The Effect of Sincerity

In the 60s when the Arab/North African countries were gaining their independence, Moulana Yusuf Rahmatullahi 'Alayh decided to dispatch various 'ulama to different countries. Moulana Umar Palanpuri saheb Rahmatullahi 'Alayh was sent as well.

Moulana Umar Rahmatullahi 'Alayh gave a talk one day. Out of the many, only a single man stayed behind to listen to the talk. Moulana saheb gave a two hour long talk for this single man.

Ikhlaas ~ Sincerity

However, in the end he realized that this man was deaf! Out of respect, this deaf man had decided to stay back and 'listen' to Moulana saheb's talk. Rather than feeling heart sore, Moulana saheb decided to write down the six points* and give it to this man.

A few years later, Moulana Umar Rahmatullahi 'Alayh travelled to that same place. He came to discover that the very place he had given a two hour talk to a deaf person... that place was now a markaz!

This is the power of Allah Ta'aala. He does not need an army; a single Moulana and a single man who cannot even hear were enough for His work. 

What counts is the sincerity and the belief that Allah Ta'aala is the one one who is in control of all that happens.

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Adapted from Saturday Majlis of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb

LINK

* The six points referred to here are mentioned frequently in Tableeghi Jamaat. They refer to six qualities that were possessed by all of the companions of Rasullullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

They are as follows 

1. Emaan ie the Kalima La Ilaaha Illa Allah Muhammadur Rasulullah
2. Salaah
3. 'Ilm and Zikr ie Knowledge and Remembrance of Allah Ta'aala
4. Ikraamul Muslimeen ie Helping out ones fellow Muslims
   
5. Ikhlaasun Niyyah ie Sincerity of Intention
6. Da'wah and Tableegh ie Inviting people to Islam 

Reflect Some More

Reflect some more and asked yourself, "What is my purpose in life?"

Is it to eat? An elephant can eat more than 100 kg per day. Can I eat more than that?

Is it to sleep? A polar bear sleeps the whole winter through. Can I manage that?

Is it to be athletic and acrobatic? A monkey and cheetah are more fit than I.

Is it to be beautiful? A tiger's coat is more beautiful than my skin.

So then what?

Thankfully, Alhamdu Lillah, Our Lord Most Merciful has clearly defined the purpose of our lives. 

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me. 

Reflect

Yesterday's after Asr majlis was very inspiring. I thought to share some of the wisdom of Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb.

Unfortunately, nowadays all ibaadat have become a ritual; there is no life when following the diffent ibaadat one does throughout the day. How can we bring life into our actions? By reflecting, contemplating.

Take the example of ghusl (taking bath/shower) on Jumu'ah.

• When you remove your clothes, imagine that someone is removing the clothes off your dead body.
• When you wash your body, imagine that someone is washing your dead body.
• When you wear your clothes, imagine someone is clothing your dead body with a shroud.
• When you are driving to the masjid, imagine someone is driving your dead body to the masjid for your salaatul-janaza (funeral prayer).

Take also the example of the nature around you, say the sky. How big is the sun, yet how small does it look to us? Look at the night sky. How many stars and galaxies are there for us to look at? How many stars are there that dwarf the sun Allah has chosen as our light and heat source? How big exactly is this universe that Allah has created? If the universe is so huge and awe inspiring, then how great must the Creator be?

When you reflect in such a manner, you realize how small you are and how great Allah Ta'aala is. When such a realization comes forth, then the end result can only be asking Allah Ta'aala for forgiveness and a good end where Allah is pleased with you. 

Thus, as your understanding grows and your emaan becomes stronger and brighter, it will be impossible not to keep away from sins and increase in good deeds.

May Allah Ta'aala give us all tawfeeq, Ameen.

Follow the First Man

Something interesting I heard yesterday in Mufti Ebrahim Salejee's after Asr Majlis, which I thought to repeat in my own words.

Mufti saheb was mentioning that one should always be humble. When one is humble, this brings forth the favour and blessings of Allah Ta'aala. On the other hand, when one becomes arrogant, this displeases Allah Ta'aala.

