Huja Usman
05-03-05, 12:11 PM
Subhnallah, It's the haq. If we only knew when qiyamah comes we would have never leaved our spot and would only have said la-ilaha-ila-allah.
(from beutyislam.com)
The Raindrop and the Ocean.
Alhamdulillah my friends, through the blessing of Allah's Name we have all assembled here. There are many kinds of assemblies and gatherings nowadays, each with a different agenda, but many of them misguide us. A gathering may take place where people come for political discussions or people may come together for a wedding function to take part in the celebrations. Whatever type of assembly it is, it can be identified by the reasons for which the participants have gathered.
When people come together to remember Allah and Allah's Rasool sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, they perform Dhikr of Allah and recite Darood, so Allah identifies them as the friends of Allah. The assembly becomes known as the gathering of the friends of Allah. It is fortunate for all of us here that Allah recognises this group as 'friends of Allah'. And naturally whoever attends will be a friend of Allah. Even if he wasn't before, he will be so now, because Allah has said so.
I can explain this by an example. Imagine there is a tiny drop of water in the clouds. Allah ta’aala orders the clouds to rain, and it begins to shower down to earth. That tiny drop is one of the many drops that fall. It has no value or status of its own, it is just a droplet of water. If it happens to fall in a pool of urine then it will be identified as urine and it will no longer be known as a raindrop. If it lands on dry earth, it will be absorbed by the soil and nothing will be left of it. But it may fall into the ocean and become part of the ocean. It will have changed from being a tiny drop of rain to a vast ocean. It is the same droplet, but depending on where it lands it can change from something insignificant to an enormous ocean.
However degenerate he is, a man who is a dreadful sinner will be identified as a friend of Allah if he ends up in the group of the friends of Allah. He is like the droplet of water. He may be in a bar, drinking beer and pursuing girls, or more commonly he may be at home watching television. Then suddenly he receives a jolt from the mercy of Allah ta’aala, and he remembers that there is a meeting nearby where some friends of Allah will be coming and they will be doing Dhikr and reciting Darood Shareef. He hesitates for a while because there is an entertaining film on next and his wife has asked him to stay. But nothing can stop him once Allah's mercy has woken him up. He realises that he is a sinful person who has stopped praying and has been accumulating sins. Then within an instant, Allah's mercy sends him to a hall full of Allah's friends. If anyone here doesn't recognise that this man is a friend of Allah, he is denying the power of Allah. We have to accept that if Allah has sent us to a group of His friends then, similar to the raindrop, we too become the friends of Allah while we are here.
If this roof fell down on us, and I wish to Allah that it did, then we would all die as friends of Allah. That is how much certainty we need to have in Allah. Allah forgives people who have a huge amount of sins, whereas we may only have a few to our names. Allah's mercy and power are so extensive that the whole world depends on them. The world would collapse without them. We should have no doubt whatsoever that Allah ta’aala has made all of us here His friends. Allah ta’aala has said that He will accept the Du'a of His friends, He will take away their troubles and give them peace. Whatever anyone here asks, Allah will provide - that is the status of this assembly. Do you think that Allah ta’aala is uninvolved with any part of His creation? 'Innallaha a'ala kulli shay-in qadeer.' (Verily Allah has power over all things).
Attendance of the Assemblies of Dhikrullah.
So we should thank Allah that we have been given the opportunity to remember Him for a few moments. Man has no strength in himself; it is only by the grace of Allah that we are given these opportunities. In fact whenever I finish making Dhikr, the first thing I think of is how I can thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to sit amongst pious people and remember Him together. I often read the Hadith which states that whenever a congregation finishes a gathering of Dhikr and the people remain seated in their positions, the angels in the heavens announce their attendance by naming them individually, including the name of their fathers. They declare that Allah Himself personally invited them to His gathering and that He has forgiven their sins and has converted all their bad deeds into good deeds.
Today you have left your homes and travelled here by car. You have left many evil things like television and other bad activities, and you have killed your Nafs by coming in this cold weather. Plenty of obstacles got in your way, but you still came along, with only one aim which was to do Allah's Dhikr. You have made the effort, and now there is a guarantee from Allah to the effect that: 'My servant, when you left your home, your only intention was to remember Me and to do My Dhikr. A few moments earlier you were immersed in sins - who can say what was inside you? But as soon as you made your intention and took your first step, from then on for every step you took from there to here and from here back to your home, angels will spread their wings under your feet because your intention was to remember Me. And as for the Aakhirah (afterlife), success has been decreed for you.' This is such a tremendous guarantee, and no one can say that someone who has striven for the sake of the Aakhirah has wasted their time.
I ask you, since there is a guarantee that the reward will be received, why not make an effort for it? Whilst the reward of the Dunya (world) is uncertain, there is no doubt about the rewards of the Aakhirah.If you do this good deed, then you will get this reward. So it is utter stupidity for anyone to waste time and not earn the currency of the Aakhirah. My brothers if you look at this reward then you will agree that the sacrifice of travelling here today was not hardship at all, because you sacrificed a little time in return for a great reward, a very great reward.
The Reward of Allah's Rahmah.
When a man works for a living, he looks forward to the wages he will receive for the effort he has put into working. He most certainly expects reward for his effort. If he doesn't receive anything for his hard work, this would clearly be unjust. If someone were to work from morning to evening and then it was said to him, 'You will not receive any money, go home!', he would see this as gross injustice upon him. Even the most restrained person would say, 'My employer made me work all day long and now he has told me that I will not receive any wages for my hard work. This is surely not fair.'
Spending time and effort and sacrificing our commitments, we have come here today. You know what you have sacrificed to come here. I can see many people who have come from distant places, including some who have been waiting for this gathering since yesterday, this blessed gathering of Khatme Khawajgaan (Litany of Dhikr offered as reward for the Mashaykh of the Silsila). There are some respected brothers who came early and laid out the carpet, and others who made arrangements for this gathering and organised everything.
If a man works in the Dunya, and doesn't receive payment for his work, he becomes very sad. Yet we have done all of this not for Dunya, but for the sake of Allah. We have sacrificed our time, spent our wealth and cancelled all other arrangements for the sake of Allah.
Whatever we have sacrificed, we have done so for the pleasure of Allah. Do you think that Allah will not reward us for our time and effort ? Undoubtedly we will be rewarded for this effort. If an employer can pay wages to his employee then Allah can most definitely reward us for our efforts for His Deen. But unfortunately we have lost our faith in the certainty of Allah's promise.
Allah ta’aala intimates clearly to us that, 'Those people who gather for My sake, who walk for My sake, who spend for My sake, who are constantly engaged in My work and My remembrance and, whatever they do, they do it for My sake, are My people!' When such people come together, Allah subhana wa ta’aala affirms that, 'I am going to reward these people with a reward that is beyond anyone on earth to grant, because I have not delegated this to anyone, but have kept this power to Myself. No one can give that which I have kept with Myself!'
