537)

Whilst fasting, if a person speaks vulgarities and obscene language he loses the spiritual effects of the fast as well as the full reward, though the obligation will be lifted. This is learnt from the Prophet's (Allah bless him and give him peace) statement, on the authority of Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him): "Whoever does not leave speaking wrongly and acting accordingly, Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink." (Bukhari: 1903)

~According to some scholars, ones fast is actually nullified by sinning with the tongue.

As for Zakah, and other forms of charity, Allah Most High gives the following command regarding them: "O you who believe, do not nullify your acts of charity by boasting about (doing people a) favour and by causing (them) hurt..." (Qur'an, 2:264)

As for Hajj, Allah Most High says in the Noble Qur'an: "...So whoever undertakes Hajj in them (i.e. the months of Hajj), there should be no obscenity, no sin, no quarrell in the Hajj..." (Qur'an, 2:197)

The lesson we learn is: "Control your tongue." (Tirmidhi: 2406) "Whoever believes in Allah and the last day should speak good, or remain silent." (Bukhari: 6018)

Special Late Night Gathering

Value Imaan

My Respected Teacher began by mentioning the importance of continuosly remembering death in order to create the conciousness to prepare for that inevitable time.

The famous saying: you will be resurrected as you died, and you will die as you lived your life is a reminder of the fact that if a person lives his life as a practicing believer, he will die as a believer and hence, be resurrected as a believer. Whereas, if a person lives his life practicing the ways of the disbelievers, he will die in this poor state and be resurrected in this terrible state. Allah save us!

So, being believers at present we may be fooled into thinking that we are automatically guaranteed death as believers. No, this is not the case. It often happens, that during his lifetime a person is guilty of perpertrating such acts that at the end of his life Allah Most High snatches away this priceless gift: Imaan.

To value this gift is of utmost importance. The value of Imaan can be learnt from those people who were not born as Muslims, but thereafter Allah Most High blessed them with Imaan, after which they practice upon the teachings of Islam.

All that we do throughout our life strengthens and weakens our Imaan. The more a person dettaches himself away from the Religion, the weaker his Imaan becomes, and very easily a day may come when Imaan no longer remains inside him, and he leaves this world to meet Allah Most High in a state of disbelief. Allah save us!

 May Allah grant us death upon Imaan.

Peace In Your Life

The scores of youth gathered at the Jami' Masjid, Leicester, for a night of spiritual upliftment, held by my Respected Teacher Shaykh Muhammad Imran, were addressed this week by his esteemed father, Shaykh Mawlana Adam (Allah preserve them).

The honoured Shaykh spoke for approximately ten minutes. A brief insight to his talk is as follows:

• Firstly, he expressed his great joy at seeing such a large gathering of youngsters in the mosque at such a light time of the night. He explained that it was a sign of the love of Allah Most High for those who He had given the ability to attend such a gathering.

• Thereafter, he went on to say that the life of this world is one filled with trials and troubles. They come upon everyone and no one can totally escape them. However, if a Believer is obedient to Allah Most High and he strives to follow the teachings of Islam he will find that despite afflictions befalling him, he is content and at ease in his heart.

On the other hand, if a person is negligent of the commands of Allah Most High, he will find himself distressed and in anguish when calamities befall him- though they may be the same as those that an obedient servant is afflicted with.

He gave the following example to explain the above mentioned point: There are two bananas; one real, and one a plastic one. On the face of it, they both look exactly the same. However, the reality is that one is a sweet nutritious fruit and the other is of no use, rather it could be harmful.

• Finally, the Shaykh stated that if the youth do not rectify their ways now, their wrong ways will rub off onto their children in future, and their children will become unruly and disobedient- and this will be a cause of great distress for a person in the later years of his life.

May Allah grant us the ability to become obedient servants to Him.

Cure for the Darkened Hearts

My Respected Teacher mentioned that we hear so many speeches and advises from the scholars and at the time we feel inspired but as soon as we leave their company, our "fizz" goes down. Nothing seems to settle in our hearts. Furthermore, in some people's case, nothing penetrates at all. Allah save us!

This is due to a covering that has settled over the heart. This is the veil created by the darkness caused by continued sinning, without repentance (as we learn from the hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Huraira, recorded by Imam Tirmidhi in his Sunan).

It is reported from Sayyiduna Abd 'Allah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them), that Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: "Surely, the hearts rust like iron rusts."
It was asked: "What is its cure?"
So, he replied: "(1)The recitation of the Qur'an, and (2) the rememberance of death."

