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UNDERSTANDING BY ANALOGY - (3)

(From the lectures of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat)

A hadeeth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam:

“The example of the scholar who teaches the people good things but forgets himself is that of a lantern,
it gives light to the people but burns itself out.” Tabrani

Valuables
A jewellery case is only valuable with jewels in it, otherwise it has no value. Similarly the heart will only be valuable if there is love for Allah Ta’ala within, otherwise it is just a lump of flesh.

Loss & Gain
Performing good deeds is a means of benefiting spiritually, however this benefit is lost if one commits sins thereafter. For example a person goes out to perform salaat at the Masjid which is a good deed, however on the way back he commits sin by backbiting someone or by glancing at non mahram women. This causes loss of the spiritual benefit. It is as though one has the heating on full blast, however the doors and windows are wide open. This will cause loss of the heat and the room will remain cold.

Various Shari’ats
Allah subhaanahu wata’ala has sent many Prophets to various peoples at different times. The Shari’at of each Prophet was according to the need of the time. Just as the clothes of a two year old would be unsuitable at the age of five, so the Shari’at of a previous Prophet would be unsuitable for another people in another time. Then just as when a child stops growing and the clothes remain the same size, so similarly the Shari’at of Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, the final Prophet, remains the same for all time to come. There is no need for change (as some people demand) because it is suited to all places and time.

Its How One Uses Wealth
A knife in itself is not good or bad. If a knife is used to kill an animal and the meat is distributed to the poor then it is good and if it is used to kill a person then it is bad. Similarly wealth itself is not good or bad, it is how one uses it which is beneficial or detrimental.

Love for the Dunya
A great house without a toilet is useless making the toilet an absolute necessity. However one does not love it. Similarly, the dunya is a necessity, one must not have love for it.

Success or Failure
A student who fears failing his final examination will exert effort in his studies and success will be guaranteed. On the other hand a student who is complacent about his results or has hope that the examiner will somehow pass him or one who knows that he could fail but promises himself he will study just before the examination will not exert effort and the outcome will be doubtful. Similarly one who has no fear of standing in front of his Lord and give an account of his actions will not exert effort and prepare for it; he will be immersed in the pursuit of the world.

Imaan Means Tests
When one becomes a student of a Madrasah or a college/university then it follows that he will have to sit for examinations which will determine his success or failure. Similarly on accepting Imaan it follows that one will be tested; if there is sabr (patience), tawakkul (reliance on Allah subhaanahu wata’ala) and acceptance of His decree, then success in Imaan is guaranteed.

Differences of Opinion
Some people, due to the existence of differences of opinion, use it as an excuse to opt out of practicing on Deeni matters. When one is ill and doctors differ in their diagnosis, one does not sit back and refuse treatment. One will research the status, experience etc. of various doctors and specialists and on reaching a satisfactory conclusion about a particular specialist, one will go ahead with treatment. Similarly, on Deeni matters one should try one’s utmost to find out the correct opinion and thereafter act upon it.

» posted by ummi taalib on 11th March 2010 - 0 comments

BEAUTIFUL ANALOGIES

Words worth pondering over

The nature and temperament of the Allahwala (special friends of Allah) is like that of fragrance which floats in the atmosphere due to which all those around cannot help but be perfumed.

“Musk emanates a scent by itself,
it needs not the seller to describe it”

*****

“A man went to the rose garden in search of beautiful blooms.
But found the beauty he craved in the face of the gardener”

*****

On suffering:
The potter threw the pot to break it saying he would re-shape it to a better form.
Thus when the heart is broken, it becomes the receptacle of Allah’s mercies and divine reflections.

*****

Shaykh Maseehullah Khan’s arrival in Jalalabad was described thus:
The disruption of the nightingale breathed new life into the garden.
Otherwise every bud was entranced in the stupor of sleep.

*****

Someone paid the following tribute to Haji Muhammad Faruq sahib ra after his death:
“In my abode of darkness the night of sorrow still prevails.
There was one lamp to herald the dawn, but that too has now gone out”
&
“The wall that cast such cool shadows has now collapsed”

*****

The characteristic of fire and the characteristic of the love of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala is the same. Fire burns from house to house and the love of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala from heart to heart.

