Keeping the Spirit of Ramadan Alive
Keeping the Spirit of Ramadan Alive by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) In a world that has become rather strange and peculiar, we find in the quest for peace that nations of the world are waging wars of devastation and destruction against each other. World governments look towards war as the solution for peace. Greed and selfishness are considered the key to the success of man. In the clamour for justice, injustice towers over and above, in all its ugliness. Instead of peace, freedom, success and justice, man finds himself shackled under the yoke of more and more tribulations. Despite the billions of dollars spent on sophisticated technology to establish law and order and eliminate crimes of theft, murder, bribery, corruption, rape, fraud, hijackings and so forth, crime has not been eradicated nor reduced by any percentage. Instead, there has been, and there is, a daily escalation in all criminal offences. Frequent get-togethers of the so-called masterminds of the world, summit conferences and high-level discussions have all failed to provide a solution to man’s economic, political, cultural and social problems. Man is a created being, and only Divine guidance can solve his problems. The reality is clear: The heavy arm of the law on its own, just legislation, the imposition of fines and jail sentences, cannot and will not solve problems that face mankind. The only sure deterrent to crimes of all kinds is firm conviction and belief in our Creator, a life hereafter and a day of judgement, where complete justice will be meted out. These are long-term solutions and solutions that were proven to give the best results and create the best societies on the face of the earth. The obligation of fasting in the month of Ramadan for the Believers —men and women, who are sane and healthy, is a clear message to mankind that unrestricted indulgence in fulfilling the desires of one’s base or animal self has to be curbed for some time to give an upliftment to one’s spiritual self. The object of fasting, as described in the Holy Qur’an is: “O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing.” [ Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183] During the auspicious month of Ramadan, a fasting person abstains from food, drink and sexual relations from dawn until sunset in obedience to the command of his Creator. The month is a training whereby the Believer’s trait of being God-conscious is nurtured. Even though he may be in place of total privacy and seclusion on the hottest day of the year, he does not submit to the temptation of sipping even a few drops of water because he is convinced that he cannot evade the sight of the All-Observing Almighty. If the spirit of fasting were to become a reality in the society of Muslims who have observed the fasts of Ramadan, and it has advanced our piety, then mankind would see a society in which every person becomes the guardian of respect, honour, a society in which the needy, poor, destitute, and the under-privileged are taken cared for. A society in which honesty, chastity, nobility, kindness, compassion, mercy and forgiveness shine forth like the midday sun; a society in which no harm is caused to any human or animal without a just reason; and a society in which material progress does not bring about a moral collapse. Eidul Fitr signifies the end of this fasting period and is a day of joy and thanksgiving. Still, despite being a day of celebration, the day commences with an additional prayer after sunrise, reminding the believers that the object of fasting must be entirely borne in mind even after Ramadan. A believer must be aware that he was made to observe the fast to become God-conscious, pious and self-restraining. His natural inclinations to eating, drinking and fulfilling his sexual passions were curbed for a month from dawn to sunset – the willpower to abstain from all evil and submit himself to the will of the Creator should now be easy for the months to follow. Ramadan was a golden opportunity for the Muslim community to bring about a total transformation in all spheres of their lives. Eid and the days to follow are opportunities to demonstrate the moral upliftment and spiritual elevation gained through fasting by showing compassion, mercy and kindness towards the creation of the Almighty. Whilst conveying to the Muslim community best wishes for a Happy Eid, I make a humble appeal to every Muslim brother and sister to keep the spirit of fasting alive – Let obedience of Allah Ta’ala shine forth from this day forward. Let the rest of mankind observe the effect that fasting has in changing the outlook of a believing Muslim. Let the world observe a community free from all sins, crime and vice and let us be an example which is worthy of emulation and of others accepting Islam.
Will You Break Your Fast a Few Minutes Early?
