Passing the Examination of Life

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

If in any school, university, college or institute, questions of an examination are given or there is a paper ‘leak-out’, the examination is cancelled or reset.

Allah Ta’ala has given us the final question paper consisting of three outwardly simple questions. The preparation time has also been given - i.e. our lives. The examiners are also known: Munkar and Nakeer[1]. 

The consequences too have been spelt out. There is tremendous reward and honour in passing the examination, and there is disgrace and punishment on failure.

Even though it would take just a few seconds to learn these simple questions and answers, such that even 3 and 4 year olds could be taught the same, and can memorize them, it is not as easy as it seems.

Had it been so extremely easy, many more would have led their lives in accordance to the demands and dictates of the nafs .... because the answers are known. However this is not the reality of our final examination.

These answers depend on one’s life and one’s preparations for it.

The 3 questions to be asked (and their answers), as we know, are : 

1

2

3

If we say that Allah Ta’ala is our Rabb (Sustainer), we have to recognize Him as our Creator; as the One who has blessed us with all our spiritual, physical and material gifts. We have to recognize Him through His signs and we have to submit to and obey Him in this worldly life. This Ma`rifat or recognition is what will bring Ibaadah (worship) into practice and be the means by which the person will be able to answer the first question in the grave, immediately, and without any doubt. 

The second question can be answered without any difficulty if the person has lived a life of Submission to Allah Ta’ala, conforming to the Shari'ah which Allah Ta'ala revealed to His Messenger (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

The third question can readily be answered if the person has followed the beautiful and noble way of life of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). It won’t be possible for the person who lived the lifestyle of the enemies of Islam to answer this question easily.

Although we claim that we have Imaan and love for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), our actions contradict our claim. We assert and affirm that the true religion is Islam but we do not practise on its beautiful teachings. …Why?

A person may bribe, lie and cheat just to pass an examination of this world but there is no possibility for the same in the Qabr. To fly through the examination of the Qabr, we need to develop our Imaan in Allah Ta’ala, adorn our hearts with His Love and Ma’rifat (Recognition) and grace our lives with a practical expression of Islam by following the Qur`aan and the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

This is the only way to pass this most crucial examination of life, with ease. And we should always keep in mind that there is no re-testing and no re-marking. A person either passes or he fails.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding of the greatness of this test, and the effort to work in the direction of preparation for the questioning of the grave, that we may pass without any difficulty and with distinction.

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[1] Munkar and Nakeer : Two angels who question a person in his grave, shortly after death.

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi Alaih)

Tasawwuf and Bay`ah

Bismihi Ta'ala

‘The following is a collection of recommended audio lectures explaining Tasawwuf and Bay`ah (pledging allegiance), as well as removing general misconceptions.

These discourses accentuate the great importance of Islaah (Reformation) and Tazkiyyah (Purification), and striving to secure friendship and Love of Allah Ta’ala.’

The Purpose of Bay`ah (Part 1 and 2)

Bay`ah : The Road to Allah (1 – 2 – 3)

Download from:

http://yunuspatel.co.za/audio-bayat.php

Students and Bay`ah

Bismihi Ta'ala

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

In the past, students of Deen applied themselves fully and completely to their studies. Thereafter, they became bay’ah^[1]  and traversed the path to Allah Ta’ala (Sulook). All their time was fully occupied with studies. There was no such ‘free’ time to pass. Their studies were their Ibaadah and Mujahadah^[2].

In these days, fitnahs are crashing upon the Ummah[3], like an avalanche. Students have more free time. This free time gives shaytaan and nafs the opportunity to lead them into all kinds of sins. Many students of Deen have become toys for nafs and shaytaan: Just the cell phone alone has become the means of trapping them in illicit relationships, pornography and other vices. What then of the other fitnahs that they are exposed to?

…Due to the deficiency in ‘tarbiyyah’[4] and the general indifference by students, in respect to practicing on their ilm, the Mashaa`ik of the time accept students for bay’ah.

Our students of Deen need to seriously consider submitting themselves to a Shaykh who is “kaamil” and with whom there is “munasabat” (compatibility). They should thereafter keep his company, benefit from his guidance and advice, and strive to complete the process of Islaah (reformation) and Tazkiyyah (purification), under such a Shaykh. This will make them ‘Ulama in the true sense of the word.

Otherwise we just have mass production of ‘Ulama, but very little “haqeeqat”[5] of years of knowledge. Titles have become so cheap, that they have become a crying shame and embarrassment for the Ummah. …Emphasis is given to titles, whereas attention should be directed towards Islaah and Tazkiyyah.

