The True Wealth of Madinah Munawwarah

The True Wealth of Madinah Munawwarah by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh)   My respected Shaikh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Damat Barakatuhu), mentioned in his poetry that our value is dependent on our Nisbat with Madinah Munawwarah. When anything is purchased and brought from Madinah Munawwarah, a lover of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) will naturally appreciate and value it —no matter how small or cheap.  Why? -Because it has a connection with the city of the Beloved (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). The air of Madinah Sharif has touched it, or it has been produced from the blessed land of Madinah Sharif —which has made it special. The residents of Madinah Sharif are the neighbours of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and they are the envy of the heavens because they have such extreme physical closeness to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). They are the envy of all of us as well – for we, too, desire the honour of being in such proximity to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) at all times.   Allah Ta’ala, in His infinite Mercy and Grace, does not want to deprive anyone of us of this blessing of being close to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), so He has given us a simple recourse to always being near to our Beloved Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). This nearness is attained via our Nisbat (connection) with the A’amal (Actions) of Madinah Munawwarah – i.e. the Sunnah (way of life) of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Our value in the sight of Allah Ta’ala is dependent on our relationship with His beloved Rasul (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Allah Ta’ala has informed us of this in the Qur’an Sharif : Say (O Prophet): “If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” [Surah Al-Imran 3:31]   My Shaykh has presented the same message in poetry form : “The footprints of the Beloved of Allah, Nabi Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is the road to Jannat; The Sunnats of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)connect one with Allah Ta’ala.”   It is a misconception that a person’s repeated performance of Haj and Umrah and repeated visits to Madinah Munawwarah is to be taken as the yardstick of piety. The yardstick of piety is not how many umrahs or Haj a person has made. The present-day scenario is saddening, to say the least – since Umrah and Haj have become a holiday, a shopping spree, and a “tour” for the majority.  The deficit is in “sincerity of intention”. As has been said, the visitors are many, but the pilgrims are scarce. For many, these trips are now for business and trade. And for others, each trip is another “feather” in their caps – which must be made known and announced to the world. There are those that boast of their yearly trips, whether for Haj or ‘Umra, or both, updating us on the number of visits they make to Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah. We have heard people say: “I have made Umrah for the past 20 or 30 years and have never missed out one…” Yet, the reality is that we cannot count our umrahs and haj. We cannot say how many have been performed because we do not know how many have been accepted. Those umrahs and Haj that are accepted are the only ones that we can count. And we will only come to know of their acceptance on the Day of Judgement. Despite the frequent visits to the Haramayn Sharifayn, there is generally not much improvement in our spirituality. If we have not brought a reformation in our lifestyles: If we have not fulfilled the rights of people, if we have not returned to people that which is their due, if we have not asked forgiveness from those whom we have wronged, if we are not punctual with Salah, and if our Zahir (external condition) and our Batin (internal condition) does not reflect the purity and spirituality that come with visits to the Haramayn Sharifayn, then we should truly be concerned as to the quality and acceptance of our Haj and Umrah.   I have mentioned many times that the “Mal” (wealth/material goods) of Madinah Munawwarah is not what is available in its marketplaces, bazars and shopping complexes. Unfortunately, when we visit Madinah Munawwarah, then more often than not, the objective is the “Mal” of Madinah Sharif. The majority of those visiting Madinah Munawwarah forget the purpose of their visit once their gazes fall on the commercial centres of Madinah Sharif. Many who know about the material commodities being sold plan in advance – that there will be an exchange or purchase of gold, and there will be this commodity and that commodity bought.  Whilst in Madinah Sharif, the talk is about the latest technology, cellphones, the best gold shops, cloak shops, and so forth.    The intention and pursuit become the “Mal” of Madinah and not the “A’mal” of Madinah Munawwarah. And this is how our stay of 7 or 8 days passes: we are “mauled by the malls”. Our Iman, love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), time, energy, and money are “mauled” in the obsession we have with shopping. We forget, and sometimes we do not even care to give any kind of attention or express any kind of appreciation to our host, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), because we are so caught up in material purchases.   Instead of filling up the pockets of our hearts with the wealth of Love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and with the wealth of his noble characteristics, we fill up suitcases and suitcases – many a time, even purchasing more suitcases – for filling up the material commodities of Madinah Sharif.   I am not saying that it is Haram to shop there. It will be meritorious if a person makes purchases with the intention of supporting the businessmen

