Categories
Current Affairs articles

20 Years On. . .

1st July 1961 – 31st August 1997 – Princess Diana RH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r1h_pT2Spg&t=1461s

http://blackbag.gawker.com/who-killed-princess-diana-1692645313

What would Princess Diana be doing if she were alive today? Would she be on a reality show? Would she wear peplums? Would she have solved global hunger? Admittedly I think about this more often than I should, because so much potential, so much intrigue, so much gossip was lost when Lady Di, the Queen of Peoples’ Hearts and One-Piece Bathing Suits and Foofy Blond Short Haircuts and Being a Humanitarian but Not in a Weird, Scary Self-Righteous Way Like Angelina Jolie, died. Or rather: was murdered.

Let’s first nail down our facts. Diana, Princess of Wales, died at age 36 in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris on the night of August 31, 1997. The driver of the car, a Frenchman named Henri Paul, was drunk and driving erratically to outfox a gaggle of paparazzi who were in pursuit of the vehicle. Paul was also killed in the crash, as was Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Fayed. Her bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was injured.

Seems fairly open and shut. High speeds, intoxicated driver, a dark tunnel, a car crash. Paris in the ’90s. But wait. Why would Diana and her incredibly wealthy boyfriend get into a Mercedes with an extraordinarily drunken driver? Paul’s blood alcohol level was three times the French legal limit. The paparazzi chasing them down at high speeds—what is this, a Bond film? Why weren’t Diana and Dodi wearing seat belts? Were the seat belts compromised? What about those cars that fled the scene, never to be heard from again? And why was Diana’s body embalmed so quickly? Was it to hide the fact that she was… pregnant with Dodi Fayed’s baby??? All signs pointed to something sinister.

And by “something sinister,” I mean the Royal Family, because if anyone was out to get Diana, it was them. She had been a thorn in their side for years—”skimpily educated,” as one journalist put it politely, media-hungry (usually in a way that made her look good and them bad), and at the center of an embarrassing divorce, after 15 years of marriage, from Prince Charles, who married Diana despite his everlasting love for his ex-girlfriend, Camilla Parker-Bowles. But regardless of the Royals’ pursed lips when it came to Diana, she was forever theirs as the mother of William Windsor, who would one day be king, and little Harry, who was probably not biologically the son of Charles but that’s another post for another time.

There are two competing theories as to why the Royals would have wanted Diana dead. The first has to do with Dodi Fayed, the very rich man that Diana had just started dating before they were united in eternal hellfire. The son of Egyptian billionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed, who owned the English department store Harrods, Dodi worked as a film producer (Hook) but seemed mostly to party and spend his father’s money. So it’s weird that the Royals allegedly had a problem with him, because that’s basically their modus operandi, but they did. Can you guess why?

If you answered “because he was a Muslim” you are right! Rumors abounded that the romance between Diana and Dodi was heating up at a very fast clip—and that Diana was pregnant with Dodi’s baby and the couple was planning to get engaged. Conspiracy theorists suggest that the Royal Family would simply crumble like a teacake at the inclusion of an Egyptian Muslim (or more tactfully put, a non-Christian) into their fold, and would rather murder the expectant couple and their unborn child in cold blood (but make it look like an accident, you know, for appearances).

The other theory involves Prince Charles, our George W. Bush of the East. Charles did not come out looking good from the Diana divorce, not only because he is an exceptionally ugly man, but because of very dirty and weird phone conversations between him and Camilla Parker Bowles that were leaked to the British press (for the uneducated, Charles told Camilla that he wanted to be her tampon).

Anyway, everyone knew all along that Charles had been in love with Camilla and would probably marry her when Diana was out of the picture. But that was the problem: Even though they had divorced, Diana wasn’t getting out of the picture. Their divorce had made her more popular than ever. She was still the Queen of Peoples’ Hearts. She was giving extraordinary interviews to television journalists. She was bringing the world closer to peace by eradicating land mines in Africa. And her divorce made her all the more relatable. Now she was a single mother! To the perpetual annoyance of the Royals, she was the most popular person in their family, and she was barely in their family. Charles wanted to move on, to install a new princess in his life (or a duchess, as Camilla eventually became, when they married 2005). But no matter what, Camilla would be despised in Diana’s shadow.

So, according to conspiracy theorists, the choice was clear. Disposing of Diana would be a complicated task for the Royals, made a bit easier by the state services at their beck and call, including the MI6, or the CIA of Britain. She was, after all, a threat to the sanctity of the Royal family, so why not use the secret state intelligence service to rid the country of her? It was an almost patriotic undertaking.

As the theory goes, besides the engagement of willful drunk Henri Paul and a thrum of unruly paparazzi, there were several “mystery cars” involved in the crash, some of which were never found. Evidence suggests these cars were Diana’s true undoing: one of them, a white Fiat Uno, made contact with Paul’s Mercedes before it crashed in the tunnel that fateful night, evidently pushing it toward its demise. Were these cars tools of the MI6? French police zeroed in on the driver of the Fiat Uno in 1998; he committed suicide in 2000. His body was found in a burnt-out BMW in the French countryside, a gunshot wound to his head.

The search for answers in Diana’s death is not a fruitful one. You can accept the answer that it was simply an accident. Or you can think like a Royal: Diana was the most beloved woman in the world at the time of her death. She would only become more powerful with Dodi Fayed’s money and child, both of which would stain the fabric of the Windsor tapestry. How could anyone move on with their lives? The health of the Royal Family, the country’s ballast, stretching back hundreds of years through numerous global catastrophes, had to be considered. What was the most sensible option?

Perhaps it was a drunk driver, the paparazzi, and a dark tunnel in Paris on a late summer’s night.

http://www.islamicparty.com/commonsense/diana22.htm

Diana: Death of a Princess

Whilst the elaborate funeral arrangements calmed the unprecedented public response to Princess Diana’s sudden death – a mixture of shock, sense of loss and rage at the establishment – they also ensured that the actual happenings on that late evening in Paris were not discussed further. Many ordinary people in Britain openly question the tragic accident version, but only the foreign media dared to make mention of other possibilities. Other European media reported conspiracy theories floating about the internet and dismissed them as irrelevant. Non-European media in many cases talked openly of a plot to get rid of the princess who had become an embarrassment. Whilst proof is hard to come by, with witnesses taken care of by the highest authorities, too many pieces of information do not add up, and it is certainly not difficult to detect a motive. It must certainly have been a most unhappy time for the Royal Family and the British establishment to hear of Diana’s intention to seriously get involved with an Arab, whose father had not long ago been denied British citizenship. That she gifted Dodi al-Fayed her late father’s cuff links should indicate that the relationship meant more to Diana than a temporary acquaintance. One could hardly imagine the heirs to the throne, princes William and Harry looking up to and possibly living with a, at least nominally, Muslim step-father.

