Book | Guidance for the Youth

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

EXTRACT

ON ONE OCCASION, when I was addressing a group of young boys, I explained to them: The word “you” is in “youth”. And you are presently in youth. Your youth is in your hands. Now it is left to YOU to safeguard ‘you’ in your youth or destroy ‘you’ in your youth.

If you safeguard your youth, Allah Ta’ala will give you respect and dignity. You will enjoy good health – both physical and spiritual. You will enjoy a wholesome, happy life. There will be success in both worlds.

Allah Ta’ala promises you the noble and enviable position of being in the Shade of His Arsh (Throne) on the Day of Qiyamah. Seek this special honour and privilege in your youth!

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Do Not Justify Sins

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

BEING HUMAN, we all have weaknesses, flaws and faults. None of us can claim to be perfect. The important thing is to acknowledge our weaknesses, short-comings and failings. We should not make a mockery of this beautiful Deen by justifying our wrong actions or by legalising sins.

There is no doubt that we are living in times of great Fitnah. Fitan^[1] are literally raining down upon us. This is what we were informed would happen. Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam once said (to the people): “Do you see what I see?”

They replied: “No.”

Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “I see Fitan (trials) descending in your homes like the falling rain.”^[2]

This was in respect to the coming generations and what they would experience and would have to contend with. As for the Sahaba-e-Kiraam رَضِىَ الله عَنْهُمْ, they belonged to the first era of what is described as ‘Khairul Quroon’ (the noblest eras of Islam).

Despite the vicious environment of Fitnah and sins today, there can be no justification for disobedience to Allah Ta’ala. Yes, a greater effort needs to be made to protect ourselves from the downpour of Fitan. This is totally possible – if we hold firmly to the beautiful teachings of the Qur’aan Shareef and Sunnah; if we keep to the company of the pious and righteous, and we continuously seek protection in Allah Ta’ala from all tribulations and evils. Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Seek refuge in Allah from trials, whether apparent or hidden.”^[3] And Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam taught us a Dua whereby we seek refuge from all types of Fitan:

  

“I seek refuge in Allah from apparent and hidden trials.”

Together with this, we should keep making a concerted effort ourselves to abstain from sins as well as from all the venues of sins. …However, to commit sins and justify sins is not the attitude and stance of a true Believer. Unfortunately, we find nowadays, that many take sins very lightly and indifferently. Worse still is that many will find some “reason” or excuse or validation for indulgence in sins - نَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰه.

Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam was once questioned: “What is Imaan (faith)?”

He Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam replied: “When your good deeds give you happiness and when your evil deeds cause you grief.”^[4]

What is our condition then, if instead of feeling grief, we substantiate and endorse sins?

I receive so many letters and many phone-calls from different people and most choose to be anonymous. Some statements are of a nature which makes our hair stand on end – they are so dangerous and jeopardising to a person’s Imaan. Some of them write that if Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam had been present in this time, he Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam too would have permitted this and that – which is Haraam; he too would have integrated with the society by participating in the World Cup and attending the sports matches, he too would have legalised interest, etc. نَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰه.Some say that the laws of inheritance and Talaaq are unfair and unjust, that certain Shar’i laws need some kind of amendment, etc. نَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰه.

We must be very, very careful about the type of statements we make.

We are living in times where many do not value the priceless bounties of Imaan and Islam. In a Hadīth, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam described this period of time as: “…a man will be a Believer in the morning and a disbeliever by the evening, and a Believer in the evening and a disbeliever in the morning...”^[5]…This will be the condition, due to the statements made and the actions carried out, which nullify Imaan.

Our condition brings to mind a lengthy Hadīth in respect to the deterioration of the Ummah. The outline of the Hadīth is that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, while addressing the Sahabah رَضِىَ الله عَنْهُمْ: “What will be your condition (that is, of the Ummah) when you will not enjoin good and forbid evil? …What will be your condition when you will take the good deeds as evil, and evil deeds as good? …What will then be your condition when you will order evil, and prohibit from doing good deeds?”^[6]

Amr-bil-Ma’roof and Nahy-anil-Munkar are salient features in the life of a Muslim. Among the major sins that we commit is that we have stopped inviting towards good and we have stopped preventing people from Haraam deeds. Instead, we invite others to Haraam and we prevent them from doing good. We now consider evil deeds as good and we consider good deeds as evil – just as is mentioned in the Hadīth.

…It is as if we do not want to go alone to Jahannum, so we pull others along with us. We invite them to Zina, drugs, drink, music, pornography, to the rave clubs, casinos and other Haraam establishments. May Allah Ta’ala give us the realization that we are paving the way to our destruction and the destruction of others.

My dear brothers, I have great love for you and great compassion and affection for you in my heart and I sincerely make deep-hearted Dua for you, as well as for those who are listening via audio-streaming and via the receivers. …I am warning and cautioning you, and I have given this warning in other talks as well: If a person is committing a sin, then at the least, do not justify it. 

