Six Qualities of Da’wah & Tabligh by Talib Jaleel - HTML preview

In The Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

 

Introduction

 

People throughout the world, Muslim & non-Muslim, are work-

ing day and night to fulfil their needs & aspirations. Most of

them are approaching means which they find through intellec-

tual exertion, tradition, technology, politics etc. None of these

efforts aims to benefit from the almighty power of Allāh I-

thus their stress and their loss is only increasing.

 

Allāh I kept our success in this world and the hereafter in com-

plete deen - in following His commands according to sunnah as

understood and practised by the sahaba f. Material things are

used to spend life, not to build life. One’s life is made with deen,

and it is corrupted by the lack of deen.

 

Rasulullah r made such efforts that every believer’s yaqin, as-

piration, worship, earning, spending, eating, marriage, social in-

teractions, and dealings etc. were all transformed. The aim of

this da’wah & tabligh effort is to revive this prophetic endeav-

our. This effort is not merely running from place to place; its

true objective is to develop certain noble qualities within us. Through the efforts of the prophets u eman takes root, eman

grows and deen comes into the lives of individuals, communi-

ties, and nations are built. Deen does not come to life all at once

- it gathers in the person and society gradually. Therefore, those

engaged in this self-effacing effort must have clear insight, con-

viction of the work, and unwavering dedication.

 

Focusing on the six qualities, which are among the noble qual-

ities of sahaba f, will make it easier to practise the full deen

and help remedy a number of social ills (remedies are written in

brackets):

 

1. Shirk, Kufr & Doubts (La ilaha illallah); Bid’ah (Sunnah)

2. Wickedness (Salat)

3. Ignorance (Ilm); Heedlessness (Dhikr)

4. Jealousy, Arrogance & Selfishness (Ikram & humbleness)

5. Hypocrisy (Ikhlas)

6. Being Astray (Da’wah & Tabligh)

 

For the participants in tabligh jamat, cultivating and strengthen-

ing the six qualities in the person is a priority. We need to under-

stand the objectives, virtues, and the necessary effort to bring

each of these qualities into our lives. Further, keeping our dis-

cussions strictly within the six qualities is a must in jamat tours.

For all these reasons this booklet should serve as a basic intro-

duction - especially suitable for beginners.

 

We must realise that Rasulullah r and his sahabaf carried out

the effort of deen in a special way. Therefore, we should learn

and adapt the same effort. By the immense grace of Allāh I,

jamat sathis in some localities are gradually learning this effort.

However, the work is still in its early stages. If people assume

that the work has already matured, they will never reach the

true objective. New workers must recognise this reality and con-

tinue to persevere to reach, as far as possible, the level of ef-

fort undertaken by Rasulullah r and his sahaba f- for that is

the original model of effort. Once we realise how negligible our

effort is compared to theirs, we should make a firm resolve to

strive like them inshalla.

 

Before starting this effort, one should reflect on its benefit and

then learn the correct methodology. The benefit is that both

those who make the effort and those upon whom the effort is

| 5| made will receive hidaya. The more hidaya a person receives,

the more they will be able to live according to deen. The more

people increase their effort for deen, the more hidaya they will

gain.

 

When Muslims do not engage in this effort, hidaya gradually

fades from their lives - first in business transactions, then in their

social interactions and family relations. In other words they will

discard the sunnah to adopt the ways of others and indulge in

bid’ah. The decline continues until even obligatory acts leaves

their lives, and in the worst case, the person drifts away from

deen entirely. Today, we often hear complains that people are

not practising deen, but the root cause is that they have aban-

doned the effort of deen.

 

Conversely, when Muslims commit themselves to the effort of

deen, hidaya returns, and the entire decline reverses. So we de-

sire and make du’a that this effort increase to the point that

we are able to practice deen in all aspects of life, which in turn

makes it easy for others to understand Islam.

 

There are two strategies in this effort: (1) increasing the num-

ber of participants, and (2) raising the level of sacrifice.

However, these two approaches are very different. Even if mil-

lions of people participate but each makes only a small effort,

the resulting hidaya will be widespread but shallow. In contrast,

if even a small minority exerts themselves correctly — with de-

termination and great sacrifice, which is only possible through

firm and correct yaqin — this can bring tremendous hidaya to

the Muslims and to the wider community.

 

To this day, many people busy with their work have made efforts

to spend time in the path of Allāh while avoiding any worldly set-

backs. Yet Allāh I, His prophet r and sahaba f taught us the

way of true sacrifice. Therefore, today the more our sacrifice

resemble theirs, the higher the level of effort we shall reach.

Therefore, for a da’ee it’s crucial that the entire effort of Rasul-

ullah r and his sahaba f is in front of them.

 

Arabia, despite its vast expanse, was largely a land of sandy and

rocky desert. The types of livelihoods we associate with the

modern world — such as stable salaried jobs — did not exist

there. Farming and orchards were scarce. In short, Arabia was

|6|

home to a population struggling with poverty and scarcity, many

of whom could barely clothe themselves. A large portion of the

people were nomads, and in times of extreme hunger they would

resort to eating insects, snakes, blood, and anything they could

find.

 

There was little in Arabia that could offer incentive or resources

to foreign rulers, so instead of seeking anything from the re-

gion, neighbouring powers maintained border forces mainly to

protect themselves from raids by the impoverished and desper-

ate Arab tribes. It was among these very people that Allāh I

sent His Messenger r to begin his mission. Initially, very few

people accepted his da’wah in Makkah, the city where he was

born and where its people used to call him al-Amīn.

 

For the sake of deen, Rasulullah r- who grew up as an orphan -

endured the harshest trial: mockery, hunger, fear, social & eco-

nomic boycott, warfare, betrayal, assassination attempts, be-

ing stoned by street urchins, the persecution of his companions,

and even the divorce of his daughters. He was also tempted

by the Quraysh with offers of wealth, women, and power. Yet,

through every test and hardship, he r remained unwavering and

steadfast in his mission.

 

Muslims used to gather in secret in the house of Arqam d to

learn and teach in the presence of Rasulullah r . Soon Quraysh

began persecuting the Muslims, and for three years they were

subjected to a harsh boycott in the valley of Makkah. Twice Mus-

lims emigrated to Abyssinia - which consisted of both men and

women 1. Eventually, the Muslims were granted permission to

migrate to Madinah in order to protect their eman.

 

In this environment, whenever anyone accepted Islam, they used

to take refuge in Madinah. These emigrants were mostly poor

who had left behind their families, homes and whatever occu-

pations they had 2.

 

In fact, new Muslims were encouraged to come to Madinah so

they could learn directly from its Islamic environment — espe-

cially within the prophet’s masjid, which provided a constant at-

mosphere of deen, busy with da’wah, teaching and learning, salat

and dhikr, and various other services. Sahabaf organized these

responsibilities in shifts, keeping the masjid active around the

| 7| clock. Anyone arriving from outside the city would always find

someone present at the masjid to receive them. As the people

of Madinah continued to strive in the path of Allāh, increasing

numbers of people began arriving from distant regions, while

the number of hosts available to care for them grew smaller.

 

It was considered a shared duty for everyone to ensure that new-

comers learned from them and then passed that knowledge on

to others. Madinans divided the work of looking after these

guests of Allāh, sitting with them, teaching them, feeding them,

hosting them etc 3. The size of guest jamat was varied. On one

occasion four hundred people came. Rasulullah r send them

to one tribe. When they returned after a week, Rasulullah r as-

sessed their learning - the understanding of deen was slowly en-

tering them. Then they were sent to another tribe to complete

another week of learning. After another week their understand-

ing became strong. Rasulullah r asked them, ”How did you find

my sahaba?” They replied, ”They had given us their beddings,

they fed us their own food, and during the day they taught us

deen.” Sahaba f used to give gifts to returning Muslims - they

would not take anything in return.

 

The demand on the people of Madinah became so great that

many sahaba paired up, alternating between masjid service and

their means of livelihood. If one would come during the day,

the other would come at night. Both muhajir & ansar became so

accustomed to the effort of deen that whenever Rasulullah r

called them to spend in the path of Allah, they would respond to

the call immediately, freeing themselves from all occupations.

If they were asked to set out at sunset, they would not remain

in Madinah that night. No wonder, Allāh I chose these two

groups to assist Rasulullah r in making effort to establish deen

in the world. The ansar responded whole-heartedly despite the

difficult demands placed upon them: defending deen, support-

ing the emigrants while providing for their own families, even

though they had very little time left to sustain their farming or

trade.

 

Sahabaf were such great personalities that they went forth in

the path of Allāh in every condition. It didn’t matter what the

circumstances were. They left home on the occasion of wed-

ding, birth or death in the family. They went khuruj at harvest

|8|

time, in extreme heat or in severe cold, in hunger and in poverty,

in sickness and in health, in strength and in weakness, in youth

and in old age.

