Zikr – The Spiritual Maintenance

Saturday, 17 October 2015 13:45

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 3rd October)

1. The hadeeth says that the simile of the one who remembers Allah Ta‘ala and the one who does not is like the living and the dead. Sometimes when we hear about zikr then we restrict it to just holding a tasbeeh and reciting some zikr. Yes, we cannot underestimate and undermine this, for it has its value and effect even if done unmindfully. However, zikr has a deeper meaning. What do you mean by zikr? It refers to having the consciousness of the presence of Allah Ta‘ala with His sifaat and great qualities i.e. His power, authority, might, etc. One needs to have this level of the presence of the mind. When you remember Allah Ta‘ala with this level of remembrance then it is virtually impossible to commit a sin. If someone has got a loaded gun and you know he is hot-tempered and short-fused, and his daughter is before you and he has his finger on the trigger, will you flirt with his daughter? Even if you think of doing it your feelings will die. This is the type of feeling and awareness of Allah Ta‘ala you should bring in your mind.

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Allah Ta‘ala’s Focus is on the Heart

Saturday, 17 October 2015 13:35

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 12th September)

1. Hazrat Luqmaan (‘alaihis salaam) is the only non-nabi whose advice is mentioned in the Quraan. He comes from an Abyssinian background with all the features of a black man. Despite this, Allah Ta‘ala speaks of him in the Quraan, for in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala lineage, looks, facial features and social standings don’t make a difference, nor is it a concern. What Allah Ta‘ala looks at is the deeds and the condition of the heart. It is like a person working at your office. You will look at how competent and honest he is, and whether he is easy going. You will not worry about his features. The job will be given to him due to his competence.

2. More important than our deeds is our niyyat and intention. The hadeeth says that deeds are based on the niyyat. At times, a person has many deeds to his credit, but he then will be sent to Jahannum. In fact, Jahannum will be set alight with these three people; the qari, mujaahid and wealthy person. Each one of them did great works but their hearts and intentions were corrupt. However, you will not find the one whose heart was good going to Jahannum though he may have not had many good deeds to his credit. The hadeeth speaks of a person who committed all types of sins. Before he died, he told his children to burn his body and then scatter half the ash on land and half in the sea, and he said that if Allah Ta‘ala only gets hold of me then I will be punished. When he died Allah Ta‘ala commanded that his ashes be put together, his body formed once again and he was summoned before Allah Ta‘ala. When asked the reason for making such a bequest, he replied that it was out of the fear of Allah Ta‘ala. Allah Ta‘ala then forgave him. So this person, though his deeds were bad, but his heart was good. On the other hand, the qari, mujaahid and wealthy person, their actions are good but their hearts are bad. Therefore, the focal point is the heart. The better the heart the greater the yearning and enthusiasm.

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Being Graceful and Enduring in One’s Approach to Situations

Thursday, 01 October 2015 16:21

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 5th September)

1. Hazrat Munzir bin Qays (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Madeenah Munawwarah with a delegation from his tribe. As they reached, the rest of the delegation went ahead to meet Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) while Munzir remained behind. In their absence he took care of their animals and luggage. When they returned, he took a bath and put on clean clothes and gracefully and gradually came to meet Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was pleased with him and explained that he has two good qualities, hilm – endurance, and the other inaa‘ah – to do things gracefully and gradually.

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The World – The Prison for a Mu’min

Sunday, 06 September 2015 10:56

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 29th August)

1. A buzurg once passed by a Hindu yogi who had denounced the world. The yogi told him that the hadeeth says that the world is a prison for a Muslim and a paradise for a kaafir, but then look at my condition; I do not have proper clothing, a proper home, etc. On the other hand, look at yourself; you have so many attendants and so much of wealth, etc. Allah Ta‘ala allowed the buzurg to perform a karaamat and he told the yogi to place his foot over his. After some time, he asked the yogi, “What did you see?” He replied that he saw Jannat and Jahannum. So he asked the yogi, “Is Jannat better or that which I am enjoying now? He replied that what you have, seems to be like a prison compared to Jannat. He then asked the yogi, “And what about Jahannum compared to what you have?” He replied that what I have seems to be like paradise compared to Jahannum. So this is a relative thing. Hazrat Moulana Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) explains this hadeeth in a different way. He explains that Jannat is a place where there is no anxiety, stress, and worry, etc., and Jahannum is a place where there is stress, fear, etc. Hence, a Mu’min is not relaxed in this world. He is not familiar with its surroundings. 

