Align Yourself Correctly

A few points from today's After Fajr Tafseer by Mufti Ebrahim Salejee Daamat Barakaatuhum.

- People look to align themselves with those they consider honourable. This so called honour may be based on their wealth, name, fame etc. However, seeking to align oneself with such a person and thinking one will gain honour through this is naivety. Worldly things like wealth and fame will disintegrate to nothing, if not sooner, then later. If one seeks honour, one should seek it from Allah Ta'aala, as He is the one who dispenses honour upon whom He wishes. One should align oneself with Allah, His Rasool Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam and the believers, and then he shall truly be honoured.

Stay away; it may look pretty but is harmful

- If there are people who are ridiculing and mocking the verses of the Qur'aan, desist from sitting with them until and unless they completely change the subject. If one stays with such people, then that person will also be counted among those who are mocking the Qur'aan. An example would be if someone insulted ones parents. Would a person continue to sit happily among such people? No. A person will do his best to defend his parents, and if such insult continues he will leave that place.

- The same thumb rule is for sitting with those who interpret the Qur'aan in ways that do not conform with the interpretations of the Sahabah Radhiya Allahu Anhum. They may use all the flowery language or scientific terms they wish; however if their words do not conform to those interpretations of the Sahabah, one should desist from sitting with them and keeping their company.

- A person will be raised on the Day of Judgement with who he aligned with in this life. The munafiqeen will be raised together with the kuffar and judged thus as well. On that day all will truly see who has triumphed and who has honour.

May Allah Ta'aala give us tawfeeq.

Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (27/3/2012)

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On Judging and Migrating

A few points from today's after Fajr Tafseer by Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb.

- A person is judged by his outer conduct and behaviour. If a person outwardly seems like a Muslim, we will term him as a believer. However if a person outwardly commits clear acts of disbelief like worshiping an idol or wearing a cross, we will term him as a disbeliever.  We will not say 'we do do not know what is in his heart'. We are not tasked to find out what is inside a person's heart; that is left to Allah Ta'aala. We must go on the obvious.

- There are two classes of believers

1. Those who strives in the path of Allah Ta'aala
2.  Those who are obedient servants but do not strive like the first class.

Allah Ta'aala has promised both these classes great reward, so one should not despise the other. However one should keep in mind that striving in the path of Allah as well as other duties are compulsory according to need. This is known as Fard al Kifaayah. For example, teaching and imparting knowledge of deen, calling people towards Islam, fighting for the cause of Islam, etc. If these are groups that is seeing to these duties, then these obligations no longer fall upon the rest of the Muslims. If the case is not so, then it is the duty of the Muslim community to ensure that these duties are being accomplished.

- If a person cannot practice deen where they are currently living, it is obligatory for them to leave their homes and migrate. The land of Allah Ta'aala is very vast. If it was obligatory on one to migrate and one did not do so when he had the means to, his abode in the Hereafter is a very evil abode.

- The exception to the above are those people who are very weak and downtrodden; they do not have the means to travel nor do they know which path to take. For these people there is hope that Allah Ta'aala will forgive them; Allah Ta'aala removes all sins and He forgives again and again.

- Whoever leaves his home for the sake of Allah Ta'aala, he will find a lot of refuge, spacious and wide. Whoever leaves his home for the sake of Allah Ta'aala and death comes to him as he is migrating, his reward is promised to him.

Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (19/3/2012)

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Assalaamu Alaikum- the Greeting of Muslims

This is the greeting that Allah Ta'aala has blessed Muslims with. It was initiated from the time of Adam Alayhis Salaam and will continue in Jannat. This is also the greeting that the angels use.

One should try to understand the excellent virtues and merits of 'Assalaamu Alaikum'. When a person greets another with "Assalaamu Alaikum," it is not simply a token of love, rather it is a reminder of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.

How? The word As-Salaam is actually the name of Allah Ta'aala given in the Qur'aan. When you are greeting another Muslim, you are also remembering Allah Ta'aala. In a gathering when a person remembers Allah, he is the best person. So in effect, this is why the person who greets first will be the better of the two people who are greeting. This is not only a rememberance of Allah by the one greeting, but it is also a reminder of Allah Ta'aala to the one he is greeting.

'Assalaamu Alaikum' is not only a greeting; in fact it is also a du'aa. 'Assalaamu Alaikum' means 'May peace be upon you'. This means you are making a du'aa that this person is taken care of and protected by Allah.

One may also add the words 'Wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh' to 'Assalaamu Alaikum'. This would be extending the du'aa; along with Allah's protection, you are asking Allah Ta'aala to send His mercy and blessing upon the one you are greeting.

After having understood all that is implied when greeting someone with 'Assalaamu Alaikum' or 'Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh' it is impossible for the one greeting to have enemity for the one he is greeting.

May Allah Ta'aala give us tawfeeq to follow upon the beautiful sunnah of greeting fellow Muslims with 'Assalaamu Alaikum'. Ameen.

Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (16/3/2012)

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Believe in His Will

A few points from today's after Fajr Tafseer:

1. Those who exchange the lives of this world for the lives of the Hereafter are the receivers of great reward, whether they are seen as the victors in this world or the losers.

2. The kuffar measure victory and defeat according to wordly affairs. They do not believe in taqdeer, ie that whatever Allah Ta'aala has destined is what will happen. 

3. One should always have strong trust and belief in Allah Ta'aala and His will. We must always keep in mind that whatever happens is according to His wisdom. Yes, we adopt means; however, the results are left in the hands Allah Ta'aala.

