The Lost Property Of A Mu’min
“Al-Hikmah (spiritual wisdom) is the lost property of a Mu’min. Therefore search for it even if it is in a kaafir.”
Once a non-believer said to Hazrat Shaqeeq Balkhi رحمه الله,” You claim to be worshipping the Almighty and that you have trust in Him. O Shaqeeq! It is obvious that you are not worshipping the Almighty; on the contrary, you are worshipping provisions (sustenance).”
Hazrat Shaqeeq Balkhi رحمه الله instructed his disciples; “This is a wonderful naseehah (advice of wisdom). Write it down.”
When the non-believer heard this, he said to himself, “Undoubtedly, Shaqeeq is a great saint.
He is a devotee of the truth.” Then he remarked; “O Shaqeeq! Truly your Deen is the Truth.
There is humility and the highest degree of love for truth in your Deen. Recording a statement
from an irreligious person like myself, and considering it to be a lesson for your people, is
ample testimony for this. Quickly, convert me to Islam.” The non-believer thus embraced Islam at the hands of Hazrat Shaqeeq Balkhi رحمه الله.
Hazrat Shaqeeq Balkhi رحمه الله commented; “Ilm (knowledge) teaches us that if a genuine pearl is found in a drain, it should be retrieved, washed and treasured.” Profound advices indeed!
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Silence Is No Excuse
Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi Sahib رحمه الله has mentioned that some people are outwardly pious, practising on virtuous deeds and abstaining from sins. However, despite their piety, they associate with the transgressors and participate in their acts of disobedience. They feebly justify their stance with the argument of trying to avoid disunity with family and friends.
There are others who do not participate in acts of transgression but do not have a detestation for the evil acts which they observe. They live together with the disobedient people in the manner of dissolved sugar (as sugar dissolves in water). They do not abstain from the evil of the transgressors nor do they express any detestation for the violations of Shariah.
For people of piety and learning, to maintain silence in the face of transgression is sinful because they do not object to the commission of sins.
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The Benefit Of Emulation
Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم said,
من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم
‘Whoever emulates (imitates) a people, is one of them.'(Abu Dawud #4031)
The one that emulates evil people becomes evil whereas the one that emulates the pious
becomes of them.
When the magicians of Firaun had come to challenge Sayyiduna Moosa عليه السلام, they were dressed with such clothes which resembled the dressing of Sayyiduna Moosa عليه السلام. After their defeat at the hands of Sayyiduna Moosa عليه السلام, they fell into Sajdah having accepted Iman in Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله but Firaun remained a kaafir.
When Sayyiduna Moosa عليه السلام asked Allah Ta’ala the reason for the magicians being blessed with Iman and not Firaun, Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله said to him that the magicians adopted the dress of His beloved (i.e. Sayyiduna Moosa عليه السلام), therefore they were blessed with the hidaayah (guidance) of Iman.
Reflections
Unfortunately the trend today is to emulate the styles and ways of the impious. People are generally obstinate in acknowledging that imitating transgressors can lead to depravation. Furthermore, to emulate the rebellious is not regarded as a sin. It is therefore imperative that the Ummah takes heed and embrace the habits and appearances of the pious. In this is our protection.
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Everything Is Futile…
Hazrat Sirri Saqati رحمه الله has said; “Everything of the world is futile except five things:
1. Sufficient food to sustain life
2. Sufficient water to quench thirst
3. Sufficient clothes to cover the body
4. A home to shelter in
5. Sufficient knowledge to practice (the teachings of Deen).”
The first aspect we need to realise is that we have been created for the Aakhirah. The needs of man for this temporary life are indeed few. Sadly, man has forgotten the true purpose of life; ie, he needs to exert himself to secure salvation in the Aakhirah. Unfortunately man has made the acquisition of this world his objective and he has forgotten that he will certainly leave this world, he will experience the severe pangs of death, he will be placed alone in his grave with his actions and he will have to stand before Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله to account for every action in this world.
Is this not foolishness where man devotes most of his life in trying to develop and increase his world and thus compromises his Aakhirah? Man needs to assess who he has given his heart to; is it Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful) or Shaitan (the accursed)?
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A Spiritually Sick Person
Hazrat Fatah Musali رحمه الله has said; “Just as a sick person will die if he is deprived of food and water, so too will the heart die if deprived of Ilm (knowledge), Hikmah (wisdom) and the advices of the Mashaikh رحمهم الله.”
On another occasion he advised with regards the people of Ma’rifah that they are those who speak, they speak of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله when they act, they act only for the sake of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and when they ask, they ask only from Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله.
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Don’t Be Fooled By The Material Bounties
Many of us are treading a path contrary to Sunnat yet Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله is still feeding us and providing for us, and fulfilling all our needs. This is the kindness of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله. We shouldn’t have this false notion that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله is happy with us.
The mouse that was in the house was eating the potatoes and tomatoes in the house. Thereafter, it began eating the scarf of the house lady as it became more daring. The house lady will now say that the mouse is over stepping the limits. She now purchases fresh cheddar cheese or makes fresh ghee roti and places it into the trap and places the trap at the entrance of the hole. The mouse thinks that these people are extremely pleased with me. They are now giving me cheddar cheese and roti. I never dreamt of such bounties. As the mouse approaches the cheese the trap grips the mouse and all good times are over.
Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan,
”When they forgot the advice given to them, We opened to them the doors to all (good) things. Until the time came that they rejoiced over what was given to them, We suddenly gripped hold of them (punished them), leaving them despondent (having no hope of ever recovering the bounties they lost).” (Surah Al An’am v44)
(Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Ishaq Sahib حفظه الله)
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the tawfeeq to be in his obedience and save us from complacency, heedlessness and disobedience. آمين يا رب العالمين