Mahd-ul-Huda's Blog :: Muftisays Blogs

The 1 Cent Coin

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ)

Once, when taking a walk through a park, with some friends, we came across a fountain, wherein were numerous 1 cent and 2 cent coins. On noticing this, it came to mind, that since the 1 cent coin and the 2 cent coin have negligible value – in fact, no worth or value is really given to these coins – they are generally discarded in a fountain, after some ‘wish’ is made.

…And if the wish is such, that it would definitely be accomplished with money, then a mere 1 cent or 2 cents would not suffice for the fulfilment of the grand wishes of those who throw with any such hope…

Nevertheless, I presented this analogy to my companions:

The value of the 1 cent coin, after having separated itself from the R5 coin, or the R100 note, diminished. It ‘depreciated’, so to speak.

…So many pass by such fountains, and yet no one considers taking one or a few of those coins.

However, when that 1 cent coin attaches itself to the R100 note, then its value and worth is considered just as that R100 note. When the 1 cent coin attaches itself to the R100 note, its value will increase – It is now part of R100.

And if that 1 cent coin prefers its ‘independence’ then inevitably, that would be to its own loss. It will then be considered worthless and insignificant, and will be discarded in some fountain or thrown on the street.

In a like manner, when Saalikeen (those who seek Allah) attach themselves to the Ahlullah (the people of Allah), by keeping their pious company and emulating them in their actions, speech and character, their value increases. When we keep the company of friends of Allah Ta’ala, then Insha-Allah, we will, through the blessings of their value, also acquire some worth

If there is sincerity, the Saalik will also become as valuable and precious.

My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (DB) had given a wonderful analogy when he visited South Africa, and observed the sand of the gold mines in Gauteng.

He explained that the sand which remained in the company of gold, became ‘golden’ in colour. Something as ordinary as sand took on the hue and shade of something as precious as gold. So too, one will notice that the sand which contains coal, becomes black in colour.

Hazrat then compared the ‘golden sand’ to the person who sincerely befriends and associates with the Ahlullah. Such a person will not only acquire the same colouring as ‘gold’; he will become gold.

…Those who think they can tread the path to Allah Ta’ala (Sulook) on their own and also become so ‘valuable’, are quite mistaken.

Even our honourable and respected Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) had said : “People addressed me as, ‘Molvi’, until I attached myself to the blessed company of Shamsuddeen Tabrezi. Then people began addressing me as ‘Maula-e-Rum’ (The Master of Rum).”

Then again, the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (RA) became ‘Sahabah’ because they attached themselves to the blessed, august and exclusive company of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam).

…This ‘Suhbat’ (companionship) of the Ahlullah is the medium of spiritual achievement.

However, great caution should be exercised in choosing a mentor. This warning cannot be emphasized enough.

Just the garb of piety or flowery speech does not make a person a Wali (friend) of Allah Ta’ala. Some ‘peers’ have ulterior and worldly motives; especially of milking their mureedeen (disciples) of their money. They just give their mureedeen, wazaa`if and some tasbeehs to read. There is no education, no disciplining, and no reform.

…If there is no Deen in the Shaykh, how will his mureeds change their lives? …When the Shaykh is a prisoner of nafs (ego) and shaytaan, how will it be possible for him to free his mureeds from nafs and shaytaan ?

Therefore Maulana Jalaluddeen Rumi (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) had said:

“Develop contact with a righteous one
So that through his company and du`aa you may succeed,
But search for a guide who is awake in all situations
So that you too may become awake.
And if you should remain in the company of the vanquished,
You too will become vanquished.”

There are many who make the claim of being mashaaikh but are themselves caught up in the snares of nafs and shaytaan. They have not even recognized their own nafs, have no experience in the field of Islaah (reformation) and Tazkia (purification of the soul), and instead of guiding, they misguide. They then become a trial for the people.

The true Mashaaikh don’t promote and advertise themselves, nor do they canvass for mureedeen. They don’t chase after name and fame. They don’t hanker after Dunya. They wish to remain concealed, but Allah Ta’ala sometimes chooses for them to be known.

Thus, when choosing a Shaykh, consider the Shaykh who is learned, practical on his knowledge, pious, trained and experienced in the field of Islaah and Tazkia, and acknowledged by the Ulama-e-Haq as one who is truly Sahib-e-Nisbat and Waliullah. It is through attaching oneself to such a Shaykh that the Saalik will acquire value.

