majaalis for the salikeen

8/9/2019 Majaalis for the Salikeen

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M A JA A L IS FO R THE S A A L IKEENB Y M O U L A N A N A Z I R D E S A I

H T T P : / / M A J A A L I S . B L O G S P O T . C O M /

A B O U T T H E A U T H O R

MOULANA NAZ IER DESA I

Qualified as an Aalim from Jalalabad Darul Uloom, India. Moulana conducts talks on

Islaah in Musjids as well as Muslim Radio stations. He is also a teacher at Darul Uloom

Abu Bakr, Port Elizabeth

A B O U T T H E B O O K

This book is a culmination of many Majaalis or talks by Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah Khan Saheb

Rahimahullah which flow through the discourses of The essence of these Majaalis has been

captured in this book together with the unique style of oratory that imbues Moulana Nazir

Sahebs lectures with a captivating magic.

Table of Contents

Taqwa - Purpose of Ramadhaan

Istighfaar and Repentance

Advice of Hasan Basri

Incident of Good and Bad Ways

Love for Allah and His Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam

Aql and Intellect


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Importance of Nafs

Story of Umar radhiallahu anhu 1

Story of Zunnun Misri

Story of a Wali and a King

Story of Umar radhiallahu anhu 2

Importance of Durood Sharif

Tawaadu or Humility

Story of Sayyid Ahmad Rifai

Kibr and Pride

Advice of Luqmaan alaihis salaam

Three Stages of Kibr

Remedy for Pride

Story of an Aabid

The Mercy of Allah Ta'ala

Importance of Dua


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TAQWA THE PURPOSE OF RAMADHAAN

First and foremost we thank RABBUL IZZAT who has blessed us, given us Taufeeq, guidance and

strength to be present in this Mubarak month of Ramadhaan. It is ALLAHS mercy and grace that

once again he has allowed his servants to take the opportunity to reap the Barakah and blessings

of this month.

ALLAH speaks in the Quraan regarding this month:

ALLAH has made fasting incumbent upon you just as he has made fasting incumbent upon the

people before you so that you can develop Taqwa (piety).

So Insha-Allah, throughout the month of Ramadhaan we will focus on Taqwa. In Arabic Taqwa

means to fear, to abstain or to be pious. We can take all three words and combine them into one

word. Taqwa, in simple terms means to utilise this particular month to remove from within

ourselves any form of bad qualities and replace them with good qualities. ALLAH says in the Holy

Quraan:

The garments of Taqwa in the eyes of ALLAH are the best

(Surah Araaf)

Here ALLAH does not mean that you must buy an expensive jersey, kurta or topi, here ALLAH is

speaking of the spiritual Taqwa; that is the garment we will wear or remove, e.g. hatred, malice,

jealousy, greed etc. Now to remove those evil qualities and replace them with good qualities is

what we call Taqwa.

ISTIGHFAAR AND REPENTANCE

Amongst the requirements of this Taqwa first and foremost is Istighfaar or repentance. The

Hadeeth mentions that each and every night ALLAH descends to the first heaven. Now can we

imagine in Ramadhaan with what glory does ALLAH descend? ALLAH stretches out His Hands to

his servants asking and appealing to them saying, Is there anyone amongst you who is in pain,difficulty or hardship? Call upon Me! if there is any need you want to be fulfilled, these are the

moments that you turn to Me and ask of Me.

Now look how merciful is ALLAH, he comes down to our homes and stretches His Hands forward

appealing to us. The general principal is that when we need anything we go to someone and

stretch our hands out to them. Here ALLAH is coming to our doors, knocking on our doors

opening His Hands and asking us. Indeed most unfortunate is that person who turns his back on

ALLAH. Therefore, the first thing we ask of ALLAH is Istighfaar in this month.


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ADVICE OF HASAN BASRI rahmatullahi alayhi

In the time of Hasan Basri (Rahmatullahi Alayh) people came to him with problems and

difficulties which had overtaken them, requesting him for Duas. He replied, No, we will not make

Dua. Instead, we will read two Rakaats Salaah, for verily ALLAH says:When you are overtaken

with any pain or difficulty then make ISTIGHFAAR unto ALLAH, remember and start counting

your sins and cry unto ALLAH to forgive you. ALLAH will open up the heavens and shower his

mercy in the form of rain that will bless the land, your crops will grow and there will be barkat in

your crops, your eating, and your money.

So the first lesson we take home in Ramadhaan is Istighfaar in abundance, whilst walking, going

to work and whilst driving continuously make Istighfaar and remember the sins we have

committed, because these are the moments in which we turn to ALLAH. And He promises to

grant us whatever we want.

We thank ALLAH again for His Grace and Mercy. We look at another example: 365 days a year we

have a certain way of life or habit, then comes Ramadhaan and immediately there is a change, this

is an indication and a sign of the verses of Quran wherein it appears that When you are sincere

and adopt Taqwa then ALLAH is there to aid and assist you.

Take the example of people who say, I go through 60 cigarettes a day, Moulana. I cannot do

without cigarettes. Ramadhaan comes and he does not smoke one for the entire day. How do you

think this is possible? It is ALLAHS Mercy and Grace, this is an indication to show that ALLAH is

alongside us to aid and assist us.

We said that Taqwa is the key element to our success, and the stepping stone to Taqwa is Tauba,

repentance and ISTIGHFAAR, so this is where we start. We can define Taqwa as fear of ALLAH or

introducing good ways and habits and removing bad habits, or as piety and sincerity.

