Taking Lesson from the Mi’raj – Advice for The leaders of the Ummah
Taking Lesson from the Mi’raj – Advice for the leaders of the Ummah by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) In the Seerah of Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), we read about the beautiful experience and miraculous journey of the Mi’raj. The journey from Makkah Shareef to Baitul Muqqaddas (Jerusalem) is known as Isra, and the miraculous journey to the seven heavens and beyond is known as the Mi’raj. Whilst every aspect of the Isra and Mi’raj offers great lessons, there is a lesson that comes to mind, considering these times that we live in and the responsibilities and the trust that devolves upon those who have the knowledge of Deen, and who are in a position where they are able to influence the people. Our respected Muhadditheen have quoted Ahadith wherein Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) related that during this journey, he (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was offered wine and milk to drink. Some say that this was at Masjid-al-Aqsa, and others say it was in the heavens, near Sidratul Muntaha. When Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) accepted the milk, Jibreel (alaihis salaam) said: “You have adopted that which is Al-Fitrah [1]. Had you taken the wine, your Ummah would have certainly gone astray.” [2] Allah Ta’ala blessed Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) with a disposition that was pure and unadulterated, and thus he (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) inclined to what is good and pure. Milk is pure and nourishing. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alayh) explained that like how milk provides nourishment and serves as a food and drink, similarly, the Deen of Islam offers complete spiritual nourishment. Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is Sayyidul Ambiyaa [3], Khaatamun Nabiyyeen [4] and Imamul Muttaqeen [5]. If he (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had chosen the wine, then Jibreel (alaihis salaam) had said, it would have had such an influence – such a great effect – on the entire Ummah, that the Ummah would have gone astray. ♦ There is a great lesson in this incident for those who are known as scholars, for those who preach, for those who sit on the Mimbars, and for people like myself who give Bayaans, Wa’az and Nasihah. A lot depends on such people. In whichever direction they go, the Ummah will follow. There will be a large following in whichever direction such people go. If a scholar goes in the right direction, there will be a following in that direction, and if he goes in the wrong direction, then too, there will be a following in the wrong direction. Mufti Muhammad Aashiq-e-Ilaahi Bulandshahri (rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said: “This statement of Jibreel (alaihis Salaam) makes evident that the character and deeds of a leader have a direct impact on his followers.” It is not that everyone in the Ummah will just naturally and instinctively follow the Haq (truth). If that were the case, we would not find so many people in the Ummah of Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) following nafs and Shaytaan. Are we not following nafs and Shaytaan in our lives? How often do we place our own desires before the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala? So many engage in sins recklessly – as if sins are the aim and objective of this worldly life (na’uzu billah). Whether Haq or Baatil, there will be followers. Look at Shaytaan! He too has a following! The Scholars are supposed to be the leaders of the Ummah of Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). They are assigned with the great trust and immense responsibility of conveying this message of Deen and Haq. They are to show us the direction towards Jannah and lead us in that direction – by practically implementing the commandments of Allah Ta’ala and keeping clear of all the prohibitions of Allah Ta’ala. Now, if the scholars are going to go in the direction of Jahannum, then there will be many people who will follow them and who will say to Allah Ta’ala on the Day of Judgment: “Maulana Saheb, Qari Saheb, Mufti Saheb, Haji Saheb, Tablighi Saheb, Khanqah Saheb – and all these people of Deen, were showing us the direction to Jahannum. They were our leaders and we followed them” —but this will not be an excuse. We, who are categorised as scholars, should keep in mind the Hadith wherein Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Whoever initiates a good practice in Islam and is emulated by others in doing so, will get the reward of it and the reward of all those who act upon it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And whosoever initiates an evil practice in Islam and is emulated by others, will bear the sin of it, and the sin of all those who act on it without their burden being diminished in the least.”[6] One of the outstanding qualities of one who has knowledge is his fear of Allah Ta’ala: “…It is only those who have knowledge among his slaves that fear Allah…” [Surah Fatir 35: 28] If a person has much knowledge, but there is no obedience to Allah Ta’ala, and there is an absence of the fear of Allah Ta’ala, he will not be categorised amongst the ‘Ulama or Ahle-Ilm. If the Scholars give leeway with respect to any of the Muharramaat (prohibitions), there is no doubt that the Ummah will very freely move in the direction of sins. And this is what we find happening today. Mufti Rasheed Ahmad Saheb Ludhyaanwi (rahmatullahi Alaih) explained that when the people of learning set a wrong precedent, the consequences are very severe: 1) Accountability before Allah Ta’ala will be harsher. 2) The wrongdoing by the scholars emboldens the masses to engage in sin. 3) The masses will consider sin as permissible. Our Akaabir always considered that their actions must not affect the Deen in any way. They were very particular about their actions. They looked at the bigger picture and did not compromise on Deen. As scholars, there has to be a
Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel رحمه الله – Life and Legacy Part 1
Introducing the must-read biography of Maulana Yunus Patel رحمه الله This biography is not just a tribute to Maulana; it is a journey through the life of a true servant of Allah and his Rasul ﷺ, who transformed the lives of many. It was compiled from lectures given by Maulana himself, making it more of an autobiography. The reader is presented with intimate and inspiring glimpses into the life of Maulana, which provides guidance to all walks of life.
