As with all the other days which hold virtue and significance in Islam, Aashoorah too is a virtuous day regarding which there are many misconceptions and misunderstandings. It is thus necessary for us to clarify and understand what has been established and proven regarding this day and what hasn't. Below in point form, besides a few additions, is a summary of the writings and teachings of my beloved Shaikh Aarif billah Hazrate aqdas Maulana Shah Fazlur Rahman Azmi DB in this regard.
- Muharram is one of the four sacred months, thus a general increase in ibaadat is encouraged, but even more importantly, an extra effort should be made to stay away from all sins.
The only reason for the significance of Aashoorah is that on this day Allah granted Hazrat Musa AS and the Bani Israel salvation from Firaun. There is no proof for any other historical incident (related to the other Ambiya AS) to have happened on this day.
- It is mustahab to fast on the 9th and 10th, or the 10th and 11th, or the 9th, 10th and 11th.
- It is makrooh e tanzeehi and reprehensible to fast only on the 10th.
- It is haraam to look down upon anyone who doesn't fast on Aashoorah. Mustahab means we have a choice of not to fast.
- The incident of the shahadat of Hazrat Husein Ra which happened on this day, has absolutely no connection whatsoever to the significance of Aashoorah.
- Our great Akabireen have specified that it isn't even permissible to mention or talk about the shahadat of Hazrat Husein Ra in the month of Muharram or the day of Aashoorah, because this is imitation of the shias.
- It is permissible for the head of the family to spend more on his family on this day in terms of food, and the virtue for this is that sustenance will be made easy for him for the entire year.
- This absolutely does not mean that Aashoorah should be a day of exchanging gifts. Do not make it a commercial holiday like Christmas.
- It is not permissible to cook any specific dish on this day (like kheeraj) and send it to others, nor is it permissible to send any food item to other people in commemoration of this day (as is generally done by the people of innovation.)
- There is no specific, special ibaadat for the day or night of Aashoorah.
- The incident of karbala that is normally narrated, and is common among the Sunnis as well is a lie fabricated by the shias, who themselves were the killers of Hazrat Husein Ra. The actual story of what really happened is very different.
- It is not proven that Qiyamat will occur of the day of Aashoorah.
- Any virtue of any act that has not been mentioned above is a fabrication.
Monday 10 October 2016
Tuesday 17 May 2016
THE REALITY OF SHABE BARAA'AT - 15TH SHABAAN
Dear respected brothers and sisters,
Very soon inshallah, the night of the 15th of Shabaan will be upon us. It is necessary for us to briefly understand the reality of this night, and to differentiate that which is correct and valid from that which is wrong and innovated.
There are numerous ahadith that have been narrated with regards to the virtue of this night. All of them have a certain degree of weakness in them. However, some are very slightly weak, while others are extremely weak. Putting all these ahadith together, the virtuousness and blessings of this night have been proven to be valid.
The specialty of this night is the forgiveness of Allah - according to the ahadith, a huge amount of people are forgiven on this night, and Allah casts a special gaze of mercy upon us from the very beginning of the night.
The salafis, due to their compound ignorance, refuse to accept that this night has any extra virtue over and above any other night, and in thus doing so deprive themselves of benefiting from Allah's forgiveness and mercy. We should be very careful and alert, lest we get deceived by their deviant methods of undermining the virtue of this night.
There is no special and specific ibaadat to be done in this night. One must strive to increase in all types of ibaadat generally - nafl salaah, recitation of Quran, dhikr, dua, taubah etc. Every hadeeth that is narrated regarding specific ibaadat on this night, or special surahs to be recited is fabricated.
Likewise, there is no exchanging and distributing of food or sweet dishes on the day of the 15th.
Shabe Baraa'at (or Laylatul Baraa'at) is not indicated towards anywhere in the Quran. It is famous among people that in this night the decisions regarding sustenance and death are made by Allah. This is not substantiated with any evidence, thus it is not correct, the Ulama have specified that such decisions, or any other decisions for that matter, are not made in this night.
Another misconception prevalent among the masses is that to fast on the 15th of Shabaan is sunnat. Please note that the fast of this day is not sunnat. If someone wishes to fast then he can do so, provided that he doesn't think the fast to be sunnat. To keep this fast thinking it to be sunnat is not permissible. There is no significance and virtue of fasting specifically on this day over and above fasting on any other day.
In the ahadith there are a number of types of sinners mentioned who will be deprived of forgiveness on this blessed night -
1. The mushrik
2. The one who harbours hatred, malice, and enmity for others
3. The one who drinks alcohol
4. The one who disobeys his parents
5. The man who lets his lower garment cover his ankles
6. The one who indulges in zinaa
7. The murderer
8. The one who breaks off relations with family and relatives.
Respected brothers and sisters, it is still not too late, we still have a few days to make tauba from the above mentioned sins and completely purify ourselves from them before this night comes upon us, so that we can also be forgiven. On the contrary, if we will continue to indulge in these sins, then we will not be forgiven on that night, even if we stay up the whole night begging for forgiveness. From the above list, the most common is letting the lower garment touch the ankle - the vast majority of men are involved in this sin, and as a result deprive themselves every year from the blessings and forgiveness that are showered down in this night.
Let us all make a firm decision to once and for all get rid of these sins from our lives, so that we too can come under the protective blanket of the mercy of Allah.
Very soon inshallah, the night of the 15th of Shabaan will be upon us. It is necessary for us to briefly understand the reality of this night, and to differentiate that which is correct and valid from that which is wrong and innovated.
There are numerous ahadith that have been narrated with regards to the virtue of this night. All of them have a certain degree of weakness in them. However, some are very slightly weak, while others are extremely weak. Putting all these ahadith together, the virtuousness and blessings of this night have been proven to be valid.
The specialty of this night is the forgiveness of Allah - according to the ahadith, a huge amount of people are forgiven on this night, and Allah casts a special gaze of mercy upon us from the very beginning of the night.
The salafis, due to their compound ignorance, refuse to accept that this night has any extra virtue over and above any other night, and in thus doing so deprive themselves of benefiting from Allah's forgiveness and mercy. We should be very careful and alert, lest we get deceived by their deviant methods of undermining the virtue of this night.
There is no special and specific ibaadat to be done in this night. One must strive to increase in all types of ibaadat generally - nafl salaah, recitation of Quran, dhikr, dua, taubah etc. Every hadeeth that is narrated regarding specific ibaadat on this night, or special surahs to be recited is fabricated.
Likewise, there is no exchanging and distributing of food or sweet dishes on the day of the 15th.
Shabe Baraa'at (or Laylatul Baraa'at) is not indicated towards anywhere in the Quran. It is famous among people that in this night the decisions regarding sustenance and death are made by Allah. This is not substantiated with any evidence, thus it is not correct, the Ulama have specified that such decisions, or any other decisions for that matter, are not made in this night.
Another misconception prevalent among the masses is that to fast on the 15th of Shabaan is sunnat. Please note that the fast of this day is not sunnat. If someone wishes to fast then he can do so, provided that he doesn't think the fast to be sunnat. To keep this fast thinking it to be sunnat is not permissible. There is no significance and virtue of fasting specifically on this day over and above fasting on any other day.