Hazrat Dr. Abdul Hay Saheb (Rahmatullah ‘alaih), who was a senior Khalifa of Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullah ’alaih), was quoted to say :

“There is only one way to meet Him (Allah); Seek the road from those who have already found Him.”

» posted by Mahd-ul-Huda on 11th December 2011 - 0 comments

Mirror Reflections

By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ)

It is said : ”The room in which there is no mirror, is worse than a prison-cell for a woman”. …Of course, the same can be said about many, many men, who spend hours in front of the mirror for the sole purpose of beautification.

This statement is to give us an idea as to how often a person looks into the mirror; so much so, that one will say that the mirror is indispensable.

…To look into a mirror, comb one’s hair, etc. is not Haraam (forbidden). In fact, to do so is the Sunnah of Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam). We will also find in the duas of Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam), the dua when looking into a mirror:

اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِىْ فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِىْ
“O Allah, You have beautified my features, so beautify my character as well.”

Even so, the mirror must not become an obsession.

The efforts made in beautifying the face and maintaining the physical body in good shape, have turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. The interest and concern is directed towards something that will inevitably turn to dust; whereas we have not been created for just the beautification of the face and body; that from the morning until the night, the person is fixated with nothing but his physical appearance.

Be that as it may, we find that there are various kinds of mirrors : There are those mirrors that give a true and correct reflection, then there are mirrors that magnify the person’s features, and there are even mirrors that reflect a distorted or twisted image. …The face may be the same, but the reflection is dependent on the type of mirror looked into.

Then again, there are times when a person’s beauty is affected by other factors.

…When we traveled by train, in India, we traveled in third class coaches and sometimes long distance. Due to some of the windows of the carriage left open, or due to the windows being broken, dust would cover the carriage. We would be covered with dust from head to toe. Anyone seeing us would see a different appearance. Accordingly, certain factors, like sickness, sleep, travel, etc. have an effect on a person’s appearance.

BEAUTY OF THE HEART
Similarly, the same can be said about our physical hearts, as well as our spiritual hearts. The spiritual heart is also not always in the same condition. In fact, the heart is called ‘qalb’ in the Arabic language due to the fact that it is perpetually in a state of change.

Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) explained the likeness of the heart as: ‘The heart (qalb) takes its name from its constant changes (taqallub). The likeness of the heart is that of a feather at the base of a tree, being turned over and over by the wind.’

‘The heart of the son of Aadam changes more quickly than a pan of rapidly boiling water.’

Just as we are conscious of maintaining the beauty of our appearance and physique, there has to be a sense of consciousness, more so, in maintaining the beauty of the spiritual heart.

As a poet aptly says :

We looked into the mirror for blemishes on the face,

But we did not look at all the blemishes of the heart.

The mirrors for the spiritual heart are the Qur`aan Sharief, Ahadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) and the advice of the Ahlullah (People of Allah).

Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) has also informed us :

اَلْمُؤْمِنُ مِرْاٰةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ
‘A Believer is the mirror for a Believer.’

Whilst a mirror discloses any defect in our physique; these mirrors disclose to us, the neglect and weakness of our spiritual hearts. We are thus able to gauge our spiritual condition. We are able to see the blemishes of our hearts in these mirrors.

As I have said, there are some mirrors that give a magnified and enlarged reflection, or they give a distorted, twisted or skewed image – so then this is not a true and honest reflection of the person standing in front of that mirror. Similarly, there are Muslims who do not give a true reflection: If a Muslim is of bad character, and his actions are “twisted” and “distorted” due to his indulgence in sins, then he will not offer a proper reflection.

Just as we appreciate that the mirror which gives a true reflection, draws our attention to that part of our face or body that requires cleaning or improvement, we should be grateful to be afforded these spiritual mirrors – of the Qur`aan Sharief, Ahadith, wise teachings of the learned, and advice of righteous and sincere Muslims – by which we can clean, improve and beautify our spiritual hearts.

…If we are assuming the role of the mirror, then we should keep in mind that a good mirror only discloses weakness or defect. A good mirror does not criticize, exaggerate and advertise to all and sundry, another person’s weakness.

