The Harm of Television

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

Television is a box of poisonous snakes and scorpions: If one does not bite, another surely stings. Most of the programmes and films that are screened are extremely ‘poisonous’ and damaging to Imaan, Hayaa (modesty) and Akhlaaq (character) and has wrought tremendous destruction to the Ummah at large.

The spiritual harm of the television only a “blind hearted” person can deny. There is now so much of scientific evidence that proves the physical damage caused by television viewing. A recent article stated that thousands of children suffered epileptic fits after viewing a certain cartoon feature on television.

We have to act responsibly for our own benefit and that of our children, and remove the ‘Dajjaal’ box from our homes.

How can we justify viewing television, by saying that there are some good programmes, when the major content is highly immoral, explicit and Haraam? Even in alcohol and gambling there is a little benefit to be found. Can we then declare it “Halaal”? – No!

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding and guide us.

Illicit Love

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

The comfort of life is lost in sin and illicit love. The end results of all illicit love relationships are fights, quarrels, arguments, restlessness, anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies – even suicide.

The weakness of all those who are drowning in the ocean of illicit love is that they have given their hearts to bodies, which are going to turn to dust. Instead of giving their hearts to the Creator of hearts, they have given their hearts to faces; the beauty of which, will inevitably be lost with the passage of time or with illness.

Many are the lovers who run off like mules when age snatches away the beauty of the faces of their beloved ones. Those who give their hearts to Allah Ta’ala enjoy unending happiness, because Allah Ta’ala’s beauty neither decreases nor perishes.

The Love of Allah Ta’ala and our beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is a guaranteed prescription for peace and happiness.

A simple method to develop this love is to engage in the Zikr of Allah Ta’ala^[1], recite Durood Shareef in abundance, abstain from sins, keep the company of the righteous, and follow the Sunnah of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

Since illicit love begins with the evil gaze, Allah Ta’ala mentions, in a Hadeeth-e-Qudsi: “Verily, evil glancing is an arrow from the poisonous arrows of shaytaan. Whosoever fears Me and refrains from it will receive from Me (Allah Ta’ala) such Imaan, the sweetness of which he will feel in his heart.”^[2]

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[1] Zikr should be carried out under the guidance of a Shaykh.

[2] Kanzul-Ummaal

Islaahi Correpondence | Letter Eleven | Children

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

LETTER ELEVEN

Children

Question

As-Salaamu ‘alaikum warahmatullah

Alhamdulillah, I am in Hijaab and punctual with Salaah and I try to please Allah Ta’ala and follow the Sunnah. However, since I have had my daughter, I find bringing her up to be very trying and sometimes I lose my temper. She is now two years old and besides being demanding, always wanting my attention, and disruptive, she also gets in my way every time I make Salaah, so much so that I break my Salaah and have to start over. I am very frustrated and take out my frustrations on my husband, who is very loving, caring and patient towards me.

Reply

Bismihi Ta’ala

Dear Sister,

Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu

1.)     Masha-Allah, it is very pleasing to note the effort that you are making to please Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala grant Istiqaamah^[1] and acceptance.

2.)     Islam has conferred upon the mother great rights due to having carried a baby for nine months, and suffering weakness upon weakness; thereafter the trauma of childbirth and the many sacrifices that follow once the child has come into the world. On all of those sacrifices, Allah Ta’ala grants immense rewards.

3.)     Almost all mothers describe the age of around 2 years as the ‘terrible twos’ – because toddlers generally become stubborn and rebellious and are a great test of patience. So you are not alone in that frustration.

Inculcate the quality of Sabr (patience) by thinking of the great rewards.

However, you should be careful not to allow your frustration to get the better of you, such that you begin to hit, slap or whack the child. Many, many mothers feel that since it is their children, they can do as they like – and it is generally not because of Tarbiyyah and discipline, but due to the frustration of their nafs. This frustration is then taken out on their children, and often it is ‘Zulm’ (injustice). Keep in mind that your child is a trust from Allah Ta’ala – for which you will be questioned.

When distressed or frustrated, make a lot of Dua for your daughter – but do not ever curse, since a mother’s Dua is immediately accepted.

Read: يَا لَطِيْفُ x 7 and blow on her when she is troublesome and crying. Read Durood Shareef as well.

Add the following to your daily Duas:

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَ ذُرِّيّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَّ اجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِيْنَ إِمَامًا◌

And those who say, “Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.”

[Surah Al-Furqaan 25 : 74]

4.)     Anger and frustration are part of being human. However, do not give vent to such feelings in a manner which would be unacceptable and sinful. If you have, humbly apologize to your husband.

5.)     Express gratitude that Allah Ta’ala has blessed you with a husband who is good. Do also show your husband, your appreciation.

6.)     You do not need to break your Salaah if she obstructs you. You are allowed to take 2 or 3 steps back to allow for Sajda. You can even move forward as long as you do not go beyond the place of Sajda. Such ‘obstruction’ was even caused to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Sometimes his grandchild climbed on his back when he went into Sajdah. He prolonged his Sajdah to allow him to get off. Such obstruction is excused. 