AN INCIDENT OF GOOD AND BAD WAYS

In the time of Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, a lady past by his Majlis. A Sahaabi

commented that this woman is very particular with Salaatul-Layl and fasts a lot but there is a fault

and weakness in her: her tongue is very severe, very harsh, very abrupt and very rude. Rasoolullah

Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam commented saying that this woman is destined for Jahannum in spite

of her Sallatul-Layl and fasting. After a few days this very same lady past by the Majlis again, this


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time she changed her lifestyle: in forms of Salaah and Ibadat she had decreased but had improved

tremendously on her tongue, she is very kind and gentle, Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam

commented saying that she is now destined for Jannat. From this we learn that Taqwa is to

remove the evil qualities and replace them with good qualities.

Now the stepping stone to this Taqwa is Istighfaar and repentance. A Muslim should never ever

regard a sin to be small, no matter how trivial it seems to be. Every sin we commit is disrespect

unto RABBUL-IZZAT. If a person regards a sin to be small then his Ieman is in danger. Why?

When you regard a sin to be small then you are regarding ALLAH to be small and this is very

severe.

Look at the example our Akaabireen and Mashaaikh give with regard to sin. Never think that a

sin is small or big; small and big sins have been categorised for a reason: if a person commits a

major sin then a law is applied to him, but every sin in the eyes of ALLAH is severe. For example,

when a drop of urine falls into a bucket of water, what happens to that water? It becomes

contaminated. Now this is an indication to show us that if just one drop of urine could

contaminate a hundred litres of water then in like manner one sin can contaminate the entire

spiritual side of a Mumin.

This is what the Hadeeth actually teaches us: that whenever we sin no matter what sins we

commit, a little black spot forms on the heart and if repentance is not made more black spots will

appear till eventually the entire heart will be overtaken with darkness. Then it becomes extremely

difficult to make Taubah.

Another example is given of a spark which can cause a fire in the house, therefore you have to be

careful. It does not take a big flame to cause that fire. So just like we dont need a big flame to

cause a fire in the house, in like manner we only need a spark to burn and engulf the entire heart

which is the home of our Ieman. This is how severe and dangerous a sin can be.

ALLAH explains in the Quraan about one of the unique qualities of a Mumin:

When he commits a sin, or falters or his Nafs led him to do wrong things then immediately he

shows signs of remorse and repentance, he turns to ALLAH submitting unto him, and he

acknowledges that he has faltered seeking forgiveness from ALLAH.

Therefore during the month of Ramadhaan there are moments that we must take advantage of,

calling out to ALLAH. O ALLAH, throughout the year these eyes have faltered, the ears have

faltered, the mind has faltered, the tongue has faltered, O ALLAH allow me to utilise the moments

in this month, for every moment and every second is filled with Barakaat and Noor, so O ALLAH

forgive me and purify me.


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So our first step towards this Taqwa is ISTIGHFAAR in abundance, not only should it be made in

the Musjid but wherever we go we should continuously be making ISTIGHFAAR. Remember our

forefather Nabi }dam alaihis salaatu was-salaam, when he faltered he said:

ALLAH I acknowledge my fault, ALLAH if you dont purify and cleanse me and that bond

between us is not restored then undoubtedly I will be destroyed.

Here he referred to the bond and relation of ALLAH which was not restored; And how is that

bond broken? Through masiyat or sin.

LOVE FOR ALLAH AND ALLAHS RASOOL

We are discussing Taqwa and the signs of Taqwa. One of the signs is Muhabbat or love. Without

love one can never progress as far as Taqwa is concerned. Lets take worldly examples: If we love

business we will always speak about business, if we love our Ustaadh we will speak about our

Ustaadh, if we love motor cars we will speak about cars, and so forth. If we love ALLAH and

ALLAHS Rasool then the signs and symptoms will also manifest in the life of that Mumin.

Therefore, it is mentioned in the Hadeeth:Whoever loves something will mention it a lot. So if

we love ALLAH and ALLAHS Rasool then wherever we are we will speak about them.

This is the reason why we are sitting here today. We are not here for money or food. Yes! We are

creating the love of ALLAH and ALLAHS Rasool. ALLAH says in the Holy Quraan:

Undoubtedly ALLAH and ALLAHS Malaaikah send Salawaat upon Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi

Wasallam, Oh people of Ieman! it is your duty to you send Salaat and Salaam upon Rasoolullah

Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.

Now consider this verse. ALLAH RABUL IZZAT commands the Malaaikah, Jinn and Insaan in the

Holy Quraan to perform Salaah, Haj and fast ect. However, nowhere in the Quraan does ALLAH

give an instruction which ALLAH himself follows, except in the command of Durood upon

Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. This shows the importance of Durood upon RasoolullahSallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.

Once Nabi Kareem Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam mounted the mimbar, upon ascending each step,

he said, Aameen. The Sahabah said: Oh Rasoolullah, we had never ever witnessed something of

this nature, what is the reason for you saying Aameen upon each step?

Rasoolullah replied, Hazrat Jibreel Alaihis Salaam came to me as I was mounting the mimbar

saying: Destruction be to that person who does not send Durood upon you in a gathering when

your name is mentioned. So I said Aameen to that.


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Read Durood; the Barakah and Noor of that will protect you from sin and evil. May ALLAH give

us Taufeeq and guidance to increase the Durood.

AQL AND INTELLECT

When ALLAH RABBUL IZZAT sent man to the earth, ALLAH bestowed man with two qualities.

This is an indication of how much love and mercy ALLAH has for man, ALLAH bestowed him

with Aql (intelligence) and Iemaan. The reason for this is that man will be faced with different

forms of difficulties, hardships and problems; he will be engaged in things which will not be good

for himself nor for the pleasure of ALLAH, therefore ALLAH gave him Intellect and Ieman so that

he

can utilise them to assist and aid him. Therefore, the inherent quality of the intellect is to be

obedient unto ALLAH. When ALLAH created the intellect and commanded it to come forward, it

came forward, then commanded it to go back it went back, this shows us that the inherent quality

of the intellect is to be obedient unto ALLAH. When ALLAH created Jahl (ignorance) and

commanded it to come forward it went backwards, then commanded it to sit down it stood up.

