amaturrahmaan

Bismihi Ta'ala Being a heart patient and having gone through a quadruple bypass, I have taken many lessons from the experience of ill health and cardiac surgery… One lesson is analogous to the present condition of the Ummah. In the initial stage, the heart’s condition begins to weaken and one suffers from Angina, where there is a lack of oxygen to the heart and there is a feeling of heaviness and crushing pain in the chest, accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue, etc. On consultation, one’s doctor prescribes medication, healthy diet, regular exercise and avoiding stress. If one takes the required care, then a little medication clears the problem. If one is negligent in respect to the prescription, then the condition of the heart will deteriorate and this leads to heart damage. If the heart is severely injured, then a heart attack occurs, where there is a blockage in one or more of the arteries – which does not allow blood to flow to an area of the heart. The person needs to be hospitalized and requires a period of rest, together with medication, diet, etc. Sometimes an Angioplasty is necessary to clear the blocked arteries or widen the narrowed arteries, enabling the flow of blood, which contains oxygen and food for the tissues. If this prescription is also not followed through, then the cardiac condition will worsen and reach a stage where neither medication nor an Angioplasty will help. The solution is either a bypass or in the extreme circumstance, a heart transplant. I had reached the stage where four arteries were blocked and an artery bypass was regarded as the only option. Alhamdulillah, the operation was very successful. However, the analogy that came to mind was that this damage of the physical heart and blockage of the coronary arteries is exactly the situation with the Ummah… In the final analysis, we have severely injured the spiritual heart with sins and we have blocked the arteries of Aqaa`id (beliefs), Ibaadaat (worship), Mu`aamalaat (Business transactions and dealings), Mu`aasharaat (Social dealings) and Akhlaaq (character)[1]with our ignorance, indifference, negligence, as well as in adopting un-Islamic culture, dress, and practices. …Our business dealings, our relationships with wives, parents, children, neighbours, Muslim and non Muslim, does not in any way reflect the beauty and purity of Islam. The ‘ECG’ (electrocardiogram) for the spiritual hearts has disclosed the spiritual heart failure of so many due to their statements reflecting weak faith, or faith on the threshold of kufr[2] or outright rejection of the teachings of Qur`aan and Sunnah[3]. Since we did not heed the warnings of the righteous Scholars of Islam and ‘Ulama[4] and Mashaa`ikh[5] in the initial stages, the spiritual heart is now so damaged, that speeches upon speeches, quotations upon quotations from the Qur`aan Shareef and Sunnah do not cause any change, except in a few. The only solution is the transplant of the spiritual heart. What is this transplant of the spiritual heart? …It is sincere Taubah as well as ‘return’ to Allah Ta’ala (Rujoo Ilallah) and obedience to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam). Why should we wait for punishment to hit us in the form of earthquakes, tornadoes, bombs and other disasters? Let us employ the protection given to us against punishment: Sincere repentance and mending our relationship with Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam), with obedience. When we are going to make use of the prescriptions of sincere Taubah, Du’aa and Zikrullah[6], which is the food and oxygenated ‘blood’ for the spiritual heart, then we will gain in spiritual health and strength, and we will not suffer spiritual imbalance. The arteries will become unblocked without the pain and discomfort of a transplant or bypass. However, just as a heart patient has to submit himself to a surgeon, so is there a requirement that we submit ourselves to a pious, learned, qualified, spiritual mentor, guide and specialist; whom Allah Ta’ala uses as the medium in the bypass or transplant of the spiritual heart. After an operation, there are follow-up assessments, visits to the doctor and an ECG is done, at least once a year. In the same vein, there has to be very regular visits and correspondence with one’s spiritual mentor for assessment of one’s internal condition. We should understand that an attack of the physical heart, at the most, only leads to death, whereas that of the spiritual heart leads to death of Imaan and loss in the Hereafter. By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (RA) [1] This is an analogy of the 5 branches of Shariah : Î Aqaa`id : Beliefs Î Ibaadaat : Worship Î Mu’aamaalaat : Business transactions and dealings. Î Mu`aasharaat : Social dealings Î Akhlaaq : Character [2] Kufr : Rejection [3] Sunnah : The practice of the Prophet Muhammad e and his noble companions j. [4] ‘Ulama : Scholars (of Islam) [5] Mashaa`ikh : Spiritual mentors and guides [6] Zikrullah : The Remembrance of Allah Ta’ala.

Bi Ismihi Ta’ala A scholar from one of the universities visited Darul Uloom Deoband during a trip to India. He was invited for a meal by Hadhrat Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh). The scholar asked the respected Moulana (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh): “Why do you not also eat with a fork and spoon (as many others eat).” Moulana immediately stretched out his hand, drawing attention to four of his fingers, and said: “I am eating with a fork! Just as a fork has got 4 prongs, my hand has got fingers!” Hadhrat Moulana then said: “My fork is better than your fork in 4 ways… 1. My fork can feel the temperature of the food whilst your fork cannot. 2. My fork can bend and catch hold of the food easily, whilst your fork cannot. I notice how you find difficulty to get hold of your food. 3. If my fork hits against my teeth or gums I do not feel any real pain, whilst your fork causes great pain if it pierces you – as does sometimes happen when eating with a fork. 4. My fork excretes a fluid after eating which helps with digestion, whilst your fork is unable to do so. On reading this wonderful response, Allah Ta’ala put in my mind a few more points, which add to the excellence of this Sunnah: My fork is made by Allah Ta’ala whilst your fork is man-made. If it is made of plastic, it is likely to break in its first use. I personally wash my fork before meals (which is Sunnah), whilst your fork is washed by somebody else, if it is washed. The greatest benefit of all is that my fork is Sunnah, whilst your fork is the custom of the non-Muslims. As such, eating with my fork draws a guaranteed reward, whilst eating with your fork carries no reward. And eating with my fork earns the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, whilst eating with your fork earns the displeasure of Allah Ta’ala. Alhamdulillah, a sister from Reunion mentioned an additional point: “My fork can clean the plate according to the Sunnah, whilst your fork cannot.” The Sunnah has such benefit, goodness and advantage that the customs and culture of other faiths or societies cannot be compared to the Sunnah, nor can they rival with the Sunnah. The way of life of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is priceless. Everything else is valueless and useless. In fact, any other way of life is null and void in the Court of Allah Ta’ala. For a Muslim, his connection is with Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), and this should be evident with every facet of life conforming to the beautiful and noble Sunnah. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq of appreciating and practising upon the Sunnah entirely, and throwing out from our lives, the culture of the disbelievers. Link to blog : http://hameediyyah.blogspot.com

"Say good-bye to that friendship which distances us from Allah Ta’ala." "The progress of a person depends on righteous deeds and not just on duas. We will have to do something ourselves. Actions have to accompany our duas." "The whole world can cry for us, but we have to cry over our sins." "Happiness lies in restraining oneself from Haraam."