Being a “mirror” to another could also be taken to mean that a person should become righteous so that whoever sees him will be encouraged to do good deeds; like a person who looks into a mirror, and then tries to perfect his appearance. For example : A Muslim who wears the Sunnah dressing, will Insha-Allah, be a means of guidance and encouragement to those who see him and who are not dressed accordingly. They will be more conscious of their Muslim identity, and will, Insha-Allah, adopt the correct attire. The same would follow in respect to good actions, behaviour, dealings and so forth.

If we are concerned about the beautification of our Imaan, we will make every effort to remove any trace of ‘unsightliness’ (i.e. pride, show, vanity, jealousy, malice, etc.) or even sins such as lying, cursing, casting evil gazes, interest, fraud and so forth.

BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOR THE HEART
In the beauty industry, we will find all kinds of products, together with innumerable beauticians and consultants offering various treatments and packages. There are so many different kinds of washes, scrubs, lotions and creams advertised for facial and body beauty - “detoxifying wash, day cream, night cream, nourishing cream, replenishing cream, moisturising cream” and what not…. So in the spiritual industry, we will also find beauty “products”.

Just as many use detoxifying washes and scrubs to clean the skin, so should we be giving our spiritual hearts an invigorating detoxifying wash and scrub, with sincere taubah and Istighfaar.

Likewise, we will find the various spiritual “lotions” and “creams” for day, night, for different conditions and for all types of situations: The duas of morning and evening, Zikrullah, Tilawat of the Qur`aan Sharief, Durud Sharief, Ishraaq, Dhuhaa, Awwabeen, Tahajjud … all of which enhance the spiritual beauty during the day and replenish it during the night.

Added to this, we should also enhance our inner beauty by ‘applying’ the qualities of piety, generosity, forgiveness, tolerance, patience and other virtues, like how so many women and so many men apply all kinds of creams, make-up and perfumes to enhance their physical beauty.

Furthermore, there are so many who are particular about using “Sun block” to protect themselves against the harmful effects of sun exposure, using those lotions and creams which offer, as they say, “broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection”. Allah Ta’ala has also granted us a “Broad Spectrum Sin Protection” – and it is ‘marketed’ as “TAQWA”.

This Taqwa blocks us from the harmful effects of sin exposure. The instruction in its use is simple : Apply it generously, all over one’s heart, body and soul, for maximum protection against sins: i.e. fear Allah in every sphere of life. And this is one “block” we cannot remain without.

» posted by Mahd-ul-Huda on 18th October 2011 - 0 comments

Free Online Class for Sisters Only: Shama'il of Imam At-Tirmidhi - Part III

AssalamuAlaikum wr wb.

Register for a free online class conducted weekly via WizIQ.com and educate yourself about the beautiful Zaahiri (of the body) and Batinee (of the heart) sunnahs of our Beloved Master Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam). We read from the book and discuss every hadeeth in a manner that inspires us to make instill these habits in ourselves and develop praise-worthy character inshaAllah.

Brief synopsis:

‘When an unfulfilled lover is deprived of meeting the beloved then he stands in front of the beloved’s house remembering the features of his beloved, in an attempt to gain some solace. It is from the habits and features the heart is appeased’.

This course is designed for you to achieve a link and connection with the one whom Allah Ta’aala has sent as a mercy unto mankind. Imam At-Tirmidhi’s priceless collection of hadith on the description of Prophet Muhammad (saw). ‘Ash-Shamaa-il Muhammadiyyah’ is based solely on authentic work of hadith and Seerat - Life of the Prophet (saw) and is also known as Shamaa-il Tirmidhi. The great Imam believed that each chapter of this collection was actually a step by step journey to meet the beloved Rasul-Allah (saw) in spirit. This spiritual journey through the fifty five chapters of Shamaa-il Tirmidhi has been the subject of over one hundred commentaries. Ustadha Zakiyya will be conducting her lessons using the famous commentary of Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi (rahimahumullah), entitled Khasaa-il Nabawi sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam. It has translated into English by Muhammad ibn Abdurrahman Ebrahim.

inshaAllah we will be covering various chapters of the Shama'il this semester, including the sleeping, worship, devotion, fasting, salaah, humbleness, habits, character and modesty of Rasoolullah (saw) and will be learning how to inculcate these characteristic and habitual Sunnahs in our life inshaAllah!

Click here for more details and to register for free.

» posted by Mahd-ul-Huda on 15th October 2011 - 0 comments