This shows us that the inherent quality of ignorance is to be disobedient unto ALLAH.

Therefore our Akaabireen and Mashaaikh taught us that when a person is disobedient to his

Ustaadh, parents or Shaikh, something is wrong with the Aql. Such a person is not normal

because the intellect of a normal person will tell him to be obedient to his parents, Ustaadh and

Sheikh. If this is so, imagine how much more obedient should we be to ALLAH RABBUL IZZAT?

In spite of our weaknesses ALLAHS Fadhl and Mercy is so great that ALLAH does not deprive us

of anything. We look at our daily lives and we see how much sin the eyes, ears and tongue

commit, yet you find every day when we sit at the table, our food, sustenance, clothes, safety and

security are all there, in spite of our faults and weaknesses. Therefore, looking at this it is the duty

of Insaan who has Aql to drown himself in Shukr (thanksgiving) unto ALLAH and utilise this as aturning point in his life to do good deeds.

Therefore it is said that, the Nafs is an important factor in the development of your Taqwa and

Ieman. Today the Nafs has overpowered the Rooh and the Nafs has fed the Rooh with

entertainment, lust, pleasure and desire, so we tasted the side of our Ieman that has always been

interfered with by the Nafs. In the month of Ramadhaan the Shayaateen are imprisoned but it

does not mean that you will not commit sin, the Nafs is still alive and active and between the Nafs

and Shaytaan the Nafs is more stronger. Shaytaan is the councillor of the Nafs. When the Nafs


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needs assistance then Shaytaan is there to assist it and he will tell the nafs how to do things. But

the Nafs is the king and Shaytaan is the advisor. In like manner the Rooh is the king and the

advisor of the Rooh is the Aql or intellect. For this reason you find that 24 hours out of every 24

these two armies are fighting.

I have said that we tasted the Nafsani side, the lust and pleasure, for example: we find that the

Nafs puts it into our minds to always look at wrong things and get enjoyment thereof, or to listen

and speak wrong things and get enjoyment from it, but on the other side the Rooh and Aql wants

the Taqwa of the eyes, that is to only look at good things. If it encounters wrong things it should

lower its gaze. The Taqwa of the ears is that when it hears something wrong it must shut down

immediately, the Taqwa of the tongue is as the Hadeeth explains; that fasting is a shield which

protects you from wrong and evil until you destroy this shield by speaking lies and backbiting.

These two examples are common, but it includes any wrong speech. So what happens? The shield

is destroyed. Thus, we cannot protect our Ieman from evil.

Never the less, we said that as long as we taste the Nafsaani side it will be difficult for us to taste

the sweetness of Ieman and obedience.

The example our Mashaaikh gives us is of a person while walking in the forest came across a

mirror and picked it up, after looking at the mirror he said to himself, No wonder people threw

you away, you idiot. You are so ugly! He took the mirror and threw it aside.

My Shaikh rahmatullahi alayh said that this is exactly the image of our Ieman: he was ugly but

thought that something was wrong with the mirror. In like manner, according to the way one

conducts ones life that is how his Ieman will be effected. Like the example of a person bitten by a

snake. Whatever he eats will taste bitter to him, even the most sweetest of things. Now there is

nothing wrong with the item he had eaten however, it is his system that has been affected. In

exactly the same manner, when sin overpowers us and effects us, you will find that obedience

becomes very difficult. A simple example is that of clothes; when it is dirty we are not particular to

prevent it from becoming dirtier. This is what sin does to us. When we engage in sin without

repentance then blacks spots start accumulating on our Rooh. Eventually when we realise the

Rooh is dirty we are now not careful of further sin. Therefore, Nabi Eesa Alaihis Salaam gave

advice saying: When man commits sin I am not amazed. Yes! When man commits sin and breaks

his relationship with ALLAH that amazes me. That means it is a natural quality in man to

commit sin and for this reason ALLAH gave man Aql and Ieman because ALLAH knew we would

come across various temptations and we will fall prey to it but what is important is that our

relationship with ALLAH must not break. And how does it break? By us not going back to ALLAH


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and acknowledging our sins repenting and making Taubah. So the month of Ramadhaan is as the

Hadeeth explains that unfortunate indeed is that person who witnesses this month and cannot

secure his Maghfirat. Therefore the first step towards our Taqwa is to increase Istighfaar and also

to acknowledge our sins.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NAFS

We find that the Mashaaikh often speak about the Nafs and its functions because if one does not

understand the Nafs then your spiritual life becomes extremely difficult. One can never destroy

the Nafs, but yes, one can control it, and every persons Nafs responds differently according to the

individual. Therefore, to achieve this Taqwa it is important that we understand the Nafs. The Nafs

is the king of all evil, whatever evil we commit on the earth whether it is the evil of the eyes, ears,

tongue, heart, or mind is the result of the Nafs who is the king and Shaytaan is its councillor. On

the other hand the king of all good is the Rooh and the councillor to that Rooh is the Aql and

intellect. Therefore these two parties are always fighting. When the Nafs desires something,

Shaytaan is there to assist it in acheiving that which displeases ALLAH. On the other hand, you

find that the Rooh is pushing for good deeds and the Aql and intellect is there to help it along.

Therefore, the natural quality of the Aql is to be saleem, i.e. to give peace to fellow Muslims and

human beings. However, because of the influence of the outside world the Aql sometimes changes

its cause. If this Nafs was not important then the great and pious people of before would not

attach so much importance to it.