Bismihi Ta’ala The phrase, ‘It’s in the air’ alludes to the general feeling or expectation of something to happen in the near future or something which is already present or prevailing. For the Muslim who reaches the months of Rajab and Sha`baan, the presence of Ramadaan is keenly sensed and felt. There is anticipation and expectation. It is near, with each day closing the distance between us and Ramadaan. Its blessings are ‘in the air’ – so to say …just as we have fragrance permeating the atmosphere, infusing the air, whether of flowers or of Itr or other perfume. …The stronger the perfume, the stronger the Itr, the greater the distance its scent travels – so much so, that even though we may be far, we too get a hint of something special. The same with a braai – we find the aroma being carried by the wind, over a distance. …Then what of the sweet fragrance of Ramadaan? It is in the air. Most definitely. It is just that our “receivers” are not working well. …If there is a transmitter and there is transmission, but our receiver is not working, we will not pick up transmission. Similarly, if our sinuses are clogged, we will not smell the fragrance. When it comes to the month of Sha`baan – especially from the middle of Sha`baan onwards, the excitement of the Auliya-Allah, the pious and the righteous knows no bounds and limits. They have understood the virtue and significance of Sha`baan because it heralds the coming of Ramadaan, the guest of distinction and greatness. …They have been waiting for the Mubarak month of Ramadaan, and Sha`baan signifies the final countdown to its arrival. They are enthusiastic and eager just to see and meet the month of Ramadaan, and thus we find the beautiful Masnoon dua : ‘O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha’baan and grant us life to see Ramadaan.’ Whilst they enjoy and make the most of the blessings of Sha`baan, it is unfortunate that the majority are neglectful, if not ignorant of its blessings. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wassallam) said, “Sha`baan is a month between Rajab and Ramadaan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of deeds is presented before the Lord of the Universe, so I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting.” [1] We also find in this blessed month, the night of Bara`ah : A Favour and Bounty of Allah Ta’ala Who, through this night, makes it easy for us to prepare for Ramadaan. First, Allah Ta’ala gives us the 15th night of Sha`baan – an exclusive opportunity for Taubah, Rujoo Ilallah, Dua and other Ibaadah… and then He gives us an entire month saturated with opportunities to secure His Pleasure. He gives us Ramadaan. Alhamdulillah. The following analogy came to my mind : That the Ibaadah of the 15th night of Sha`baan is similar to how a person does a re-paint of his house. When a person wants to paint his house, what does he do if the old paint is flaking, if the old paint is peeling and falling off? Would he just take the new paint and apply a fresh coat on top of all the old, flaking paint? …No. The person firsts scrapes off all the old paint. After doing this, he applies the new paint. The night of Bara`ah is akin to scraping off the “old paint”. Allah Ta’ala gives us this blessed and auspicious night so that we scrape off all the old paint and all the dirt of malice, of greed, of pride, of anger and of other bad and evil traits, which have spoilt the beauty of our hearts and which have worn out the shine of our hearts, and through which we have lost the colour of Divine Love which coated our hearts. …Thus, if we are not on talking terms with our family members, or have cut off ties with parents or vice versa, or have been disobedient to parents, or if there is anyone taking some kind of intoxicant, or engaging in some form of shirk, or is harbouring malice and jealousy, or engaging in any form of immorality and disobedience – then the opportunity to rid the heart of its evil, to clean it and purify it, to paint it in the dye of Allah Ta’ala’s Love, to beautify it with the Noor of sincere repentance and the Remembrance of Allah Ta’ala is presented to us in the form of the 15th night of Sha`baan. …Very much like the scraping of the old paint … with a re-coat of fresh ‘paint’ before the month of Ramadaan. We apply the new coat so that it begins to shine in advance of Ramadaan and increases in its shine and beauty with each passing day of Ramadaan. So Allah Ta’ala gives us this night, in preparation for the coming month of Ramadaan. And most of us are acquainted with the merits of this night : That it is a night for forgiveness of sins, a night in which Allah Ta’ala’s Mercy descends. From our side, we should maximise on the wonderful bounties found in this night, by engaging ourselves in Ibaadah, in Dua and in Istighfaar. There is no hard and fast rule as to what to read and how to occupy ourselves in this night. In reality, it is spending the time in diverse Ibaadah; whatever our hearts incline to – some recitation of Qur`aan Shareef and Zikrullah, together with sincere Taubah, abundant Istighfaar, and deep-hearted Dua. Sleep for a little while and try and get up for the Tahajjud Salaah and engage in Dua. …There is no reason to feel disappointed if the person is working the entire day and does not then have the capacity to remain awake for most of the night… to whatever extent, the person makes an effort in this night. My purpose was just to highlight one or two points – the main point being that irrespective of how far we may have distanced ourselves from Allah Ta’ala, if we turn to Allah Ta’ala, we make “I'tiraaf- e- qusoor”– acknowledge our weakness, our sins… “O my beloved Allah! Looking at my own weakness, looking at my lack of strength and energy, what else can I take support from except that You are Most Merciful? My crying before You, my tearing before You, my repentance are what I have to offer. I do not have the kind of strength that the Sahaaba-e-Kiraam (RA) had. I do not have that kind of strength that the Taabi’een and the Tabe Taabi’een had. I do not have that kind of Ibaadah, Zikr and Tilaawah which the righteous and the pious and the Sawliheen had, or they have. I am of those who are extremely weak. With my “I'tiraaf- e- qusoor”, with my acknowledgement of my sins, and with my tears of repentance, I seek Your Support. Overlook my sins, overlook my shortcomings, overlook my weakness. My life has gone by in so much of disobedience to You and your Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wassallam). But this night, I am turning towards You…” Ask Allah Ta’ala for complete forgiveness from all sins, whether major or minor sins, wherever they may have been committed, whether deliberate or unintentional. Whatever it may be, ask Allah Ta’ala for forgiveness of all sins, and sincerely promise and pledge not to return to them. With this kind of Taubah and Istighfaar, the Light of Imaan will shine in our hearts. Thereafter, it is left to us to then preserve that Light by staying away from those sins in the future. On the other hand, if the person is going to merely engage in lip-service Istighfaar and Taubah for the night, and continue with the same evils the very next day, how will any Noor remain in the heart? …Then, when Ramadaan does arrive, the person will be empty in his heart, and if he continues in the same direction of sins, he will not be in the right frame of spirituality to fully benefit and draw from the downpour of Noor, Rahmah and Barakah of Ramadaan. May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the understanding and the ability to practise on our knowledge with Ikhlaas. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the full blessings of Sha`baan and Ramadaan.