In the ahadith there are a number of types of sinners mentioned who will be deprived of forgiveness on this blessed night -
1. The mushrik
2. The one who harbours hatred, malice, and enmity for others
3. The one who drinks alcohol
4. The one who disobeys his parents
5. The man who lets his lower garment cover his ankles
6. The one who indulges in zinaa
7. The murderer
8. The one who breaks off relations with family and relatives.
Respected brothers and sisters, it is still not too late, we still have a few days to make tauba from the above mentioned sins and completely purify ourselves from them before this night comes upon us, so that we can also be forgiven. On the contrary, if we will continue to indulge in these sins, then we will not be forgiven on that night, even if we stay up the whole night begging for forgiveness. From the above list, the most common is letting the lower garment touch the ankle - the vast majority of men are involved in this sin, and as a result deprive themselves every year from the blessings and forgiveness that are showered down in this night.
Let us all make a firm decision to once and for all get rid of these sins from our lives, so that we too can come under the protective blanket of the mercy of Allah.
Wednesday 4 May 2016
THE REALITY OF THE 27TH OF RAJAB
Dear respected brothers and sisters, As we all know, we are approaching the 27th of Rajab, a night which is celebrated by many as the 'Night of Meraj.' There are a few important things we need to understand before discussing the applicable masaail - 1. To say that meraj took place on the 27th Rajab is wrong. 27th Rajab is one opinion among a myriad of other opinions. Numerous Ulama of the past have actually given preference to dates other than 27th Rajab. Thus, the exact date of meraj is unknown, and in fact even the year in which it took place is subject to a difference of opinion. The reason for this is simple - neither did Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam nor the Sahaba RA ever 'celebrate' the night of meraj in the years following the incident, they never gave any significance to the anniversaries of this event. 2. The virtuousness and auspiciousness of specific days or nights isn't dependent upon the opinions, whims and fancies of people. Rather it is something that it is entirely in the control of The Creator of these days and nights. It is Allah who has already chosen for us the days and nights which hold extra significance and virtue. And the only way for us to become aware of this decision of Allah is through the exemplary life of our beloved Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam. 3. One big difference between the Sahaba RA and us is that they wouldn't celebrate anniversaries of special events, but the reality of those events would be found firmly embedded in their practical lives. For example, as mentioned above, they never celebrated the anniversary of meraj, but the reality of meraj - salaah and the other deep messages that Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam returned with - was a salient feature of their day to day lives. Similarly, they never celebrated the birthday of Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam, but they were walking copies of his mubarak lifestyle in totality. On the other hand, we today have relegated our Deen to be merely a collection of customs and celebration of anniversaries and birthdays thinking that this will fulfill the rights of Allah and Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam upon us, while the reality being that our daily lives are empty of any semblance of the profound practical significance that these events hold. We claim to fulfill the haq of meraj by celebrating on a certain night which we stubbornly insist is the very night it happened, while our lives are empty of salaah and it's reality, and filled with the sins the punishments of which were witnessed by Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam in this blessed journey. We celebrate the birthday of Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam on a day regarding which it has been proven to be impossible that his mubarak birth took place in it, while we proudly display a life that is in every way opposite to the lifestyle he came with. Having understood the above, we will proceed with a few masaail - 1. There is absolutely no special ibaadat to be done in this night. 2. There is no extra virtue and reward for any general ibaadat done in this night. 3. To fast on the 27th is not mustahab - there is no extra reward over and above the reward for fasting on any other day. 4. It is an innovation, and thus not permissible for people to exchange gifts and items of food specifically on this day.
May Allah grant us the ability to stay away from all such acts which are not part of our beautiful and complete Deen.
May Allah grant us the ability to stay away from all such acts which are not part of our beautiful and complete Deen.
Thursday 3 March 2016
USAGE OF TV AND THE PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES OF PROPAGATING DEEN - PART TWO
In the first part of this article (if you haven't read it then please do read that first, it is the post right before this one, or click here - USAGE OF TV AND THE PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES OF PROPAGATING DEEN - PART ONE ) we discussed in some detail the fact that the forces of Dajjal are using the TV to infiltrate right into our living rooms, and control our domestic lives, so as to stop us from reaching our objective and goal of establishing a firm and unbreakable connection with Allah Ta'ala. This, as we mentioned, serves as an introduction to what we want to discuss in this second part - can this same TV be used for the propagation of Deen?
Very sadly and disturbingly, there are some contemporary Ulama who not only spread the idea that it is perfectly fine to use a TV for Deen, but they regularly and eagerly come on it themselves. The same TV which had left many Muslim homes due to the continuous efforts of our great and pious Ulama spanning more than half a century, warning about the myriad of sins and dangers that were part and parcel of a TV, was now making a triumphant come back in those very same homes, due to 'some Ulama' claiming its permissibility. And those who continued to watch it and didn't throw it out, but used to do so with a guilty conscience, at least to some extent, now began to view it without any qualms and misgivings, content that what they were doing, far from being a sin, was now acceptable in Islam, and in some cases, even 'rewardable.' The third category, those who watched the TV without any guilt, now (in this new 'fatwa') found a weapon with which they could lash out with fury at any pious soul who dared to advise them to repent from this sin.
Although this permissibility is said (by the Ulama responsible for it) to be only for 'Deeni TV' or 'Islamic TV' (what a disturbing oxymoron), all are aware that cable network packages don't ever come with just one channel. Thus accompanying the 'Islamic TV' there will be a vast array of various other channels designed to steal the Iman of a Muslim which will exercise their magnetic pull to ensure they don't go unwatched. As a result, this 'fatwa' became a tacit approval for every TV channel imaginable. This is assuming that the 'Islamic TV Channel' is itself permissible, or that something like Islamic TV can actually exist, as is contended by those who were bold enough to throw water over the sacrifices of their pious predecessors. In reality, such channels are haraam, and TV can never become Islamic, in much the same way that we can't have 'Islamic pork.' For ages people have always been listening to bayans, not watching them, and they fared much better than us in their spiritual levels. They benefited tremendously by just listening to talks, and no one felt that hidayat was dependent on watching the gestures and facial expressions of the speaker. Then why suddenly the desperation for visual stimulation in talks of Deen? The truth, which may be shocking for some, is that these TV bayans and video bayans are all part of the carefully woven plot of Dajjal to paralyse us spiritually without us even realising it. They are designed to turn Islam into an entertainment show and give us a shallow and superficial version of Deen to bolster the feeling that we are making great strides forward, while leaving us hollow and empty on the inside. The stark reality that we are facing, and which I have been wanting to point out, is that the fitnah of Dajjal has reached a new level of severity - it is now using the very same weapon of mass destruction (TV) to wreak the same havoc it used to before (if not more), all in the name of Deen, to ensure that no one ever makes taubah, labouring under the false notion that they have achieved lofty ranks of wilayat (sainthood.)
