Patience and Hope in God

  

"O you who believe! be patient and excel in patience and remain steadfast, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, that you may be successful." (The Holy Qur'an, 3:201)

 

Life is a strain to which every believer is called to deal with a lot of patience. God commands the believer repeatedly in the Holy Quran to persevere in patience and constancy in the face of disasters and hardships of life. In that patience lies the happiness of the hereafter.

 

"If Allah gives you His help, none can overcome you. If He forsakes you, who is there then that can assist you after Him? In Allah the believers must put their trust." (3:161)

 

Misfortunes and calamities that visit the believer from God, such as, impatience and frustration cannot eliminate them. The believer must put absolute and clear trust in Allah to be spared from all harm because no one else can help him except God. Anything that affects the Muslim, be it exhaustion, disease, sorrow, pain, suffering or distress, "surely, God is with those who are patient." (2:154)

Noble Traits of the Prophet

 

 The Character and Life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

It is essential to inculcate in one the reverence and respect for the lofty character and habits of the Messenger of Allah, the Holy Prophet of Islam and [of] whole Humanity Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). It is necessary that the morals of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) become established in one’s heart so that love for the best of mankind (pbuh) becomes dominant in the heart and eagerness to follow his holy character is induced in the believer. I will mention some Quranic verses and Hadiths in this regard.

 

Allah the Exalted has said: “Verily, you (Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character”. (Surah Al-Qalam 68:5)

 

Allah furthermore says: “O you who believe! Do not enter the houses of the Prophet for a meal without permission. If you are invited, you may enter, but be punctual (so that you will not be waiting while the meal is being prepared). When you have finished eating, leave his home. Do not sit around chatting among yourselves. This will annoy the Prophet but he will feel embarrassed to tell you. God does not feel embarrassed to tell you the truth...” (Al-Ahzab 33: 54)

 

This is a reference to a particular incident. Some companions stayed longer than what was proper on this occasion at the home of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who was anxious to retire for the night. They continued in conversation. Although the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) was inconvenienced by their late stay, he nevertheless refrained from telling them anything. This was in regard to his personal matters and not to such affairs which came within the purview of Tabligh.

 

Hazrat Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (ra) narrated “The Prophet (pbuh) was more shy (from Haya: i.e. pious shyness from committing religious indiscretions) than a veiled virgin girl.”

'Taqdir,' 'Tawakkul' & 'Tadbir'

 

Belief in Destiny & Putting One’s Trust in Allah 

The belief that everything which happened, happen and will happen is according to the knowledge, will and command of Allah the Almighty is called Taqdeer [Destiny]. Belief in Taqdeer is compulsory.

The advantages of belief in Taqdeer (Destiny) and Tawakkul (Trust – Here meaning the Trust in Allah) are as follows:

 

No matter what hardship or misfortune befalls one, it will be accepted without panic and the heart will remain strong in the face of such hardships. Strong belief in Taqdeer will indicate that Allah’s wish is in operation and it cannot be opposed. The hardship will disappear only when so desired by Allah the Almighty. Thus the man of Taqdeer [i.e. who truly believes in Taqdeer] accepts what comes his way with contented resignation.

 

One who has understood and accepted this conception of Taqdeer will not be overcome with frustration at the delay in the passing of the hardship. He will not become despondent and lose hope when the misfortune endures for any length of time. He will banish weakness.

 

The adherent of Taqdeer will not adopt unlawful ways and means of combating the difficulty, for he knows that the adversity has been brought about by Allah (twt). He understands well that elimination of the hardship is not possible without the Will of Allah (twt). He therefore realizes the futility of his efforts in trying to eliminate what Allah (twt) has willed. He will thus not unnecessarily court the displeasure of Allah by the adoption of unlawful measures. Why court Allah’s Wrath when one’s purpose cannot be achieved even after having displeased Him?

'Hegira' Lessons in a New Era

 

Towards the Construction of a New Life 

Today the mantra on the lips of the authorities and a section of the population of the world is: “It is imperative to be vaccinated.” But, the question arises: Where to find the vaccines? 

Rich or influential countries like Israel, have already reached rates of over 60%, or are getting there quickly, because they obtained them before the others, particularly the vaccines which are, according to them, the most effective. Some are starting to inoculate [i.e. vaccinate] those who are less at risk, such as their teenagers and even their [small] children. At the same time, in Africa, where less than 2% of the vaccine doses produced against COVID-19 is administered, even medical personnel do not have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

Less effective vaccines are for the poor because the powerful pharmaceutical companies do not want to share their patents and allow countries, like India or South Africa, to manufacture them en masse at a lower cost for their neighbours and for themselves. Forbes magazine has several hundred new billionaires, especially more than 40 enriched thanks to COVID-19, including those at the head of vaccine production, such as Moderna and BioNTech. Now imagine if tomorrow there is the requirement of other additional doses or even new vaccines every year!