Bi Ismihi Ta'ala During the era of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and the Khulafa-e-Raashideen (RA), in Makkah Mukarramah and thereafter in Madina Munawwarah, Islam witnessed the greatest of threats and attacks that shall probably ever be made against it. The answer to these attacks however, was always given on our (Islam’s) platform and not on the platform of the Kuffaar – that is, Islam counter-attacked all those assaults and objections solely on the basis, and with the aid of the Qur’aan Majeed. The work of the Kuffaar and hypocrites was to object. The Qur’aan Shareef presented answers to all the objections levelled against it. At the same time, Allah Ta’ala explained that these answers will only satisfy those who believe and those truly searching for the truth. Thus, we should be more concerned about removing doubts from the Muslims and making them strong. Many, who are disbelievers, object just for the sake of objecting and creating doubts; not to understand or wanting to understand. So let them meet us on our terms, instead of us meeting them on their terms. Why should we compromise? Today the disbelievers are utilizing the television and films in their attack against Islam. They even utilize their women in their war against Islam. Are we going to now follow suit in repelling their attacks? Are we going to utilize the means they use, no matter how immoral, filthy and corrupt it may be, in our counter-attack? Those who are interested in Islam will always be able to find their road to Islam, without us adopting impermissible means and methods of Da`wah (Inviting to Islam). Over the centuries, millions have entered the fold of Islam without the means which are available today. Allah Ta’ala is Al-Haadi (The Guide). And Allah Ta’ala uses some of His servants as mediums for the guidance of others. However, in the efforts made to guide or invite others, the means to the end have to be legitimate and acceptable to Allah Ta’ala. We cannot go the route of sin to win people over to Islam. From the fact that Ayaat (verses) were revealed in answer to the objections of the disbelievers, we learn that it is our prime duty to provide answers to the doubts that the enemies of Islam attempt to create within the minds of Muslims. To do this however, there are more than enough permissible avenues that could be utilized; viz. the Masjid Mimbar - especially on the Day of Jumu’ah, pamphlets and literature, the talks of the Ulama-e-Kiraam, etc. When we have sufficient means available, we just cannot allow ourselves to become followers of the enemies of Islam in choosing those methods of propagation which go against the grain of Islamic principles, and which in fact, open doors of fitnahs. May Allah Ta’ala grant us sound understanding and the ability to do the work of inviting others, on Allah Ta’ala’s terms, without any compromise and without conceding to the terms of the disbelievers. Link to blog : http://hameediyyah.blogspot.com

Bismihi Ta'ala There is an incident related of a Sahabi (رَضِىَ الله عَنْهُ), who, on coming across the verse : كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ قف ‘Every soul shall taste of death.’ [surah Al-Ambiyaa 21 : 35 ] …read it so many times that a voice was finally heard saying: ‘Your recitation has already caused the death of 4 Jinn.’ In Arabic, the word, ‘zaa`iqa’ means ‘to taste’. We should connect this ayah (verse) with what we understand of ‘taste’. Sometimes the taste is bitter, sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter-sweet. We have sugar-coated pills because everyone wants to taste sweetness. Everyone wants a taste of enjoyment. Our beloved Allah Ta’ala is informing us of the final taste of this worldly life and that taste is the taste of death. Death is an indisputable reality and each one has to experience it. So Allah Ta’ala tells us : كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ قف “Every nafs shall taste of death .” Since the taste of death is a must for everyone that enters into this world, we need to work on developing our spiritual appetite for death. If we want sweetness in death, then our actions will have to be sweet. …I do not think we need to even ask if there is anyone that would like a death which is ‘bitter’. Hazrat Maulana Yusuf (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) delivered his last bayaan (talk) in Lahore, Pakistan. It was during this talk that he had a heart attack, and it was on the way to the hospital that he passed away. He was only in his 40s, so his death was very sudden and unexpected. A woman, who was deeply grieved over his death, had a dream, in which she saw Hazrat Maulana Yusuf (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh). She asked him : ‘How did you pass away?’ He replied : “The Tajalli of Allah Ta’ala was so intense whilst giving that talk, that I could not bear it. A beautiful rose was then brought to me and as I smelt it, my soul departed.” A few days later, Maulana Umar Palanpuri (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) who was a close friend of Maulana Yusuf(Rahmatullahi ‘alayh), saw him in a dream and asked him: ‘Did you meet Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi waSallam)?’ He replied : ‘Yes. Come I will also take you.’ – and in the dream, he takes Maulana Umar Palanpuri(Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) with. This is what we call “sweetness” of death. To make our death sweet, we will have to make our a’maal (actions) sweet. We cannot expect roses and flowers to grow, if we plant thorns. If we do A`maal-e-Sawleha (righteous deeds), then Allah Ta’ala promises a pleasurable life (Hayaatan Tayyibah) together with success in the next life. مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثٰى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهٗ حَيٰوةً طَيِّبَةً ج وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ ◌ “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” [surah an-Nahl : 97] …If not, then read the incidents of the nations of the past and the bitter end they met. …Allah Ta’ala protect us all.

"The Saalik who attributes his achievements to his Mujahada and Khidmat, is in deception. All achievements are favours of Allah Ta’ala." "Once there is love and trust in the Shaykh, the path to Allah Ta’ala becomes easy." "Anyone who finds Allah Ta’ala becomes disinclined to Dunya." " ‘Ana’ (I) is a killer. It leads to ‘self-admiration’ and vanity (ujub), as well as an expectation of praise and acclaim. This ujub and takabbur (pride) inherent in ‘ana’ leads to one’s destruction." "We are passing through the passage of life and not recognizing Allah Ta’ala; whereas everything around are signs of His Greatness, Perfection and Beauty."