 

Sahaba f were ready to go in the path of Allāh, irrespective of

whether it was against their habits & nafs. They promised to

obey Rasulullah r in easy times and in hard times. For the sake

of Allāh, to spread the deen they tolerated all kinds of losses

and difficulties, they risked everything.

 

Over the ten years in Madinah, Rasulullah r sent out around 150

jamats in the path of Allāh, personally joining about 25 of them.

The size of the groups varied - some consisted of seven, eight,

or ten members, while others included fifteen, fifty, a hundred,

three hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand members. Their

duration also differed: some lasting fifteen or twenty days, oth-

ers two or three months. For the remaining (125) jamats, some

sahabaf went out for even longer periods such as four months

or six months.

 

On one hand, the sahaba f had less time to earn a livelihood,

and on the other, their expenses increased many fold — from

spending in the path of Allāh to hosting the guests of Allāh.

As a result, they experienced severe poverty in both summer

and winter. Nevertheless, they took these burdens upon them-

selves willingly and focused their efforts on others. Because

the believers prioritized the work of deen over their personal

needs, family concerns, and means of sustenance, Allāh became

pleased with them, and people began entering Islam in large

numbers.

 

A dā’ee must endure all difficulties — whether hardships caused

by people or tests sent by Allāh.

 

ۚ اَنُر ْصَن ْمُهاَتَٔا ٰىَّتَح اوُذؤُاَو اوُبِّذُك اَم ٰىَلَع اوُرَب َصَف َكِلْبَق ْنِم ٌلُسُر ْتَبِّذُك ْدَقَلَو

Messengers indeed have been rejected before you, but they

endured rejection and persecution until Our help came to

them. [6:34]

 

ۗ َنوُرِب ْصَتَٔا ًةَنْتِف ٍضْعَبِل ْمُك َضْعَب اَنْلَعَجَو

And We have made some of you as a trial for others - will

you be patient? [25:20]

| 9| A da’ee should have excellent character and he should give da’wah

with wisdom:

 

ۖ َكِلْوَح ْنِم او ُّضَفْناَل ِبْلَقْلا َظيِلَغ اًّظَف َتْنُك ْوَلَو ۖ ْمُهَل َتْنِل ِهَّللا َنِم ٍةَمْحَر اَمِبَف

ۖ ِرْمَٔاْلا يِف ْمُهْرِواَشَو ْمُهَل ْرِفْغَت ْساَو ْمُهْنَع ُفْعاَف

And by the mercy of Allāh, you were gentle with them. Had

you been harsh, hard-hearted, they would have dispersed

from around you. So pardon them, and ask forgiveness for

them, and consult them in the conduct of affairs. [3:159]

 

ۚ ُن َسْحَٔا َيِه يِتَّلاِب ْمُهْلِداَجَو ۖ ِةَن َسَحْلا ِةَظِعْوَمْلاَو ِةَمْكِحْلاِب َكِّبَر ِليِبَس ٰىَلِٕا ُعْدا

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good ad-

vice, and debate with them in the best manner. [16:125]

 

The path of da‘wah is not lined with petals; it is a path filled with

obstacles and challenges. Yet the dā’ee remains positive, never

losing hope in people’s guidance through his efforts. He does

not become impatient, no matter how long it takes for the help

of Allāh to arrive. The sahaba f embodied these qualities to

perfection, becoming a lasting example for all Muslims until the

Day of Judgement in how to strive for the sake of deen.

 

|10|

.

 

Firm Yaqin (Certainty) in

 

"La ilaha illAllah

 

Muhammadur Rasulullah"

 

The literal meaning of the kalima, is: ِهَّٰللٱ ُلوُسَر ٌدَّمَحُم ُهَّٰللٱ اَّلِٕا َهَٰلِٕا اَل

“There is no god but Allāh, and Muhammad r is the

Messenger of Allāh.”

 

Allāh I is the supreme being. There is no deity beside Him. All

prophets began their efforts among people with this core mes-

sage. It is imperative that we make an effort to firmly instil this

in our hearts.

 

By submitting to the kalima, , one promises ِهَّٰللٱ ُلوُسَر ٌدَّمَحُم ُهَّٰللٱ اَّلِٕا َهَٰلِٕا اَل

to live by the commands of Allāh as shown by Rasulullah r:

 

ۖ ْمُكْنِم ِرْمَٔاْلا يِلؤُاَو َلوُسَّرلا اوُعيِطَٔاَو َهَّللا اوُعيِطَٔا اوُنَمٓا َنيِذَّلا اَهُّئَا اَي

O you who believe! Obey Allāh and obey the Messenger

and those in authority among you. [4:59]

 

ۚ اوُهَتْناَف ُهْنَع ْمُكاَهَن اَمَو ُهوُذُخَف ُلوُسَّرلا ُمُكاَتٓا اَمَو

And whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it; and what-

ever he forbids you, abstain from it. [59:7]

 

ٌةَن َسَح ٌةَوْسُٔا ِهَّللا ِلوُسَر يِف ْمُكَل َناَك ْدَقَل

Indeed in the Messenger of Allāh you have a good example

to follow. [33:21] Through this submission Allāh promises to build their dunya and

akhira:

 

ْمُهَرْجَٔا ْمُهَّنَيِزْجَنَلَو ۖ ًةَبِّيَط ًةاَيَح ُهَّنَيِيْحُنَلَف ٌنِمْؤُم َوُهَو ٰىَثْنُٔا ْؤَا ٍرَكَذ ْنِم اًحِلا َص َلِمَع ْنَم

َنوُلَمْعَي اوُناَك اَم ِن َسْحَٔاِب

Whoever works righteous deeds, whether male or female,

while being a believer, We will grant them a good life — and

We will reward them according to the best of what they

used to do. [16:97]

 

The kalima demands that we only worship Allāh and seek His

help:

 

ُنيِعَت ْسَن َكاَّيِٕا َو ُدُبْعَن َكاَّيِٕا

It is You we worship, and upon You we call for help. [1:5]

 

Reliance upon Him is a quality of the believers:

 

اًناَميِٕا ْمُهْتَداَز ُهُتاَيٓا ْمِهْيَلَع ْتَيِلُت اَذِٕاَو ْمُهُبوُلُق ْتَلِجَو ُهَّللا َرِكُذ اَذِٕا َنيِذَّلا َنوُنِمْؤُمْلا اَمَّنِٕا

َنوُلَّكَوَتَي ْمِهِّبَر ٰىَلَعَو

The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when

Allāh is mentioned, and when His verses are recited to them,

they strengthen them in faith, and upon their Lord they

rely. [8:2]

 

The kalima guides us to change our yaqin, temperament, and

ways.

 

The First Part: La ilaha ill.Allah

 

Objective of La ilaha illAllah

 

! Removing incorrect beliefs in the heart by negating creations.

 

! Affirming the greatness of Allāh.

 

Our yaqin should change from creation to Creator, means (as-

babs) to deeds (a’mals), temporary (dunya) to permanent (akhira),

from observation to revelation. Any a’mal of deen with incorrect

yaqin, yaqin which is inconsistent with the above kalima, ren-

ders it weak. Such an a’mal is unable to draw from the almighty

power of Allāh I in our support.

|12|

We need to develop the certainty that whatever happens, it hap-

pens by the will of Allāh. He doesn’t need support from anybody

to do anything. Allāh is totally independent. To bring something

into existence, He just commands, ”Be” and - it is 4. He alone

gives life and He alone gives death 5.

 

Everything besides Allāh I that we see and don’t see, from the

smallest particle to the biggest stars and galaxies in the uni-

verse, is His creation. Allāh I created all creations alone, and

He is alone sustaining them.

 

Creations are totally dependent on Allāh to come into existence

or go out of existence, to do anything - to benefit or to harm.

It is Allāh who quenches our thirst and gets rid of our hunger

- not water or food. For the same reason fire could not burn

Ibrahim u and knife could not cut Ismaeel u- the same way

a business cannot sustain, a gun cannot protect and medicine

cannot cure 6 without His permission.

 

Generally, people mistakenly attribute the qualities as intrin-

sic to creation. The da’wah of the prophets has always been to

deny this false attribution and affirm Allāh’s absolute power and

qudrah over the entire creation. In fact, in the creations of the

heavens and earth we witness the manifestation of power and

qudrah of Allāh.

 

Allāh I is in full control of the qualities bestowed on creation.

He is all-seeing & all-hearing. He sees a black ant walking on a

black rock in the dark night, He hears its footsteps and knows

with what intention it’s moving. Like the means and materials

of this world, the conditions of the creation, such as happiness

& sadness, tranquillity & anxiety, success & failure, are also cre-

ations and Allāh I is the one who bestows these conditions.