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[1] Bay’ah : Pledging Allegiance

[2] Mujahadah : Striving

[3] Ummah : Community of Muslims

[4] Tarbiyyah : nurturing/ guiding

[5] Haqeeqat : reality

Gems 35 - 40

Bismihi Ta’ala

Selected and concise advices / sayings of 

Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

36.

The Shaykh-e-Kaamil looks at khuloos and not fuloos.

*khuloos : sincerity

*fuloos: money

37.

Ilm, without khashiyat is not recognized by Allah Ta’ala.

 *Ilm :  knowledge

*khashiyat: fear / awe

38.

In the circus, lions are subjected to the commands of man. They are trained to obey. 

Similarly, we have to subject nafs to the Commandments of Allah Ta’ala. 

We have to train the lion of nafs to obey Allah Ta’ala 

and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

39.

To cover up our sins, we allow our children to do as they please.

40.

When it comes to demanding a dress or money or some toy, a child begins to cry and insist: 

“I must have it! I must have it!”

Learn from that child. Insist : “O Allah, I must have Your Love.”

Islamic Law

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)

We want Islamic law to conform to our liking, so much so that we will find some Fatwa (Islamic ruling or verdict) to justify our actions.

The ordinary laymen, and so too many who are highly qualified in the secular field, read the Qur`aan Shareef and authentic Hadeeth kitaabs^[1] such as Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and find some Ayah (verse) or Hadeeth to justify their actions.

Often, the Ayah or Hadeeth is taken out of context and expounded to justify grave and major sins. 

Each Ayah and Hadeeth has an explanation and commentary. If there was no need for explanations, we would not have had Allama Sayyid Mahmood Baghdadi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh), Ibn Katheer (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) and other Mufassireen (commentators of the Qur`aan Shareef), or Hafez Asqalani (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh), Mulla Ali Qaari (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) and other Muhadditheen<sup>[2]</sup> writing volumes in commentary. Therefore, to just read and present an Ayah from the Qur`aan Shareef or a Hadeeth from a kitaab is not sufficient to justify one’s actions.

Despite the fact that there are so many law books and medical journals at the disposal of the layman, not everyone is qualified to understand or explain and interpret these. One has to spend many years in study and research under one already qualified in the field of law, medicine, etc. before one can do so. …If some quack has to give a wrong opinion or an incorrect diagnosis, he would be sued for malpractice. 

So in the field of Ifta^[3], only those qualified in the science of Qur`aan and Hadeeth may issue verdicts. No matter how many certificates, degrees and other qualifications and titles a person may have acquired in the secular field, these do not then give him (or her) the license and authority to issue Fatwas (rulings) in the sphere of religion.

…Then there are so many who have a superficial knowledge of just the Arabic language but consider themselves qualified to interpret the Qur`aan Shareef and Ahaadeeth.

The Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum), who were perfectly acquainted and versant in the language of Arabic, were still required to formally learn the Qur`aan Shareef from Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). It would therefore be false and arrogant of a person, with a basic study of Arabic, to lay claim to having more knowledge and understanding than the noble Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum), by presenting his own commentary of the Qur`aan Shareef. 

There are so many who have not studied Shari'ah under the guidance of Ulama-e-Haq, who reject the teachings of the Mujtahideen^[4] and present their own concocted theories and commentaries; others are quick to quote Ayaah and Ahaadeeth in support of their sinful actions, or misinterpret the same. Such people should seriously heed the warnings of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in regard to their careless and erroneous statements and ignorant behaviour.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: “Whosoever, in interpreting the Qur`aan, says therein anything of his own opinion commits a mistake even if he is correct.”^[5]

In another narration, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned: “Whoso interprets the Qur`aan without knowledge, let him seek his abode in the Fire.”^[6]                                               

And: “Whoso interprets the Qur`aan according to his opinion, let him seek his abode in the Fire.”^[7]

In regard to misquoting Ahaadeeth, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) stated explicitly : “Be careful of (narrating) traditions from me except what you know. Whoso imputes falsehood to me intentionally, let him then seek his abode in the fire.”^[8] 

Yes, when it comes to etiquette, character, the stories of the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam)  and nations of the past, the causes of rise and decline; paradise and hell, reward and retribution, then read and quote authentic Tafseer or translation; but when it comes to the laws of Shariah, Fatawa (Islamic rulings), commentary of Qur`aan and Hadeeth, leave it to those who have spent years mastering these sciences and are experts in these fields.

