In the Blink of an Eye

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah from Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on the 03^rd April 2010. 

A hunter will focus his entire attention on capturing his prey when he is hunting.  If the prey is a huge animal, then such attention is warranted.  But if the prey is a tiny bird, it is a waste of time and resources.  Humanity has its sight trained on dunya, but in reality, it is just a tiny bird in comparison to the vast rewards of akhirah. It is a crying shame that people focus their entire existence on capturing a worthless prize.  If only they realised how incredible a prize the hereafter is.  They would not give a second look to dunya.  They would focus on the hereafter.  Unfortunately, most people never look beyond this life.  Do we think we will live forever?  Death will come to us one day.  Have we ever thought where we will go after that? 

Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.) said he once saw an ant on his handkerchief.  He asked the ant, “Who Created you?” and the ant answered, “He Who Created you, also Created me.”  It is not surprising that humanity never think about this; they are so drunk with dunya.  Dunya is so small compared to this universe and is even smaller in comparison to the hereafter.  What do they hope to achieve, in striving day and night for dunya?  Can one person own all of dunya?  Even were one to acquire all of it, it is still paltry catch.  The oceans of this world are mere droplets of water if they were placed in Paradise. 

Nuh (a.s.) lived for almost a thousand years.  No prophet lived longer than him on earth.  He was also called the second father of Mankind after Adam (a.s.).  He was asked, “You have lived such a long time on earth.  Is there any message that you wish to impart to your descendants?” 

Nuh (a.s.) replied, “The thousand and more years passed very quickly.  It is as if I saw a vision of a caravan arriving at an inn and then, ever-so-quickly, I saw it pulling out again.  No sooner had I arrived, it was time to leave to continue my journey to the hereafter.” 

Our reality in this world is as if there is a door through which billions of humans have arrived on earth.  They rest here for some time - some for a shorter time, others for a longer time - and they then all finally leave by another door.  That is the observation of the longest-lived prophet on earth.  What would be said about those that came after Nuh (a.s.)?  They have had considerably shorter lives.  The shortest of which are the people of the ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w.). 

Whenever Nuh (a.s.) mentioned the name of the Seal of Prophets (s.a.w.) during his time, he always stood up, as a sign of respect and reverence for Rasulullah (s.a.w.).  We must learn to respect our Prophet (s.a.w.).  It is unfortunate that many do not hold him in the highest esteem.  Some even teaching their followers that respect to Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is tantamount to shirk.  Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is the Most Honoured Servant, the Most Beloved One, the Most Respected in all of Creation.  We will never incur Divine Wrath by showing love and respect to him, or by honouring him.  Allah (s.w.t.) Raised him as the One True Khalifah representing Him for all eternity.  Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is the Sole Representative, reflecting His Lord's Light upon us.  If we stand to honour him, as Nuh (a.s.) did, Allah (s.w.t.) will never be displeased.  He, Himself, Honours Rasulullah (s.a.w.). 

Every honour in Creation has been bestowed on Rasulullah (s.a.w.).  We must give the highest respect to him.  Islam is built on respect - respect for Allah (s.w.t.) and His Rasul (s.a.w.) and our fellow creatures.  Only Shaythan disrespects someone who is Honoured by Allah (s.w.t.).  Shaythan is never pleased to see humanity receive any Honour from Allah (s.w.t.).  When Adam (a.s.) was Placed on a pedestal of honour, Shaythan was angry and refused to prostrate before him.  Shaythan had thought Allah (s.w.t.) would Raise him to be the Chosen Representative.  He had felt that he was the best choice.  He never realised he did not have the capacity to bear such a responsibility.  He never thought that it would be given to Muhammad (s.a.w.). 

When Allah (s.w.t.) Placed a small light in the forehead of Adam (a.s.), the Nur of Muhammad (s.a.w.), and Made him Khalifah, that tiny light, lit up the whole universe.  This was not the entire light of Rasulullah (s.a.w.).  It was just a pin-sized ray of light.  The universe is unable to bear the entire light of the Prophet (s.a.w.).  What was Given to Adam (a.s.), was a tiny opening from the Ocean of the Prophet's (s.a.w.) light.