 

Allāh is fully aware of the needs of His creation. He guides them

and He alone is fulfilling their needs 7. Allāh endows, changes &

terminates the qualities of creation: it’s structure, ability, con-

dition & outcome. Reflect on how Allāh grows 8 plants, flowers,

and fruits etc.; how He continuously evolves our bodies from in-

ception to death.

 

Allāh hasn’t subjected our internal conditions on external means

and structures. For example, Allāh hasn’t subjected our success

or failure, rise or fall, honour or disgrace, health or sickness,

| 13| tranquillity or anxiety, happiness or sadness on external means

and structures. Rather, He subjected these conditions upon two

internal treasures: on yaqin and a’mal.

 

There is no promise of Allāh for success with means the same

way there is no warning of failure with lack of means 9.

Success and failure are not inherent to the means - rather, the

treasures of these belong to Allāh. He gave success to Sulaiman u

through his kingdom and He gave failure to Pharaoh despite his

kingdom as success and failure is not intrinsic to kingdom.

 

Allāh gives means to whomsoever He likes 10. Having means is

not a sign that Allāh is happy with someone. Similarly, lack of

means is not a sign of Allāh being unhappy with someone 11.

 

Nothing can frustrate the decision of Allāh. When He decides to

exact failure, no amount of power, resource and intelligence in

the universe can avert it 12. In the same way when Allāh decides

to grant success, then it becomes inevitable, even without any

means, even against the will of the whole world.

 

We should never be affected by structures and conditions. If

we perform the correct a’mal for the situation then Allāh will

benefit us with, without or against those structures and condi-

tions. On the other hand, in that situation if we displease Allāh

through wrong action, then He might punish us through those

structures and conditions.

 

Thus faced with difficulty we must prioritise deen above all else.

 

Virtues of La ilaha illAllah

 

• Life and death, hunger and thirst, honour and disgrace, and

all other things are temporary.

 

Yet, the believer of poses such an amaz- ِهَّٰللٱ ُلوُسَر ٌدَّمَحُم ُهَّٰللٱ اَّلِٕا َهَٰلِٕا اَل

ing wealth (eman), which makes its owner successful for eter-

nity, worthy of eternal respect and everlasting youthful life of

happiness. Allāh I says in the Qur’an:

 

اوُنَزْحَت اَلَو اوُفاَخَت اَّلَٔا ُةَكِئاَلَمْلا ُمِهْيَلَع ُلَّزَنَتَت اوُماَقَت ْسا َّمُث ُهَّللا اَنُّبَر اوُلاَق َنيِذَّلا َّنِٕا

َنوُدَعوُت ْمُتْنُك يِتَّلا ِةَّنَجْلاِب اوُرِشْبَٔاَو

Surely those who say, “Our Lord is Allāh,” and then remain

steadfast, the angels descend upon them, saying, “Do not

|14|

fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Jan-

nah, which you have been promised…” [41:30]

 

اَهيِف َنيِدِلاَخ ُراَهْنَٔاْلا اَهِتْحَت ْنِم يِرْجَت ٍتاَّنَج ِتاَنِمْؤُمْلاَو َنيِنِمْؤُمْلا ُهَّللا َدَعَو

ُميِظَعْلا ُزْوَفْلا َوُه َكِلَٰذ ۚ ُرَبْكَٔا ِهَّللا َنِم ٌناَو ْضِرَو ۚ ٍنْدَع ِتاَّنَج يِف ًةَبِّيَط َنِكا َسَمَو

Allāh promises the believers, men and women, gardens be-

neath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, and fine

homes in the Gardens of Eden. But approval from Allāh is

even greater. That is the supreme achievement. [9:72]

 

• Allāh’s help is conditional upon correct yaqin and a’mal.

Musa u made effort on the Children of Israel as well as the

Pharaoh and his people. As for the Children of Israel, they

received Allāh’s support only after their yaqin 13 14 and a’mals

were set right.

 

• Firm yaqin is a criteria for leadership:

 

َنوُنِقوُي اَنِتاَيٓاِب اوُناَكَو ۖ اوُرَب َص اَّمَل اَنِرْمَٔاِب َنوُدْهَي ًةَّمِئَٔا ْمُهْنِم اَنْلَعَجَو

And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our

command when they were patient and [when] they were

certain of Our signs. [32:24]

 

• r Narrated from ’Ubada ibn al-Samit d , Rasulullah said:

Whoever witnesses that there is no god but Allāh and that

Muhammad is Allāh’s Messenger, Allāh forbids the Fire from

touching him 15.

 

• Narrated by Anasd that he heard Rasulullah r saying:

On the Day of Resurrection I will intercede and say, “O my Lord!

Admit into Jannah (even) those who have faith equal to a mus-

tard seed in their hearts.” Such people will enter Jannah, and

then I will say, ”O (Allāh) admit into Jannah (even) those who

have the least amount of faith in their hearts.”

 

Anas d then said: As if I were just now looking at the fingers

of Allāh’s Apostle 16.

 

• Umar ibn khattab d narrates that Rasulullah r said:

Indeed, if you put your faith completely in Allāh, as it ought to

be, then surely you will be provided sustenance as birds are pro-

vided for. They leave in the morning with their empty stomach

and return in the evening duly filled 17.

| 15| • Abdullah ibn Amr d narrates that Rasulullah r said:

The first of this ummah was reformed with firm yaqin and ab-

stinence (zuhd), and the last of this ummah will begin to decline

due to miserliness and long hopes 18.

 

• Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas d reports:

One day I was riding (a horse/camel) behind Rasulullah r when

he said, ”Young man, I will teach you some words.

Be mindful of Allāh, and He will take care of you.

Be mindful of Him, and you shall find Him at your side.

If you ask, ask of Allāh. If you need help, seek it from Allāh.

Know that if the whole world were to gather together in order

to help you, they would not be able to help you except if Allāh

had written so. And if the whole world were to gather together

in order to harm you, they would not harm you except if Allāh

had written so.

The pens have been lifted, and the pages are dry 19.”

 

• Abu Dharr d narrates that Rasulullah r said:

Everything has a reality, and the servant will not reach the re-

ality of faith until he knows that what afflicted him could never

have missed him, and that what missed him could never have

reached him 20.

 

Effort of La ilaha illAllah

 

• Learn to say the kalima correctly and learn its meaning.

 

• The effort of La ilaha illAllah is two-fold:

 

(1) Removing the yaqin of anything other than Allāh - which nat-

urally settles in the heart due to the environment - requires a

deliberate effort. This is the effort on , that is the effort َهَٰلِٕا ٓال

of negating the yaqin of job, shop, money, power, materials etc.

This negation is carried out verbally through da’wah, and prac-

tically by regularly sacrificing these things through going out in

the path of Allāh.

 

We should reflect upon the incidences of the Qur’an and the

seerah which belie the apparent beliefs and experiences of the

time; and recount the divine help afforded to sahabaf.

 

(2) Developing certainty in Allāh which is initially absent from

|16|

the heart - so effort must be made to achieve it. This is the ef-

fort on - its effort is to give da’wah about the greatness of ُهّللا اّلِا

Allāh, listen about the greatness of Allāh, witnessing the great-

ness of Allāh, pondering over the greatness of Allāh 21.

 

Allāh is our ’Rabb’ is not just a word, rather it is a name of an

effort 22. When Allāh is my Rabb, then the yaqin that anything

else sustains me must be removed from the heart by perpetual

effort. I am not sustained by the earth, heavens or anything in

between, I am only sustained by Allāh. My Lord does not need

land or business to sustain - He sustains through His own com-

mands only. By making effort and struggling through the means

(a’mals of da’wah) employed by Rasulullah r, this yaqin and be-

lief must be made firm in the core of our hearts, veins and nerves.

 

The Second Part: Muhammadur Rasulullah

 

Objective of Muhammadur Rasulullah

 

! Develop the yaqin that with ِهَّٰللٱ ُلوُسَر ٌدَّمَحُم the kalima sets the sunnah as the only criteria to peace, honour & success. Every

other way leads to stress, disgrace & failure.

 

! To pattern our lives in the way shown by Rasulullah r.

 

If we pattern our lives in the way shown by Rasulullah r, then

Allāh will make us successful in this life and the next life regard-

less of external structures and conditions.

 

The way of the prophet is the way of guidance. The a’mals of

prophethood are a’mals of guidance. Those who opposed the

prophets - that’s the way of misguidance, which is the way of

going astray. Hidaya only comes from Allāh - He bestows the

light of hidaya on us if we do two things:

 

(a) strive 23 to bring deen in every aspect of life in the manner

of Rasulullah r and

(b) making du’a.

 

Rasulullah r brought such a’mals through which we can derive

benefit directly from the power of Allāh. When we do any ac-

tion, even mundane actions such as eating & sleeping, accord-

| 17| ing to sunnah then it will be considered worship, that action will

bring us close to Allāh. It will draw His blessings, His help and

forgiveness. This is why sahabaf followed Rasulullah r to the

minutest details.