Covid-19 & Hygiene

The outbreak of the Coronavirus over the last year or so, and its devastating impact on people around the world, is a powerful reminder on the dire state of our world. In his Friday Sermon of 12 March 2021~28 Rajab 1442 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius speaks about the Covid- 19 situation in  the country and beyond. At many different levels, the Coronavirus outbreak is a remarkable metaphor for the hidden realities and silent forces that exist and which can make or break the fate and future of man in this world with the Will and decision of God. As the world is seeking to cope with the new situation by turning to available medicines and emerging vaccines, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) underscores the need for everyone to turn to the true Master and Lord of the Universe who alone is the Healer and the Cure. It is in abiding by the true and enduring values of life taught by God through His Prophets that humans can find real protection and security from the afflictions of our times. In this context, Hazrat Saheb (aba) explains the sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) concerning the significance of health and hygiene- the need for keeping away from harmful substances and the circle of evil and also the benefits of remaining in a state of inner and outer purity for secular and spiritual well being.   

Read the Friday Sermon Below:

Everyone knows very well how the coronavirus has wreaked havoc in every country in the world where there have been more than two million deaths and millions and millions who are contaminated with the virus. The economies of many countries are on their knees; even the countries that claim to be super-powered cannot do anything. With Covid-19, countries are deserted, confined. During containment, everyone except essential services like the police, pharmacies, hospitals remain open to help the people of their respective countries, to maintain order and to treat the sick. These confinement times are essential in order not to spread the virus and to better detect those who are suffering from it. During confinement, the borders are closed. All shops, supermarkets, markets etc. are closed except under special conditions. Everyone stays at home and takes precautions, wears masks and unfortunately many people are also losing their jobs. The situation is certainly critical.   

Last week, when starting the first part of my sermon on the signs of Allah, the hypocrites and infidels, as well as interest (Riba), Covid-19 and a call for unity, I did not know what which would follow. [Huzur said that every time before he prepares his sermon, he always seek divine help on which subject to address and Allah even inspired him to talk on this subject by directing him to the verse 27 of the Chapter 2 – Al-Baqara, which he began expounding since last week.] That same day [05 March 2021], our small Mauritius contracted a new local case of Covid-19, and from Wednesday 10^th of March, a national containment was implemented to thwart the virus. And today is the 12^th of March, and it’s Independence Day of our little island [53 years of Independence and 29 years of Republic], and today, officially speaking, we have 99 local cases of Covid-19. So, all of us as one people, one nation, we must be united and do all we can within our very limited means to keep ourselves and our neighbours and the citizens of our country safe from this virus and its spread. If this situation continues in this way, it is quite possible that there will be a State of Emergency in Mauritius where no one will have the right to circulate and this would be for the well-being of the population in order to protect those who are not infected by this virus from those who are infected with it. The regions of the Central Plateau such as Vacoas, Phoenix, Curepipe, etc. have become Red Zones because there are more cases of Covid-19 there.  

[More than once during the course of his sermon, Huzur (atba) warned the believers, the people of Mauritius and whole humanity to return to the worship of the sole Creator of the Heavens and Earth and to maintain distance with the satans of this world and all satanic attractions just like one is maintaining social distancing with others in order not to contract the virus. He said, beware lest another virus, more virulent and deadly than the Covid-19 appears, and will be so dangerous that one would not even have time to go in Quarantine.]

Poem: ‘A Transient Life’

  

Beware! O ye who are so watchful and by nature pure

In your greed for this world, do not ruin your faith. 

 
Do not tie your heart to this transitory abode,

For underneath its pleasure lie hidden hundreds of woes.

 

If only you had the ears to hear;

You would catch the voice from the grave singing:

 

 'O my would-be prey;

Do not agonize over the sordid affairs of this world'.

Qur’an: Guiding Souls

Our life on earth is a gift from God, the Lord and Master of the Universe. It is our solemn duty to learn and recognize the Way of Life ordained by our Sustainer. For, His laws and commandments throw clear light on life’s complex crossroads so that we  find right directions and always remain on the correct path, the Way of the Righteous (Muttaqin). Indeed, a Muttaqi, even when bruised by the complicated trajectories of earthly trials, in submitting to the Divine expectations and regulations, will invariably find sprouting signs of  mercy, grace and infinite kindness of God around her. 

