People ask me to suggest a method which would yield them tranquility of heart. I say to them that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has already stated the method but only if you followed it.
He says: “Whoever, male or female, has acted righteously, while being a believer, We shall certainly make him live a good life” (surah Al Nahl: 97)
See.. here Allah سبحانه وتعالى has based Hayatan Tayyibah (good life) on Amal salih (good deeds) of the believer. And Amal salih is that very thing which is done to seek the pleasure of Allah سبحانه وتعالى where following His commandments is the goal.
Thus, when seeking pleasure of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and complying with his ordinance is the rationale, where shall he go now. Man would become the ball in the chaughan (polo game) of shari’ah. Wherever he is thrown, he shall go forth.
The noble sahabah رضي الله عنهم had rectified their Niyyah. Such that whatever task they did, they fulfilled its very right.
There was a sahabi رضي الله عنه who when engaged in battles.. would not get spirited at the beginning. He fought slow and steady and then be induced with zeal. The sign of which was a red scarf that he fastened on his head. People recognized by this act that he is now replete with intensity. Thereafter when he surged ahead with the attack , wrecked havoc on the enemies.
Where Inna mal A’malu bin’niyyah is mentioned in Hadith, it means that the perfection and beauty of Amal is due to Niyyah. Now these Ahadith of Rasulullah are available to us.. but it is noticed that even those who teach are negligent about it.
Where Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه had withheld the parts, there was a reason for him to do such. It wasn’t cursory, neither out of forgetfulness but he guarded himself against self-Tazkiyah.
While the author of Fath ul Baari records that due to omission of this part of Hadith, the criticism heaped on Imam Bukhari was answered by many.. but the most suitable explanation furnished was perhaps that Imam Bukhari proposed to make an opening for his book common with the style of other writers.
As they begin their work with such sermons,Spreading over the topics covered in the book . Similarly, Imam Bukhari commenced his book with the topic of Niyyat and submitted its knowledge with Allah سبحانه وتعالى.
Incase It reaches the knowledge of Allah سبحانه وتعالى that I have intended any worldly or materialistic gain through this, then Allah سبحانه وتعالى shall recompense me accordingly. And he withheld a part such that there is no claim of (self) Tazkiya.
Whereas mentioning it at this juncture was akin to staking a claim at (self) Tazkiyah, hence it was deemed suitable not to bring it forth.
We learn here that the omitted portion was proximal to absolute manifestation (of its singular meaning) and the written one was ambiguous to both. Ie, in proximity and remoteness. Thus the author رحمة الله عليه has reflected upon us the state of his Niyyat through the passage of this Hadeeth in his work.
So the sentence which was proximal to the absolute manifestation (of its singular meaning) , He withheld. To protect himself from (self) Tazkiyah (ie, from making claims of Ikhlaas).
While preserving the ambiguous sentence, submitting the matter to Allah سبحانه وتعالى that He alone is the knower of Batin (the hidden/inward), and he shall recompense each one according to their Niyyat. (Fath ul Bari, P:11,Vol I)
Did you see now..! How anxious Ulema are.. as regards to Niyyah and what all they write.. They are saying that Niyyah is the name given to the craving of obedience that rises in the heart.
Now you all are listening to it..While I feel misconstrued that you follow me and listen to what I say.. but listening is not through the eyes but done through ears.
Ahlullah ( the beloved of Allah) have heeded to the sayings of Allah and His Rasool and rectified their Niyyah. Whereas they succeeded only by rectifying their Niyyah.
There was a Buzurg (pious elder) who sold curry. People considered him to be a simpleton and give fake coins in return. He would accept it and give full measure of the curry.
They assumed him to be a foolish man but his Batin was so wonderful that when he approached death.. he began saying to Allah سبحانه وتعالى that " O Allah.. You know well that all through my life I have been accepting bogus coins from people.. so today even you accept my worthless and fake deeds.
The manner in which I dealt with people throughout the life.. I wish now at the time of my death that You deal with me accordingly.."