There is no doubt that the intention of people who have gathered here for Allah's remembrance is for His sake alone, because people have even come from a long way away. Personally I do not even know most of those who have come, only the people who came with me. This is an open gathering. Without any invitation and without seeking any worldly favour, people have come here today. Allah ta’aala gives the guarantee: 'People have come for a special reason and I will reward them in a special way.'
The reward for all of this is Rahmah. People ask, 'What is Rahmah?' Rahmah is such a great reward. Allah tells us through His Rasool sallallahu alayhi wasallam:
"Ghasiatu ar rahmah", and "anzil sakinata".
These are words from Hadith. Allah does not merely 'give' Rahmah, Allah 'envelopes' people into His Rahmah. We are at this moment enveloped in the Mercy and Blessings of Allah. Allah has hidden us in His Rahmah. The whole world only exists through the Rahmah of Allah. So when Allah states, 'I envelope you into My Rahmah,' is there anything that Allah has not done for us? What blessings Allah has given us!
Consider how much blessing there is in a drop of water, which doesn't seem to have any value at all. That same drop of water gathers with other drops to become oceans, rivers, streams, ice, and so on. Your body is also made of water. A doctor told me that if your body was dried out, 90% would evaporate as steam! Man has been created from a drop of water. Allah has given us so many blessings, but if He were to take away just one of those blessings, what would happen to us? If Allah ta’aala took away the blessing of water from us, how could we survive? If the oceans and rivers dried up, could we carry on living without water? This is only a part of one blessing that Allah has given us. So where Allah states that we are enveloped in the Rahmah of Allah, how many blessings must we be receiving?
Can you imagine how much mercy Allah rains down upon us? When people gather for the Dhikr of Allah, or for a lecture or any gathering that is held solely for the sake of Allah, Allah informs us that, 'These people are Mine, because they have come for My sake.' Allah ta’aala loves the Ikhlaas (sincerity) of such people. It is a great blessing that Allah ta’aala has given us this opportunity to hold such a gathering in this non-Muslim land. We have been surrounded with the favours of Allah and we have become enveloped in His mercy. It is such a precious gift to be among those fortunate enough to be invited to a gathering of Dhikr, and we can never be sufficiently thankful for this.
The Best Deed in the Sight of Allah.
Umm Anas radhiallahu anha narrates that she once asked the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, "Ya Rasoolullah, I seek some advice."
Umm Anas radhiallahu anha has a great stature in many respects. To me the greatest is the fact that she was the mother of Hadhrat Anas radhiallahu anhu, who was such a beloved companion of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam first came to Madinah, the Ansaar ('Helpers' - natives of Madinah) presented him with many gifts. But she was such a mother that she gave her own son into the service of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, who accepted this gift and used it to the full. Anyhow, this Hadith was narrated by her and transmitted by Tabrani. In reply to her request the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave her some advice which in fact was a message for the whole of the Ummah. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to her, "Migrate (in Allah's path), fight (in Allah's path) and perform that act which is most loved by Allah."
Now Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam and the Sahaaba performed such a Hijrah (migration), for they sacrificed their city and their homeland. They left the place where they were born and had grown up and whose dust they loved, where they had ties of blood and houses in which they had lived. They left all this because they could no longer practice their Deen in peace and Allah's command for them to migrate had come. They did this without any hesitation, and this was certainly the greatest Hijrah.
Since the status of Hijrah is so high and the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam has ordered us to do this, how can you and I can perform this? How can we obtain the reward for Hijrah since this was apparently an order for the people of that time and was appropriate to their circumstances. May I be ransomed for the Rahma-tul-lil-Aalameen (Mercy for the worlds) who did not overburden his Ummah in any way! In order that we should not be deprived of the reward for Hijrah, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam showed us how we too can obtain that reward. He gave us not Hijrah but a gift better than Hijrah.
He said, "O Umm Anas listen carefully. Shall I not tell you of some thing that is even better than Hijrah from your homeland?"
She replied, "Ya Rasoolullah, please tell me, what is it?"
"Migrate from your sins, indeed that is the best Hijrah", came the answer.
To abandon your sins - that is the best Hijrah. Remember, all the hardships a person endures are a direct result of the sins that he commits. It is very disappointing that we tend to take our sins very lightly, to the extent that we don't even consider many of them to be sins at all. But it is not the characteristic of a believer to sin in this way. We should resolve from today that we will do Hijrah from our sins and leave them for the sake of Allah.
The second piece of advice that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave was to do Jihaad. He ordered us to do Jihaad. Listen to how great Jihaad is. Remember firstly that Jihaad is a defining characteristic of a believer. The one who does not have the will to do Jihaad and to fight in Allah's path is not a believer. If such a person does have Imaan (belief), then it is the weakest possible sort of faith. The quality of a believer is that he is prepared for Jihaad at all times.
Now we must clarify the definition of Jihaad and the causes for which it can be carried out. Every step taken for the purpose of elevating the kalima 'La ilaha illallah Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah' is Jihaad and such steps must be strictly for Allah's sake alone.To fight for any worldly gain is not Jihaad. Jihaad is not for any country, nor for any piece of land or political struggle. In fact nothing is Jihaad unless it is related to Allah's kalimah, to Allah's Deen and to the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Jihaad is necessary wherever the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam begins to disappear. It is for this cause that pens are raised, and for this that lives are sacrificed. Jihaad is not for any country. When a person fights 'fi sabeelillah' (in Allah's path), then it is called Jihaad. Listen to the reward of Jihaad as stated by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Anas radhiallahu anhu narrates the following Hadith:
"When a person sets out on Allah's Jihaad in any moment in the morning or the evening, this act of his is better than the Dunya (world) and all that it contains."
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
In another Hadith which shows the greatness of Jihaad, Abu 'Abs radhiallahu anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,
"The feet of a slave (of Allah) which are covered with dust on the path of Allah can never be touched by the Hellfire." (Bukhari.)
In other words the fire of Hell cannot touch the parts of the body which are covered with dust whilst out on Allah's Jihaad. In another Hadith, Abu Hurairah radhiallahu anhu quoted that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,
"If someone who believes in Allah and the truth of His promise was to keep a horse for Jihaad, then the urine, excrement and all other necessities of the horse would become so precious that when the deeds of the owner are weighed, these things will also be weighed along with his (good) deeds on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari.)
This is Allah's Jihaad, for which the rewards are so very great. Now if a time comes when the need, opportunity or ability to fight is not before one, how can this reward of Jihaad be obtained? In order for his Ummah not to be deprived of this, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam told us through Umm Anas radhiallahu anha.
"And protect (be steadfast upon) the obligatory acts:
indeed that is the best Jihaad."
