Saving Spiritual Lives
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh)
We often hear helicopters circling the area, generally searching for some hijacked vehicle. This is a common observation and experience in the area. If it is at night, the helicopter uses a powerful light as a searchlight.
Listening to and observing this, the following analogy came to mind :
The Auliya-Allah, the Masha’ikh, are like those helicopters, except that they are searching for people who have been hijacked by nafs and Shaytan —people like us.
The Auliya-Allah also possess a powerful light in their hearts: It is a Noor that has developed in their hearts through obedience to Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) as well as total abstinence from sins. With this powerful Noor, they are able to search out and save thousands, if not millions.
We know that if the hijacked vehicle is found and returned to the owner, the owner is naturally very happy, especially if his car is expensive.
Similarly, due to the search efforts made not only by the Auliya-Allah, but by all Muslims, others return to Allah Ta’ala’s obedience or to Iman and Islam, and Allah Ta’ala’s happiness is much greater than that of the car owner.
The owner of the car may either thank the person who found his car or he will express his gratitude with some gift if he is of a noble disposition.
Allah Ta’ala is far more generous and appreciative, and His rewards are granted in various forms in this world, as well as the hereafter, for those who search and save hijacked persons —those “hijacked” by Nafs and Shaytan.
Then again, looking at the life of the Muslim, we find that it is a “Rescue Mission”: They are always prepared to make sacrifices to save the spiritual lives of others.
How often we read of the rescue missions that go out to sea to rescue someone or the other carried away by a strong current, or those struggling to survive due to the ship sinking, or those who need to be evacuated from ships. We find that the pilot is well-trained for the operation, and the rescue swimmers who form part of the rescue team are physically strong, fit, able, and very experienced.
They have to be highly skilled to ensure that the operation is successful. If not, they, too, will become victims to the waters of the ocean.
Similarly, as Muslims who are rescue swimmers and ‘spiritual’ life savers in the field of Da’wah and Tabligh, we have got to be spiritually strong, fit and able, and we need to gain experience; otherwise, the current of Fitnas may sweep us away also.
If we are spiritually weak, we, too, can end up drowning in some sin. And this is very much a reality: Many who have surface knowledge and have not made much effort against their Nafs become victims to the storms of some sin.
Similarly, the Muslim is a Paramedic. Every Muslim should be qualified in the basics of how to save the spiritual lives of those who meet up with tragic accidents —that is, they fall into sins). If we are in the know-how, we will be able to apply ourselves immediately in aiding and saving such people from spiritual death.
How often is CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or artificial respiration given before being taken to the hospital that saves the person? Even though the person’s situation will still be critical, he has been revived with CPR, and the chances of his survival are thus strong if he is taken to a hospital immediately.
Similarly, we need to learn spiritual CPR for emergency cases – that is, make sincere dua for Hidayat. However, building our spiritual stamina, training and expertise come in keeping company with those who are qualified and are masters in the field —our Masha’ikh and Ulama-e-Haq.
Another analogy is the tacking, search, and security companies formed to track kidnapped children or hijacked persons. The Muslim is a tracking company: He searches, invites and calls the disbelievers to Iman and Islam, and he calls the weak Muslims to stronger Iman.
Unfortunately, the state of affairs today is that many a time, the guards hired by security companies turn out to the thieves, hijackers, and criminals. Here in South Africa, security guards and police officers are being caught, arrested and apprehended.
Sadly, many Muslims have also become hijackers, taking their Muslim brothers and sisters to Haram – casinos, clubs, pornography, music, etc. Some give the injection of spiritual death with drugs and other such Haram or kufr ideologies.
Instead of saving them from the fire of Jahannum, many invite others to join and accompany them in disobedience and even rejection of Allah Ta’ala and His Ahkam (Laws).
May Allah Ta’ala have mercy upon us – because this is truly a reality. The Majority invite to the fire, but the Auliya-Allah invite to Paradise. The majority “go with the flow”. The Auliya-Allah move against the current of the Fitnas.
Despite the difficulties and challenges, the help of Allah Ta’ala is with those who are his friends. Take heed :
“If you were to obey most of those on earth, they would lead you away from Allah’s Way. They follow nothing but assumptions and do nothing but lie.”
[Surah An’am 6 : 116]
“Your only friend is Allah, His Messenger and those who believe; who establish Salah, and pay Zakah, and bow before Allah.”
[Surah Maidah 5 : 55]
“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger—never doubting—and they strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. They are the ones who are true in faith.”
[Surah Hujurat 49:15]