(This hadith has been mentioned by Imam Ghazali in his Ihya' Ulum al-Deen. Hafizh al-Iraqi has said that Imam Baihaqi has recorded this hadith in his collection, Shu'b al-Imaan, with a weak chain of narration).

My Respected Teacher spoke mainly regarding the first cure in this gathering. He said that the Noble Qur'an is owed three rights:

1) We have utmost respect for it in our hearts, and this is portrayed physically.
2) We recite it- with all the rules of Tajweed (i.e. pronounce all letters correctly etc).
3) We act upon its commands (like, perform Salah, do not backbite, do not spy, etc).

Steps to Success

(My Respected Teacher holds an inspiring gathering for the youth after 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights, and insha' Allah this gathering will be taking place every night in the last ten nights of Ramadan. So far there have been three gatherings, below is a brief summary of each):

Lesson One: We must attach ourselves to the Qur'an; recite it, make an effort to understand it and act upon its teachings. Along with this, we should make utmost effort to bring the sunna into our lives.

Allah Ta'ala says:

"...And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it..." (Qur'an, 59:7)

• Also, we should make a point of supplicating to Allah Ta'ala (Du'a) frequently. We should make it a daily practice to turn to Allah Ta'ala and repent for our sins and beg him for our needs.

It is reported from Sayyiduna Ubada ibn al-Saamit (Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

"There is no servant on earth who makes a supplication to Allah, except that Allah gives him that [which he asks for], or removes some difficulty from him accordingly; as long as he does not ask for the breaking of ties or a sinful thing..." (Tirmidhi)

Lesson Two: We must be dutiful, obedient and respectful to our parents. In return, not only will Allah grant us success in the Hereafter, He will give us ease and comfort in this life.

It is reported from Sayyiduna Abu Bakra (Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

"Allah delays [punishment] of all sins until the Day of Resurrection, except disobedience to parents; for Allah hastens [the punishment for it] upon that person in this life, before his death." (Haakim)

It is reported from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

"The scent of Paradise can be smelt from the distance of five hundred years (i.e. the distance one could travel in five hundred years), but the one who gives reminders of his [good] works, the one who is undutiful to his parents and the alcoholic will not even smell it [let alone enter Paradise!]." (Tabarani in his al-Mu'jam al-Sageer)

Lesson Three: We must choose good company. The company of the pious will automatically have its positive effect on a person, as will the company of the unrighteous. We should keep those friends who bring us towards Allah Ta'ala; the masjid, the gatherings of Islamic talks, etc. And we should keep friends who will be of benefit to us in the Hereafter. We do not want to regret a friendship we keep in this life and be like the one Allah describes in the Qur'an, who will say:

"Woe to me! Would that I had not taken so-and-so as a friend." (Qur'an, 25:28)

On the other hand, the pious friends we keep will be a source of relief and joy in the Hereafter, Allah Ta'ala says:

"Friends, on that day, will become enemies to one another, except the God-fearing." (Qur'an, 43:67)

Thus, Allah Ta'ala says:

"O you who believe, fear Allah, and be in the company of the truthful." (Qur'an, 9:119)

Blank Cheques

In regards to the month of Ramadhan my respected teacher, Maulana Imran Sahib, mentioned an example which gives us an implication of the value of this month:

The value of Ramadhan is like that of  thirty blank cheques; priceless. The value of this cheque is dependent on the individual who fills the cheque. If the person filling the cheque has any idea as to the value of the cheque then he will surely fill out a great amount.

In the same manner, we have been given a blank cheque which we have been told to fill in on a daily basis. Each day our actions will determine what amount the cheque is to be made of. The greater efforts we make, the greater the amount of the cheque.

May Allah give us all the inclination and ability to reap the benefits of this month and may He give us the strength and will power to refrain from sins. Aameen.

SINS AND ITS EFFECTS

It is important for every Muslim to abstain from all sins.

Every sin has a detrimental effect on the perpetrator.

Sin harms one’s Imaan (faith) and creates weakness in it.

The Holy Qur’an and Ahadith are filled with warnings regarding sins and their injurious and detrimental effects.

Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala states:

“And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with an extremely severe seizure.” (Quran, 69:10)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: "When a Mu'min commits a sin, a black spot forms on his heart. If he repents, the black mark is removed and his heart is purified. If he continues committing sins, the black mark increases. This is the corrosion of the heart spoken of by Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala (in the Holy Qur'an).” (Tirmidhi)

Sayyiduna Mu’adh Radhiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said:

“Guard yourselves against sin because the Wrath of Allah descends in the wake of sin." (Ahmad)

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik Radhiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said:

"Should I not show you your sickness and its remedy? Your sickness is sinning and your remedy is to seek istighfaar (forgiveness)." (Baihaqi)

Sayyiduna Thawban Radhiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said:

“Indeed a person is deprived of livelihood because of a sin he commits.” (Ibn Majah)

It has been narrated in the book Hilyat al-Awliya' that Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Sirin felt so apprehensive because of an old debt, he said: “I know that the cause of this anxiety is a sin which I had committed forty years ago.”