 

Sahaba f, most of whom were polytheists or children of poly-

theists, became the best people ever to walk on the face of the

earth through the efforts of Rasulullah r . Allāh I made them

the standard bearers of eman and understanding of deen for all

time and place 24. If we thread the effort of yaqin and a’mal the

way sahaba f has done then Allāh I will rectify our conditions

the way He rectified their conditions 25.

 

Virtues of Muhammadur Rasulullah

 

• Success is in following the commands of Allāh I in the way

of His Messenger:

 

ۚ اوُدَتْهَت ُهوُعيِطُت ْنِٕا َو

And if you obey him, you will be guided. [24:54]

 

ًميِظَع اًز ۡوَف َزاَف ۡدَقَف ۥُهَلوُسَرَو َهَّللٱ ِعِطُي نَمَو

And whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger, has indeed

achieved a great triumph. [33:71]

 

• Promises of Allāh’s love and forgiveness in following sunnah:

 

ۗ ْمُكَبوُنُذ ْمُكَل ْرِفْغَيَو ُهَّللا ُمُكْبِبْحُي يِنوُعِبَّتاَف َهَّللا َنوُّبِحُت ْمُتْنُك ْنِٕا ْلُق

Say (O Muhammad r): ”If you (really) love Allāh then follow

me, Allāh will love you and forgive you of your sins.” [3:31]

 

• Narrated by Anas d, Rasulullah r said:

None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father,

his children and all mankind 26.

 

• Abu Huraira d narrates:

Rasulullah r said: All of my ummah will enter into Jannah, ex-

cept he who refused.

The sahaba f said: O Rasulullah! And who would refuse?

He replied: He who obeyed me entered Jannah, and who dis-

obeyed me, refused! 27

 

• ‘Anas d has narrated:

A man came to Rasulullah r and asked: O Rasulullah r, when

|18|

is Qiyamah?

He replied: What have you prepared for Qiyamah?

The man answered: The love of Allāh and His messenger.

Rasulullah r said: Then you will most certainly be with the ones

that you love.

 

Anas d said: We have never experienced a joy after Islam

more elating than the statement of Rasulullah r “Then you

will most certainly be with the ones that you love.”

Anas d added: I love Allāh, His messenger, Abu Bakr and

‘Umar. Thus, I hope to be with them even though I have not

done the same actions as them 28.

 

• Al-’Irbad ibn Sariyah d reported:

 

Rasulullah r gave us a sermon by which our hearts were filled

with fear and tears came to our eyes. So we said, “O Mes-

senger of Allāh! It is as though this is a farewell sermon, so

counsel us.”

 

He r said, “I counsel you to have taqwa of Allāh,

and to listen and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave were to be-

come your ameer.

Verily he among you who lives long will see great controversy,

so you must keep to my sunnah and to the sunnah of the Khu-

lafa ar-Rashidin, those who guide to the right way. Cling to it

with your molar teeth.

Beware of newly-invented matters [in deen], for every newly-

invented matter is a bid’ah, and every bid’ah is misguidance 29.

 

• ’Amr ibn ’Auf d narrates that Rasulullah r said:

Indeed, deen (Islam) started as a stranger and will again become

a stranger. So, glad tidings for those who would be considered

as strangers, because of deen. They would revive my sunnah

which had been spoiled by the people after me 30.

 

• Anas ibn Malik d reported, Rasulullah r said:

Whoever has three traits within himself will find the sweetness

of faith:

one who loves Allāh and His Messenger more than anything else,

one who loves a servant only for the sake of Allāh,

and one who hates to turn back to unbelief after Allāh has saved

him, just as he hates to be thrown into the fire 31.

| 19| Effort of Muhammadur Rasulullah

 

Prior to performing any action, small or big, first find out sun-

nah way of performing that action. If we continue to do this

then over time our lives will be decorated with the great virtues

of Muhammad r- many more people, even those who are out-

side of Islam, will study this deen and find solutions to all their

problems. Following sunnah of Muhammad r in performing any

kind of worship is a precondition for its acceptance by Allāh. We

should implement sunnah in every aspect of our lives:

 

- Sunnah in appearance and habits,

- Sunnah in business & social interaction,

- Sunnah in worship,

- Sunnah in fikr & methodology of da’wah, the purpose for

which he was sent.

 

We should increase love of Rasulullah r by reciting durud upon

him abundantly.

 

We should always try to learn and recite the relevant masnun

du’as for different occasions.

 

The way of life based on whims and desires has to change. The

way of Rasulullah r has to be adopted in all aspects of life, in-

cluding marriages and weddings, medicine and prescriptions, life

and death. A hut established upon the sunnah of Rasulullah r

is more precious than a well protected fort or a mansion of gold

and silver.

 

Finally:

 

• We must create the environment of da’wah with sacrifice. The

essence and structure of deen will only revive when our at-

tention is turned away entirely from other than Allāh.

 

• The reality of this kalima will not come without sacrifice, da’wah

& du’a - so make du’a to Allāh to give us the reality of eman

and accept us for its effort.

 

… … !

 

|20|

.

 

Concentration & Devotion

 

in Salat

 

Salat is the first and foremost command of Allāh I after eman.

This is compulsory on all sane adults, male and female, five times

a day.

 

اًتوُقْوَم اًباَتِك َنيِنِمْؤُمْلا ىَلَع ْتَناَك َةاَل َّصلا َّنِٕا

Verily, the salat is enjoined on the believers at specific times.

[4:103]

 

َكِلَٰذ َلْبَق اوُناَك ْمُهَّنِٕا ۚ ْمُهُّبَر ْمُهاَتٓا اَم َنيِذِخٓا * ٍنوُيُعَو ٍتاَّنَج يِف َنيِقَّتُمْلا َّنِٕا

* َنوُرِفْغَت ْسَي ْمُه ِراَحْسَٔاْلاِبَو * َنوُعَجْهَي اَم ِلْيَّللا َنِم اًليِلَق اوُناَك * َنيِنِسْحُم

Verily, the muttaqins will be amidst gardens and springs,

receiving what their Lord has given them. They were virtu-

ous before that. They used to sleep a little at night. And at

dawn, they would pray for pardon. [51:15-8]

 

ٌلاَجِر * ِلا َصٓاْلاَو ِّوُدُغْلاِب اَهيِف ُهَل ُحِّب َسُي ُهُمْسا اَهيِف َرَكْذُيَو َعَفْرُت ْنَٔا ُهَّللا َنِذَٔا ٍتوُيُب يِف

اًمْوَي َنوُفاَخَي ۙ ِةاَكَّزلا ِءاَتيِٕا َو ِةاَل َّصلا ِماَقِٕا َو ِهَّللا ِرْكِذ ْنَع ٌعْيَب اَلَو ٌةَراَجِت ْمِهيِهْلُت اَل

 

* ُرا َصْبَٔاْلاَو ُبوُلُقْلا ِهيِف ُبَّلَقَتَت

In houses which Allāh has permitted to be raised, and His

name is celebrated therein. He is glorified therein, morn-

ing and evening. By men who neither trading nor commerce

distracts them from Allāh’s remembrance, and from per-

forming the salats, and from giving alms. They fear a Day

when hearts and sights are overturned. [24:36-7] Objective of Salat

 

! To perform salat with full concentration & devotion - the way

sahaba f saw Rasulullah r praying.

 

! To develop our 24 hours daily life outside salat in the pattern

of salat i.e. total obedience to the commands of Allāh I and the

sunnah of Rasulullah r.

 

Quality salat will rectify one’s personal, family, financial, and so-

cial life, just as the quality of their external activities affect the

quality of salat 32.

 

! To draw directly from the unlimited treasures of Allāh, to

solve all our needs through salat.

 

In life there are two ways of fulfilling needs:

 

• Get busy with means in which we see the solution - this

method applied by most people in this world as well as

other creatures.

 

• Method of prophets and their followers - and their yaqin

is that everything happens by the will of Allāh. Materials

do not solve our problems, Creations cannot solve their

own problems, let alone solve others’ problems. We solve

our problems through a’mal, through salat 33. This is not a

system of the created universe, but this is a means to take

from the infinite treasures of the Creator Himself 34.

 

Virtues of Salat

 

• If salat becomes strong then the person will reap three major

benefits among many others:

 

(1) Salat will refrain one from evil things which bring calami-

ties to us in this world and next from Allāh:

 

ُرَبْكَٔا ِهَّللا ُرْكِذَلَو ۗ ِرَكْنُمْلاَو ِءا َشْحَفْلا ِنَع ٰىَهْنَت َةاَل َّصلا َّنِٕا ۖ َةاَل َّصلا ِمِقَٔاَو

…and establish salat. Indeed salat prevents immoral be-

haviour and evil deeds, and the remembrance of Allāh is

surely greater. [29:45]

 

• (2) It brings help of Allāh,

|22|

ُنيِعَت ْسَن َكاَّيِٕا َو ُدُبْعَن َكاَّيِٕا

It is You we worship, and upon You we call for help. [1:5]

 

ۚ ِةاَل َّصلاَو ِرْب َّصلاِب اوُنيِعَت ْسا

Seek help through patience and salat. [2:153]

 

• (3) Light of hidaya will come to heart 35. The sign that one has

hidaya is that they will see success in a’mals of deen, if worldly

things get in the way of performing a’mals of deen then those

things will be sacrificed.

