Tuesday 19 June 2012

Heart Surgery : An Analogy


Being a heart patient and having gone through a quadruple bypass, I have taken many lessons from the experience of ill health and cardiac surgery…


One lesson is analogous to the present condition of the Ummah.


In the initial stage, the heart’s condition begins to weaken and one suffers from Angina, where there is a lack of oxygen to the heart and there is a feeling of heaviness and crushing pain in the chest, accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue, etc. On consultation, one’s doctor prescribes medication, healthy diet, regular exercise and avoiding stress.


If one takes the required care, then a little medication clears the problem. If one is negligent in respect to the prescription, then the condition of the heart will deteriorate and this leads to heart damage.


If the heart is severely injured, then a heart attack occurs, where there is a blockage in one or more of the arteries – which does not allow blood to flow to an area of the heart. The person needs to be hospitalized and requires a period of rest, together with medication, diet, etc. Sometimes an Angioplasty is necessary to clear the blocked arteries or widen the narrowed arteries, enabling the flow of blood, which contains oxygen and food for the tissues.


If this prescription is also not followed through, then the cardiac condition will worsen and reach a stage where neither medication nor an Angioplasty will help. The solution is either a bypass or in the extreme circumstance, a heart transplant.


I had reached the stage where four arteries were blocked and an artery bypass was regarded as the only option. Alhamdulillah, the operation was very successful. However, the analogy that came to mind was that this damage of the physical heart and blockage of the coronary arteries is exactly the situation with the Ummah…


In the final analysis, we have severely injured the spiritual heart with sins and we have blocked the arteries of Aqaa`id (beliefs), Ibaadaat (worship), Mu`aamalaat (Business transactions and dealings), Mu`aasharaat (Social dealings) and Akhlaaq (character)[1] with our ignorance, indifference, negligence, as well as in adopting un-Islamic culture, dress, and practices. …Our business dealings, our relationships with wives, parents, children, neighbours, Muslim and non Muslim, does not in any way reflect the beauty and purity of Islam.


The ‘ECG’ (electrocardiogram) for the spiritual hearts has disclosed the spiritual heart failure of so many due to their statements reflecting weak faith, or faith on the threshold of kufr[2] or outright rejection of the teachings of Qur`aan and Sunnah[3].


Since we did not heed the warnings of the righteous Scholars of Islam and ‘Ulama[4] and Mashaa`ikh[5] in the initial stages, the spiritual heart is now so damaged, that speeches upon speeches, quotations upon quotations from the Qur`aan Shareef and Sunnah do not cause any change, except in a few. The only solution is the transplant of the spiritual heart.    


What is this transplant of the spiritual heart? …It is sincere Taubah as well as ‘return’ to Allah Ta’ala (Rujoo Ilallah) and obedience to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam).


Why should we wait for punishment to hit us in the form of earthquakes, tornadoes, bombs and other disasters? Let us employ the protection given to us against punishment: Sincere repentance and mending our relationship with Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam), with obedience. 


When we are going to make use of the prescriptions of sincere Taubah, Du’aa and Zikrullah[6], which is the food and oxygenated ‘blood’ for the spiritual heart, then we will gain in spiritual health and strength, and we will not suffer spiritual imbalance. The arteries will become unblocked without the pain and discomfort of a transplant or bypass.


However, just as a heart patient has to submit himself to a surgeon, so is there a requirement that we submit ourselves to a pious, learned, qualified, spiritual mentor, guide and specialist; whom Allah Ta’ala uses as the medium in the bypass or transplant of the spiritual heart.


After an operation, there are follow-up assessments, visits to the doctor and an ECG is done, at least once a year. In the same vein, there has to be very regular visits and correspondence with one’s spiritual mentor for assessment of one’s internal condition.


We should understand that an attack of the physical heart, at the most, only leads to death, whereas that of the spiritual heart leads to death of Imaan and loss in the Hereafter.