Therefore, it is of utmost importance for every individual to leave and repent from his sins. Whether, it may be a minor or major, inward or outward sin. It is our duty to Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala that we leave all sins.

Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala states:

“Leave outward sin and inward sin. Surely, those who commit sin shall be punished for what they used to commit.” (Quran, 6:120)

Today many people give attention to outward sins and rarely to those sins which are related to the inner self. One must be aware of their existence, of their ailments, and of the deleterious complications and troubles that ensue from them, and recognise that these diseases prevent one from attaining the courtesy of Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala.

Knowledge of the diseases of the heart, their causes and how to remove them is an obligation on every sane adult Muslim.

Importance of Writing Deeni Knowledge

My respected teacher mentioned the importance of writing deeni knowledge:

Always write down what you have heard regarding deeni matters. The reason is because a person's heart is slightly to the left of the body. When a person writes Arabic, he or she will write from right to left, hence the words go straight to the heart. For this reason, whenever something is written down, it is said that the knowledge will go directly into the heart.

When a person does tawaf of the Ka'bah, they do tawaf anti-clockwise, which means the heart is closest to the Ka'bah. Hence when a person hears deeni knowledge, he / she should write it down as soon as possible as it has an effect on the heart.

Spirituality in Islam

The following is the audio and transcript of an online event held on Ad-Deen

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem,

قَد أَفلَحَ مَن زَكَّٮٰهَا وَقَد خَابَ مَن دَسَّٮٰهَا

[Surah 91: Verse 9-10]

إِنَّ الله يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ المُتَطَهِّرِينَ

[Surah 2: Verse 222]

Before I go on, there are some aadaab (etiquettes) of listening to these talks because it is not a lecture or any odd lesson, or a dunyawi (worldly) lesson where if you don't want to give attention, you don't. This is a deeni lesson. Insha Allaah if you listen carefully, who knows that Allah swt might make that a source of our salvation.Those people who do not respect, they do not gain anything. Respect is so important:

وَمَن يُعَظِّم شَعَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقوَى القُلُوبِ

Those who respect the sha-aa'ir of Allah swt, then that is the piety of the heart.

[Surah 22: verse 32]

Since the talk of respect has come, I will elaborate: a person who takes a joke out of niqab, salah, a sunnah, those things which are connected with Allah swt, with sharee'ah, disrespecting masjids. Disrespecting Ulama - because they are knowledgeable people, because they have knowledge of the Qur'an and Hadeeth, if one disrespects them, disrespects Qur'an, disrespects sunnah, then that person firstly will face the consequence in this world, then the hereafter.

وَمَن أَعرَضَ عَن ذِكرِى فَإِنَّ لَهۥ مَعِيشَةً۬

[Surah 20: Verse 124]

So one should try to respect these sorts of gatherings. If one is sitting and listening for the sake of pleasure, or talking, then that person will never benefit.

So first and foremost, insha Allaah, we make this firm intention that we have logged into this programme, insha Allaah we will first make our intention clear and insha Allah we will ask Allah swt to guide us & we'll ask Allah swt to give us the tawfeeq to respect this sort of programme and insha Allah we will benefit.

The ayah which I recited, Allah swt says:

إِنَّ الله يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ المُتَطَهِّرِين

Indeed Allah swt loves those who seek spiritual purity and loves those who seek physical purity

[Surah 2: Verse 222]

Tawwab means the one who seeks tawbah, who repents to Allah swt for all sins.

Mutatahhirreen are those who seek physical purity.

Spirituality is essential to our deen. It is attached with everything. Even if one reads Salah. If one does without spirituality, he will not gain that much reward and that much benefit out of it. Just take this ayah:

إِنَّ الله يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ المُتَطَهِّرِينَ

[Surah 2: Verse 222]

Spiritual purity i.e. purity from spiritual diseases. Try to make oneself pure from envy, from enmity, jealousy, hatred, arrogance, all those things.

