Taqwa is
a quality or character (or way of being) which enables a person to live
according to the Shariah (Islamic Laws). It regulates his
entire life according to the divine commandments, by enabling the person to
follow or imitate the blessed behaviour and practices of our beloved prophet,
the noble prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). The one who inculcates this quality
in him in a permanent way is called a Muttaqi (God-fearing/pious,
righteous person). That is why we also call him Deendar (devout,
religious) or someone who is very serious in matters of Deen (meaning
to say, religion, particularly, Islam).
A
religious person has always the good fortune of living well in this temporal
life also. Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Quran:
“Whoever
does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will
surely cause him to live a good life…” (16: 98).
As
for the difficulties he experiences, these are only easily surmounted
difficulties, easily resolved because he knows that life on earth is only
temporary/limited. Therefore, he knows that the problems also are temporary.
(In his perspective) knowing that the problems are temporary is in itself a
great relief. Being a Muslim, he knows that come what may, all situations that
he undergoes are what Allah has decreed for him.
It
is thus obligatory for him (the true devout Muslim) to be satisfied with what
Allah the Almighty has decreed for him. (Among many other explanations,
Huzur (atba) also gave as example of a Messenger of Allah. When Allah has
raised him, he submits to the will of Allah. He does not say: “Oh no Allah, why
have raised me? What will the people say about me? They will say I am a liar, a
sorcerer, someone who causes divisions in families etc…” — The
Prophet/Messenger of Allah is chosen by Allah. Allah knows that when He has
chosen His Prophet, then come what may, he lives for how many years … 100 or
900 years etc. but Allah shall not abandon him. Allah will only take him back
to Him when his mission is over/accomplished). — The Messenger of Allah is
like a planter who takes care of the seeds he plant so that tomorrow he may
reap the fruits and vegetables and see his garden in a good state. He puts
efforts in it….)
It is a state of mind which converts a big problem
into something very simple and easy, such (same) problem which would seem like
a mountain upon the heart and mind of those who do not have it. Example: You
can witness a person while eating a Kebab with lots of
chillies has his eyes filled with tears (due to the hotness of the chillies).
This can give the impression to others that he is in pain. But the person who
knows (meaning, the eater himself), knows very well that he is enjoying fully,
deriving a pleasure inside (despite what the outside world is seeing).
Likewise, an external difficulty is not necessarily a sign of internal
suffering. It can be the opposite especially for those who accede to an
advanced stage in Taqwa.Taqwa, or living according to Deen (Islam)
is the only solution to all problems. It is the only means to attract the mercy
of Allah. There is no other path to seek success except to live according to Deen (Islam)!
Taqwa opens
the door of favours or goodness and it is a divine protection. Allah the
Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“...
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for
him from where he does not expect ...” (65:
3-4)
Therefore,
there is no one who is more wealthy and comfortable than a Muttaqi.
The more a person is Muttaqi, the more he lives a good life. There
is no doubt about that! The blessed saints (of Islam) used to say that had
kings known the wealth and fortune which the saints concealed in their hearts,
then they would have attacked those saintly persons, friends of Allah. It is a
wealth and fortune which may seem faint and insignificant in the eyes of the
ignorant, for verily the world (worldly riches) is something which annoys a
friend of Allah in his wellbeing. He thus want to rid himself at all cost and
as quickly as possible.
Hazrat
Aisha (ra) used to received great sums of money, for example, 10,000 dirhams
but she did not let the money remain in the house till at night. She did not
lose time to give this money away, to such a point that during Ramadan, there remained
not a little money so that she could buy something to break her fast.
Once,
Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (ra) came home tired and worried. His wife asked
him what the matter was. He replied that he had too much wealth and that this
was bothering him. Therefore his wife advised him to distribute this money to
others, and he acted on this advice, distributing all he had till there
remained not a single dirham. That day, Hazrat Talha (ra) spent 400,000
dirhams. Likewise, on another occasion Hazrat Talha (ra) sold his land for
700,000 dirhams. He could not sleep at night because of that wealth (he
received). The next day he made it a must to distribute all of it.
Therefore,
true nobility and dignity is found in leading one’s life in the obedience of Allah
the Almighty. It makes the person worthy and noble. The more a person is
dedicated in Deen, the more he becomes noble and honourable in the
eyes of Allah the Almighty.
Allah
the Almighty says in the Noble Quran:
“...
Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of
you....” (49 :
14)
There
is no doubt that prestige and honour lie in living one’s life in this temporal
life according to the commandments of Allah the Almighty and according to the
Sunnah of Nabi Kareem Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). This is the verdict from Allah
Who created each atom of this universe.
There can never be a force which can
dethroned one whom Allah has crowned. A person honoured by Allah the Almighty
cannot be dishonoured come what may. Walking on the path of Deen renders
a person honourable forever. Allah is the One who makes a Sakina (tranquillity)
enter that person so that nobody and thus nobody can harm him.
True
honour is therefore found in Deen. The real and eternal welfare is
found in Deen. All good which a person needs is found in Deen.
To end, I would to tell you that true love for Allah the Almighty enables a
person to sacrifice his personal desires for the pleasure of Allah the
Almighty.
Therefore,
each one of us; be it in Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and Islam as a whole, we must
reinforce our souls and spiritual hearts so that we can succeed in attaining
that stage where Allah is fully satisfied, pleased with us. By the grace of
Allah, many of my disciples are making enormous efforts to reach this stage,
and thus I pray to Allah the Almighty that He accepts their efforts and fulfil
their desires to obtain the full pleasure of Allah, not only for a limited
time, but for the duration of their life on earth, as well as in the next
world. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
- Extracts from the Friday Sermon of 08 August 2014 (11 Shawwal
1435 Hijri) delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius.