Request or Order?

Alhumdulillah, the religion of Islam has outlined a complete way of life whilst balancing the rights given to each individual.

These rights are distributed and balanced to create harmony between various people, whether it be family members, colleagues, friends, teachers, students etc.

On this point my respected Shaykh, Hadhrat Maulana Adam Sahib, mentioned one of his rights as a father over his children. He mentioned that when he would want his son, my Ustadh, Maulana Imran Sahib, to return home at a certain time or to complete a certain task then he would never command by saying 'do this' as this would be within his rights and require his son to abide; and failing to do so would make him sinful.

Instead he would request through words such as 'can you...' which, whilst not exercising his rights, conveys the message of what he wants.

Alhumdulillah, through informing us of his personal practice, Hadhrat has shown as that the rights in Islam are their as a guidance to ensure that the needs of individuals are not violated and that each person is aware of their rights and responsibilities. However, many a times it is more beneficial to forego your rights to display your love and affection to those you love and also saving them from an obligation which could have lead to the individual becoming sinful.

Alhumdulillah, if we consider our rights in this manner then it will create an atmosphere of love and affection with those close to us. At the same time each person will learn to do things for another not because they 'have to' bit rather because they 'want to'

May Allah give us all the understanding to create an atmosphere of loge and affection within our homes and lives. Aameen.

Be Distinguised and Unique

Yesterday my honourable Shaykh, Hadhrat Maulana Adam Sahib حفظه الله. called all the 'graduates' to impart some advice to us.

These meetings are at times frequent and they are nothing but an honour for me as they provide me with not just mere guidance but an insight of my honourable Shaykh's spirituality, mercy and consideration for his students and those who wish to benefit from him.

On this occasion the meeting was short as there was a period of thirty minutes before the Adhan of Eisha Salaah.

Amongst many advices, which were directed and particular for the 'graduates' there was one important advice, which despite being general, is one that can completely change the life of an individual with knowledge.

My honourable Shaykh Hadhrat Maulana Adam Sahib حفظه الله. reiterated the following phrase on several occasions to highlight its importance:

تمہاری ‍زندگی ایک ممتاز ‍زندگی ہوني چاہۓ

Your lifestyle should be a distinguished and unique lifestyle

This sentence seems to be very self explanatory, especially when it is being directed to 'Ulamaa and graduates. It indicates that those for have graduated as 'Ulamaa should have a lifestyle which is not that of the ordinary layman. It should be a lifestyle which in itself sets an example for others to follow.

However, if we ponder of these words and think of it on a wider scale then we can implement this advice on each individual.

Primarily, those with Islamic knowledge end education should stand out from those who are less privileged in this area. The knowledge of this group of people should be reflected in their action and therefore be a cause of encouragement for others to follow in these steps and also implement these in their own lives.

On an even wider scale, those who have accepted Islam should have a distinguished lifestyle from those who have not accepted this Islam. Our religion should be highlighted and taught primarily through our actions and thereafter supplemented with our words.

Our actions, habits, manners and etiquettes should be the primary form of invitation to Islam, its knowledge and its adoption within our lifestyles.

I can recall during our days at the Darul Uloom, Hadhrat حفظه الله would ask us to implement the knowledge we taught at the time we acquired it. He would warn us that the knowledge we acquired was a gift from Allah سبحانه و تعالى and should not be taken for granted.

At the same time, a parent who has sent his child to the Darul Uloom should be able to distinguish and compare the etiquettes of one son who is in the Darul Uloom against another who has taken the path towards secular education. If there is no difference between the two then there is a fault within our implementation and understanding of this 'knowledge'.

In conclusion, it is vital for each person to be an example to the onlooker. Our actions should be the cause of someone's guidance and not their misguidance. In the same manner, those are in a position of leadership or high status they should implement actions which guide and encourage others towards the right path and not be a deterrent to bring the servants of Allah onto His chosen Path.

May Allah سبحانه و تعالى give us all the guidance and understanding on His religion so that we are able to primarily implement it within our lifestyles and thereafter, by doing so, making it a means of others being guided to the chosen Path of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Aameen.

Importance of Islamic Education

Recently Hadhrat called all the parents of those students in the 'Alim classes to generally discuss the decision taken by the parents to enrol their children into the 'Alim course. He highlighted the importance of Islamic education and its importance for the children as well as the parents.

He gave an emotional and touching talk explaining the value of Islamic knowledge and the difference of children who are educated with Islamic knowledge in comparison to those who are ignorant of Islamic understanding.

Many examples were giving from Hadhrat's experiences; some of which are paraphrased below:

1. I was once in a car during my journey to Syria where the driver went past a small snake (palm size). The driver stopped the car and killed the snake. I asked him, why go through so much trouble to kill the small snake. He said, today the snake is small but a time will come when it will grow and start biting all the people.

2. Once whilst in Azadville I was returning home from the Masjid when I was told by my companions that there was a ill man and we should visit him. Upon visiting him he thanked us by saying he was awaiting someome who could give him water. The man was in his last days and we assumed he had no children. But whilst getting the water we saw all his young children sitting and watching television.

3. On one occasion I enquired about a man on his death bed who was being punched by a young lad. I was told that the young person was the son of the dying old man who was thumping the old man to retrieve from him the location and amount of his wealth that he was leaving behind.

4. In one of the newspapers there was a printed letter from a young girl who wrote to her father from the confines of her prison cell. She wrote to inform her father that he was liable and to blame for her current situation as he had not taught her the religious obligations and had not guided her. She added that she would be punished in this world but he would be punished in the Hereafter as well.

All these incidents show us how our children will become without religious guidance and knowledge. They will become like that small snake who might seem harmless today but in the future will yearn to bite us.

This is just an indication of the benefits of Deen and Islamic knowledge. If the true benefits were known then people would send their children to Madrassah without question and there would be no place in the Darul Ulooms to accommodate these people. Like it is mentioned regarding the Salaah; people would come crawling even if they had no legs.

These are indications which I am sure you can understand and comprehend the entire depths of. Time is short and I don't want to go into too much details. But I would like to congratulate you on sending your children to the Madrassah for this knowledge. Don't question as to where their livelihood will come from.

Will a man in a hut with sufficient funds and livelihood ever swap places with a wealthy man who has a mansion yet has an illness which keeps him distressed? There are many incidents of such people; some people have invited me to dinner at their houses and have asked me to make Du'aa for them; despite their apparent comfort and luxury they are suffering.

On one occasion, I was visited by a man who had come in a brand-new Mercedes, he came he to seek advice about family issues and problems. Tell me of what use is this luxury and Mercedes? I am not saying that it is not permissible to have luxuries and Mercedes; may Allah give Barakah (blessing) in the wealth of the believers. What I am saying is that apparent wealth is of no value if it is does not come with peace and contentment; and this can only be found in the remembrance of Allah and educating our children in matters of Deen.

Only when they come to the Darul Ulooms and Madaaris will they be drilled with the value and importance of one's parents; only then will they know of the punishments of mistreating their elders and parents. I teach they Sahih Bukhari here and daily we come across Ahadeeth were at times it is mentioned that Jannah lies under the feet of the mother and at times it states that your parents are your Jannah or your Jahannam.

May Allah give us all the understanding of Deen and give us the inclination to send our children to the Darul Ulooms to teach them their religion and importance of parents so that they can be the coolness of their parents' eyes. Aameen