 

* َنوُعِشَخ ْمِهِتاَل َص ىِف ْمُه َنيِذَّلٱ * َنوُنِمْؤُمْلٱ َحَلْفَٔا ْدَق

Successful indeed are the believers, who are humble in their

salats. [23:1-2]

 

ْمَلَو َةاَكَّزلا ىَتٓاَو َةاَل َّصلا َماَقَٔاَو ِر ِخٓاْلا ِمْوَيْلاَو ِهَّللاِب َنَمٓا ْنَم ِهَّللا َدِجا َسَم ُرُمْعَي اَمَّنِٕا

 

َنيِدَتْهُمْلا َنِم اوُنوُكَي ْنَٔا َكِئَٰلؤُا ٰى َسَعَف ۖ َهَّللا اَّلِٕا َش ْخَي

The masjids of Allāh shall be maintained 36 only by those

who believe in Allāh and the Last Day; perform salat, and

give zakat and fear none but Allāh. It is they who are ex-

pected to be on true guidance. [9:18]

 

• Narrated by Abu Huraira d, Rasulullah r said:

The first action for which a servant of Allah will be held account-

able on the Day of Resurrection will be his salat. If they are in

order, he is successful and saved, but if they are lacking, he will

have failed and lost.

If there is something defective in his obligatory salats, then the

Almighty Lord will say: See if My servant has any voluntary salats

that can complete what is insufficient in his obligatory salats.

The rest of his deeds will be judged the same way 37.

 

• Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amrd, Rasulullah r said:

Whoever guards salat, they will be their light, proof and salva-

tion on the Day of Judgment.

Whoever does not guard them will have neither light, nor proof,

nor salvation, and on the Day of Judgment they will be with

Qarun, Haman, Pharaoh and Ubayy ibn Khalaf 38.

 

• Narrated Abu Huraira d, Rasulullah r said:

No salat is more burdensome to the munafiqs than dawn and

evening salat. If they knew the blessing in them, they would

come even if they had to crawl 39.

| 23| • Narrated Abu Huraira d, Rasulullah r said:

Verily Allāh said, ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of

Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant

does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me

than the religious duties I have obligated upon him.

And My servant continues to draw near to me with nawafil deeds

until I Love him. When I Love him, I become his hearing with

which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand

with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he

to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were

he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge 40.

 

• Uthman ibn ’Affan d reported, Rasulullah r said:

He who performed ablution well, his sins would come out from

his body, even coming out from under his nails 41.

 

• Narrated Abu Huraira d:

I heard Rasulullah r saying, “If there was a river at the door of

anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would

you notice any dirt on him?”

They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.”

Rasulullah r added, “That is the example of the five salat with

which Allāh blots out evil deeds 42.”

 

• Ibn Mas’ood d said: Whoever would be happy to meet Allāh

tomorrow as a Muslim, then let him pray the five salat from

the place where they are called (i.e. masjids), for verily, Allāh

has legislated for His Prophet r the ways of guidance. And

indeed these (five salat in the masjid) are from the ways of

guidance. And if you start to pray your salat in your home,

then you would be abandoning the sunnah of your prophet.

And if you were to abandon the sunnah of your prophet you

would go astray.

 

There is not a man that performs the ablution and does it

well, then sets out to go to one of the masjids except that

Allāh records a good deed for him for every step he takes

and raises him up one level and erases one evil deed due to it.

You have certainly seen us, and no one would refrain from the

salat (in the masjid) except the munafiq whose hypocrisy was

well known. And indeed a man would be brought supported

by two men until he was made to stand in the row 43.

|24|

• Praying in congregation is twenty five to twenty seven times 44 better than praying alone .

 

• ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit d reported, Rasulullah r said:

When a man prays salat, performs ablution well, and perfects

its bowing and prostration, the salat says: May Allah preserve

you as you have preserved me! When he performs his bowing

poorly, neither perfecting its bowing nor its prostration, the salat

says: May Allah waste you as you have wasted me 45!

 

Effort of Salat

 

• Perform wudhu diligently and pray five daily salat with the

congregation in the masjid.

 

• Practice increasing concentration and devotion through na-

wafil salat. Rectify outward aspect of salat by ensuring cor-

rect pronunciation, standing up fully after ruku, resting the

body between movements, and keeping in mind the shari’ah

status of the movement being performed such as fardh, wa-

jib, sunnah, mustahab etc.

 

• In order to infuse soul, so to speak, into salat (or for that mat-

ter any other a’mal), it should be performed:

1) with correct yaqin,

2) in the way shown by Rasulullah r,

3) with the awareness of Allāh as if you see Him or at least

remember that He sees you - whilst maintaining utm-

ost humility,

4) only for the pleasure of Allāh 46,

5) with virtues in mind, creating a desire to do it,

6) with mujahada, by suppressing our nafs.

 

• Invite others towards proper performance of salat.

 

• Resort to salat in any difficulty or calamity. Rasulullah r taught

us to do that even for torn shoelaces. Perform salat for spe-

cial occasions such as salat of istikhara, istisqa and khauf.

 

• Make du’a to Allāh for the reality of salat.

 

… … !

 

| 25|

.

 

 

Ilm & Dhikr

 

Allāh the Exalted has said:

 

َباَتِكْلا ُمُكُمِّلَعُيَو ْمُكيِّكَزُيَو اَنِتاَيٓا ْمُكْيَلَع وُلْتَي ْمُكْنِم اًلوُسَر ْمُكيِف اَنْل َسْرَٔا اَمَك

َنوُمَلْعَت اوُنوُكَت ْمَل اَم ْمُكُمِّلَعُيَو َةَمْك ِحْلاَو

Since We have sent you a messenger from among you —

reciting to you Our revelations, purifying you, teaching you

the Book and wisdom, and teaching you what you never

knew. [2:151]

 

اًرا َسَخ اَّلِٕا َنيِمِلاَّظلا ُديِزَي اَلَو ۙ َنيِنِمْؤُمْلِل ٌةَمْحَرَو ٌءاَفِش َوُه اَم ِنٓاْرُقْلا َنِم ُلِّزَنُنَو

We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the be-

lievers, but it only increases the wrongdoers in loss. [17:82]

 

ٌةَمْحَرَو ىًدُهَو ِروُد ُّصلا يِف اَمِل ٌءاَفِشَو ْمُكِّبَر ْنِم ٌةَظِعْوَم ْمُكْتَءاَج ْدَق ُساَّنلا اَهُّئَا اَي

َنيِنِمْؤُمْلِل

O people! There has come to you an admonition from your

Lord, and healing for what is in the hearts, and guidance

and mercy for the believers. [10:57]

 

ِتاَمُلُّظلا يِف ُهُلَثَم ْنَمَك ِساَّنلا يِف ِهِب يِشْمَي اًروُن ُهَل اَنْلَعَجَو ُهاَنْيَيْحَٔاَف اًتْيَم َناَك ْنَمَؤَا

ۚ اَهْنِم ٍجِراَخِب َسْيَل

Is he who was dead, then We gave him life, and made for

him a light by which he walks among the people, like he

who is in total darkness, and cannot get out of it? [6:122]

 

ُءاَمَلُعْلا ِهِداَبِع ْنِم َهَّللا ى َش ْخَي اَمَّنِٕا

It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that

fear Allāh. [35:28]

 

ٌنيِرَق ُهَل َوُهَف اًناَطْي َش ُهَل ْضِّيَقُن ِنَٰمْحَّرلا ِرْكِذ ْنَع ُشْعَي ْنَمَو

And whosoever turns away from the remembrance of the

Most Beneficent, We appoint for him a devil to be an inti-

mate companion to him. [43:36]

 

* اًليِصَٔاَو ًةَرْكُب ُهوُحِّبَسَو * اًريِثَك اًرْكِذ َهَّللا اوُرُكْذا اوُنَمٓا َنيِذَّلا اَهُّئَا اَي

O you who believe, remember Allāh with frequent remem-

brance. And glorify Him morning and evening. [33:41-2]

 

Objective of Ilm

 

! To develop the zeal to know what Allāh wants us to do at

each time & condition and how to fulfil it according to sunnah.

 

When success cannot be attained without following the true deen

and that deen cannot followed without ilm, the seeking of ilm

is essential for every adult male and female.