Allamah Yusuf Binnori Ra, the great and illustrious student of Allamah Kashmiri Ra and the founder of Binnori Town in Karachi, Pakistan, was once requested to deliver a lecture on TV, and he refused to do so. At this same time, the question of whether the TV and videos can be used for Deeni and Tableeghi purposes or not was discussed. What Allamah Yusuf Binnori Ra had to say about this is something worthy of being written in golden ink, an eye-opening discourse filled with incredible wisdom, insight, and foresight, in which he beautifully expounded upon the salient and timeless principles of the propagation of Deen. Hereunder I am relating his words which I have translated into English -
Very sadly and disturbingly, there are some contemporary Ulama who not only spread the idea that it is perfectly fine to use a TV for Deen, but they regularly and eagerly come on it themselves. The same TV which had left many Muslim homes due to the continuous efforts of our great and pious Ulama spanning more than half a century, warning about the myriad of sins and dangers that were part and parcel of a TV, was now making a triumphant come back in those very same homes, due to 'some Ulama' claiming its permissibility. And those who continued to watch it and didn't throw it out, but used to do so with a guilty conscience, at least to some extent, now began to view it without any qualms and misgivings, content that what they were doing, far from being a sin, was now acceptable in Islam, and in some cases, even 'rewardable.' The third category, those who watched the TV without any guilt, now (in this new 'fatwa') found a weapon with which they could lash out with fury at any pious soul who dared to advise them to repent from this sin.
Although this permissibility is said (by the Ulama responsible for it) to be only for 'Deeni TV' or 'Islamic TV' (what a disturbing oxymoron), all are aware that cable network packages don't ever come with just one channel. Thus accompanying the 'Islamic TV' there will be a vast array of various other channels designed to steal the Iman of a Muslim which will exercise their magnetic pull to ensure they don't go unwatched. As a result, this 'fatwa' became a tacit approval for every TV channel imaginable. This is assuming that the 'Islamic TV Channel' is itself permissible, or that something like Islamic TV can actually exist, as is contended by those who were bold enough to throw water over the sacrifices of their pious predecessors. In reality, such channels are haraam, and TV can never become Islamic, in much the same way that we can't have 'Islamic pork.' For ages people have always been listening to bayans, not watching them, and they fared much better than us in their spiritual levels. They benefited tremendously by just listening to talks, and no one felt that hidayat was dependent on watching the gestures and facial expressions of the speaker. Then why suddenly the desperation for visual stimulation in talks of Deen? The truth, which may be shocking for some, is that these TV bayans and video bayans are all part of the carefully woven plot of Dajjal to paralyse us spiritually without us even realising it. They are designed to turn Islam into an entertainment show and give us a shallow and superficial version of Deen to bolster the feeling that we are making great strides forward, while leaving us hollow and empty on the inside. The stark reality that we are facing, and which I have been wanting to point out, is that the fitnah of Dajjal has reached a new level of severity - it is now using the very same weapon of mass destruction (TV) to wreak the same havoc it used to before (if not more), all in the name of Deen, to ensure that no one ever makes taubah, labouring under the false notion that they have achieved lofty ranks of wilayat (sainthood.)
Allamah Yusuf Binnori Ra, the great and illustrious student of Allamah Kashmiri Ra and the founder of Binnori Town in Karachi, Pakistan, was once requested to deliver a lecture on TV, and he refused to do so. At this same time, the question of whether the TV and videos can be used for Deeni and Tableeghi purposes or not was discussed. What Allamah Yusuf Binnori Ra had to say about this is something worthy of being written in golden ink, an eye-opening discourse filled with incredible wisdom, insight, and foresight, in which he beautifully expounded upon the salient and timeless principles of the propagation of Deen. Hereunder I am relating his words which I have translated into English -
"With regards to this, I want to explain a matter of principle - that we have not been made responsible for this from the side of Allah that in whichever way possible, we must make each and every person a pious Muslim. Yes, we are responsible for exerting our full effort by employing every possible permissible means in our control for the propagation of Deen. Whenever Islam has given us the command of propagating Deen, it has also taught us the dignified etiquette and methods of how to go about doing it, and we are responsible for the propagation of Deen within the limits of these methods and etiquette. If within these limits, using only permissible means, we are granted success in our efforts of propagation, then that is an excellent result. However on the other hand, if we do not achieve complete success using the permissible means available to us, then we are not responsible for adopting impermissible means in inviting people towards Deen and throwing the manners and etiquette of propagation behind our backs, making an effort to bring people into our ranks using every permissible and impermissible method. If through permissible means, and with observing the required etiquette of propagation we make one person follow Deen in totality, then our Tableegh is a success, and if, by using impermissible means, we make a hundred people join our group, then such a 'success' has no value in front of Allah (in fact it can't even be termed a success, in reality it is a failure.) The reason for this is that the Tableegh (propagation) in which the commands of Deen are destroyed isn't the propagation of Deen, it is the propagation of something else. TV and video in itself is against the commands of Islam (even if it is deceptively flaunted as 'Islamic'), thus we have not been made responsible for using it in Tableegh. If anyone is ready to accept our invitation towards Deen in which only permissible and dignified methods have been used, then our eyes and heart are spread out for him as a carpet to walk on. However, that person who is not ready to listen to the talk of Deen without seeing a video-filmed bayan (as has become the case today), then we are excused from inviting him using video/TV. If we are not going to stand firmly on this position of ours, then today we will start using video/TV for Tableegh, in consideration for the temperament and likes of the masses, tomorrow we will start using uncovered women for this same objective, and we will hold functions and gatherings of music and singing to try and call people towards Deen. In this way, in the name of Tableegh, we will become guilty of destroying one by one the commands of the very same Deen which we claim to propagate."Subhanallah, what in depth wisdom and far reaching foresight is found in these words! What he has mentioned isn't just to do with using TV/video, but with using every such method which is in conflict with Shariah. As a result of his sincere advice going unheeded, we are sadly and painfully seeing his last two sentences above unfolding in front of our eyes today. Everywhere the commands of Allah are being flagrantly broken in the name of Tableegh. How many times haven't we heard about people going to haraam functions, where video filming, music, intermingling of sexes, and many other violations of Shariah are found, and justifying their going with the same rhetoric that has become a blanket permission for anything and everything - 'we are going so that we can bring the people closer to Deen.' Allahu akbar! We expect to bring others closer to Deen by disobeying Allah? When are we going to remove ourselves from this satanic deception of Dajjal? When are we going to open the eyes of our hearts and comprehend the grave reality found in the golden words of Allamah Yusuf Binnori Ra above? When are we going to understand that propagating Deen through impermissible methods, whether TV/video, or something else, isn't furthering the cause of Deen and Islam, but on the contrary is actually abetting and helping the spread of the fitnah of Dajjal? May Allah grant us the ability to open our eyes before it is too late, before we are brought in the court of Allah on the Day of Qiyamah and held responsible for championing the cause of falsehood. Aameen.