Bismihi Ta’ala THE SUNNAH : OUR VALUE AND PROTECTION P‘RICE’LESS ADVICE In today’s times, the methods of rice harvesting, cleaning and production are more advanced, with different and upgraded machinery. The rice we purchase today is well packaged and clean. In previous times, when we purchased rice, we would find tiny stones, straw and little twigs with the rice. The merchants sold rice like this and we bought the rice, knowing well that the little stones were weighed with the rice. After purchasing the rice, we kept that rice in glass jars or storage containers, as a measure of protection, until we intended to cook it. …The stones and twigs were not only priced with the rice, but they were protected as was the rice. They drew the same value and protection because they ‘kept company’ with the rice. Even though the stones had no value, they found value and protection with the rice. When the rice was cleaned, these particles were picked out and thrown aside. …Even today, when rice is cleaned, these stones, the straw, etc. are separated and thrown out. A de-stoner is used, and it serves the same purpose - to separate the stones, dirt, and other materials from the grain. On the one end of this machine, is the grain which has been cleaned. On the other end, the stones, straw and dirt, which have been separated, are collected – to be thrown away. Once these stones, hay, straw, etc. are thrown out, they immediately lose value. People trample it. ...Cats, dogs and other animals walk over it; even relieve themselves on these stones, hay, etc. … because there is now no worth attached to it. Our likeness is of the tiny stones, straw and little twigs that are found with the rice we purchased. So long as we were joined to the Sunnats – we were priced as the Lovers of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). And we were also recipient to Allah Ta’ala’s Protection. As long as we had Dien and we had Sunnah in our lives, we were protected and honoured by Allah Ta’ala. When we separated ourselves from Dien and Sunnah, when we went the route of sins, transgression, Bid`ah, modernism and other ‘isms’, which have no share in Islam – it was a choice we made, which threw us out of the Protection of Allah Ta’ala. Our value was lost, our protection was no more and our honour was replaced with dishonour. Now we have the enemies of Islam – people, whom Allah Ta’ala has declared His enemies and our enemies – people who live their lives in rejection and rebellion to Allah Ta’ala… ‘O People of Imaan! Do not take My Enemies and your enemies as friends, inclining towards them with love. Verily, they have rejected the truth which has come to you (from your Rabb)…’ [surah Mumtahina 60 : 1] We have such people trample upon us, murder our weak, elderly and children, rape our women, raze our homes and unjustly imprison our men. The oppression is so compounded, words fail – yet is seems as if there is no one to even sigh over this. This is the outcome of alienating ourselves from Dien and Sunnah. Islam, as a religion and way of life, is easy and perfectly practicable in every time. For each and every Ummati, there is the ray of hope, the opportunity to salvage that honour of being an Ummati, and that promise of success – if only we connect with Dien and Sunnah. If we do, we will become recipient to that Special Divine Protection, our value will increase and we will become the beneficiaries of Allah Ta’ala’s Promises: “Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and perform righteous deeds, that He will, of surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion – the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: ‘They will worship Me (Alone) and not associate anyone with Me.’ If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked. So establish Salaah (Prayer) and give regular Charity (Zakaah); and obey the Messenger that you may receive mercy. ” [surah Nur 24 : 55 / 56] From another angle, and considering the analogy of rice, it is a well-known fact that rice is a staple food which is consumed by billions and which is considered a vital grain for human nutrition. Millions depend on rice for their survival, with many consuming rice every day of their lives. In relation to this fact, the Sunnah is the staple food for the soul. And the Sunnah encompasses every good and noble deed, including abstinence from all sins. This is vital for the soul’s nourishment and improvement. With it, the spiritual heart and the soul thrive. Without it, Imaan will suffer impairment and the soul will weaken. Added to this, Allah Ta’ala’s Love and Forgiveness are binding for the one who follows in the footsteps of the Beloved (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam): “Say (O Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)) : If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins; And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” [surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 31] Hazrat Maulana Abrarul Haq (RA) has explained that every Sunnah is ‘ashal’ (most simple), akmal(perfect), ajmal (most beautiful). Hazrat Maulana Umar of Palanpoor (RA) had mentioned that on practising and living the Sunnah, a person becomes recipient to Rahmat (Mercy), Barakah (Blessings), Hidayah (Guidance) andMuhabbat (he becomes beloved to Allah Ta’ala and to the people). May Allah Ta’ala give us understanding and the Taufeeq to appreciate every single aspect of this beautiful way of life called Islam, and to practise upon the Sunnah on every breath and moment. Link to blog : http://hameediyyah.blogspot.com

Life cannot become boring when we establish contact with the One who gives Happiness…

Bismihi Ta'ala Once, we were walking in Masjidun Nabawi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam), at night. My gaze was directed to the ground and as we walked, I took note of the shine on the tiles of the Haram. There is brightness, shine and sparkle in those tiles, due to the effort of washing, cleaning and polishing. As a result, whatever is outside, and above, is reflected onto the tiles. There is the exact likeness, a mirror image.…It is as if all the light fittings that are on the outside, and high up, are now gone into the tiles - because of the reflection seen on tiles. So as you are walking across the tiles, it is as if you are walking on those chandeliers, those light fittings, and even different architectural designs. The tiles shine so brilliantly and brightly that they take the complete reflection of the different lights. Giving this thought and the following came to mind: These are tiles. Nothing but stone. …But when man made an effort on that stone, on that tile – He cleaned it, polished it and shined it – a total reflection of light and beauty came into that tile. SubhanAllah. If stone can, by the means of some effort and shine, receive the total reflection of the light outside … then what of the heart of the Muslim, which has been cleaned and purified and which now sparkles with Divine Love? What will then be the experience when at the Raudah Mubarak which is filled with Noor, when in Riyadhul Jannah which is overflowing with Noor, when near the Mimbar and Mehraab which is covered with Noor … There is nothing but Noor in the entire Masjidun Nabawi. …And, above all of this, is Mustafa, Mujtaba, Habibullah, Nabi-ar-Rahmah, Sayyid-al-Mursaleen, Imaam-al-Mutaqqeen, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) – Noorun ala Noor…. Allah Ta’ala blesses us with all these beautiful, shining, bright lights. SubhanAllah. If only we made some effort on our hearts, if only we polished and shined these hearts, then what would be the radiant reflections that would fall onto our hearts and souls, when we go and stand there at the Raudah Mubarak…? When we stand there with Adab and Ihtiraam, with sincere Taubah and Istighfaar, with humility and humbleness… it is beyond words to describe the Anwaar that will fall onto that heart and into that heart … and thereafter the effect of that Anwaar will become evident in the person’s life, as well as the lives of those who come into contact with the person. Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi’s words come to mind and are most apt : “When the fragrance (i.e. the nearness) of my Beloved Allah comes into my heart, then the languages of the world fail to describe this.” When the brilliant Anwaar of our visit to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) comes into our hearts, then the languages of the world prove inadequate in trying to describe that experience and reality. By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

