Robes of Gratitude

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah from Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on the 18^th October 2010. 

Life is sweet, which is why no one wants to die.  We love what we are learning, tasting and experiencing so much so that we are reluctant to die.  We want to live here forever.  But this world was never designed to be the eternal home.  It is just a sneak peek of the pleasures of the life to come.  Even an ant will run for its life.  It wants to continue to exist and taste the sweetness of existence.  It has the right to exist.  We cannot snuff out its sacred life.  It is small and appears insignificant but it has an understanding about itself and about its Creator that is more complete than even some people have.  It knows Who Brought it into existence and it recites tasbih, glorification of Allah (s.w.t.).  It is thankful to have been Created out of nothingness and Brought into existence to taste life’s pleasures. 

سُوۡرَةُ بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ ٱلسَّبۡعُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيہِنَّ‌ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىۡءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفۡقَهُونَ تَسۡبِيحَهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورً۬ا (٤٤) 

The Seven Heavens and the Earth, and all beings therein, declare His Glory: there not a thing but celebrates His Praise; and yet you understand not how they declare His Glory!  Verily He is Oft- Forbearing, Most Forgiving! (Surah al-Isra’:44) 

Shame upon us who are not in continuous glorification of Allah (s.w.t.) despite being Bestowed more than what that ant received.  All Creation is in glorification, only man is heedless.  Allah (s.w.t.) Created Creation to be an example for us so that we may take lessons from it, but people are unable to draw lessons from Creation around him, as he is not following Divine Guidance; he is following Shaythan, who draws the wool over his eyes, blinding him from the wisdom of all that Allah (s.w.t.) Created around him.  Every one of the Children of Adam is an Honoured creature, and so he must be thankful to Allah (s.w.t.) for having Brought him into existence.  Even an ant knows what an honour it is to have been Created, and it glorifies Allah (s.w.t.) every moment of its existence.  Like the ant, we must also learn how to lead an honourable life in gratitude; one who is deprived of such knowledge will attain no honour in both worlds. 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) taught his companions about the Great Honour Allah (s.w.t.) had Bestowed upon them.  And they acknowledged His Favours, and became people of honour.  The companions, carried the heavy responsibility of the coming generations, but they never felt weighed down by it; they lived thankful lives, even though they had little of this world and great challenges.  Their hearts were always pleased with Allah (s.w.t.), as they knew what an honour it was to have been Created. 

سُوۡرَةُ التّوبَة

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحۡسَـٰنٍ۬ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى تَحۡتَهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَآ أَبَدً۬ا‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ (١٠٠) 

The vanguard (of Islam) ― the first of those who forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds ― well ― Pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: for them has He Prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: that is the Supreme Felicity. (Surah at-Tawbah:100) 

Allah (s.w.t.) is Pleased with the companions, so we must also be pleased with them.  Some Muslims have actually condemned, cursed and spoken ill of the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.).  There is no benefit in speaking ill of anyone, and it is even worse to speak ill of the deceased.  What can be gained by speaking ill of the deceased companions, whom Allah (s.w.t.) is already Pleased with?  Who are we to judge one who has already been Judged by Allah (s.w.t.)?  Even the great scholars of the Shi’ah, in Iran and elsewhere, have advised them to stop slandering a portion of the companions. 

Why was Allah (s.w.t.) Pleased with them?  The companions had little worldly possessions, but they acknowledged His Favours, and served Him gratefully.  They gave up all that they had for Rasulullah (s.a.w.), for the sake of Allah (s.w.t.).  And they were happy to do so.  They were dressed in simple, ordinary clothes; they never sought honour with clothing, or worldly possessions and ornaments.  Today, people seek honour by putting on fancy clothes, and showing off their worldly possessions.  Is that honour?  Even the supposedly religious are dressed in expensive, grand-looking clothes; as if honour came from the clothes one wore.  This is what happens when a generation of ignorant Muslims who do not understand where their honour lies, emerges. 

Are we constantly glorifying Allah (s.w.t.)?  Today, even in the Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madina, they are not praising Allah (s.w.t.) after the congregational prayers.  The Wahhabis consider that a bid’ah.  Once the prayer is completed, a deathly silence fills the air, and the only sound heard is the rushed shuffling of feet, as the imam and the congregation, make a beeline for the exits.  Why is no one reciting, ‘Subhanallah’?  Do the Wahhabis really believe that leading the congregation in dzikr, to praise Allah (s.w.t.) in unison, will bring down Allah’s (s.w.t.) Wrath?  O these misguided ones, the Holy Mosques are places where Mercy descends. 

Instead of being the first to rush out of the Holy Mosque after congregational prayers, the imam should be the last one out, as an example to the congregation.  He should lead the thousands there, in reciting praises and glorification to Allah Almighty.  How amazing it is that Shaythan has penetrated even up to the Haramayn, telling the a’mmah, “No, stop this, enough, leave the mosque!  It is not sunnah to perform dzikr together; it is a bid’ah!”  How narrow the Wahhabi interpretation of what bid’ah is.  How stifled is their understanding of Islam.  How limited their vision of religion.  How easy it is for Shaythan to deceive them.  Shaythan has tied them to his rope, and once congregational prayer is over, he quickly yanks them outside. 

Having abandoned the glorification of Allah (s.w.t.), we now live in fear – our lives are besieged with disasters from all directions.  We must abandon our pride, and put on the dressing of humility and submission, and come to the Lord’s Divine Presence.  We cannot come to Allah (s.w.t.) dressed in robes of pride.  If someone knocks on your door, seeking charity, but he is dressed in fine, expensive clothes, would you give him charity?  So we should be like the companions; they were dressed in poor clothes, and their hearts too were dressed in the robes of humility and gratitude.  They came to Allah (s.w.t.), grateful to Him for Bestowing honour upon them.  Today, the misguided do not even come to ask from Allah (s.w.t.); they feel self-sufficient.  And when they do so, they come dressed in ‘expensive’ clothes, with a heart dressed in arrogance and pride. 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعرَاف

ٱدۡعُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ تَضَرُّعً۬ا وَخُفۡيَةً‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ (٥٥) 

Call on your Lord with humility and in private: for Allah loves not those who trespass beyond bounds. (Surah al-A’araf:55) 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعرَاف

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ ۥ وَلَهُ ۥ يَسۡجُدُونَ ۩ (٢٠٦) 

Those who are near to your Lord, disdain not to do Him worship: they celebrate His praises and bow down before Him. (Surah al-A’araf:206) 

We must ask from Allah (s.w.t.) to learn something about servanthood.  A true guide must be found to teach us how to be a real servants of Allah (s.w.t.).  Even a king must learn servanthood.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) mingled freely with his ummah, and sat with them always, often raising his hands in du’a for them.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) dressed in the same clothes his companions wore.  That is true kingship.