STORY OF UMAR radhiyallahu anhu

Hazrat Umar radhiyallahu anhu had a habit of going around checking on his subjects every

evening to see what they were doing. So one day while passing through a certain suburb he

overheard the people saying, Umar is a very great person, Now it is natural for a person to feel

elated when being praised by people. So for that split second Hazrat Umar radhiyallahu anhu felt

good to himself. He went home to fetch a leather water-bag and a bowl. He then went to the

marketplace and started giving people water to drink. Somebody saw him and said, Oh Ameerul-

Mumineen! you are the ruler, what are you doing in the marketplace distributing water to

people? He replied: I am disciplining my Nafs because people praised me saying that I am a

great person; pride crept into my Nafs and I felt good to myself, so I wanted to discipline my Nafs.

I say to my nafs that you are only fit for walking through the market place and feeding people,


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other than that you are worthless. Now if the Nafs was not important then why did he go to that

great extreme to look after the Nafs and control it? This will show us that by not having control

over the Nafs it will be extremely difficult spiritually to develop and get close to RABBUL IZZAT.

STORY OF ZUNNUN MISRI rahmatullahi alayh

Someone once came to Zunnun Misri R.A. complaining that things are very difficult. (ALLAH

mentions in the Quraan that whatever pain and hardship you experience on the Dunya is solely

and only the result of what was done by your own hands, i.e. you are the cause of it) and requested

him to make Dua. Zunnun packed his goods and left the town saying, I take an oath on ALLAHS

name that the difficulties which have overtaken our community is solely because of my sins. So

he left the town went into the wilderness and engaged in Ibaadat. Look at the calibre of these

people.

One day whilst travelling, he passed a sweetmeat shop and desired to purchase some for himslef.

He then started speaking to the Nafs, saying: My friend, you are fully aware that I am not in the

position to afford these sweetmeats... Now just look how shrewd is this Nafs, the Nafs started

telling him, Why dont you buy it on account. Ask the shopkeeper for credit? Zunnun Misri

rahmatullahi alayh said, We have been prohibited to do so in the Ahaadeeth unless there is a dire

need. The Nafs went a step further saying, You are a great Wali why dont you tell the people in

the shop who you are and they will give it to you for free. Zunnun Misri immediately knew that

this Nafs is using its deception. So to teach the Nafs a lesson, he went to the farming area where

the buffaloes were ploughing the land, he asked the farmer how much it would cost to plough the

land for one day, the farmer said for example, one rand, he then asked if he had to do it himself

would the farmer pay him that much, the farmer agreed. Zunnun Misri Rahmatullahi Alaih

strapped the equipment onto his back and ploughed the land for the entire day. After the hard

days work, he got his wages, now he went to the sweetmeat shop and bought some sweet meatsand told his Nafs that if you want sweetmeats again, this is how we are going to work for it,

immediately the Nafs responded by saying, If this is the case then I dont want sweetmeats

anymore. Never ever did the Nafs trouble him again.

So from this we learn that if the Nafs was not important then these Auliya would not make so

much effort on it.

Coming back to Taqwa, we can define this Taqwa as Ikhlaas, sincerity, honesty, fear of ALLAH, to

abstain from wrong and to be obedient.


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Zunnun Misri immediately knew that this Nafs is up to some trick. So to teach the Nafs a lesson,

he went to the farming area where the buffaloes were ploughing the land, and asked the farmer

how much it would cost to plough the land for one day. The farmer said for example, one rand. He

then asked if he had to do it himself would the farmer pay him that much, to which the farmer

agreed. Zunnun Misri rahmatullahi alayh strapped the equipment onto his back and ploughed the

land for the entire day. After the hard days work, he got his wages and set off to the sweetmeat

shop. There he bought some sweet meats and said to his Nafs: If you want sweetmeats in the

future, then this is how we are going to work for it. Immediately the Nafs responded by saying, If

this is the case then I dont want sweetmeats anymore. Never ever did the Nafs trouble him

again.

From this we learn that if the Nafs was not important then these Auliya would not make so much

effort on it. Coming back to Taqwa, we can define this Taqwa as Ikhlaas, sincerity, honesty, fear of

ALLAH, to abstain from wrong and to be obedient.

A STORY OF A WALI OF ALLAH AND A KING

A Wali of ALLAH was one day walking past the balcony of a palace. The king, who was seated on

the balcony saw him, a nd he shouted out: Is it possible for me to meet you and speak to you?

The Wali looked up and said: You are on the balcony of the third story how is it possible for me

to come up there? The king said, If you decide to come up I will make arrangements for you.

He replied. No problem, I will come up. So a basket was lowered to bring him up and he soon he

was sitting next to the king on the balcony. The king asked him, How did you get so close to

ALLAH? So he replied, When I decided to get to you, you pulled me up. The day I decided to get

close to ALLAH, I put my foot into that arena then ALLAH brought me closer and nearer to him.

What does this mean? Are we honest and sincere in befriending and getting closer to ALLAH? If

we are honest and sincere then yes indeed, ALLAHS aid and assistance will be with us and we willexperience that aid and assistance.

Now ten or twelve days of Ramadhaan have passed. Our minds should be functioning. Is the mind

speaking to us, what does it say? I say to myself firstly, Oh ALLAH before Ramadhaan how was

my tongue? Would I backbite, swear, slander, be harsh and rude with my tongue? Now that

Ramadhaan is here, is the mind functioning and telling me that this is not how you should be

using the tongue, this is not how you should be speaking. Is this happening to me? How are my

anger levels. When you are sick then you go to the doctor and he puts the scope on you and says,


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Well, the temperature is high. He feels your chest and says that you have a cough. Now we ask

ourselves, How is that anger level in me? Am I still blowing my top when I come home especially

in the month of Ramadhaan. If the wife did not prepare the food on time is the anger level rising

or decreasing? How do I treat my wife? Is the greed and lust for Dunya still in my heart? How are

my old habits of the past? I was not in the habit of performing Salaah. I was not in the habit of

reading Quraan, am I still lazy? So we put the thermometer on ourselves and start checking these

levels. And if there are no changes then, O ALLAH, you have promised that this Quraan does not

have an atom of doubt in it; it is a syllabus and a guide for those who want to get close to ALLAH.