Bismihi Ta’ala Many of us who own printers know that that a good quality printer is required if we want good quality prints. A colour laser printer will produce high resolution print outs, with enhanced, clear and finely detailed images that are colourful and bright, in comparison to a black and white inkjet printer. All of us who use printers know that there are times when the print is of poor quality. Sometimes the print is so faint, it is not even legible; or there are white or black streaks and lines running across the page or down the page, spoiling the print. At such times, the light indicator flashes red, indicating the toner is low and needs to be replaced. The light indicators also tell us which colours need to replaced. Whilst there are other reasons for poor printing, it is the toner that makes the image. The printing is dependent on whether the cartridge has sufficient toner. Colour printers require colour cartridges with adequate toner as well. Our A’maal (actions) can be likened to print outs. Each “aml” is like a print out – a good one or bad one. The colours of the toners, for the cartridge of the spiritual heart, are: Taubah and Istighfaar, Ikhlaas and Ishq of Allah Ta’ala. Unlike the printer, where toner cartridges are generally changed every few months, there is a need toconstantly replenish our hearts with the toner or ink of Ikhlaas, Taubah and Istighfaar. If we do so, the a`maal that are then carried out by the ‘machine’ of this human body, will be print outs that are bright and clear and beautiful. If there is no effort to maintain and upkeep one’s Taubah and Ikhlaas, the print outs of our actions begin to fade, and become lighter and lighter - until, sometimes even the Salaah, though performed regularly, comes out “blank” - because the heart is empty of the toner of Ikhlaas. Added to this, indulgence in sins depletes the Noor in the heart, which then spoils the print out of our deeds. Sometimes the print head becomes blocked … and the print is poor. The same happens with our hearts: Sometimes, Riyaa (ostentation), Ujub (conceit) or Kibr (pride), creates a block and the print is ruined. Or there may be some other defect in the heart which results in a bad ‘print job’ or a totally blank ‘print out’. When nafs and shaytaan interfere with our intentions, this is exactly what happens. The effect of our fasting, our Salaah, Umrahs, Ziyarah, Tilawat, and other Ibaadaat is not experienced because the heart is empty of Ikhlaas or due to sins. So our “prints” (a’maal) are blank and many times, just a messy print out, which is squashed and thrown away. The Ahaadeeth also alludes to this: Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said : ‘When a person finishes his Salaah, he gets one tenth, one ninth, one eighth, one seventh, one sixth, one fifth, one fourth, one third or one half of the maximum reward (according to the quality of Salaah performed by him). …If the toners of Ikhlaas, Ihsaan and Khushoo are utilized in Salaah (and other Ibaadaat), the print out will be clear and beautiful, otherwise blurred or faint, dependent on what was given in that Salaah. In another Hadeeth, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘When a person offers his Salaah at its fixed hours with proper Wudhu, with humility and submission, and with Qiyaam, Ruku and Sajdah done satisfactorily, then such a Salaah rises up in a bright and beautiful form and blesses the person in words: ‘May Allah guard you as you have guarded me.’ …On a beautiful print out of good deeds, glad tidings are given, Allah Ta’ala’s pleasure is obtained and Insha-Allah, many other rewards enjoyed in this world and the next. The Hadeeth continues: “…On the other hand, if a person is not punctual with his Salaat nor does he perform Wudhu, Qiyaam, Ruku and Sajdah properly, then Salaat rises up in an ugly and dark shape, and curses the person, saying: “May Allah ruin you as you have ruined me!” Then it flung back like a dirty rag at the face of the person.” …The print out of Salaah was “dirty” due to the defects in the actions of the human ‘machine’ and due to insufficient toner (Ikhlaas and Khushoo). So we learn that when the print out of our actions is bad, we are deprived of Allah Ta’ala’s pleasure and invite a host of problems and misery into our lives. When the condition of the heart is bad, prints are ruined with streaks of zulmat (darkness). Then we ask : Why can we not find peace of mind, contentment at heart, why is there no Noor in our hearts? …It is because of our weaknesses and indulgence in sins. Furthermore, we find that some of today’s printers come with a “smart panel” application which displays details and information of toner levels, printer status, set-up, network, problem alerts, etc. Allah Ta’ala has also given us a ‘smart panel’ application whereby we know the condition of our hearts and our actions. This is found in the Suhbat of the Auliya Allah. In their company, the indicator lights flash when our Salaah is not in order, flash when there is deficiency in our Akhlaaq or Mu`aasharaat, alert us when there is a block on Ikhlaas, alert us when there is Takabbur and Riyaa … and like this, we can accordingly get the ‘machine’ back, in good working condition, and learn how to replenish the toners in the hearts. This is acquired from the Suhbat of the Ahlullah. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and Taufeeq. Link to blog : http://hameediyyah.blogspot.com

When making Taubah and Istighfaar, begging Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu) for blanket amnesty, is safest.

Our teeth have gone ‘blunt’ in chewing the Divine Bounty of food, but Shukr (gratitude) does not come to our lips.

Bismihi Ta'ala A person generally purchases material commodities from a shop. Groceries are purchased from a supermarket; clothing from a clothing store, jewellery from a jewellery shop and so forth. In order to obtain these material commodities, the buyer will have to give a certain amount of money in return for his goods. This is a transaction which is most common in the business world. There is also a transaction in the spiritual world where special commodities may be purchased : The commodities of the Ma`rifat (Recognition of Allah Ta’ala), Ishq (Love for Allah Ta’ala), Qurb (Nearness to Allah Ta’ala), Nisbat (Connection with Allah) and so forth which are generously available, for all. However these special commodities of the ‘Ma’rifat’ (recognition) and Ishq of Allah Ta’ala are such that they cannot be purchased with the coins and notes, or the gold and silver of this world. …However, they are to be purchased in this world and are found in what I term, the ‘shops’ of Ma’rifat… that are found throughout the world. These ‘shops of ‘Ma’rifat’ are the Ahlullah (People of Allah). They stock the merchandise of Allah Ta’ala. However, these Ahlullah do not accept cash, cheque, card, gold or silver in their transactions. They accept a different kind of currency, which is far more precious than money. The payment for the merchandise of Allah Ta’ala is the qurbaani (sacrifice) of our evil desires. To become ‘Aarif Billah’, we have got to make payment for these spiritual treasures with the sacrifice of our base desires. The ‘asking price’ is the sacrifices of our evil desires – whether it is the evil desire to cast lustful gazes, commit fornication/adultery, gamble, take drugs, backbite, listen to music or commit any action which is Haraam. Added to this, the more money a person possesses, the greater the commodity that can be purchased. …R5 cannot buy a person a 22ct gold bangle. You require ‘big’ money for big commodities. Similarly, the more the qurbaani, the more the ma’rifat of Allah Ta’ala; the greater the sacrifice, the greater the recognition of Allah Ta’ala. Take the example of a person who goes to the Jeweller and he has with him R100 000. On the one hand, he wants to purchase jewellery and on the other hand, he does not want to part with his money. He is attached to the one and he is drawn to the other. He wants both. …But he will have to part with that money in exchange for the jewels that he desires. Many of us want to please Allah Ta’ala and we want to also keep our nafs happy. …This cannot be. No one can gain the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and secure His love while pandering to the whims and fancies of the nafs and shaytaan. Just as the person will get gems, pearls, gold and silver in return for his money; so too, if the Saalik (Seeker of Allah Ta’ala) is prepared to make the sacrifice and then renders the sacrifices of his evil desires and passions, then from the shops of Ma’rifat, he will be given the pearls and jewels of Ma’rifat. The Ahlullah have within their hearts an invaluable treasure. They are very generous in sharing because sharing increases their treasure. And if we are able to secure the same, then we will understand the insignificance of dunya (the material world). “O Allah, You have explained Your Value, being both worlds. If by giving both the worlds, You are attained, Both worlds are nothing in exchange for Your Love and Friendship. Even if a person should sacrifice his life for You, Then too, the full price has not been paid. To become martyred for the sake of Your Love, Is better than a thousand lives, And many are the Kingdoms to be sacrificed for Your Bondage,” Once Shah Waliullah (RA) addressed the Moghul Emporers, saying : Waliullah has a heart that is beautified with the gems and pearls of the Love of Allah Ta’ala. If there is anyone wealthier, then come forward. When you die, you will be beneath the ground, wrapped in a few sheets, while your power and position, your wealth and treasure will be left behind, above the ground. The gems and pearls of the Ishq and Ma’rifat of Allah Ta’ala are dependent on how much of qurbaani is made. “O Friend! Treasures are generally buried in places of destruction. Hence destroy the evil desires and attain the Treasure” Until we do not turn our hearts red with the blood of our evil desires, there is no way that we can secure the Ishq, Ma`rifat and Qurb of Allah Ta’ala. There is no Wali (Friend of Allah Ta’ala) who has become a Wali by fulfilling the evil desires of his heart. The condition of the sincere ones is : “Say: ‘Truly, my Salaah (prayer), and my sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for Allah, The Cherisher of the Worlds.’” [surah An-An`aam 6 : 162] By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