The scenario had arisen once before, when Princess Diana had not yet been divorced, but had a friendship with a Pakistani heart surgeon, Hasnat Khan. The Muslim News revealed that based on that relationship a novel had been written by an ex-SAS man, Barry Davies, telling the story of how right-wing extremists were plotting to kill Diana for bringing the country into disrepute by marrying a Muslim, who in the book Royal Blood is named as a Dr. Khan. The book was due to be published by Virgin later this year, but has now been withdrawn. A further motive was provided by her upsetting many powerful people with her campaign against land-mines, and it is said that she was going to turn attention next to the plight of Iraqi children dying by the thousands due to UN-sanctions.

The unanswered questions remain: Why were security arrangements changed on very short notice with the princess and her lover departing in a single limousine instead of being accorded the usual protection with three cars. Did the recent repairs to the car’s steering wheel, after alleged vandalism, have anything to do with it getting out of control. In the early stages there were reports of the speedometer being stuck at a certain high speed, those reports were later retracted. People near the tunnel heard a loud, explosion-like sound. Photographers who tried to assist the princess were stopped from doing so by police. Photographers who arrived late at the scene were still arrested, maybe to make sure that they wouldn’t divulge what they had witnessed. As there were allegedly so many photographers, there must be ample film footage of what really happened. None of the material has ever been released, and no release of material has been demanded, probably due to the hyped outrage against photographers who were made the scape-goat. According to some French papers there was another car travelling in front of the Mercedes trying to force it to brake just before it entered the tunnel. There were later reports that parts of another car that might have collided with the Mercedes were found at the crash site. None of these facts re-surfaced after they were first mentioned. Experts from Mercedes Benz had offered after the accident to assist with the crash analysis. There offer was rejected by French authorities.

Then there is the question of what happened to Diana after the accident, as apparently she sat on the floor of the car talking to a photographer, and she remained conscious during the two hours it took to cut her out of the wreckage, yet she was said to have suffered such severe injuries that necessitated the ambulance to drive so slowly that the 7-mile journey lasted a whole hour. However, when arriving at the hospital, her condition was not listed as critical. The condition was only recorded as critical four hours after the crash, and within ten minutes from then she is said to have died. The course of death given was cardiac tamponade, which means that there was severe pressure due to excess fluid in the vicinity of the heart, allegedly from a ruptured vein in the left lung, but this condition would not have permitted her to stay alive for four hours. Nor was she put onto a heart-lung machine during that time. Her body guard eventually survived, but cannot remember anything. It is quite likely that he would not survive the recovery of his memory at a later time. Seeing that the full facts around the death of J. F. Kennedy are still speculation and the cover-up continues, we shall have to wait for a long time to get answers to those questions.

The film made by Mohammed al-Fayed, (father of Dodi al-Fayed and owner of Ritz hotel).

http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/245889/Keith-Allen-Princess-Diana-cover-up-and-why-you-won-t-see-my-film

Did Diana accept Islam before she died?

There are several Muslim scholars who confirm this and someone actually had a dream shortly after she passed away:

“One night, out of the blue I saw Diana (Allah have mercy on her) in my dream. She was very happy, peaceful, content and smiling. She was wearing a light blue outfit and the background was white buildings, pure white, beautiful designs. The ground was white and the building was white.”

Although dreams are not proof per se, but glad tidings can certainly be given in dreams. Alhumdu Lillah!

 

Categories
Du'aas

~ It was just a few words!

wordsPonder over the following examples where very few words unlocked the greatness of three great people.
= The first:
Imam Ishaq Ibn Rahawayh RH once said during a study circle of Hadith,
“من ينشط منكم لجمع الصحيح؟”
“Whom here is willing to take it upon himself to compile for us the authentic Hadith?”
Imam Al-Bukhari RH was present and said, “His words fell onto my heart”
Imagine that! It was just those words which sparked off the most beneficial Hadith project in History!
= The second:
Imam Ash-Shafi’i RH was most interested in poetry in the earlier parts of his life. One scholar heard him speak poetry and so he asked him, “أين أنت من الفِقه؟”
“Why don’t you focus on the study of Fiqh (jurisprudence) instead?”
This had a profound effect on Imam Ash-Shafi’i RH and because of these words, he completely changed the course of his study and turned to the study of Hadith and Fiqh till he became an Imam. All of this was because of one simple encounter with a wise well-wisher.
= The third:
Have you heard of Imam Adh-Dhahabi RH? His handwriting was once spotted by Imam Al-Barzali RH so he said to Adh-Dhahabi RH, “إنَّ خطك هذا يشبه خط المُحدِّثين”
“Your handwriting resembles the handwriting of the scholars of Hadith”
Imam Adh-Dhahabi RH said,
فحبَّب الله لي علم الحديث
“After hearing that, Allah placed the love of Hadith in my heart!”
You have no idea of the potential influence which your words may have on your children, students, family members or friends, even if your words are few!
 Coupled with your sincerity and wisely tailored words of encouragement, plant the seed of inspiration within their hearts and leave it to grow. This person may develop to become the next scholar, a ground-breaking caller to Islam, the mother of the next revivalist or the founder of a revolutionary project for the Ummah.
You may end up forgetting all about this seed.wrds
But this reformed individual will never forget. More importantly, Allah will never forget.
Anonymous
1st Dhul Hijah 1438power in words.jpg
Categories
Personalities

Muhaddith, Mu’allim, Murabbi – Shaykhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Yunus Saheb Jaunpuri RH

“Be fearful of a day when you shall be returned to Allah, then every person shall be paid in full what he has earned, and they shall not be wronged.” Surah Baqarah

(This is the last verse to be revealed in the Qur’an)

The passing away of our most beloved and honourable Shaykh and Ustadh, the Ameer, the Master, the embodiment of Hadith, Shaykhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Yunus Saheb Jawnpuri (Allah sanctify his secret), was most definitely news that shook our hearts, rather shook mountains. Initially, I did not think it was befitting for me to write anything on Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret), as many of my senior teachers and Ulama had already done so. But after reading them, a few anecdotes and memories came to mind so I decided to share them based on the Hadith:

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him narrated that: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Mention good things about your dead, and refrain from (mentioning) their evil.”  (Tirmidhi)

Alhumdu Lillah, in 2007 my late father sent me to Mazahirul Uloom, Sahanrapur in the khidmah of Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret), as he felt it was good for an Alim to be in the company of a Shaykh after graduation for Islah and Tarbiyyah purposes. I had met Shaykh Saheb when he would come to Jamiatul Ilm Walhuda, Blackburn, for the Bukhari Jalsa and had heard many stories of his status and nature from my Ustadhs – many of which had studied under Shaykh Saheb’s tutelage.

