Friday 21 September 2012

Avoid the Temptation







‘I recall from my childhood days, someone saying : “...For temptation will 
lead you into trouble and make you cry.”  - And indeed this is exactly 
what happens when one gives into the temptation to engage in any Haraam.


…Ask those who have given into the demands of nafs and shaytaan, 
about the repercussions of their sins. …They will say: Trouble, trouble 
and more trouble. Tears, tears and more tears.


Temptations will always be there. If there was no temptation, then there 
would have been no such thing as Taqwa. The demand is to resist, to stay away, 
to abstain from sins. Not  to do sins is so much easier than ‘doing’ sins.


Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh)


Thursday 13 September 2012

Gems 22 - 25


Bismihi Ta’ala

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




22.

Life cannot become boring when we establish contact with the One who gives Happiness…


23.

Say good-bye to that friendship which distances us from Allah Ta’ala.


24.

The progress of a person depends on righteous deeds and not just on duas. We will have to do something ourselves. Actions have to accompany our duas.


25.

The whole world can cry for us, but we have to cry over our sins.




Saturday 8 September 2012

The Spiritual ‘Drip’





In a Majlis of my Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum), Hazrat requested one of his mureeds to recite a verse of his poetry. Each time, the verse was rendered, the person was told to read it again. This went on for one solid hour – that is, the repetition of the one verse; but the effect on the hearts was seen in the tears that were shed by those who were present.


The verse, translated, is :

“If you hide and commit sins,
Someone is watching from above (Allah Ta’ala)…”


A person who in not acquainted with the aim and objective would say that listening to the same verse repeatedly, for an entire hour, would be boring, tiresome, uninspiring … but not so for those who are sincerely seeking the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. The true believer understands that anything good repeated benefits him.


“And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the Believer.”
[Surah Zaariyaat 51 : 55]


An analogy came to mind when giving thought to the above experience : The likeness of the repetition of this one verse of poetry and its benefit upon the hearts of all those who were present at the time,  is like that of a ‘drip’.


A person is admitted into hospital due to various reasons: dehydration, loss of blood, surgery, childbirth, an accident, etc. Many a time, there is a need for the use of a drip.


The ‘drip’ is called ‘drip’ because its work is to administer fluid slowly, drop-by-drop, directly into a vein. Thus, one drop at a time, enters the person’s system… until the drip is empty. This process is a slow process, taking, sometimes, a number of hours - yet the drip is described as a very efficient process whereby the entire body quickly receives the supply of medication which it requires. 


Moreover, a drip chamber controls the process whereby the fluid flows into the vein without air entering the bloodstream because if air is introduced into the bloodstream, this can lead to health complications, which could even be fatal.


If it is a blood transfusion, the patient receives healthy blood through a drip. Depending on how much of blood is required, the process can run into hours. If it is dehydration, then the drip is used to hydrate the patient with a solution of glucose and electrolytes because glucose boosts the energy system once it enters the blood stream. If due to some other ailment, accordingly, the drip is used to supply the medication or nutrients needed.


No sane patient will complain that the process is too long, he is becoming bored, and the drip should be removed because it is a tedious experience… The person knows his health is dependent on the drip.


Now if we have to look at our own condition as Muslims, as an Ummah, we find that we have lost so much of spiritual blood, or we are so severely dehydrated spiritually, that these sessions or Majaalis of the Mashaa`ik are like short term ‘hospitalization’ where we are attached to a drip – the drip being the Suhbah of the Mashaa`ik, their advice and tawajjuh and duas, by which we hydrate our Imaan which is withering away, or we regain the spiritual blood that we have lost due to our own negligence and indulgence in sins.


The repetition of Qur`aan Shareef, Ahaadeeth and the poetry of the Ahlullah are the medication or nutrients which are supplied to our souls through this spiritual ‘drip’ and which, in turn, keep us spiritually alive.


If we do not take this recourse – of attaching ourselves to a spiritual ‘drip’ – a Shaykh-e-Kaamil, we can find ourselves in a critical and spiritually life-threatening condition. May Allah Ta’ala protect us.