If any person from the Ummah is consistent upon the obligatory acts, then that is the best form of Jihaad. Now what are the Faraaidh (the obligatory acts), are they just prayer, fasting and Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)? No! In fact the real definition of Faraaidh is, "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger." (Surah Nisaa' 59)
To obey Allah and to obey the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam is Fardh (obligatory). If you were to say that only "Atee'ullah" (Obey Allah) is Fardh, then you are not following the Deen. It would mean that you only believe in 'La ilaha illa-llah' and have ignored 'Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah'. "Atee'ullah" and "Atee'ur-Rasool" (Obey the Messenger) are both Fardh. It is obligatory that both Allah subhana wa ta’aala and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam be followed.
How is this achieved? The order is Allah's and the way to carry it out is shown by the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. For example, Allah subhana wa ta’aala in the Qur'aan orders us to 'establish prayer', and the way to pray is how the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam prayed. Allah subhana wa ta’aala orders us to perform Hajj, and the way to perform it is how the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam performed it. Allah subhana wa ta’aala orders us to cover yourselves, and the way to cover ourselves is how the Messenger sallallahu alayhii wa sallam clothed himself. It is clear therefore that the definition of Fardh is to act upon every order in the Qur'aan in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. And one who is consistent in this obtains the reward of the best form of Jihaad.
Coming to the third piece of advice that Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave about performing the act most loved by Allah, the advice here for the great Sahaaba was, "O Umm Anas, perform such an act that will make Allah begin to love you". What a beautiful prospect, that Allah Himself would begin to love a person!
She asked, "Ya Rasoolullah, what is that act through which Allah subhana wa ta’aala will begin to love me? You are the beloved of the Lord, please inform me about this act. Ya Rasoolullah, you mentioned all the acts, you mentioned Jihaad and Hijrah - now what Amal (deed) is there left, O beloved of Allah, may my mother and father be your ransom, by which Allah would love me?"
He replied, "Remember Allah with abundant Dhikr!
Indeed that is the best of deeds loved by Allah!"
The Bounty of Dhikrullah in Worldly Terms.
Make Du'a that Allah forgives us through the performance of His Dhikr. My friends on ordinary nights there is great value in remembering Allah, and yet tonight is a night of Ramadhaan and also the night of Jum'uah, so imagine how great a reward there must be for remembering Allah on this night. In order to increase our enthusiasm for Allah's Dhikr I will relate to you a great saying of Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam. I put forward this Hadith, which shows the reward for just a few words of Dhikr, to highlight just how fortunate we are, since in this gathering we will be reciting many verses and du'as.
Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam told us that Allah will give the same reward as for freeing one hundred slaves of Arab descent to someone who recites 'Subhanallah' one hundred times. For reciting 'Alhamdulillah' one hundred times, he will be rewarded as if he had donated one hundred fully armed horses in the path of Jihaad. And Allah will give one who recites 'AllahuAkbar' one hundred times the reward for sacrificing 100 Arab camels. As for 'La ilaha illallah' it was stated by the Master sallallahu alayhi wasallam that this kalimah is so wonderful that, subhanallah, as soon as one recites it the heavens and the earth fills up with reward.
Just think about this Hadith: the reward for freeing 100 slaves can be obtained from reciting one small verse. Yet the reward of freeing just one slave is that in return for every hair upon the body of that slave, a sin will be forgiven. And furthermore there are categories of slaves, and of these the Arab slave is the best. So just imagine the effect of this deed in washing away a person's sins. As for the reward of donating one armed horse in the path of Jihaad, it is related that on the day of reckoning the horse's faeces, hair and urine will all be weighed and then written as good deeds for that person. Again, this is just for one horse, so just think of the reward for giving 100 horses.And then we go on to Qurbaani (sacrifice). Now we all know the reward for performing Qurbaani, yet here the reward is for 100 camels. Now multiply all of this by 70 because this is the blessed month of Ramadhaan, and one can conclude that Allah's blessings and mercy really are innumerable.
The truth is that only through His infinite bounty has Allah seated us here for His remembrance, and we should pray to Allah that he gives us love for His Dhikr and steadfastness in it. My friends, time passes by very quickly. Half an hour or 45 minutes often goes past without one noticing or in a daytime nap. But it is Allah's favour that He has taken hold of each of our Nafs and ordered it to sit in His remembrance. The Nafs gives thousands of excuses, saying that it is late or that one needs to get up early in the morning and so on, but Allah's mercy is with us and helps to overcome these suggestions.
In another Hadith, Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam gives a further example of the status of Dhikrullah. This Hadith is narrated by Abu Dardaa radhiallahu anhu who states that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,
"Shall I not tell you of an act which is the best of deeds, one that is most virtuous in the sight of Allah, a deed that will elevate you more than any other, one that is better than spending gold and silver in Allah's path, one that has more merit than a fight with the enemy (in Jihaad) wherein you kill many foes and you yourself become martyred at their hands?"
The Sahaaba radhiallahu anhum replied: "Ya Rasoolullah, please inform us of such an act."
Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied: "Dhikrullah!" (Malik, Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi.)
The Value of Dhikrullah on the Day of Judgement.
It is related by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr radhiallahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said that on the day of Requital, Allah will bring out a man from among the Muslims in the presence of all creatures, and ninety-nine volumes will be placed before him, each of which will be as long as the eye can see. Allah will then question him about his deeds. It will be said to him, "These are your books of deeds. Do you deny any of the deeds mentioned in them? Have our angels, who kept a watch and recorded your actions, been unjust to you or entered a sinful act wrongfully in your account?"
He will reply, "No my Lord, no-one has been unjust to me and I am guilty of all the wrongdoing recorded."
All sins will be made visible on that day, even the smallest of sins. Even those sins committed in darkness will be made visible. Allah will then say, "Have you any excuses to offer?"
He will reply, "No my Lord, I have no excuses."
Man will be so helpless on that day as he stands in the court of Allah. Who would dare to speak on that day? As a result of these questions and answers, the man and everyone present will begin to think that he is doomed, but then Allah will say, "We also have with Us a special and virtuous deed of yours. No injustice will be done to you this day."
A piece of paper will be produced on which will be written 'Ashhadu an La ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluhu'. The man will be told to make his way to the place where his deeds are to be weighed. He will then submit a fearful plea, asking, "Oh Lord, how can this piece of paper compare to those volumes?" "Fear not, you will not be dealt with unjustly", Allah will declare.
The ninety-nine volumes will then be placed on one pan of the balance, and the piece of paper on the other pan, and the piece of paper will turn out to be heavier than the ninety-nine volumes. (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
My friends this shows what a beautiful treasure the kalimahh is, for to recite it once gives so much benefit. Then what about those who spend day and night in Allah's remembrance? Such people will be continuously exalted and they will earn the higher degrees of Jannah where beautiful palaces await them. So why shouldn't we make a habit of Dhikrullah? Aren't we in need of assistance in the grave and on the bridge of Siraat? These are precious jewels that we can accumulate, and they only require a small amount of time each day. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us that the remembrance of Allah is the best of deeds wby which to guarantee protection from punishment in the grave.