Wednesday 24 February 2016
USAGE OF TV AND THE PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES OF PROPAGATING DEEN - PART ONE
The fitnah of Dajjal isn't a futuristic catastrophic clash with a gigantic prehistoric monster sporting a huge eye smack dab in the middle of his forehead who will suddenly emerge 'towards the end of time', as we would like to believe, or perhaps should I say, as we are led to believe. In fact this is how complete the deception of this fitnah is, which earns Dajjal the title of "Grand Master, Artist and Architect of Deceit and Treachery," that while this debilitating and paralyzing fitnah continues to persistently and viciously eat away at the very core of human existence and vicegerency on earth, in our minds we have relegated this greatest test of all times to a mirage of the future, something we can't see even if we craned our necks to look. We eagerly buy into this idea due to it's immense appeal and suitability - the fact that it further enhances and enforces the hollow complacency and indifference that has blanketed the Muslim Ummah today, that we can continue to enjoy the pleasures this worldly life has to offer without our peace and comfort being disrupted in any way. This is a grave mistake we have made, a deadly one which could prove fatal to our Iman, that is if we don't decide fast enough to awaken from our slumber and smell the poisonous coffee of deception that is brewing all around us, even in our very own homes. The stark reality of the matter is that the fitnah of Dajjal isn't merely 'an event that will happen much later and we probably won't see it in our lifetimes so why worry and lose sleep over it,' but it is a trial that is deeply rooted in the past, and in full bloom in the present. It is a fitnah which we are facing at this very moment, a fitnah which is surrounding us from all sides, a fitnah which is affecting and shaping each and every one of our lives, a fitnah from which are busting forth upon us stormy, unrelenting oceans of pitch black darkness, in which we are swimming in, are immersed in, and which threaten to totally engulf us, overwhelm us, and suppress us into spiritual oblivion and extinction. A vivid picture of this era which we are going through, painted by our beloved Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam in a famous hadeeth, comes to mind, "Soon there will appear such fitan (trials and tribulations) which will be like pieces of a pitch dark night, in which a Muslim man in the morning will be a kaafir in the evening, and a Muslim man in the evening will be a kaafir in the morning, having sold his Deen for a paltry sum of this Dunya."
A highly significant thread, and perhaps one of the most important, in this web of deceit that is being continually woven around us is the invention of the television. Indeed, it was with the introduction of the TV into literally every home that Dajjal and his henchmen and minions gained and solidified once and for all complete control over the lives of Muslims physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, finally forcing that chosen group of humans into complete subservience, which would normally and historically only bow down to The Creator - Allah SWT. This 'all seeing one eye' invaded the privacy of honourable homes, brought in and welcomed eagerly by the Muslims themselves, and given center stage in the sitting room. It exercised it's magnetic pull on every member of the household - young and old, and turned the home which was once an exemplary model of honour, morality, respect, dignity, and humility into a sordid, despicable, and gut wrenching display of violence, murder, foul and filthy language, music, idol worshiping, illicit relationships and immorality, explicit sex and sexual acts, drug addiction, alcoholism, disrespect, and much more.
As if all this wasn't enough, the TV turned into Dajjal's most effective weapon of psychological warfare. In fact, it was specifically designed to brainwash viewers with subliminal messages that enter deep into the subconscious and shape a person's thinking, views, and beliefs, thus chaining the unsuspecting victim into total mental and ideological slavery. This concept of mind control through TV is very informatively explained in an interesting article I recently came across, which I am including here for the benefit of my esteemed readers -
It is for these very clear reasons (besides of course, the fact that a TV displays animate pictures, which are haraam in Shariat) that our Akaabireen - our great Ulama - have unequivocally declared the TV to be outright haraam, with absolutely no exceptions, and have spent more than half a century in trying to warn the Ummah in every way possible of the dangers that lurk in this seemingly harmless entertainment box.
With this article (Part 1) serving as an important introduction that is crucial for us to understand, we will inshallah continue in Part 2 with the main purpose and objective of our writing this.
A highly significant thread, and perhaps one of the most important, in this web of deceit that is being continually woven around us is the invention of the television. Indeed, it was with the introduction of the TV into literally every home that Dajjal and his henchmen and minions gained and solidified once and for all complete control over the lives of Muslims physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, finally forcing that chosen group of humans into complete subservience, which would normally and historically only bow down to The Creator - Allah SWT. This 'all seeing one eye' invaded the privacy of honourable homes, brought in and welcomed eagerly by the Muslims themselves, and given center stage in the sitting room. It exercised it's magnetic pull on every member of the household - young and old, and turned the home which was once an exemplary model of honour, morality, respect, dignity, and humility into a sordid, despicable, and gut wrenching display of violence, murder, foul and filthy language, music, idol worshiping, illicit relationships and immorality, explicit sex and sexual acts, drug addiction, alcoholism, disrespect, and much more.
As if all this wasn't enough, the TV turned into Dajjal's most effective weapon of psychological warfare. In fact, it was specifically designed to brainwash viewers with subliminal messages that enter deep into the subconscious and shape a person's thinking, views, and beliefs, thus chaining the unsuspecting victim into total mental and ideological slavery. This concept of mind control through TV is very informatively explained in an interesting article I recently came across, which I am including here for the benefit of my esteemed readers -
Many people may not realize that when they turn on the television in their home, what they see as a constant flow of images is actually flickering. Although we do not see this consciously, the repetitive pattern of flickering images creates a state that is similar to hypnosis in the television viewer.
Studies by researcher Herbert Krugman have shown that within 30 seconds of television viewing, brain waves switch from predominantly beta waves, indicating alert and conscious attention, to predominantly alpha waves, indicating an unfocused, receptive lack of attention.
The brain's left hemisphere, which processes information logically and analytically, tunes out while the person is watching TV, while the right hemisphere of the brain, which processes information emotionally and non-critically, is allowed to function without hindrance. Due to this phenomenon, television transmits information, which is not actively thought about at the time of exposure, much like hypnosis. When viewing television, we do not consciously rationalize the information resonating within our unconscious depths at the time of transmission and the viewer becomes more open and suggestible.
Because of the passive, hypnosis-like viewing of television as well as its predominance in the homes of nearly all Americans, the television is one of the most powerful tools used today. As of 2009, six companies controlled all of the major media outlets in the United States. That is a very small number of people controlling all of the information that streams into millions of homes across America each day through their television sets. In recent years, a number of investigations and exposes have revealed that these giants’ silence independent voices and investigations, discourage journalism that interferes with the agendas of special interests, and eliminate diversity in the information they provide. Because of the control that these companies have over the information that most Americans receive on a daily basis, these criticisms and revelations are never known by most of the American public.
These media giants work hand and glove with the federal government as well as many multinational corporations to disseminate carefully planned messages. Through the television and other forms of media, they tell you what to think about, what to worry about, what to smile about, and what to be scared of. They have sold the public on the idea of the newscaster being an extension of the family, a trusted figure who encourages the acceptance of the information being presented as true and accurate. In 2008, the pentagon spent more than $2 billion compensating major media outlets for disseminating public relations messages. These messages are delivered to the television viewer as news produced by the television station, not as paid and produced by the pentagon. In the same year, pharmaceutical companies paid television outlets more than $4 billion for advertising, which included Video News Releases (VNR), specially tailored pieces that appear within the nightly news disguised as researched and reported by the local stations.