When I first arrived, I introduced myself and passed on some money and gifts I had from our principal and ustadh Mufti AbdusSamad Saheb and Mufti Shabbir Saheb, as well as some of Shaykh Saheb’s previous students. I told him my father had sent me for his Khidmah and I was studying Ifta alongside this. I remember he asked me, if I was his guest (mehman) or a guest of the Darul Uloom. I said, “I am currently staying in the Mehman Khana until my room is arranged, so I shall eat from the Madrasah.” He said, “Very well! Otherwise I would arrange food for you.” To which I was quite overwhelmed and humbled, at Shaykh Saheb’s worry and concern.

In my first few days I imagined there would be dozens of people at his service and I would barely get a chance. As this was the case when he came to the UK, scores of Ulama from up and down the country would be following him “throughout” his stay in the UK. Things were quite different in India. Generally, it was some of the Bukhari/Ifta students that would do his Khidmah, but a very small amount. As they were in fear of being rebuked and told off. There were many days Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) would be alone or just one Khadim with him. I remember telling some of my Ifta colleagues, actually forcing them to come with me and sit with Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) for a while. They were very apprehensive. But I realised the cause behind this, it was what they were fed about Shaykh Saheb’s (Allah sanctify his secret) nature. Without doubt Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) was a person whose nature left you full of awe, he was “Jalali.” So generally, students were afraid of being told off and criticised. Shaykh Saheb would rebuke us. But he would always say, “I only discipline those with whom I have a connection, the person is fortunate who builds humility after I have disciplined him.”

I would like to mention a point here for ulama, we should never think of ourselves too high that we cannot be criticised. Fudhayl ibn Iyadh (Allah have mercy upon him) once said, “Accept the truth, even if it is from a child.”

I remember Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) would start the day off with Surah Yaseen and also read Qur’an after Dhuhr Salah. He would say, “I like to start the day off with Qur’an.” There was a particular Durood he would read after recitation of the Qur’an, I tried to pick up the words as Shaykh Saheb would whisper it quite loud. I only ever heard, “Allahumma Salle Alaa Muhammad bi Addadi Kulli Harf…” (O Allah! Send salutations upon Muhammad equal to every letter I have read from the Quran). If anyone knows the full Durood, I would be grateful if they could share it In Sha Allah.

I was once told to fetch some water by Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret), I knew in India they did not drink from the tap like we do in UK. But as it was my first few weeks, I was unaware where Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) drank from. Usually, people stored their water in a clay pot (matka) or something similar. So, I was running around in the kitchen and in the bedroom looking for his water storage. I ended up downstairs and I saw a student pumping water out from the Madrasah pump and I told him, Shaykh Saheb has asked for water. He said, Shaykh Saheb doesn’t drink this water and he only drinks Zam Zam. Subhan Allah! He rushed me back to the room and under the bed were drums of Zam Zam. I was grateful to him for sharing this with me as I didn’t want to feed Shaykh Saheb with normal water, when he only drank Zam Zam.

Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) did not like pretence and deception. Once a few students were sat and one of the students had a white scarf/shaal, like the ones we see in Saudi Arabia worn by their Imams. This student was sat in front of Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) whilst Shaykh Saheb was doing Dhikr. All of a sudden, Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) got really angry and said, “Oh! It’s only you… I thought you were a big Alim, the way you are dressed.” He ordered him to remove it and told us always to dress humbly.

Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) would cry at times, when putting on Itr before his dars. He would say, “These bottles are worth thousands of Rupees each. But when I was young I didn’t have enough money for food. Dear children, I went through a lot of poverty.” Tears would roll from his eyes, rahimahullah.

Further he would say many times, his father was a teacher and as a boy Shaykh Saheb was quite weak mentally and physically. He would always remain ill. A man suggested to his father, “Get him on the (cycle) rickshaws, as he will be of no use to you when he grows up. At least this way he will bring money in!” “Alhumdu Lillah! When I sit on the (cycle) rickshaws, the thought crosses my mind. It could have been the other way round!” Shaykh Saheb would say very emotionally.

“That is Allah’s grace which He bestows on whom He wills, He is the Owner of Mighty Grace.” (62:4)

NB: In Saharanpur there was little use of the motor rickshaws, a man would sit at the front and peddle. Passengers would sit at the back in a carriage. I don’t know if things have advanced.

Here I would like to clarify something which I heard from many students and teachers at my time in Saharanpur, that Shaykh Saheb was diagnosed with Tuberculosis at a young age. And TB was such in those days, if you caught it, chances were that you would die imminently. As a result of this Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) did not marry, due to fear of death occurring at any time. But time went by, he graduated as an Alim and even started teaching. He was always on edge, that he could go any minute. Like this he passed his whole youth, but one night he saw the number 5 in a dream (whether it was the figure 5 or a hand indicating 5 I cannot remember). This really confused Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret). He thought, “Maybe it means 5 days or 5 months, I have left to live!” Later, when Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) started teaching and came across the ‘maghaib khamsah’, the knowledge of five things which only Allah SWT knows. He understood the interpretation of the dream, which meant stop worrying about your death, only He SWT knows when you will die. The five things being, “Qiyamah, rainfall, what is in the womb – male/female, what a person earns – rizq, when a person will die.” (Surah Luqman)

This does not defy the fact that Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) had immense love for knowledge and his books, it would even be correct to say he was married to his books.

A similar incident is related regarding Imam Malik (Allah have mercy upon him) and the dream of the number 5.

Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) was connected to Ulama all over the UK and all over the world, he would often get calls of halaat/circumstances in certain countries. Especially, internal conflicts. As he knew I was from UK he once said, “When you return to the UK never get involved with Ikhtilaf/politics, as this is increasing in England.”

Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) was very wary when he was eating, with regards to evil eye (nazar). More often than not, he would prefer to eat alone and not in the sight of students or even guests from outside.

I remember asking Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) a few questions that had always been on my mind. The first was the Sunnah method of clipping the nails, as many books show a method which they refer to as Sunnah. He replied, “This is not in Hadith, but rather we begin from the right hand as this is preferable in all matters. Secondly, we begin from the Shahadah finger (index) as it is good to start with this finger.” I also asked about walking forty steps after food, He said, “This is only recommended by Hakims, it is not Sunnah.”

Approximately, half a million people attended Shaykh Saheb’s Janazah Salah:

Aishah (Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘If a Muslim dies and his funeral prayer is attended by a group of a hundred Muslims, and they all sincerely pray for his forgiveness, he is forgiven’”. (Ahmad, Muslim, and Tirmidhi)

Lastly, when Shaykh Saheb (Allah sanctify his secret) came to Jamiatul Ilm Walhuda in May 2017 for the Bukhari ceremony, towards the end I remember him saying, “O children! It is possible that I do not return next year.” And such was Allah’s wish…

“The Eyes Tear,

The Heart is in Pain,

But (with my tongue) I will only say that which is pleasing to Allah,

And we are indeed sad at your departure. ”

(Bukhari)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the death of his son Ibraheem (Allah be pleased with him)

May Allah SWT elevate the status of Shaykh Saheb and Allah reward him on behalf of the whole Ummah and may his legacy remain in this world until the day of Qiyamah and Allah SWT grant us all the tawfeeq to follow in the footsteps of all the pious personalities and He resurrects us amongst them on the day of Qiyamah and He grant us a place in Jannah with such luminaries and pious Mashayikh… Ameen!

One request, please make Esaal-e-Thawab for Hadhrat of whatever you are able to and as much as you can; Qur’an, Dua, or Sadaqah. (I am hoping to build a Masjid in Shaykh’s name – please see link below and kindly donate).

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ismail-satia1

Ismail ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure).

26th Dhul Qa’dah 1438

saharan

Categories
Miscellaneous

10 Things You Need To Know About Qurbani/Udhiyyah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

  1. Whoever possesses the Nisab (612 grams of silver) on the days of Qurbani, (10th/11th/12th Dhul Hijjah) Qurbani is wajib upon them. This wealth will exclude his daily necessities such as, house, car, clothes, furniture etc. Each adult member of the household on whom Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is Wajib (meaning the person who has wealth equal to the Nisaab of Zakah) would have to make his/her separate Qurbani. You don’t have to make Qurbani for your small children who are not baligh (the age of maturity). (Fatawa Hindiyyah 292/5)
  2. A person must be sane, mature and resident. Qurbani is not Wajib on a traveller (Shar’ee Musafir). (Shami 312/6)
  3. If a person has a debt, he will minus the payments of only 1 year till the day of Qurbani next year, not the whole amount and lump sum (interest repayable will not be included in debts). If this remaining amount is equal to Nisab, even though he has not had for 1 year, Qurbani will be Wajib because he has this amount in the days of Qurbani. (Mahmoodul Fatawa 689/4)
  4. You can buy a large animal (cow/camel) and have different intentions such as Wajib Qurbani, Nafl Qurbani and Aqeeqah. But everyone must have intention for reward. If one share is not for thawab then the whole Qurbani is not accepted. (Mahmoodul Fatawa 691/4)
  5. If you have missed Qurbani in the previous years and it was Wajib upon you, one must give the price of a sheep at the time you are making up for it E.g. September 2017 a sheep is £50 you must give £50, even it was cheaper in previous years. (Kifayatul Mufti 231/8 & Fatawa Mahmoodiyah 343/14)
  6. If a father is giving on behalf of his mature children he must ask them first, same for the wife.(Fatawa Alamghiri 393/5)
  7. In the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, not to trim your moustache, cut your hair, or clip your nails is Mustahab. If you act upon this, you must not cut them until your Qurbani is done i.e you cannot cut them before Eid Salah. The purpose for this is not to resemble the Hajis in Hajj, contrary to popular belief. The wisdom behind this is, the animal we are sacrificing, we are giving every part, every limb of that animal in place of our own body. When the mercy/rahmah of Qurbani is descending a single part of our body (hairs or nails) should not be deprived of the mercy of Qurbani. (Fatawa Rahimiyah 31/10)
  8. You can give a separate Qurbani for Esale Thawab on behalf of a deceased or the whole Ummah. (Raddul Mukhtar 472/9)
  9. The actual method of Qurbani and the best way to perform Qurbani is one buys an animal himself, he then looks after this animal as this animal is a great reward for him. He should become attached and close to this animal, (sacrificing this animal is like giving his own children away, story of Ibrahim AS). It is Mustahab to slaughter the animal yourself. If you are unable to slaughter the animal, be present at the time of slaughter, (bearing in mind the law of the land). (Fatawa Rahimiyah 28/10)

The Prophet Sallallaho Alayhi Wasallam told his daughter, “O Fatima! Be present at the time of slaughtering, for every drop (of blood) your sins are forgiven.” She replied, “O Messenger of Allah! Is this hospitality of Allah only for us (Ahle Bayt), or for everyone?” He Sallallaho Alayhi Wasallam answered, “Rather, it is for us and every Muslim.” (Tabarani)

  1. It is Mustahab to eat from the meat of your animal if possible, on the day of Eid. Also, feed your neighbours, relatives and friends. If there are any poor Muslims in the area feed them too. (Fatawa Rahimiyah 29/10) A warning for those who do not offer Qurbani: The Prophet Sallallaho Alayhi Wasallam said, “Whoever possesses wealth and does not perform Qurbani let him not come close to our place of worship (on Eid).”  (Ibn Majah)

NB: For those who offer Qurbani in the UK, a point to bear in mind as we do not receive the skin of the animals, we should give Sadaqah around £5 approximately.

Approved by Mufti Muhammad Farooq Saheb – Ustadh of Hadith/Ifta Jamiatul Ilm Walhuda, Blackburn

25th Dhul Qa’dah 1438

Categories
Miscellaneous

Why Does Helping Another Person in Distress Make You a Hero?

Why Does Helping Another Person in Distress Make You a Hero?

