Take Responsibility - By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

[amaturrahmaan]

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

 

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

 

 

On one occasion, we were sitting at the Dastarkhan (table-spread) and our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) was also present. One of the brothers dropped a glass and water spilt across the Dastarkhan.

 

 

On hearing the disturbance, Hadhrat Moulana (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) asked: “What happened?”

 

Someone responded: “The glass fell.”

 

Hadhrat Moulana asked: “Did the glass fall on its own?”

 

In correcting the Mureed and all of us, Hadhrat said: “Learn to take responsibility of your actions. Say: ‘I dropped the glass.’”

 

 

This was a lesson for all. Hadhrat Moulana (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) was bringing to our attention the great need to bear the responsibility or blame of whatever we do.

 

 

Till the person does not take responsibility, his Islaah (reformation) will not be made.

 

 

Regrettably, most of us don’t and won’t take responsibility of our actions. Sometimes we refuse to acknowledge that we are doing something wrong or that there is a weakness in us. ...There is denial. 

 

 

We find with many drug addicts, alcoholics and others, this same denial. As long as the person is in a state of denial, he or she does not take help.

 

 

If a person is sick and is in denial, the person will not seek treatment. Similarly, a person is spiritually sick – he has an anger problem or he cannot control his gaze, but he says: “I don’t have any problem.”

 

 

This denial makes Islaah very difficult. 

 

Once a person acknowledges there is a problem, then that is half the battle won and half way to solving the problem.

 

 

If a person admits he has faults and weaknesses and he goes to a Sheikh, for this purpose, then there will be Islaah, Insha-Allah. Unfortunately, some go just for Khilafat or worldly reasons, and not with the right intention.

 

 

...Sometimes there is stubbornness in our stance that we are right – when, in fact, we are wrong.

 

 

If there is a car accident, each party blames the other. The other driver was at fault. Most drivers will declare that they were abiding by the rules and regulations and are blameless – even if they drove through the red traffic light, were speeding, or violated some traffic law.

 

 

If there is a fight between husband and wife, the husband will say: “She is the problem.” And the wife will say: “He is the problem.”

 

 

Do we hear anyone saying: “I am to blame. I am the problem.” …?

 

 

And this is where the problem lies. Most people are not truthful and sincere enough, nor humble to take the blame, when in the wrong.

 

 

Between brothers and sisters, other family members or in business dealings, if any problems arise, the same scenario is found. We are not prepared to accept responsibility; rather we blame the other party.

 

 

People, in general, have this great weakness of shifting responsibility to others and are very quick to blame everyone else, seeking to absolve themselves. …If anything goes wrong, we look for someone to blame. If anything goes right, we are in the front line to take the credit. This is a common weakness and is a serious matter. In fact, it is a sickness if we think that everyone else is wrong and we are always right.

 

 

This denial is a form of pride. The person refuses to acknowledge that he is wrong or refuses to acknowledge what is true. Then he is also not being sincere to himself.

 

 

Say: “I am wrong.” Learn to acknowledge and admit: “I am wrong. I am to blame.” What is so difficult in this?

 

 

There is progress in taking responsibility of our actions and accepting blame. This humility will melt hearts and will solve our problems. It is a very beautiful quality to have.

 

 

Unfortunately, shaytaan whispers: If you say that you are wrong, your wife (or your employees) will take advantage and won’t listen to you in future. She will say: “You are always wrong!”… You have to wield control. You have to show her that you in charge, so that she listens…. You have to show your employees who is the boss…

 

 

Don’t listen to shaytaan. 

 

Listen to Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). 

 

That person who adopts noble character, humbles himself, forgives, overlooks, even abandons arguing when he is right, then he opens the doors of reconciliation, Muhabbah (love), unity, happiness and great goodness.

 

 

In our marriages and other relationships, if we adopt humility and good character, we would be able to easily solve our problems; in fact, these problems would not even arise.

 

Allah Ta’ala says:

 

 

“The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with that which is better (to be patient, forgive, etc.), then verily, he between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.”

[surah Fussilaat 41 : 34]

 

 

Think of the great rewards mentioned in the Ahadith, when an argument is imminent...

 

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “I guarantee a house in the outskirts of Paradise to the one who forsakes argument even when he is in the right.’[1]

 

 

On another level, there are those who say that they did not get an opportunity to learn Dien, learn Qur’aan Sharief, do Hifz, and were not taught the practical side of Dien – because their parents were neglectful and indifferent and did not send them to Madrasah, etc. They say that their parents deprived them of all those opportunities.

 

 

Again, the fault is placed on the other party.

 

 

No doubt, in such a circumstance, the parents are to be blamed. Parents have a responsibility of seeing to the Tarbiyyah and spiritual nurturing of their children – but what stops a person now from learning Dien, learning Qur’aan Sharief and getting occupied in good?

 

 

Your failure is not outside of you.

 

 

Take lesson from the cow: Its diet comprises mainly of grass, grains and water – so limited – but with that grass it produces milk. From that milk, what not is made! Cheese, cottage cheese, yoghurt, butter, ghee, condensed milk, fresh cream, buttermilk, ice-cream, etc. are produced.

 

 

So even if a person had limited opportunities in life, it does not mean that he now cannot make the most of what he has of life, skill and resources! 

 

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 

 

We have heard of people in their seventies and eighties completing Hifz of the Qur’aan Sharief. Allahu Akbar! Nothing deterred them from pursuing noble goals – not even their old age!

 

 

Let us take responsibility of our actions and our lives. No one else is accountable for our lives, except ourselves. It is up to us to utilise the gift of life productively; instead of wasting it by blaming others for what has past.

 

 

May Allah Ta’ala grant us understanding and the Taufeeq of practising.

 

 

[1] Abu Dawood