Contents:

The Real Solution

“I have a problem!” This is arguably among the most common complaint in any day. From stress and anxiety to chronic illnesses, from cash-flow problems to abject poverty, from petty domestic disputes to family feuds and worst of all minor sins to blatantly trampling the laws of Allah Ta’ala – almost everyone has some problem. Is there any solution – a solution that can make one feel content even in poverty and grateful even in sickness. Is there a solution to the raging infernos in many homes and to the blazing fires in many hearts?…….Yes. The solution is called Taqwa.

This solution has been clearly described in the Qur’an Shareef. Allah Ta’ala, our Creator, Sustainer and Nourisher, declares in the Glorious Qur’an: “He who fears Allah Ta’ala, He (Allah) will grant him a solution (to every problem) and will bestow him with sustenance from sources he cannot imagine.” (s65 : v3). Allah Ta’ala further proclaims: “Whoever fears Allah, He will create ease for him.” (s65 : v4).

FULL PACKAGE

Having understood that Taqwa is the solution, it is vitally important to understand what Taqwa really means and what it entails. Generally translated as “the fear of Allah Ta’ala”. Taqwa refers to rectifying one’s relationship with Allah Ta’ala. Relationships are enhanced by doing what pleases the beloved and refraining from everything that the beloved is displeased with. Can there be anyone more beloved to us than Allah Ta’ala, our Creator and Sustainer, who provided us with everything??? Therefore, Taqwa demands that we do whatever He is pleased with and totally avoid all sin. Taqwa is a complete “package”. The solution to all our problems lies in taking the full package and not in picking and choosing.

Taqwa encompasses having the correct beliefs, discharging one’s obligatory acts of ibadat, abiding to all the laws of Shariah in ones business and social life, adopting good akhlaaq and refraining from all sin. It also includes making efforts to enhance one’s relationship with Allah Ta’ala and to serve His Deen. This is the full package of Taqwa. Nevertheless, the Qur’an Shareef and the noble Ahaadith have highlighted many aspects and directly linked them to Taqwa. This conveys the message that while every facet of Deen is very important, the highlighted aspects are key elements in the Taqwa “package”. Ignoring or neglecting any of these aspects will invite problems — sometimes extremely complicated and major problems — in this world and the Hereafter. May Allah Ta’ala protect us!

RAMADHAAN

The blessed month of Ramdhaan is almost here. It is a very signinficant month indeed. Allah Ta’ala showers down His mercy in this Mubarak month. The reward of every Fardh action that one performs is multiplied seventy times. Every nafil action attracts the reward of performing a fardh act. The sustenance of a Believer is also increased. However, all these great bounties are the bonus of this great month. The object of this month is to acquire the great wealth of Taqwa. It is the month to acquire the real solution — by adopting the entire “package” of Taqwa.

Some of the highlights of the Taqwa “package” have been discussed in several articles of this issue. May Allah Ta’ala guide us and bless us with this great wealth. Aameen.

Ready for Tomorrow?

“O you who believe, FEAR ALLAH, and let every soul see what he has sent ahead for tomorrow. And keep fearing Allah. Verily Allah is aware of what you do.” (s39 : v18)

Every word and deed of the one who has Taqwa will be guided by “tomorrow” – the Hereafter. Tomorrow, on the Day of Judgement, the first question one will be asked about is salaah.    Taqwa will therefore wake one up for Fajr salaah, it will tug one out of the business and into the musjid for Zuhr and Asr and it will ensure that one’s Maghrib and Esha is also performed with jama’ah. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is reported to have said: “Salaah is a pillar of deen. The one who upholds it has established His deen. The one who destroys it has destroyed Deen.” Together with regular performance of all salaah (with jama’ah for males), upholding salaah also includes performing it correctly with complete humility and devotion. Thus the most fundamental element of the solution to one’s problems is salaah. To the extent salaah will be neglected – problems are bound to follow.