For many years without fail, I have been giving an example in the month of Ramadan, that at the end of a very hot and long day of Summer, a person is sitting at the Dastarkhan (table cloth), close to the time of Iftar, and waiting patiently to open his fast. There are just 3 minutes left for the setting of the sun when he is told: “Eat! What difference will it make if you break your fast now? What is another 2 or 3 minutes? You have already stayed away from food and drink for almost 15-16 hours.” Even if this happens to be the weakest Muslim in respect to obeying Allah Ta’ala, he will respond: “It is the ruling of the Qur’an and Ahadith that I break my fast after the setting of the sun, and not before that time. It is the command of Allah Ta’ala, and I cannot disobey Him.” The weakest person’s Iman becomes so strong at this stage that he will not break his fast. He will refuse to break his fast, even if the world’s great personalities have to say so. So we should question ourselves and answer truthfully: Is it not the Hukm (command) of that same Allah that we perform our Salah five times a day, and for the men, in the Musjid —in Jamat (congregation) as far as possible? Is it not the Command of that same Allah to correctly discharge our Zakah, perform Haj, treat our parents with love and respect, be faithful to our wives and treat them with compassion and vice versa for the wives, be honest in our business dealings and be kind and just to those under our authority?
Sha’ban And The Arrival Of Ramadan
The phrase, ‘It’s in the air,’ alludes to the general feeling or expectation of something happening in the near future or something already present or prevailing. For the Muslim who reaches the months of Rajab and Sha’ban, the presence of Ramadan is keenly sensed and felt. There is anticipation and expectation. It is near, with each day closing the distance between Ramadan and us. Its blessings are ‘in the air’ —so to say, just as we have fragrance permeating the atmosphere, infusing the air, whether of flowers, Itr or other perfume. The stronger the perfume or Itr, the greater the distance its scent travels – so much so that even though we may be far, we, too, get a hint of something special. The same with a braai —we find the aroma carried by the wind at a distance. What then of the sweet fragrance of Ramadan? It is in the air. Most definitely. It is just that our “receivers” are not working well. If there is a transmitter and a transmission, but the receiver is not working, you will not pick up the transmission. Similarly, if our sinuses are clogged, we will not smell the fragrance. When it comes to the month of Sha’ban – especially from the middle of Sha’ban onwards, the excitement of the Auliya-Allah, the pious and the righteous know no bounds and limits. They have understood the virtue and significance of Sha’ban because it heralds the coming of Ramadan —the guest of distinction and greatness. They have been waiting for the Mubarak month of Ramadan, and Sha’ban signifies the final countdown to its arrival. They are enthusiastic and eager to see and meet the month of Ramadan, and thus we find the beautiful Masnoon dua: “O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha’ban and grant us life to see Ramadan.”[1] Whilst they enjoy and make the most of the blessings of Sha’ban, it is unfortunate that the majority are neglectful, if not ignorant, of its blessings. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Sha’ban is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which many people neglect. And it is a month in which an account of deeds is presented before the Lord of the universe, so I wish that my deeds be presented when I am fasting.”[2] We also find in this blessed month the night of Bara’ah: A favour and bounty of Allah Ta’ala, Who, through this night, makes it easy for us to prepare for Ramadan. First, Allah Ta’ala gives us the 15th night of Sha’ban – an exclusive opportunity for Taubah, Ruju’ Ilallah, Dua and other Ibadah. He gives us an entire month saturated with opportunities to secure His Pleasure. He gives us Ramadan. Alhamdulillah. The following analogy came to my mind: The Ibadah of the 15th night of Sha’ban is similar to how a person does a re-paint of his house. When a person wants to paint his house, what does he do if the old paint is flaking, peeling and falling off? Would he just take the new paint and apply a fresh coat on top of all the old, flaking paint? No. The person first scrapes off all the old paint. After doing this, he applies the new paint. The night of Bara’ah is akin to scraping off the “old paint”. Allah Ta’ala gives us this blessed and auspicious night so that we scrape off all the old paint and the dirt of malice, greed, pride, anger and other bad and evil traits, which have spoilt the beauty of our hearts, worn out the shine of our hearts, and through which we have lost the colour of Divine Love which coated our hearts. Thus, if we are not on talking terms with our family members, cut off ties with parents or vice versa, have been disobedient to parents, or if anyone is taking some kind of intoxicant or engaging in some form of shirk, harbouring malice and jealousy, or engaging in any form of immorality and disobedience – then this is the opportunity to rid the heart of its evil. Clean it and purify it, paint it in the dye of Allah Ta’ala’s love, and beautify it with the Noor of sincere repentance and