Surrendering Before Sin
According to Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله , the one that enjoys sin is lost in negligence. A believer cannot enjoy sin because he knows what is permitted and prohibited; he fears punishment. He is aware of the Supreme Might of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله who has forbidden sin; enjoyment in disobedience becomes repulsive. If his mind falters, his heart takes over.
The believer realises that the pleasure of sin will last for but a moment but the subsequent remorse is forever. His condition is such that he hopes in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله but at the same time always fears punishment if he slips into negligence. The desires of the Nafs are commensurate with the degree of negligence.
What are the Characteristics of the Fear of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله?
Some people asked Hazrat Fudhail ibn Iyād رحمه الله as to why do they not see men who fear Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . He replied that since the people themselves are not truly fearful of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , those that fear Him are not visible to them. He further elaborated that once people fear Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , they will observe those who fear Him.
Do the believers not reflect on the certainty of being called to account for their deeds in front of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله on the day of Qiyamah?
Think of the After Effects
Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله has advised that a wise man tries to avoid the punishment of sin. He does not rely on getting any concessions from Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله because he is convinced that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله will judge with justice. Yes, most certainly the mercy of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله prevails but that depends on His will. Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله may forgive mountains of sin and punish a tiny sin. Therefore, sin is not what one hankers after.
History gives testimony to those who lost everything because they thought little of their sins and did not fear Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . Furthermore, many claimed to be pious but their private lives were filthy. This resulted in them having lost acceptance in the hearts of the people.
Is it conceivable that the scale of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله will miss an atom’s weight of disobedience? Some rely on the mercy of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and continue to indulge in sins. This is wrong because Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله may choose to forgive or punish. It must never happen that the thoughts of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله cause you to overlook His justice; a believer must always endeavour to continuously wipe out his sins.
The need is for the believer to be submissive. He needs to continue pleading in the Court of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . Nothing wipes out sin as humility does. Taking account of one’s sins and weeping over them are the best ways of reformation.
No Sin is Minor
Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi Sahib رحمه الله has said that when a person indulges in sin, he forgets about himself. He gives in to his evil desires and loses his self respect. There are others who fail to regard sin as a sin. A few examples are:
- Things are borrowed and not returned.
- Presenting oneself for meals when not invited.
- Speaking ill of people thinking it to be fun (many talk ill of politicians but fail to realise that this is gheebah and erodes our deeds).
- Casting evil glances
When one involves himself in transgression, he becomes disgraced. People do not generally reflect on the aspect of halaal food; a pious servant of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله once said that an unlawful morsel negatively impacted upon his spiritual progress by forty years!
The need is to heed the warnings of the Ahlullah. Never disregard a spark; a mere spark can cause the death of many people. Exercise caution and take an account of one’s actions daily. Reflect on the consequences of sins and be regular in seeking forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . This is the simple prescription to save oneself from sins.
لا حول ولا قوة الا بالله
Gems from Sayyidina Umar Ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه
Do not let your love be obsessive and do not let your hatred be destructive. When you love, do not go to a level of obsession as a child does with the things he loves, and when you hate, do not hate in such way that you want your opponent to be destroyed and doomed. (Musannaf Abdur Razzaq #21190)
How and What to Pray for
Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله has given amazing advices; the learned saint says that we are quick to ask Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله for what we require but we forget about our sins. The proper manner is that we should seek forgiveness first and then ask for our needs. We should implore Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله in the following way; “O Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , protect us from overlooking our sins before praying for our worldly needs.”
If we seek forgiveness, repent and erase our sins; then Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله will grant us our needs automatically. In a narration of Tirmidhi Shareef, it has been mentioned that those servants who cannot ask Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله for their needs due to them being occupied in His remembrance will get from Him what is given to those who ask.(#2926)
It has been said of Hazrat Bishr Hafi رحمه الله that he used to raise his hands in dua but should withdraw them because he did not consider himself worthy of asking Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله for anything. Hazrat Bishr Hafi رحمه الله possessed immense divine awareness as though he saw Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and felt ashamed to make dua for anything because of his lapses.