Make, Not Break…

“And FEAR ALLAH in whose name you claim your rights from one another, and beware of (severing) family ties, verily Allah is watchful over you.” (s4 : v1)

Taqwa is not restricted to the musjid or to the month of Ramadhaan. Instead it also extends to social life. A person of Taqwa is therefore always concerned about maintaining family ties. He does his utmost to secure the dua from the Arsh (the throne of Allah Ta’ala) in his favour. Rasulullah (sallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “Kinship (family relationships) is suspended  to the Arsh of Allah Ta’ala. It keeps praying: “May Allah Ta’ala maintain the one who maintains me and may he cut off the one who severs me.” Hence the Taqwa “package” is greatly deficient if family ties are not maintained. The reality of maintaining family ties has been summed up in a concise hadith: “Join ties with the one who cuts off ties with you, forgive the one who has oppressed you and show kindness to the one who has ill-treated you”.

Clean Tongue

“O you who believe, FEAR ALLAH and speak that which is straight (correct) (s33 : v70)

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: Among the things that will throw people most into Jahannum will be the harvest of their tongue.” A Mu’min with Taqwa does not soil his tongue by uttering foul and putrid vulgar words. He also refrains from lying, backbiting, breaking hearts with sarcastic comments, mocking, etc. He keeps his tongue clean… so that he can take the pure name of Allah Ta’ala with a clean tongue.

Peace Please

“Verily the believers are brothers, so make peace between your brothers, and FEAR ALLAH so that you may be shown mercy.” (s49 : v10)

Human beings are not made of steel and stone. They have emotions and feelings. Also, besides the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam) nobody is perfect. Thus mistakes do happen. People sometimes do get upset. As a result relationships get strained or even derailed. However, Taqwa dictates that matters be sorted out amicably.

Furthermore, Taqwa requires that those who are close to the parties make every effort to make peace between them, and to fear Allah Ta’ala in the process, for they too will be questioned about their intentions and actions on the day of Qiyaamah.

Have some Shame

 “And the garments of Taqwa (FEAR OF ALLAH)are better.” (s7 : v26)

Among shaitaan’s first target to break down one’s hayaa (modesty and shame), and consequently one’s Taqwa, is through shameless dressing. In particular, women’s dressing trends are generally getting worse by the day. The garments of Taqwa conceal and do not reveal, whereas the modern shameless trend is to reveal more and conceal less. Every woman should ask herself what  would be the reaction of Hazrath Ayesha (R.A.) or Hazrath Fatima (R.A.) if they had to see what type of garments they own and how they dress???

Taqwa demands that we sit up and take stock of our manner of dressing. If we do not adopt Taqwa NOW and halt the rot that has already set in, many of tomorrow’s daughters and grand-daughters will be dressing no less shamelessly than the loose women of the west. The parents and grand parents of today will also be answerable for this rot if they do nothing to REVERSE the present slide towards shamelessness.

Clean Deal

“O you who Believe, FEAR ALLAH and forsake what is left of interest if you are indeed Believers.” (s2: v278)

In the above aayah the Believers are addressed, yet Allah Ta’ala says at the end “if you are indeed Believers.” This indicates that, especially in business and monetary dealings, there are those Believers who deal like true Believers. They are honest and true to their word. They pay what-ever is due upon them on time. Such people’s business  is an invitation to Islam and a good example of the sublime teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). May Allah Ta’ala bless them and shower them with immense barakah.

Then there are those Believers who, most unfortunately and tragically, deal like the dishonest disbelievers. Lying, deceiving, not paying one’s creditors and indulging in haraam business is the order of the day. Business is the object of their life at any cost – at the expense of Deen as well as the honour, wealth and even lives of others. Such people distance others away from Islam for a few coppers. May Allah Ta’ala guide them and bless them with Taqwa. Aameen.