 

! To be able to differentiate between halal and haram; be-

tween ritually clean and unclean; between legitimate and ille-

gitimate etc.

 

! To know the virtues of a’mal in order to develop ihtisab (an-

ticipating and patiently enduring hardship in the hope of divine

recompense).

 

Virtues of Ilm

 

• Allāh I praisees and elevates the people of ilm:

 

ِباَبْلَٔاْلا وُلؤُا ُرَّكَذَتَي اَمَّنِٕا َنوُمَلْعَي اَل َنيِذَّلاَو َنوُمَلْعَي َنيِذَّلا يِوَت ْسَي ْلَه

Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’

None will be mindful of this except people of reason. [39:9]

 

ٌريِبَخ َنوُلَمْعَت اَمِب ُهَّللاَو ٍتاَجَرَد َمْلِعْلا اوُتؤُا َنيِذَّلاَو ْمُكنِم اوُنَمٓا َنيِذَّلا ُهَّللا ِعَفْرَي

Allāh will elevate those of you who are faithful, and raise

those gifted with knowledge in rank. And Allāh is All-Aware

of what you do. [58:11]

| 27| • Anas ibn Malik d reported, Rasulullah r said:

Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim 47.

 

• Abu Hurairad reported, Rasulullah r said:

Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allāh will make

the path to Jannah easy for him 48.

 

• Mu’awiya d reported, Rasulullah r said:

When Allāh wills goodness for anyone, He grants him under-

standing of the deen 49.

 

• Abu Sa’id al-Khudri d reported, Rasulullah r said:

The believer is never satisfied from learning good until he ar-

rives in Jannah 50.

 

• Uthman ibn ’Affan d reported, Rasulullah r said:

The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach

it 51.

 

• Abu Umamah d narrated, Rasulullah r said:

Whoever leaves for the masjid in the morning, for no reason but

to learn goodness or teach others, he will have a reward as if he

has completed the Hajj pilgrimage 52.

 

• Narrated Kathir ibn Qays: I was sitting with Abu Darda’ in the

masjid of Damascus. A man came to him and said: Abu Darda,

I have come to you from the city of Rasulullah r for a hadith

that I have heard you relate from Rasulullah r. I have come

for no other purpose.

 

He said: I heard Rasulullah r say:

If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allāh will

cause him to travel on one of the roads of Jannah. The angels

will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks

knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and

the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the ’alim. The

superiority of the ’alim over the devout is like that of the moon,

on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The ulama

are the heirs of the prophets, and the prophets leave neither

dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it

takes an abundant portion 53.

 

• Anas ibn Malik d reported, Rasulullah r said:

Whoever goes out seeking knowledge is in the way of Allāh until

he returns 54.

|28|

• Safwan ibn Assal al-Muradid reported:

I went to Nabi r whilst he was in the masjid, reclining on his

red striped sheet. I said, “O Rasulullah! I have come to seek

knowledge. He said: Welcome to the seeker of knowledge. In-

deed, the angels cover the seeker of knowledge by their wings

and they start gathering one upon another till they reach the

sky, for the love of the knowledge which is being sought 55.

 

• Abu Hurairad reported, Rasulullah r said:

When a human dies, his actions come to an end except from

three ways: an on-going charity, beneficial knowledge, or a pi-

ous child who makes du’a for him 56.

 

Effort of Ilm

 

• We should learn the virtues of a’mal from the halqa of talim

and by reading such books as Fadail A’mal, Muntakhab Hadith

& Riyad as-Salihin. Knowing virtues of an a’mal will create zeal

to perform it. Sitting in halqa of talim will also trasform yaqin.

 

• Sit with ulama to learn the masail (fiqhi rules & regulations)

and make a habit of frequenting their gatherings. For exam-

ple before going Hajj learn the correct method of performing

Hajj. Similarly, ask ulama before performing wedding, start-

ing a business 57 and to learn correct manner of upbringing

children etc.

 

Avoid talking about fiqhi issues in jamat tours simply because

it’s the realm of ulama. Beware, there are many issues in which

legitimate differences of opinions exist.

 

• Learn to recite Qur’an with tajweed and regularly read with

its meaning.

 

• Make du’a to Allāh to grant us beneficial knowledge.

 

Objective of Dhikr

 

! To be conscious of Allāh at all times and not be neglectful.

 

! To fulfil the commands of Allāh in every circumstance and in

every a’mal.

| 29| Virtues of Dhikr

 

• Allāh I explains the virtues of dhikr in the Qur’an:

 

ْمُكْرُكْذَٔا يِنوُرُكْذاَف

So remember Me; I will remember you. [2:152]

 

ُبوُلُقْلا ُّنِئَمْطَت ِهَّللا ِرْكِذِب اَلَٔا

Verily, it is in the remembrance of Allāh that hearts find

rest. [13:28]

 

• Allāh I & His angels confer blessings upon Rasulullah r and

He enjoins believers to do as well:

 

اًميِل ْسَت اوُمِّلَسَو ِهْيَلَع اوُّل َص اوُنَمٓا َنيِذَّلا اَهُّئَا اَي ۚ ِّيِبَّنلا ىَلَع َنوُّل َصُي ُهَتَكِئاَلَمَو َهَّللا َّنِٕا

Verily, Allāh and His angels confer blessings on the prophet:

O you who believe! Confer blessings on him, and greet him

with a goodly salutation. [33:56]

 

• Anas bin Malik al-Ansari d narrates that Rasulullah r said:

Verily, Allāh is more pleased with the repentance of His slave

than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying

his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all

hopes, lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel;

when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him.

He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts

out: ’O Allāh, You are my slave and I am Your Robb’. He makes

this mistake out of extreme joy 58.

 

• Abu Musa al-Ash’ari d reported, Rasulullah r said:

The similitude of one who remembers his Robb and one who

does not remember Him, is like that of the living and the dead 59.

 

• Abdullah ibn Busrd reported: A man said, “O Messenger of

Allāh, the laws of Islam are too many for me, so tell me some-

thing I can hold onto.”

Rasulullah r said, “Keep your tongue moist with the remem-

brance of Allāh 60.”

 

• Abu Huraira d reported, Rasulullah r said:

Whoever confers one blessing upon me, Allāh confers ten bless-

ings upon him 61.

|30|

• Ibn Mas’ud d reported, Rasulullah r said:

The closest of people to me on the Day of Resurrection are those

who sent the most blessings upon me 62.

 

• Narrated by Mu’awiyah d:

Rasulullah r came out to a gathering of his sahaba and he

asked, “What has made you sit (here)?”

They replied, “We are sitting to remember Allāh, and to praise

Him for guiding us to Islam and blessing us with it.”

Rasulullah r asked, “By Allāh, is that the only reason?”

They replied, “By Allāh, we are only sitting for that.”

Rasulullah r said, “Indeed, I did not make you swear an oath be-

cause I doubted you. Rather, Jibrīl came to me and informed me

that Allāh the Almighty is boasting about you to the angels 63

 

• Jabir ibn Abdullah d reported, Rasulullah r said:

Recite the Quran and seek Allah through it before some people

come who merely sharpen its form as if it were an arrow, seek-

ing reward in the world and not in the Hereafter 64.

 

• Abu Huraira d reported, Rasulullah r said:

Allāh I says: ’I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e., I am Able

to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with

him if he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too,

remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group

of people, I remember him in a group that is better than them

[of angels]; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one

cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I

go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he

comes to Me walking, I go to him running 65.’

 

• Anas ibn Malik d reported:

Rasulullah r said, ”Verily, Allāh has His own people among hu-

manity.”

They said, “O Messenger of Allāh, who are they?”

The Prophet said, “They are the people of the Qur’an, the peo-

ple of Allāh and His chosen ones 66.”

 

• r Abu Huraira d reported, Rasulullah said:

Our Lord Almighty descends to the lowest heaven in the last

third of every night, saying: Who is calling upon Me that I may

answer him? Who is asking from Me that I may give him? Who

is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him? 67

| 31| • Abu Huraira d reported, Rasulullah r said:

There are seven types of people whom Allāh will give protection

with His Shade on a Day when there will be no shade except His

Shade.

A just ruler; a young person who grew up worshipping Allāh; a

person whose heart is attached to the masjid; two persons who

love, meet and depart from each other for the sake of Allāh; a

man whom a beautiful and high ranking woman seduces, but he

rejects it by saying: ‘I fear Allāh’; a person who gives a charity

and conceals it to such an extent that the left hand might not

know what the right has given; and a person who remembers

Allāh in privacy and his eyes weep 68.

 

• Abu Huraira d reported, Rasulullah r said:

No people gather to remember Allāh Almighty but that the an-

gels surround them, cover them with mercy, send tranquillity

upon them, and mention them to Allāh among those near to

Him 69.