7.)    The Ibaadah of a married person is superior to that of the Ibaadah of an unmarried person. This is because of the added responsibilities, as well as the demands that come along with marriage and parenting.

8.)   There are many good kitaabs on the upbringing of children, which have been compiled by our respected ‘Ulama. You should try and read these books and follow the noble guidance conveyed.

9.)     May Allah Ta’ala make easy the upbringing of your daughter, and may He make her the coolness of your eyes and the comfort and delight of your heart. May Allah Ta’ala make easy all your tasks.

Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu

Yunus Patel (Maulana)

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[1] Istiqaamah : steadfastness

Boasting and Claiming Greatness

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh)

Pride and greatness are exclusive attributes of Allah Ta’ala. He is the Only One worthy of such qualities. 

Amongst Allah Ta’ala’s Beautiful Names are: “Al-Mutakkabir” (The Supreme), “Al-Kabeer” (The Greatest), “Al-Jaleel” (Majestic), “Al-Qawi” (Most Strong), and “Al-Qaadir” (All-Powerful). Many more attributes make evident Allah Ta’ala’s Greatness and Power. The entire Qur`aan Shareef is an exposition of Allah Ta’ala’s Supremacy and Greatness.

Man’s helplessness, weakness and vulnerability becomes manifest when he recognizes his Creator. When there is no recognition, man considers his own might, strength, power and force as great. This is the deception of nafs and shaytaan.

When anyone makes the claim that he is great, he inevitably faces humiliation and ruin.

Fir`aun uttered the greatest lie, that he is the Lord, Most High, and for all his claims of being so powerful, the waters of the Red Sea overwhelmed him and he drowned.

Allah Ta’ala relates:

فَقَالَ أَنَا۫ رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلٰى ۖ

 “And he said: ‘I am your supreme Lord.’”

فَأَخَذَهُ اللّٰهُ نَكَالَ الْاٰخِرَةِ وَالْأُوْلٰى ؕ

 “So, Allah seized him for an exemplary punishment in the Hereafter and the present world.”

[Surah An-Nazi’aat 79 : 24 / 25]

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا الْاٰخَرِيْنَ ؕ

Then We drowned the others.

[Surah Ash-Shu`ara 26 : 66]

Qa’run made a claim of being independent of Allah Ta’ala. This was his pride due to his great intelligence and due to the great wealth he had amassed. He had so much of wealth that the keys to his wealth were too many to count. 

وَاٰتَيْنٰهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوْزِ مَاۤ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهٗ لَتَنُوْۤاُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِى الْقُوَّةِ ^ق

 “…And We had given to him such treasures as their keys would weigh too heavy 
for a strong group of people…”

[Surah Al-Qasas 28 : 76]

قَالَ إِنَّمَاۤ أُوْتِيْتُهٗ عَلٰى عِلْمٍ عِنْدِيْ ^ط

“He said: ‘This is given to me because of the knowledge (I have) with me.”

[Surah Al-Qasas 28 : 78]

What became of him?

On his claim of being independent, on his pride and arrogance, and his rejection of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala caused the earth to swallow and digest him and his wealth.

فَخَسَفْنَا بِهٖ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ ^قف

“Then We made him and his home sink into the earth…”

[Surah Al-Qasas 28 : 81]

In history, we learnt of the Spanish Armada. It was described as “invincible” – only to find itself being defeated.

When the Titanic set off on its maiden voyage, the claim was that it was “unsinkable”. It sank on its first journey.

A famous boxer made a huge claim: “I am the greatest.” When he made this claim, he was floored.

Alhamdulillah, Allah Ta’ala destined Islam for him and he realized that Allah Ta’ala is the greatest. When diagnosed with sickness, he openly acknowledged: "Allah gave me this illness to remind me that I'm not number one – He is. I’m not the greatest, Allah is.”

The claim of superiority and greatness does not befit the slaves and servants of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala does not like that His Creation claims a quality which is solely and exclusively His. 


Allah Ta’ala wants us to recognize His Superiority, Greatness and Power, and submit ourselves as slaves do, before their Master. This submission and humility earns one closeness to Allah Ta’ala and His special Mercy and Favours.

Allah Ta’ala describes these servants who will receive His special Mercy as:

وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمٰنِ الَّذِيْنَ يَمْشُوْنَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا

 “The servants of Ar-Rahmaan (The All-Merciful) are those who walk on the earth, humbly…”

[Surah Al-Furqaan 25]

The more the success of a person, the more the humility his success should generate. …Take a lesson from the tree: When laden with fruit, the branches bend in humility. If they have to show their “greatness” they will snap or break.

Similarly, when a slave of Allah Ta’ala tries to show his greatness and independence, he ‘breaks’…

Allah Ta’ala said: “Pride is My cloak and Greatness is My garment; so whoever competes with Me regarding these two will be thrown into the Hellfire.^[1]”^[2]

May Allah Ta’ala purify us of the diseases of Kibr (pride) and Ujub (vanity) and grant us the reality of Abdiyyat (servitude) and Tawaadhu (humility).

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[1] Sunan Abu Dawud

[2] The implied meaning is Pride and Supremacy belong to Allah Ta’ala Alone.