We are weak. Therefore, say: O Allah, it is my weakness; it is my failing. …But do not try to justify the wrong.

It is purely Allah Ta’ala’s Kindness, Mercy, Compassion, Forgiveness and Tolerance that He has not taken us to task and not seized us on our disobedience. Allah Ta’ala is All-Powerful. He has shown us His Power in different parts of the world: earthquakes, ash-clouds, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires and other disasters. …He can destroy us too due to our excessive sins. It is just His Tolerance that we are still existing. 

Do not engage in sins deliberately. Do not justify sins. Do not invite others to commit sins. A Muslim does not plan sin, does not deliberately move in the direction of disobedience, does not try to substantiate or legalise sins. A Muslim may mistakenly fall into some sin – but a true Muslim is restless and uncomfortable committing any sin and will not be at ease until he sincerely repents.

So we should turn towards Allah Ta’ala, make I'tiraaf-e-qusoor – acknowledge our sins and admit our weaknesses. If we do this, Allah Ta’ala will open the doors of Maghfirah (forgiveness) and grant us Hidayah, Taufeeq and His Protection.

May Allah Ta’ala forgive us all. May Allah Ta’ala make us of those who do good and who guide and call towards Jannah – in our speech and in our actions. May Allah Ta’ala make us keys to righteousness, that we open doors towards virtuous deeds and towards Jannah, and may Allah Ta’ala protect us from being keys to vice – that we open the doors to evil and become locks to goodness.

Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Among the people are those who are keys to goodness and locks to evil. And from among the people are those who are keys to evil and locks to goodness. So glad tidings to the one who Allah puts the key to goodness in his hands, and destruction to the one who Allah puts the key to evil in his hands.”^[7]

This does not mean that Allah Ta’ala compels or forces a person. Allah Ta’ala clearly shows us the path of guidance and good, and the path of misguidance and evil:

“And We have shown him the two ways (good and evil).”

[Surah Al-Balad 90 : 10]

Our actions are our choice. A person’s actions then make him one of the two keys. …If we call towards good, we will gain the rewards of those who follow us in good. On the other hand, if we call to misguidance and sin, then we bear the burden of the sins of those who follow us, as well as our own sins. This is what is mentioned in the Ahadīth.^[8] …So let us be of those who invite towards Jannah.

May Allah Ta’ala have mercy upon us, guide us all and protect our Imaan in these times of great Fitnah.

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[1] Fitan: (Plural of Fitnah) Trials

[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari

[3] Sahih Muslim

[4] Musnad Ahmad

[5] Sahih Muslim

[6] Kanzul Ummaal Vol 3 Pg. 688

[7] ‎Sunan Ibn Majah

[8] Sahih Muslim

Qurbani

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

Allah Ta’ala states regarding the lofty act of Qurbani:

لَنْ يَّنَالَ اللّٰهَ لُحُوْمُهَا وَلَا دِمَاۤؤُهَا وَلٰكِنْ يَّنَالُهُ التَّقْوٰﮮ مِنْكُمْ ^ط كَذٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰىكُمْ ^ط وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِيْنَ ◌

 “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.”

[Surah Al-Hajj 22: 37]

Sadly, despite the knowledge disseminated of the merits and virtues of Qurbani and its obligatory nature, there are many who have the ability and means, yet they still present excuses of not having the money to undertake Qurbani. I am not talking about the poor and needy who are exempt from Qurbani. I am talking about those who are sitting with so many luxuries and they still ask if Qurbani is Waajib (obligatory) or not.

…Let us not take this act of Ibaadah so lightly. It is a great and very important Sunnah that has to be upheld, and it is compulsory for those who have the means to do so. Every adult Muslim, male and female, who owns 612.36 grams of silver or its equivalent in money, personal ornaments, stock-in-trade or any other form of wealth which is in excess of the person’s basic personal needs, is obligated to offer Qurbani.

It is also incorrect that we only promote Qurbani as a charitable undertaking – as something to assist the poor and needy – in different parts of the world. This is what is being highlighted in our advertisements and notices: That Qurbani be undertaken to distribute to the suffering Ummah, throughout the world.

Indeed, distributing to the poor is a great benefit of Qurbani. And similarly in all Ibaadaat, we will find that there are great benefits. However, the benefit is not the objective. This is something that should be understood.

The objective of Hajj is not just to meet everyone on Arafat, even though it is a congregation of millions of Muslims from around the world. The objective of fasting is not to lose weight, even though we are eating far less than usual. Similarly, the objective of Qurbani is not just to feed the poor. This is not the purpose.

If a person slaughters his animal or many animals, before the Eid Salaah, and then distributes all of that meat to the poor and needy, then even though that kind of generosity is very noble, every Mufti will say that the Qurbani is not valid, and for the Qurbani to be valid, it has to be done after the Eid Salaah. …In a town, if the Eid Salaah is performed at different venues, then after the first Eid Salaah, Qurbani will be valid.

