The Keys to Paradise

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah by Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on the 16^th December 2009. 

When Allah (s.w.t.) Sent Adam (a.s.) and Hawa out of Paradise, they were weeping bitterly, for two reasons.  Firstly, they were shown that half of their offspring would be in darkness and the other half would be in light.  The other reason, was that they felt sad to lose the pleasures of Paradise, as they descending into a dark and uninviting world now.  Allah (s.w.t.) Told them, that they had brought this upon themselves, as they had wronged themselves by questioning Allah’s (s.w.t.) Wisdom, when He Forbade them to go near the forbidden tree.  Allah (s.w.t.) had made all things in Paradise halal for them, and only one thing haram.  Instead of enjoying all the halal, they had been tricked by Iblis to take from the one haram.  Look how weak we are.  We must not trust Iblis' advice; it will bring us misery and suffering. 

No one in Creation has the right to question Allah (s.w.t.).  He is the Lord of Complete Domination.  He answers to no one.  He Does as He Pleases, and it is the worst adab to question Allah’s (s.w.t.) Instructions.  Iblis was the first in Creation to question Allah’s (s.w.t.) Wisdom.  We must recite a’udzubillah always and ask Allah (s.w.t.) to Protect us from Iblis’ tricks and traps.  We cannot depend on our own ability to evade Iblis’ treachery.  We cannot escape without Allah’s (s.w.t.) Help.  We must be humble, and ask Him to Save us and never trust in Iblis' advice.  Even when Iblis was the leader of the angels, He could See the secret intention in Iblis’ heart, for nothing is secret in Allah’s (s.w.t.) All-Encompassing Knowledge.  Allah (s.w.t.) knew that Iblis wished to be known as, the Best of All Creation. 

The heart of Iblis and the heart of man are not the same.  The Creation of Iblis and the Creation of man is also different.  The heart of Iblis did not have the capacity to understand, worship and to hold the secrets, that the heart of man had been given.  Hence, Iblis was asking for something that he had no capacity to handle, he was asking for something which was not his to ask.  That is very bad adab, to ask for what is not your right.  Iblis was drunk with desire for that station. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Created us by His Hand.  Nothing in this Universe, was Created by Allah’s (s.w.t.) Hand, only us, as we are to be His khalifah.  We were Endowed with secret abilities that not even the angels possessed.  We were Given tools and abilities to carry out his complex duties as khalifah; something Iblis did not possess.  Our faculties are for us to be khalifah, and Iblis was created for another purpose.  Allah (s.w.t.) Created us as ahsan at-taqwim, the Best of Creation. 

سُوۡرَةُ التِّین

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ فِىٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ۬ (٤) 

We have indeed Created man in the best of moulds. (Surah at-Tin:4) 

Humanity was Raised to the highest of stations, and equipped to understand Divine Inspirations, and Given the rank of khalifah.  This was something that Iblis desired and coveted, and in doing so, Iblis stepped out of line, and became the first creature to disagree with and question Allah (s.w.t.).  In doing so, he incurred Allah’s (s.w.t.) Divine Anger, for none has the right to question Allah (s.w.t.). 

Every prophet has come to their respective ummah to bring this message - do not be like Iblis.  Instead, we must listen and obey.  That is the only way to reach honour.  There is no other way.  In that phrase lies the three keys to Paradise: listen to the Message the Guides bring, understand it, and obey it.  Never be like Iblis. 

We must remember Allah (s.w.t.) abundantly and frequently.  Never listen to those who discourage us from dzikrullah.  Why is the world in chaos today and the Muslims in such an ignorant state?  The answer lies in Surah al-Kahf: it is because we have left the Remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.), and whoever leaves dzikrullah, his life will be heavy and full of troubles. 

سُوۡرَةُ الکهف

وَٱصۡبِرۡ نَفۡسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّہُم بِٱلۡغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلۡعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَلَا تَعۡدُ عَيۡنَاكَ عَنۡہُمۡ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَلَا تُطِعۡ مَنۡ أَغۡفَلۡنَا قَلۡبَهُ ۥ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَٮٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمۡرُهُ ۥ فُرُطً۬ا (٢٨) 

And keep your soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have Permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds. (Surah al-Kahf:28) 

Unfortunately, people today is running away from Allah (s.w.t.), and falling into great suffering, misery and hopelessness.  Man of the 21^st Century, has lost the happiness in their lives; everyone is unhappy, from kings to commoners.  Peace has been lost from this world and from hearts.  We are in a time when the esteem of the Muslim world is at its lowest, with the unbelievers looking down upon us, but it is ironic that we are discarding the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) lifestyle, and imitating the lifestyles of these very people who despise our way of life.  As long as there is something from this dunya that we desire, that we are striving for, that we covet, that is our intention; then we are surely on the wrong Path.