A person who is impure physically, for example, he is in need of ghusl, he is in need of wudhu', he needs water, and if he doesn't, his salah will not be valid. He will not be called a pure person. Similarly, if one is impure spiritually, imagine, how will his salah be valid? If a person is fasting from dawn until dusk, if he doesn't eat and if he does not fulfill all the fiqhi rules of observing sawm, if you ask a Mufti, he will say your fast is done. But if you go and ask a Awliya, a wali of Allah swt who is into spirituality, if you ask him: Whilst committing sins whilst fasting, is my fast valid? He will say: you might have to keep it again because:

من لم يدع قول الزور والعَمَل به فليس لله حاجة أن يدع طعامه وشرابه

This is the Hadeeth regarding Ramadhan where Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says:

"Whoever does not leave falsehood, Allah is not in need of him that he should leave his food and his drink."

Just imagine, a person is keeping a fast but at the end of the day, with that fast he is committing major and minor sins, how will his sowm be valid? Obviously, we are not free from sins, we may commit sins, but with that we need to keep in mind that we need to do tawbah immediately. Allah swt says:

إِنَّ الله يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ

Indeed Allah swt loves those who seek spiritual purity

[Surah 2: Verse 222]

For physical purity one needs water and that water should be pure as well. Similarly, for spiritual purity, he needs water and that water should also be pure and that water is called tears from the eyes. Remorse and regret upon his sins, upon his spiritual diseases. Allah swt will forgive those sins and make him pure from those spiritual diseases. One cannot attain that easily. He has to work hard, and if he does work hard:

وَالَّذِينَ جَـاهَدُوا فِينَا

Whoever strives hard in Our path

[Surah 29: Verse 69]

Allah swt says, We will make it easy for them [with help of Allah swt]. We need to turn towards Allah swt.

So I was saying:

إِنَّ الله يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ المُتَطَهِّرِينَ

[Surah 2: Verse 222]

If a person seeks physical purity, Allah loves him, similarly, Allah loves those who seek spiritual purity.

In salah as well, Ulama say, in Salat al-Shar'ee that we read,there is also Salatut Tareeqah, which means tasawwuf salah (the spiritual salah) which is for the ritual prayer (the salah shar'ee). It has been prescribed by Allah swt. As Allah swt says:

حَـافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَٲتِ

Be careful to observe the ritual prayers

Then He says:

وَالصَّلَوةِ الوُسطَىٰ

Especially the middle prayer

[Surah 2: Verse 238]

The ritual prayer consists of postures adopted by the outer members of the body. Similarly, the middle prayer. This means the prayer of the heart, prescribed everlasting by the Qur'anic verse. We have to observe the 5 times salah, as well as the prayer of the heart - constant remembrance of Allah swt and that is also a prayer. Likewise, there is ruku', sujood etc., similarly through our heart we have to bow in front of Allah swt. May Allah swt guide us and give us the tawfeeq. As Allah swt says:

إِنَّ الله يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ المُتَطَهِّرِينَ

Indeed Allah swt loves those who seek spiritual purity

[Surah 2: Verse 222]

Allah swt give us the tawfeeq to seek that spiritual purity. This is the main thing. Today, we listen, we do so much deeni work, we put so much effort into it but at the end of the day, the spirituality is not there. the roohaniyat as we say. The connection, the sincerity (ikhlaas). Insha Allah if we ask from Allah swt, He will give. I am not saying that everyone is like that but we seek that sincerity, we need to find that and we need to ask Allah swt to give us that tawfeeq to have that ikhlaas and to create that spirituality.

There are shuyookh out there who we should do bay'ah to (pledge allegiance) and keep contact with them as Allah swt says:

يَـأَيُّہَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّـادِقِينَ

O believers! Fear Allah (swt)

How to fear Allah swt? Allah swt says:

وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّـادِقِينَ

Stay with the saadiqeen.

[Surah 9: Verse 119]

- Meaning ma'iyyat (stay in the company of those who are truthful, with those who are awliya of Allah swt,, those who are close to Allah swt).

Sadiqeen
- Stay with saadiqeen because the Nabis have gone. After nabis are siddeeq, the sadiqeen. And these are the darajaat of awliya e kiram.

May Allah swt give us the tawfeeq to seek purity from all spiritual diseases. For example, pride, arrogance, hatred, jealousy.

Pride
One of the diseases of the heart where Hadhrat Shaykh rahimahullah, he has written a book called Ummul Amraaz. “Mother of all [evil] diseases”. Because through pride, all other diseases come into existence.

Just imagine, Shaytan, regarding him, it has been mentioned that he is from jinn.

كَانَ مِنَ الجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَن أَمرِ رَبِّهِ

Shaytan was from jinn. [Allah (swt) says,] he went against His Lord’s hukm (order).