By Babar Ahmadship

A passenger was once travelling on a ship when someone threw him overboard into the deep ocean. The waves engulfed him and, unsurprisingly, he tried his best to do everything he could to survive. The alarm was raised on the ship. The other passengers heard the call. Some of them did nothing because they were afraid of the deep water. Some of them did nothing because they were afraid that they might be thrown overboard themselves. And some of them did nothing because they thought it was no use, there was little chance of saving the man.

But other passengers came to the aid of the man in distress. One of them ran to the captain and pressured him to stop the ship. Another flung in a rubber ring. Another threw a rope to the drowning man. One of them even jumped into the ocean and swam out to try and save the man. Most of these passengers did not know who the drowning man was or how he ended up in the ocean; they simply saw a fellow passenger in distress.

ships

The situation was serious. The water was cold and sunset was approaching. The drowning man flailed his arms desperately to keep afloat but he felt himself slipping away. Frigid, salty water began to wash into his mouth and nose. He began to lose hope.

While some passengers tried to save the man, other passengers stood on the deck in tears as they watched the scenario unfolding in front of them. They felt unable to do something practical to save the drowning man. So they shouted out words of comfort to the man. They told him to hold on just a little longer because help was on its way. Most of these passengers did not know who the drowning man was or how he ended up in the ocean; they simply saw a fellow passenger in distress.

When the drowning man saw their tears and heard their cries, he suddenly felt a burst of energy inside him. Up to that moment, his fight for survival had only been about himself. But when he saw that there were others who were worried about him and invested in him, he realised that he had to survive for their sake, even if he no longer had the energy to survive for his own sake.

With the encouragement of the well-wishers, the drowning man managed to keep himself afloat long enough for the rescuers to arrive and save him.

A hero is someone who makes a positive difference to the life of another person.

Who are the heroes in this story?

A) The drowning man, who did what he had to do to survive.
B) The passengers who rescued the man and encouraged him to survive.

Why Does Helping Another Person in Distress Make You a Hero?

shipwreck.png

The writer Mustafa Sadiq alRafei says, “When I looked into history, I found a small number of individuals whose lives mirrored the life cycle of a grain of wheat. They were torn from their roots then crushed then ground in mills. Then kneaded with fists, then rolled out and baked in ovens at high temperatures,  just so they would provide food for others!”

Patiently persevere in the face of hardship hoping for a good outcome because you never know how many dead hearts you will bring to life in the process. No hardship lasts forever.  There’s always an end!”

Babar Ahmad, HMP, UK
Categories
Current Affairs articles

How to be a Loyal Person: A Lesson from the Story of the King and the Servant

By Babar Ahmad, London

.cards-hero-loyalty

Once upon a time there lived a king. Whenever any of his servants would do something to displease him, he would feed them to a pack of wild dogs that he kept in a special cage. Now this king had a servant who had served his master loyally for 10 years. One day this servant did something to displease the king, so the king ordered that he be fed to the wild dogs.

“I served you for ten years and this is what I get in return? Please, give me ten days respite, then feed me to the dogs,” the servant begged the king. The king agreed. The servant then went to the keeper of the wild dogs and asked if he could help him take care of the dogs for the next ten days. The keeper was baffled, but agreed.

So for the next ten days, the servant served the dogs. He fed them, bathed them and played with them. He took them out for exercise, stroked them and spoke kind words to them.

When the ten days were up, the king arrived to witness his servant being thrown to the dogs. But when the servant was thrown into the cage, something unexpected happened…

What is loyalty? What are the characteristics of loyal people?

Loyalty is remaining faithful and true to something, whether it’s your word, a promise or a person. Loyalty is unconditional love and attachment to an individual.

Loyal people move the earth for the people they are loyal to. They do anything for them: spend time, money and effort for them. They help them in times of hardship and do not forget them during calamities. They correct them when they err. They stick by their side when everyone else abandons them. They remain present in good times and bad, luxury and poverty, health and sickness.

Loyal people are loyal to everyone close to them. Loyal people never forget the good that others have done to them.

Loyal people move the earth for the people they are loyal to. They stick by their side when everyone else abandons them. They remain present in good times and bad, luxury and poverty, health and sickness. Loyal people never forget the good that others have done to them.

A loyal person is loyal first and foremost to God. He never forgets God, his Creator and Sustainer, no matter what he goes through in life. A loyal person is also loyal to those close to him, such as his family and close friends. Someone who is not loyal to his own family can never be truly loyal to anyone else. He may show signs of loyalty, but it is fake, not genuine.

In his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen Covey uses the concept of an “emotional bank account” to describe the relationship between any two individuals, whether familial, romantic, friendship or other. The higher the balance of the emotional bank account, the better the state of the relationship and loyalty of the individuals towards each other. Like any bank account, you can make deposits to and withdrawals from the account.

Covey describes how the biggest deposit to the account (and the biggest proof of loyalty) is made by giving time to the other person. Time is the most valuable resource that we possess. It is more valuable than money. Money goes up and down but time is finite. So rich, busy parents can never compensate their children for not spending time with them by buying expensive ‘guilt gifts’ for them.

Whenever we give some of our time to someone, be it by a phone call or email, we make a deposit into the emotional bank account. Other deposits are made by way of gifts, anything good that we do to the other person, being there for them in times of distress, listening to them and apologising when we make mistakes.

In the same way, when we do any wrong to that person we make a withdrawal from the emotional bank account. Covey described that the biggest withdrawal we can make from this account is to when we fail to fulfil a promise or honour a commitment we made to the other person. Failing to keep to our word shows the other person that they are not worthy of our time or energy.

Being loyal to one’s word is a characteristic of every great person. Even in prison, there is this thing called your “word.” You are nothing without your word. Conflicts, business and agreements are made with a handshake sealed by your word. If you go back on your word, your worth as a person ends. It is better for a person to give up his life, his wealth and his time than to go back on his word.

If the emotional bank account balance is high, it can withstand withdrawals but only up to a point. At some point, we can withdraw so much from an account without realising it that we can fall into the red (overdrawn) or become bankrupt, thus destroying the relationship.

Returning to the story of the king and the servant, when the servant was thrown into the cage full of wild dogs, instead of tearing him to shreds, the dogs gathered round him and began to lick him.

