Saturday 26 September 2015

Islaahi Correspondence | Letter Fifteen | Mujaahadah and Taubah


Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

LETTER FIFTEEN


Mujaahadah and Taubah

Question


As-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu


Respected Maulana, despite having spent 5 years at Madrasah, and being occupied in the Khidmat of Deen, I still find myself weak with regard to nafs and shaytaan. I still fall into some sin or the other. This makes me very despondent and a feeling of darkness envelops me. I carry out some good a’maal and then spoil them with some bad deed. There are times when I find myself intending to do something displeasing to Allah Ta’ala, then though I find restlessness in my heart, I give in to nafs and shaytaan. After this, I cry in repentance, but after some time, fall into some sin again.


I try to read Tahajjud but would like to become regular in its performance. I have been told that it is not good to sleep during the time of Fajr and would like to verify.



Reply

Bismihi Ta’ala

Sister in Islam,

Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu


1.)    The Hadeeth states that all of the children of Hazrat Aadam (Alaihis Salaam) are sinners but the best of them are those who make Taubah.

“To err is human” – but every experience, good or bad, should be a means by which we draw lessons.


...As we go through the mill of life, we draw from our experiences and learn the dark and dangerous zones of life, the red light areas and the green light areas of life. But it becomes easier to escape the dark alleys of sins, when we follow someone who has a lamp or torch. Sometimes we think that the short cut is better, but the longer route is spiritually safer. However, it is only a spiritual guide who can lead us down the right path… otherwise, nafs and shaytaan make us branch off at some stage, taking us far from Allah Ta’ala’s pleasure - despite our knowledge of Deen. (Allah Ta’ala protect us all).


2.)    The Fatwa[1] given by your heart, by means of the restlessness, was that this deed is wrong.


3.)    Regret, remorse and tears of repentance are dearly loved by Allah Ta’ala. It even honours a person with higher spiritual stages, conditional to the person being sincere. So be hopeful. Allah Ta’ala is Loving, Merciful and Forgiving. Alhamdulillah, He has given you the Taufeeq of Taubah, but this should not make you complacent.


4.)    Retrace your steps to obedience. Give up sins and continue with the Fardh and Waajib and Sunnah. Allah Ta’ala will grant the Taufeeq to do even more when you prove yourself in the efforts that you will now make to obey Him.


5.)    Listen to my weekly talks (which are audio-streamed). Read the kitaabs again, especially “Combating the whisperings of shaytaan” and “Aashiq-e-Sawdiq”. Insha-Allah, there will be benefit and improvement.


6.)    You can wake up half an hour before Fajr for Tahajjud and stay awake right until Ishraaq. The morning is blessed for the Ummah of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Work towards having a rest in the afternoons. But if you cannot do so, then sleep when sleep comes, but not at the cost of a Fardh Salaah. It is not a sin to sleep after Fajr Salaah, as some make it out to be.


7.)    If you find it difficult to wake up for Tahajjud, read 2 Rakaats (or more) before the Witr and you will get the reward, Insha-Allah. You will also get more reward in abstaining from sin, than reading Tahajjud – although, the merits of Tahajjud are very great. So if that too can be secured, it is a precious bounty.


8.)    Making Dua. Request the same.



Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu
Yunus Patel (Maulana)





[1]   Fatwa : ruling



Saturday 12 September 2015

Three Intoxicants

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem 


Extract from ‘Aashiq-e-Sawdiq’  by
Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh)


My spiritual mentor, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) once asked me: “How many kinds of intoxicating drinks are there?”


I replied : “I do not know.”


Hazrat (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) then explained to me that there are three kinds of intoxicants :

·        The first is the intoxicating wine of ‘Dunya’[1]. The majority on the face of the earth are intoxicated with something of the earth: gold, silver, property, business, fashion, cars, etc. Yet this ‘Dunya’ is something that is neither ‘Azali’ nor ‘Abadi’ – meaning that it was not existent previously. It has been created. Added to this it will not remain forever. It will one day perish.



·        The second kind of intoxicant is the intoxication of the Aakhirah (Hereafter). Jannah[2] is the drink of the Aakhirah. Even though it is not ‘Azali’ (from all times), it is ‘Abadi – meaning that it will not be destroyed. It will exist into eternity. This intoxicant is permissible; in fact it is recommended to seek.



·        The third kind of intoxicant is the intoxication of ‘HAQ’[3]. The drink of DIVINE LOVE. This is unique and unparalleled as it is neither created nor will it perish. It was. It is. It will always be.

This drink is exclusive to the Ahlullah[4]. If we desire ‘the drink of the pure love of our Master, Allah Ta’ala’, we will have to keep company with His lovers. Their generosity is such that they share the same with those who have the thirst.






[1] Dunya : The material world
[2] Jannah : Paradise
[3] Haq : The Truth. This is one of the Attributes of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala is Existent, from all times and forever.
[4] Ahlullah : The people of Allah Ta'ala