*****

A fish will only find ease, comfort and rest when in water; water above it, below it, in front of it, behind it, around it. Even if one part of it is left out of water it will remain restless until it dies. Similarly one whose single limb or organ is involved in sin one deprives it of enjoying immersion in the sea of proximity to Allah subhaanahu wata’ala and it causes one’s soul to be in constant agitation, lacking in solace, ease and comfort.

*****

Those who have a connection with Allah subhaanahu wata’ala have no fear of anyone. A goat who has a lion’s protection in the jungle will not fear a tiger or an elephant.

*****

Everything God made valuable in the world is covered and protected;
Pearls are found deep down at the bottom of the ocean, protected in a shell. Women’s bodies are sacred, far more precious than the pearls and they should be covered.

*****

Only a fool saves himself from major sins and not from the minor ones, when both lead to the fire.
Only a fool saves himself from a burning coal and not from a spark when both can start a fire.

*****

Only a fool would stand and watch someone else’s ship sinking while his own is in the same situation.

*****

“The only thing a traveller has in mind is his destination, not decoration”

*****

“The human heart is a ruler if you opt to be ruled and a slave if you opt to rule”

*****

» posted by ummi taalib on 6th March 2010 - 2 comments

Inspiring Stories & Anecdotes (7)

SHAYTAAN, ENEMY NUMBER 1
Three men were sitting leaning against a wall when suddenly a pious looking man ran over shouting that the wall was about to collapse and the men hastily managed to move away before it came tumbling down. Gratefully they turned towards the stranger and asked who he was. He replied that he was Shaytaan and this was his good deed which was the effect of his days spent with the Angels. Being aware that Shaytaan was an open enemy the men were astonished and they insisted on being told the real reason. Eventually Shaytaan relented and revealed the real reason for saving them. He said that he had saved them because when he saw from a distance that the wall was about to collapse, he realised that if the men died they would attain the stage of martyrdom!

ALLAH’S PROMISE
A King once invited a pious saint to live with him in his palace. On being asked why, the King replied that he would benefit from him spiritually and the saint would have a comfortable place to live. The saint asked what would happen if he flirted with the Queen. At this the King became angry and said, “Do you feel no shame? If anything like that happened I would have your head cut off with a sword!”

The saint smiled and said, “You promise punishment before the sin is even committed. My King promises forgiveness. Why should I leave Him for you?”

A SLAVE’S DU’A FOR HIS MASTER
Mansoor ibn Ammaar was a great Shaykh and during his time there lived a rich man who enjoyed the good life. One day he gave his servant 4 dinar and told him to buy necessary items for a party that evening. The servant obediently went toward the bazaar, however along the way he noticed a huge crowd outside the house of the great Shaykh. He stopped as he heard the Shaykh saying there was a beggar in need of 4 dinar and the Shaykh would make 4 du’a for whoever gave him the money.

The servant immediately gave away the 4 dinar which his master had given him and requested the Shaykh to make the following 4 du’a:
1. For what he had given he wished to be recompensed in this world so that he could pay back his master
2. He wished Allah ta’ala would give his master the tawfeeq (guidance) to set him free
3. He wished his master would be granted the tawfeeq to repent from his evil ways
4. Finally, he himself, his master, the Shaykh and all those present be forgiven

He returned home empty handed and upon being questioned he related the whole incident. On being told about the first du’a his master gave him 4000 dinar and upon the second du’a he was freed from slavery. On being told about the third du’a his master repented and on the last du’a he turned his face towards the sky and prayed, “O Allah, I’ve done what was in my power. This last thing is in your power”. He then fell into prostration and crying, he repented.

That night in his sleep he was told that he, along with his servant, Mansoor ibn Ammaar and all those present at his house were forgiven.....

CONSEQUENCES OF EVIL
An oppressor once passed by a poor man fishing and just then he caught a big fish which would have sufficed his family. The oppressor immediately demanded the fish be given to him. The poor man tried to convince him of his family’s need but to no avail. The fish was forcefully taken from him. The fish was still alive and as he took it, it bit the oppressor’s thumb. He went home not paying attention to the slight pain and gave the fish to his wife.