The king was surprised at this sight so he asked what had happened to his dogs. The servant replied. “I served these dogs for only ten days, yet they never forgot what I did for them. But I served you for ten years, and you forgot all of that at my first mistake.” Upon hearing this, the king realised his mistake and set the servant free.

I served these dogs for only ten days, yet they never forgot what I did for them. But I served you for ten years, and you forgot all of that at my first mistake.

The moral of the story is: always remember the acts of kindness done to you and never forget the good that people have done for you, even if it was only on a single occasion.

How to be a Loyal Person: A Lesson from the Story of the King and the Servant

Categories
Ruqya

Diary of a Possessed Sister

Bismi Allah- wal HumduLillah was Salah was Salam ala Rasoolillah
black magic
Today, I would like to speak about an issue, something which has affected me for years. It changed my life and I was oblivious to it for years. I feel brothers and sisters need to speak out about the issue, so it can help others who are suffering silently. More importantly, it is mentioned in Qur’an and Hadith but I see the Ulama, the scholars of Haqq are also silent and turning a blind eye to it. So I am going to start with the scholars who I am angry and upset at, never have I heard one talk in my Masjid, not on Jum’uah and not in Ramadhan on the topic… Black magic. I ask why? And I have the right to ask, do I not? This is no longer just a Bengali issue! I am Deobandi, Hanafi, Gujarati, studied in Madrasah as well. Is it because your wives and daughters are not affected? Because YOU haven’t experienced it in your family? Some scholars are in total disbelief, “it’s just in your head”, “mental illness!”, “Everyone has problems in life”. We don’t disagree,  mental health issues exist AND SO DOES BLACK MAGIC! IS Diabetes just in the head? Is Cancer just in the head? Other people have problems, marriage or job related, this does not mean Black Magic doesn’t exist. I’m sorry they’re insufficient proofs. Nobody said all problems in life are caused by Black Magic, but those of you who completely write off Black Magic are wrong as well. You no longer need to go to Pakistan or India to find Magicians and Witches, it’s all happening here in the UK. In our backyards. . .
Those who suffer from Black Magic and Jinn possession are living two totally different lives… yes! They have split personalities. One minute they are normal and the next minute they are going ballistic! People just assume they are bad-mannered or have a disorder. Many sisters like myself are labelled bad wives and sometimes bad mothers. I won’t even go into how mothers-in-law treat us, with no sympathy and understanding DESPITE KNOWING. People assume if you are not sectioned into a mental institute or not actively trying to commit physical self-harm, then you are “okay”.
The psychological trauma we go through, the grief, the depression, anxiety, phobias, Waswasah, and doubts… on your partner your family and close ones! Not forgetting the doubts we have about Allah and Iman! But all of this is brushed to the side, which just escalates for matters for us.
We want to seek guidance from Ulama, but they say nothing except, “it’s all in your head!” La Hawla Wa Laa Quwwata Illa Billah…

“Did the Prophet SAW not suffer from Black Magic himself?”

Or was it just in His head SAW? …for six months He SAW was affected and He SAW never knew, He SAW found out later.
black mag
The Qur’an says we must seek help and assistance from people of knowledge. But they just make matters worse! I fear Allah whilst writing this, I am ashamed. But Wallahi alAzeem! These scholars need to refer back to their books. Nobody goes through everything in life, every illness, every pain, every suffering. So we can’t keep saying, because we haven’t experienced it we don’t believe in it. It breaks my heart to know this disease is spreading quicker and faster. More and more houses and families are being broken by Black Magic. But the world just stands and watches and shows us statistics of divorce rates. 
Are you unaware the most popular type of Black Magic is separating the husband and wife… read Surah baqarah: “From them  (Harut and Marut) they learned how they might divide a man and his wife.” (2:102)
Aside from that, the suicidal feelings, the self-harm, and nightmares we have on a daily basis. This is why I believe that Black Magic is far worse than cancer, diabetes, or TB! People, please understand what I’m saying! With these illnesses, you may lose your health, your teeth, lose weight, or other parts of your body and it becomes ‘apparent.’ Our suffering is all internal and we are ashamed to tell anyone. Why? Generally, people are judgmental as it is. “He can’t get married!” “She can’t have children!” What would they say if they knew we were possessed or a victim of Black Magic?!
Have you noticed how if we don’t display very obvious physical signs of illness or at least obvious signs of mental illness then, people assume- it’s not that bad?
This really pained me at my worst times 🙁 I sincerely felt like I had to explain myself constantly that no, just because it’s not so obvious, it is STILL extremely distressing, painful, and debilitating.
“Also? With the above mentioned diseases you don’t lose your Iman easily and fall into Shirk! We are constantly in a cloudy battle with Shaytan’s army, jinn and waswasah – nothing is clear to us. We want to end our lives or end our Iman. Nobody understands us… our reward is with Allah SWT! He tests whom he loves  (alHadith).”
I hope this is a reassuring message to all my friends who are suffering silently, Allah is with you. He is al-Hafeez, the best protector.
Please take this seriously, evil eye exists, black magic exists and Jinn possession exists. Please keep up your Azkaar and daily protection. 
NB: I would like to clarify one question which many sisters ask me, brothers may also be confused about it too…
QUESTION: We pray Manzil (dua book) regularly, we pray Hizbul Azam weekly, and our morning and evening Duas daily. Can we still be affected by Black Magic or Evil Eye?
ANSWER: All of the above are brilliant for general protection and we MUST do all of them and much more! But one can still be affected by Jinn or Black Magic or Evil Eye. The simple explanation for this is, the Prophet Alayhis Salam was also affected by Sihr. Who is more punctual on Azkar and Dua than Him Alayhi Salam? But he was still affected. Some people further ask, what is the benefit of reading all these Duas then? The benefit is the harm of Sihr/Jadoo will not be as great. I have always read Manzil- Alhumdu Lillah! When I was told about Sihr on me, it was said it only affected me 70%. Because of the protection, I was doing. So please do read the Wazeefahs you are doing, carry on. But once you have been affected by Jinn or Sihr you will need specific treatment, please contact a Shaykh.
I will leave links here for you all for Dua books:
mylittlebreathingspace.com/pdfbooks
Fatemah bint Sulayman, UK, (your sister in Islam).
Allah forgive me, please pray for me.
20 Dhul Qa’dah 1438
Categories
Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

Using Social Media and Technology Responsibly

By Hadhrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

 A key feature of the era we live in is the rapid development of technology and the continuous impact this has on our lives, both in terms of the way we live and how we spend our time. As Muslims we understand that the purpose of our life is to acquire the pleasure of Allāh ta‘ālā, by spending each moment of our life in accordance with His commands. As Allāh ta‘ālā is the All Knowing, He was completely aware of all material and technological developments that His servants would witness when He revealed the Glorious Qur’ān and showed us its practical application through the blessed life of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam. Therefore, Alhamdulillāh, Allāhta‘ālā has equipped the ‘Ulamā until the last day with the tools to guide the Ummah on how it should use any new developments, whilst not forgetting its ultimate objective.