the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, which is presented to us in the form of the 15th night of Sha’ban. It is very much like the scraping of the old paint and applying a re-coat of fresh ‘paint’ before the month of Ramadan. We apply the new coat so that it begins to shine in advance of Ramadan and increases in its shine and beauty with each passing day of Ramadan. Allah Ta’ala gives us this night in preparation for the coming month of Ramadan. Most of us are acquainted with the merits of this night: It is a night for the forgiveness of sins, a night in which Allah Ta’ala’s Mercy descends. From our side, we should maximise the wonderful bounties found on this night by engaging ourselves in Ibadah, in Dua and in Istighfar. There is no hard and fast rule as to what to read and how to occupy ourselves on this night. In reality, it is spending time in diverse Ibadah, whatever our hearts incline to – some recitation of Qur’an Sharif and Zikrullah, together with sincere Taubah, abundant Istighfar, and deep-hearted Dua. Sleep for a little while, get up for the Tahajjud Salah and engage in Dua. There is no reason to feel disappointed if the person is working the entire day and cannot remain awake for most of the night; he should try to whatever extent he can make an effort on this night. My purpose was just to highlight one or two points – the main point being that irrespective of how far we may have distanced ourselves from Allah Ta’ala, we need to turn to Allah Ta’ala and make “I’tiraf-e- Qusur” —acknowledge our weakness and sins. “O my beloved Allah! Looking at my own weakness and my lack of
Taking Zakat beyond Ramadan
Alhamdulillah, we find that with the commencement of Ramadan, thousands of Muslims begin to contribute to different noble causes. They contribute whether these are specific for Ramadan, such as providing Iftar, Sehri, and hampers for the poor, or whether it is the general efforts made to alleviate the plight of those who are suffering in different parts of the world. Monies pour in through Zakat, Sadaqah, and Lillah—Alhamdulillah. May Allah Ta’ala accept the different contributions. There is, however, one shortfall when it comes to the payment of Zakat, and that is the majority choose to give their Zakat in the month of Ramadan, thinking that they are getting a greater reward giving in Ramadan, whereas for many, their Zakat was sometimes due months before. This deliberate delay in payment of Zakat makes the person a fasiq (an open transgressor). Even though one is paying later, and that too, in the blessed month of Ramadan, one reaches Ramadan, and one enters Ramadan as a flagrant sinner. Allah Ta’ala save us and forgive us. The setback to this pattern and tendency is that we have an overwhelming amount of Zakat and charity paid out in the month of Ramadan. And since Zakat needs to be distributed and discharged as soon as possible, we find that for the next 11 months, many organisations do not have such funds to continue their assistance to the poor and needy – because of the imbalance created. If everyone paid his or her Zakat timeously, when it is due – whether Muharram, Safar, Rabiul Awwal, or Rajab, instead of all being given out in the month of Ramadan – then some level of balance would be established in the discharge of Zakat and in the assistance rendered to the poor and needy for the remaining year. Moreover, this payment of Zakat at its correct time should not make the giver negligent in spending in other avenues at other times. We should increase our generosity in the month of Ramadan and also spend whenever and wherever there may be a call for assistance – and that spending should be from our wealth because Zakah is not our wealth. It does not belong to us; we can not keep and use it as we wish. It rightfully belongs to the poor. It is their wealth. We should be giving from our own wealth, over and above Zakat. Furthermore, when giving Zakat or Sadaqah, it is very important to keep in mind the recipient’s dignity and to give it with respect and consideration. Many people consider that they are doing a favour to the poor and needy when giving charity, and they do so in a manner which demeans and debases the poor and needy. Let us understand this point: We need them. The reality is that we are the needy ones, for if there were no poor, needy, and destitute people in the world, to whom would we give our Zakat and discharge that due? To whom would we give our Sadaqat and draw rewards? Moreover, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) described the poor as ‘very rich people’ and directed us to keep in contact with them and spend on them because, on the Day of Judgment, they will be told to lead every such person who favoured them, into Jannah. Other Ahadith describe how, in the Hereafter, the poor will be the ones who will come to the assistance of those who did them a good turn in the worldly life. The poor will thus become the means of najat (salvation) for many who may have been wealthy in this worldly life. They may even be the ones who will hold our hands and take us with them into Jannah. Thus, we need to be conscious and mindful of the dignity and self-respect of the poor. They, too, have a right to respect. May Allah Ta’ala grant us this understanding, grant us the Taufeeq to practice accordingly, grant us sincerity in our spending, and accept our Zakat, Sadaqat and other humble efforts to please Him, Aameen.