[Surah 19: Verse 50]

When Allah (swt) said that you have to perform sajdah:

أَبَىٰ وَاستَكبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الكَـٰفِرِينَ

He denied. He had takabbur.He was amongst those who denied

[Surah 2: verse 34]

Regarding him it is mentioned that he performed ibaadah in such a way that he did not leave any single place in the whole universe where he did not do sajdah. And because of that, Allah swt gave him the rank that because of his ibaadah, he was counted as amongst the angels.

When we study the Qur’an by ourselves (DIY) – many people study themselves. There is a hadeeth in which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says:

إِنَّمَا العِلمُ بِالتَّعَلُّم

Knowledge is with ta’alluq

- With being a student. If a person is a student, he is gaining from his teacher but if a person is only gaining knowledge from Mufti google only, or some other sources, he will not get any understanding of deen. Directly he just goes to pick a book up, he just picks up the translation of the Qur'an and he reads, now I ask him this question, that Allah swt says:

وَإِذ قُلنَا لِلمَلَاٮِٕكَةِ اسجُدُوا لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا إِلَّآ إِبلِيسَ

Remember the time when We said to the angels: Do sajdah to Adam (as). They all did but Iblees didn't [do sajdah].

[Surah 19: Verse 50]

So from here we can understand that Allaah swt is saying,

وَإِذ قُلنَا لِلمَلَاٮِٕكَةِ

This means that iblees was from amongst the angels. On the other hand, Allah says in surah kahaf:

كَانَ مِنَ الجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَن أَمرِ رَبِّهِ

Iblees was from jinnaat, so now it contradicts! But ulama write, that he did so much ibadah that he had the rank of being counted amongst the angels that’s why Allah said:

وَإِذ قُلنَا لِلمَلَاٮِٕكَةِ اسجُدُوا لِأَدَمَ

Because of his 'ibaadah he was counted amongst the angels and When Allah swt asked all the angels, he was also asked to bow, to prostrate in front of Adam (as). But because he had that takabbur (pride), that arrogance, that how dare Adam (as) overcome me. He was created from soil. Logic says this.

In sharee'ah, the mas'alah says that one should wipe upon his leather socks but the logic says that one should wipe underneath the socks but no, we have to submit in front of of Allah swt. Similarly, Shaytan, in him, this takabbur, it came up and it is said:

أَبَىٰ وَاستَكبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الكَـٰفِرِينَ

He denied and he said

خَلَقتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ۬ وَخَلَقتَهُ ۥ مِن طِينٍ۬

O Allah you created me from fire and you created him from soil, how can I do sajdah?

- Because logically, if you light a fire, its flame goes up and if you throw the soil up, it goes down. I am superior and he is inferior. How can a superior do sajdah in front of an inferior person? Allah swt didn’t like this. Allah swt said:

فَاخرُج

Go away

[Surah 15: verse 34]

Shaytan ruined his life by this.So it is takabbur, he did so much ibaadah but because of one single takabbur, one single moment of this pride came up, Allah swt said, you are away from my presence.

Allah swt says:

Pride is My sheet, whoever tries to snatch it away from Me, I will break his neck.

Here Allah swt is using this word because his head is too high. If his neck is broken, he has nothing to be boasting about. This means that Allah will not literally break his neck. Allah swt says, Allah will make him suffer in such a way that he will have this punishment int his world and int he hereafter. So may Allah swt give us the tawfeeq to seek the purity from all spiritual diseases and give us twfeeq to bring all good spiritual characteristics like shukr, sabr and so forth and may Allah give us tawfeeq to get rid of takabbur (pride), arrogance, envy, enmoty, jeaousy, hatred etc. And may Allah swt give us the understanding of deen. The ayah which I read at the beginning, Allah awt says:

قَد أَفلَحَ مَن زَكَّٮٰهَا 

One should be constant behind purifuing himself.. He should ask himself, I am purified or not? I fnit, he should keep trying util he dies.

May Allah swt give us the tawfeeq.

Spirituality in Islam

Principles of trading

The Islamic Shariah has vigorously forbidden the consuming of Haram and has strongly encouraged Halal. Also the Shariah has forbidden the use of Haram sources to earn money and then to spend it in good causes. If a person was to make the effort to earn Halal then he will surely be able to earn. To fulfil ones needs, everyone is able to find suitable and Halal earning.