Moreover, to help and guide the deeply-flawed and evil-prone humans in every day life, our Creator and True Friend has sent down the Book of revelations (Kitaab) with practical wisdom (Hikmah) through the sublime blessing of Prophecy (Nubuwwah). Likewise, Sunnat Allah has established Wilayah/ Khilafa -the Divine practice of  raising holy men as an unbroken chain in every age in the Ummah to preserve, sustain and to renew the spiritual highway for all times. It is by accepting the Divine revelations and messages as well as by following in the noble footsteps of the Divinely-inspired men when they arrive that we can remain on the Way of Divine Pleasure, so as not to be lost or drowned, or be confused, in the difficult journey of earthly life. The ringing words of the Qur'an is as follows:  ‘When guidance comes to you from Me, as it certainly will, there will be no fear for those  who follow My guidance, nor will they grieve’----(2:39) 

Rumi's Poem: 'When I Die'

'I know that the day will come 

when my sight of this earth shall be lost, 

and life will take its leave in silence, 

drawing the last curtain over my eyes.

Yet stars will watch at night,

and morning rise as before,

and hours heave like sea waves 

casting up pleasures and pains.' 

                                          -------Tagore, 'Last Curtain'.

“We have indeed decreed that death shall be ever-present among you: but there is nothing to prevent Us from changing the nature of your existence and bringing you into being anew in a manner as yet unknown to you.”--- (HQ, 56: 61)

Born on 30 September 1207 and died on 17 December 1273, Hazrat Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (ra) is among the greatest saints of medieval Islam. One of the finest minds of the last millennium, Rumi’s works have truly travelled far: from the Persian-Islamic world, finding its admirers among human communes around the world,the writings are widely-read  today. Rumi means many things to many different people, and attempts are also being made to ‘secularize’ Rumi by declaring him a ‘new age poet’ in the West today; yet the fact remains that Rumi famously counselled everyone to ‘sacrifice your intellect at the feet of the Prophet.’  

His greatest work, the ‘Masnavi’ is, in many ways, a commentary to the Qur’an in the Persian language; explicitly  acknowledging at the very beginning that the Book is an exploration into the heart of Faith- in terms of unveiling the mysteries of attainment to the Truth and of certainty. Almost eight centuries after his lifetime, Rumi continues to speak to every generation through his spiritually-infused writings and poems, reminding us about the human condition through the parables and images of everyday life. Indeed Rumi’s words are quintessentially rooted in Zikrullah, in order for us to remember God and to reform our individual and social morals, and to benefit from the Divine promises for the truly devout in the life to come.

Reproduced Below is a poem from The Dîwân-é Kabîr (also known as "Kulliyat-é Shams" and "Dîwân-é Shams-é Tabrîz"; Ghazal 911):

When I Die

when my coffin

is being taken out

you must never think

I am missing this world

don't shed any tears

don't lament or feel sorry

I'm not falling

into a monster's abyss

when you see

my corpse is being carried

don't cry for my leaving

I'm not leaving

I'm arriving at eternal love

The Attributes of Allah- VIII

“He is God: there is no god other than Him, the Sovereign, the Supreme-In-Holiness, Source of Peace, Granter of Security, Guardian over all, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Majestic (Al-Mutakabbir) …” (Al-Hashar 59 : 24).

Al-Mutakabbir is The Majestic, Conscious of His greatness. Allah alone has the right to know and to proclaim His greatness and omnipotence over everything and everyone. He magnifies Himself and sees grandeur and superbness only for Him. All greatness belongs to Him. This attitude is completely justified because it is true.

Allah is distinguished by an exclusive greatness just for Him and by an absolute Royalty. He controls everything. He is the one who shows His greatness in all things and by all means.

Know well [what will follow], O my brothers and sisters! Do not be fooled by the simple verbal intention that you give to the meaning of your life, because God hopes to see a radical transformation [in you which] change this.

He demands that you inflict a kind of death on yourselves, after which He will breathe new life into you. Make haste to promote peace among yourselves, to forgive your brothers and sisters their weaknesses, because the one who is not inclined to make peace with his brother is mean, and he risks being excluded [from the proximity of Allah] because he is a source of dissension.

Give up your base desires and don’t cultivate resentment. Even if you are right, behave humbly as if you were wrong, so that forgiveness is reserved for you. Eliminate obesity from your ego, because narrow is the door you have to go through. So eliminate your ego and pride so that you can go through that door.