Mind your Voice

“….If you women do FEAR ALLAH, then do not talk in alluring tones.” (s33 : v32)

True Taqwa shuts all the doors that lead to fitna. If a woman talks out of sheer necessity to a non – mahram, Taqwa requires of her to deliberately make her voice unattractive. In numerous tragic instances, the catalyst to to the worst fitna was the voice of some female…. and in many cases the voice of some male “singers”.

Taqwa demands that one should not talk in alluring tones, as well as not to listen to any voice that incites the slightest degree of evil in one’s heart. Practice on the following rule: When in doubt, leave it out.

No Secret

“And FEAR ALLAH, verily He is aware of what is in the hearts.” (s5 : v7)

The illicit intentions …. the evil fantasizing …. the plots and plans to deceive or defraud …. the burning jealousy and the festering malice …. and everything else that is deep down in the heart is no secret to Him. He knows it all. “He knows the deception of the eyes and what the hearts conceal (S40:V19).”  The heart is a priceless, special gift that Allah Ta’ala has granted. He detests that His special gift be filled with such filth. A person of taqwa will therefore have a clean heart…. and he will continue to clean and polish his heart with zikr and isitighfaar.

Forgive

“And that you forgive is closer to the FEAR OF ALLAH.” (s2 : v237)

The clear message is that a person with Taqwa is a person  of akhlaaq (good character). Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said that the weightiest thing on the scales of good deeds on the Day of Judgement is good character. ”

The person of Taqwa is kind, compassionate and very  tolerant. He does not harbour malice or jealousy and does not give vent to anger. Indeed, he is somebody who can easily forgive and forget. Since he wishes that Allah Ta’ala should forgive him, he forgives the ser-vants of Allah Ta’ala. Taqwa makes him humble since he is for-ever conscious of the greatness of Allah Ta’ala. He is far away from pride and arrogance. In short, the person of Taqwa has a true heart – a heart filled with love and goodness.

Company

“O You who Believe, FEAR ALLAH and be with the Saadiqeen (Truthfu)l” (s9: v119)

 Together with the command of adopting Taqwa, Allah Ta’ala has provided the prescription of how to acquire it. It will be attained in the company of those who are sincere and truthful — they are truthful in their commitment to be obedient to Allah Ta’ala and they are also truthful in their dealings with the servants of Allah Ta’ala. Their hearts are filled with the fire of the love of Allah Ta’ala. Hence in their company the hearts of others are also ignited with His love.

Help

“And assist one another in acts of virtue and Taqwa and do not assist one another  in sin and rebellion.” (s5 : v2)

Be good… and help others to be good – this is the salient feature of a true believer and a person of Taqwa. His words and actions guide towards righteousness. Inviting others towards Taqwa and assisting them to adopt it also strengthens his own Taqwa.

Faqihul Ummah: Reality of Taubah

Summary of Letter: 

Bismihi Ta’ala

Respected Mufti Saheb

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

My heart has become very hard. It just would not melt with the remembrance or the fear of Allah Ta’ala. Please advise as to how I should soften my heart.

Furthermore, with the grace of Allah Ta’ala and through the barkat (blessing) of being linked to yourself, I have been blessed with the tawfeeq (ability) of quickly repenting from my sins. The problem is that to remain steadfast on taubah (and not repeat the sin) is among the most difficult things for me. Please help me to overcome these maladies.

Reply: 

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

It is necessary to always keep in mind the reality of taubah. The reality of taubah is that one should sincerely regret having committed the sin, as well as firmly resolve to refrain from the sin. The resolve should be such that even if you are thrown into the fire, you will not commit that sin again. One should also constantly make dua to Allah Ta’ala to grant one istiqamat (steadfastness) on one’s taubah. If any rights (of people) have not been discharged, make an effort to fulfil the same. In this way one will Insha-Allah be blessed with istiqamat.

Keeping contact with the poor, being compassionate to them and sharing their pain and grief will Insha-Allah help to soften the heart. (Maktoobaat vol. 5, pg. 62)

Was Salaam (Maktoobaat)