ALLAH says in the Holy Quraan: The garments of Taqwa are the best Now what brand name is

this which ALLAH is calling the best garment? Today we know of Diesels, Petrols and Nikes;

these are brand names but O ALLAH, we did not come across this one, the garments of Taqwa!

What brand name is this O ALLAH? ALLAH says that the colour of ALLAH is the best of colours

and the garments has the brand name of Taqwa.

A STORY OF HAZRAT UMAR radhiyallahu anhu

Hazrat Umar radhiyallahu anhu made an announcement on the mimbar that as from today no

person should mix milk with water. This was because in those days after washing the udders of

the cows, the remaining water was left in the bucket and it got mixed with the milk that was being

extracted from the cow. So instead of the cow giving 1litre of milk you ended up with 2l itres, for

example. From a Sharee point of view this is not permissible because you are deceiving people,

hence this announcement from Ameerul Mumineen.

In the evening whilst patrolling the streets, he passed by a house where he overheard the mother

saying to her daughter, We are poverty stricken, things are a bit difficult, so add a little water to

the milk and this

will bring in some extra profit when we sell the milk. The young daughter said to her mom: Mummy! Did you not hear the announcement of Ameerul-Mumineen? The mother said to the

daughter, Where is Ameerul-Mumineen now, he is sitting in his palace and relaxing while we are

struggling here. The daughter replied, Mummy this is not to please Ameerul-Mumineen but it

is to please ALLAH because his orders are the orders of ALLAH.

Hazrat Umar R.A. became extremely pleased on hearing this, so the following day he summoned

this girl and her mother to his court. When they arrived, he related to them what he had

overheard last night, and praised the daughter for her honesty. He then proposed marriage to her


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on behalf of his son. This is the definition of Taqwa, that in the darkness of your room, who is

looking into the mind and heart? None other but ALLAH!

THE IMPORTANCE OF DUROOD SHARIF

It comes in the Ahadeeth that the closest to Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam on the day of

Qiyaamah will be those who read Durood in abundance. The more Durood you recite the closer

you will be to him. Hazrat Moulana Zakariyya rahmatullahi alayh states in his Kitaab that there

was a Muhaddith who wrote Ahaadeeth. In the Ahaadeeth it is mentioned that if a person writes

Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, as long as that is in written form he will get the reward as if he is

reciting Durood continuously. The reward of the Muhaditheen and those who write Ahaadeeth is

the greatest as far as the Durood is concerned.

So this Muhaddith would sometimes not write down the Durood because of it taking lots of time

and space. One day he saw Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in a dream and made Salaam

to him. Nabi-e-Kareem Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam turned his face away from him, so he asked,

Oh prophet of ALLAH what is the reason you are not greeting me? The Holy Prophet replied,

Because you leave out the Durood whenever you write my name.

Therefore the Hadeeth mentions that a miser is one who does not send Durood upon me when my

name is mentioned. In the Hadeeth it comes that a person who recites one hundred Durood, one

hundred of his needs will be fulfilled. Now as I have mentioned in the past, try it out. Keep a

Tasbeeh and recite Durood. To recite one hundred in a day is extremely easy.

In another Hadeeth it comes that a person who recites one hundred Durood ALLAH writes on his

forehead that ALLAH will protect him from Nifaaq and the fire of Jahannum. Therefore, keep

your Tasbeeh with you, it is a reminder that whenever you come to the house of ALLAH recite

Durood.

TAWAADHU OR HUMILITY

We turn back the pages of history and learn a very great lesson. When Rasoolullah Sallallahu

Alaihi Wasallam marched into Makkah with ten thousand troops, it was time for Zhur Salaah and

Bilal Radhiyallahu Anhu was instructed to give the Athaan, so he stood on a little hill and called

out the Athaan. Some people of a high family lineage from the Quraish of Makkah said, Isnt

there anybody else to give Athaan besides this black slave? How nice that our forefathers have left


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the world so as not to witness such an unfortunate occasion in the Holy city of Makkah. With

regards to this, the blessed verses were revealed:

Oh people, ALLAH created you from different groups and tribes so that you can recognise each

other. Undoubtedly in the eyes of ALLAH the most honoured and noblest amongst you is the one

who has the most Taqwa.

Now here again the unique lesson we learn, that Taqwa also teaches us humbleness; these are the

fruits and results of Taqwa. We must be able to experience this in the month of Ramadhaan.

STORY OF SAYYID AHMED RIFAAI RAHMATULLAHI ALAYH

He is amongst the Sayyid family, the family of Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, the

noblest family on the surface of the earth. When he went to the Mubarak city of Madina, in front

of the Qabr Mubarak he said, Peace be upon you Oh my grandfather, I come from Rifaa a place

in Egypt and I will be returning soon, what should I say to my people?

The Mubarak hand of Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam came out of the Qabr and he kissed

the Mubarak hand. Many people witnessed this event. Immediately thereafter he laid at the door

of Masjidun Nabawi and said, Ahmed Rifaai is fit for the feet of people, so walk over me, this is

what I am worth. What is this? Humility and modesty.

Somebody asked Sayyid Ahmed, How did you get close to ALLAH? He replied, I knocked on

the door of Haj. There were thousands queuing there to use Haj to get closer to ALLAH, I knocked

at the door of Salaatul-Layl there were thousands queuing there using that door to get closer to

ALLAH. When I came to the door of humbleness and humility, it was empty so, I entered through

this door.