Did you see..! what people assumed of him and how intelligent he was.. with the beauty of his Niyyah he sold curry and bought Jannah.
Similarly, incident of a Buzurg has been mentioned in books that when he passed through a certain road, a demagogue lady staying there would confront him repeatedly saying whose beard is better, yours or my goat’s.. He would silently listen and never replied.
When the time of his death arrived and signs of a good end were evident, He expressed his last wishes that his Janazah (funeral) be passed alongside the lady’s house.
Such that people did as they were told. And when they reached in front of her house, He sat upright and stroking his beard said “ Alhamdulillah. I declare today that my beard is better that your goat’s beard.”
Similarly an incident has been reported in Gulistan (By Hazrat Shaikh Saadi رحمة الله عليه ) that someone dreamt a King to be dwelling in Jannah and a devout man in Hell. Inquired the reason for their reward and punishment, wheras people had assumed the opposite.
A voice was heard saying that the King admired the pious and the devout man sought proximity of kings. Thus each was dealt according to their Batin & Niyyah. The shaikh رحمة الله عليه writes after mentioning this incident, meaning:
“Your pallet akin to dervishes, rosary and patched garments, of what use they could be. You should have but guarded against foul deeds ie, abject virtues. Donning the cap of saints merely is not enough, but it obligates that your character matches those of the dervishes. Then you may even wear a Tatar’s cap, it doesn’t matter”
Did you see now.. The matter of hereafter depends upon the Batin. Batin shall be viewed, not Zahir. This is the path of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and there are some major subtleties among which Niyyat is the foremost.
Scholars have extracted the very precept through this Hadith, that Niyyah is the crux of every deed. Be diligent about it. The method for which is that, prior to every deed, set the objective of seeking the pleasure of Allah and obeying His commandments.
The sufis have also narrated based on this with “The first step for the Mureed in Tareeq is upon Sidq”. Even they mean Sidq Niyyah here by (saying) sidq.
Amongst our pious elders (buzurg), a saintly man was going somewhere . He received ilham from Allah سبحانه وتعالى saying you are treading our path with such footsteps and he was dumbstruck for the moment. He stood motionless. Then received ilham again saying why are you standing still and not treading our path..? How did you feel contended..?
He resumed walking again but was gripped with anxiety..that O’ Allah what shall I do now..
At one instance iam rebuked on taking footsteps and on the other side exhorted to walk.
He was perplexed in these thoughts when a voice was heard saying ‘well then deliver them forth ‘. To traverse the path of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and that too with Ikhlaas, is not an easy task.
To those whom Allah سبحانه وتعالى himself makes it easy is but easy. For this reason I say that if you plan to traverse it yourself, it shall not be covered. Adopt the sunnah of Rasulullah . The road shall only be tread with this. And the foremost sunnah is to remain cognizant of Innamal A’malu bin’niyyah.(As to acquire sidq and Ikhlaas).
A lady brought along her son to an elderly pious man (Buzurg) with a complain that he eats a lot of Jaggery; Hazrat , do advice him. He said very well bring him back tomorrow.
When on the second day she returned, the Buzurg said to the boy ‘dear son do not eat jaggery’.
His disciples (Mureedin) said that Hazrat, it was possible (for him) to advice the same yesterday. Why did you then call him again.
The buzurg replied that brother, the matter was such that I myself ate a lot of jaggery. So the flaw which I myself indulged in, when advised to others, would not have been effective. So first I renounced myself of it, left the habit, and then advised him today.
The Pious elders were less indulgent of Zahiri Amaal but were observant of Batin. Through which they reached their destination. The issue of Niyyah is also attached with Batin and highly essential.
Thus Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه also selected Niyyah from everything else. While the effect of this Niyyah (of Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه ) is such that throughout the world Bukhari is read and lectured.
And it has almost reached the consensus of Ulema of its being the most authentic book after the Qur’an. There stands no doubt of his colossal service towards the ummah and his boon upon the Muslims, for which he endured great hardships.