A significant phenomenon of our time is the emergence and widespread use of the internet and smartphones which has led to new methods of communication, such as social media and email. Whilst social media and email has led to a revival of reading and writing, often the content and quality is highly questionable. Therefore, one must be mindful not to fall prey to the harmful aspects of these mediums, for example using them to engage in, or even publicise, acts of disobedience to Allāh ta‘ālā.

My objective is to outline some guidance for those who use the internet and smartphones, specifically in relation to messaging, email and using social media applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook. By sharing with readers some essential Islāmic teachings in this regard, inshā’allāh, we will be able to use technology productively, safeguarding ourselves from harmful activities.

Forwarding Messages Requires Precaution

A common trend upon receiving a message is the thoughtless and endemic usage of the ‘forward’ button. Messages are instantly forwarded to others, without proper understanding of its content nor consideration for the recipients. Many messages received are vague in nature; the truth behind them being seldom known. To spread a message without substantiating its content is very detrimental and could lead to sin, as to forward a lie is to spread a lie and be in support of it. Messages should never be shared until the content is verified and authenticated. False news or incorrect information regarding any matter can cause others unnecessary worry and concern, and will be tantamount to spreading a lie. Our Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

To narrate whatever one hears is enough for an individual to be considered a liar. (Muslim)

More Precaution for ‘Islāmic’ Messages

Messages of an Islāmic nature demand even more precaution. Verses of the Glorious Qur’ān and ahādīth of our beloved Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam with their translations are often carelessly miswritten or many times are sheer falsehood; yet are haphazardly forwarded and shared on social media. Messages promising fabricated virtues for baseless actions are shared with a caption to forward to as many as possible. At times emotional blackmail and false threats are also included, ‘if you do not forward this message to at least x amount of people then such and such shall happen to you’, naturally all such messages are a complete sham. Our Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam warned us:

Whosoever speaks about the Qur’ān without knowledge should take his place in the Fire. (At-Tirmidhī)

In another hadīth he sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam mentions:

A lie against me is not similar to a lie against any (normal) individual; whosoever lies regarding me should take his place in the Fire. (Al-Bukhārī)

One should be precautious when forwarding messages with seemingly Islāmic teachings without being completely sure of their authenticity or else such grave warnings await us. Once authenticated, messages maybe thoughtfully shared.

Permission to Share?

At times, messages are of a personal nature; information or news regarding a certain individual or institution or even a country. One should contemplate before forwarding whether the sender or those whom the information is regarding would consent for the details to be shared with others? Has specific permission been granted to forward and spread the message? If not, then it would be totally unethical and in many cases a sin to do so.

A Beneficial Message?

If we stand back and objectively reflect, we will conclude that a large percentage of emails and messages received on social media applications are of a futile nature. Our Dīn encourages engagement in prosperous activities and to avoid spending invaluable time and energy on any endeavours which are of no avail or in some instances harmful. Our beloved Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

It is from the excellence of an individual’s Islām that he leaves Lā ya‘nī (those things which do not benefit him). (Abū Dāwūd)

The Islāmic teaching regarding futility is eloquently set out in the hadīth above. One must contemplate before writing or forwarding any message, “Is it of any benefit in this world or the hereafter?” If the conclusion is negative, then this is a futile action which every Muslim should abstain from. Furthermore, sending or forwarding messages of such a nature may become the cause of others engaging in futility as well. Futility is in essence a waste of time and energy. Whilst one may ask what is the harm if a futile action is mubāh (permitted); it is akin to receiving a gift of £100 and thereafter throwing it down the gutter. Any reasonable person would be shocked and amazed at such an action, as whilst no apparent harm was suffered, the benefit that should have been achieved wasn’t and so in reality there has been a loss. Futility also brings one to the boundary of sin and therefore it is best to avoid, as it can easily lead to disobedience directly or indirectly through other actions which may follow. May Allāh ta‘ālā save us.  

A Clear Message?

If all the above guidelines are dutifully met, then one should finally consider whether a message will cause any misunderstanding or misconception amongst those who receive it? After all it is an Islāmic principle and also a general etiquette of life, to always consider whether sharing information has the potential to cause a misunderstanding. Ibn Mas‘ūd radhiyallāhu ‘anhu mentions:

Whenever you speak to people regarding something which is beyond their intellect, it will surely be a means of fitnah (tribulation) for some of them. (Muslim)

If one is unsure or even has the slightest doubt whether a certain message could cause a misunderstanding, then it should not be shared. We should be extremely careful and considerate in this regard, as this will bring peace and comfort to all.

Recording or Taking Photos without Permission

The use of technology to record private conversations of people without their permission is against the teachings of Islām. A person is generally informal when in private with one’s close associates and generally the topics discussed are within a specific context and with the relevant background known to those present. If excerpts from such conversations are shared, it can become the means of causing immense misunderstanding and result in serious consequences. One should respect the privacy of others when in private environments and only record their voices when clear permission is granted. The same principle applies to taking photography or video filming at a private or an informal gathering.

Photography & Video Filming: Respecting the View of Others

It is widely known that there is a difference of opinion amongst the ‘Ulamā regarding video filming and photography; some adopt the view of permissibility whilst others take a precautious stance. To make a video of or to take a picture of someone who holds the latter view is extremely unfair and discourteous. This is tantamount to open disrespect for the personal view of that individual and gravely inconsiderate.

I would appeal to my readers to pay due attention to the etiquettes mentioned above in relation to certain aspects of using technology and bring them into practice. May Allāh ta‘ālā grant us all the understanding of our beautiful religion and its all-encompassing teachings of pure and considerate morals and ethics. Āmīn.

© Riyādul Jannah (Vol. 25 No. 2, Feb 2016)

• Please forward this message on to all your contacts •

Please also find below Forty Hadith on Social Media by a different author, Omar Usman.