That night the pain became unbearable, so much so that he did not sleep all night. In the morning his thumb had swollen and he rushed to the doctor. He was advised to have the thumb amputated. He agreed to this only to find that the next night his hand was in just as much pain. Upon his visit to the doctor he was advised to have his hand cut off. This was not the end to the pain because it continued and he ended up loosing his whole arm.

Someone asked what happened to his arm and he told him the whole sorry story. The person asked him to think back and find the reason for this punishment. Acting on this advice he realised it was the fish he had forcefully taken from the poor man. He immediately went to him and begged for forgiveness. The poor man forgave him and on being asked how he had felt at the time the fish was snatched from him, he said no words could describe his grief. He had cried out to Allah ‘azza wajall to show him His power against the one who had deprived his family of their sustenance.

THE KING & THE PAUPER
A King, while on his travels, became lost in a jungle and eventually found a hut wherein lived a poor man. He welcomed the King and invited him to stay with him and for the time the King stayed with him, he was the perfect host. At the time of his departure the King said that if he was ever in the vicinity of the palace, he was most welcome to come and stay with him.

After some time the poor man happened to be in the city and he remembered the King’s invitation. He decided to pay the King a visit who was very pleased to see him and he welcomed his guest saying he was to be treated as a special guest for three days and thereafter if there was anything he could do for him then the King would be pleased to oblige. For the next three days the villager enjoyed his stay. At the end of the three days the minister took him to the King. Since he was busy in Salaat the minister asked him to take a seat and wait till the King finished. After some time the King ended his Salaat, lifted his hands and while crying, started making du’a. The guest was not familiar with any of this and so enquired as to what the King was doing. The minister explained that the King was asking the King of Kings for his needs. At this the villager got up and started leaving. The minister asked him the reason and the reply was, “Why don’t I make direct contact with that King since this King is himself dependant upon Him?” and so saying, he left.

» posted by ummi taalib on 6th March 2010 - 0 comments

‘ABDIYYAT

from the teachings of our respected Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (Hafizahullah)

The purpose of our very creation is so that we worship Allah subhaanahu wata’alaa and in order to do this we firstly have to recognise Him, attest to His Oneness and thereafter worship Him in the manner of a true slave. A slave will never do anything against his master’s wishes and to this end he, in fact annihilates his own wishes. If Allah subhaanahu wata’alaa created us to be His slaves then assuredly we have the capabilities of being slaves i.e. one does not order a blind person to see something. Therefore as slaves of Allah subhannahu wata’alaa we should annihilate our wishes and follow His commands. This is ‘abdiyyat, and to be a slave of Allah subhaanahu wata’alaa is the highest stage for a human.

To achieve this stage one first needs to have recognition of Allah subhaanahu wata’alaa. It is one thing to have “knowledge” and quite another to have “recognition” (Ma’rifat). One knows Allah is powerful but how powerful? If one had ma’rifat one would fear Him and refrain from His disobedience. Knowing that He is the One Who bestows upon us countless blessings, do we have knowledge of just how much we are indebted to Him? If we did recognise this fact we would have intense love for Him. However we are blinded and the cause for our blindness is a veil being present – the veil of sins.

When we go to a garden we see the beautiful colours and smell the fragrances of the flowers however we do not recognise the Creator of those colours and fragrances due to the veil of sin being present. Only with much effort and striving for rectification (islah) will those veils be removed leading to the ma’rifat of Allah subhaanahu wata’alaa and then the colours and fragrances will fade and the Creator will become apparent.

The Prophet’s sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam status is higher than any other creation. So much so that during the Me’raaj even Jibrail could not venture beyond a certain point. After the name of Allah subhaanhu wata’alaa, during the call for Salaat and the Iqaamah, the name of His beloved Nabi sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam follows. In fact Salaat begins with the name of Allah and ends with salutations sent upon His Nabi sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Even in the grave after being questioned about Allah each person is asked about Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Despite this great status, he was a slave of Allah and he behaved like a slave.