The Dhikr of Allah is such a great thing my brothers. Abu Saeed radhiallahu anhu narrates:
"Once I asked Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam this question: 'Who is the greatest in the sight of Allah, for there are people who read Tahajjud, others who go for Umrah - indeed there are so many different acts of Ibadah. Who will be the highest ranking people in the hereafter, and what will characterise their practice?"
Remember that this conversation was destined to be guidance until the day of Judgement. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied, "The men who do Dhikrullah and the women who do Dhikrullah."
Funerals, Visiting the Sick and Dhikrullah.
I am going to bring a point to your attention, and may Allah give you and me the ability to practise it. It concerns some examples of amal (good deeds) that are very easy to perform and for which the rewards are very great. One of these is to inquire about the sick. Now there is always someone you know who is ill. A person is ill if there is any kind of physical deficiency in him. This can be no more than a cold or a headache, or some other common illness. Opportunities like these are not to be wasted as you will realise when you hear how much reward is in store.
The Nabi of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has said that if you visit a sick person, the whole time that you are in his company it is as if you are in Jannah. Look at the reward we waste! You and I should look around for people who are ill, even with just a cold, and take time to visit them. How beautiful is the reward for this practice!
"If in the morning you visit a person who is ill, then until the evening seventy thousand angels will supplicate to Allah for you."
(Tirmidhi)
This contains the implication that if you visit the person in the evening, seventy thousand angels will supplicate for you until the next morning. Furthermore, in return for visiting a sick Muslim, Allah will give you a garden in Jannah. How much trouble does it take to practise this? If one day you visit five sick people, spending five minutes with each person, just think how much reward you will accumulate. For one visit, seventy thousand angels will supplicate for you, so how much reward will there be for five visits?
Now I will give you another example. We must all experience death eventually. And in the society in which we live, there is always someone leaving this world at any one time. The Nabi of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has stated that if you take part in someone's Janaazah (funeral prayer), then you will receive the reward of one Kiraat , a term which I will explain shortly. And if you also take part in the burial of the person then you will receive the reward of two Kiraat. My friends, the reward of one Kiraat that Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us about is actually a metaphor for what is in store for us, since there is no comparison to the actual rewards of Jannah. One Kiraat represents an amount of gold and silver the size of mount Uhud. This is the value of the reward that a person will receive in Jannah.Tell me, how long does it take to perform the two deeds which I have mentioned? Even if each of these is performed just once, look at how much reward a person can receive.
Now I will tell you about another practice, so listen carefully. The one who has told us about this is none other than Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam, so there is no room for doubt and uncertainty. Bear this Hadith in mind if you want to acumulate deeds for the hereafter. The Master sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "I will apprise you of a practice that is better than visiting a thousand sick people." How many? A thousand sick people. I have already told you about the reward for visiting one sick person. Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam went on to say that this practice is better than taking part in a thousand Janaazaat, and that it is even greater than the nawafil that can be performed in a thousand nights.
Just think of how great a practice this must be. This is the reward for this practice, but it does not end here, for the sin for attending seventy immoral gatherings will be amended by this act. Let me repeat once again: the reward is greater than a thousand janaazah prayers, greater than visiting the sick a thousand times, greater than a thousand nights of prayer in solitude, and forgiveness for attending seventy immoral gatherings is also acquired.
The sahaabah asked, "Ya Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, please tell us - what is this practice?"
Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied that this reward is for that person who sits with the friends of Allah in the Remembrance of Allah. (Muslim and Tirmidhi.)
Two Types of Dhikrullah and the Need for a Teacher.
There are two aspects to Dhikr. Although all of us sat in Allah's remembrance, there are some amongst us who truly did the Dhikr, and they are those who have learnt this great deed. For example anyone can drive a car, but a real driver is someone who has passed his test. Similarly the Dhikr of Allah has to be learnt and is a science that needs to be taught. My friends, Allah has favoured us by gathering us together today. Whoever has not yet learnt the Dhikr should take steps to do so. By making this effort a person benefits no-one but himself. It is not of any benefit to the teacher of the Dhikr, although he is benefiting by spreading Allah's Deen. Such a person is chosen by Allah and given the permission to teach.
Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam stated that there are two types of Dhikr; one is Dhikr-bilisaani (vocal) and the other is Dhikr-khafi (silent). Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa radhiallahu anha stated that Dhikr-khafi is 70 times greater than the Dhikr of the tongue. (Fadhail Dhikr). And when a person learns this Dhikr from of a friend of Allah, great benefit comes to him.
Yet we continue to waste time. We are blessed with all these opportunities but Shaytaan prevents us from taking advantage of them. How long will we continue to be put off in this way? We will regret it deeply in the grave. Allah subhana wa ta’aala will ask us why we did not learn this deed when we were given the chance to do so.
My dear brothers, come towards the Dhikr of Allah. This is a deed whose benefits are amazingly far reaching. It is a means of acquiring success and respect in both this world and the Hereafter. Everything can be attained by virtue of Allah's remembrance.
Making the Most of the Gift of Life.
I often give the example that if a person sits in the company of a sweet maker, he will learn how to make sweets. Likewise if he spends some time with a goldsmith, he will learn about his art. In the same way a person who sits in the company of a Dhaakir (one who remembers Allah) will Insha'allah also become a Dhaakir. May Allah give us the Tawfeeq (favour) to make a habit of His remembrance and also to be blessed with the company of those who remember Him.
My friends, just think for a moment how easy it is to sit in these gatherings. Now tell me, are we losing anything by sitting here for an hour? Have we been left behind in the Dunya? If we were to pursue this line of thinking further, we would prostrate to Allah, give charity and spend the whole night thanking Allah that He has given us the chance to attend the gatherings of Dhikr and acquire these rewards. How unfortunate we are if we become lazy, and how immense Allah's mercy is. Try to realise what this life is really about. Today we are on this Earth and are recognised by our social circle. Some recognise us for our wealth and others for our relations. But before we know it, we will depart from here and everyone will forget about us. Only those deeds that I have mentioned will be of use in the grave. Do not waste time brothers. Yes, live in the world, earn a living, give time to your families, but in addition to this attend the gatherings of Dhikr daily, or at least once a week.
We must promise from our hearts that we will remove these idols that Shaytaan has lodged in our minds, and hold fast to the Dhikr of Allah. Allah has given so much rewards for these gatherings. A person should be prepared to travel a thousand miles to attend gatherings like these. There are people here today who have travelled all the way from London to attend this gathering. And once the Dhikr finishes, they fly back to their homes like birds. There are ten to fifteen such people here today, and the amazing thing is that they are all youngsters. I am astounded when I see their level of devotion. When I ask them about this they reply, 'Hadhrat Sahib, we have only come to remember Allah.' There is even a child among us with this attitude, who for the last five days has hardly eaten in anticipation of this gathering. But we elders who will shortly step into the grave still make excuses: 'Yes we'll start one day, Allah is the one who gives Tawfeeq, we will start to practise soon.'
My friends, open your eyes to reality. I am inviting you to dedicate your lives to preparing for the hereafter. We must stop being neglectful. Whenever we get the opportunity we must strive to earn for the hereafter. May Allah give you and me the Tawfeeq to act upon these words.