 

• Allāh’s dhikr is a fortress for protection from shaytan. Abu

Huraira d reported: I heard Rasulullah r saying:

Do not turn your houses into graveyards. Shaytan runs away

from the house in which Surat al-Baqarah is recited 70.

 

Effort of Dhikr

 

No amount of time is sufficient for a sacred a’mal like dhikr. The

true believers should remember Allāh most often, and by con-

templating the wonders of His creation, they should glorify Him,

and thereby strengthen their love for Him.

 

• Recite a good portion (e.g. one juz) of the Qur’an every day

with highest respect, and by understanding its meaning if pos-

sible.

 

• Recite morning & evening adhkars. As a minimum complete

the following three tasbihat:

 

100 times third kalima: ُرَبْكٔا ُهَّللاَو - ُهَّللا َّالِٕا َهَلِٕا َالَو - ِهَّلِلُدْمَحْلاَو - ِهَّللا َناَحْبُس

(These are the four most beloved speech to Allāh 71 I.)

100 times durud upon the greatest benefactor of mankind

 

(e.g. ), ْمِّل َسَو ِهِبْح َصَو ِهِلٓا ٰىَلَعَو ٍدَّمَحُم اَنِدِّيَس ٰىَلَع ِّل َص َّمُهَّللا |32|

100 times istighfar

(e.g. ). هيلٕا بوتٔاو مويقلا يحلا وه الٕا هلٕا ال يذلا هللا رفغتسٔا

 

• Learn and practice masnun du’as for various acts & occasions.

Instead of reading we should beseech Allāh for the promises

made inside the masnun dua. True dhikr is to be prepared to

fulfil the commands of Allāh in every condition.

 

• Allocate times for du’a. Seek special time (e.g. between ad-

han & iqamah, end of salat, breaking fast, Tahajjud), place

(e.g. makam-e-Ibrahim) and condition (e.g. in sickness, travel).

Also, enjoin good and forbid evil so that our du’as are not re-

jected.

 

• Invite others to these a’mals with their virtues.

 

… … !

 

| 33|

.

 

 

Ikram-ul-Muslimin

 

All of the followers of prophet Muhammad r are entitled to

ikram, for they have the light of eman in their hearts. Allāh, the

Exalted has said:

 

َنيِنِمْؤُمْلِل َكَحاَنَج ْضِفْخاَو

…and lower your wings to the believers. [15:88]

 

َّنِٕا ۚ اوُفَراَعَتِل َلِئاَبَقَو اًبوُعُش ْمُكاَنْلَعَجَو ٰىَثْنُٔاَو ٍرَكَذ ْنِم ْمُكاَنْقَلَخ اَّنِٕا ُساَّنلا اَهُّئَا اَي

ۚ ْمُكاَقْتَٔا ِهَّللا َدْنِع ْمُكَمَرْكَٔا

O people! We created you from a male and a female, and

made you races and tribes, that you may know one another.

Verily, the most honourable of you with Allāh is that (be-

liever) who has taqwa. [49:13]

 

Allāh I enjoins excellence in conduct:

 

اًماَلَس اوُلاَق َنوُلِهاَجْلا ُمُهَبَطاَخ اَذِٕاَو اًنْوَه ِضْرَٔاْلا ىَلَع َنوُشْمَي َنيِذَّلا ِنَٰمْحَّرلا ُداَبِعَو

And the [true] servants of the Compassionate One are those

who walk upon the Earth modestly, and who, when the ig-

norant address them, say [words of] peace … [25:63]

 

ٰىَماَتَيْلاَو ٰىَبْرُقْلا يِذِبَو اًنا َسْحِٕا ِنْيَدِلاَوْلاِبَو ۖ اًئْي َش ِهِب اوُكِر ْشُت اَلَو َهَّللا اوُدُبْعاَو

اَمَو ِليِبَّسلا ِنْباَو ِبْنَجْلاِب ِبِحا َّصلاَو ِبُنُجْلا ِراَجْلاَو ٰىَبْرُقْلا يِذ ِراَجْلاَو ِنيِكا َسَمْلاَو

اًروُخَف اًلاَت ْخُم َناَك ْنَم ُّبِحُي اَل َهَّللا َّنِٕا ۗ ْمُكُناَمْئَا ْتَكَلَم

Worship Allāh, and ascribe no partners to Him, and be good

to the parents, and the relatives, and the orphans, and the

poor, and the neighbour next door, and the distant neigh-

bor, and the close associate, and the traveller, and your ser-

vants. Allāh does not love the arrogant and boastful. [4:36]

 

ِرَكْنُمْلاَو ِءاَشْحَفْلا ِنَع ٰىَهْنَيَو ٰىَبْرُقْلا يِذ ِءاَتيِٕاَو ِنا َسْحِٕاْلاَو ِلْدَعْلاِب ُرُمْٔاَي َهَّللا َّنِٕا

َنوُرَّكَذَت ْمُكَّلَعَل ْمُكُظِعَي ۚ ِيْغَبْلاَو

 

Verily, Allāh commands justice, and goodness, and generos-

ity towards relatives. And He forbids immorality, and injus-

tice, and oppression. He advises you, so that you may take

heed. [16:90]

 

ُديِرُن اَل ِهَّللا ِهْجَوِل ْمُكُمِعْطُن اَمَّنِٕا * اًريِسَٔاَو اًميِتَيَو اًنيِك ْسِم ِهِّبُح ٰىَلَع َماَعَّطلا َنوُمِعْطُيَو

اًروُكُش اَلَو ًءاَزَج ْمُكْنِم

 

…And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, and the or-

phan, and the captive. “We only feed you for the sake of

God. We want from you neither compensation, nor grati-

tude…” [76:8-9]

 

Through tireless efforts of Rasulullah r emerged an ummah, a

group of people representing all section of the society, from

traders to labourer, from slaves to masters, poets and ulama,

Arabs, Persians, Romans, Abyssinian - they were humble and gen-

erous to each other. That was a generation that showed care

and compassion for Muslims and non-Muslims alike in a way the

world had never witnessed before! They gave value to human

life and dignity - feeding others and remaining hungry them-

selves - even Allāh I revealed verses of Qur’an in appreciation

of their fine qualities.

 

Mu’adh ibn Jabal d reported: The last advice Rasulullah r gave

to me when I put my foot in the stirrup was:

Beautify your conduct for the people, O Mu’adh ibn Jabal 72.

 

Nu’man ibn Bashird reported Rasulullah r as saying:

The likeness of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-

feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole

body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever 73.

 

Imam Malik ? reported, Rasulullah r said:

I have been sent to perfect good character 74.

| 35| Objective of Ikram-ul-Muslimin

 

! To realise the value of a Muslim, then honour and treat them

according to their status.

 

! To subdue own needs to fulfil the needs of others.

 

! To shun all forms of localisms, tribalism, language etc and

live in the fraternity of Islam.

 

Virtues of Ikram-ul-Muslimin

 

• Allāh I rewards believer’s excellent conduct:

 

* َنيِقَّتُمْلِل ْتَّدِعُٔا ُضْرَٔاْلاَو ُتاَواَمَّسلا اَه ُضْرَع ٍةَّنَجَو ْمُكِّبَر ْنِم ٍةَرِفْغَم ٰىَلِٕا اوُعِراَسَو

ُّب ِحُي ُهَّللاَو ۗ ِساَّنلا ِنَع َنيِفاَعْلاَو َظْيَغْلا َنيِمِظاَكْلاَو ِءاَّر َّضلاَو ِءاَّر َّسلا يِف َنوُقِفْنُي َنيِذَّلا

َنيِن ِسْحُمْلا

And race towards forgiveness from your Lord, and a gar-

den as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the

righteous. Those who give in prosperity and adversity, and

those who restrain anger, and those who forgive people.

Allāh loves the doers of good. [3:133-4]

 

َنوُمَحْرُت ْمُكَّلَعَل َهَّللا اوُقَّتاَو ۚ ْمُكْيَوَخَٔا َنْيَب اوُحِل ْصَٔاَف ٌةَوْخِٕا َنوُنِمْؤُمْلا اَمَّنِٕا

The believers are brothers, so reconcile between your broth-

ers, and remain conscious of Allāh, so that you may receive

mercy. [49:10]

 

• r 75 Abu Malik al-Ash’ari d narrated that Rasulullah said:

There are people from the worshippers of Allāh who are neither

prophets nor martyrs, yet they will be the envy of the prophets

and martyrs on the Day of Resurrection due to their rank in the

sight of Allāh.

Sahaba asked, “O Messenger of Allāh, inform us as to who

they are.”

He replied, “They are a people who love one another for the

sake of Allāh, without having any blood relationship between

them, nor any exchange of wealth between them. By Allāh,

their faces will be light, and they will be seated upon pulpits of

light. They shall not fear when the people are afraid, and they

shall not grieve when the people grieve.”

|36|

Then he recited this verse:

Behold, indeed for the allies of Allāh there is no fear, nor shall

they grieve. [10:62]

 

• Narrated by Abu Hurayrah d, Rasulullah r said:

Whoever removes a worldly hardship from a believer, Allāh will

remove one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection from

him. Whoever grants respite to (a debtor) who is in difficulty,

Allāh will grant him relief in this world and in the hereafter.

