Beware of What We Say

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

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

Allah (s.w.t.) has Blessed the sons of Adam (a.s.) with the ability to communicate, and so, we are always speaking to one another.  Just as the salam contains so much in it, every word we recite will also bring light or darkness into the hearts of those listening and into our own hearts.  Some of our words bring light, blessings and lightens the burdens of our listeners.  These blessed words, raise the spirituality of those listening, and also raise the status of those who are speaking.  On the other hand, some words bring darkness and pain to people around them, placing burdens and difficulties upon those listening, and upon themselves too.  Sometimes, a man who is addressing an audience, may bring darkness to all those who are around him, and at the same instance, he may fall from his high station near to Allah (s.w.t.), just by a single word that he utters, that is not pleasing to Allah (s.w.t.). 

We are no longer careful about what we say; we do not realise the weight of what we are speaking about.  We speak freely and without care, unaware that each word has a reward or punishment.  Each word can raise your station or lower it.  Each word can bring light or darkness.  Each word can bring blessings or curses.  Each word can lessen burdens or increase them.  Each word can please Allah (s.w.t.) or displease Him.  We must beware of what we speak since it is recorded and we will be shown and repaid for all that we speak. 

Not just words, but every action, every intention, every iota of energy spent, will fall into one of these two categories.  We must be aware of all that we say or do, for Allah (s.w.t.) is Aware of all things.  A single word or action, displeasing Allah (s.w.t.), may result in us being thrown from the Divine Presence, so be fearful of Allah (s.w.t.) and have taqwa.  When we speak, and if we are able to feel darkness entering your heart through backbiting, lying, speaking vulgarities or explicit words or simply being hurtful, we must stop those words immediately and repent, for such words may open a black hole, into which we may fall into and from which we may never be able to get out.  We may fall from such an exalted position into a deep pit of misery and suffering, just by what we say. 

All creatures are in a state of constant dzikr, for dzikr is the greatest recitation.  The Wahhabi ‘ulama speak out against the recitation of dzikr, especially against the loud congregational dzikr.  Why do they forbid what Allah (s.w.t.) has enjoined?  Allah Says in the Qur’an: 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ لِى وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ (١٥٢) 

Then do you remember Me; I will Remember you.  Be grateful to Me and reject not faith. (Surah al-Baqarah:152) 

In a hadits qudsi as recorded in Swahih al-Bukhari and Swahih Muslim, Allah (s.w.t.) Says, “I am to my servant as he expects of Me, I am with him when he remembers Me.  If he remembers Me in his heart, I Remember him to Myself, and if he remembers me in an assembly, I Mention him in an assembly better than his …” 

On what basis do these scholars forbid dzikr?  There are many inconsistent practises of the Wahhabi.  For example, they say that only after their leader, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab, reformed Islam, was true Islam established.  Do they really believe that the millions of Muslims who lived in the thousand years before him, were all unbelievers?  They know that every group must have a leader in Islam.  Who is now the leader of the Wahhabi sect today?  There is none. 

They destroyed all the graves in Jannat al-Ma’ala and Jannat al-Baqi’, stating that no grave must have a building over it.  Then why have they left the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) grave intact, with a building over it?  They say that no prayer is allowed in any building that houses a grave.  Then why have they allowed Muslims to pray in Masjid an-Nabawi, which houses the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) grave? 

The swahabah had asked Rasulullah (s.a.w.), what they should do if the Muslims became divided into two groups.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied in a swahih hadits, “Follow the larger group.”  Today, there are one billion Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah, as compared to 100 million Wahhabi.  Why have they turned against this hadits, and not follow the guidance of the larger group? 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says in the Qur’an: 

سُوۡرَةُ التّوبَة

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ (١١٩) 

O you who believe!  Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed). (Surah at-Tawbah:119) 

Can the Wahhabi show one of their leaders to be swadiqin?  If so, what is the proof?  They claim that such swadiqin no longer exist.  If so, why did Allah (s.w.t.) Instruct Muslims to follow the swadiqin?  We have to speak out against those who oppose dzikr, as most other scholars are sleeping, afraid to voice the truth, and often making permissible what is forbidden and vice versa.  The actions of these Wahhabi scholars have caused many Muslims to leave the practice of dzikrullah.  These scholars will be responsible for spreading this disease, and they will be responsible for the many Muslims who are following these reprehensible acts.