And yet while all this has been happening behind the scenes, the American public has been duped into staking all their trust in select major media outlets as they express brand loyalty in television stations, newspapers, and magazines. Many people have been tricked into believing that the mainstream media reports only objective news while any information delivered from outside the mainstream is to always be questioned. Somehow the public has bought into the idea that the TV wouldn't lie to them. Many people will not pay any regard to information that is not covered by the major media; if they did not hear about it on the nightly news then they simply don't care. This is the mindset that the major media moguls want us to have, as we are willfully ignorant and obedient to their every direction. Our unanalytical and loyal viewership is in their best interest.
Major media news networks continually bombard us with the possibility of an endless amount of scenarios, which produce fear and then shape our reactions to real situations. This is predictive programming; it gets us familiar with an idea so that when it happens we expect it and do not react and question.
Although most people refer to television programming as the shows that are aired on television, it can also refer to the programming of the people that occurs on a daily basis. Most people believe they are just simply being entertained, but they never realize that their way of life is being shaped for them and their thoughts are actually being given to them. They are being familiarized with ideas, concepts, and fear so they won't question certain interventions in the future.
TV gives us what messages must be imprinted in our minds, gives us what button to push in what sequence, and if it's done the right way with the right production and the right propaganda then the public will react and do exactly as they've been programmed to do.
When one continually controls the information, one controls the people absorbing the information. The manufactured and controlled information on TV can be referred to as the signal and that constant signal is what shapes and guides the masses to their conclusions. In order to take back our minds, we must first learn to "Unplug the Signal."
By turning off your TV you will realize the world that you're living in is suddenly very unfamiliar to you. You will see that news of no importance is constantly debated and analyzed, and as you listen to the conversations of people around you, you realize they're talking robots just repeating what they've heard on the news. This is exactly what Zbigniew Brzezinski talked about in his book "Between Two Ages". He said, "Shortly, the public will be unable to reason or think for themselves. They'll only be able to parrot the information they've been given on the previous night's news."
It is for these very clear reasons (besides of course, the fact that a TV displays animate pictures, which are haraam in Shariat) that our Akaabireen - our great Ulama - have unequivocally declared the TV to be outright haraam, with absolutely no exceptions, and have spent more than half a century in trying to warn the Ummah in every way possible of the dangers that lurk in this seemingly harmless entertainment box.
With this article (Part 1) serving as an important introduction that is crucial for us to understand, we will inshallah continue in Part 2 with the main purpose and objective of our writing this.
Saturday 20 February 2016
WASIYAT (EMPHASIZED ADVICE) TO STUDENTS
1. Always hold fast to the quality of Taqwa, wherever you maybe, whatever time it may be. This simply means that spend the rest of your life very far away from sin and disobedience of Allah. The easiest way to attain this quality is to fill our hearts with love for Allah. These two (Taqwa and love for Allah) are the reason we have been created, and the reason for our acquiring the knowledge of Deen. If we will still sin, we will have failed in our very objective of studying, as well as the objective of our entire life. The easiest and simplest way (and the only way) to attain Taqwa and love for Allah to the highest level is to attach oneself to a spiritual guide and mentor, and seek spiritual treatment under him – the effort which is termed Tazkiyah.
2. Besides staying away from all sins, major or minor, we should make a special effort to stay away from the following sins which have become common in these days – a.) Music b.) Pictures c.) Be pardagi (not observing the rules of purdah) d.) Gheebat (backbiting) e.) TV
3. Turn away from imitating the west and adopt the Sunnah in every facet of your lives. Make it your lifestyle and reject everything else. Islam isn’t just restricted to your Salaah or other ibaadat. It covers every second of your life.
4. Save yourselves and your children from school, college, university like how you would save them from a lion. To send children to such places is tantamount to throwing them into Jahannam with your own hands. Perhaps one out of every hundred thousand will be saved. The environment is very destructive. Don’t sacrifice Aakhirat for a few pennies of this world.
5. Sacrifice your whole life for the effort of spreading Deen, in whichever permissible way possible, after making mashwarah (consultation) with your spiritual guide and Ustadh.
6. Besides fulfilling all fardh, wajib, and sunnate muakkadah ibaadat, also make sure to do the following daily – one juz recitation of the Quran, three tasbihs of morning and evening, tahajjud, ishraq, chasht, awabeen, Surah Mulk, Yaseen, Kahf, dua. This is the minimum.
7. Save yourselves from pride. Think of yourselves to be the worst of all. Only then will you see progress towards Allah. The minute you think yourself to be someone all progress will stop and you will move backward.
8. Don’t ever give takleef (difficulty, pain, harm) to anybody in any way.
9. Keep going over and revising what you have learnt with the intention of trying to inculcate each and everything in your life. To make amal on your ilm is of utmost importance. Many warnings have been sounded in the hadith of those who know yet don’t act according to their knowledge.
10. Always uphold the truth, however bitter it may be. Never ever compromise your Deen for anyone or anything, whatever situation you may be in. Remain steadfast even though all the people around you may be against you. Don't ever 'go with the flow.' Remember, there is no obedience to people in the disobedience of Allah. Always keep finding out what is Haq from your spiritual guide and Ustadh in any matter or problem that comes up in your life.
Give these same advices to your students and children.
I humbly request all of you to keep making dua for me.
If you will act upon this wasiyat you will benefit, and the people around you will benefit as well. If you choose to ignore it, then I can say nothing more. I can do nothing more.
Ya Allah! Be witness that I have conveyed your message (in my weak and broken ways.)
Khaadimut Tulabaa
Arif Umar
2. Besides staying away from all sins, major or minor, we should make a special effort to stay away from the following sins which have become common in these days – a.) Music b.) Pictures c.) Be pardagi (not observing the rules of purdah) d.) Gheebat (backbiting) e.) TV
3. Turn away from imitating the west and adopt the Sunnah in every facet of your lives. Make it your lifestyle and reject everything else. Islam isn’t just restricted to your Salaah or other ibaadat. It covers every second of your life.
4. Save yourselves and your children from school, college, university like how you would save them from a lion. To send children to such places is tantamount to throwing them into Jahannam with your own hands. Perhaps one out of every hundred thousand will be saved. The environment is very destructive. Don’t sacrifice Aakhirat for a few pennies of this world.
5. Sacrifice your whole life for the effort of spreading Deen, in whichever permissible way possible, after making mashwarah (consultation) with your spiritual guide and Ustadh.
6. Besides fulfilling all fardh, wajib, and sunnate muakkadah ibaadat, also make sure to do the following daily – one juz recitation of the Quran, three tasbihs of morning and evening, tahajjud, ishraq, chasht, awabeen, Surah Mulk, Yaseen, Kahf, dua. This is the minimum.
7. Save yourselves from pride. Think of yourselves to be the worst of all. Only then will you see progress towards Allah. The minute you think yourself to be someone all progress will stop and you will move backward.
8. Don’t ever give takleef (difficulty, pain, harm) to anybody in any way.
9. Keep going over and revising what you have learnt with the intention of trying to inculcate each and everything in your life. To make amal on your ilm is of utmost importance. Many warnings have been sounded in the hadith of those who know yet don’t act according to their knowledge.