In greed for more wealth, one ends up to find Haram ways to earn a living.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam said, “Verily the angel Jibreel has instilled in my heart that a soul will never die until it fully receives its entire livelihood. Fear Allah! In search for your sustenance and choose the best path. (Mishkat)

In another Hadith it is mentioned:

“A person is deprived of livelihood by the sins he commits”. (Ibn Majah)

In another Hadith it is mentioned:

“Livelihood seeks a person out in the same way that his death does”. (Abu Nu’aym)

Trade and business is a means of consuming wealth. The Islamic Shariah has set out guidelines for it. Some people think that there are no rules and guidelines in earning a living.

In the Qur’an it is clearly stated “Allah has allowed trade and has forbidden usury”.

Allah has also forbidden whatever is obtained through gambling. Allah says in the Qur’an “the sin of them (alcohol/gambling) is greater then their benefit”. we learn from this verse that something that may be beneficial may not necessarily be Halal. Many people just look at the benefits and they fail to see if it is Halal or Haram.

Allah states in Surah al-Nisa:

يا ايهاالذين آمنوالا تاكلوا اموالكم بينكم باالباطل إلا أن تكون تجارة عن تراض منكم

O you who believe, do not devour each other’s property by false means, unless it is trade conducted with your mutual consent. (4:29)

In this verse, Allah mentions that do not devour each other’s wealth unlawfully.

The author of Ma’alimat tanzil writes:

باالحرام يعني باالربوا والقمار و الغضب والسرقة و الخيانة ونحوها و قيل هو العقود الفاسدة

“In this verse the word باالباطل (Batil) means usury, gambling, stealing, robbing, deceiving and bribing. Some have said that it means improper transactions which Shariah has forbidden. (Ma’alim Al-Tanzil)

The word ‘Batil’ holds a vast meaning. The best way to explain it would be to say that all the ways which is against the Shariah is batil.

By mentioning the term عن تراض “antraadin” (mutual agreement) is indicating that to obtain wealth through trade whilst both parties are in agreement, is permissible. Otherwise, to take somebody’s property or wealth by force is Haram and impermissible.

Some principles regarding business are mentioned here, these should be kept in mind at all times.

1. The transaction should have no usury involved in it.

2. Whatever Shariah has classified as Haram should not be bought or sold.

3. The items made for the sole purpose of sins should not be bought or sold.

4. The customers must not be lied to and one should not deceit them, nor should they hide the faults of the merchandise. Partners must be honest with one another.

5. Do not sell what you do not own.

6. If a person is forced to sell something do not take advantage of his situation and offer less than the market value.

7. The transaction must only be made by both parties mutual agreement.

Protection from life-threatening illnesses

Completion of Saheeh al-Bukhari - 2009

Youth Programme

Supplication for Anxiety and Grief

When my respected teacher was ill, in hospital, his honourable father, Shaykh Mawlana Adam (Allah preserve him) advised him to constantly supplicate with the following du'a taught to us by Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). My respected teacher says that it proved very effective and he felt peace at heart, despite his pains and illness.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said:

'Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

"Any servant [of Allah] who is afflicted with any worry or grief and he says...(the following du'a)...Allah (the Great and Almighty) will remove his worry, and replace his grief with joy."

They (the Companions) asked: "Should we learn these words?"

He replied: "Certainly. Anyone who hears them should learn them."'

The du'a is:

اَللّهُمَّ إنِّيْ عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ وَابْنُ أمَتِكَ نَاصِيَتِيْ بِيَدِكَ مَاضٍ فِيَّ

حُكْمُكَ عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ أسْألُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ

أوْ أنْزَلْتَهُ فِيْ كِتَابِكَ أوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِيْ

عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ أنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيْعَ قَلْبِيْ وَنُوْرَ صَدْرِيْ

وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِيْ وَذَهَابَ هَمِّيْ

Translation:

"O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your male servant, and son of Your female servant. My forelock is in Your Control. Your command for me prevails. Your judgement concerning me is just. I beseech You through every name of Yours, by which You have called Yourself, or which You have sent down in Your Book, or which You taught to any one of Your creations, or which You preferred to keep among Your guarded secrets, to make the Great Qur'an the springtime of my heart, the light of my eyes, the remedy of my grief, and dispeller of my anxieties." (Ahmad: 4318, rigorously authenticated [Sahih])

Spirometry Dhikr

My respected teacher was admitted in hospital for his ongoing sickness. May Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala cure him quickly and completely, Ameen.

He was talking about his illness and his stay in hospital. He said that his consultant came to review his condition and told him that he had a low level of oxygen and to increase his oxygen saturations he needed to do the Spirometry exercise.