(from beutyislam.com)
The Raindrop and the Ocean.
Alhamdulillah my friends, through the blessing of Allah's Name we have all assembled here. There are many kinds of assemblies and gatherings nowadays, each with a different agenda, but many of them misguide us. A gathering may take place where people come for political discussions or people may come together for a wedding function to take part in the celebrations. Whatever type of assembly it is, it can be identified by the reasons for which the participants have gathered.
When people come together to remember Allah and Allah's Rasool sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, they perform Dhikr of Allah and recite Darood, so Allah identifies them as the friends of Allah. The assembly becomes known as the gathering of the friends of Allah. It is fortunate for all of us here that Allah recognises this group as 'friends of Allah'. And naturally whoever attends will be a friend of Allah. Even if he wasn't before, he will be so now, because Allah has said so.
I can explain this by an example. Imagine there is a tiny drop of water in the clouds. Allah ta’aala orders the clouds to rain, and it begins to shower down to earth. That tiny drop is one of the many drops that fall. It has no value or status of its own, it is just a droplet of water. If it happens to fall in a pool of urine then it will be identified as urine and it will no longer be known as a raindrop. If it lands on dry earth, it will be absorbed by the soil and nothing will be left of it. But it may fall into the ocean and become part of the ocean. It will have changed from being a tiny drop of rain to a vast ocean. It is the same droplet, but depending on where it lands it can change from something insignificant to an enormous ocean.
However degenerate he is, a man who is a dreadful sinner will be identified as a friend of Allah if he ends up in the group of the friends of Allah. He is like the droplet of water. He may be in a bar, drinking beer and pursuing girls, or more commonly he may be at home watching television. Then suddenly he receives a jolt from the mercy of Allah ta’aala, and he remembers that there is a meeting nearby where some friends of Allah will be coming and they will be doing Dhikr and reciting Darood Shareef. He hesitates for a while because there is an entertaining film on next and his wife has asked him to stay. But nothing can stop him once Allah's mercy has woken him up. He realises that he is a sinful person who has stopped praying and has been accumulating sins. Then within an instant, Allah's mercy sends him to a hall full of Allah's friends. If anyone here doesn't recognise that this man is a friend of Allah, he is denying the power of Allah. We have to accept that if Allah has sent us to a group of His friends then, similar to the raindrop, we too become the friends of Allah while we are here.
If this roof fell down on us, and I wish to Allah that it did, then we would all die as friends of Allah. That is how much certainty we need to have in Allah. Allah forgives people who have a huge amount of sins, whereas we may only have a few to our names. Allah's mercy and power are so extensive that the whole world depends on them. The world would collapse without them. We should have no doubt whatsoever that Allah ta’aala has made all of us here His friends. Allah ta’aala has said that He will accept the Du'a of His friends, He will take away their troubles and give them peace. Whatever anyone here asks, Allah will provide - that is the status of this assembly. Do you think that Allah ta’aala is uninvolved with any part of His creation? 'Innallaha a'ala kulli shay-in qadeer.' (Verily Allah has power over all things).
Attendance of the Assemblies of Dhikrullah.
So we should thank Allah that we have been given the opportunity to remember Him for a few moments. Man has no strength in himself; it is only by the grace of Allah that we are given these opportunities. In fact whenever I finish making Dhikr, the first thing I think of is how I can thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to sit amongst pious people and remember Him together. I often read the Hadith which states that whenever a congregation finishes a gathering of Dhikr and the people remain seated in their positions, the angels in the heavens announce their attendance by naming them individually, including the name of their fathers. They declare that Allah Himself personally invited them to His gathering and that He has forgiven their sins and has converted all their bad deeds into good deeds.
Today you have left your homes and travelled here by car. You have left many evil things like television and other bad activities, and you have killed your Nafs by coming in this cold weather. Plenty of obstacles got in your way, but you still came along, with only one aim which was to do Allah's Dhikr. You have made the effort, and now there is a guarantee from Allah to the effect that: 'My servant, when you left your home, your only intention was to remember Me and to do My Dhikr. A few moments earlier you were immersed in sins - who can say what was inside you? But as soon as you made your intention and took your first step, from then on for every step you took from there to here and from here back to your home, angels will spread their wings under your feet because your intention was to remember Me. And as for the Aakhirah (afterlife), success has been decreed for you.' This is such a tremendous guarantee, and no one can say that someone who has striven for the sake of the Aakhirah has wasted their time.
I ask you, since there is a guarantee that the reward will be received, why not make an effort for it? Whilst the reward of the Dunya (world) is uncertain, there is no doubt about the rewards of the Aakhirah.If you do this good deed, then you will get this reward. So it is utter stupidity for anyone to waste time and not earn the currency of the Aakhirah. My brothers if you look at this reward then you will agree that the sacrifice of travelling here today was not hardship at all, because you sacrificed a little time in return for a great reward, a very great reward.
The Reward of Allah's Rahmah.
When a man works for a living, he looks forward to the wages he will receive for the effort he has put into working. He most certainly expects reward for his effort. If he doesn't receive anything for his hard work, this would clearly be unjust. If someone were to work from morning to evening and then it was said to him, 'You will not receive any money, go home!', he would see this as gross injustice upon him. Even the most restrained person would say, 'My employer made me work all day long and now he has told me that I will not receive any wages for my hard work. This is surely not fair.'
Spending time and effort and sacrificing our commitments, we have come here today. You know what you have sacrificed to come here. I can see many people who have come from distant places, including some who have been waiting for this gathering since yesterday, this blessed gathering of Khatme Khawajgaan (Litany of Dhikr offered as reward for the Mashaykh of the Silsila). There are some respected brothers who came early and laid out the carpet, and others who made arrangements for this gathering and organised everything.
If a man works in the Dunya, and doesn't receive payment for his work, he becomes very sad. Yet we have done all of this not for Dunya, but for the sake of Allah. We have sacrificed our time, spent our wealth and cancelled all other arrangements for the sake of Allah.
Whatever we have sacrificed, we have done so for the pleasure of Allah. Do you think that Allah will not reward us for our time and effort ? Undoubtedly we will be rewarded for this effort. If an employer can pay wages to his employee then Allah can most definitely reward us for our efforts for His Deen. But unfortunately we have lost our faith in the certainty of Allah's promise.
Allah ta’aala intimates clearly to us that, 'Those people who gather for My sake, who walk for My sake, who spend for My sake, who are constantly engaged in My work and My remembrance and, whatever they do, they do it for My sake, are My people!' When such people come together, Allah subhana wa ta’aala affirms that, 'I am going to reward these people with a reward that is beyond anyone on earth to grant, because I have not delegated this to anyone, but have kept this power to Myself. No one can give that which I have kept with Myself!'
