Fear Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله in All Conditions
It is impossible to attain Ma’rifah without us being aware that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله is Ever Watchful over us. A sublime point shared by Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله is that how is it remotely possible to slip into disobedience when we create the awareness that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله is our Companion?
We will have to make sacrifices and curtail our desires. Slavery to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله requires total submission. To attain the love of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله ,we will have to endure hardships and give up things that we are desirous of. It is better that we sacrifice our desires temporarily and attain eternal pleasure in the Aakhirah.
An impediment in our lives is that we do not contemplate on the great favours that are being continuously bestowed upon us. Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله has given us innumerable bounties without us even asking for them. Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله has not withheld any bounty due to our shortcomings nor has He disgraced or disclosed our faults. Sometimes, our desires will not be immediately fulfilled; should we then make an issue about it? Why is it that we do not enumerate the colossal favours upon us daily? We need to remind ourselves that we are not servants but rather we are slaves. The duty of a slave is to submit without questioning.
When have we truly appreciated the bounty of our eyesight? A small mishap can cause us to lose our sight. Yet we have chosen to be spiritually blind and use the divine favour of our eyesight in impermissible avenues? What has happened to us?
A person asked Hazrat Muhammad Waasi’ رحمه الله as to his spiritual condition; the blessed saint replied; “What do you ask of a person whose sins are increasing and his life decreasing?”
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله enable us to do righteous deeds with constancy.
آمين يارب العالمين
[hr height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” color=”” themecolor=”0″]
Be in Comfort but Stay Away from Sins
Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Sahib رحمه الله has said that we are so weak that without comfort, we would not love Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . The bounties that have been showered upon us are a means for us attaining the love of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله. Therefore Hazrat رحمه الله advises that we should remain in comfort but abstain from sins. Nowadays, some Mashaa’ikh have exhorted their disciples to give up comfort but unfortunately they do not stay away from the prohibitions of Deen. Hazrat Thanwi رحمه الله further advised that only those people who are prepared to oppose their (base) desires and have a consciousness of the lawful and prohibited come to him for Islah.
We need to stay away from disobedience. There are different types of sins; the first type is such that if given up, there will be no harm or inconvenience. If we adorn our lives with the blessed Sunnah of the beard, it will enhance our appearance. If we decide to shave our beards, we do so at the peril of opposing the blessed Sunnah of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم.
There are other sins that cannot be given up immediately; giving them up will cause great inconvenience. These sins should be given up gradually. Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Sahib رحمه الله has said that the following procedure is recommended every night. Prior to sleeping, one should make a dua unto Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله :
‘O Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , I AM MOST UNWORTHY… I AM MOST SINFUL…(ONE SHOULD USE THE STRONGEST OF WORDS AGAINST ONESELF).’
Then say unto Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله :
‘O Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , MY STRENGTH IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR ME TO GIVE UP SINS UNLESS YOU HELP ME….’
With the help of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , when the servant expresses his absolute helplessness and hopelessness in the Court of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , he will give up sins within a week or two. Hazrat Thanwi رحمه الله then laments; “The trouble is people do not do this!”
[hr height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” color=”” themecolor=”0″]
Taking Responsibility
This is something which we are all confronted with on a daily basis in every aspect of our lives; at the same time we are evasive in our temperaments and lack the resolve towards making proper commitments to the various challenges expected of us. At the onset, we as believers are expected to behave differently because we are answerable to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله for every moment of our lives. Furthermore, belief in meeting Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله on the Day of Qiyamah is an integral part of our Iman. We will be recompensed for our actions, there will be no injustice and we will be questioned with regards to our responsibilities.
Muhyus Sunnah Hazrat Moulana Abraarul Haq Sahib رحمه الله has brought forward a simple perspective so that we can identify as to what is required of us. Hazrat رحمه الله has explained that an individual is driving a motor vehicle and he commits various traffic violations. The police will apprehend him, inform him of the various offences and he will be charged accordingly. At this juncture, he will protest saying that he was ignorant of the laws of the traffic rules. The police officer will reject this excuse and inform him that as a road user, he is expected to know the rules of the road. Similarly, we will have to pass through life through various challenges with the conviction that we will indeed be interrogated with regards to our actions and ignorance of what was expected of us will not be accepted. Also, another point that sticks out like a sore thumb in our lives is that of corruption. We cannot bribe our way out in the Aakhirah.
We have to thus understand that although we are not desirous of being ‘burdened’ by the concept of responsibility, we detest the implications thereof, we show ill discipline, we lack resolve but we will have to individually face the consequences. The foundation of our lives is nothing else but submission to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . We will have to nurture our development and abandon negligence; then only will our lives be meaningful. Acceptance of the various responsibilities will beautify our character and will be the vital link to Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Shariah is not an obstacle but rather an essential component to function effectively. Submission to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله will be the basis of direction in our lives. We will be saved from anarchy and strife (which has become the norm nowadays). We will attain success proportionate to our commitment to the responsibilities. Salvation or failure in the Aakhirah depends on our decisions; are we ready to submit?
[hr height=”30″ style=”default” line=”default” color=”” themecolor=”0″]
Safety of Deen
Hazrat Sirri Saqati رحمه الله has advised; “He who desires that his Deen remains safe and that he attains peace and comfort should adopt seclusion. This is the age of seclusion.”
On another occasion, Hazrat Sirri Saqati رحمه الله said; “Sin which is the effect of pride, arrogance and rebellion is exceptionally severe. There is little hope of gaining forgiveness for such sins because the sin of Shaitan was due to pride, arrogance and rebellion.”
COMMENT
When the spiritual disease of pride overcomes one, it becomes extremely difficult for him to repent and seek forgiveness. The severity of this evil trait is that a person has no regret or remorse over his actions; therefore there is very little hope of him being forgiven. Due to the obstinacy in attitude, one becomes like Shaitan.
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله protect us!
آمين