Volume 4 - Jamaadul Ukhra 1438 | March 2017

"Naqsh-e-qadam Nabi  ke hain Jannat ke raastey, Allah  se milate hain Sunnat ke raastey. The footsteps of Nabi  are the heavenly pathways. The connection with Allah  is through the Sunnah highways." -Hz Ml Hakeem Akhtar sb () A TRIBUTE TO The story of the HAZRAT MOULANA grammarian & YUNUS PATEL the sailor SAHEB ( )  Muraaqabah e HALAAL Maut - Part 1 SUSTENANCE Aadaab of Salaam

KHANQAH ASHRAFIA AKHTARIA www.khanqah.co.za | [email protected]

CONTENTS

1. A Glimpse into the life of Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Sahib t 2 2. Gulistane Taiba - Part 3 6 3. Halaal Sustenance 12 4. Lesson in Begging 18 5. Poem 21 6. The story of the Grammarian and the Sailor 22 7. Steadfast 24 8. Muraqaba -e Maut 29 9. Adaab of Salaam - Part 2 35 10. Sunnat - The Home & Masjid 36 11. Letter 3- Relating to marrying a Non-Muslim 38

www.khanqah.co.za. • Email: [email protected] A project of Hz Ml Hakeem Muhammed Mazhar Sb (D.B)

- Illustrious son of Khalifa of Muhiyyus Shaykhul Hadith & Hazrat Moulana Shah Sunnah Hz Ml Abrarul Principal of Jamia Hakeem Muhammed Haq Sb (R.A) Ashraful Madaaris Akhtar Sb (R.A)

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2 VOLUME 4 • JUMAADAL UKHRA 1438

Khilafat

A few months later, on hearing the news of Mufti Mahmood (u)’s illness, Maulana travelled to Deoband to visit his’) respected Ustaadh. Maulana also intended spending some time in the company of Hazrat in during this same trip.

Upon Maulana’s arrival in Deoband, Mufti Sahib remarked: ‘How is it that you come now in Shawwaal and not in Ramadaan?’

Maulana explained that on hearing the news of his illness, he wished to visit him.

Mufti Saheb replied: “Actually it was the desire of my heart that drew you here so that I may give you ijaazat (khilafat).”

Maulana began to tear and said: ‘I am not worthy of it.’

Mufti Saheb said: ‘This is how you should feel about yourself, but I know who is deserving of it.’

After this visit, Maulana travelled to Karachi and related this incident to Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Saheb, seeking his advice.

Hazrat advised Maulana to treat the Ijaazat of Mufti Saheb as a blessing...

Shortly after Maulana returned home, he received a letter from Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb, wherein Hazrat wrote : “I grant you ijaazat (khilafat).”

In his subsequent visits to , Hazrat (DB) would stay for a longer time in Durban. Hazrat, his companions and associates stayed at Maulana’s Madrasah. Hazrat was overjoyed on witnessing the arrangements made for him, as well as the enthusiasm of the people.

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During Hazrat’s stay, the Madrasah became extraordinarily luminous.

A Tribute to the city of Durban

On one occasion, whilst traveling to Cape Town, Hazrat requested his most special attendant, Hazrat Ishrat Jameel Meer Saheb (DB) to allow Maulana (u) to sit in his place, next to Hazrat, and that he should sit in Maulana’s place.

Meer Saheb did as requested and informed Maulana that Hazrat wanted him to sit next to him. Maulana went and sat next to Hazrat. Hazrat then took a note-book out of his pocket and began writing... and Maulana watched as Hazrat wrote.

Hazrat’s poetry was ‘Ilhaam’ (Divine Inspiration), so there was no requirement of pondering over rhyme, verse and stanza. Hazrat was inspired with this poetry aboard the aircraft.

When the poem ‘Dar yaade Durban’ was complete, Hazrat handed it over to Maulana saying: “Show this poetry to Meer Saheb.” Maulana then showed it to Meer Saheb.

In this poem, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (MZ) praises Durban, which is one of the major cities in South Africa :

“We imagined DURBAN to be some wilderness But friends, when we visited it, It turned out to be a garden to be envied. My heart and soul are pleased with my friends there; With the Grace of Allah, Durban brings joy and happiness to our hearts.”