Bi Ismihi Ta’ala Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur`aan Sharief: “And We have not sent you but as mercy for all the worlds.” [surah Ambiyaa 21 : 107] Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)’s Ihsaan (favour) upon us is so great, that we cannot ever truly express our appreciation adequately. His Kindness, Compassion, Mercy and Benevolence upon each one of us cannot be repaid even in many lifetimes. If it had not been for his concern, sacrifice and Duas, we would not be the reciters of the Kalima today. Despite our shortcomings and failings, we are still required – in fact, we are commanded, to fulfil his rights to the best of our ability. Some of these rights are : 1.) Imaan bir Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) This Imaan in Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is a condition of Tauheed. The Imaan of a person is not complete without, ‘Muhammadur Rasulullah'. Without this, a person will not be able to gain any kind of salvation in the Aakhirah. There are 3 aspects of this Imaan: a.) As Believers, we are to have full faith that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) brought and conveyed the Message of Allah Ta’ala, of how we should live and how we should die. b.) We should also have firm Belief that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the Last and Final Messenger of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta'ala clearly highlights this : “Muhammad is not a father of any of your men, but he is a Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets. And Allah has the Knowledge of everything.” [surah Ahzaab 33 : 40] Whilst we believe that Hazrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam) is a Nabi of Allah Ta’ala, we believe that he will return to this world and will be an Ummati of our Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). He will not be a new Nabi. c.) We should also have firm Imaan that the only way of salvation is following the Mubarak pattern of life of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Allah Ta’ala states explicitly: “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” [surah Ahzaab 33 : 21] 2.) Muhabbat-e Rasul Sallaahu alaihi wa sallam (Love) We should nurture within our hearts, such true and sincere love, more than any other after Allah Ta’ala. And the proof of this love is Obedience to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Our Imaan will not be perfected until the Love of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) takes precedence over the love of all creation. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wasallam) said: "A man cannot be perfect of Imaan as long as his love for me is not more than his love for his whole family and for all people." (Muslim) It is recorded that on one occasion Hazrat Umar (RA) said: "O Rasulullah! Most assuredly, I love you more than all things, but my own life." Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: "I swear by The Being in Whose Power is my life! One is not a perfect believer until one loves me more than one's own life." Hazrat Umar (RA) then reflected and exclaimed: "I now love you more than my own life." Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied : "Now you are a perfect Muslim." Upon reflection, Hazrat Umar (RA), realized that he would, without any hesitation, sacrifice his own life for his Beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), which thus made evident that he loved Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) more than himself. Similarly, every Believer should have this kind of love that supersedes the love of his own life. 3.) Azmat-e-Rasul Sallaahu alaihi wa sallam The love of Rasulullah (Sallaahu alaihi wasallam) must be accompanied with Azmat (great honour) and utmost respect. It should not be like the love between husband and wife, or brothers and friends, who take one another for granted and speak to and treat one another in any informal way. For Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), there is a Command from Allah Ta’ala, that we should have the utmost respect, so much so that the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (RA) were instructed not to even raise their voices in the presence of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam), because that, in the Court of Allah Ta’ala, is counted as disrespect - which can be a means of loss in one’s good deeds. “O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.” [surah Al-Hujuraat 49 : 2] We find in these days there are many matters and issues which are joked about, which are made the brunt of jesting and fun. However, we should never ever make a joke about any single thing relating to our Beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) or joke about any aspect of the pure Dien of Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu). This can lead one out of the fold of Islam. 4.) Ita`at-e-Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam (Obedience): This necessitates, practically, complete obedience and conformity to the beautiful way of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on every occasion, practising on his Sunnah, together with complementing our actions with the respective Masnoon Duas. Following the Sunnah is the easiest way to reach Allah Ta’ala. It is the road of success in both the worlds. Allah Ta’ala directs us to this great achievement: “Say (O Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)) : If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins; And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” [surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 31] 5.) Zikr-e-Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam (Remembrance) We should remember Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) daily with Durood Sharief - which is that special capsule containing the Ibaadat of thinking of Rasulullaah (Sallaahu alaihi wasallam), expressing Shukr (appreciation and thankfulness), Thana (praise) and Dua, and a means of us becoming the beneficiaries to great rewards and favours. SubhanAllah. And we should also bring in this remembrance, the recitation of the beautiful Duas Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) taught us on awakening, sleeping, eating, drinking, etc. as well as follow his every action in regards to living life. Added to this, we should remember Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) with talking about or writing or reading kitaabs about his Seerah, his nobility, beauty and greatness, whereby love is created in the hearts. 6.) Fikr-e-Rasul Sallaahu alaihi wa sallam (Concern) As Ummatis of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), we should develop within us, that same concern that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had for the Ummah, for Accountability and for preparation of the Aakhirah. We too should follow in his noble footsteps, making an earnest effort in spreading the message of Islam and sacrificing for the Dien of Allah Ta’ala, and being desirous of all and everyone coming into this beautiful Dien and gaining Najaat (salvation) in the Hereafter. 7.) Ziyarat-e-Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam: Visiting him in Madina Munawwarah Visiting Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is one of the most superior forms of Ibaadah, securing the most enviable of rewards. Thus, when a person, has the means, it is greatly encouraged that he undertakes this journey to Madina Munawwarah, presents himself at the Raudha-e-Mubarak and offers his Salaam to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), who is alive, listening and responding to the Salaams which are offered and conveyed to him. Rasulullah (Salallaahu alaihu wa sallam) said: “He who visits me, after I have left the world, is just like the person who visits me in my lifetime.” Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: “My intercession becomes necessary for the one who visits my grave.” May Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu) grant us the Taufeeq of fulfilling the Rights of our Beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with deep and sincere love, and may it be a means of our acceptance and Najaat (salvation) in the Hereafter.

