True Worship

Recently my Shaykh, Hadhrat Maulana Adam Sahib gave a talk on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Bara'ah (Laylat-ul Bara'ah). As usual, many people attended to the talk in order to benefit and take home some form of worship that they may bring into action for that night and earn the rewards that are mentioned for the blessed night.

On this occasion, My Shaykh gave a thought provoking talk on the 'true' form of worship which was iterated over the course of the talk. Following is a brief recollection of Hadhrat's message on this occasion:

The deed which needs to be concentrated on within this night, and in general, is the act of Muraaqabah / Dhyaan, thinking and pondering in general and in particular to the occurrence of death and all matters connected to it.

Allah تعالى has stated in the holy Qur'an

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونََ

"O you who believer! Fear Allah and let every soul look towards what he has (prepared and) sent forth for tomorrow, and fear Allah. Indeed he is aware of that which you do"

[Surah al-Hashr - 59:18]

In this verse, Allah's reference towards 'tomorrow' is an indication towards death and Qiyamah. Therefore, this verse is a reminder for all the believers that they should ponder over their deeds so that they may assess their deeds which they have prepared for the life that is to come after death.

In the eighteenth Parah Allah تعالى states:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا

"O you who believer! Repent towards Allah, a sincere repentance"

[Surah at-Tahreem - 66:18]

In this verse Allah تعالى is telling us 'توبوا' which means repent, and this should be done quickly, yet more so, immediately, as one cannot tell when one's Qiyamah will begin, which is at the time of his death. It could be so that death comes to us in our sleep and we do not have the opportunity to repent on another day.

At the time of death there will be 'Fikr' (worries) of so many different matters and one will not be able to repent at that time. Therefore, the time to repent is now.

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak رضي الله عنه was a great Muhaddith (scholar of Hadeeth) who had students in the excess of forty thousand who would attend his gathering within jungles just to acquire a single Hadeeth with his Sanad (chain of narration).

He states that at one point in life he fell in love with a woman, this was prior to being religiously inclined let alone being a Muhaddith. One day he appointed a time with women and told her to meet him at night at a particular place. As arranged, he went there and waited and waited. However, she never arrived and he waited all night. When Subh Sadiq (Dawn) was upon him the call of Adhaan reached his ears from a nearby Masjid. At this point he was astonished to find that it was already morning and felt great remorse upon the fact that he spent an entire night waiting for a woman that never came. At this point a thought crossed his mind; had I spent this time in the worship of Allah I surely would have achieved the status of a Wali (friend of Allah), whereas if death had taken him in this state he would have been doomed for Hell.

Upon this though he wept and repented to Allah with all sincerity and remorse. Thereafter, after Ishraaq (optional prayers) he set towards the town where many 'Ulamaa (scholars) resided. Whilst he was walking the sun was shining upon him and he could feel the heat on his head. He had just embarked upon his journey when a pious saint, heading in the same direction, accompanied him.

It was at this point that they both experienced a cloud above them which was providing a shade for them from the heat of the sun.

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Mubarak understood that this is a great saint for whom the cloud is providing shade. However, at a point where the saint had to depart to his own destination, he saw that the cloud had remained upon the head of Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Mubarak as opposed to his own. This startled him and he questioned Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Mubarak as to what deeds he performed and how he obtained such a rank!

Subhanallah. يَا أَيُّهَا الإنْسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ - O people! What has turned you away and deceived from your Merciful Lord? [Surah al-Infitaar - 82:6]. He is Allah, the one that elevates you after so many years of disobedience! He is Allah that raises you to the ranks of a Wali as soon as you turn towards Him and seek sincere forgiveness, توبة نصوحا!

We all know the difference between right and wrong and we are well aware of what is permissible and what is forbidden. In this night we need to remember death and what would happen to us if we were to die tonight.

I am therefore not emphasising the Fadha'il (rewards and blessings) of Salaah, Sawm and Tasbeehaat; instead the emphasis is on Muraaqabah (remembrance of death).

Sa'di says in his Persian poetry:

The path upon which you are treading is that of Turkey,
you will therefore never reach the Ka'ba

I feel pity for these young people of today as they have not seen the Wali of Allah wale. Their talks and deeds would emit from the heart and penetrate directly into the heart.

The likes of Hadhrat Shah Wasi-ullah رحمه الله would be monitored so that a Karaamah (miracles) performed by the Shaykh. They would at times feel disappointed having felt that no Karaamah performed by the Shaykh. However, these were such authorities that had Jilaal and Jalaal, they would be aware of people's though and would correct them in the most appropriate way. On one such occasion Hadhrat Shah Wasi-ullah رحمه الله questioned the visitor as to whether he had seen Shah Wasi-ullah doing any act which was contradictory to the Sunnah. My friends, this is the real Karaamah.

This is also seen and experienced within the company of the likes of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani. Remember, the Karaamaat of the Auliyaa are Haq (reality and in existence).

Allah continues in the verse mentioned above that if you seek sincere repentance then...

عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأنْهَارُ

"It is possible that your Lord will forgive your sins and enter you in to such a paradise under which rivers flow"

[Surah at-Tahreem - 66:18]

The 'Ulamaa explain that when we say 'it may be possible' then there is a chance of that promise being fulfilled as well as a chance of it not being fulfilled. However, when Allah uses the term 'it may be possible' then the matter is final and it will definitely be the case and Allah will fulfil that which has stated.

The terminology is used here taking into consideration the audience. Allah is thinking of us and talking to us on our level. It is like when we talk to children and babies, we talk in their language and at their level; if we were to talk like that to an adult they would think that we have gone mad!

Look at the mercy of Allah; if we were in a position of authority and someone under our command made a mistake we would at best forgive the individual, but at the same time we would warn him and keep in mind that this individual has already made a mistake. We would not be prepared to forget the mistake that has been made and forgive his mistakes time and again.

However, the mercy of Allah is such that not only does He forgive His subjects, but He further gives you Jannah for seeking forgiveness; and this Jannah will be on such a day when people will be full of regret and remorse. Furthermore, as mentioned in the verse, He will grant you Nur (divine light) on that day also.

My Shaykh, Hadhrat Maulana Adam Sahib then mentioned an incident of a saint (whose name I cannot recall). At the time of the saint's demise he had his students around his death bed; these students were themselves great scholars. The saint instructed the students to make place around his death bed and then place him on the floor.

The students were reluctant to do this but upon the saint's persistence they had no choice but to abide. When the saint was placed on the floor he would rub his beard on the ground and seek Allah's mercy by saying, O Allah! Have mercy upon this white beard. He would say this repeatedly and it is in this state that his death came to him.

Death can come at any time and to anyone. Once a person came to me (meaning my Shaykh, Hadhrat Maulana Adam Sahib) for an illness which they had. The person was accompanied by another person who mentioned to Hadhrat that I am not in need of the Taaweez as I am quite healthy and drink gallons and gallons of milk per day (to maintain my health). It was a few days after they had come to see me that I was informed that this same person who was healthy and drinking gallons and gallons of milk had passed away.

Similarly, Rabiya Basariyah رحمة الله عليها was once busy in Dhikr when a man went past and rested upon a nearby tree. He opened his food that he had brought within him took out some roasted chicken.

On seeing this, Rabiya Basariyah began saying, O Allah, O Allah. The man offered her some food assuming that she was hungry and therefore showing remorse upon seeing the food. However, Rabiya Basariyah proclaimed, I don't need the food, I am crying and showing remorse because we slaughter the chicken and roast it in this world, but in the Hereafter we are the ones that will be roasted.

As mentioned in Surah al-Humazah, نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الأفْئِدَةِ (the fire of Allah kindled, that which mounts upon the hearts)

Hadhrat ibn 'Aws رحمه الله was in the last Saff (row) behind Hadhrat 'Umar رضي الله عنه who was reciting Surah Yusuf. When the recitation reached the verses of إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ (I complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah alone) he was overcome and could not continue his Salaah.

Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani رحمه الله called for his son at the time of his death. When his son arrived Shaykh Abdul Qadir gave him Naseehah and said, if u leave your Faraaidh for Nawafil then you have achieved nothing; if you do Haraam and forbidden acts then there is no point in your worship.

Remember the Hereafter! At the time of dead the deceased can hear the footsteps of those on the ground. If we have performed good deeds then it will not bother or trouble us when those who have buried us leave us.

Sa’di says that:

The world is a time-pass, don't commit to it and depend upon it.
Don't become deceived and free of fear by the game of every day.
Don't take for granted whatever Allah has given you,
All that you have today have already passed before
and will come again after they perish from you.

Let us be frank and straight forward, you will one day go from this world and so will I. Therefore, there is no need to be 'beat around the bush'... Remembrance of death in this night is essential.

May Allah give us all the inclination and strength to act upon what has been said and heard (and what has been written and read). Aameen

Turning to Allah & the 15th Night of Sha'ban

Another episode which my Hadhrat chose to mention during his talk on the 15th of Sha’ban is the one that follows. As mentioned previously, Hadhrat mentioned the reality of the 15th night of Sha’ban by stressing the importance of forgiveness and its power to convert a sinner into the friend of Allah within a blink of an eyelid.