10. Always uphold the truth, however bitter it may be. Never ever compromise your Deen for anyone or anything, whatever situation you may be in. Remain steadfast even though all the people around you may be against you. Don't ever 'go with the flow.' Remember, there is no obedience to people in the disobedience of Allah. Always keep finding out what is Haq from your spiritual guide and Ustadh in any matter or problem that comes up in your life.
Give these same advices to your students and children.
I humbly request all of you to keep making dua for me.
If you will act upon this wasiyat you will benefit, and the people around you will benefit as well. If you choose to ignore it, then I can say nothing more. I can do nothing more.
Ya Allah! Be witness that I have conveyed your message (in my weak and broken ways.)
Khaadimut Tulabaa
Arif Umar
Friday 19 February 2016
A GREAT CALLER TO ALLAH - HAFIZ PATEL RA
With tearful eyes I write this, in remembrance of Hafiz Patel Saheb Ra - his demise is a great and saddening loss to the Ummat.
Allah granted this weak one the opportunity to sit in his company numerous times. The one thing about him that left upon me the most lasting impression, something that I can still vividly picture even after many years, is his fikr for Deen - the worry and concern he had for this Ummat. Every word he would utter would be literally soaked in fikr and concern. Such a high level of fikr is difficult to find in the world today.
His way of speaking, the gestures of his hands while speaking, Allahu akbar, everything about him would be loudly and clearly showing his extreme sadness and worry for the Ummat.
A few hours after his demise, an Aalim from South Africa saw him in a dream smiling, his face shining, and he was already relaxing in Jannat. (He hasn't even been buried yet, at least as of the typing of this post)
May Allah grant us that same fikr for deen which is so missing in us. It is this fikr which is needed in Kenya specifically, and the whole world in general.
Below are some of his blessed words which I heard from him and noted down (his words were in Urdu which I have then translated into English) -
Allah granted this weak one the opportunity to sit in his company numerous times. The one thing about him that left upon me the most lasting impression, something that I can still vividly picture even after many years, is his fikr for Deen - the worry and concern he had for this Ummat. Every word he would utter would be literally soaked in fikr and concern. Such a high level of fikr is difficult to find in the world today.
His way of speaking, the gestures of his hands while speaking, Allahu akbar, everything about him would be loudly and clearly showing his extreme sadness and worry for the Ummat.
A few hours after his demise, an Aalim from South Africa saw him in a dream smiling, his face shining, and he was already relaxing in Jannat. (He hasn't even been buried yet, at least as of the typing of this post)
May Allah grant us that same fikr for deen which is so missing in us. It is this fikr which is needed in Kenya specifically, and the whole world in general.
Below are some of his blessed words which I heard from him and noted down (his words were in Urdu which I have then translated into English) -
"The effort of Deen is more important than eating and the (material) upbringing of children"What this means is that to make an effort of Deen, and to have the worry and concern for Deen is more important than eating and the material upbringing of children, because the former is a means of success in both Dunya and Aakhirat, while the later is restricted to the comfort of Dunya. Unfortunately many times we see parents going all out in giving material comfort to their children - food, clothes, toys, and anything else they may want. However, giving them the true Islamic and Deeni nurturing, according to Shariah is given the back seat, if at all in the picture.
"Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Ra said that nothing can be achieved with ease and comfort - neither 'Ilm nor Deen nor the strength of Imaan"Sadly, today we want to reach great heights without making any efforts, without sacrificing in the least bit. Our great Ulama and elders reached the lofty levels we see them on, or read about, after long periods of great difficulties and distress, through which they persevered.
"Once the students of Darul Uloom Deoband came to Markaz Nizamuddeen at a time when the health of Maulana Ilyas Ra was down. Through his attendant, Maulana Ilyas Ra gave them three points of advice - 1. 'Ilm is acquired through adab. Adab holds the greatest importance, especially adab of the Ustadhs. 2. Realize your own value! You are more valuable than the wealth of the entire world! 3. In acquiring 'Ilm, your objective should be to act upon the knowledge that you gain."May Allah grant us the tawfeeq to act upon these meaningful and blessed words, and bless us with the ability to walk on the footsteps of our Akaabireen. Aameen.
Thursday 18 February 2016
GUIDELINES ON HOW TO PROTECT THE UMMAH FROM SHIAISM, SALAFIISM, BID’AH, QADIYANISM, MODERNISM, ETC.
Build a strong and unbreakable connection with Allah Ta’ala, so as to draw from His help at every step and breath, by being steadfast on aamaalus saaliha and keeping away from sins. This will be achieved most effectively by establishing a connection of self reformation with a spiritual guide.
Learn about the deviant sects, how they work, their wrong thinking, aqaaid and masaail, by reading authentic books, or from the ulama.
As much as possible, avoid close contact and friendship with them, unless you are in a position to influence, because it’s much easier for you to be influenced by them. A rotten tomato will spoil all the good tomatoes around it. Also, don’t get married into such families.
Avoid at all costs, seemingly harmless literature authored or published by these deviant sects, because these contain that hidden poison which these people use to brainwash innocent unwary minds. Remember, these people are very passionate about propagating their deviating ideas, and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing this objective, so no literature that comes from them is harmless.
Create public awareness by organizing lectures, seminars, and madrassah classes in which these sects are explained. Also, creating awareness by helping to write or publish authentic Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah literature in the form of books, articles, newsletters, emails, and websites.
Create individual awareness by talking and explaining to people about these sects personally, starting with our immediate family, then moving on to extended family, relatives, friends, and every person with whom we have some contact, to try to rid ourselves from the wrong practices and thinking which we have made our own, but which actually belong to these sects who have no share in the true Islam.
Follow that same path which was treaded by our pious predecessors – the Ulama of Deoband, who sacrificed their entire lives in keeping the flag of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah high, and battling every individual and group that harboured any intention of trying to destroy and distort the true Islam which was brought by the leader of the two worlds, Hadhrat Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. Hold on fast to their teachings because their teachings are the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us realise that the Ummah is in a crisis today, such a critical situation which needs to be rectified. It is our responsibility to take on that worry and concern of how to protect the Ummah from the trials that it is facing today in the form of deviant sects, so as to pave the road to eternal salvation. Every single individual’s effort is needed, only then can we achieve victory.
Learn about the deviant sects, how they work, their wrong thinking, aqaaid and masaail, by reading authentic books, or from the ulama.
As much as possible, avoid close contact and friendship with them, unless you are in a position to influence, because it’s much easier for you to be influenced by them. A rotten tomato will spoil all the good tomatoes around it. Also, don’t get married into such families.
Avoid at all costs, seemingly harmless literature authored or published by these deviant sects, because these contain that hidden poison which these people use to brainwash innocent unwary minds. Remember, these people are very passionate about propagating their deviating ideas, and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing this objective, so no literature that comes from them is harmless.
Create public awareness by organizing lectures, seminars, and madrassah classes in which these sects are explained. Also, creating awareness by helping to write or publish authentic Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah literature in the form of books, articles, newsletters, emails, and websites.