Durood Sharief is a capsule which containes three forms of Ibaadat: Shukr (appreciation), Hamd (praise) and Dua (supplication).

Wherever you go, you must have the niyyah (intention) to convey this beautiful Deen to others.

We often hear helicopters circling the area; generally searching for some hijacked vehicle. This is a common observation and experience in the area. If it is night, then the helicopter uses a powerful light as a search light. Listening to and observing this, the following analogy came to mind : The Auliya Allah, the Mashaa`ik, are like those helicopters, except that they are searching for those persons who have been hijacked by nafs and shaytaan - people like us. The Auliya Allah also possess a very powerful light in their hearts: It is noor that has developed in their hearts through obedience to Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) as well as total abstinence from sins. With this powerful noor, they are able to search out and save thousands, if not millions. We know that if the hijacked vehicle is found and returned to the owner, then the owner is naturally very happy, more especially if his car is a very expensive one. Similarly, if due to the search efforts made, not only by the Auliya Allah, but by all Muslims, others return to Allah Ta’ala’s obedience, or return to Imaan and Islam, Allah Ta’ala’s happiness is much, much greater than that of the car owner. The owner of the car may either thank the person who found his car or if he is of a noble disposition, he will express his gratitude with some gift. Allah Ta’ala is by far more generous and appreciative and His rewards are granted in various forms, in this world as well as the Hereafter, for those who make the effort of searching and saving hijacked persons – those “hijacked” by nafs and shaytaan. Then again, looking at the life of the Muslim, we find that it is a “Rescue Mission”: He or she is always prepared to make sacrifices to save the spiritual lives of others. How often we read of the rescue missions that go out to sea, to rescue someone or the other carried away by strong current, or those struggling to survive due to the ship sinking, or those who need to be evacuated from ships. We find that the pilot is well-trained for the operation and those persons, those rescue swimmers, who form part of the rescue team, are physically strong, fit, able and very experienced in their field. They have to be highly skilled to ensure that the operation is a successful one. If not, they too will become victim to the waters of the oceans. Similarly, as Muslims who are rescue swimmers and ‘spiritual’ life savers in the field of Da`wah and Tabligh, we have got to be spiritually strong, fit and able and gain in experience … otherwise the current of fitnahs may sweep us away also. If we are spiritually weak, then we too can end up drowning in some sin or the other. And this is very much a reality : Many who have surface knowledge and they have not made much of an effort against their nafs, become victim to the storms of some sin or the other. Similarly, the Muslim is a Paramedic. Every Muslim should be qualified in the basics on how to save the spiritual lives of those who meet up with tragic accidents (that is, they fall into sins). If we are in the know-how, then we will be able to apply ourselves immediately in aiding and saving such people from spiritual death. …How often, it is the CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or artificial respiration given before being taken to hospital, that saves the person. Even though the person’s situation will still be critical, he has been revived with CPR and the chances are thus strong, of his survival if he is taken to a hospital immediately. Similarly, we need to learn spiritual CPR for emergency cases – that is, to make sincere dua for hidayat; but the building of our spiritual stamina, the training and the expertise comes in keeping company with those qualified and masters in the field – our Mashaa`ik and Ulama-e-Haq. Another analogy is that of the Tracking and Security companies and search parties that are formed to track kidnapped children or hijacked persons. The Muslim is a tracking company: He searches, invites and calls the disbelievers to Imaan and Islam, and the weak Muslims, to stronger Imaan. Unfortunately, the state of affairs today is that many a time the guards hired from security companies turn out to be the thieves, hijackers and criminals themselves. Here in South Africa, we have security guards and police officers being caught, arrested and apprehended. Sadly, many Muslims have also become hijackers, taking their Muslim brothers and sisters to Haraam – casinos, clubs, pornography, music and so forth. Or some give the injection of spiritual death, with drugs and other such Haraam, or kufr ideologies. …Instead of saving from the fire of Jahannum, many invite others to join them, to accompany them, in disobedience and even rejection of Allah Ta’ala and His Ahkaam (Laws). Allah Ta’ala have mercy upon us – because this is truly a reality. The Majority invite to the Fire, but the Auliya Allah invite to Paradise. The majority “go with the flow”. The Auliya Allah move against the current of fitnah. Despite the difficulties and challenges, the help of Allah Ta’ala is with those who are Friends. Take heed : “If you obey the majority of the people on earth they will take you astray from Allah’s path. They follow nothing but conjecture and do nothing but lie”. [surah An’aam 6 : 116] “Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Apostle, and the (Fellowship of) Believers, - those who establish regular prayers, and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship).” [surah Maa`idah 5 : 58] "The (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere." [surah Hujarat 49 : 15] By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

Bi Ismihi Ta’ala There is an incident, which has been recorded, of a Bedouin who came to Madina Munawwarah, and on entering Masjidun Nabawi, presented himself before the Roudha-e-Mubaarak, and recited such beautiful couplets which are now engraved near the jhaalie (gold and green mesh/frame) of the Roudha-e-Mubaarak. These verses are: Ya khaira man dufinat bilqaa’e a'zhumuhu O You, the best, whose (blessed) body has been buried in this plain (sand) 'Fa Taaba min tiebihinna al qaa'u wal akamu Due to the fragrance of the blessed body of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam), the surrounding sand (touching his kafan) and the hillocks have become fragrant. The sand that is touching the blessed Kafan (shroud) of Rasulullah (Sallaahu alaihi wasallam). has thus become so honoured, so extremely blessed and sacred. With regard to this sand, Imam Malik (Rahmatullahi ‘alaih) had said that the sand touching the Kafan of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) is more blessed than the Ka’aba Sharief and the Arsh of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu! SubhanAllah. How blessed must these grains of sand be! …And how blessed the sand that is touching those grains of sand, and the sand and the ground we stand on, which has contact with that same earth, near the Roudha-e-Mubaarak? …SubhanAllah. This value is beyond any estimation; it is priceless. From our side, we need to at least, recognize and appreciate this great bounty, honour and privilege of Ziyarat. It is no ordinary experience. When standing before Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), we should keep this in mind, and should present ourselves according to this honour and greatness. Both our inward and outward conditions should be in conformity to what would please Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Nafsil fidhaa li qabrin anta saakinuhu My soul is sacrificed for the mausoleum you are in. The real value of man is his soul. His body is just a container housing the soul. If there is no soul, the body has to be buried. Without the soul, the body does not have value. In this verse, one is sacrificing his soul for Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam). However, the reality of this statement will only be proven and made manifest, when we give preference to his Sunnah – i.e. the lifestyle of Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) over everything else. feehil afaafu wa feehil judu wal karamu In it is purity, generosity and compassion. These beautiful verses of poetry teach us the exalted, noble, honourable position of Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and the great favour and privilege of standing and being present at the Roudha-e-Mubaarak. This bounty and blessing, and the rewards which would accrue on such a visit, should not be destroyed by negligence, unmindfulness, raising one’s voice, taking photographs, videoing, dressing immodestly or dressing in the garb of the enemies of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam), or presenting oneself to Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), clean shaven, etc. May Allah Ta’ala give us the understanding and the true appreciation of the priceless bounty of Ziyarat of our Beloved (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and accept our humble visit, despite our failings in being able to ever fulfil the rights of such a visit.