4. Shaytaan and his tricks are weak and feeble before Allah Ta'aala.

Point 4 reminds me of something I read in a book of Moulana Yunus Patel Rahmatullahi Alayh which Insha Allah I shall post in my next blog entry.

Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (11/3/2012)

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Who to Follow?

A few points from today's after Fajr Tafseer by Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb

1. There are two different categories of commands in the Qur'aan. 

a) Clear commands- These are those commands that have no ambiguity in them. When one reads such a command in the Qur'aan, one knows immediately what is required and will need no further explanation eg. salaah, fasting.

b) Unclear commands- These are those commands that have a degree of ambiguity in them. It is unclear what one in required to do in such a situation. This is when one must refer to those who are in charge of the Islamic affairs and Muslims as they have better understanding as they have sacrificed their whole lives for this purpose, like the Khulafa-ur-Raashideen (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali Radhiya Allahu Ta'aala Anhum Ajma'een).

2. If there are disputes in the carrying out of commands, first refer to Allah Ta'aala and His Rasul Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam. If there is no clear injunction as what to do, refer to those who are in charge. They will see into the essense of Shari'ah and tell us what to do. An example of this would be women going to the masjid for salaah. During the time of Umar Radhiya Allahu Anhu, both he and Aisha Radhiya Allahu Anha agreed that if Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam was alive at that time, he would not have permitted women to come to the masjid.

3. If one believes in Allah Ta'aala and the Last day, follow the teachings of Nabi Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam and those in charge of Islamic affairs ie the Khulafa-ur-Raashideen.

4. It may be that one feels his opinion is more worthy of being followed, but one should realize that the safest route is to follow the teachings of Allah's Nabi Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam, the Khulafa-ur-Rashideen, the Taabi'een and the four great Imaams, Imam Abu Haneefah, Imam Maalik, Imam Shafi'ee and Imam Hanbal Rahimahumu Allahu Ta'aala Ajma'een.

Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (8/3/2012)

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Do not be Jealous!

A few points of today's tafseer by Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb

1. What is jealousy? Jealousy is when you hope and long that a favour another has been blessed with be removed from them and granted to you.

2. Jealousy was the first crime which caused the downfall of Shaytaan. Due to jealousy he disobeyed Allah Ta'aala, and hence became accursed.

3. The Jews were jealous that the last Prophet did not come from Bani Israil, rather Rasulullah Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam came from Bani Ismail. This jealousy was what stopped them from following the truth even though they knew it to be the truth. What made this jealousy of the Jews even more foolish was that both Bani Israil and Bani Ismail came from Ebrahim Alayhis Salaam.

4. There is a hadeeth something to the effect that jealousy eats away our good deeds like fire eats away at wood. There is another hadeeth something to effect that jealousy and malice are deeds that shave away ones good deeds.

5. Jealousy, in effect, is stupidity; this can be well understood by reading the above point. However another point to consider is that we are all brothers and sisters in Islam. Allah Ta'aala is the one who grants favours upon us. One should not become jealous and turn away from another person upon whom Allah Ta'aala has favoured. That person is your brother/sister in Islam, and hence a favour upon him is like a favour upon you. We should be happy when another is favoured by Allah Ta'aala. We must also realize that Allah Ta'aala has favoured us in countless ways as well. So, rather than always looking at what others have, we should look at how blessed we are.

May Allah Ta'aala grant us tawfeeq to keep away from jealousy. Ameen

Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (5/3/2012)

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Be Careful- About Knowledge and Curses

A couple of points from today's tafseer by Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb

1. Simply having knowledge of Islam is not sufficient for a person's salvation. There were jewish men like Ka'b ibn Ashraf who were learned in their religion, yet that did not avail them when they were under pressure and forsook that which they believed in. 

Along with knowledge, a person must have taqwa and he must supress his nafs until suppresing the nafs becomes second nature. Likewise, a person's relationship with Allah Ta'aala should stop being formal and become natural. 

2. La'nah (ie curse of Allah) is when a person is thrown away from the mercy of Allah Ta'aala. This is the reason why a Muslim should not curse anyone specifically, even a non Muslim. The only persons one is permitted to curse is those whom Allah Ta'aala has cursed. For example

• Those Allah Ta'aala has cursed in the Qur'aan, like Abu Lahab, the Dhaalimeen (oppresors), the Kaazibeen (the liars) etc
• Those involved in interest
• Those involved in alcohol
• Homosexuals
• Men who dress like women and women who dress like men
• Those who tattoo themselves
• Those who pluck their eyebrows

When a person sends a curse on a specific person, the curse goes up to the heavens. The heavens closes its doors on it, not allowing it through. The curse then returns to the earth; however the earth as well refuses to accept it. The curse then goes to the one who was cursed. If the person is found deserving, then the curse will be upon him. However, if the person is not found deserving, the curse returns to the one who sent it out and afflicts him. Hence, one should be extremely careful in these matters and not take cursing another person lightly.

May Allah Ta'aala grant us all taqwa and keep us away from those actions which bring down His curse.Ameen

Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (3/3/2012)

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Three Types of Shirk

There are three types of Shirk

1. Shirk in the sifaat of Allah Ta'aala
This is when a person thinks that another has the qualities that Allah Ta'aala has. For example, thinking someone to have knowledge of the unseen.

2. Shirk in the tasarruf of Allah Ta'aala
This is when a person thinks that another has the power and control over creation as Allah Ta'aala does.

3. Shirk in ibaadat of Allah Ta'aala
This is the most common known type of shirk. This is when a person believes another to be worthy of worship besides or alongside Allah Ta'aala.

 

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Adapted from today's after Fajr Tafseer of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee saheb (2/3/2012)

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