This means that if we want to get close to ALLAH, or we want to change the stepping stone to

getting close to ALLAH than we must reduce ourselves to absolutely nothing. Therefore, for a

Saalik (one who wants to get close to ALLAH) the first step in his life is that he must regardhimself to be the worst of ALLAHS creation, even worse than a swine. So if anybody insults or

swears him, what does he say? I am worse than even a swine, so what you are saying is still mild. I

am not even deserving or worthy of your insult. O ALLAH, you know what I am worth, you have

concealed my sins, if you had to expose it O ALLAH, people would not sit next to me. So this is the

fruit and result of this Taqwa.

One of the secrets taught to us by our Mashaaikh is that whenever ALLAH gives us any command

or any work to do, in order for us to experience ease in that work we have to be obedient unto


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ALLAH, then only we can experience ease. Today being the twelfth fast through the grace and

mercy of ALLAH, all of us will agree that ALLAH has made fasting incumbent upon us and

ALLAH has assisted us. As human beings it is impossible for us to fast, it is only ALLAHS

assistance and aid. We can actually experience that aid. Therefore, the secret of any Ibadat is to be

obedient then you will find that Ibadat becomes very easy.

So we said that the garments of Taqwa are the best garments. If a person, for example, wears a

Kurta or any garment that is soiled, creased and untidy then there is no attraction to it, but when

he washes, cleans and irons that garment and applies perfume to it and then wears it, that person

looks handsome and attractive. So in a like manner the garments we have are soiled and dirty.

What causes the soil and dirt? It is the elements of hatred, malice, jealousy, greed, pride etc.

which have caused the garments to become soiled and dirty. Now when you wear that garment, in

the eyes of ALLAH they are not really attractive, so we have to remove, wash, clean and iron them.

Therefore the Zikr we make is like the perfume we apply which gives off a good fragrance, and the

cleanliness of the garments is that we must remove bad qualities and replace it with good. For

example, if I have greed in me then I replace it with Qanaat, meaning to be satisfied with what

ALLAH has given me. If I have hatred in me then I replace it with Muhabbat and love, and so

forth.

KIBR AND PRIDE

Therefore, amongst the items that are harmful and detrimental to us, the most serious one is Kibr

or pride. This is the mother of all sicknesses and the spiritual doctors have said that 99 percent of

people have contracted the disease of Kibr. To a certain extent even the Ulema and Mashaaikh

have contracted the disease of Kibr, therefore it is important that we look at this disease of Kibr.

From this disease you find that other diseases like jealousy, revenge, hatred towards people etc.

emerges. The first person to contract this disease was Iblees, when ALLAH created Hazrat AadamAlaihis Salaam and commanded the Malaaikah to make Sujood to him, all made Sujood besides

Iblees, because he did not realise that he had the disease of Kibr saying that he was better than

Aadam Alaihis Salaam. He argued that because Aadam Alaihis Salaam was created from sand and

he (Iblees) from fire, fire is always above whilst sand is always at the bottom. So in his small mind

he thought himself to be better than Aadam Alaihis Salaam. What was the consequences of this?

He was rejected till the day of Qiyaamah.


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We can thus see how severe is this Kibr, it can lead a person to Kufr and rebellion and it can also

earn that person the curse of ALLAH.

THE ADVICE OF LUQMAAN ALAIHIS SALAAM

If one does not consider this Kibr as important then look at the Quraanic verses where Hazrat

Luqmaan alayhis salaam gave naseehat (advice) to his son. Some of these advices pertain to the

individual and some to the entire Ummat. He said:

Oh my son! Do not turn your face or cheek away from people with pride (when people are talking

to you).

Such behaviour is contrary to the Quraan. If anybody speaks to you then listen to him carefully

with full attention.

Dont walk on the earth with pride because undoubtedly ALLAH detests those who have pride;

when you walk then walk with moderation, and make sure that the manner you speak does not

demonstrate that you are a person of pride; and lower your voice when speaking for undoubtedly

the worst of sounds is that of a donkey.

A person pased by Hazrat Ayesha radhiyallahu anha and she enquired as to who this person is

and why is he walking as if he is sick. Somebody said that this person is a Qaari and an Aalim and

this is how they walk in order for people to recognise them. She replied reciting the above verses,

saying that who is a greater Qaari and Aalim than Hazrat Umar radhiyallahu anhu? Look at how

he walked and how this person is walking. From his body-language we can see pride. Why did the

Quraan and Hadeeth speak about our dressing, walking, speech etc.? What is the reason for this?

This is to show us that ALLAH wants us to don the garments of Taqwa.

Now when we walk we should not walk like the Yahood and Nasaara, nor should we walk so

slowly like that of a woman or a person who is sickly, for if you walk like them then are imitatingthem. If a person is sick then definitely that person is excused. Otherwise, one should walk as if he

is healthy and strong. When speaking, dont raise your voice and shout because this is a sign of

the people of Jaahiliyya and a sign of arrogance in the voice. Whenever in the company of people

the habit of Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was to focus totally on them; he listened to

them carefully although many times they said things which he did not want to hear but still gave

them a hearing. If there was some Islaah to be made then he would mention it to them.


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THREE STAGES OF KIBR

Kibr has three stages: a) Istikbaar b) Fakhoor and c) Muhtaal. These three words are mentioned

at various places in the Quraan. It is very important for us to understand these terms and see

under which category we fall, and whether weve made Tauba from all these stages. What is the

Tauba of Kibr? It is that we don the garments of humility and simplicity wherever we are. This

Kibr is very subtle you will not be able to detect it easily. One subtle form of Kibr is that we will

not announce it verbally or by way of our actions and deeds but the heart inside is filled with Kibr,

so in our small little heart we think the world of ourselves. this is termed as istikbaar such people

are termed mustakbireen.