‘Today, people want to give Islam a facelift; to make Islam fit into modern society. Islam does not need a facelift – Islam is ever-beautiful, ever-youthful. It is not a way of life that becomes old or out-dated. Rather, it is modern society that needs to change and conform.’

One’s akhlaaq (character) is an indication of one’s nisbat (connection) with Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam).

Hazrat Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi[1] (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) has mentioned a story in hisMathnavi Sharief, of a worm that was told: “You will find a delicious, juicy grape on the grapevine.” Having heard this, the worm began its journey up the grapevine. It soon came across a green leaf, and thinking it to be the delicious grape, it whiled away its entire life eating off that leaf, until it made its ‘qabr’ (grave) on that same green leaf. Had the worm gone just a little further, it would have come across the delectable grape, and would have enjoyed the sweetness of that grape. It would not have spent all its life on a green leaf. The anecdote illustrates our similarity with that worm…. Like that worm which landed on the green leaf, many have landed in front of some filthy television programmes, many have landed in Interest transactions, enriching themselves with Haraam; or landed in fraud and theft, others in some illicit relationship, or in a casino, or in Raves, or drugs, or homosexuality, or indecent and obscene novels and magazines, or some porn website on the Internet, or Haraam video games and a multitude of other sins and illusions - and they ignorantly think that that is the sweet grape. …These were the leaves before the juicy grape or the thorns before the petals of the fragrant rose flower. …They had set out for the juicy grape of Imaan but have been trapped by shaytaan[2] and nafs[3] in Haraam[4] pleasures, in which they while away and waste the very precious time of life. Yet, there are just 2 steps to be taken to taste of this delicious grape. The first step is on the nafs and the second step, on shaytaan. With these 2 steps we will enjoy such sweetness of Imaan that we would never want to return to the temporary and sinful pleasures of this world. In fact, Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah ‘alayh) had said that in reality, the step is just one, and that step is suppression of the evil desires of the nafs. Shaytaan became shaytaan because of his nafs. …It will not be denied that there is some temporary enjoyment in consenting to the evil demands of the nafs. However ‘pleasure’ which is so short-lived should be weighed against the anguish and punishment that awaits one in the Hereafter for having earned the displeasure and wrath of Allah Ta’ala. This punishment is not reserved for only the Hereafter. It descends and pursues a person even in this world, in the form of restlessness, anxiety, fear, humiliation, disgrace, etc. and sometimes, everlasting regret. My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) states in his poetry: “Agreed, there is a little stolen pleasure in sin But what great rebellion is this against the Sustainer (Allah Ta’ala) (That you use His bounties to disobey Him) A little while of pleasure and everlasting regret; What stupidity it is to bury the janaza of respect and honour.” Even though opposing the dictates of our evil nafs may incur some difficulty in this life, the consequence in the Hereafter is eternal pleasure. In this world as well, the person enjoys tranquility and satisfaction. And when there are so many forms of Halaal (lawful) pleasures that one could enjoy, why foolishly go toward Haraam? By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) [1] Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) was a great ‘Aalim, Sheikh and Sufi who compiled a masterpiece on Tasawwuf, entitled ‘The Mathnavi’ . [2] shaytaan : satan / the devil [3] nafs : ego [4] Haraam : unlawful / forbidden according to Shariah

Our Sheikh, Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) has taught us that one of the ways to make one's Ziyarat of Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) more valuable, is to meditate that Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu)'s mercy is pouring down upon Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). Meditating on this, make Dua: ‘O Allah, let a few drops fall on me as well.’ In fact, this is one of the meanings of Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu) sending Durood on Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). When a person is at the Victoria Falls or Niagara Falls, he has to wear a raincoat so that his clothes do not get wet with the splashes from the falls. Even though the falls are at a distance from him, the spray of water from the falls is far-reaching. Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu)'s Special Mercies are cascading down upon Nabi (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) more than all the waterfalls of the world together. And Allah Ta’ala has afforded us that great bounty of being so close to the Roudha-e-Mubaarak, whereby we can drench our hearts and souls with that torrential downpour of Rahmat and Noor. At the Roudha-e-Mubarak and at Baitullah, we do not wear raincoats; rather we have to remove the raincoat – the raincoat of our sins! If we are wearing a raincoat of sins, we will not benefit from that splendid and boundless waterfall of the Mercy of Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu). All that is required, to remove this raincoat, which deprives us of this special mercy, is sincere Taubah from all our sins. Another very important aspect is: If we place an upside down bucket, under the Niagara or Victoria falls, not a single drop of water will come into it. If, however, we place a tumbler, the right side up, under a tap, where just a drop of water drips every hour, the tumbler will eventually fill up. Similarly, if the vessel of the heart is kept upside down, we can spend ages at the Roudha-e-Mubaarak, but we will not draw and imbibe the great benefits and bounties that are found there. If the vessel of the heart is the right side up, in a single Hudhoori (presence), the heart will not only fill up, it will overflow with Noor! It is for this reason that we need to go to the Ahlullah and Mashaa`ik, and spend time in their company. They will turn the spiritual heart, the right side up and guide us as how to remove the raincoat of sins, that we may then benefit from every good deed, especially our presence at the Roudha-e-Mubaarak! Alhamdulillah, we see so many return with their hearts ‘full’ - great changes are witnessed in their outward appearances, and they themselves mention the great changes experienced within their hearts. And we also find that there are others who go to the Mubarak lands, but sadly, return without change. Where one would expect spiritual regeneration, there is spiritual degeneration. For example: There was no punctuality on Namaaz, no Sunnat libaas (dressing), no beard; or for the ladies, there was no hijaab, and the person returns, still neglectful and heedless, sometimes, even more so. May Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu) protect us all, and grant us hearts which will absorb the Anwaar and Rahmat and Barakaat found in the Haramayn Shareefayn, which will be a means of improvement in our Deen and in our relationship with Allah Ta’ala and our Beloved Rasool (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Aamien.

A mureed should not ride on the crest of his Shaykh’s name and honour – that is, he should not take advantage of others or have expectations of others, by virtue of his connection with his Shaykh.

There is Perfection in Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) and the Sahabah (RA) were a Reflection of Nabi (Sallallaahu alayhi waSallam).