An example of each would be as follows:

-Iblees the accursed disobeyed Allah Ta'aala. When he was taken to task for this, instead of humbling himself, he became arrogant and further questioned Allah Ta'aala.

-Adam Alayhis Salaam made a mistake of eating from the forbidden tree. He and his wife Hawwa Alayhas Salaam where sent down to the earth for this disobedience to Allah. Instead of becoming arrogant, they humbled themselves and turned to Allah Taa'ala with grief and repentance. Allah Taa'ala accepted this humility from His two slaves and honoured and favoured them.

May Allah Ta'aala give us tawfeeq to follow the first man, our father Adam Alayhis Salaam and instill humility and humbleness within ourselves. Ameen.

Thought Provoking

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb mentioned something thought provoking in one of his majalis this month. He was mentioning how if someone commited the unfortunate sin of zinaa and it became known, then that person will face dirty looks and comments every time he is around Muslims.

On the other hand, a person could be working in a bank which deals in interest, and yet there will be no comments on this person; in fact people may actually be envious of his wealth even though it is haraam.

And yet, Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam has mentioned in a hadeeth something to the effect that Riba (ie interest) has seventy levels of sins, the lowest being commiting incest with ones own mother. Rather thought provoking, especially in this interest based world.

Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam once had a long dream in which he saw a river of blood with a man wading in it. Another man was at the shore with a pile of rocks. Whenever the man in the river tried to come out, the man on the shore would throw a rock at the man in the river, causing him to go back to his prior position in the blood. Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam was told that this was the punishment of those who dealt in interest. 

May Allah Ta'aala save us all from all sins and make us into His obedient slaves. Ameen.

The Power of a Mother's Dua

A beautiful majlis of Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb on the grandmother and mother of Eesaa Alayhis Salaam, and mothers in general. 

A must listen.

Download from this Link

From the Armchair

I just read this entry from the Alig's Armchair, and felt compelled to post it as I've been seeing this first hand the last one month. Allah's blessings are upon myself and my family that we were never from among the 'deenphobic' lot.

Here's a link to said entry --> Deenphobia

Two nice talk to listen to that also touch on the subject matter by Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee Daamat Barakaatuhum. 

Truth and Appreciation, the Ingredients for Happiness

The Real Cause for Global Warming

A Few Points...

There are so many different people in the world, so naturally many different viewpoints. Quite a few times your view point may be the right one, and another's point of view is completely off. At times they will insist they are right, and almost make you feel guilty, even though you are the right one!

At this point, remember these few points.

• Do not argue about it. Mufti Ebrahim Salejee Daamat Barakaatuhum mentioned in one of his majlis that if someone just refuses to understand, then do not engage in a fruitless discussion. If they persist, then leave them rather than loose your cool.
• Be patient. Some people take a longer time to understand things. When years and years have gone by with a person believing something to be right, it will not change overnight due to your eloquent words.
• Make du'aa to Allah Ta'aala. If He showed you the right path, then surely He can guide others to the right path as well.
• Be grateful to Allah Ta'aala. If it was His wish, you could have been the one with the wrong understanding. 

Specializing - A Quote from Mufti Ebrahim Salejee Daamat Barakaatuhum

'You see, this is what happens in this world, in this life. Nobody wants to say, "I'm stupid". "No, I understand, I understand everything."

'We need to understand that understanding one branch of any science doesn't mean that you understand everything. He understands one branch of medicine, understands dentistry, so does it qualify him to become an optician? No. That's one branch you've learned; one branch and you become a master in that. Optician is a different thing completely, right. You've become a very professional optician, but you are not a cardiac specialist. It's a different line now, that's a totally different line, totally different. You will be giving a decision on that, you'll kill the person.

'So that's a different line. So, becoming a specialist and specializing in one branch doesn't necessarily make you a specialist in the next one.'

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Taken from Saturday Majlis

Planting Seeds

I heard a nice analogy by Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb Daamat Barakaatuhum in his after asr majlis today, so thought of sharing.

When a person thinks of planting some seeds so that crops grow, does he just plant some seeds in any land? No. What he does first is fix up the area. He will get rid of the stones and thorns and weeds. He will make sure the land is completely clean. He will also make sure that the soil is good for planting. Once that is done, the nhe will plant the seeds, and take care of it by watering the seeds and weeding the garden... and after a while Insha Allah there will be beautiful crops.