Gadgets and Life Balance

In a special Message on 22 April 2020, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (atba) of Mauritius exhorts everyone of us- youths and children of the Jamaat, as well as their parents- to be aware of the harmful effects of 'addiction' to electronic gadgets: smartphones, earphones, digital entertainment, etc. As technology 'machines' help in simplifying daily tasks in several, different ways; one can easily appreciate their instrumental value. Yet, it is also critical to strike a correct and fine balance in our approach to these machines. In our gadget-driven world of hyper-connectivity, the omnipresence of smartphones as 'entertainment' machines raises special challenges for impressionable children. Being glued to these gadgets can cause the deeply-vulnerable youths to lose focus on the issues that matter; setting them on a path of 'alternate reality' where they become oblivious of their true surroundings. The widely-observed contemporary phenomenon of lack of respect, and rift in relations between young-adults and their parents; tension and turmoil in family and social life, etc. can be explained in terms of such harmful addictions and negative influences. To secure our ethical values and to reclaim balance in individual and social life, it is essential to adopt a correct approach to technology devices and what they bring on the table, points out Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in this discourse. 

Read the Special Address Below: 

'Good Life': Prophetic Teachings

‘Bear in mind that the present life is just a game, a diversion, an attraction, a cause of boasting among you, of rivalry in wealth and children. It is like plants that spring up after the rain: their growth at first delights the sowers, but then you see them wither away, turn yellow, and  become stubble. There is terrible punishment in the next life as well as forgiveness and approval from God; the life of this world is only an illusory pleasure. So race for your Lord’s forgiveness and a Garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers: that is God’s bounty, which He bestows on whoever He pleases. God’s bounty is infinite.’ (57:22) 

Leading a good life is an all-embracing aspiration for every human person in this world. And yet, what it means to lead a good life? In life’s varied settings, values professed by a person would guide the decision on what is ‘good’ for him/her under the conditions of individual and social life. Perhaps in shaping one’s frame of reference in such critical junctures, an ethical and spiritual outlook intuitively appeals to the human mind. Certainly, the teachings of religion -rooted as it is in the wisdom of the ages- offer fascinating ideas to reflect on, especially for those who are at the crossroads of life journeys. 

Those who struggle with life’s contingent circumstances could find profound insights, generative of amazing hope of Divine mercy in the rich legacy of Islamic teachings. The Islamic Way, or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (sa), offers us glimpses of a good life for anyone hoping to embark on a journey in the highway to God. Muslim saints of the past have preserved in their books some of these appealing pieces of advice on leading a good life left behind by that great prophet of human kind. For the benefit of our readers, we reproduce below the gist of certain vital advices in the words of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) describing what it takes to lead a good life:

I. Ibn Abbas (ra) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age; your health before your illness; your riches before your poverty; your free time before your work; and your life before your death.” (Attributed to Shu’ab al-Imān).

II. Abu Dharr reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, instruct me.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I advise you to be mindful of Allah Almighty, for it will beautify all of your affairs.” I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “You must recite the Quran and remember Allah Almighty, for you will be mentioned in heaven and you will have light upon earth.” 

I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “You must observe long periods of silence, for it will drive away Satan and help you in the matter of your religion.” I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “Beware of too much laughter, for it will deaden the heart and take away the light on your face.”

I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “Speak the truth, even if it is bitter.” I said, “Tell me more.” The Prophet said, “Do not fear the blame of any critic in the matter of Allah.” ----[Attributed to Shu’ab al-Imān]

Du'ah: Role in Spiritual Life- II

Du'ah: The Instrumental Role

Alhamdulillah, Allah has given me the opportunity to continue the second part of my sermon on Duahs which I started on Friday 07 September 2018.

The duah (i.e. in this context, Invocation to Allah) is a way to obtain from Allah the Exalted One the prerogative (exclusive right, i.e. in a most humble way) that He hears and satisfies our needs in the broadest sense of the word. It is therefore a factor that can affect even our fate and change our destiny. Surely, Allah the Exalted is always “closer to man than the vein of his neck (jugular vein)” as He explains in a Qur’anic verse (Qaf 50: 17).

'Yaum-un-Nabi': The Prophet as a Father

The Holy Prophet of Islam as a Father

Today is Friday the 12 Rabi'ul Awwal 1439 AH. The majority of the Muslim World is celebrating Yaum-un-Nabi - the Day of the Prophet (pbuh), while others call it Milad-un-Nabi - the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh). While celebrating birthdays was not a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), each Muslim must bear in mind that celebrations which resemble the practices of the non-Muslims (e.g. cake cutting and blowing on candle and making wishes, partying with dancing, music and alcoholic drinks etc.) are strictly forbidden in Islam.