It is like when you visit someone who is not hospitable to you. You will feel uneasy and unfamiliar, and you will want to get out of there. Similarly, a Mu’min does not experience total satisfaction and comfort, even if he is in the height of his sin. He understands that he is not supposed to be around there because he knows that he does not belong there. On the other hand, a kaafir feels extremely relaxed and complacent of the world. The focus of a Mu’min is totally different compared to the focus of a kaafir. This can be compared to a prison. One is the prisoner who is behind bars and the other is the warden. Both are in the same place, but the prisoner is uneasy and tense, and the warden is at total ease. Hence, in whichever situation a Mu’min is, he will not get total satisfaction. This world was never faithful to anybody. Sometimes, in one go it takes a person by surprise and leaves him without anything. Therefore, a Mu’min does not need to worry if he does not feel relaxed and easy.

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Eliminating Arrogance and Adopting Total Submission

Saturday, 29 August 2015 15:21

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 22nd August)

1. Hazrat Moulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) was simple and would be comfortable with whatever was provided to him. Comfort or discomfort wouldn’t make a difference to him. Towards the end of his life, he lost his sight. On one occasion at around Zuhr time, he noticed that there were 3 layers of carpet spread out for him. At Asr time, when he felt the area where the carpets were laid out he found that one was missing. So he enquired as to what had happened to it. At first there was no response until he asked Moulana Yahya Saheb directly. He then explained that a nawaab saheb (a wealthy and influential person) had come to the khanqah, and in order to make him feel comfortable one carpet was used for him. Moulana Rasheed Ahmad (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) immediately responded saying: “Does the nawaab saheb have a shortage of carpets?” Through this single statement, half of his nawaabiyyat (feeling of greatness and honour) was smashed down. These great buzurgaan-e-deen were extremely focused because people used to come to them for their personal correction. Hence, they needed to be focused and understand what type of correction each individual required, for at times some people don’t even know the reason for them coming to a buzurg; someone feels that I have a business problem and it will get sorted out, someone feels that I have a lot of tension in my life and it will disappear. However, the work of the mashaayikh is to put people on track and get their alignment right.

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Gaining the True Deeni Mind-Set and the Acquisition of Noor

Saturday, 22 August 2015 14:48

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 15th August)

1. We were once by Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) and it was meals time. Someone suggested that it will be nice that we read our namaaz first and then eat comfortably and relaxed. Hazrat Mufti Saheb replied: “Since when did you find a Muslim eating comfortably and relaxed? Yes, his namaaz and ‘ibaadat is performed very relaxed and comfortable.” It is not the way of a Muslim to eat comfortably and sit for a long time eating. That is the way of the kuffaar. Although this person was an ‘aalim, but he had not thought about it in this manner. When a Muslim performs his salaah with total ease and in a relaxed and comfortable manner then all the stress etc. automatically goes away. However, the salaah should not be read for this reason; it should be performed for Allah Ta‘ala. Don’t do it for relaxation and as an exercise program.

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The Fleeting Nature of this Dunya

Monday, 17 August 2015 14:46

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 8th August)

1. Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) used to say that there is something in life that brings so much of joy that I cannot contain the joy. It is the meeting of friends who share the same line of thought, goals and objectives. One can well imagine the type of joy this class of people experience when they get together. It is as though one is stepping into Jannah because the common goal is the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala; it is not for any material benefit. It is just for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala that you have a liking for the person. You will travel from one point of the earth to the other just for the mahabbat and love of the person. When a person loves a woman, what doesn’t he do? However, that love is for something that is transitory and fleeting. As much as you want to be with the person, you will have to separate. Imagine how enjoyable the company of Allah Ta‘ala will be, when the company of friends brings so much of joy.

2. ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) was counted as the fifth khaleefah after the Khulafaa-e-Raashideen. He is regarded as the first mujaddid. When he would get up in the morning, he would address himself reciting the aayat: “afa ra-ayta immatta’naahum sineen”. This aayat was revealed in answer to an objection of the kuffaar. They would tell their respective Nabi that where is the ‘azaab and Qiyaamat, if you are speaking the truth. In response to this objection, Allah Ta‘ala asks them that if We have to give you a few years of enjoyment and then that which is inevitable, death, has to suddenly come, then will that wealth and whatever was amassed be of any benefit. ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) used to recite this aayat and then address himself saying: “O oblivious one, who is blinded off from reality, your days are spent in running after amusement and entertainment.” Is there anything else that we are chasing? We have addicted ourselves to these things. Therefore, at times we begin to feel to ourselves that how will life be able to continue without these things of amusement and entertainment, since it has become an addiction. We normally look with contempt at a person who is on drugs because of his addiction, but we are also addicted.

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Remaining Firm on One’s Ma’mool and the Acquisition of Barkat

Saturday, 08 August 2015 14:50

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 1st August)

1. Shaikh-ul-Hind (rahmatullahi ‘alaih), the ustaad of Moulana Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once visited Moulana Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) at a time which Moulana had set aside for preparing a kitaab. Moulana was confused as to what he should do at that time, whether to attend to his ustaaz or continue with his work. Hence, he presented this matter before his ustaad. Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Hind replied that don’t leave out any of your ma’mool (routine work) on account of my presence. So Moulana went to do his work, but his mind was still in deep thought about doing the khidmat of his ustaaz. Therefore, he did a little work and returned to remain in the company of his ustaaz. We learn from here that when we have a ma’mool then we should stick to it even if we cannot complete it entirely. The reason for this is that by stopping it the barkat will no longer be there. Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Sahib (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) used to say that if one has a ma’mool of mutaala‘ah (studying a kitaab) and one day’s mutala‘ah is left out then this will affect a person for forty days. Even if it is reading the book again and again, for every new reading will bring about more lessons.

2. It is the system of the world that you will go through some struggle. Many people comment and say that they do not want to listen to things about azaab and punishment. But the simple thing is, how is the system of the world going to continue without azaab and punishment? If there is a traffic officer who is lenient, there will be no system and order and there will be problems on the road. But if they take a hard stance there will be no problem, so it is logical. Every country has a law system and they are very strict. In the absence of these laws everything will happen. 

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The Dream of this World and the Reality of the Hereafter

Wednesday, 27 May 2015 14:56

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 2nd May)

1. The incidents of the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) have lessons, great moral support, and they strengthen the heart and mind, and the same is with the incidents of those who are closer to the Ambiyaa. It is man’s nature that he wants to first see and then emulate; he will see and follow. He will weigh the facts very heavily. If we have the head of a conventional bank to give a jumu‘ah talk in a place where the crowd is to capacity and the topic we choose is interest, will the talk have any effect? The reason is obvious. So these Buzurgaan-e-Deen and Awliyaa did not work much on their oratory style and ability to express things or their ability to catch the attention of the audience, rather they worked more on attracting the attention of Allah Ta‘ala. When this is achieved then it is Allah Ta‘ala who changes the hearts around. In the flash of a second, He can change the hearts. With one word or action, you may not know how He changes the hearts of others around.

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Understanding the Essence of Deen

Thursday, 21 May 2015 10:30

(Highlights of Mufti Ebrahim Salejee’s majlis - Saturday 18th April)

1. Someone had asked about the sunnat namaaz as to whether they should be performed at home or at the musjid. I explained that in the time of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) the sunnats were normally performed in the homes, and they were encouraged to do the sunnats in the homes. Hence, you can imagine that if a person performed his fardh and went home, then someone is reaching home in 3 minutes and someone in 6 minutes. Thus, the interval between the fardh and sunnats was tolerated. Therefore, to say that one must perform the sunnats straight away, and if one does not then it is bid‘ah, then this claim in itself is bid‘ah. However, after some time the bid‘atis and others started to leave out the sunnats that are emphasised.  Hence, the ‘Ulama had advised that the sunnats should be performed in the musjid so that it may be a form of encouragement for others.

Read more: Understanding the Essence of Deen