Create individual awareness by talking and explaining to people about these sects personally, starting with our immediate family, then moving on to extended family, relatives, friends, and every person with whom we have some contact, to try to rid ourselves from the wrong practices and thinking which we have made our own, but which actually belong to these sects who have no share in the true Islam.
Follow that same path which was treaded by our pious predecessors – the Ulama of Deoband, who sacrificed their entire lives in keeping the flag of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah high, and battling every individual and group that harboured any intention of trying to destroy and distort the true Islam which was brought by the leader of the two worlds, Hadhrat Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. Hold on fast to their teachings because their teachings are the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us realise that the Ummah is in a crisis today, such a critical situation which needs to be rectified. It is our responsibility to take on that worry and concern of how to protect the Ummah from the trials that it is facing today in the form of deviant sects, so as to pave the road to eternal salvation. Every single individual’s effort is needed, only then can we achieve victory.
Wednesday 17 February 2016
ANOTHER CHANCE
As I went about my way, one fine, bright and calm sunny day
In my usual never-ending pursuit of short lived pleasures, drowned in a world of amusement and play
I felt a rumble and roar beneath, I fell to my knees as the earth began to shudder and shake
It tore open with a belching, grating sound that made my ears do a double take
From the deep, gaping holes it regurgitated all that was in its womb
The verse echoed in my mind, “Wa akhrajatil ardu athqaalaha,” it left not a bone, a body, or a tomb
A deafening blast above, my head jerked up – the folding sky had turned a deep crimson blood-red
Bare fear, terror, and shock gripped my every nerve, my blood froze, it was as if I had bled till I was dead
I trembled uncontrollably at the scene around me – stampedes in all directions of confused, horror stricken people with drunken looks
The horrific agony that was unfolding before my eyes was a reality, The Promised Day as described in the greatest of all books
Pregnant mothers aborting their babies, breast-feeding infants being thrown aside, children turning old with white hair
The realization suddenly sank in deep, there was no turning back, no second chance, and hopelessness turned into despair
Amidst streams of silent tears of regret, my mind flashed back to all those missed opportunities which Allah gave me, but which I denied
The soft caring words of my mother, full of worry and concern, “Beta, did you go to madrasah?” and my reply, “yes of course,” but I always lied
Golden chances of seeking knowledge were presented before me, repeatedly I was invited to gatherings of spiritual reformation
But I always preferred to hang out with my friends in dens of vice and sin for some dangerous exploration
Then abruptly my remorseful thoughts were interrupted as I became engulfed in pitch darkness, yet another scare
I knew the sun was no more, ear-piercing screams and blood curdling shrieks of pure panic filled the air
Suddenly my eyes flew open, I sat up straight in my bed, clothes soaked with sweat, heart thumping violently against my chest
Disoriented, I looked around with wide, weary eyes and realized it had been a dream, I was still in the test
Although shaken up, a warm feeling of sweet relief washed over me – it wasn’t too late to do what was right
This was a warning to me from Allah, I vowed that of my true objective in this world I will never lose sight
How many months of Ramadan, year after year, had passed wasted in my life, to take advantage I never cared
Now once again this blessed month is at our doorstep, a gift-wrapped invitation of Allah’s love, for it now, inshallah, I am fully geared
I jumped out of bed to hurriedly get ready for salaah and madrasah, there wasn’t a moment to lose
I eagerly set off to start a new life with renewed vigor and zeal, this was another chance, not a time to snooze.
In my usual never-ending pursuit of short lived pleasures, drowned in a world of amusement and play
I felt a rumble and roar beneath, I fell to my knees as the earth began to shudder and shake
It tore open with a belching, grating sound that made my ears do a double take
From the deep, gaping holes it regurgitated all that was in its womb
The verse echoed in my mind, “Wa akhrajatil ardu athqaalaha,” it left not a bone, a body, or a tomb
A deafening blast above, my head jerked up – the folding sky had turned a deep crimson blood-red
Bare fear, terror, and shock gripped my every nerve, my blood froze, it was as if I had bled till I was dead
I trembled uncontrollably at the scene around me – stampedes in all directions of confused, horror stricken people with drunken looks
The horrific agony that was unfolding before my eyes was a reality, The Promised Day as described in the greatest of all books
Pregnant mothers aborting their babies, breast-feeding infants being thrown aside, children turning old with white hair
The realization suddenly sank in deep, there was no turning back, no second chance, and hopelessness turned into despair
Amidst streams of silent tears of regret, my mind flashed back to all those missed opportunities which Allah gave me, but which I denied
The soft caring words of my mother, full of worry and concern, “Beta, did you go to madrasah?” and my reply, “yes of course,” but I always lied
Golden chances of seeking knowledge were presented before me, repeatedly I was invited to gatherings of spiritual reformation
But I always preferred to hang out with my friends in dens of vice and sin for some dangerous exploration
Then abruptly my remorseful thoughts were interrupted as I became engulfed in pitch darkness, yet another scare
I knew the sun was no more, ear-piercing screams and blood curdling shrieks of pure panic filled the air
Suddenly my eyes flew open, I sat up straight in my bed, clothes soaked with sweat, heart thumping violently against my chest
Disoriented, I looked around with wide, weary eyes and realized it had been a dream, I was still in the test
Although shaken up, a warm feeling of sweet relief washed over me – it wasn’t too late to do what was right
This was a warning to me from Allah, I vowed that of my true objective in this world I will never lose sight
How many months of Ramadan, year after year, had passed wasted in my life, to take advantage I never cared
Now once again this blessed month is at our doorstep, a gift-wrapped invitation of Allah’s love, for it now, inshallah, I am fully geared
I jumped out of bed to hurriedly get ready for salaah and madrasah, there wasn’t a moment to lose
I eagerly set off to start a new life with renewed vigor and zeal, this was another chance, not a time to snooze.
Tuesday 16 February 2016
PROPAGATION THROUGH THE PEN
The importance that the pen has always held in Islam is something that is not hidden to anyone who casts even a cursory glance over our rich history of the past fourteen centuries, and over the history of the very existence of humans on earth. In fact, the pen precedes in existence not only man, but the entire creation of Allah. It was at that time that Allah bestowed upon it an immense honour by entrusting it with a very great and crucial role. Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit Ra narrates that Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, “The first thing that Allah created was the pen. After creating it, He commanded it to write. The pen asked, ‘what should I write?’ Allah replied, ‘write the taqdeer of Allah.’ Subsequently, the pen wrote all the events and happenings that were to take place till eternity.” (Tirmidhi)
Allah proffered honour onto the pen in the Quran as well—an entire surah was named after it—Suratul Qalam. The first aayat of this surah is, “(I swear) By the pen and what they write.” As is the general principle, whenever Allah takes an oath of something, it is to show the importance and greatness of that thing. In the very first wahy that Allah sent down upon Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam in the cave of Hira, He mentions, “He taught by the pen.” Under these two verses, the commentators of the Quran have stated that the first and foundational method of teaching and imparting knowledge was through the pen. According to one opinion it was Hazrat Adam AS who first used the pen, and according to another it was Hazrat Idrees AS.
Hazrat Qatada Ra said, “The pen is a very great favour of Allah. If it wasn’t for the pen, then no Deen would remain, and no worldly matters would be able to run.” Hazrat Ali Ra said, “If it wasn’t for the pen then all works of Deen and Dunya would become impaired.