These Majaalis of the Mashaa`ik are to be appreciated – more especially in these times of fitnah, where indulgence in sins has led to severe spiritual dehydration, loss of spiritual blood and has led to a domino effect of corruption and immorality throughout the world. Our weakness is evident at every turn, except for those who continuously supply their soul with the nourishment of Taqwa via these spiritual drips.


Allah Ta’ala has confirmed this in the Qur`aan Shareef:

“O You who Believe, Fear Allah and join the company of the Truthful ones 
(the pious, the Auliya Allah).”

[Surah Taubah 9 : 119]


Hazrat Maulana Maseehullah (RA) had explained very beautifully, that this Ayah (verse) draws attention to three important matters : Imaan, Taqwa and Suhbah. And Hazrat Maulana (RA) elaborated, saying that for the nourishment, growth, health and preservation of Imaan, Taqwa is required. Without Taqwa, one’s Imaan will weaken, will decline … will wilt and wither away. However, for the nourishment, development, growth and progress of Taqwa, the Suhbah (companionship) of the pious is indispensable. It is essential.


Allah Ta’ala commands us to keep the company of the ‘Siddiqeen’, the truthful ones – because they are truthful in their piety. They have the reality of what they project.


Another point that we  are informed of was that if air is introduced in the bloodstream, this would lead to health complications which can be fatal as well.


Similarly when a person keeps such company and attends such majaalis, but entertains in his heart insincerity, or in his good efforts, the person begins to suffer the infection of ujub or kibr, or the person becomes jealous of others and allows malice to breed in his heart – then this is that poison which can lead to spiritual death, despite being in the right environment and company.


Allah Ta’ala grant us all Ikhlaas and full benefit in the efforts we make to keep company with His Friends.


By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (RA)



Tuesday 4 September 2012

The Best of Both Worlds



In verse 200 / 201 of Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah Ta’ala states :


 “…From amongst people are those who say : “O our Rabb, grant us (Your bounties)  in this world.” But they will have no portion in the Hereafter.

And from them are also those who say :

“O our Rabb,  grant us good in this world, and good in the hereafter and save us 
from the punishment of the fire.”


In the pre-Islamic days, known as the days of Ignorance or Jahiliyyah, people would also perform the Hajj[1]. They too would proceed to Mina, Arafaat and Muzdalifa[2]. However, there were many customary actions which were rife, which Allah Ta’ala makes mention of, guiding the Muslims to abandon such ignorant and vain pursuits, more especially during the sacred days of Hajj.


Allah Ta’ala continues the same discussion, by mentioning that some of those Arabs from the period of Jahiliyyah, would, during the days of Hajj, only make dua for worldly needs and wants. They would ask for wealth, property, honour - anything and everything worldly, which they were desirous of. Their duas thus comprised of only requests for material acquisition or worldly success, and such supplications were and are insignificant in comparison to the greater needs of man in respect to the life to come.


Moreover, they asked without care and concern, wanting just satisfaction of their worldly desires – whether it be good and beneficial, or bad and harmful. Their supplication did not include the word ‘hasanah’, which would be the means of goodness in what they ask.


With regards to these people, Allah Ta’ala says : But they will have no portion in the Hereafter, because they only asked for this world. Moreover, they will only get that which was apportioned for them in this world; they will receive only what Allah Ta’ala decreed for them – nothing more, nothing less.


This verse is also a warning to the Muslims who pray for only worldly achievements, whose main objective is success in this worldly life, with no concern for their spiritual needs.


Immediately thereafter, Allah Ta’ala makes mention of another kind of people and the dua that they make:

 رَبَّنَاۤ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِى الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ 

“O  Our Sustainer, give us in this world hasanah, and in the hereafter, hasanah, and save us from the punishment of the fire.”


This second group of people would ask for the things of this world, but they asked for it with “hasanah”.


