Wednesday 14 October 2015

Muharram & Aashura

Bismihi Ta'ala



EXTRACT:

Every year, when the blessed month of Muharram enters, we are reminded of certain incidents: The Hijrah, The  Day of Aashura and The Martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain (RA). These are generally the topics of discussion in the month of Muharram and Insha-Allah, something will be said in respect to each one.

The Hijrah

During the Khilafat of Hazrat Umar (RA), Islam had spread far and wide and there was a need to have some kind of date for the correspondence that was being sent out. Hazrat Umar (RA) thus consulted with the Sahaaba-e-Kiraam (RA) as to when the calendar should begin. Different views were presented before Hazrat Umar (RA) wisely declared that the calendar begin with the Hijrah.

Many lessons are taken from this decision ....






Thursday 8 October 2015

Who are our Role Models?


Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem


Advice for the Youth 
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullah 'alayh)


TODAY WE LOOK AT CRICKET PLAYERS, soccer players, rugby players, boxers, actors, actresses, musicians, etc. and we take them as our role models.


We want to identify ourselves with batsmen, fast bowlers and others – but most of them are not Believers in Allah Ta’ala. They have rejected Allah Ta’ala. They have no Noor of Imaan, no Noor of Taqwa – nothing. The end results are that those who follow them take on the same bad habits they have - drink, drugs, fornication, etc.


The lives of these players, musicians and others are destructive to their hereafter and destructive to those who are obsessed with them and who emulate them.


As Muslims, we have beautiful role models in our Beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), his noble companions (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and the Auliya Allah. ...The Ambiyaa[1] (Alaihimus Salaam) and their followers were the most successful of all people. Were we to learn about them, we will draw great inspiration and find them to be the best role-models.


We also need to acquaint ourselves with the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). They were MEN. And Brave Men. Their history, their feats, their conquests drown the thousands of insignificant and frivolous goals scored by soccer players or runs scored by cricket players or wins scored by others. …How will these benefit in the grave and the Hereafter?


The Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) achieved tremendous success because their lives were constructive and productive – for their Deen, Dunya and Aakhirah, as well as for those who emulate them.


In the effort and endeavour to follow them we gain the Muhabbat of Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and we get peace, happiness, contentment and enjoy the success of both worlds.


We should read about the lives of the youth amongst the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum). Their obedience in the prime of youth and their spirit of sacrifice offers great inspiration and incentive for all.


Hazrat Mus’ab Ibn Umair (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a young man, extremely handsome, growing up in the lap of absolute wealth and luxury. For the sake of Islam, and in his love for Allah Ta’ala, he gave up everything. Look at the honour Allah Ta’ala gave him in this life, at the time of death, and until Qiyamah. He will always be remembered for his noble contributions to Islam.


Read the stories of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbaas, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Zubair, and so many other young Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) – who spent their youth in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala and what greatness Allah Ta’ala bestowed upon them in this life. In the Hereafter, will be greater honour and high ranks in Jannah.


Our daughters should read the inspirational biographies of the wives, daughters and companions of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), as well as other pious women. This will be a catalyst towards living a life of piety and great success.


May Allah Ta'ala grant us the understanding and Taufeeq of Aml.


_____________

[1] Ambiyaa : Messengers of Allah Ta'ala



Saturday 3 October 2015

Nets and Webs


Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem


by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)


FISHERMEN CAST THEIR RODS AND AWAIT A CATCH. Others cast nets and trap big shoals. The spider spins its web and catches its prey. Nafs and shaytaan have also cast their rods and nets, and they have also spun their webs.


Huge shoals are being caught on M-Net, East-Net and other nets of shaytaan to be found on television. Added to this, many, many more are captured and entangled in the porn and other filthy websites on the Internet or on social networks.

Health, wealth and the most precious commodities of Imaan and Hayaa[1] are sacrificed for a few moments of Haraam pleasure.


As a measure of protection, the computer should be kept in a place where there is a lot of activity by family members. This will be a deterrent to the person who finds himself weak before nafs.


Keeping the computer in the family room or where members of the family pass by or spend time, will restrain the person from visiting porn and other immoral and filthy websites, Insha-Allah.


If the person is in his office or elsewhere, where he will be alone when using the computer, he should have a note placed above the screen, with bold writing:


ALLAH IS WATCHING!!!   or
 ‘WHAT IF?’

(i.e. What if the Angel of death visits whilst engaged in Haraam?)


If the cellphone is the temptation to view Haraam, then opt for a cellphone which is simple and does not have those features which offer access to Haraam. Or have the same reminder on your screen.


My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ), had said in poetry:

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


We should keep before us that our every movement, our every word, our every thought and our every feeling are in the Knowledge, Sight and Hearing of Allah Ta’ala.


The Mashaa`ikh have prescribed that we reflect, ponder and keep before us the Aayaat (verses) of the Qur`aan Shareef:

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ ط
“He is with you wherever you are…”
[Surah Al-Hadeed 57 : 4 ]
and:         
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَرٰى ؕ
 “Does he not know that Allah is watching (him)?”
[Surah Al ‘Alaq  96 : 14]


Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Qaaf :
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهٖ نَفْسُهٗ جۖ  وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيْدِ
“Indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughts
his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his)
jugular vein.”
                                           [Surah Qaaf 50 : 16]


May Allah Ta’ala grant us His Special Protection and the Taufeeq of giving up all sins. 





[1] Hayaa : Modesty