The following incident is an indication of Allah’s love and mercy and how His slaves and creation should turn to Him at all times.

Hafidh ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله is a great scholar whom many great Muffasir and Muhaddith quote and refer too.

He states that once I was going past a village when I saw a child being thrown out the house by his mother and he was being scolded at and receiving a good beaten. The scholars have even mentioned that this boy was the age of eight or nine. The mother threw the child out and closed the door on him telling him not to return. Hafidh Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله states that when I saw this I felt that I should interfere but then decided to watch what the child decides to do and how the matter continues.

The child remained in the veranda of the house and thereafter he strayed a little down the street and returned back to the house. The child seemed to be tired and therefore he placed his head on the doorstep of the house and fell asleep. After a short time the mother came out to see her son sleeping on the doorstep; she again kicked him and told him to leave and then again closed the door.

Hafidh Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله states that he continued to watch what happens to the child and how the child and mother both respond to the incident that was occurring. After a few moments, the mother once again opened the door to find the child still sitting there. Seeing him the mother asked him, have you not left yet? The child replied, O mother, when you first threw me out I wandered around for a while thinking that what is there at home apart from shelter and food and therefore I realised I could get a good job and fulfil these requirements. I wandered in the streets looking at jobs that I could possibly acquire. However, I could not find the motherhood which I find here neither the love of my mother or her mercy. Hearing this the mother burst into tears and took her son in her arms.

After seeing this incident Hafidh Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله says O you who believe in Allah and the mercy of Allah; that Allah who is so forgiving and so merciful. If you leave His doorstep then you will remain wondering around being pushed around from here to here. Now is the time, hold steadfast to his doorstep by seeking His forgiveness.

This is the reality of the 15th Night of Sha’ban.

May Allah give us all the inclination and strength to hold steadfast to His doorstep and through the medium of a sincere forgiveness. Aameen.

The 15th Night of Sha'ban (ليلة البراءة)

Amongst the many virtues of the month of شعبان (Sha'ban) is the fifteenth night; which is commonly known as ليلة البراءة (Laylatul Baraa'ah - The night of freedom from the Hell fire).

There are many evidences of the blessings and auspiciousness if this night within the Ahadeeth of our Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم. A leaflet, by my respected teacher, highlighting a few of these can be found here.

On this auspicious night my respected teacher gave a talk followed by the talk of my honourable Shaykh, Hadhrat Maulana Adam Sahib حفظه الله. I feel it necessary to highlight some of the points he made and outlining the gist and content of his talk. Here is a summary of his talk:

The blessed night of Sha'ban is that night within which we seek sincere forgiveness from Allah for all of our sins; a night within which we make a change and revere that forgiveness by upholding it not for this night along but for eternity.

If we think that by praying tonight we will be forgiven regardless of our actions tomorrow then we are in a great misconception. If we pray all night and then forget the morning prayer (Fajr) then this night of prayer has been futile and wasted. I have mentioned many a times that the saints have explained that when we offer Salaah for Allah then the sign of its acceptance is the offering of the following Salaah; if we offer the following Salaah then we should assume that Allah has accepted our first prayer and if not then the first prayer has not been accepted.

In the same manner, if we worship Allah through this night and then we follow this worship with dedication to gain His proximity then we can assume that this night of prayer has been accepted by Him. Let us remember that the Religion is that which Allah has outlined and not that which we have invented ourselves. Our belief that this night will cleanse us all sins is rejected by Allah if we fail to follow Him and worship Him at all times.

If we want to make this night one of acceptance then we should aim to sincerely turn to Allah asking for His forgiveness from all those sins which we have committed with a firm intention to leave all the sins; those which we can leave immediately should be shunned at that point and those which take time (example interest related loans) we should aim to seek out a solution which will free us from such sins.

You may have heard of the great scholar and saint Hadhrat 'Abdullah ibn Mubarak رحمه الله. A great personallity and ولي الله (friend of Allah). He is known today as one of the greatest Muhaditheen (scholars of Hadith) and he is quoted in many books of Ahadith and commentaries of the Arabs. Listen to his story of sincere forgiveness:

Hadhrat 'Abdullah ibn Mubarak was a ordinary man who had not acquired the realisation of Allah. At one point he fell in love with a women for whom he waited an entire night and even then the women did not show. He waited for her for such a long period that he heard the Adhan (call) for Fajr being called. At this point he felt such remorse within his heart at the time he had wasted in anticipation of this women; if he had spent that time for Allah he would have surely been rewared. With this thought in mind he entered the Masjid with the sincere intention of mending his ways and seeking a Shaykh's company who would guide him towards acquiring Allah. To fulfill this he travelled with a saint some time after leaving the Masjid.