The second type of Kibr is that due to some reason or the other you feel shy to verbally announce

the Kibr. However, Kibr flows from our walk, garments and appearance. The person who behaves

like this is called Muhtaal.

The third type of Kibr is that we announce the Kibr verbally wherever we go and act as if we are

superior to others. The person who does is this is termed fakhoor. These three terms are used in

the Quraan and the applications are different. We now look into our lives and see which one of

these types do we have. We make Dua to ALLAH to protect us from all forms of Kibr.

Let us look at the Hadeeth Qudsi where ALLAH speaks himself: Kibr is my cloak and honour is

my trouser, whoever opposes me and tries to adopt my garments of pride, I shall crush him. It is

mentioned in the Ahaadeth that the people of pride will rise like little ants (on Qiyamat Day).

People will wonder who they are. It will be said that these are the people who developed pride on

the earth. In another Hadeeth it is mentioned that a person shall not enter Jannat as long as he

has an atoms worth of pride in his heart. Now from this we gain the importance of safeguarding

ourselves against Kibr.

A REMEDY FOR PRIDE

The Mashaaikh gave us certain ways to purify ourselves from pride which is so important. The

Kibr that sets within a person is either through wealth, family lineage or physical structure. This

gives one an opportunity to develop pride. If a person is rich then he looks at his wealth and says,

I am worth so much; thus automatically pride creeps in. Sometimes, because he comes from a

high family lineage, he looks down and condemns other people and thinks them to be inferior to

him. Then you find that sometimes because of certain qualities in a person he feels that he is


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better than the next person. Sometimes Taqwa, piety, lots of Ibadat etc. causes us to look down at

other people who do not have these qualities. It comes in a Hadeeth that when a person comes to

the Masjid there are two Malaaikah at the entrance who make note of who comes in and who goes

out. When someone comes into the house of ALLAH with Kibr and pride the Malaaikah say to

ALLAH, This persons heart is filled with Kibr and pride, should we allow him to come in?

ALLAH will say, Since he came to My house, remove the Kibr from his heart and let him in. The

Malaaikah will take out the pride from his heart. This is how the person will enter and read his

Salaah. As he is about to leave the Masjid the Malaaikah will say, He is leaving now, should we

put back the Kibr in his heart? ALLAH will say, No! Since you have removed the Kibr from him

and We have allowed him into Our

Court, keep the Kibr away from him. Such a person is automatically purified.

This should be a reminder for us as Musallis coming in and out of the Masjid. Ya ALLAH! You are

so merciful, we come to the Masjid with pride and Kibr... (like my Sheikh rahmatullahi alayh

always said that if a person is drunk and comes to the house of ALLAH, what do we do? All of us

will tackle him, including the Imam, and throw him out by the first window. Because he is drunk

and smelling we start condemning him. He goes home, sits in the house and says, Ya ALLAH! My

children were in the Masjid what did I do Ya ALLAH that I caused such embarrassment to

myself, The wife asks him why he came so early from the Masjid and he tries to evade the

question, but finally tells her what happened. He sits in the room and cries and sheds tears saying,

Ya ALLAH! What did I do to cause this embarrassment to the whole family. When the

intoxication wears out he makes Tauba and repents.

However when we come to the Masjid with pride and Kibr you can take all the water in the ocean

but will still be unable to wash that pride away. Many of us dont get engaged in drinking which is

an external factor, however we become drunk with internal factors like Kibr, jealousy, looking at

woman etc. Therefore, we should drown ourselves in Shukr unto ALLAH for purifying us from

Kibr and giving us the advantage of coming to the Masjid and frequenting the Masjid. Kibr will

always enter our lives (and hearts). Sometimes one does a certain act and then Iblees is there to

praise you, saying you are like this and and like that, so automatically your mind gets carried

away. So to counter this, we need an antidote. When you are sick the doctor gives you a tablet. If it

does not help, you want something stronger. The same applies to the spiritual side whenever a

situation like this crops up.

Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Rahimahullah. who was a very great Aalim, says that one day

after giving a Bayaan a thought came into his mind. Now we must remember that thousands of


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people sat in his Bayaans. So the thought came to his mind that I gave a powerful Bayaan.

Immediately he knew that the Nafs is now creating a problem, so he said to the Nafs, Yes what

you are saying is true but dont forget that if ALLAH did not instill the contents of the Bayaan in

my mind, I would never be able to give it, if ALLAH did not allow me to speak the way I spoke, I

would never be able to do so. So what we say, O ALLAH, it is from your side, In like manner, if

we are driving a beautiful car, or we have a beautiful house, we have extra money, what will we

say, This is not something which I could earn. If I am handsome or a Qaari, Aalim, business

person, a person of standing in society etc., this is not something that we could have achieved

Instead it is ALLAH Who has given it to us, and just as ALLAH has given us these Nimats,

ALLAH has the power to take it away. So we always remind ourselves. Speak to the Nafs and tell

it: Any moment ALLAH can take this away, so what am I worth.

STORY OF AN AABID (WORSHIPPER)

The Bani Israel were famous for their Ibadat. Among them there was an Aabid (worshipper) who

made Ibadat for years on the mountain side. One day whilst engaged in Ibadat he saw a person on

his right-hand side who had a past life of sin. This Aabid became annoyed thinking to himself that

I am such a great person and have been making Ibadat for so many years and this sinner is sitting

next to me. Many a times this happens to us; we are engaged in Ibadat and the person that does

something wrong is condemned, there is no place in society for him.

So Allah sent the Prophet of the time to tell this Aabid that I have taken away all your Ibadat and

have also taken away all the sins of the other person. So you both are on the same level; there is

now no difference between the two of you.

Can we see? This is how ALLAH can take away His favours overnight. It belongs to Him.

