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on 11-12-2003 11:55
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Ramadan has ended but only for 2003. Allah remains even in Shawwal and after. After Ramadan the spirit wanes but should it be allowed to die? Keeping the momentum of Faith and the joy of righteous deeds is the Struggle of Ramadan. The Sahabah would grieve with the passage of this holy month for months thereafter. The case of wishing “she was still here” and the sentiments of being disappointed the way we treated this guest is well useless. The poet says:
Do you neglect your beloved while you are their neighbour?
Then seek them out once their visitation requires travel and labor?
The buzzword after Ramadan is Steadfastness. Maintaining the box after depositing goodness is vitally important. Istiqama is the lock on good deeds, without which we would be like those likened in Quran: Among people are those who worship Allah sometimes and occasional. The emotional victim of devotion are the vast lot of Muslims-when their mother dies they cry in the wake playing cards and pray Janaza while when their daughter marries they read Quran and drink rum, sporting all night. They kept the beard whole month and rip the Heart Of Muhammad with the best razor Eid morning. They lack steadfastness. Maybe self-criticism is what we should have instead of going around preaching against Ulama and sounding like Jahilliya people who hated people of another nationality only because they did not tow the line of ineptitude. The Prophet, on whom be peace, said "Hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable."
Allahs benevolence is like a river, which never dries up, a river, which is both capable of, and geared to, providing abundant water to all who need their tillage watered. Stay by the bank of good deeds and He will answer your dua-when the fasting person breaks his a fast that’s the best time to pray for ones needs. "Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwal, that is the fasting of a lifetime.” And Abu Huraira was advised the ideal on this mater: to maintain three days fast every month as reported in Riyadus Saliheen.
So Istiqama must be maintained at all cost. The Quran was read a lot in Ramadan but how about an everyday reading now. Sure the etiquette of reading the Quran is when one reaches Sura Nas he restarts immediately with Sura Fatiha and Baqarah until Muflioon. Allah loves the reciter that continues- like continuous play. All indicating that we have to continue and do not become bogged down with the Disunity and Divisionist attitudes of Leaders. Allah curses those that establish mischief on earth; those who humbug the steadfastness of the Dawah by introducing selfishness and hidden motives. Indeed those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear you not!" (they suggest), "Nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), that which you were promised! "We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein shall you have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall you have all that you ask for! "A hospitable gift from One Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!" 41:30-32. Another lesson out of Ramadan is Eid itself. The word ‘Eid’ comes from the word ‘awd’, meaning return. Not to return to the wining, womanizing, stealing and fraudulent conversions of peoples Zakat in the name of other organizations but to return to the original state of purity and repentance, Fitrah and concern for the Ummah. It’s another form of Istiqama. And by the way, how many times havent we betrayed our steadfastness by starting this program and that ghast, this madressa and that Nikah only to let it fall through due to our negligence or the disinterest of others in us. No pay no work, isn’t that a religious slogan too? Like wet sand, our works slip through our fingers of negligence when we lack steadfastness. The Quran repeatedly tells us, a principle of Tabligh for sure, that the Prophets used to say publicly and dedicatedly: My reward is with none besides Allah! Eid also is a day of victory. So let us not only be concerned about halal iftars alone but our every day consumption should be bereft of all haraams, including doubtfully slaughtered chickens and confectioneries. Support the works of The Central Halal Committee of Guyana.
Sufyan al-Thaqafi reported, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me about Islam in one word that I would not ask anyone other than you (according to Abu Mu’awiyah he said, “anyone after you”).’ The Prophet -peace be upon him- said, ‘Say I believe in Allah and then stand steadfast. Musnad Ahmad 14869. Istiqama is indeed an important concept of Islam. It has several meanings. It means to be straight, to follow the straight path, to remain firm on one’s principles and not to give up under difficulties or challenges. Some scholars say that it also means to be sincere and do good things in public as well in private life. We condemned unequivocally what happened recently to the civilians in the Middle East. But understand this. Israel bombed 135 Mosques in Palestine in the last 25 years. In addition Israel, which was connected to the two synagogues, has repeatedly desecrated MasjidulAqsa, without the slightest response from Turkeys government or US/UK. Israel also desecrated the church of Nativity in Bethlehem and yet escaped condemnation. Added to this are:
1. In 1948, Turkey was the first Muslim country to recognize Israel.
2. Turkeys rulers oppress and subjugate the vast majority of Turkeys people who are Muslims.
3. The power in Turkey is in the hands of a large military establishment, well funded, heavily armed and in an integral relationship with the U.S. and Israel.
4. The military permits a façade of democracy but the slightest expression of Islamic sentiment leads to exclusion and punishment. A few years back, a woman who was elected to parliament was removed when she wore her Islamic head cover. Even her citizenship was suspended!