As for us, we prefer to commemorate the Seerat-un-Nabi, i.e. the life story of the Prophet (pbuh) so that we may remind ourselves of his perfect character as a human being and prophet.

Muhammad literally means much praised. Even before he made claim to prophethood, his own people knew him to be truthful and trustworthy. The Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) was the father of three sons and four daughters. Two sons, Qasim and Abdullah, named in the family Tayab and Tahir were born from Hazrat Khadija. Another son, Ibrahim, later on, was born from Hazrat Maria, his Coptic wife (who later became Muslim).

The first born was Qasim after whom, according to the Arab custom, the Holy Prophet himself was called Abul Qasim, i.e. father of Qasim. Qasim died at the age of two before the advent of Islam. Next to Qasim was his eldest daughter named Zainab. Next to her were daughters Ruqayya, Umme Kulsoom, and the youngest of all daughters was Fatima. The youngest offspring of the Holy Prophet and Hazrat Khadija was Abdullah, who passed away as an infant before the advent of Islam.

'Never Despair; Face All Situations'

The existence of man is not due to chance. His presence on earth either is not without purpose. His creation is a divine decree for specific purposes. Undoubtedly, and without exaggeration, he is the only creature that Allah the Supreme Creator, has preferred to others. 

“Verily, we have honoured the Children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment.” (Al-Isra, 17: 71).

His superiority over other creatures is manifested in various ways: Allah granted him free will, and he has a mind that allows him to distinguish good from evil. Moreover he has a soul which Allah has created and which Allah has ordered to the angel to breathe in his body to make it human. Allah has made His own praise in His blessed Book, when He describes the stages of the creation of man: 

“We created man from an extract of clay. 

Then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a secure receptacle. 

Then we made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot; 

and then We made the clinging clot a lump of flesh; 

and We made (from) the lump, bones,

and We covered the bones with flesh;

then We developed him into another creation.

So blessed is Allah, the best of Creators.” 

  ---(Al-Mu’minuun, 23: 13-15).

Therefore, man must recognize his value and supremacy over all other creatures. He is an unparalleled elect (from among all the creations of Allah). His soul, and his body are all a favour from the Great Creator, a wonderful gift. He is responsible to preserve, to protect and refrain from causing them (i.e. his body and soul) any harm. 

But since man ignores all these realities, the existence of man on earth becomes something meaningless to him and does not represent any value in his eyes. He considers himself a creature similar to others, with a beginning and an end. Nothing more. This way of thinking is the main cause of the loss of thousands, if not millions of lives. How many nations were exterminated from the first one to the last for no good (valid) reason?

Time: A Precious Asset

“O you who believe! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what it has put forward for tomorrow, and fear Allah, for Allah is Aware of what you do.” (Al Hashar-59: 19).

Months, years, nights and days are times for action and measuring the length of life; they all end and pass very quickly.

Night and day follow each other incessantly. Time causes to move closer that which is far, it wears out what is new and even weakens the strongest. How much was expected in the future and has never materialized? And how much is hoped for tomorrow which shall not materialise?

“Allah does not grant respite to any soul when its appointed term has come. And Allah is Aware of what you do.” (Al-Munafiqun 63: 12).

In three months, a year of our life shall come to an end, to remind us that this world is not eternal. Rather, this world is a trap; how many times has it deceived people who thought that they shall live therein forever! And how many times has it killed those (people) who were immersed in it! Abdullah Ibn Umar (ra) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) took me by the shoulder and said: “Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.” 

And Ibn Umar (ra) used to say, “In the evening do not expect (to live until) the morning, and in the morning do not expect (to live until) the evening. Take (advantage of) your health before times of sickness, and (take advantage of) your life before your death.” (Bukhari).

Years went by being a witness for us or against us; it is for us now to increase good deeds in our life, to catch what we missed and enjoy the time we have left before the destroyer of pleasures (i.e. death) overcome us.

Jabir (ra) narrated that he heard the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said to a man and he was admonishing him, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your leisure (free time) before your work, and your life before your death, because there is no forgiveness after the life of this world, and there are no home after this world except heaven or hell.”

On the authority of Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (ra), the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Every person goes out in the morning to sell his soul, so he either frees it or destroys it.” (Muslim).