In the blessed life of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam we find a precedent for propagation through the pen. He dispatched numerous letters to different kings, leaders, and tribes, conveying to them the message of Allah, and inviting them towards accepting Islam. We mention here, an excerpt from his letter to the Roman emperor-
“Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. From Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), the servant and messenger of Allah, to Hercules, the leader of Rome. May peace be upon the one who follows the guidance. Verily I invite you toward the call of Islam (kalimah of tawheed.) Accept Islam, and secure eternal safety. Allah will give you double reward. However, if you turn away, then upon you will be the sin of all those who follow you.” (Bukhari)
Thus, the pen has always been an indispensable, vital, and fundamental tool for the acquisition and retainment of knowledge, and for the propagation of the pure and pristine Deen.
It is for this very reason that our Ulama have always emphasized on showing adab - respect - to the pen. They have taught us not to throw it to someone, and not to put it on the floor. When the ink in the pen finishes, then instead of throwing it away in the dustbin, we should respectfully bury it in the ground. Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Ra never entered the toilet with an ink mark on his hand - he would first wash it off, and then proceed to relieve himself, saying that it is with this ink that we write Quran and Hadeeth, it is highly disrespectful to go into the toilet with it being visible on the hand. Subhanallah, may Allah grant us the adab that our elders had. In today’s times, digital and printed literature in the form of authentic books, magazines, newsletters, and articles is the advanced and progressed form of the pen, and continues to quench the never ending thirst of the Ummah for knowledge, thus remaining a major field for the propagation of the truth. Subsequently, such literature is also deserving of our adab.
Through the grace of Allah, we have resumed posting on this blog with a more refined and focused outlook, which is also included in the category of 'Propagation Through The Pen. May Allah accept this humble and weak effort although it doesn't deserve acceptance, and may Allah make it a means of hidayat for the entire mankind, ameen.
Allah proffered honour onto the pen in the Quran as well—an entire surah was named after it—Suratul Qalam. The first aayat of this surah is, “(I swear) By the pen and what they write.” As is the general principle, whenever Allah takes an oath of something, it is to show the importance and greatness of that thing. In the very first wahy that Allah sent down upon Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam in the cave of Hira, He mentions, “He taught by the pen.” Under these two verses, the commentators of the Quran have stated that the first and foundational method of teaching and imparting knowledge was through the pen. According to one opinion it was Hazrat Adam AS who first used the pen, and according to another it was Hazrat Idrees AS.
Hazrat Qatada Ra said, “The pen is a very great favour of Allah. If it wasn’t for the pen, then no Deen would remain, and no worldly matters would be able to run.” Hazrat Ali Ra said, “If it wasn’t for the pen then all works of Deen and Dunya would become impaired.
In the blessed life of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam we find a precedent for propagation through the pen. He dispatched numerous letters to different kings, leaders, and tribes, conveying to them the message of Allah, and inviting them towards accepting Islam. We mention here, an excerpt from his letter to the Roman emperor-
“Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. From Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), the servant and messenger of Allah, to Hercules, the leader of Rome. May peace be upon the one who follows the guidance. Verily I invite you toward the call of Islam (kalimah of tawheed.) Accept Islam, and secure eternal safety. Allah will give you double reward. However, if you turn away, then upon you will be the sin of all those who follow you.” (Bukhari)
Thus, the pen has always been an indispensable, vital, and fundamental tool for the acquisition and retainment of knowledge, and for the propagation of the pure and pristine Deen.
It is for this very reason that our Ulama have always emphasized on showing adab - respect - to the pen. They have taught us not to throw it to someone, and not to put it on the floor. When the ink in the pen finishes, then instead of throwing it away in the dustbin, we should respectfully bury it in the ground. Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Ra never entered the toilet with an ink mark on his hand - he would first wash it off, and then proceed to relieve himself, saying that it is with this ink that we write Quran and Hadeeth, it is highly disrespectful to go into the toilet with it being visible on the hand. Subhanallah, may Allah grant us the adab that our elders had. In today’s times, digital and printed literature in the form of authentic books, magazines, newsletters, and articles is the advanced and progressed form of the pen, and continues to quench the never ending thirst of the Ummah for knowledge, thus remaining a major field for the propagation of the truth. Subsequently, such literature is also deserving of our adab.
Through the grace of Allah, we have resumed posting on this blog with a more refined and focused outlook, which is also included in the category of 'Propagation Through The Pen. May Allah accept this humble and weak effort although it doesn't deserve acceptance, and may Allah make it a means of hidayat for the entire mankind, ameen.
Saturday 13 February 2016
RISE AND SHINE!!
Rise and shine! Time to wake up and smell.....the beautiful fragrance of the love of Allah all around us!
Very sadly, there are many men (and some women too) who sleep in late on Sundays/public holidays, waking up very late in the morning - 9am, 10am, 11am, sometimes even 12am and past that!!
This is something that cannot be expected from a Muslim who has iman on Allah and Qiyamat - a person who knows that in a short while he will have to stand in front of The King of kings and give an account of every second of his life.
As Muslims we have a goal, an objective in life which we are supposed to be desperately trying to rush towards, with the constant fear that the time given to us for it can run out at any moment. A person working on a million dollar contract that needs to be finalised by the morning will gladly stay awake the entire night, and the morning as well, until his job is done and he has pocketed his million. Is Allah lesser in value to us than a million dollars?
According to shariat, and medically as well, a person needs six to eight hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Anything more than that is a waste of our precious life, and can cost us dearly. It will result in a hardened heart, laziness, unmindfulness of Allah, strengthening of the nafs, and general deprivation in every aspect.
A seeker of Allah (which is what we are all supposed to be) will become restless, regretful, and disturbed at even an extra second in bed, yet today we will spend hours and hours in the morning glued to our beds, unable to pull ourselves out. Where are we heading to?
May Allah open our eyes before it is too late.
Very sadly, there are many men (and some women too) who sleep in late on Sundays/public holidays, waking up very late in the morning - 9am, 10am, 11am, sometimes even 12am and past that!!
This is something that cannot be expected from a Muslim who has iman on Allah and Qiyamat - a person who knows that in a short while he will have to stand in front of The King of kings and give an account of every second of his life.
As Muslims we have a goal, an objective in life which we are supposed to be desperately trying to rush towards, with the constant fear that the time given to us for it can run out at any moment. A person working on a million dollar contract that needs to be finalised by the morning will gladly stay awake the entire night, and the morning as well, until his job is done and he has pocketed his million. Is Allah lesser in value to us than a million dollars?
According to shariat, and medically as well, a person needs six to eight hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Anything more than that is a waste of our precious life, and can cost us dearly. It will result in a hardened heart, laziness, unmindfulness of Allah, strengthening of the nafs, and general deprivation in every aspect.
A seeker of Allah (which is what we are all supposed to be) will become restless, regretful, and disturbed at even an extra second in bed, yet today we will spend hours and hours in the morning glued to our beds, unable to pull ourselves out. Where are we heading to?
May Allah open our eyes before it is too late.
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