Whoever conceals (the fault of) a Muslim in this world, Allāh

will conceal him (his faults) in this world and in the hereafter.

Allāh will help a person so long as he is helping his brother 76.

 

• ’Abdullah bin ’Amr bin al-’As reported, Rasulullah said: d r

A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims

are safe; and a muhajir is the one who refrains from what Allāh

has forbidden 77.

 

• It was narrated by Abu Hurairahd that Rasulullah r said:

By the One in whose Hand is my soul! You will not enter Jan-

nah until you believe, and you will not (truly) believe until you

love one another. Shall I not tell you of something which, if you

do it, you will love one another? Spread the greetings of salam

amongst yourselves 78.

 

• On the authority of Abu Hamzah Anas bin Malik d — the ser-

vant of Rasulullah r — that he r said:

None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that

which he loves for himself 79.

 

• ‘Ubadah ibn Samit d narrates that Rasulullah r said:

He who does not respect our elders, and does not have mercy on

our children, and does not acknowledge the rights our scholars,

is not of my ummah 80.

 

• ’A’ishah g narrates that Rasulullah r said:

Indeed, the most perfect believer in faith is one who has the best

manners and is the kindest to his family 81.

 

• Narrated Anas ibn Malikd :

I served Rasulullah r at Medina for ten years. I was a boy.

Every work that I did was not according to the desire of my

master, but he never said to me: Fie, nor did he say to me:

Why did you do this? or Why did you not do this 82?

| 37| • ’A’isha g reported, Rasulullah r said:

Verily, Allāh is gentle, and He loves gentleness. He rewards for

gentleness what is not granted for harshness, and He does not

reward anything else like it 83.

 

• r Mu’adh ibn Jabal d reported, Rasulullah said:

Allāh Almighty said: My love is assured for those who love each

other for My sake, who sit together for My sake, who visit each

other for My sake, and who spend on each other for My sake 84.

 

• Abu Hurairad reported, Rasulullah r said:

A servant does not cover the faults of another servant in the

world but that Allāh will cover his faults on the Day of Resur-

rection 85.”

 

• r Abu Dharr d reported, Rasulullah said:

Smiling at your brother is sadaqa. Enjoining good and forbid-

ding evil is sadaqa. Guiding a lost man is sadaqa. Guiding a

man with poor eyesight is sadaqa. Removing rocks, thorns, and

bones from the road is sadaqa. Pouring from your vessel into

your brother’s vessel is sadaqa 86.

 

• Believers should never belittle each other. Aisha g said: I said

to Rasulullah r , “Safiyyah is enough for you as such,” making

fun of her short stature. The Prophet said, “You have said a

word that would pollute the sea if mixed with it!” She said, “I

had caricatured someone before.” The Prophet said, “I do not

like to caricature someone for any reason 87.

 

• r Narrated by Anas d , Rasulullah said:

Two deeds are quickly punished in the world: transgression and

disrespect to parents 88.

 

• Abu Shurayh d reported:

Rasulullah r said, “Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day,

let him honour his neighbour. Whoever believes in Allāh and the

Last Day, let him honour his guest and give his Jaizah.”

They said, “O Rasulullah, what is his Jaizah?” (Jaizah is a pro-

vision for a guest that is superior to one’s everyday meal)

The Prophet said, “It is for a day and a night, as good hospital-

ity is for three days and after that it is sadaqa.”

And the Prophet said, “Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last

Day, let him speak goodness or remain silent 89.”

|38|

• Abdullah Ibn Abbas reported, Rasulullah r d said:

He is not a believer who eats to his fill while his neighbour is

hungry 90.

 

• Abu Huraira r d reported, Rasulullah said:

Whoever visits a sick person or visits his brother for the sake

of Allāh, a heavenly caller will announce: May you be blessed,

may your walking be blessed, and may you dwell in a residence

of Jannah 91!

 

Effort of Ikram-ul-Muslimin

 

• We need to value all Muslims because they have the kalima,

La Ilaha IllAllah Muhammadur Rasulullah, the most precious

blessing in the world.

 

• We honour the Muslims for they are the ummati of Rasulul-

lah r. We honour them for their character, for their salat - we

forgive their mistakes. Deal with them with gentleness and

have good thoughts about them.

 

• We have to fulfil the right of everybody and suppress or forego

our own rights. We need to be generous with people around

us with adle & ihsan 92.

 

• Develop the quality of ikram in showing compassion and fend-

ing for each other - this creates unity. Early Muslims in Makkah

were separated from their families and suffered much, some-

thing that the rest of community could relate to created this

environment of concern and compassion for the fellow Mus-

lims.

 

• We need to respect elders and show mercy to youngsters.

 

• 93 Treat people according to their status.

 

• 94 We should serve our parents and revere the ulama - sit in

their class.

 

We model the above behaviour while disregarding all forms of

discrimination based on colour, race, tribalism, language, nation-

ality etc. - we should live for Allāh. The path of oppression should

not be widened by raising these issues. This will create unity and

draw others to the fraternity of Islam.

| 39| Like sahabafwe have to sacrifice our ease and comfort in order

to make concern for the ummah.

 

… … !

 

|40|

.

 

Rectify Intention

 

We must fulfil the commandments of Allāh only to please Him.

Allāh I informs us in the Qur’an:

 

* َنيِمَلاَعْلا ِّبَر ِهَّلِل يِتاَمَمَو َياَيْحَمَو يِكُسُنَو يِتاَل َص َّنِٕا ْلُق

 

َنيِمِل ْسُمْلا ُلَّؤَا اَنَٔاَو ُتْرِمُٔا َكِلَٰذِبَو ۖ ُهَل َكيِر َش اَل

Say indeed my salat, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are

for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partners with

this have I been commanded, and I am the first of those

who submit as a Muslim. [6:162-3]

 

ۚ َنيِّدلا ُهَل َنيِصِلْخُم ُهوُعْداَو

So call upon Him, dedicate your faith to Him alone. [7:29]

 

ۖ ْمِهِلْبَق ْنِم َنيِذَّلا اَّنَتَف ْدَقَلَو * َنوُنَتْفُي اَل ْمُهَو اَّنَمٓا اوُلوُقَي ْنَٔا اوُكَرْتُي ْنَٔا ُساَّنلا َبِسَحَٔا

َنيِبِذاَكْلا َّنَمَلْعَيَلَو اوُقَد َص َنيِذَّلا ُهَّللا َّنَمَلْعَيَلَف

Do the people think that they will be left to say, ”We be-

lieve” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly

tried those before them, and Allāh will surely make evident

those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the

liars. [29:2-3]

 

ۚ ِهَّللا ِهْجَو َءاَغِتْبا اَّلِٕا َنوُقِفْنُت اَمَو

…and you do not spend except seeking the countenance

of Allah. [2:272] The devil took a pledge upon himself to misguide mankind and

make disobedience alluring to them. However, Allah excluded

from them those who are sincere, and he would have no means

to misguide them.

 

َنيِصَل ْخُمْلا ُمُهْنِم َكَداَبِع اَّلِٕا

…except for Your sincere servants among them. [15:40]

 

In doing the effort of deen, or for any a’mal of deen, the inten-

tion must only be to please Allāh. Great deeds will become a

means for chastisement if they are not done with this intention

whereas even a small action with the intention to please Allāh

will attract great rewards.

 

‘Adi ibn Hatimd reported, Rasulullah r said:

Guard yourself from the Hellfire, even with half of a date in charity.

If one cannot find it, then with a kind word 95.

 

Here the a’mal of giving a part of a date is powerful enough to

put out the fire of Jahannam because of the intention which is

only for the sake of Allāh.

 

Those whose actions are not carried out for the sake of earning

Allāh’s pleasure, but instead for worldly gain, are in reality hyp-

ocrites, and hypocrisy is a sickness of the heart — considered the

source of all spiritual corruption. When a person’s intentions are

tainted, even acts such as participating in jihad, seeking ilm, or

giving charity can ultimately become a path to Jahannam.

 

Rasulullah r declined the offer from Allāh I to turn mountains

into gold & silver - had he accepted that offer then people would

have done the effort of deen for gold & silver. The deen arising

from the effort for gold & silver or for any other worldly interest,

would never have the strength to face Pharaoh, Qarun, Haman;

Qaisar & Kisra; or face Dajjal and Yajuj Majuj. This is because

Allāh I only supports the effort of deen which is done purely

for His sake. Those who will do the effort of deen purely for

Allāh, they will have full support of Allāh and they will be able

to take direct benefit from His power (qudrah).