Nowadays, the title of ‘Mufti’^[9] has also become very cheap. Some spend a few months or a year in a Darul Ifta^[10] and become rubber stamp “Mufti so and so”. Before enquiring about matters pertaining to Deen, verify the person’s qualifications, just as we do in worldly matters.

…Women have a weakness, that if a woman gives a powerful speech on a subject, having read some Islamic books, she is asked questions on all subjects. The speaker too, will sometimes reply to all questions, even though unaware or ignorant.

Just giving a good speech is no qualification to answer all questions on the Qur`aan Shareef and Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

We should be cautious and selective regarding whom we acquire Ilm-e-Deen^[11] from. 

…There is a famous statement of Muhammad bin Sireen (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh): “This knowledge is a matter of Deen, so be careful who you take your Deen from.”

We should keep these points in mind and we should also not lay claim to qualifications we do not possess.

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[1] kitaabs : books                                      [2] Muhadditheen : Scholars of Hadith

[3] Ifta : Legal Shar’i injunctions            [4] Mujtahideen : Scholars certified as capable to interpret Islamic Law

[5] Abu Dawood                                         [6] Tirmidhi

[7] Tirmidhi                                                [8] Tirmidhi

[9] Mufti : Muslim Jurist                         

[10] Darul Ifta : Institution offering a course concentrating on Islamic Law and passing verdicts 

[11] Ilm-e-Deen : knowledge of religion

Quitting smoking, drinking, drug-taking or gambling...

Bismihi Ta'ala

“Anything that takes a person away from the obedience and remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, can neither contain any goodness, nor have any merit. Negligence in one’s relationship with Allah Ta’ala inevitably draws loss upon loss, in this world and the next.”

“Kicking the Habit” is a compilation of different prescriptions and advices given by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) which were found to be extremely beneficial for those sincerely wanting to quit their bad habits of smoking, drinking, drug-taking or gambling.

This book will motivate those who read it with an open mind and are keen to give up their bad habits, Insha-Allah.

Read the book here

Mockery of Deen

Bismihi Ta’ala 

There are many people who, despite their claims to Islam, seek to find fault with or disparage its teachings or beliefs, or make a mockery of Islam.

In the early days, we use to travel to India by boat. It took us 21 days to reach Bombay. During my third year, when I was travelling back to India, I met a doctor on board the boat. In conversation he said to me: “Maulana, you people talk about the angels;   that each person has an angel on his right shoulder and on his left shoulder and these angels record the deeds of a person. If this is the situation, then our shoulders would have been so broad that we would not have found a coat to fit us!”

In turn, I questioned him: “You must have attended school?”

He replied : “Yes.”

I asked: “From class one to matric?”

He replied : “Yes.”

I said : “You furthered your studies, doing medicine?”

Again, he said : “Yes.”

I continued: “You attended University, travelled to different countries? I am sure you remember all this?”

Again : “ Yes.”

I said : “If I were to take you to your hometown, you will remember much. All this knowledge which you acquired during your life, through your studies and travels, where is it? It is stored in the brain. Yet, if the situation is as you say it is, then your head would have been so big that you would not have found a hat to fit it.”

Alhamdulillah, Allah Ta’ala put this response in my mind, which Insha-Allah, disproved the person’s crooked mentality and thinking.

…Sarcasm or cynicism in regards to Deen is extremely dangerous. It takes one to the threshold of Kufr; sometimes even out of the fold of Islam. If a person says that he believes, it means that he hears and understands and accepts that there are many things which are beyond the human intellect. Imaan is “bil ghayb” (in the unseen).

There are many things which we do not see, but which we believe exists. The air that we breath, the different bacteria and germs in the atmosphere, which the eye does not see, but science has informed us of its existence or we see the signs of it. The signs of Allah Ta’ala are all around us; even in us.

“On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith, As also in your own selves :

 Will you not then see?”

[Surah Zariyat 51 : 20/21]

We may not see the angels, or the pulsiraat, or Jannah and Jahannum, but Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was the one who saw the unseen. And our Imaan is in Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

Just as it is the duty of the blind person to put his hand into the hand of the one who sees – that is, if he wants direction, guidance and wants to reach his destination safely, so too, it is our duty to put our hands into the hand of Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) – meaning that we hear, accept and obey.

Otherwise, criticizing and mocking any aspect of Deen is indirectly mocking or finding fault with the Creator of the Deen; with grievous consequences.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding, as well as appreciation for the beautiful and perfect Deen of Islam.

Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)