Laylatul Qadr
Allah Ta’ala’s love for His Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is evident and manifest in many Aayaat (verses) of the Qur`an Sharif. Additionally, whilst other Ambiya (‘alayhimussSalam) were gifted with exclusive titles, it was Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) alone whose title was “Habibullah” (The Beloved of Allah). Due to this Divine love for Sayyidina Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his Ummah is the recipient of special mercy, blessings and favours from Allah Ta’ala. It is only due to our connection and association with Nabi-e-Akram (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that Allah Ta’ala has honoured us above all people. Amongst many privileges, one divine mark of distinction that has been granted to us, is the great privilege of being “Ummate Marhuma” —The Ummah upon whom mercy is shown. The explanation of this noble title, “Ummate Marhuma”, is that forgiveness is secured, and mercy is attained through our sicknesses, hardships and other tribulations. Through the Esalus Sawab that people convey to us after our demise, and through blessed days and nights such as are found in Ramadan and other special days and nights outside Ramadan[1], we can easily gain forgiveness. The most special and most blessed of all nights is the Night of “QADR”. Laylatul Qadr is a night singled out by Allah Ta’ala, who granted it such magnificent virtues and greatness that surpasses all other nights. The fact that Allah Ta’ala has gifted this Ummah with this one night – year in and year out – highlights again the Divine mercy that is extended to this Ummah, as well as the graciousness and kindness of Allah Ta’ala in giving us opportunities to secure far more in rewards. It is mentioned in the Tafasir that one meaning of the word “Qadr” is “greatness, honour, dignity”, and this is what the night of Qadr is – a night of greatness. It is also stated that the night is called so because a person becomes a person of honour and dignity on account of his (or her) sincere repentance, noble deeds, prayers and supplications during this night. Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever stands in prayer and worship on the night of Qadr, with complete faith and sincere hope of gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven.”[2] “Qadr” also means “pre-destination”, and we find that this is also a night where the destinies of people are assigned to respective Angels regarding life, death, sustenance, rain, and so forth – all of which will come to pass for the year that will follow. Drawing from the different narrations, it becomes clear that the Night of Qadr should be sought in the last ten nights of Ramadan, specifically on the odd nights. Its greatness and merit are described in the speech of Allah Ta’ala, wherein it is stated that worship on this night surpasses the worship of 1000 months. Worship includes Salah, Tilawah (recitation) of the Qur’an Sharif, Zikrullah, Dua, etc. The night is also a night for sincere repentance, as attested by a narration, wherein Ayesha (radiyallahu ‘anha) had asked Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) what prayer she should engage in if she finds Laylatul Qadr and Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) ) advised her the following dua: “O Allah, very You are Oft-Pardoning, You love to Pardon, so do pardon me.” Rasulullah (sallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) said: “Verily a month has dawned over you wherein lies a night better than a thousand months. Whoever misses such a night has indeed been deprived of all that is good, and none is deprived of it, except he who is unfortunate.” May Allah Ta’ala grant us the appreciation of these beautiful opportunities and grant us the experience and rewards of Laylatul Qadr. It is impossible to do justice to a discussion of Laylatul Qadr, but an excellent and detailed exposition is found in the book “Faza’il-e-Ramadan” by Shaykhul Hadith, Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullah’ alayh), which offers tremendous inspiration, motivation, and encouragement. [1] The first ten nights and days of Zul Hijjah, the nights of Eid, the 10th of Muharram, etc.) [2] Sahih al-Bukhari
Ramadan vs The World Cup