In the same way, our hearts are where we have to plant the seed of Allah's love, but for that we have to clean up our hearts first so that this seed can be properly taken care of and nourished, and so that insha Allah the flowers of Emaan blossom and eventually bear fruit.

Forgive & Forget

A very beautiful majlis by Mufti Ebrahim Salejee, one that I feel everyone of us should listen to.

Just a few points I took down:

• The brave talk about might and power. Don't be proud because Allah doesn't like it.
• There is something even more powerful than might : The Pen
• Everything is stored by Allah, even our memories and thoughts.
• We should take out time and talk about Rasulullah Salla Allahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam.
• Rasulullah Salla Allahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam was the refuge for the orphans and the widows.
• Don't speak gheebat (backbite).
• Keep your heart clean. If it is not clean, then things will become rotten in your own heart, like carrying a sewer around.
• Today everyone is intelligent, but there are very few who have understanding.
• Ask Allah to grant us the qualities of Rasulullah Salla Allahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam
• Don't judge a whole group based on one person.
• Respect the symbols of Allah, be it the azaan, the cap (topee) etc.
• Be a part of one of these three groups - Muhajireen (ie the forerunners), Ansaar (ie the supporters), or the followers.
• Your deeds do not hold any weight before Allah Ta'aala's grandeur.
• The weightiest thing on the scale is good manners. "I won't demand my rights in this world or the hereafter."

Listen to the talk from this Link -> Forgive & Forget

"...that became halal... that became haram!" - A Quote from Mufti Ebrahim Salejee Daamat Barakaatuhum

"One doctor came to see me, I think it was a Wednesday. So, he says he had to go to some meeting, --------* somewhere, whatever it was. So, there was a director of a bank, so-called Islamic. Now, he's entertaining them and all that.

So he says, "No, life insurance is permissible. And really, the interest in the bank is not so bad as people make it to be". Right..

And then, the topic went on to some Moulana Menk, who got married for the second time. There, he took that Moulana left, right and center. "How can he do such a thing?! What he thinks of himself?! What must be the condition of his wife, the first wife?!"

What is haram, what is explicit... The Qur'aan is saying

... أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا...

...that became halal. And this, what the Qur'aan shareef is saying is halal and permissible, now, that became haram!

See, this is what the Qur'aan shareef is saying

... يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ... "

 

taken from Majlis, Saturday February 5th, 2011.

Download from this link

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The complete aayat Mufti saheb quotes is below:

الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا فَمَنْ جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَانْتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا 

 سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا 

 خَالِدُونَ

 Those who consume usury shall not rise up except like him whom the Shaytaan has driven mad by his touch. This is because they say, “Trade is just like usury!” Allaah has permitted trade and forbidden usury. He unto whom the admonition had come from his Rabb and he refrained, then for him is that which has passed, and his affair rests with Allaah. Those who shall return are indeed the dwellers of the Fire wherein they shall abide forever. 

(Suratul Baqarah, aayah 275)

*Name of place changed to hyphens.
   

"Where's Your Yaqeen?" - A Quote from Mufti Ebrahim Salejee Daamat Barakaatuhum

"Many a times we think about Jannat and all that, and Na'oozubillah, we think about it as a dream. Na'oozubillah. But a dream, we think of it as a Wahi. That hadeeth comes- that is a dream, "Ohh, one of those things". But the dream came, the dream became like a Wahi!

"Where's your yaqeen*? Yaqeen is on what Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam says, sees, or on what you've seen?

"You know, it's a thing to reflect about."

  

taken from Majlis, Saturday February 19th, 2011.

Download from this link

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Mufti saheb further mentions the story of Maariyah Qibtiyyah Radhiya Allahu 'Anha, who felt grief when her child passed away, as her milk was still flowing as the child had not yet been weaned. To console her, Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam told her that if she wanted, he could show her where her son was in Jannah, being taken care of  by wet-nurses. She declined, saying the words of Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam was enough; she trusted in his words more than she trusted her sight.

*belief