» posted by ummi taalib on 27th February 2010 - 0 comments

Inspiring Stories & Anecdotes (6)

STORIES ABOUT GREAT SAINTS

A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT VIRTUOUS ACT
Shaykh Byyazid Bustaami was a great Wali of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala. After his death a person saw him in a dream and enquired about the outcome. The great Shaykh narrated the following:

“I was made to stand in front of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala Who asked what I had brought with me. I thought back to the many good deeds I had performed, however none of them seemed worthy of presenting in the court of Allah as they all appeared deficient. Finally I thought of Tawheed. I decided to offer this as I felt I had worshipped none other than Allah subhaanahu wata’ala and I had held the firm belief that He alone was the One Who benefited or caused loss. I therefore presented Tawheed only to find Allah subhaanahu wata’ala angrily saying, ‘Do you feel no embarrassment? Have you forgotten the night you drank milk before going to bed which was not your usual habit, and when you ended up having stomach pains, you visited the doctor and you attributed the milk to the stomachache?’

I certainly remembered the incident. However Allah subhaanahu wata’ala did enter me into Jannah due to another incident of which I was reminded. Once on a cold morning I had woken up for Fajr Salaat. Removing my shawl, I left it on the ground while I performed wudhu. As I was about to pick up the shawl I noticed that a cat had climbed on it and fallen asleep. Since I needed it to go to the Masjid, I cut the shawl around the cat so as not to disturb it”.

This small, seemingly insignificant act had gained the great Shaykh high stages in Jannah.

ELEVATED TO HIGH STAGES
Shaykh Bihsr Haafi rahmatullaahi ‘alayhi was prone to drinking alcohol. One night, as was his habit, he was on his way to get drunk when he noticed a piece of paper with what appeared to be some Arabic writing on it in the dirt. He picked it up. Realising it was the name of Allah, he cleaned it, bought some perfume with the money he had for drink and then went home. He perfumed the paper, wrapped it in a clean cloth and put it safely away on a high shelf. As he had no money for his drink he went to sleep.

That night in a dream a voice said, “Oh Bishr, as you have elevated My name, so I shall elevate your name in the world and in the Hereafter”. Bishr Haafi was guided to repent from his evil ways and thereafter granted such a high stage that the great Muhaddith and Faqih, Imam Ahmed ibn Hambal, used to stand up out of respect when Bishr Haafi entered, and to this day his name is taken with respect.

LESSON FOR SHAYKH SAADI
Shaykh Saadi, being in a state of poverty, was once walking without any slippers. Suddenly the thought occurred that here he was, working all day for the sake of Allah’s Deen, and he had no shoes while the sinners and trangressors had shoes on their feet. Being a special servant of Allah subhaanahu wata’alaa, he was soon shown his error.

He entered the masjid and noticed a begger. Shaykh Saadi walked over toward him with the intention of giving him something and as he approached the beggar, he realised that the poor man did not have any legs. Immediately the great Shaykh realised his erroneous reaction and fell into prostration in repentance.

THE SOUR WITH THE SWEET
Hazrat Luqmaan was a devoted slave and his master showed his affection by sometimes cutting some fruit and feeding him. One day the master cut some fruit and as was his practice, fed his devoted slave. Towards the end the master himself had a piece and immedietly spat it out. He scolded Luqmaan for eating the sour tasting fruit without saying anything. At this Luqmaan replied that his master always fed him sweet fruits and so he felt embarrassed about complaining.

Our Lord and Master has showered us with countless blessings. So much so that we are drowning in them. Yet how we complain at even the slightest discomfort!

ABU HANEEFAH ra & the AITHEIST
A debate had been arranged between an atheist and the great Faqih, Imam Abu Haneefah ra for which many people had gathered waiting in anticipation. The great Imam appeared quite late and apologising profusely he offered an explanation.

He explained that he was on the other side of the river and there was no boat available to cross over. Quite worried about the appointment he decided to swim across. Quite suddenly a tree fell, the wood became planks, they joined each other and a boat appeared. He said he climbed in and it started moving and he safely crossed the river.

At this explanation the atheist, quite angry at what appeared to be a ridiculous story, called the Imam foolish and asked how something like that could ever happen. The Imam very calmly said, “Well, this concludes the debate. If you cannot believe that such a simple thing can happen by itself, then how can you accept that the whole universe and the entire creation is created and run by its self?”

» posted by ummi taalib on 8th February 2010 - 0 comments