Ramadan vs the World Cup —Which Team Are You In? by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) The Finta of the World Cup and other sporting events We all know that certain snakes and scorpions are extremely dangerous, and when they attack, their venom or sting causes great harm and can even lead to death. Lions, cheetahs, and other wild animals attack, maim and kill. However, their harm is on the physical body —and the physical body must inevitably die. Then we have the snakes, scorpions, and wild animals that attack the person’s soul and Imaan. They sometimes maim and even kill the person’s Imaan and spirituality. There is no doubt that the environment is a jungle of Fitnah and Fasaad: It is extremely dangerous, with its vicious Fitnas. And now we find ourselves in a period where we also have the missiles of Fitnah targeting the Imaan of the Muslims and bombs of Fitnah raining down upon the Muslims. For those who want to restrain themselves and please Allah Ta’ala, these times are a real Jihaad because there are even those who are outwardly Deendar but who advocate, promote, and support these Fitnas. On the outside, there is Deen; there is the garb of the pious —but the person is caught up in the same Fitnas. So many watch on the television or go to those places. Young children or wives have written that the fathers or husbands, who are otherwise so Deendar, forego their Salaah in Jamaat or even forgo their Salaah because they are viewing the World Cup or the Cricket Rugby or any other sport on television. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi ra’jioon. We all know that the World Cup is a tsunami of Fitnahs —It is an international upsurge of sins. What not takes place and happens at these events —and we lend ourselves to all these sins. There is so much of Haraam, which is as clear as daylight —but we still justify our viewing and participation. We should hang our heads in shame if we are projecting the image of piety to the world, but are obeying Shaytan in private. This is what is termed as hypocrisy; Nifaaq. It is the currency of the time. The person has two faces: A public face and a private face. But we cannot hide our true selves from Allah Ta’ala. Regarding the soccer matches, young people will ask: “If we cannot attend and view the World Cup, what do we do?” We have to find alternatives. There’s no other way. We will not say that everyone must sit down in the Masjid, read Qur’an Sharif, read Tasbeeh and do nothing else. What is necessary and crucial is that the person runs from those environments of sins. We have to distance ourselves from venues of sins. We have to run towards Allah Ta’ala: “…So flee to Allah….” [Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:50] No doubt, this is a Jihad for many. But if we have love for Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), then we should make every effort to restrain ourselves from sins, knowing that sins will bring about a destruction of our Imaan will displease Allah Ta’ala and cause hurt and grief to the sensitive heart of Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). With this soccer mania and frenzy, the majority are only talking about the different teams and players, the goals they scored, and the condition of this team and that team. It is just soccer, soccer, football, football —all the time. What a waste of precious time. So here is a young person who was, at one time, addicted to the same. He is being encouraged to join them. The person will feel pressured. How is he going to restrain himself? If he is seeking Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasures, he will have to flee from that company because it is a temptation to get caught up in Fitnah. The person will have to make new friends –friends who will take him to the Masjid, talk of good things, and move in the direction of good deeds. So, avoid the soccer company. Talk, eat, drink —just don’t go to any home where people will be viewing those soccer matches. If ten of them are sitting and watching, they will be dominant against one person. They will be screaming and jumping, and they will convince the person to join in watching a group of adult men run after a ball. Is this intelligence? Viewing adult men kicking a ball? Stay away from the soccer supporters and addicts; otherwise, they will pull you in. As that poet said: “Last night, the person went to advise those who were drinking in the bar, but when he came out, he had a wobble in his walk.” Keeping yourself occupied with the permissible and Mubaah company is extremely important. It is for these reasons that Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “A person is on the Deen (way of life) of his friend, so every one of you should look at whom he befriends.”