There is no doubt that the intention of people who have gathered here for Allah's remembrance is for His sake alone, because people have even come from a long way away. Personally I do not even know most of those who have come, only the people who came with me. This is an open gathering. Without any invitation and without seeking any worldly favour, people have come here today. Allah ta’aala gives the guarantee: 'People have come for a special reason and I will reward them in a special way.'
The reward for all of this is Rahmah. People ask, 'What is Rahmah?' Rahmah is such a great reward. Allah tells us through His Rasool sallallahu alayhi wasallam:
"Ghasiatu ar rahmah", and "anzil sakinata".
These are words from Hadith. Allah does not merely 'give' Rahmah, Allah 'envelopes' people into His Rahmah. We are at this moment enveloped in the Mercy and Blessings of Allah. Allah has hidden us in His Rahmah. The whole world only exists through the Rahmah of Allah. So when Allah states, 'I envelope you into My Rahmah,' is there anything that Allah has not done for us? What blessings Allah has given us!
Consider how much blessing there is in a drop of water, which doesn't seem to have any value at all. That same drop of water gathers with other drops to become oceans, rivers, streams, ice, and so on. Your body is also made of water. A doctor told me that if your body was dried out, 90% would evaporate as steam! Man has been created from a drop of water. Allah has given us so many blessings, but if He were to take away just one of those blessings, what would happen to us? If Allah ta’aala took away the blessing of water from us, how could we survive? If the oceans and rivers dried up, could we carry on living without water? This is only a part of one blessing that Allah has given us. So where Allah states that we are enveloped in the Rahmah of Allah, how many blessings must we be receiving?
Can you imagine how much mercy Allah rains down upon us? When people gather for the Dhikr of Allah, or for a lecture or any gathering that is held solely for the sake of Allah, Allah informs us that, 'These people are Mine, because they have come for My sake.' Allah ta’aala loves the Ikhlaas (sincerity) of such people. It is a great blessing that Allah ta’aala has given us this opportunity to hold such a gathering in this non-Muslim land. We have been surrounded with the favours of Allah and we have become enveloped in His mercy. It is such a precious gift to be among those fortunate enough to be invited to a gathering of Dhikr, and we can never be sufficiently thankful for this.
The Best Deed in the Sight of Allah.
Umm Anas radhiallahu anha narrates that she once asked the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, "Ya Rasoolullah, I seek some advice."
Umm Anas radhiallahu anha has a great stature in many respects. To me the greatest is the fact that she was the mother of Hadhrat Anas radhiallahu anhu, who was such a beloved companion of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam first came to Madinah, the Ansaar ('Helpers' - natives of Madinah) presented him with many gifts. But she was such a mother that she gave her own son into the service of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, who accepted this gift and used it to the full. Anyhow, this Hadith was narrated by her and transmitted by Tabrani. In reply to her request the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave her some advice which in fact was a message for the whole of the Ummah. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to her, "Migrate (in Allah's path), fight (in Allah's path) and perform that act which is most loved by Allah."
Now Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam and the Sahaaba performed such a Hijrah (migration), for they sacrificed their city and their homeland. They left the place where they were born and had grown up and whose dust they loved, where they had ties of blood and houses in which they had lived. They left all this because they could no longer practice their Deen in peace and Allah's command for them to migrate had come. They did this without any hesitation, and this was certainly the greatest Hijrah.
Since the status of Hijrah is so high and the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam has ordered us to do this, how can you and I can perform this? How can we obtain the reward for Hijrah since this was apparently an order for the people of that time and was appropriate to their circumstances. May I be ransomed for the Rahma-tul-lil-Aalameen (Mercy for the worlds) who did not overburden his Ummah in any way! In order that we should not be deprived of the reward for Hijrah, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam showed us how we too can obtain that reward. He gave us not Hijrah but a gift better than Hijrah.
He said, "O Umm Anas listen carefully. Shall I not tell you of some thing that is even better than Hijrah from your homeland?"
She replied, "Ya Rasoolullah, please tell me, what is it?"
"Migrate from your sins, indeed that is the best Hijrah", came the answer.
To abandon your sins - that is the best Hijrah. Remember, all the hardships a person endures are a direct result of the sins that he commits. It is very disappointing that we tend to take our sins very lightly, to the extent that we don't even consider many of them to be sins at all. But it is not the characteristic of a believer to sin in this way. We should resolve from today that we will do Hijrah from our sins and leave them for the sake of Allah.
The second piece of advice that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave was to do Jihaad. He ordered us to do Jihaad. Listen to how great Jihaad is. Remember firstly that Jihaad is a defining characteristic of a believer. The one who does not have the will to do Jihaad and to fight in Allah's path is not a believer. If such a person does have Imaan (belief), then it is the weakest possible sort of faith. The quality of a believer is that he is prepared for Jihaad at all times.
Now we must clarify the definition of Jihaad and the causes for which it can be carried out. Every step taken for the purpose of elevating the kalima 'La ilaha illallah Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah' is Jihaad and such steps must be strictly for Allah's sake alone.To fight for any worldly gain is not Jihaad. Jihaad is not for any country, nor for any piece of land or political struggle. In fact nothing is Jihaad unless it is related to Allah's kalimah, to Allah's Deen and to the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Jihaad is necessary wherever the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam begins to disappear. It is for this cause that pens are raised, and for this that lives are sacrificed. Jihaad is not for any country. When a person fights 'fi sabeelillah' (in Allah's path), then it is called Jihaad. Listen to the reward of Jihaad as stated by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Anas radhiallahu anhu narrates the following Hadith:
"When a person sets out on Allah's Jihaad in any moment in the morning or the evening, this act of his is better than the Dunya (world) and all that it contains."
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
In another Hadith which shows the greatness of Jihaad, Abu 'Abs radhiallahu anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,
"The feet of a slave (of Allah) which are covered with dust on the path of Allah can never be touched by the Hellfire." (Bukhari.)
In other words the fire of Hell cannot touch the parts of the body which are covered with dust whilst out on Allah's Jihaad. In another Hadith, Abu Hurairah radhiallahu anhu quoted that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,
"If someone who believes in Allah and the truth of His promise was to keep a horse for Jihaad, then the urine, excrement and all other necessities of the horse would become so precious that when the deeds of the owner are weighed, these things will also be weighed along with his (good) deeds on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari.)
This is Allah's Jihaad, for which the rewards are so very great. Now if a time comes when the need, opportunity or ability to fight is not before one, how can this reward of Jihaad be obtained? In order for his Ummah not to be deprived of this, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam told us through Umm Anas radhiallahu anha.
"And protect (be steadfast upon) the obligatory acts:
indeed that is the best Jihaad."
If any person from the Ummah is consistent upon the obligatory acts, then that is the best form of Jihaad. Now what are the Faraaidh (the obligatory acts), are they just prayer, fasting and Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)? No! In fact the real definition of Faraaidh is, "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger." (Surah Nisaa' 59)
To obey Allah and to obey the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam is Fardh (obligatory). If you were to say that only "Atee'ullah" (Obey Allah) is Fardh, then you are not following the Deen. It would mean that you only believe in 'La ilaha illa-llah' and have ignored 'Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah'. "Atee'ullah" and "Atee'ur-Rasool" (Obey the Messenger) are both Fardh. It is obligatory that both Allah subhana wa ta’aala and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam be followed.
