Free. Are we really free? Consider the hadith of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam:
\u062a\u0639\u0633 \u0639\u0628\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u064a\u0646\u0627\u0631 \u0648\u0639\u0628\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u0631\u0647\u0645 \u0648\u0639\u0628\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062e\u0645\u064a\u0635\u0629 \u0625\u0646 \u0623\u0639\u0637\u064a \u0631\u0636\u064a \u0648\u0625\u0646 \u0644\u0645 \u064a\u0639\u0637 \u0633\u062e\u0637
May the slave of the gold coin, silver coin and the shawl perish! He is happy if he receives but unhappy if he does not.\u00a0
Slaves of gold, silver and stylish clothes . . . Is this not a true description of most people in the world today? Slaves of rands, dollars and pounds, slaves of our businesses and jobs, slaves of our appearances . . . slaves of the material world! So, are we really free? Should I say, \u2018Free, but not\u2019?<\/p>\n
Consider another hadith of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam:
\u0627\u0644\u062f\u0651\u064f\u0646\u0652\u064a\u064e\u0627 \u0633\u0650\u062c\u0652\u0646\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u064f\u0624\u0652\u0645\u0650\u0646\u0650 \u060c \u0648\u064e\u062c\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0629\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0643\u064e\u0627\u0641\u0650\u0631\u0650
The dunya is the prison of the Believer and the paradise of the unbeliever.
We implore Allah for protection from rejection of any hadith because it defies logic. People sometimes question the veracity of this hadith. \u2018Look around you\u2019 they exclaim, \u2018so many affluent Muslims and thousands of non-Muslims living in abject poverty. Are affluent Muslims not enjoying a type of worldly paradise? On the other hand, is suffering and misery heavenly?\u2019 This question was posed to one of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam\u2019s grandsons. \u2018You have not understood the meaning of the hadith\u2019 he replied, \u2018It\u2019s meaning is that in comparison to the luxuries of Jannah, the life of a Believer \u2013 no matter how wealthy he may be \u2013 is comparable to a prison. Worldly luxury and comfort are incomparable to the bounties that await the Believer in Jannah. On the other hand, the worldly suffering and misery of unbeliever are incomparable to the suffering and misery of the inhabitants of Jahannam. Thus, the worldly difficulty of the unbeliever is always a paradise in comparison to what awaits him in Jahannam.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Besides, comparison of one thing to another does not demand equality between the two in every aspect. For example, a brave man is often called a lion. This does not mean that he walks on fours, has a tail, smelly mouth and a thunderous roar like a lion. The comparison is only in bravery. Likewise, comparison of the Believer\u2019s life in the dunya to a prison is only with regards to restrictions that he has to observe. He is not permitted to do whatever he desires. He may only do what Allah permits him to do. Similarly, comparison of the unbeliever\u2019s life in the dunya to a paradise is only with regards to the absence of restriction. He does whatever he desires. <\/p>\n
Returning to where we started, are we really free? Politically, we are free. We are not slaves of other people. Yet, we are the slaves of Allah! Thus, Allah repeatedly calls us His slaves. Therefore, we are free, yet we are not! <\/p>\n
Our Purpose, Our Obligation
With regards the purpose of man\u2019s creation, Allah Ta\u2019aala says:
\u0648\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u062e\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0642\u0652\u062a\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u062c\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0625\u0650\u0646\u0652\u0633\u064e \u0625\u0650\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0627 \u0644\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0628\u064f\u062f\u064f\u0648\u0646\u0650
I only created jinn and man so that they would worship me.
The Arabic word for worship, \u2018ibaadah, is derived from the same root as the Arabic word for slave, \u2018abd. Thus, the meaning of this aayah is \u2018I only created jinn and man so that they behave like my slaves\u2019. Furthermore, the Arabs say:
\u0627\u0644\u0625\u0646\u0633\u0627\u0646\u064f \u0639\u0628\u062f\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0625\u062d\u0633\u0627\u0646\u0650
Man is the slave of benevolence.
Do a man a favour and he becomes obliged to you. Allah is man\u2019s greatest benefactor. In fact, He is man\u2019s only benefactor. Therefore, should man not behave like His slaves? Is it not our purpose and obligation, even if we are free?\u00a0\u00a0
A Question of Perception
You must have heard the adage \u2018Beauty is in the eye of the beholder\u2019. The same is true with regards to pleasure etc. It is a question of perception. One man\u2019s satisfaction may not be the same for another. The Indian eats his spicy hot food with relish, even if it causes excessive perspiration. The European thinks he is punishing himself. \u2018Crazy Indian\u2019 he thinks. Obedience to Allah\u2019s command is similar. In the eyes of the onlooker, it is restrictive, strenuous and demanding. For the worshipper, however, it is Jannah. His solace is in worshipping Allah. The following quotations depict this phenomenon:
\uf07e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf this is the condition of the dwellers of Jannah, they certainly have a pleasant life.\u201d
\uf07e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPoor worldly people! They leave the world without tasting the most pleasurable and delightful aspect in the world.\u201d
\uf07e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf the kings and their children know the pleasure we enjoy, they would draw their swords to snatch it from us.\u201d
\uf07e\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere is a Jannah in the dunya and the one who does not enter it will not enter the Jannah of the Hereafter.\u201d\u00a0
Accordingly, such people are in a prison, yet they are in a Jannah.
Alive but Dead . . . Dead but Alive
Describing the virtue of dhikr (remembering Allah), Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said:
\u0645\u062b\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0630\u064a \u064a\u0630\u0643\u0631 \u0631\u0628\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0630\u064a \u0644\u0627 \u064a\u0630\u0643\u0631 \u0631\u0628\u0647 \u0645\u062b\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u064a \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0645\u064a\u062a
The example of the one who remembers his Rabb and the one who does not is like that of the living and the dead.
The one who remembers Allah is physically and spiritually alive. However, the one who does not remember Allah is spiritually dead. Even if he is alive, walking, talking and doing everything living people do, he is dead! He is alive, but dead! <\/p>\n
On the other hand, Allah Ta\u2019aala tells us with regards the martyrs:
\u0648\u064e\u0644\u0627 \u062a\u064e\u0642\u064f\u0648\u0644\u064f\u0648\u0627 \u0644\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u064a\u064f\u0642\u0652\u062a\u064e\u0644\u064f \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0633\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0644\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u0650 \u0623\u064e\u0645\u0652\u0648\u064e\u0627\u062a\u064c \u0628\u064e\u0644\u0652 \u0623\u064e\u062d\u0652\u064a\u064e\u0627\u0621\u064c \u0648\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0643\u0650\u0646\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0627 \u062a\u064e\u0634\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0631\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e
Do not say with regards those who are slain in the path of Allah, \u2018They are dead\u2019. No, they are alive but you do not realise.\u00a0
Thus, the martyr is dead, yet alive.
Wealthy but Poor . . . Poor but Wealthy
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said:
\u0644\u064a\u0633 \u0627\u0644\u063a\u0646\u064a \u0639\u0646 \u0643\u062b\u0631\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0636 \u0648\u0644\u0643\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u063a\u0646\u064a \u063a\u0646\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0641\u0633
Wealth is not abundance of material possession. Wealth is contentment.
On one occasion, he sallallahu alaihi wasallam said to Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (ra):<\/p>\n
\u0648\u064e\u0627\u0631\u0652\u0636\u064e \u0628\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0642\u064e\u0633\u064e\u0645\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0644\u064e\u0643\u064e \u062a\u064e\u0643\u064f\u0646\u0652 \u0623\u064e\u063a\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0627\u0633\u0650
Be content with what Allah has destined for you and you will be the wealthiest of people.