[1] We need to be very careful and cautious regarding whom we mix with and integrate with. If a huge python is approaching us, and we can see it coming closer, will we remain where we are, or will we look for the nearest exit? Will we admire the snake’s skin and go towards it to touch and feel it? In all those venues of sins, where filthy films are screened, or people are dancing and partying, drinking, and committing other sins, if someone suddenly starts screaming: “Fire! Fire!”, then is everyone going to continue with the dance and the party and the sports? Or are they going to dash for the doors and exits? If someone announces that there is a bomb in the area, in the vicinity, and it has been activated, will the person remain there to see whether it is true or not? We are so careful about
After Ramadan
The blessed month of Ramadan came like seasonal rain and passed by. This rain did not water the plants and crops – it showered upon the hearts of the Believers. It is sad but true that the hearts of the majority of Muslims were stricken with spiritual drought and spiritual decadence. It was a drought caused by excessive indulgence in un-Islamic activities, immoral behaviour, unjust actions, unfair dealings, etc. Drought caused by lack of rain destroys crops – drought caused by lack of piety, fear of Allah Ta’ala, and lack of Allah-Consciousness destroys the spirituality of the heart. Ramadan’s spiritual rains brought to life the Masajid and other prayer places. Ramadan had fanned the dying spark of charity. Ramadan had awakened the spirit of tolerance, patience and sympathy for the less fortunate. Now that we come to the end of Ramadan, the big question is: What to do? Did we go through all the spiritual exercises in Ramadan so that we may have the freedom to indulge, on Eid day, in all types of immoral, shameless and indecent entertainment and amusement? Did we restrain ourselves from Halal food, drinks and other pleasures from dawn to sunset throughout Ramadan so that we may return with renewed vigour to gambling, drinking, adultery and fornication? Will the spirit of tolerance, mercy, patience, charity, sympathy and the nurtured quality of piety and Allah-Consciousness still be evident, or will these noble qualities be shelved until the dawn of the next Ramadan? Will the Masajid, which were filled on most nights in Ramadan, remain the same, or will they become empty, wondering where the faithful have gone? Our lifestyles after Ramadan will show whether we used the month to bring about a total reformation within ourselves or whether we wasted the valuable opportunity. The National and international position of the Muslim communities is something we are all acquainted with. Muslims are lamenting the loss of lives, destruction of property, oppression, tyranny, injustice and a host of other problems afflicting Muslims all over the world. They are questioning why the promised help of Allah Ta’ala to the Believers is nowhere in sight. However, just one glance into the lifestyles of the overwhelming majority of Muslims is sufficient to answer the question. Millions of Muslims do not have much to their credit besides Muslim names. Allah Ta’ala’s help comes with ‘Amal (action) and true Islamic qualities, not with names or faces – or whether Arab or non-Arab, African or European, Chinese or Indian. On the other hand, every group, organization, society or individual who talks about Islam seems to have got its own brand of Islam. The Islamic teachings which were left behind for us, crystal clear and pristine pure, have become so adulterated with foreign customs, alien practices and un-Islamic ideologies that a new Muslim has to make an effort to search for the Qur’an and Sunnah brand of Islam or remain confused and ignorant. May Allah Ta’ala grant us Hidayah and grant us the ability to make the Qur’an and Sunnah our guiding lights and practise Islam as much as possible. If the non-Muslim inhabitants of our country see Islam in the lives of Muslims, they will not require much persuasion to accept our beautiful Deen, Aameen.