How is this achieved? The order is Allah's and the way to carry it out is shown by the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. For example, Allah subhana wa ta’aala in the Qur'aan orders us to 'establish prayer', and the way to pray is how the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam prayed. Allah subhana wa ta’aala orders us to perform Hajj, and the way to perform it is how the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam performed it. Allah subhana wa ta’aala orders us to cover yourselves, and the way to cover ourselves is how the Messenger sallallahu alayhii wa sallam clothed himself. It is clear therefore that the definition of Fardh is to act upon every order in the Qur'aan in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. And one who is consistent in this obtains the reward of the best form of Jihaad.
Coming to the third piece of advice that Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave about performing the act most loved by Allah, the advice here for the great Sahaaba was, "O Umm Anas, perform such an act that will make Allah begin to love you". What a beautiful prospect, that Allah Himself would begin to love a person!
She asked, "Ya Rasoolullah, what is that act through which Allah subhana wa ta’aala will begin to love me? You are the beloved of the Lord, please inform me about this act. Ya Rasoolullah, you mentioned all the acts, you mentioned Jihaad and Hijrah - now what Amal (deed) is there left, O beloved of Allah, may my mother and father be your ransom, by which Allah would love me?"
He replied, "Remember Allah with abundant Dhikr!
Indeed that is the best of deeds loved by Allah!"
The Bounty of Dhikrullah in Worldly Terms.
Make Du'a that Allah forgives us through the performance of His Dhikr. My friends on ordinary nights there is great value in remembering Allah, and yet tonight is a night of Ramadhaan and also the night of Jum'uah, so imagine how great a reward there must be for remembering Allah on this night. In order to increase our enthusiasm for Allah's Dhikr I will relate to you a great saying of Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam. I put forward this Hadith, which shows the reward for just a few words of Dhikr, to highlight just how fortunate we are, since in this gathering we will be reciting many verses and du'as.
Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam told us that Allah will give the same reward as for freeing one hundred slaves of Arab descent to someone who recites 'Subhanallah' one hundred times. For reciting 'Alhamdulillah' one hundred times, he will be rewarded as if he had donated one hundred fully armed horses in the path of Jihaad. And Allah will give one who recites 'AllahuAkbar' one hundred times the reward for sacrificing 100 Arab camels. As for 'La ilaha illallah' it was stated by the Master sallallahu alayhi wasallam that this kalimah is so wonderful that, subhanallah, as soon as one recites it the heavens and the earth fills up with reward.
Just think about this Hadith: the reward for freeing 100 slaves can be obtained from reciting one small verse. Yet the reward of freeing just one slave is that in return for every hair upon the body of that slave, a sin will be forgiven. And furthermore there are categories of slaves, and of these the Arab slave is the best. So just imagine the effect of this deed in washing away a person's sins. As for the reward of donating one armed horse in the path of Jihaad, it is related that on the day of reckoning the horse's faeces, hair and urine will all be weighed and then written as good deeds for that person. Again, this is just for one horse, so just think of the reward for giving 100 horses.And then we go on to Qurbaani (sacrifice). Now we all know the reward for performing Qurbaani, yet here the reward is for 100 camels. Now multiply all of this by 70 because this is the blessed month of Ramadhaan, and one can conclude that Allah's blessings and mercy really are innumerable.
The truth is that only through His infinite bounty has Allah seated us here for His remembrance, and we should pray to Allah that he gives us love for His Dhikr and steadfastness in it. My friends, time passes by very quickly. Half an hour or 45 minutes often goes past without one noticing or in a daytime nap. But it is Allah's favour that He has taken hold of each of our Nafs and ordered it to sit in His remembrance. The Nafs gives thousands of excuses, saying that it is late or that one needs to get up early in the morning and so on, but Allah's mercy is with us and helps to overcome these suggestions.
In another Hadith, Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam gives a further example of the status of Dhikrullah. This Hadith is narrated by Abu Dardaa radhiallahu anhu who states that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,
"Shall I not tell you of an act which is the best of deeds, one that is most virtuous in the sight of Allah, a deed that will elevate you more than any other, one that is better than spending gold and silver in Allah's path, one that has more merit than a fight with the enemy (in Jihaad) wherein you kill many foes and you yourself become martyred at their hands?"
The Sahaaba radhiallahu anhum replied: "Ya Rasoolullah, please inform us of such an act."
Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied: "Dhikrullah!" (Malik, Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi.)
The Value of Dhikrullah on the Day of Judgement.
It is related by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr radhiallahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said that on the day of Requital, Allah will bring out a man from among the Muslims in the presence of all creatures, and ninety-nine volumes will be placed before him, each of which will be as long as the eye can see. Allah will then question him about his deeds. It will be said to him, "These are your books of deeds. Do you deny any of the deeds mentioned in them? Have our angels, who kept a watch and recorded your actions, been unjust to you or entered a sinful act wrongfully in your account?"
He will reply, "No my Lord, no-one has been unjust to me and I am guilty of all the wrongdoing recorded."
All sins will be made visible on that day, even the smallest of sins. Even those sins committed in darkness will be made visible. Allah will then say, "Have you any excuses to offer?"
He will reply, "No my Lord, I have no excuses."
Man will be so helpless on that day as he stands in the court of Allah. Who would dare to speak on that day? As a result of these questions and answers, the man and everyone present will begin to think that he is doomed, but then Allah will say, "We also have with Us a special and virtuous deed of yours. No injustice will be done to you this day."
A piece of paper will be produced on which will be written 'Ashhadu an La ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluhu'. The man will be told to make his way to the place where his deeds are to be weighed. He will then submit a fearful plea, asking, "Oh Lord, how can this piece of paper compare to those volumes?" "Fear not, you will not be dealt with unjustly", Allah will declare.
The ninety-nine volumes will then be placed on one pan of the balance, and the piece of paper on the other pan, and the piece of paper will turn out to be heavier than the ninety-nine volumes. (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
My friends this shows what a beautiful treasure the kalimahh is, for to recite it once gives so much benefit. Then what about those who spend day and night in Allah's remembrance? Such people will be continuously exalted and they will earn the higher degrees of Jannah where beautiful palaces await them. So why shouldn't we make a habit of Dhikrullah? Aren't we in need of assistance in the grave and on the bridge of Siraat? These are precious jewels that we can accumulate, and they only require a small amount of time each day. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us that the remembrance of Allah is the best of deeds wby which to guarantee protection from punishment in the grave.
The Dhikr of Allah is such a great thing my brothers. Abu Saeed radhiallahu anhu narrates:
"Once I asked Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam this question: 'Who is the greatest in the sight of Allah, for there are people who read Tahajjud, others who go for Umrah - indeed there are so many different acts of Ibadah. Who will be the highest ranking people in the hereafter, and what will characterise their practice?"