Added to this, there are other rules, regulations and conditions to be fulfilled and met for Qurbani to be valid. …This shows that the Qurbani animal is different. Therefore Allah Ta’ala says:

لَنْ يَّنَالَ اللّٰهَ لُحُوْمُهَا وَلَا دِمَاۤؤُهَا وَلٰكِنْ يَّنَالُهُ التَّقْوٰﮮ مِنْكُمْ ^ط

 “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. ”

[Surah Al-Hajj 22: 37]

So Qurbani is not charity. If Qurbani is only charity, then how can we eat of it? Can we utilize our Zakaat – or a portion of it - for ourselves? No.

Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) ate from his own Qurbani – but he (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would not eat of Sadaqah.

So Qurbani should be done seeking the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.

Sadly, most people opt to give their money to different organisations, so that their Qurbani is discharged without any labour. To give money is very easy but this is not the spirit of Qurbani.

If we just send our money to the neighbouring countries or overseas, then we are depriving ourselves and our children of the spirit of sacrifice.

Yes, send the Nafl Qurbanis to other places – if you wish to – and where the people will benefit. However, at least make one or two at home. Let the children see and take lesson. We ourselves need to see and take lesson.

In enlivening this Sunnah, we take so many beautiful lessons. The heart and the soul are stirred to move in the direction of submission to Allah Ta’ala.

We see how the sheep or goat or other Qurbani animal is made to lie down, and how its gives its life in the name of Allah Ta’ala. And we take lesson that just as that sheep sacrificed its life on the Hukm of Allah Ta’ala, so we, who are the servants of Allah Ta’ala, should be sacrificing our evil desires. In fact, our whole lives should be sacrificed for Allah Ta’ala.

Our respected Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) presented a wonderful analogy. Hazrat asked: “When does the sun rise?”

As we all know, it rises when the horizon turns red.

Hazrat then explained: “Just as the sun rises when the horizon turns red, similarly, the suns of Allah Ta’ala’s Muhabbat and Ma’rifat will rise when the horizons of the heart turn red with the blood of one’s evil desires, which have been sacrificed for Allah Ta’ala.”

Qurbani is the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam) and we must remember that Hazrat Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam) was not slaughtering a ram or sheep. The knife was placed on his beloved son. That was the test and what a test! After making Dua for a son and being granted a son, the Command is then to slaughter that very beloved son.

Hazrat Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam) was Khaleelullah – the Friend of Allah Ta’ala, and he proved his love for Allah Ta’ala. It was not just a claim. It was supported by his entire life – which was clear proof of Ishq. And Ishq is something, that when it comes into the heart, it cannot be hidden. It is something which is evident in speech, in action – in everything and in every way.

We find that there was no questioning any of Allah Ta’ala’s Commands. There was immediate submission to every Command. …We should ask ourselves: What have we done to validate our claim of loving Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)?

Hazrat Isma’eel (Alaihis Salaam) was Zabeehullah. We find that there was no objection on hearing the Command of Allah Ta’aala; only immediate submission.

Imagine that scene: The son willingly and unhesitatingly tells his father to go ahead in fulfilling the Command of Allah Ta’ala.

قَالَ يٰٓأَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ^ز سَتَجِدُنِىْٓ إِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ ◌

“(The son) said : ‘O my father! Do as you are commanded: You will find me, if Allah so wills, practising patience and constancy.”

[Surah As-Saffaat 37 : 102]

Both father and son passed their tests with flying colours. And these were very great and difficult tests. … We are not being tested like that. Allah Ta’ala made it easy for us.

Despite the ease, we cannot even put the knife on our Haraam desires … yet, if we sacrifice our Haraam desires, we will benefit. We, ourselves, will be the beneficiaries.

I often say that in the word “Haraam”, there is the word “harm”. The outcome of Haraam will always be harm. And considering the double ‘a’ in the transliteration, we will experience double Harm: Harm in this world and Harm in the next. There is just no goodness. Sins bring restless, anxiety and a host of problems.

What is required is for us to place the knife over the animal within us. What is required is to place the knife over our anger – our unjustified anger; and place the knife over our greed, evil passions, jealousy and other evils. 

Allah Ta’ala commands us to wake up for Fajr, to read our five Salaah, daily, in the Masjid, to fulfil the other rights of Allah Ta’ala and the rights of Creation. And we are commanded to stay clear, to stay far away, from whatever Allah Ta’ala has declared as Haraam. And in this easy way, gain the Muhabbat of Allah Ta’ala and enjoy the best of both worlds.

…There is so much to discuss about the Hajj that will be taking place and everything relating to this Mubarak month: The Farewell Hajj, the unforgettable sermon given by Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), the Qurbani, and the great virtues of these Mubarak days and nights. We must not depend on only the Jumu`ah talk to learn Deen. We should seek to know and understand all these important events in our beautiful history as well as learn the related Masaa`il of the different Ibaadaat we are commanded to do.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us a good, proper understanding and the Taufeeq of striving to earn His Pleasure.