Our pitiful state is that we choose negligence; we then pray to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله although we are distant from Him. What is even more surprising is that we commit sins and inspite of our disobedience, we still pray to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله for our worldly needs! We are so weak that we do not ask Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله for our reformation. We need to remember that if we are going to ignore and neglect our Islah (reformation), we will be on the brink of destruction. What is thus required of us is that we become consumed in grief over our sins and this remorse should be a constant occupation. We learn from the Ahlullah that they continuously nurtured the fear of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله as an integral component of their Islah (reformation).
The Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله
Taqwa is the greatest provision. Believers cannot choose disobedience. It is imperative upon us to endure the heat of our base desires. Succumbing to the temptations of our Nafs leads to Jahannum. When we will hold back to preserve the demands of Taqwa, we will be strong in steadfastness. Most certainly Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله will respond to our supplications. The fruit of Taqwa is exceptional; it results in honour in this world and recognition in the Aakhirah.
We will be lured towards disobedience and at times, the desire may be overpowering – on these occasions, let us lift up our feeble hands and plead unto Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله to grant us strength. Even when we are involved in virtuous deeds, we cannot ignore the treachery of the Nafs. History gives testimony to the pious before; they annihilated themselves by not giving in to the desires of their Nafs. The path to Jannah lies in giving up our desires. Furthermore, perfection and success will be attained when we are diligent in solitude. Our objective is solely the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله. The help of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله can only be achieved if we fortify our relationship with Him. We will definitely have to make sacrifices and exercise patience (by being steadfast on obedience) and staying away from those things that are prohibited.
Hazrat Shaqeeq Balkhi رحمه الله has said; “I obtained the attribute of Ridha of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله ) i.e. to be pleased with Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله at all times, whether in adversity or prosperity, health or sickness, safety or fear) in four things:
- To be unconcerned about sustenance (rizq).
- Sincerity (ikhlaas) in everything.
- To regard Shaitan and the desires of the Nafs as enemies.
- To accumulate the provisions for the Aakhirah
Plan Your Day
Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله has said that it is not possible to control one’s self (Nafs) without wisdom and planning. If the Nafs is not controlled, one will slip into immoral pleasures. If unnecessary harshness is meted out towards the Nafs on permissible things, one’s worship will be impacted upon negatively. Many are involved in different forms of excesses which result in them being neglectful of their obligations. In many instances, the rights of the parents are usurped in the ‘name of piety’ – the easiest way to achieve a perfect balance is to observe rights and stay within limits.
Hazrat Haji Imdaadullah Muhaajir Makki Sahib رحمه الله has advised that we exercise a moderate approach to the treatment of the Nafs; the simple prescription is that we accustom ourselves to Mujaahadah (striving against the evil desires) while at the same time observe the rights of the Nafs.
As an observation, many people waste time in futile pursuits. They wander around aimlessly abusing the bounties of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . Very few value the bounty of time and secure their Aakhirah. The need is that we diligently plan our daily schedules, use our time effectively, learn our Deen so that we know what is expected of us and sit in the company of the Ahlullah to attain wisdom and spiritual strength.
The Importance of Practicing on Knowledge
Our pious predecessors have stated that practice upon knowledge is integral for success. There are some individuals who involve themselves in backbiting on the pretext of criticism. This is extremely destructive. Furthermore, there are others who are desirous of honour and fame but they involve themselves in bribery and corruption. This type of hypocrisy is now rife in the lives of people to the extent that people consider dishonesty as necessary to survive. Unfortunately people refuse to heed the warnings of slipping into sin and they become slaves of their opinions.
It is mentioned that when people attended the gatherings of our Mashaaikh who held on fast to the manner of our pious predecessors رحمهم الله ; they became lights of guidance. They did not involve themselves in backbiting (which has become a rampant spiritual disease in the name of Islam) nor did they allow the lure of materialism to compromise their Deen. They adopted silence, reflected before speaking and did not blurt out things hastily. Due to these Ahlullah being consumed with their Aakhirah, they developed soft hearts and cried excessively out of the fear of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . When people witness individuals who give practical expression to the demands of Taqwa, this attracts the public more than sermons. The true objective of life is that we practice upon knowledge.