Advised by the consultant to carry out the breathing exercise used in Spirometry tests, the Shaykh observed that this is a practice found in the teachings of the Sufis.
Spirometry means ‘the measuring of the breath’ and is commonly used to measure lung function.

For strengthening presence of mind and to create constant awareness and remembrance of Allah Ta’ala the Sufis advise the exercise known as Paas Anfaas (Guarding the Breath); its method is as follows:

Take a deep breath and when inhaling concentrate and utter the word Allah. When exhaling concentrate on the syllable hu. Do this continually.

The result of repeatedly carrying out this practice will result in a person’s breathing being so trained that it will become spontaneous, and one will need not strive to do it.

Hence, the Shaykh renamed this exercise as: Spirometry Dhikr.

May Allah give us to remember Him abundantly.

What is That?

My respected teacher once in his talk mentioned regarding parents rights and said that one should never disobey them and nor shout or yell at them.

Allah says:

Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and do good to parents. If any one of them or both of them reach old age, do not say to them: uff (a word or expression of anger or contempt) and do not scold them, and address them with respectful words, and submit yourself before them in humility out of compassion, and say, “My Lord, be merciful to them as they have brought me up in my childhood.” (Al-Qur’an 17-23/24)

And then he mentioned a story of an old father who was sat in the garden with his son.

Whilst they were sitting a bird flew down in front of them, father then asked what is this? The son replied: it’s a crow! Minutes later the father asks again, what is this? The son replies I told you before that it’s a crow! A few minutes later, father asks the son what’s that? The son got angry and shouted how many times I have to tell you, it’s a crow!

Father took out the note book and asks the son to look and read what’s been written in it.

It said that when was young and ask me many times father what’s that? And each time I replied him with affection that O my son it’s a crow. At this moment the son was ashamed and sought forgiveness for what he had done.

Please find the attached clip which denotes this story

Dua for life threatening illnesses

Once my respected teacher, Shaykh Imran Ibn Adam mentioned:

Rasullullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam has taught us many Ad’iya (plural of Dua) for all our needs. We need to turn to Allah subhanahu wata’ala when we are sick and even when we are in good health. Today many life threatening diseases have come into existence i.e. swine flu, aids etc.

The following Du'a should be read whenever one can, especially after every Salah. Inshallah, Allah subhanahu wata’ala will protect him or if one is afflicted Allah subhanahu wata’ala will give him Sabr, and even cure.

عن أنس ‏ أن النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏كان يقول ‏ ‏اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الجنون ‏ ‏والجذام ‏ ‏والبرص وسيئ ‏ ‏الأسقام (رواه النسائ) ‏ ‏

‏

Sayyiduna Anas radiallahu anhu narrates that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to supplicate: "Allahumma inni a`udhu bika minal-barasi, wal-jununi, wal-judhami, wa sayyi'il-asqami'

(O Allah! I seek refuge in You from leucoderma, insanity, leprosy and evil diseases).'' [Al- Nasa'i].

Leucoderma is a disease which gives rise to the appearance of white spots on the skin of body. Leprosy is a disease which renders one's organs invalid. Madness is mental disorder. All these are very dangerous diseases. Nabi sallallahu alaihe wasallam has sought Allah's Protection against these and other diseases like paralysis, diabetes, facial paralysis, cancer, blindness, etc.

May Allah subhanahu wata’ala save us from all such diseases. Ameen

Remembering the Beloved sallallahu alayhi wa sallam

The following is the audio and transcript of an online event held on Ad-Deen

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem,

Speaking about the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam strengthens our imaan. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was the noblest of mankind. In a Hadeeth the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

I am the best descendent of Adam (alayhis salam).

Since he is the most beloved of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and he is a mercy to all of mankind, he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had all the best qualities. The ‘Ulama (scholars) have written and summarised all his qualities in three categories:

1 - Jamal (beauty)

2 - Kamal (excellence)

3 - Nawal (generosity)

Jamal

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu anhu said: I have not seen anything as beautiful as Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. It was as if the sun was shining on his face. When he laughed, it reflected upon the wall.

Sayyiduna Ali radhiyallahu anhu said: Anyone who saw him suddenly was filled with awe of him. Those who kept his company loved him.

Kamal

Sayyidah Asma' bint Abi Bakr radhiyallahu anha said: I bought out a black shirt that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to wear. We used to wash it so that people who were sick they could gain cure from that water.

Our first duty to him is that we should believe in him. Since we believe in him and have faith in him, we should love him as well. In a Hadith it is said:

None of you is a complete believer until I am more beloved to him than his father, than his children and the whole of mankind.

May Allah Ta’ala give us the love of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam so much so that we implement his sunnah and his shari’ah in our lives.

Our first duty is to believe in him. The second duty is to love him. If we don’t love him, then there will be a punishment. But there will also be a reward for the one who loves. What is it? Sayyiduna Anas radhiyallahu anhu said that a man came to the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said: “Ya Rasulallah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam! When will the last hour come?” Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not say, that qiyamah will be on this day or that day, but He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “What have you prepared for it?” He said: “Ya Rasulallah. I have not prepared alot of prayer, fasting or charity for it, but I love Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.” Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “You will be with the one who you love.”

Some people say that if we just love that will be enough. But this is not correct. This Sahabi is saying that I did all of my faraidh and I stay away from all major sins, and with that I love Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This is the meaning of the love of Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Because of that love, we are here now. We are talking about him. We are listening about him and because of that, on the day of judgement, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will resurrect us with him insha’Allah, that’s why we have to love him so much.

The third duty is to obey him. Allah Almighty says: “O Nabi! Tell these believers: Obey Allah and His Rasul and if you obey him you will be guided.”

Subhanallah. You should obey him, follow his sunnah. A poet said:

If your love had been true, then you would have obeyed him

The lover obeys the one who he loves

Therefore, we have to think in our lives, how much do we obey Nabi sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam? We have to try and implement his sharee’ah in our lives, we have to try and implement his sunnah, we should try and read his shama’il. The shama’il is one part of his seerah, which tells us how he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam talked, how he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam walked, how he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was eating.

Shaykh Zakariyyah may Allah have mercy on him said: One should try to find Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s every single sunnah and then try to implement them in his life one by one.

The fourth duty is to honour him and respect him.

The Sahabah radhiyallahu anhum ajma’een respected him. It is necessary to have esteem and respect for Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi w sallam after his demise as well, as it was in his life. That is to show reverence to Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s every single thing - his (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s) Hadith, his Sunnah, his name. When his life is mentioned, we respect, we listen carefully and on our lips should be salat upon Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Our pious predecessors used to respect him so much. Shaykh Islamul Haq rahmatullahi ‘alayh, who I read Sahih al-Bukhari by, passed away in Madinah Munawwarah. It is amazing how Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala gave him death in Madinah. In Ramadhan, the last ten days, at night, the 27th or 25th night at tahajjud time. Some say he was in tahajjud. When I read Sahih al-Bukhari by him, I saw him with my own eyes, he used to teach with respect whilst he was giving dars.

The Messenger Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said in a Hadith: I met Jibril (alayhis salam) who said: I give you the good news that Allah Almighty has said that whoever has asked for peace for you it is as if he has asked for peace for his own self. Whoever asks for blessings for you, it is as if he has asked for blessings for his own self.

One Shaykh said: If a person grabs hold of two things in his life, Allah Ta’ala will fulfill all his needs of this dunya and aakhirah. Today we go to a Shaykh to fulfill our needs, then another, then another, or turn to Allah in du’a al-Hamdulillah, but this Shaykh says, throughout Ahadeeth and Qur’an, I have come to know that if a person grabs hold of two things, insha’Allah Allah will fulfill all his needs:

1 - Recitation of the Qur’an daily, whether 5 ayahs or 10. And we should make a habit of reading salat on Nabi sallallahu layahi wa sallam. The Shaykh says that in the Ahadeeth I have come to know that it has been mentioned that a person who does not have time reading other things or does not have time making other nawafil and only reciting Qur’an, in return, he does not even have time to do du’a as well, Allah Ta’ala will fulfill all his needs of the dunya and aakhirah.

Sayyiduna Ubay ibn Ka’b radhiyallahu anhu narrates: Once Hadhrat Ka’b ibn Ujrah radhiyallahu anhu said: I asked Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: Shall I approach my time doing salat on you? Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied: Yes. The Sahabi asked: How should I do it? For a quarter of my time? Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: Yes but if you have time more. Sayyiduna Ka’b radhiyallahu anhu asked: Should I devote half of my time for it? Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied: If you do that much that will be better for you but more will be better. At the end he said: I will dedicate my whole time in salat upon you. Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: Then yor needs will be fulfilled by Allah.

The Shaykh carried on to say: We can deduce that if a person holds onto these two things, insha’Allah Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will fulfill all of his needs of this dunya and aakhairah.

Shaykh Imran ibn Adam ended with advice: Start with 25 salat upon the Prophet, increase it monthly, read 5 Ayahs every day. While you do deeni work, all other things, but don’t forget yourselves.

May Allah Ta’ala give us the tawfeeq to act upon what was said - Ameen.