Remember that this conversation was destined to be guidance until the day of Judgement. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied, "The men who do Dhikrullah and the women who do Dhikrullah."
Funerals, Visiting the Sick and Dhikrullah.
I am going to bring a point to your attention, and may Allah give you and me the ability to practise it. It concerns some examples of amal (good deeds) that are very easy to perform and for which the rewards are very great. One of these is to inquire about the sick. Now there is always someone you know who is ill. A person is ill if there is any kind of physical deficiency in him. This can be no more than a cold or a headache, or some other common illness. Opportunities like these are not to be wasted as you will realise when you hear how much reward is in store.
The Nabi of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has said that if you visit a sick person, the whole time that you are in his company it is as if you are in Jannah. Look at the reward we waste! You and I should look around for people who are ill, even with just a cold, and take time to visit them. How beautiful is the reward for this practice!
"If in the morning you visit a person who is ill, then until the evening seventy thousand angels will supplicate to Allah for you."
(Tirmidhi)
This contains the implication that if you visit the person in the evening, seventy thousand angels will supplicate for you until the next morning. Furthermore, in return for visiting a sick Muslim, Allah will give you a garden in Jannah. How much trouble does it take to practise this? If one day you visit five sick people, spending five minutes with each person, just think how much reward you will accumulate. For one visit, seventy thousand angels will supplicate for you, so how much reward will there be for five visits?
Now I will give you another example. We must all experience death eventually. And in the society in which we live, there is always someone leaving this world at any one time. The Nabi of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has stated that if you take part in someone's Janaazah (funeral prayer), then you will receive the reward of one Kiraat , a term which I will explain shortly. And if you also take part in the burial of the person then you will receive the reward of two Kiraat. My friends, the reward of one Kiraat that Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us about is actually a metaphor for what is in store for us, since there is no comparison to the actual rewards of Jannah. One Kiraat represents an amount of gold and silver the size of mount Uhud. This is the value of the reward that a person will receive in Jannah.Tell me, how long does it take to perform the two deeds which I have mentioned? Even if each of these is performed just once, look at how much reward a person can receive.
Now I will tell you about another practice, so listen carefully. The one who has told us about this is none other than Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam, so there is no room for doubt and uncertainty. Bear this Hadith in mind if you want to acumulate deeds for the hereafter. The Master sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "I will apprise you of a practice that is better than visiting a thousand sick people." How many? A thousand sick people. I have already told you about the reward for visiting one sick person. Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam went on to say that this practice is better than taking part in a thousand Janaazaat, and that it is even greater than the nawafil that can be performed in a thousand nights.
Just think of how great a practice this must be. This is the reward for this practice, but it does not end here, for the sin for attending seventy immoral gatherings will be amended by this act. Let me repeat once again: the reward is greater than a thousand janaazah prayers, greater than visiting the sick a thousand times, greater than a thousand nights of prayer in solitude, and forgiveness for attending seventy immoral gatherings is also acquired.
The sahaabah asked, "Ya Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, please tell us - what is this practice?"
Nabi Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam replied that this reward is for that person who sits with the friends of Allah in the Remembrance of Allah. (Muslim and Tirmidhi.)
Two Types of Dhikrullah and the Need for a Teacher.
There are two aspects to Dhikr. Although all of us sat in Allah's remembrance, there are some amongst us who truly did the Dhikr, and they are those who have learnt this great deed. For example anyone can drive a car, but a real driver is someone who has passed his test. Similarly the Dhikr of Allah has to be learnt and is a science that needs to be taught. My friends, Allah has favoured us by gathering us together today. Whoever has not yet learnt the Dhikr should take steps to do so. By making this effort a person benefits no-one but himself. It is not of any benefit to the teacher of the Dhikr, although he is benefiting by spreading Allah's Deen. Such a person is chosen by Allah and given the permission to teach.
Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam stated that there are two types of Dhikr; one is Dhikr-bilisaani (vocal) and the other is Dhikr-khafi (silent). Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa radhiallahu anha stated that Dhikr-khafi is 70 times greater than the Dhikr of the tongue. (Fadhail Dhikr). And when a person learns this Dhikr from of a friend of Allah, great benefit comes to him.
Yet we continue to waste time. We are blessed with all these opportunities but Shaytaan prevents us from taking advantage of them. How long will we continue to be put off in this way? We will regret it deeply in the grave. Allah subhana wa ta’aala will ask us why we did not learn this deed when we were given the chance to do so.
My dear brothers, come towards the Dhikr of Allah. This is a deed whose benefits are amazingly far reaching. It is a means of acquiring success and respect in both this world and the Hereafter. Everything can be attained by virtue of Allah's remembrance.
Making the Most of the Gift of Life.
I often give the example that if a person sits in the company of a sweet maker, he will learn how to make sweets. Likewise if he spends some time with a goldsmith, he will learn about his art. In the same way a person who sits in the company of a Dhaakir (one who remembers Allah) will Insha'allah also become a Dhaakir. May Allah give us the Tawfeeq (favour) to make a habit of His remembrance and also to be blessed with the company of those who remember Him.
My friends, just think for a moment how easy it is to sit in these gatherings. Now tell me, are we losing anything by sitting here for an hour? Have we been left behind in the Dunya? If we were to pursue this line of thinking further, we would prostrate to Allah, give charity and spend the whole night thanking Allah that He has given us the chance to attend the gatherings of Dhikr and acquire these rewards. How unfortunate we are if we become lazy, and how immense Allah's mercy is. Try to realise what this life is really about. Today we are on this Earth and are recognised by our social circle. Some recognise us for our wealth and others for our relations. But before we know it, we will depart from here and everyone will forget about us. Only those deeds that I have mentioned will be of use in the grave. Do not waste time brothers. Yes, live in the world, earn a living, give time to your families, but in addition to this attend the gatherings of Dhikr daily, or at least once a week.
We must promise from our hearts that we will remove these idols that Shaytaan has lodged in our minds, and hold fast to the Dhikr of Allah. Allah has given so much rewards for these gatherings. A person should be prepared to travel a thousand miles to attend gatherings like these. There are people here today who have travelled all the way from London to attend this gathering. And once the Dhikr finishes, they fly back to their homes like birds. There are ten to fifteen such people here today, and the amazing thing is that they are all youngsters. I am astounded when I see their level of devotion. When I ask them about this they reply, 'Hadhrat Sahib, we have only come to remember Allah.' There is even a child among us with this attitude, who for the last five days has hardly eaten in anticipation of this gathering. But we elders who will shortly step into the grave still make excuses: 'Yes we'll start one day, Allah is the one who gives Tawfeeq, we will start to practise soon.'
My friends, open your eyes to reality. I am inviting you to dedicate your lives to preparing for the hereafter. We must stop being neglectful. Whenever we get the opportunity we must strive to earn for the hereafter. May Allah give you and me the Tawfeeq to act upon these words.