Halaal Earnings
Monday, 24 February 2020 16:55
Blood is the life stream of the human body. Healthy blood nourishes all the organs enabling them to function well. Good blood is produced from healthy, wholesome food. On the contrary, unhealthy food produces unhealthy blood, causing the entire body to be weakened and one then suffers a host of illnesses. Hence, the direct link between what one consumes and physical health is evident.
A similar link exists between one’s sustenance and one’s spiritual health. If one’s sustenance is pure, wholesome and from halaal earnings, it has a direct effect in boosting one’s spiritual levels. The heart then desires to do good while the limbs easily move towards acts of piety and righteousness. However, if the food is not pure and wholesome, or it is halaal in itself but was acquired from haraam earnings, it spiritually contaminates the blood. This contaminated blood is then pumped throughout the body. As a result, the heart almost continuously thrives on evil. The limbs easily move towards sin and have no strength to perform good deeds. Even salaah, the most fundamental command after imaan, becomes a burden and is easily left out. If this critical situation is not remedied in time, spiritual cancer sets in. Allah Ta‘ala forbid, such a person then sometimes even sells his imaan for monetary gain.
The Essence of the Effort of Tableegh
Monday, 24 February 2020 15:34
Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:
The essence of our effort of Tableegh is to learn Deen from our seniors and to pass it on to our families and those upon whom we have influence. We should consider the people to whom we pass on Deen as our benefactors and people whose favours are upon us (on account of them being the means of our spiritual progress).
The more we pass on the kalimah (and Deen) to others, the more the kalimah will shine in our lives and reach perfection within us. The more people we encourage towards salaah, the more our own salaah will improve.
After quoting the aforementioned malfooz, the compiler of the malfoozaat of Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih), Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Manzoor Nu’maani (rahmatullahi ‘alaih), writes:
This is one of the important principles of Tableegh, that the person carrying out the effort of Tableegh must regard his goal to be his own improvement and reformation, and must not regard himself to be the one imparting hidaayat to others, as it is only Allah Ta‘ala that can bestow hidaayat to the people. (Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 38)
Source: Ihyaauddeen.co.za
Sincerity
Monday, 10 February 2020 09:30
The greatest oppression is to commit shirk (ascribe partners with Allah Ta’ala). The lesser shirk is to perform righteous actions for some ulterior motive such as name and fame, while it should have been done solely for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala. Hence it is reported in a hadeeth that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who has performed salaah to impress others, has committed shirk with Allah Ta‘ala.” (Musnad Ahmad #17140)
The gravity of the sin of riyaa (showing off and doing any action for people) is highlighted in a famous hadeeth. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said that on the Day of Judgment a learned person, a generous person and a martyr will be called up. However, their great actions of teaching Deen, spending wealth for the upliftment of Deen and sacrificing one’s life for Allah Ta‘ala will all be rejected due to having been done to gain the praises of people. It is further mentioned that they will be the first to be thrown in the fire of Jahannam. (Sunan Tirmizi #2382)
Therefore, sincerity in every action must be checked and re-checked. Allah Ta‘ala knows what is in the depth of one’s heart. One should therefore be only concerned to please Him at all times.
Perpetual Investment
Monday, 13 January 2020 15:23
No person is prepared to invest in anything if he is not certain of earning a profitable return on that investment. The greater the returns, the more profitable is that investment. Nevertheless, investments of this world will benefit at the most, until one's death – and that could be extremely near. After death, all these investments would be transferred to the heirs who would use them or abuse them (which is not uncommon). The person who has toiled and laboured to acquire this wealth cannot, after death, benefit from that wealth in the least bit.
However, certain investments are such that one continues to reap benefits even after death. When one can no longer do any good deeds, these perpetual investments continue to earn him great rewards. These are the investments of the Hereafter which are permanent and perpetual. Allah Ta‘ala says, “But you give preference to the worldly life whereas the Hereafter is better and more enduring (remaining eternally)” (Surah Aa’laa v16-17). Furthermore, in reality, only what has been deposited in the Hereafter is what belongs to a person for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has said, “Verily your wealth is what you have sent ahead (to the Hereafter). What is left behind is the wealth of your heirs.” (Saheeh Bukhaari #6442)