Durud Sharif

Durud Sharif by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh)   During a visit to Madina Munawwarah, I was sitting on the marble floor in the courtyard, outside Masjidun Nabawi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), near the Raudha Mubarak[1], looking at the Green Dome and in deep thought. A doctor from Johannesburg walked by. After greeting me with Salam, he asked me what I was watching. I replied: ‘The flights coming into Madina Sharif.’ He replied: ‘No planes are permitted to fly in the vicinity of the Haram Sharif [2].‘ I explained: ‘The flights are the flights of the angels, who have collected the Durud and Salam [3] of millions of Muslims worldwide and who are now conveying these to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).’   The Hadith Sharif mentions: “Verily Allah has certain angels wandering all over the earth; they convey to me the Salutations of my Ummah (followers)[4].“   This should be easy to understand in this day and age of advanced technology. Thousands of people are making phone calls to people in different cities and countries worldwide. Within seconds, there is a connection, and the person can speak.   Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Ihsan (favour) upon us is tremendous. Durud Sharif should become our daily practice as it develops that connection with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).   Using the remarkable gift of imagination, one should imagine the angels conveying one’s Durud Sharif in the court of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) or imagine standing before the Raudha Mubarak and personally presenting Salat and Salam to the Master of all men, the Seal of all the Prophets, the Crown of the Believers, the Illuminator of the universe, the Leader of the pious, the Protector and Guide of the Believers, and the Beloved of Allah Ta’ala, Sayyidina[5] Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).   This noble and lofty Ibadah[6] of conveying Salat and Salam with sincerity, attention and meditation will create a ‘Kaifiyyat’ or special feeling within the heart as well as gain one the Qurb[7] of Allah Ta’ala, since Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is the Beloved of Allah Ta’ala.   Moreover, the person who conveys Salat and Salam becomes the beneficiary of many bounties in this world and the next. Some of these are: – Sins are forgiven, – Stages elevated in the hereafter – Protection from Jahannum – Protection from harm – The intercession of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) – Securing the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala – Drawing the Rahmah (mercy) of Allah Ta’ala – Inviting barakah (blessings) into our homes, businesses, and lives, and relieves us from various anxieties. Through the recitation of Durud Sharif, our duas (supplications) are also accepted.   [1] Rowdha Mubarak: Blessed Garden (in reference to the Prophet’s [sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] grave) [2] Haram Sharif: The Holy Mosque of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) [3] Durud and Salam: Salutations upon the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam [4] Nasai [5] Sayyidina: Our Leader [6] Ibadah: Worship [7] Qurb: Proximity, nearness.

An SMS from Madinah Sharif

Sweet Madina, Sweet Madina… Very, very sweet. On the way to Musjid-e-Nabawi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), on our feet, Thousands of Muslims to greet and meet. At the Raudha Mubarak, Durud and Salam to read, At Iftar, Zam Zam to drink and dates to eat. Allah Ta’ala and Rasul’s (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) advice, we should heed: Take care of the widows, orphans and those in need; The poor and hungry, we must feed, Purify the hearts from jealousy, malice, pride and greed, To Allah, we must plead… that from Hellfire, we are freed. Now take your time and read, Longest SMS from me you have ever received; Do a good deed  Forward to Allah Ta’ala with speed –  A dua for this servant of His, in need, Kaash Madina ab watan hota. Yaha jeeta, yaha marta Yaha goro kafan hota.* With Salams, love and duas Your father, Yunus Patel * How I wish Madina Sharif was my place of residence, that I live here, die here, and my Kafan and burial take place here.