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (RA)



[1] This is an analogy of the 5 branches of Shariah :
Π Aqaa`id : Beliefs 
Π Ibaadaat : Worship
Π Mu’aamaalaat : Business transactions and dealings.
Π Mu`aasharaat : Social dealings
Π Akhlaaq : Character
[2] Kufr : Rejection
[3] Sunnah : The practice of the Prophet Muhammad e and his noble companions j.
[4] ‘Ulama : Scholars (of Islam)
[5] Mashaa`ikh : Spiritual mentors and guides
[6] Zikrullah : The Remembrance of Allah Ta’ala.

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Gems 16 - 20




Bismihi Ta’ala

Selected and concise advices / sayings of 
Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)



16.

There is Perfection in Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) and the Sahabah (RA) 
were a Reflection of Nabi (Sallallaahu alayhi waSallam).


17.

One’s akhlaaq (character) is an indication of one’s nisbat (connection) 
with Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam).


18.

Wherever you go, you must have the niyyah (intention) to convey this beautiful Deen to others.


19.

Our teeth have gone ‘blunt’ in chewing the Divine Bounty of food, 
but Shukr (gratitude) does not come to our lips.


20.

When we come into this world, people are happy and joyous, whilst we are crying. 
We should lead our lives in such a manner that when we leave this world, we are happy and joyous, and people are crying.



Sunday 10 June 2012

Reflections of Noor




Once, we were walking in Masjidun Nabawi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam), at night. My gaze was directed to the ground and as we walked, I took note of the shine on the tiles of the Haram.

There is brightness, shine and sparkle in those tiles, due to the effort of washing, cleaning and polishing. As a result, whatever is outside, and above, is reflected onto the tiles. There is the exact likeness, a mirror image.…It is as if all the light fittings that are on the outside, and high up, are now gone into the tiles - because of the reflection seen on tiles.

So as you are walking across the tiles, it is as if you are walking on those chandeliers, those light fittings, and even different architectural designs. The tiles shine so brilliantly and brightly that they take the complete reflection of the different lights.

Giving this thought and the following came to mind: These are tiles. Nothing but stone. …But when man made an effort on that stone, on that tile – He cleaned it, polished it and shined it – a total reflection of light and beauty came into that tile. SubhanAllah.

If stone can, by the means of some effort and shine, receive the total reflection of the light outside … then what of the heart of the Muslim, which has been cleaned and purified and which now sparkles with Divine Love?

What will then be the experience when at the Raudah Mubarak which is filled with Noor, when in Riyadhul Jannah which is overflowing with Noor, when near the Mimbar and Mehraab which is covered with Noor … There is nothing but Noor in the entire Masjidun Nabawi. …And, above all of this, is Mustafa, Mujtaba, Habibullah, Nabi-ar-Rahmah, Sayyid-al-Mursaleen, Imaam-al-Mutaqqeen, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)Noorun ala Noor…. Allah Ta’ala blesses us with all these beautiful, shining, bright lights. SubhanAllah.

If only we made some effort on our hearts, if only we polished and shined these hearts, then what would be the radiant reflections that would fall onto our hearts and souls, when we go and stand there at the Raudah Mubarak…?

When we stand there with Adab and Ihtiraam, with sincere Taubah and Istighfaar, with humility and humbleness… it is beyond words to describe the Anwaar that will fall onto that heart and into that heart … and thereafter the effect of that Anwaar will become evident in the person’s life, as well as the lives of those who come into contact with the person.

Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi’s words come to mind and are most apt :  “When the fragrance (i.e. the nearness) of my Beloved Allah comes into my heart, then the languages of the world fail to describe this.”

When the brilliant Anwaar of our visit to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) comes into our hearts, then the languages of the world prove inadequate in trying to describe that experience and reality.

 By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)



Wednesday 6 June 2012

Latest Book






Synopsis

‘Rujoo Ilallaah’ presents a touching story of the sincere repentance of a Companion of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam).  The book draws attention to and brings to light the genuineness of the repentance, loyalty and piety of the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (RA), as well as their distinction and lofty status in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.

Beautifully narrated by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (RA), the story, together with the discussion, refreshes our commitment to Allah Ta’ala, creates an earnest inclination to repent from all sins, engenders deep hearted hope in the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala, and increases one’s appreciation and gratitude for His Kindness and Forgiveness.


Pages – 64