Sadly, we have chosen to become paupers for the Aakhirah due to our indifference and negligence. Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Maseehullah Khan Sahib رحمه الله has said that just as clothing is required to conceal our bodies; Taqwa is needed for the concealment of our sins and to protect our Iman. If there is no Taqwa, we will expose our imperfections; therefore the need of the hour is that we daily make Tawbah and involve ourselves in Istighfaar (repent for our sins and promise to be obedient). If we abandon the demand of Taqwa, there is a great fear for our Iman.
May Allah protect us!
Death Awaits!
Shafeequl Ummah Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Farooq Sahib رحمه الله has continuously advised that life is like a block of ice melting away; the need for all believers is that we involve ourselves in actions that will assist us in the Aakhirah. It is essential that we make Muhaasabah (taking stock of our deeds) and Muraqabah (contemplate on the certainty of death and the stations thereafter) on a daily basis prior to sleeping. Realities will unfold at the time of death and we will realise what we have sent forward to accompany us in our graves and beyond.
The dying person becomes consumed with grief and regret at the moments of heedlessness and indifference; he desires a second chance to compensate for his negligence and repent with conviction. In fact, when the pangs of death become unbearable, he will wish for an early death.
If we develop even a fraction of the condition that will be experienced by every person at the time of death; our lives will be that of piety and righteousness. A common sense approach is that we picture the scene of death throughout our lives. The result of inculcating this concern is that we will reflect before we do anything, this will help us shun disobedience and there will be an urge to be righteous.
Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله has said that the renowned saint Hazrat Habib Ajmi رحمه الله reminded his wife daily as to what should be done in the event of him dying during the day. Once Hazrat Ma’ruf Karkhi رحمه الله requested an individual to perform the Zuhr Salaah. The young man replied that if he performed the Zuhr Salaah, he will not perform the Asr Salaah. Hazrat Ma’ruf Karkhi رحمه الله responded; “That means you hope to survive till Asr. We seek refuge in Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله from distant hopes.”
This is the mindset required of us to ensure success. Will we heed the warnings?
Reflect on the Directions we are Heading Towards
Shaikh Abdur Rahman ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله has stated that the availability of worldly possessions made things easy for him but when he did not acquire the expected benefits, he experienced an unpleasantness of the heart. The underlying factor that created the darkness of the heart was the desire for the world. Upon reflection, the learned Shaikh رحمه الله has said that of what good is the world when it becomes an obstruction in religion. He further advised that it is better to sleep in simplicity with a sound heart than living lavishly with the desire for more wealth. It is necessary to always keep a check on our desires and make a continuous assessment of what is good and what is bad. Furthermore, due to the constancy in Muhaasabah, we will be saved from futility. Many of us are consumed in the pursuit of the world but are unable to spend on ourselves in our lifetime; rather we leave our possessions for others to enjoy. The simple yardstick is that we desist from those things or actions which will take us away from righteousness. Our focus in life should be the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , for most definitely He will bestow greater benefit to those who make the correct choices.
If we look at our community, many have accumulated wealth but they do not use it. They hoard gold and silver but live miserable lives. Very unique is that in the pursuit of more wealth, expenses increase drastically. Some are inflicted with serious illnesses which result in massive expenses. There are many amongst us who have piles of books but do not derive benefit from them nor are we given the opportunity to act upon the teachings. On the contrary, there are some people who barely survive but they possess deep and beneficial knowledge. They are blessed with contentment. What is thus needed is that we focus on the Supreme Being who is All Aware and Mighty. Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله knows what lies in the inner recesses of our hearts; therefore we need to exercise caution in whatever we do or say. Our duty is to practice on the demands of Taqwa and maintain steadfastness in obedience.
We will have to make sacrifices. We cannot succumb to the desires of our Nafs. It is imperative to exercise control and have presence of mind in all circumstances. There is an amazing incident of Hazrat Habeeb Ajmi رحمه الله ; this blessed personality refrained from eating meat for seven years; this was a condition he imposed upon himself in the process of self-reformation. After seven years, the desire to eat meat was overwhelming. He went to the bazaar and purchased some cooked meat and bread. On his way back, he saw a poor lad. He spontaneously gave the meat and bread to the young lad. He sacrificed his intense desire and showed presence of mind for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله .
(NOTE: This incident gives testimony to the height of Taqwa of Hazrat Habeeb Ajmi رحمه الله Our focus should be that we remain steadfast in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله .)