In the Knowledge of Allah

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh)

Imam Malik (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) had great respect and great love for Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and Madina Munawwarah. He once wanted to perform Nafl Hajj, but feared that he may die whilst on his journey for Hajj. …It was his deep-hearted desire to die in Madina Shareef.

In a dream, he saw Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and told him of his wish to die in Madina Shareef and he asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) as to how long he would live. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) showed his five fingers to Imam Malik (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi).

Not understanding the meaning of this dream, Imam Malik (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) wrote an anonymous letter to Shaykh Ibn Sireen (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) who was the renowned and distinguished interpreter of dreams, of the time.

On reading the dream, Shaykh Ibn Sireen (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) said that only Imam Malik (Rahmatullah ‘alaihi) could have had such a dream and then gave the interpretation, saying that the dream referred to an Ayah (verse) of the Qur`aan Shareef in which five things are mentioned which are in the exclusive knowledge of Allah Ta’ala  alone.

Allah Ta’ala states in the Qur`aan Shareef :

“Verily Allah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour (Qiyaamah), He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow (the next day), and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware

(He is acquainted with all things).”

                                                                    [Surah Luqman 31 : 34]

To briefly explain these 5 things as is mentioned in this Ayah (verse): 

THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOUR

Ø  The exact year and time remains unknown to us.

Ø  In the famous Hadeeth-e-Jibraeel, where Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was questioned with regard to Islam, Imaan and Ihsaan, he was also asked : “So inform me about the Hour (i.e. Qiyamah).”

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied: “The one who is being questioned is not more knowing than the one asking the question.” (meaning : neither do I know nor do you know.)

Ø  Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) conveyed many signs, which indicate to the proximity of the last day. These signs have been categorized as minor signs and major signs. All the minor signs have come to pass. Soon to follow are the major signs of Hazrat Mahdi, Dajjaal, the descension of Hazrat Eesa (‘alaihis Salaam), etc.

______________

HE SENDS DOWN THE RAIN

Ø  Weather bureaus predict rainfall. However, this is EXPECTED rainfall.

Allah Ta’ala does not talk about expected rain, but refers to the absolute and complete details of rain :

¨      The exact and precise time when the rainfall will commence.

¨      The exact details of the land, city or farm which will receive this rain.

¨      How much of rain is going to fall i.e. the exact amount.

¨    Whether the rain will be beneficial or destructive. …If we had such detailed knowledge, we would be able to prepare ourselves for floods and damage.

Ø  All the scientific instruments of the world cannot give us such details.

______________

AND HE KNOWS THAT WHICH IS IN THE WOMBS

Ø  Whether that child will be born or whether the mother to be will miscarry.

Ø  The most science can do is inform one as to whether the child will be a boy or girl and this too is not always 100%. Even if they advance to the level of 100 % certainty, then too, they cannot predict details such as :

v  The life span of the child and the sustenance that he / she will receive.

v  Whether the child will be black or white, whether the child will live a life of health or a life of ill health. Whether the child will be a doctor, Aalim, teacher, etc.

v  Whether the child will be a blessing for the parents or a curse.

______________

NO PERSON KNOWS WHAT HE WILL EARN TOMORROW

Ø  The detailed knowledge of exactly what a person will be able to do.

Ø  All we can do is plan. However, we should not trust in those plans. Anything can happen: an accident, death, war, revolution, etc. which then changes those plans. …All plans are subject to Allah Ta’ala’s confirmation.

Ø  This part of the Ayah (verse) also refers to wealth, i.e. exactly how much money a person will earn for that day.

______________

AND NO PERSON KNOWS IN WHAT LAND HE WILL DIE

Ø  Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam) was given the Kingdom of the world and was given the power and control to rule over everything, even the winds and the animals.

A simple man was once in the presence of Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam), when a stranger came before him. The stranger stared at the person in such a manner that he was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. He quickly requested Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam), to send him to a distant land.

Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam) commanded the wind to take the man where he wanted to go.

The following day Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam) met the stranger who was Hazrat Izra’eel^[1] (‘alaihis Salaam), and asked him as to why he had created such fear in a Muslim by staring at him. Hazrat Izra’eel (‘alaihis Salaam)  replied that he stared at the man in astonishment since Allah Ta’ala had commanded him to take the man’s soul that very day in a certain distant land and yet, he was in the Court of Hazrat Sulaiman (‘alaihis Salaam). However, when he reached India, he found him there and took his soul at the appointed time.

Ø  Many people remained all their lives in Madina Shareef or Makkah Shareef. Just before their death, they travel to some other land where they pass away and are buried. And many people reside elsewhere, and Allah Ta’ala creates those means whereby they reach Makkah Mukarramah or Madina Munawwarah, pass away and are buried there.

May Allah Ta’ala give us the understanding and acceptance of Allah Ta’ala’s Decree. Acceptance will create calm and peace in this journey of life. Otherwise, there is restlessness, apprehension, anxiety and worry on what is beyond a person’s knowledge and capacity.

So many debate and argue the knowledge of the Hour, whereas it is Allah Ta’ala’s secret. How many non-Muslims have given away all their belongings, etc. believing that the world will come to an end of a certain day, whereas that day came and went, and everything continued on, as usual. 