Insulating the Heart
Whilst in the company of one’s Shaykh, or when in good company, or during the month of Ramadan, we find an undeniably positive effect concerning our overall behaviour and our relationship with Allah Ta’ala. It suddenly becomes easy to perform good deeds and abstain from sins. Our hearts become light and happy after being relieved of the terrible burden of sins. Noor and Sakinah permeate the heart, and life becomes pleasant, Alhamdulillah. Then we leave the company of the Shaykh or Ramadan passes, and we find ourselves susceptible and vulnerable to the invitations and temptations of sins. We fall prey to nafs and Shaytaan. We ask: Why? How come? We were slowly but surely improving, and then we started stumbling, faltering, falling, and sometimes we are floored by nafs and even land up in the gutters of sins. May Allah Ta’ala protect us all. We, ourselves, are the reason for our weaknesses and failings. Whilst in the company of the Masha’ikh or during Ramadan, we do not develop sufficient Taqwa to insulate ourselves against sins, nafs and Shaytan. The Suhbah (company) of the pious and righteous and the month of Ramadaan offers special protection. However, we generally visit or keep company with the pious for short periods, and Ramadan visits us once a year. The time certainly comes when we have to face the many challenges outside the company of the pious and outside of Ramadan. Therefore, it is necessary to strongly insulate the heart and soul against the harsh climate of sins. For better understanding, let us take an example: It is a freezing Winter’s day; whilst we are indoors, we keep warm because our homes offer some insulation: the walls and the roof provide protection; the carpets, heater, fireplace add to that protection and also generate warmth. We will enjoy this warmth if we sit near the fireplace or heater. However, when we go outside, we obviously cannot carry the heater with us. We have heard and read of people who climb mountains covered in snow. What do they do? Do they carry heaters with them? —No! They insulate themselves with warm, thermal clothing. If we have to go outdoors, then knowing the extreme temperature outside, we adopt measures to protect ourselves. To keep warm while we are outdoors, we first insulate ourselves by wearing warm clothing, thick jackets, warm hats, socks, gloves, etc. We may even drink some hot soup or any hot drink to warm ourselves from the inside. If we adopt all these means before leaving our homes, we will be shielded against the icy, bitter cold —insha Allah. Similarly, while in the company of the Mashaikh, or during the blessed month of Ramadaan, we must do our best to insulate ourselves with the qualities of Taqwa, Sabr, Shukr, Zuhd, Tawadhu, etc. In the company of the Shaykh, we draw the warmth of the love of Allah Ta’ala—this is what is generated from his heart. This then becomes the insulation and protection against the demands of Nafs and the attacks of Shaytan. It is not possible to be with the Shaykh twenty-four hours a day. He has a life to lead. He will teach at the Madrasah, give talks at the Masjid, travel out in the Khidmat of Deen, etc. What do we do at such times? In the company of the Shaykh, we prepare for ourselves—for the harsh climate of sins and distractions of the outside work. We adopt protection measures just like the person who covers himself with a blanket or wears a heavy jacket before going out. In the Majlis of the Shaykh, we also insulate the heart with the Sifah of Ihsan, with the conscious awareness of Allah Ta’ala –keeping before us that Allah Ta’ala is All-Seeing, All-Hearing, All-Knowing, All-Aware —and that nothing escapes the knowledge of Allah Ta’ala. This quality is what we take with us wherever we go. Even though the Shaykh cannot be with us all the time, Allah Ta’ala is with us at all times: “And He is with you, wherever you are.” [Surah Al-Hadid 57:4] If we maintain a conscious awareness of Allah Ta’ala’s presence at all times, then when we have to go to the bazaar, marketplace, university or college, we will be well-insulated. Therefore, when we sit in those Majalis, we should not think that it is just a bayan, just a talk given. The bayan will take place, and even if there is no bayan, the silence of those who are Kaamil generates a Noor, a light. This enters through the eyes and ears and lights up the heart with the love of Allah Ta’ala. It gives the person strength in his Imaan. After that, when the person goes outside, that spiritual warmth is with him —like the person who wears his jersey and jacket, warm hat and warm socks. May Allah Ta’ala bless us all with well-insulated hearts. Allah Ta’ala has granted us such great means for renewed fortification. Our insulation is also found in our Salaah, which needs to be established five times a day in the Masjid – and that too, with concentration and attention. It should not be a ‘slap-dash’, ‘hit and run’ Salaah, as is so common. (na’uzu billahi min zaalik). Allah Ta’ala says: “…Verily Salaah restrains from shamelessness and evil….” [Surah Ankabut 29:45] We also insulate with our Tilawah, our Zikrullah, and our deep-hearted Dua for protection. My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (rahmatullah ‘Alayh), would repeatedly make Dua: ‘O, Allah! Wherever I am – whether on earth or in the skies – my Taqwa must always remain safe.’ Together with these, we also insulate our lives by ridding our homes of all those elements that will nullify the spirituality that we develop in the company of the Shaykh. We throw out the television, give up music, and whatever other Haraam pollutes our homes and lives. The Suhbah of the Shaykh