Bay’ah & Tasawwuf
I would like to know about Sufism. Is it a part of Islam or is it something which has just been made up by fraudulent people who are marketing it as religion ? What I hear sometimes makes me think this is a “hoax” – a money-making racket. Many talk about shaykhs, peers, taking bay`ah with such people, Islaahun nafs, etc. I would appreciate a correct understanding of the ideology. What is the purpose?
Homosexual Inclinations
I am a Muslim male who was very ‘normal’ in my nature until recently. Having watched a movie which explicitly encouraged homosexuality, I now find myself strongly attracted to other males, to the extent that it is extremely difficult to restrain the desire to engage in Haraam. I am overcome with remorse and very ashamed of these feelings and also afraid of giving into my desires, knowing that this is a very major sin. Please help.
Marrying a Non-Muslim
I am in my 20s and still not married. The Muslim boys that I know are of dubious and doubtful character, womanisers or into drugs and drink and other Haraam. Their character also leaves little to be liked. I am working with a man who is very good-natured and very kind-hearted. He also respects me and is very keen on marrying me but he is Christian. I consider him better than hundreds of Muslim men, so I would like to know if it is permissible to marry him. He will not force me to give up my faith. I am worried about what the community will say and I think this decision will hurt my parents. I also want to bring up my children in a religious environment but he is offering me what I want in a husband also.
Acquiring Wealth
I am a Hindu and want you to please foretell my future. Will I become rich in the future? I am not well off and am very desirous and ambitious of becoming a rich man. I will also like your suggestions on how to become rich.
Intolerance When Teaching
I am a Madrasa teacher and find myself intolerant when it comes to some of my students, especially the ones who are weak and slow in learning. In my frustration, I sometimes insult such students and thereafter regret my behaviour. Due to their slowness, I even leave off testing them. Please advise on how to overcome my intolerance.
Horoscopes
QUESTION My question is that should we believe in horoscopes and signs, because sometimes I read things about my sign and the prediction that is written for my sign upsets me, if it is something scary. I want to know whether this information is true or useless. Please clarify this. May Allah bless you. REPLY Bismihi Ta’ala Respected Sister in Islam, Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatum 1.) It is Haraam to believe in horoscopes. You should not even look at it in newspapers, etc. Make sincere Taubah. It is all useless information but very dangerous for a person’s Imaan. 2.) Fortune tellers are disbelievers because they are claiming having knowledge of the Unseen; knowledge which is exclusive to Allah Ta’ala. It is a money-making industry which millions have become easy prey to. Reading palms, looking into crystal balls, reading tarot cards, etc. are all Haraam. 3.) Moreover, a person who believes in such fortune telling, that is, that the fortune teller has the knowledge of the Unseen, loses his Imaan. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) has said : “Whoever goes to a fortune teller or a soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) .” 4.) If one reads or visits such people out of curiosity but does not believe, then too the person has committed a serious sin. It is mentioned in a Hadeeth : “Whoever goes to a fortune teller and asks him about something, his prayers will not be accepted for forty nights.” (Of course, the person will have to pray, as well as repent for the sin). 5.) All in all, this is a very grave sin which many Muslims take lightly, spending a lot of time and money in having their futures being read. Na-uzu Billahi min zaalik. Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu Yunus Patel (Maulana)
Conclusion of Du`aa
” O Allah, we are extremely weak. We get tired of everything, even asking. O Allah, bless us with what we have asked and give us even that which we have not asked ‘ whatever is khair O Allah, let the winds of Hidayat blow throughout the world, especially in this country. O Allah, whatever time of life remains, give us the taufeeq of doing those deeds that will earn us Your Pleasure and keep us away from all those deeds that will earn us Your Displeasure. O Allah, we know that the types of sins we indulge in, have brought complete destruction to the nations of the past. You destroyed nations in the past for the same sins we are indulging in. O Allah, You do not destroy the entire Ummat because Your Rasul e is Rahmatul-lil-‘Aalameen. O my beloved Allah, do not look at our sins. We are acknowledging and we are confessing that we are sinful’ O Allah, look at the tears of my beloved Rasul e. O Allah, look at the shaan of the blood of my beloved Nabi which flowed for this Ummat. O Allah, if You forgive us then You will make my beloved Rasul e happy, and we will be happy. O Allah, we are pledging not to return to sins again. O Allah, give us all, lives of respect. O Allah, give us the realization that without turning to You, there will be no success. O Allah, whoever has shown any kind of generosity and kindness to us, bless them with the best of rewards. O Allah, Rasulullah (SAW) has shown the greatest kindness, thereafter the Sahaba-e-Kiraam, the Tabi`een our Asaatiza, our Mashaa`ik, our parents, wives, friends’ O Allah, reward them all, with the best of rewards. O Allah, you are well aware of each and every person’s desires. Whatever good desires are in their hearts, fulfill them. O Allah, accept our du’aa with the waseela of Your Beloved Rasul, Sayyedul Ambiyaa, Muhammad.”
