Wednesday 14 December 2022

Avoid Futile Actions

 Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Sahib (RA)

 

In Surah Mu’minoon, Allah Ta’ala presents an outstanding quality of the Believers:


“…who keep themselves away from vain things …”

 

All those actions and all those activities that are vain, futile and useless, are not the occupation of a Mu’min, of a true Believer. The Muslim understands that those futile actions will not help him in anyway – not in this world, not in the Aakhirah, not in the Qabr - not spiritually, physically, mentally or economically. There is absolutely no benefit. It is unquestionably completely futile and useless. 

 

If the person is a Believer, he avoids and shuns deeds, actions and talk which are vain, pointless and fruitless.  He does not engage in them.  He does not spend hours upon hours upon hours wasting away his life in them – for he knows and he understands that life is a very precious and valuable commodity. ...The world cup and other sports events also fall in this category of being absolutely futile.

 

No one has the luxury of time and time is not to be wasted.  There is so much to do in the little life that we have. There are preparations that need to be made and provisions that need to be accumulated for the long journey ahead. If we get caught up in all the different entertainments and sporting events that are laid out – how much will that valuable time be then squandered and wasted? 

 

In Surah Al-Asr, Allah Ta’ala informs us that man is a loser if he does not spend his time, fulfilling the objective of his creation. Four qualities are highlighted, which if a person has, he will be excluded from the category of the losers and will be included in the category of the successful ones, Insha-Allah:

§  Imaan,

§  Good deeds,

§  Encouraging one another to do good and

§  Towards observing patience.

 

No one wants to be a loser, but in the light of the Qur’aan Shareef, let us assess which category we fall in. …What will we earn of Deen and Aakhirah in all this time spent in these sporting events? …Besides these sporting events being futile, they entail a great wastage of two valued commodities – wealth and time. Money is spent and time is wasted. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam informed us:

 

‘[On the Day of Judgment], the feet of a person will not move until he is asked regarding:

 

(1)   His life; how did he spend it,

(2)   His knowledge; how did he act upon it,

(3)   His wealth; how did he acquire it

(4)   How did he spend his wealth

(5)   His body, how did he use it.’[1]

 

People are spending hours and hours – in watching and talking about sport; eating and drinking and screaming at the stadiums. Even Salaah is contaminated with sports. …We have brought that pollution into the Masjid, with our talk about sport matches and sports players. We polluted our lives, our hearts, our homes and now, even the Masjid. We do not even sense the displeasure of Allah Ta’ala in our hearts. This shows the weak condition of our hearts – if we cannot even sense darkness in it.

 

Don’t look at what people are doing, and don’t argue and fight with others. So many are listing the “benefits” and “virtues” of the World Cup. …Allah Ta’ala’s Shaan is sometimes Jalaali, sometimes Jamaali. We don’t know which Shaan of Allah Ta’ala is focused when. Therefore, we have to be very, very careful and cautious.

 

…The soccer player understands that if he breaks the rules, a yellow card will be issued. The yellow card is a serious warning and the player knows he will have to be more cautious and abide by the rules. If not, and he continues with foul play or foul language, the red card will be issued. He will then have to immediately leave the field and will be suspended from playing further.

 

This is for a mere sport – something which is insignificant and completely irrelevant in the true picture of life! A Mu’min should understand that Allah Ta’ala gives us warnings in various ways and makes decisions according to our actions. At times, our sins bring upon us different punishments, and at times, those sins are such of a nature that can take the person out of Deen. The person leaves Deen because he kept breaking the rules and did not care to rectify his actions. He had no remorse, no regret, no concern for the consequences and penalties.

 

This is my message: Don’t think that it cannot be avoided. We avoid so many other things. Why can we not avoid this? Look at the restlessness that these sports events bring - for the whole month. May Allah Ta’ala save me, save you and protect the Ummah at large.

 

Sukoon-e-Dil (tranquility of the heart) will only be acquired in remembering Allah Ta’ala, fulfilling His Ahkaam and following the way of Nabi Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam.  …This is the route of true success. These are the goals of the Believer! Strive to be a top goal scorer in Deen! Aim for the highest goals: The pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and Jannah!

 

May Allah Ta’ala guide us and give us the Taufeeq of practising on His Commandments.

 



[1] Tirmidhi

Sunday 11 December 2022

Sports - - Thinking Correctly

 Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Sahib (RA)

 

Our condition as an Ummah is such that we have lost our direction and we have forgotten our purpose being in this world. In addition to the various fitan plaguing the Ummah, the sports scene – with its national and international matches, tournaments, cups, etc. – is also a severe fitnah. It is a diversion and a cause of ghaflat (heedlessness). And this ghaflat is 'the hen that lays the eggs of all sins'.

 

One brother said to me: “Maulana, you mentioned that you made Dua that the Saudi soccer team must lose. Should we not support our brothers?”

 

How the mindset of the Muslim has changed! If Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam were to be present, amongst us, in these times, and he is informed of the Muslim teams going around the world to play football; their dressing which exposes their thighs, the entertainment, music, photography, the women attending, who are immodestly dressed, the drinking and other Haraam which will be rife at those venues; the sponsorships by those fully involved in Haraam – manufacturers of liquor, banks and other Haraam establishments …would Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam have said: Support your national team! ?Na-uzu Billah. 

 

Would he be happy with this? And would he be pleased that the Ummah considers this kind of 'win' a great victory? Is this what we have been sent for… to win soccer matches and other games? We have lost sight of the true victory! 

 

The Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saw their victory in Jihad and in Shahadah (martyrdom). ...In the tragic expedition of Bir-Ma’unah, when Hazrat Haram ibn Milhan (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was martyred, he uttered: “By the Lord of the Ka’bah! I have won!” – He achieved such a goal!

 

Nabi Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam’s Duas and sympathy are with those who are following Deen and obeying him. Are we not instructed in the Qur’aan Shareef: “Follow me…”? 

 

 

 “Say (O Muhammad Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam): ‘If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.”

 [Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 31]

 

We also went through the high school route. In our young days, we played cricket and other sport … and we would follow the newspaper scores and commentary over the radio. There were no televisions at that time. Now, when I look back, I think: What an absolute waste of time… listening to the commentary of a few people chasing a ball from one end to the other! What did we gain? …Nothing.

 

These thoughts … that we should be supporting our brothers who are participating in the world cup … are from shaytaan. We are to support each other in Deen; in what will draw us closer to Allah Ta’ala and what will be a means of the victory of Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure and Jannah.

 

“...Help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in requiting (evil)."

[Surah Al-Maa’idah 5 : 2]

 

Let us seriously reflect over our condition, make sincere Taubah and get our priorities in order. Time is running out. …We fail to understand that we are leaving this world, that our death is fast approaching, and that Qiyamah is before us. Every moment is delivering us to our grave. Every passing second our life is closing in on us. It is all coming to an end, but we are heedless and unmindful. In watching and following the world cup, we forget the cup of death. We will have to drink of that cup.

 

Allah Ta’ala mentions in Surah Al-Ambiyaa:


‘Closer and closer to mankind comes their reckoning: yet they heed not and they turn away.’

[Surah Ambiyaa 21 : 1]

 

May Allah Ta’ala guide us and give us the correct understanding of the purpose of this worldly life.