40HadithSocialMedia

Categories
Current Affairs articles

Qurbani – ‘Sacrifice’ or just comparing the price?

Unfortunately, Qurbani has become rather like car insurance, where one searches for the lowest quote and the cheapest price, this should not be the case.
 
We shouldn’t think of Qurbani or any obligation in Islam as a burden or tax. Rather, we should fulfil it for solely the pleasure of Allah SWT.
 
Give to the “needy” countries.
Give to the “poorest” country.
Don’t go for the lowest quote.
 
Did you know there are many Muslims who don’t eat meat all year round, only on Eid? Remember that next time you’re licking those chicken legs and nibbling on that Kobeda.
 
I feel sooner or later, we will have websites or apps like ‘gocompare’… ‘goqurbani’ that will compare charities and countries then show which are the cheapest animals, Astaghfirullah.
 
My gripe is we earn thousands of pounds and when it comes to spending for Allah SWT, we are tight fisted – La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billa.
 
The saddest part of all of this is, how deep our selfishness goes. The word ‘Udhiyyah’ (Arabic), ‘Qurbani’ (Urdu), actually means ‘sacrifice’. It really shows whether we love Allah or just love our pockets, our purses and our bank accounts.
 
Lastly, many of you reading this will be from Bangladesh/India/Pakistan. Let’s not just focus on these countries, we have many of our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world who are living in extreme poverty. I understand that some of these other countries have extortionate rates for an animal. If we all go for a £20 share in a cow from India and just want to absolve ourselves from this obligation, who will feed the Muslims in Iraq and Palestine where a large animal costs almost £2,000 (approx £300 per share). It is advised that family and friends get together and offer a ‘Nafl’ Qurbani in these countries, i.e. split the cost between them, if they can’t afford a full share. A great way of doing this is with the intention of Esale Thawab. This Eid, let’s not deprive anyone In Sha Allah, Allah soften our hearts, Ameen.
 
Please bear in mind, Qurbani comes once a year and we eat meat on a regular basis in the UK.
 
ASK YOURSELF: ARE YOU SACRIFICING OR JUST COMPARING THE PRICES?!
 
 
(Mawlana) Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (one who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure).
 
1st Dhul Qa’dah 1438
 
 

Categories
Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

The Demise of the ‘Ulama

By Shaykh-ul-Hadīth, Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

On Tuesday 11th July 2017, upon awakening I received the sad news of the demise of Hadrat Mawlānā Ismail Badat rahimahullāh, the khalīfah of Shaykh-ul-Hadīth Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Zakariyyā rahimahullāh. Mawlānā Ismail Badat rahimahullāhhad settled in Al-Madīnah Al-Munawwarah in the 1970s and lived a life of piety and devotion. Māshā’allāh, it was his daily practice to recite the entire Qur’ān. He would begin reciting at home and come to Al-Masjid An-Nabawī before ‘Asr Salāh, where he would continue reciting until he had completed the Qur’ān. May Allāh ta‘ālā accept his efforts and worship, and elevate his status in Jannah.

I was still in a state of grief, when a few hours later I received the sad news of the demise of another great luminary of our era, the great muhaddith, Hadrat Shaykh-ul-Hadīth Mawlānā Muhammad Yunus Jonpuri rahimahullāh. He was also a khalīfah ofHadrat Shaykh rahimahullāh and a very knowledgeable person with a very high status in piety. He was a master in the science of Hadīth, due to which he was given the title ‘Muhaddith-ul-‘Asr’, the muhaddith of our era.

Naturally, I was very grieved and overwhelmed by the loss of two great personalities in one day, both of whom I had personally derived benefit from. The passing away of great ‘Ulamā one after the other is clearly a sign of Qiyāmah. The demise of such ‘Ulamā, who cannot be substituted by others of equivalent calibre, is a clear indication that the Day of Qiyāmah is drawing closer. Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam says,

Verily, Allāh does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people, but He takes it away by taking away (the lives of) the ‘Ulamā till no ‘ālim remains. Then the people will take ignorant ones as their leaders, who, when asked to deliver religious verdicts, will issue them without knowledge, (the result being that) they will go astray and will lead others astray. (Al-Bukhārī, Muslim)

The knowledge of Dīn diminishes with the passing away of such ‘Ulamā. And as knowledge decreases, the Ma‘rifah (recognition) of Allāh ta‘ālā decreases. And when the Ma‘rifah of Allāh ta‘ālā will remain no more, there will be no one to remember Allāh ta‘ālā and this will bring Qiyāmah. Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam has mentioned:

Qiyāmah shall not arrive until it is not said in the earth: ‘Allāh, Allāh.’ (i.e. Qiyāmah shall only arrive when Allāh ta‘ālā is no longer being remembered in this world.) (Muslim)

In the past 20 years, many great luminaries have left this world. Each one of them held a place of his own in the field of ‘ilm and ‘amal and accomplished great achievements. Sadly, their demise has left a vacuum unfilled. During such occasions, we should take lesson and start to prepare for the hereafter. The following lessons will benefit us:

1) Nobody stays in this world forever. Even the close friends of Allāh ta‘ālā must leave this world one day for the hereafter. Allāh ta‘ālā says to His Messengersallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam:

We have not prescribed eternal life for anyone before you. (21:34)

2) By studying the lives of these pious people and their efforts, we should learn the method of acquiring the success of this world and the hereafter. These people truly became the embodiment of the hadīth of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam:

(The best is he) whose life is long and actions are good. (At-Tirmidhī)

    Hence, we should study the lives of these great luminaries and strive to follow in their footsteps, in both ‘ilm and ‘amal.

3) When a great ‘ālim and friend of Allāh ta‘ālā passes away, we feel remorse for not having benefitted from him in the way we should have. Therefore, upon realising this, we need to take maximum benefit from the ‘Ulamā who remain behind; from their academic and spiritual expertise with regards to Dīn, lest we are again left with nothing but regret. Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam has said:

The righteous will continue to depart (from this world) one after the other, and the useless people, like the husk of barley and dates, shall remain. And Allāh will not care the least for them. (Al-Bukhārī)

May Allāh ta‘ālā accept the efforts of these great personalities and give them the best of rewards in the hereafter. And may He give us the ability to follow in their footsteps and acquire success in this world and the everlasting success of the hereafter. Āmīn.

© Riyādul Jannah (Vol. 26 No. 7, July 2017