The Prophet (S.A.W) said "Wrong actions irritate the heart." In the book "Crime and Punishment"- The authors insight was that the crime itself is the punishment. As we go into a state of spiritual agitation, and try to cover up our crime- which is the definition of Kufur- covering up or concealing. The relationship of consistency lies in the heart, of which the Prophet, owbp said: “It changes more than a pot of rapidly boiling water.” Ahmad, 6/4. The Prophet, owbp also gave another example of the heart: “The heart (qalb) takes its name from its constant changes (taqallub - alteration, variation, ups and downs). The likeness of the heart is that of a feather at the root of a tree, being turned over and over by the wind.” Ahmad, 4/408. Even the atheist and Hindus become rich and are smart guys, capable of running huge organizations so whats the big deal. Who is with us or not with us is insignificant. The question is, is Allah pleased or not. Surely Allah couldnt be the least pleased when we cut throat others to climb the backs of self made enemies in order to become accepted in the eyes of a few unwary workers and then by trickery swindle the Zakat of naive Muslims. Well by the way when Zakat is paid to the wrong recipients, moreso by coercion and lies, the payee has to pay all over again. It’s just not absolved. I believe it is time the Auditor General sees that all these pseudo organizations produce proper accountability, otherwise close them down like the way they are doing to other institutions. Allah reminds us to beg in 3:8: “Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us…”
Alama Iqbal once exploded in his ingenious style in Bal-e-Jib reel:
Khera nah kur saka mujhe jalwa-e-danish-e-farang
The pomp and show of Europe could not dazzle me
Surma hay meri ankh ka khake-Madina-o-Najaf.
Because my eyes are kohled, with the dust of Madina and Najaf.
In Ramadan from the emails to the music, from the TV to the glances all carry sober looks and Imani programming. ‘Only Islamic programs are to be viewed’ we screamed at the kids. The soul that is not active will stagnate. Muslims must differentiate between Ulama Soo and Ulama Haq. When the devils advocate cannot breed even a sense of Taqwa within, how will he avoid dirtying the waters of Jamaats and Schools around him? The Ulama of Truth stands out always as the calm circle of Guidance and Hope in this Ummah. They act with Mashurah and do not ridicule others in Mashurah. They do not depend on the non-Ulama for help and recommendations, but they are by themselves a beacon of Light and effulgence of Ilm. For example, ‘Ali ibn al-Madeeni, said: “Allah supported His Religion with Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq at the time when people were about to leave Islam after the Prophets death, and with Ahmad at the time of the test of whether the Quran is just a piece of paper or the word of Allah.” Imaam Ahmad said, “I don’t care about being in prison - it is no different from my home - or about being killed by the sword, but I am afraid of the trial of being whipped.” One of the other prisoners heard him and said, “Don’t worry, O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah, it is only two lashes of the whip, then you don’t feel where the rest fall.” It was as if this reassured him and calmed him down. Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/240
Sin of the tongue is the pivotal point in securing up rightful character. Backbiting is the stupid sin of gossiping and name talking. However Imam Nawawi allows the exposure of six different cases and this will not be sinful but rather it is wajib to be engaged in the exposure of these scoundrels, whose tongues are sweet like honey but hearts are like wolves and lives like empty barrels. People have short memory but in the words of a local philosopher moon ah run till day ketch am. When we rear a monster we become its meat sooner than later. Caliph AbdulAziz fired all those who were guilty of corruption in the time of Hajaj and even those who werent. He said just to work for the guy is also fitna! Moulana Saeed Khan Saheb in writing about steadfastness in Tabligh, enumerated some 17 points, including Diverting from The Effort e.g. collecting money for Bidatis, marrying more than one wives knowing the corruption involved and singling out some and leaving out others. The Prophet, owbp, used to tell the Ansar: “You will face selfish people after my death, so have patience until you meet me at the Hawd (cistern - on the Day of Judgment).” Muslim. On the first of Shawwal we greeted each other with May Allah accept from you and us. Acceptance? Moulana Zakariyya was asked: How do you know someones Ramadan was accepted? He replied when you see them doing the same things out of Ramadan too. They now pray Nafl Tahajjud instead of Taraweeh. They now spend on Islamic causes instead of Zakat. They now go in Jamaat instead of Itikaf. They now learn Quran instead of listening to the Hafiz. Abdullah ibn Mas`ood, radi Allahu ‘anhu, said, “Store your wealth where no worms will eat, where it cannot be reached by thieves. Store it in Sadaqah.” A good opportunity now to support the GIT rebuilding project-may Allah replace that which is better and best for them. From the reports of Ali, he said: "Be more concerned with having your deeds accepted than with the deed itself. Did you not hear Allah say: Verily Allah, only accepts from those who have Taqwa?’
Last update : 11-12-2003 11:55
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