Avoid the Temptation
Avoid the Temptation by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) ‘I recall from my childhood days, someone saying:“…For temptation will lead you into trouble and make you cry” —And indeed, this is exactly what happens when one gives into the temptation to engage in any Haraam. Ask those who have given in to the demands of nafs and Shaytan about the repercussions of their sins. They will say Trouble, Trouble and more Trouble —tears, tears and more tears. Temptations will always be there. If there were no temptation, there would have been no such thing as Taqwa. The demand is to resist, to stay away, to abstain. Not to do sins is so much easier than ‘doing’ sins.’ Haraam Attractions and Distractions In an accident or due to a slip or fall, traction is usually the means adopted in the healing process if the joint of the shoulder or leg is dislocated. The sinful, immoral attractions and distractions which form the entertainment of those who have forgotten Allah Ta’ala are such that they dislocate the joints of Imaan. The traction for indulgence in sins is sincere taubah (repentance), distancing oneself from sins and venues of sins, together with attending good, Deeni programmes and associating with the pious. There are so many, who have gone towards some Haraam (forbidden) attraction, never to return from there: So many have lost their identity as Muslims, and sometimes they have even lost their Imaan and suffer the loss of their Aakhirah. Thousands have died engaging in Haraam entertainment, whether at the casinos, discos, raves, prostitute quarters, massage parlours, and whilst committing adultery. One earthquake, tsunami, gale-force wind, or fire, and death comes upon thousands, many of whom are also engaged in sins. What guarantee do we have that we won’t be singled out this holiday for our return to Allah Ta’ala? So think, And think again! What would be the condition of that person who comes face to face with the Angel of Death whilst engaged in gambling, drinking, dancing, raving, adultery or fornication? Which Muslim wants to return to Allah Ta’ala in a state of sin? Such matters should not be taken lightly. (May Allah Ta’ala protect us all.) This holiday period is a time of great test and trial: Invitation to sins, promotion of sins, temptation to immorality, and enticement and encouragement towards all kinds of Haraam is the order of the day. Beach partying, intermingling and courting, immodest dress, loud music and dance, smoking and drinking and drug-taking become even the programme and timetable for many Muslims. Salaah becomes a forgotten duty for holidaymakers. The Islamic dress and identity are discarded so that there is freedom to engage in more sinful activities. Shaytan’s trump card to Haraam entertainment is even held up by Muslims, who invite to Haraam just as the non-Muslims do. Inna Lillahiwa-innailayhira`ji-oon. Is this what we were created for? Allah Ta’ala says: “Did you then think that We had created you without purpose and that you would never be returned to Us?” [Surah Mu’minun 23:115] The shocking behaviour of our Muslim youth (and even many Muslim adults) leaves us numb, disturbed, distressed and deeply grieved. What shocks does the heart have to contend with!? The Muslim youth are supposed to be tomorrow’s leaders for the Ummah and are expected to be the representatives of Deen, inviting the non-Muslims to Islam with the modesty and purity of thought, speech, dress, and actions which should be characteristic of every Muslim. Deen and Shariah do not stifle us, deprive us of pleasure and enjoyment, and deny us happiness and celebration. Deen and Shariah accommodate leisure and pleasure. Islam is beautiful, most beautiful. Islam is not ‘dry’. It is enjoyable. Allah Ta’ala has only placed certain boundaries through His Divine prohibitions for our own benefit, safety and well-being. So let us make an effort and avoid the temptations towards sins. Let us not walk the route towards sins. Let us keep clear of the venues of sins like how we would if we had fore-knowledge that there would be an earthquake, tsunami or bomb-blast devastating such places. We fear for our lives. The greater need is to fear for our Imaan and our children’s Imaan. Let us not forget that we are Muslims. Let us not forget our relationship with Allah Ta’ala. Let us not forget that death can visit very unexpectedly. Let us not forget that there is accountability. Let us not forget Jannat. Let us not forget Jahannum. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has said: This world is a prison for the Believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.[1] What will be ‘good’ for the disbelievers will not be good for the Believers. If they enjoy Haraam, the Muslims will find HARM in that same Haraam. Every person is given a choice. A person either makes a wise decision or an unwise decision. If we adopt Taqwa, we restrain and abstain from disobeying Allah Ta’ala; then, when we leave this world, we leave behind a prison. When we leave this world, we leave free. When the disbeliever leaves this world, he leaves behind his paradise. When he leaves this world, he enters a prison where there is no release, bail, escape or parole. This worldly life is short. Very short. Understand the reality: Every passing second delivers us closer and closer to the bridge of death. And there is no choice. We have to cross that bridge. My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh), says in poetry: “Strange is the visa of life; It can be cancelled at any time. The duration of its validity is unknown And its extension, too, is impossible. Time is running out. The journey is long. The life after this is eternal. There is no return to this world. What preparation have you made? What provision have you procured? Nabi (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The intelligent one is he who suppresses his desires and practises for
Tug of War
Once, I had the opportunity to spend time at a park with some young boys. They were students of a Hifz class and were having a picnic —we all require rest, exercise, and some entertainment, but of the Halal kind. One of the games that these youngsters were playing was “Tug of War”. After their game, I mentioned that two parties pull a rope in tug of war. Winning is based on the side that pulls stronger. And I said that we should take a lesson from this: In life, there is always a tug of war. There is the pull of temptation and sins, and there is the pull of Deen and Shari’ah; there is the pull of the Nafs and Shaytan, and the pull of the Ruh (soul). From our side, we have to suppress and overcome the pull of temptation towards Haraam. We have to resist the Nafs when it demands and commands anything Haraam. To come out as the victorious party – as the champions – we will have to strengthen our Imaan, Istiqaamah and Yaqeen in Allah Ta’ala. In this way, we will be the dominant and stronger side. If we do not give any attention to building our spiritual stamina, strength, and prowess, the other side will easily defeat us. Nafs and Shaytan will not have to pull very hard because we will be weak spiritually. So, to always maintain the upper hand, we draw our strength – and great spiritual strength will be drawn – establishing Salaah, five times a day. For us men, this must be performed in the Masjid, in Jamaat (congregation). Together with this, we need to maintain our identity as Muslims and work towards fulfilling the Commands of Allah Ta’ala – especially, staying away from all those actions which are displeasing to Him. We should also be selective of the company we keep and seek out friends who are concerned about their Deen and are also trying to be obedient to Allah Ta’ala. If not, then a bad ‘friend’ is no friend. He belongs to the opposite party, with Nafs and Shaytan – and will pull hard to draw us into sin. Then we will be defeated. If the friend is a good friend, he will assist us and be on our side, overcoming the opposition. In the game of “Tug of war”, there are occasions and times when there is a balance —or the other side is even stronger. The weaker side gets the upper hand when there is a slight lapse. In our day-to-day lives, this is what we term ‘accidental’ sins: There is a lapse in our hold of the rope of Taqwa. We lose our grip, and Nafs and Shaytan gain the upper hand. To regain control, there is a need for plenty of remorse and Taubah. In this way, we redeem our position of being the stronger side. Of course, we should allow the Nafs Halaal pleasure and entertainment. Having a picnic and playing for a little while is important to keep us refreshed, re-energised and happy. However, we should always be on guard that Nafs and Shaytan don’t get any leeway and pull us away from Allah Ta’ala and Deen. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufiq of becoming tough and strong against Nafs and Shaytan, Aameen.