The ulema have also assessed him, though simply not accepted him. There was a gathering of ulema once, where Imam Bukhari was also present. His fame for the ilm of Hadith was already established by then. The scholars wished to examine him to ascertain if he really had any substance or had simply gained fame.
Thus a scholar stood up, And addressing at Imam Bukhari said that ‘Shaikh, I have some Ahadith with me and seek your affirmation’. Saying this,he altered the sanad (chain) and Matn (text) of ten ahadith and presented thereof.
After listening to each Hadith he commented La A’dri, that I do not know this Hadith. Similarly, ten scholars presented a hundred Hadith one by one and the reply of Imam Bukhari was persistently of la A’dri and la A’lam ( I do not know, iam not aware of this hadith) every time.
It cast a bad effect upon the audience. As the common folks perceived that such high caliber scholars have been presenting the Hadith and Imam Bukhari is not aware of even a single one.
When the ulema completed their questions,Imam Bukhari stood up and addressing the first questioner, said that you had presented the first Hadith with this sanad and as such.
With these words and such a Sanad,no Hadith has reached me. But yes, iam aware of this Hadith with such and such a Sanad. Similarly, you had read the other Hadith as such, And it is not correct. Whereas in place of this narrator ,such a narrator is present. And in place of this word, such a word is correct. So in this condition this Hadith is authentic.
Similarly, he corrected all the ten narrations he had presented earlier and highlighted the mistakes. The same conduct was repeated with all the ten scholars.
People on witnessing this raised volumes of praise and everyone heaped accolades on the memory and vast knowledge of Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه. There was no doubt that imam Bukhari had done the incredible.
Recounting the authentic narrations which he knew was not such a wonder, as compared to memorizing the incorrect narrations at a single sitting and repeating them was indeed an accomplishment. Since he had rectified his Niyyah, he had the assistance and help of Allah سبحانه وتعالى along him.
The whole Tasawwuf revolves around this Hadith of Innamal A’malu Bin’niyyah. Our Pious elders (Buzurg) have been very diligent about rectifying Niyyah.
A funeral reached a certain place and people concluded the Janazaah (funeral) prayers. A Buzurg could not attend the prayer and people inquired him of his absence. He replied saying ‘brother I was rectifying the Niyyah. I wished to attend but all the time was covered in rectifying Niyyah’.
Alhamdulillah, by the great fadhl of Allah سبحانه وتعالى the translation of this article concludes as of today, the 12th September, 2014.
I request the readers for Isaal e Sawab to Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه who has indeed done a great favour upon this ummah.. the reward of which is known to Allah سبحانه وتعالى.
Also request isaal e sawab for Hazrat Maulana Shah Wasiullah sahab Ilahabadi رحمة الله عليه his Mashaikh.. khulafa.. and predecssors.. and those linked with his Mashaikh..
May Allah سبحانه وتعالى fill his Qabr with Noor and raise his ranks in Jannat ul Firdaus.. Ameen.. and lastly request duas for Ikhlaas for this lowly self and all.. that May Allah سبحانه وتعالى fill our hearts with Ikhlaas and save us from Riya.. Ameen..
The subject of Noor was in course of discussion here , إن شاء الله with the Fadhl of Allah سبحانه وتعالى we shall continue here on Muftisays with another Majlis of Hazrat Maulana Shah Wasiullah sahab Ilahabadi رحمة الله عليه titled as "The Noor of Imaan and its effects".
Also plan to resume Dukaan e Ishq shortly إن شاء الله
Was reading your post on ikhlas and about Hazrat Mansoor Hallaj رحمة الله عليه in it. Remembered a verse from Akbar Ilahabadi رحمة الله عليه , summarising it all :
“حضرتِ منصور ‘انا’ بھی کہ رہے ہیں ‘حق’ کے ساتھ
دار تک تشریف لیجائیں جو اتنا ہوش ہے”
Think of it, had he been say “Haq-Haq” nobody would have cared about it... but as he said انالحق, joining انا with حق no excuse was left :)
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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are available to us.. but it is noticed that even those who teach are negligent about it.