In the light of these narrations, a wealthy man who is not content with what he has is actually poor. Can he truly enjoy his wealth? Conversely, a poor man who is content is actually wealthy. Despite the absence of wealth, he enjoys his life. Thus, the former is wealthy yet poor and the latter is poor yet wealthy.\u00a0\u00a0
Knowledgeable Yet Ignorant
\u0625\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0651\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0629\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u0650 \u0644\u0650\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0630\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e \u064a\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0644\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064f\u0648\u0621\u064e \u0628\u0650\u062c\u064e\u0647\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e\u0629\u064d \u062b\u064f\u0645\u0651\u064e \u064a\u064e\u062a\u064f\u0648\u0628\u064f\u0648\u0646\u064e \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652 \u0642\u064e\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0628\u064d \u0641\u064e\u0623\u064f\u0648\u0644\u064e\u0626\u0650\u0643\u064e \u064a\u064e\u062a\u064f\u0648\u0628\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0647\u0650\u0645\u0652
\u0648\u064e\u0643\u064e\u0627\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064b\u0627 \u062d\u064e\u0643\u0650\u064a\u0645\u064b\u0627
Allah only accepts tawbah from those who do wrong ignorantly and make tawbah soon thereafter, those are the ones whose tawbah Allah accepts \u2013 and Allah is All Knowing, All-Wise.\u00a0
The word \u0628\u0650\u062c\u064e\u0647\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e\u0629\u064d could be interpreted to mean that tawbah is only accepted from one who sins due to ignorance of the sharee\u2019ah. Hence, Allah does not accept the tawbah of a person who sinned knowing that his action is sinful. Your tawbah will only be accepted if you did not know. This interpretation, however, is erroneous. The commentators of the Qur\u2019aan unanimously maintain that this is not the intent of the word \u0628\u0650\u062c\u064e\u0647\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e\u0629\u064d On the contrary; it means that sin is ignorance. Thus, every sinner is ignorant, whether he knows that his action is sinful or not. Therefore, a man who sins knowing that his action is sinful is knowledgeable yet ignorant.
Married Yet Single
A man takes a second wife because it is a sunnah but then disregards the shar\u2019i injunction of treating both wives equally. Thus, he now neglects the first wife as if she does not even exist. Would you not say that he is following the sunnah yet he is not and that his first wife is married yet single?
Salaah and Saum
How many of us perform salaah yet we do not? Our bodies are in salaah but our thoughts are everywhere else but salaah. Likewise, we so often fast yet we do not. Our stomachs fast but not our ears, eyes and tongues. We abstain from the things which nullify our saum, but we see, hear and speak what we are not supposed to.
Are We Muslim Yet . . .?\u00a0
Following the above, could we add that we are Muslim yet we are not? We say that we are Muslim but we do not behave like Muslims. In view of the consensus of the Ahlus-Sunnah that no sin besides disbelief renders a person out of the pale of Islam, we would not go that far, we would not say that we are Muslim yet we are not. After all, imaan is the key to Jannah. Thus, even sinful Believers will eventually enter Jannah. Nevertheless, the importance of adhering to Allah\u2019s commands and abstaining from His prohibitions must not be trivialised because just as every key has teeth, good actions are the teeth of the key to Jannah.<\/p>\n
Abu Hudhaifa Muhammad Karolia
1 Shawwaal 1435 \/ 28 July 2014
Al-Jaami\u2019ah Al-Mahmoodiah
Persida, Springs<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Free. Are we really free? Consider the hadith of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam:\u062a\u0639\u0633 \u0639\u0628\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u064a\u0646\u0627\u0631 \u0648\u0639\u0628\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u0631\u0647\u0645 \u0648\u0639\u0628\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062e\u0645\u064a\u0635\u0629 \u0625\u0646 \u0623\u0639\u0637\u064a \u0631\u0636\u064a \u0648\u0625\u0646 \u0644\u0645 \u064a\u0639\u0637 \u0633\u062e\u0637 May the slave of the gold coin, silver coin and the shawl perish! He is happy if he receives but unhappy if he does not.\u00a0 Slaves of gold, silver […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=160"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}