So many visit fortune tellers and others, seeking predictions of their futures, whether they will marry, have children, become rich, enjoy good health, etc. – Na-uzu Billah[2]. Reading palms, looking into crystal balls, reading tarot cards, etc. are all grave and serious sins and are Haraam. There is no one who can disclose these details to us because this is in the knowledge of Allah Ta’ala.

Others choose a graveyard or cemetery, where they wish to be buried, and they purchase their graves – but it is not necessary that this will be the place of their burial. It may be a foreign land, it may even be the sea, or in some other way, whereby, they may not be a burial at all.

---

[1] Hazrat Izraeel (alaihis Salaam) : The Angel of Death

[2] We seek Allah Ta’ala’s Protection

Futile Arguments

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

FUTILE ARGUMENTS

by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullah alayh)

 

It seems as if everyone has something to argue about these days. Arguing is a waste of precious time and a diversion of shaytaan, from carrying out good deeds or rendering services to Deen.

 

We do not have to worry about arguing with every other person. We have got no time to argue with people. Only that person will go around arguing with people who has got the time. …He has got the time to waste, therefore he will go around arguing.

 

One person went to the barber and said : “I have got black and white hair. So just take out all the white hair.” The barber shaved off all his hair, placed it in front of the man and said: “Now you can pick out all the white strands. I do not have the time for that.”

 

The person whose heart is connected with Allah Ta’ala does not have the time for arguments, for fights, for unnecessary quarrels and for wasting time over useless, futile activities.

 

“That person whose eye is on where the orders are coming, will not waste his time going and fighting with everybody.”

 

One person wrote a lengthy letter to me. He mentioned, amongst other things: “Maulana, you and all your blind followers who attend your programmes…” – have got this weakness, this weakness, this weakness.”

 

I gave the reply: “Jazakallah for informing us of some of our weaknesses. There are many more which Allah Ta’ala has concealed. I make Shukr to Allah Ta’ala that He did not reveal all our weaknesses. Please do keep me informed when you notice more weaknesses, and make Dua that Allah Ta’ala gives us Hidayat.”

 

That is all. Finished! …What am I going to start arguing about?

 

Futile arguing creates restlessness and darkness in the heart. It opens the door to misguidance. It leads a person away from Siratul Mustaqeem (the straight path). Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) cautioned us: “No people will go astray after having being guided except that they become argumentative.”[1]

 

We should not waste time over pettiness. We do not have the time for that. There will always be enemies; there will always be jealousy; there will always be malice. …There will be those who cannot see or stomach the progress of certain people and who will want to create unnecessary trouble and impede the person’s progress. There will also be people who argue because they are ignorant and/or because they do not have the humility to accept what is the truth; what is Deen. Their pride and arrogance leads them to futile arguments and to rejection of Haq. Their hearts constrict when the truth is presented to them. In fact, some will deliberately provoke and incite arguments - seeking attention, to rile others, to create discord and mischief, or because they have nothing else to do.

 

These situations occur. They occurred in the time of Rasullullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam), with the Mushrikeen of Makkah Mukarramah, the Jews and the hypocrites – and will continue. We should take our cue from Rasulullah (Sallaahu 'alayhi wasallam); follow his noble example and conduct ourselves as he did. We should be careful not to get caught up with unnecessary arguments.

 

Amongst the noble qualities of Allah Ta'ala's special servants (Ibaadur Rahmaan) are:

"...And when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace..."

[Surah Al-Furqaan - 25 : 63]

 

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “I guarantee a house in the outskirts of Paradise to the one who forsakes argument even when he is in the right."[2]

 

Allah Ta'ala grant us the Taufeeq of Amal.

---

[1] Tirmidhi

[2] Abu Dawood

The Concern of a Muslim

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh)

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

When you go to Delhi, Bombay or Calcutta and such places in India, you find many ‘shoe shine boys’ on the streets, who will shine your shoes.

The interest and sole concern of these shoe shine boys is the person’s shoes, whether the person walking by is the president, a lawyer, an ‘Aalim[1] or a Mufti[2]. The shoes of anyone and everyone that crosses their paths draws the attention of these shoe shine boys.

If the shoes are dirty or they are not in a ‘tip-top’ and shining condition, then these shoe shine boys invite you to have your shoes cleaned and polished. Their interest in shoes does not mean that they do not eat, drink, marry, etc. although it does seem that their only objective and purpose in life is shining shoes.

The following came to my mind having observed this when I was in India : This is the concern, concentration and single-mindedness of these boys – in earning a living.

Similarly, the sole concern and attention of the Muslim should be the Deen[3] of Allah Ta’ala: How can it be brought into my life ? How can it remain in my life?

Deen takes priority because our lives, salvation and success depend on it. As such we will do everything according to Deen - and Deen is such that it encompasses every aspect of life. Our priority and focus is then conforming to Qur`aan and Sunnah. We work on bringing our characters, business dealings, social dealings, family life, etc. in line with the teachings of Shariah and Sunnah[4]. We work towards establishing balance and harmony in fulfilling both the rights of Allah Ta’ala and the rights of creation.

Earning the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and earning Jannah in the Hereafter is the concern, concentration and single-mindedness of the Muslim.

Moreover, there is also a deep-hearted concern that others too become practical on Deen, and the effort is made in inviting others to Islam.

---

[1] ‘Aalim : Scholar of Islam

[2] Mufti : An expert is Islamic Law and Jurisprudence

[3] Deen : religion

[4] Sunnah : Practices of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and his noble  companions  (RA).