By Hazrat Maulana Yunus
Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)
Whilst taking a walk through a park one morning, accompanied by some
friends, we passed by a sign which is generally found in many parks. It read :
ALL DOGS MUST BE ON LEASH
Considering a deeper
meaning to the sign, I mentioned to my companions: Our nafs (ego) is akin to a
dog. The nature of an undisciplined, unleashed dog is that it barks, relieves
itself anywhere, devastates and lays waste the delicate flower beds as it
tramples them, attacks or spoils people’s picnics, and runs behind people, frightening them. Without its leash and without training, it can scare, harm and bite
others, as well as cause damage. Therefore the Parks Board insists that dogs be
on leash.
A dog, well trained, will obediently remain on leash, under the control
of its master and will not cause inconvenience or damage. It will walk along
its master and do as he commands.
The temperament of the
nafs (carnal self/ego) is like that of the dog. It also needs to be disciplined
and trained, and it also requires a leash. This leash is the leash of Shari'ah,
the love and fear of Allah Ta’ala, and fear of accountability on the Day of
Judgment, tied tightly and securely around its neck.
Without this leash, the
person will break the commands of Allah Ta’ala and violate the rights of
creation. The person will steal, gamble, fornicate, suppress, oppress, abuse
his wife, children or parents, and perpetrate various other crimes. Malice,
greed, jealousy, pride and other filthy, vile qualities will also be found in
the person’s heart. People will distance themselves from such a person for fear
of being harmed or troubled.
The person who has
disciplined his nafs and controls it with the leash of Shari'ah, will find that
it becomes submissive and compliant to the instructions of its Master. The
person then finds it easy to fulfill the rights of Allah Ta’ala as well as
creation, since the nafs is compliant to its Master’s commands. The person will
want to do good deeds, assist people, invite others to Deen. …He will not cause
harm to people; rather he will benefit them. People will then love such a
person.
When there is a need to go
to the shops, factories, airports, hospitals, etc., the person will first leash
the nafs with the Khauf (fear) and love of Allah Ta’ala and then go about the
fulfillment of duties.
Nabi (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said: “The
intelligent one is he who suppresses his desires and practises for what is
after death, and the foolish one is he who makes his nafs follow its desires
and (he) places (baseless) hope on Allah.”