This Dua is a Masnoon dua which Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) recited in abundance. We are also taught to recite this dua between the Ruknul Yamaani[3] and Hajre Aswad[4] during Tawaaf[5]. However, it can be recited after Salaah and on any other occasion.


The question arises as to why must this Dua be recited in abundance? 


The reason is, that despite this Dua being concise in words, it is most comprehensive and all-encompassing. It includes every bounty and blessing, of both worlds. The person is not just asking for wealth, honour, etc. per say; rather he is seeking “hasanah” (goodness) with these bounties.


The Mufassireen (Commentators) explain that “فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً” encompasses every need of a person in this world.


It is unfortunate that we do not understand nor value the dua. Our condition is such, that when we request someone for dua, and he says : “May Allah Ta’ala grant you the best of both worlds,” we feel dissatisfied. We desire a lengthy dua wherein various bounties and blessings should be mentioned – yet this dua includes every blessing, every bounty and every kind of good and favourable condition.


We also learn from this dua that Allah Ta’ala does not prevent us from seeking the material things of this world. We are living in a world of means and there are many requirements for our existence. Allah Ta’ala encourages and approves dua wherein a person is seeking his worldly needs. It is as if Allah Ta’ala is telling us, “Make this dua, in which you seek the good of this world also.”


Now what is meant by “فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً” ?


Allaamah Sayyid Mahmood Aaloosi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had explained in his Tafseer, ‘Ruhul Ma`aani’, the best of this world as:


1.)       ‘Al Aafiyatu wal Kafa’ : Well-being and Protection from all forms of trials (fitan) and Sufficiency in Rizq (Sustenance).

2.)          ‘Az Zawj us Sawlih’ - A pious, righteous, compatible marriage partner.

3.)          ‘Al-Aulaadul Abraar’ - Pious children

4.)    'Al Maal-us-Sawlih' - Wealth which is obtained through Halaal sources, full of Barakah (blessings) and free of contamination and impurity. 

5.)          ‘Thana-ul-Khalq’ – The praise and good opinion of people.

6.)           ‘Al-Ilm wal Ibaadah’ - Beneficial knowledge and practice upon it. 

7.)           ‘Fahm’ - Understanding of Deen.

8.)          ‘Suhbat-us-Sawliheen’ – The company of the pious.

9.)     ‘An nusratu alal ’adaa’ – Help against all enemies, including the greatest ones – nafs and shaytaan.


Also included is the seeking of the ability to perform righteous deeds. Every action that is done according to the Qur`aan Shareef and Sunnah will fall under righteous deeds. Whether it is Salaah, Zakaah, Fasting, caring for the poor, the needy and the destitute, fulfillment of the rights of one’s spouse, fulfillment of the rights of the children, neighbours, the poor and everybody. All this falls under righteous deeds and it is these actions that will become the protection from the punishment of the fire, as has been brought out in the dua: “… and save us from the punishment of the fire.”


‘Hasanah fil Aakhirah’ includes every need of ours in the Hereafter, whether it be protection from the punishment of the grave, easy reckoning on the Day of Qiyaamah, entry into Jannah and enjoyment of all those bounties which no eye has seen, no ear has heard of and the thought also, has not crossed anyone’s mind, including the greatest bounty of seeing the Countenance of Allah Ta’ala.


So it is a very beautiful, comprehensive dua which has been given to us by Allah Ta’ala and we should include it in our duas after Salaah and on other occasions. However, it must be made with deep hearted meditation, sincerity and conviction.



Extracted and condensed from the 1431 Ramadaan Fajr talks of Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (RA).

For a detailed explanation, download from the website: YunusPatel.co.za





[1] Hajj : Pilgrimage to Makkah Mukarramah. This is the 5th pillar of Islam.
[2] Mina, Arafaat, Muzdalifa : Specific places visited during the Pilgrimage
[3] Ruknul Yamaani : One of the blessed  corners of the Ka`bah Shareef
[4] Hajre-Aswad : The Black Stone
[5] Tawaaf : Circumambulation of the Ka`bah Shareef