Whilst on this journey with the saint they both noticed a cloud over their heads shading them from the heat of the son. Hadhrat 'Abdullah ibn Mubarak assumed that this was the saints position in the sight of Allah and was pleased from being saved from the sun. They travelled to a point where they had to split up; upon doing so the saint had assumed that the cloud would accompany him. However, seeing that the cloud had parted from above him and shaded Hadhrat 'Abdullah ibn Mubarak inspired him to make an inquest of the matter.

Upon questioning Hadhrat 'Abdullah ibn Mubarak the saint learnt his story and proclaimed, by Allah, you have become a ولي الله (friend of Allah) from the moment you stepped out of the Masjid. You may be travelling to acquire a Shaykh but I can assure you that you will find none with an equal status to yours.

Look at this incident my respected brothers! The power of sincerity and true forgiveness can turn a person into the friend of Allah in a split second.

We have become negligent and unaware of this matter; we have chosen to sit in a lighted room like the one we are in now, full of tube lights, yet the tube light of our heart has been switched off. If we just switched on the light within out hearts we would find no need to sit under the hundreds of tube lights to feel enlightened. Look at Hadhrat 'Abdullah ibn Mubarak, he switched on the light within his heart and became the friend of Allah in a blink of an eyelid.

We all know of the famous saint Hadhrat Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله; let us listen to an incident that took place in his time.

There was once a boy whose father had passed away during his early age. The mother decided not to marry again as she was in certainty of remaining chaste and was hoping for the child's welfare by not remarrying. The child however grew to become mischievous and misguided. He had wealth and youth which he used both without any limits and consideration of right and wrong.

The mother was a pious woman and when she learnt of her son's behaviour she turned to her teacher, Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri to have a word with him. Hoping that this would make a difference, Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri on many occasions talked with the young man and advised him and called him towards Allah. However, the boy remained engrossed in his lifestyle and ignored the saint's advice.

It so happened that the boy became ill, as is the case with sins; it sickens the physical and spiritual body, and it reached a stage where he was bed bound. It was not that he realised his mistakes and turned to Allah knowing that his time had come to an end. In anticipation of repenting and turning to Allah he asked his mother to approach Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri and inform him of his condition and to implore him to visit her dying son. He also told her that if the saint refused to visit him then to ask him to lead his Janaza prayer upon his death.

The mother approached her teacher, Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri, narrating to him what her son had stated. On hearing this Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri became angered and said it is my time to teach and I will not leave my students who are eager to learn for someone who ignored my advice time and again. The mother then informed him of her son’s request for Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri to lead his Janaza prayer upon which, whilst in his anger, he said I shall not offer his prayer as he never offered prayer whilst he was alive and never turned to Allah.


The mother returned to her dying son with tears in her eyes; she told her son of the conversation that had taken place. Her son consoled her and instructed her to tie scarf around his neck upon his death and to drag him outside the house so that the onlookers could see the state of such a person who does not turn to Allah and follow his commands. He also stated that upon his death he should not be buried in the Muslim graveyard lest his punishment would descend upon them also; instead he should be buried in a corner of the garden of the house.

A short while later the son passed away leaving his mother in tears. During this time a knock was heard on the door. Hearing this the mother exclaimed, who is the one who knocks the door at this time to which she heard, it is me, Hassan al-Basri. The women hurried to open the door and informed the saint of the final request of her son as well as to enquire as to why the saint had decided to come. Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri informed her that he had never been privileged to see Allah except at that moment in which she had left. When Hadhrat Hassan al-Basri went to rest in the afternoon Allah came to him in his dream and said are you, being the friend of Allah, not going to lead the Janaza prayer of another friend of Allah? At this moment I realised the status of your son who, with his broken heart, has acquired the position of a ولي الله.

So you see my friends, it takes just a few moments to become the friend of Allah if one has the sincerity in his heart and the ability to seek a sincere forgiveness. Let us all turn to Him, seeking His forgiveness and making a promise that we shall immediately leave all sins and should we make an error we shall turn to Him immediately. If we do this then this night will truly be a blessed and auspicious night for us.

May Allah give us all the inclination to seek sincere forgiveness and to leave all sins immediately so that by doing so we can attain the rank of ولي الله. Aameen.