Therefore we should ask ALLAH to give us the guidance to become conscious and recognise

ALLAH through these various forms of favours and become conscious of whether we are doingthings for the sake of ALLAH or not.

THE MERCY OF ALLAH

It comes in one Hadeeth that each and every night of Ramadhaan seven hundred thousand people

upon whom Jahannum is Waajib, are freed from the fire of Jahannam. This is only an example.


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but we can imagine the multitudes of people that ALLAH forgives and frees from the fire of

Jahannam. So the duty of the servant is that we must take advantage of this. It comes in the

Hadeeth that on the day of Qiyaamat ALLAH will call one of his servants. ALLAH will show him a

list of his minor sins and ALLAH will tell him that this is what you did on such and such a day and

time. The servant will think that these are only my minor sins what about my major sins. So

immediately he petitions ALLAH and says

to ALLAH that never ever did he commit these sins and he starts denying all these sins. ALLAH

will say that this is what you committed and he will persist in his denial. ALLAH in His Infinite

Mercy will say, I forgive you for all those sins. Upon hearing this he suddenly changes his plea,

and he now tells ALLAH that he had forgotten about a certain sin (because ALLAH promised to

exchange all his sins for good deeds)! ALLAH will then say: I forgive you for those sins and also

grant you rewards for it.

So this is the opportunity we take in this month. Mmake an excuse to ask ALLAH, O ALLAH I

needed a certain favour. You promised to give it to me O ALLAH, but I dont see it... This is how

we take advantage of this month.

Therefore it comes in the Hadeeth: For each and every Muslim who fasts in this month

throughout the day, when he makes Dua, ALLAH promises that his Dua is accepted. We have not

realised the value and meaning of being Mustajaab in the eyes of ALLAH. This means, being one

whose duas are accepted. Those Malaaikah who carry the Arsh of ALLAH are commanded by

ALLAH to leave their posts and only do one thing in this sacred month: that wherever you see my

slaves making Dua you must stand along side them and say Aameen to their Duas.

Therefore, I say to my friends: let us not be amongst the unfortunate ones who come to the Masjid

and sit and talk especially in the month of Ramadhaan. Whilst we are sitting here, we all know

what are our needs, so ask ALLAH. There is no need to pick up our hands. While sitting we can

say, Ya ALLAH! I want this, I need that, this is my problem; O ALLAH I need forgiveness, etc.

The Malaaikah will be there to say Aameen to that Dua. There is, therefore, no reason why we

cannot bring changes in our lives.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DUA

ALLAH states in the Quraan: Whenever you call upon me, you can rest assure that I will be close

to you. To many of us this Dua does not feature in our lives. The Ahadeeth mentions: Dua is the

core of Ibadat. There is nothing more valuable in the eyes of ALLAH than the Dua of a Mumin.


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For the simple reason that when a Mumin makes Dua to ALLAH he is expressing the quality of

Abdiyat (slavery). ALLAH I am a slave and without your help I am worthless. Dua is thus very

important. In another Hadeeth we are encouraged: When you ask then only ask from ALLAH.

It appears in a Hadeeth that a person will come before ALLAH on the day of Qiyaamah and

ALLAH will show him his Nimats and favours in Jannat. This person will be amazed and

astonished to see all of it, so he will tell ALLAH, Ya ALLAH I did not do that amount of deeds to

be rewarded so much. ALLAH will say, I have instructed you in the Dunya to make Dua and I

promised to accept all your Duas. Can you remember those days when you were in pain and

misery and you picked up your hands as I have instructed you? However I did not help you

because I kept your rewards for the Akhirat and these are the results of your Duas. The servant

will then say, Ya ALLAH how nice if all my Duas in the world were not answered!

Sometimes we make Dua for many days without getting an answer. We then become despondent.

This is a very bad attitude because when we make Dua in reality we are speaking to ALLAH and

only special servants are allowed to speak to ALLAH. Let us take a worldly example: if there is a

King in our country, how many people will get the opportunity to speak to him. And when you do

get the opportunity to speak to the King, how will you speak to him?

Here every day ALLAH is allowing us to speak to Him because it is important to speak ALLAH. By

speaking to ALLAH we are showing ALLAH that we need Him.

Once the Sahaba radhiyallahu anhum asked Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, Is ALLAH

near or far from us because if ALLAH is near then we will speak softly and if ALLAH is far then we

will speak loudly. Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied by reciting the Aayah: And

when my servants ask you about Me, then verily I am close by; He also said that ALLAH is even

closer to us than our jugular vein.

Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said that we must not follow the attitude of the

Mushrikeen and Yahood The Mushrikeen had small idols for their small needs and big idols for

their big needs. Our attitude should be that even if we need salt or a shoelace, we should ask

ALLAH because it is not the salt or shoelace that is important, but it is the relationship of the

Mumin with ALLAH. So whenever we ask or whatever we want or need, we should ask ALLAH.

We have money in our pockets and we are going to the supermarket to buy the salt, so transform

that little action into Ibadat by saying, ALLAH I need salt, you have provided the money and I

am going to purchase the salt; this is what

I need. So going to, and coming back from that supermarket becomes Ibadat, and above all we

are speaking to RABBUL IZZAT.


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It comes in the Hadeeth that every Dua of a Mumin is accepted provided he does not make a Dua

for anything which is sinful and wrong or to break family ties. For example, making dua for a

curse to befall someone. A person is well off so we ask ALLAH to take all his wealth away. These

types of Duas are Haraam and are not accepted.

So whenever we come to the Masjid let us engage in Dua. There is no need to lift up your hands.

One of the Duas we should make is that, O ALLAH make us people whose Duas are accepted, and

make dua that ALLAH strengthens our Ieman and grants us a death with Ieman..... aameen Yaa

Rabbal Aalameen.

majaalis for the salikeen

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