Dua for The Suffering of the Ummah
“ O Allah, Islam has not become weak. We have become weak. O Allah, we know that we are suffering because of our sins. O Allah, You sent the Qur`aan Sharif for our guidance. O Allah, Rasulullah (SAW) left us His beautiful Sunnah O Allah, we know that we have distanced ourselves from the Qur`aan and Sunnah and as a result we are suffering everywhere in the world. O Allah, just as Rasulullah predicted, the enemies of Islam are calling one another to join in devouring the Ummah. But O Allah, You are our Protector. O my Kareem Allah, the enemies of Islam have ganged up against the Muslims. Even Muslim governments have joined their alliances and coalition. O Allah, with our deeds and actions, we have been the means of the destruction of the Ummah. The enemies only came to destroy whatever was left’ O Allah, unite the entire Ummat. O my beloved Allah, guide the enemies of Islam. Bless them with Imaan and Islam. O Allah, bless them like how You blessed the Sahabah-e-Kiraam and others with Imaan and Islam. ‘But, O Allah, if they have become obstinate and they have made up their minds that they are not going to accept Your beautiful Deen, and they are planning the destruction of the Muslim Ummah ‘ the destruction of Muslim lives, homes, property and economy, then O Allah, You are the best of Planners. O Allah, You are the same Allah who was present in Badr, at Uhud , at the Fath-e-Makkah’ O Allah, You haven’t become weak. We have become weak. O Allah, Just as You sent the ababeel and destroyed Abraha and his forces, which had set out to destroy the Ka’bah Sharif’. O Allah, send disaster against these forces who are out to destroy the Ummat. O Allah, send floods and destroy them. O Allah, send gale-force winds against the enemies O Allah, shake the ground beneath their feet. O Allah, cause their ships to sink O Allah, cause their planes to crash. O Allah, create division and disunity in their ranks. O Allah, make them fight amongst themselves. O Allah, fill their hearts with terror and fear. O Allah, humiliate the enemies. Crush the enemies. O Allah, destroy them like how You destroyed the ‘Aad and the Thamud. O my beloved Allah, send Your angels and assist and help the mujahideen of Islam. O Allah, give the stones which they throw, the power of atom bombs. O Allah, wherever in the world the Muslim Ummah is suffering, come to our assistance. O Allah, bombs are being rained upon innocent women, children and civilians. O my Allah, homes are being bulldozed. O Allah, aid the Mujahideen and our brothers and sisters in Palestine, in Afghanistan, in India, in Bosnia, in Chechniya, in Kosova, in Kashmir, in Iraq and in other parts of the world where they are facing tyranny and oppression. O Allah, those who have been imprisoned unjustly, find a way out for their release. O Allah, their ‘sin’, in the eyes of these merciless enemies, is nothing except that they have tried to spread Your Deen’ Their ‘sin’ is nothing except that they say ‘La-ilaaha Illallaah’ O Allah, remove the difficulties and trials of the Ummah. O Allah, we are going through very, very, difficult and trying times. It has become very difficult to even protect our Imaan. O Allah, protect our Imaan. O Allah, protect each and every one of us. Protect the entire Ummat. O Allah, change the conditions of adversity, to conditions of prosperity. O Allah, change the condition of fear, to that of peace and security. O Allah, change the condition of the Ummah. O Allah, restore the dignity and honour of the Muslim Ummah. O my beloved Allah, have mercy upon the Ummat of Nabi ; forgive the Ummat of Nabi ; shower Your Rahmat upon the Ummat of Nabi ; overlook the sins and weaknesses and shortcomings of the Ummat of Nabi. Our Sustainer, lay not on us a burden greater than we have the strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness; have mercy on us. You are our Protector; help us against the disbelieving people.”