Generally, the pious servants of Allah do not show any attachment to any specific town or area. Their affiliation to any place is solely on the basis of the Deen that flourishes in that particular place and the pious people

4 VOLUME 4 • JUMAADAL UKHRA 1438 who reside there. ...As was in the case of Majnoon who had no real regard or connection with the town of his beloved Layla. He began to love and revere her home-town solely because she resided there.

Since Hazrat Wala has many esteemed followers in Durban, he made mention of Durban in his poem.

Hazrat explains : Based on our knowledge of the Urdu language, we assumed Durban to be some jungle or wilderness, because the word ‘ban’ (Durban) in Urdu means, “a jungle”. Moreover, the syllables ‘dur’ (Durban) means “fear”. Joined to ‘ban’, the name gave the impression of a wilderness or a lonely uninhabited place. However, when I arrived there, I discovered Durban to be contrary to my expectations. It turned out to be like a beautiful garden that was a source of envy... because there was a large group of sincere, devoted people residing there, who had great love and affection for the sake of Allah. Hence, I began to admire these people and a strong bond was established with them.

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THE GARDENS OF MADEENA SHAREEF

THE POETRY of Aarif Billah Hazrat-e Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammed Akhtar Saheb

Commentary by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Sahib

Prepared by Maulana Muhammed Desai Sahib AN-NOOR MAGAZINE

GULISTANE TAIBA- PART 3

Gunaaho se upne me ranjoor hoo(n)gaa

I will express great remorse, great regret and great shame over my sins, weaknesses, shortcomings and faults

I will express great remorse, great regret and great shame over my sins, weaknesses, shortcomings and faults. When I present myself, I will be ashamed of myself. I will have nadaamat (regret)in my heart. I will regret why I committed those sins. I will not express any kind of happiness in the evil actions and deeds that I had engaged in during my life. So, many of us go there with no real intention of giving up those sins. We don’t even have the intention of giving up watching T.v. when we come back, watching all the filth, listening to music, the porn sites, illicit beloveds. So many make phone calls to their illicit beloveds from Madeena Shareef, sms messages are sent to them, Eid Mubarak messages are sent to them, hadya and gifts are brought for them from Madeena Shareef. Will this be Ziyaarat? Will we say that this person is Ranjoor over his sins, that he is sad, he is expressing remorse and regret over his sins. Even from Arafaat, messages are sent to illicit beloveds. No intentions are made to delete anything.

A Muslim can never be happy and satisfied over a life of sins. There is no question of happiness in sins for a Muslim and a Mu’min. Yes, as a Muslim and a Mu’min we can make mistakes, slip and fault. The greatest Waliullah can also slip sometimes. But the Tauba of that person will also be of that level. There will be no happiness at all. Immediately after the person has slipped, he will be restless. The person will not be able to eat, drink, laugh, smile, and joke until the person has shed tears of regret and remorse in front of Allah Ta’ala and expresses his regret and Nadaamat that, “Oh Allah, you have blessed me with so many bounties and ni’mats and I have used

7 VOLUME 4 • JUMAADAL UKHRA 1438 your bounties and ni’mats, be it the gift of sight, hearing, speech, wealth etc. for your disobedience. What kind of a transgressor am i?!” Now, the person will cry and will feel and sense in his heart as if a voice is telling him, “My Banda (My Slave)! I have accepted your Tauba!” It will be as if the person will feel that Allah Ta’ala has accepted his Tauba. Then only, will he enjoy his meal again, he will be smiling and joking. But these are accidental sins which we are discussing.

A person of such great calibre: Hazrat Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahib (RA) writes in this Naath Shareef:

Gunaaho se upne me ranjoor hoo(n)gaa

I will express great remorse, great regret and great shame over my sins, weaknesses, shortcomings and faults

Whereas he is an Aarif Billah (one who has recognised Allah Ta’ala), acknowledged by the Auliyaa of the time as Aarif Billah. Great Muhad- ditheen, Mufassireen and senior Ulama have taken Bay’at upon his hands and are making Islah of their nafs.

A poet very beautifully mentions that, “Oh My Allah! My sins are so bur- densome and so weighty. I have committed so many sins that they have be- come like mountains. They have become very weighty upon my shoulders. They are so weighty that they have not enabled me to walk to my grave. Therefore I am on the shoulders of people because I cannot walk on my feet due to the weight and burden of my sins which I have committed in my life. Oh My Beloved Allah, I am so ashamed of the sins I have commit- ted that I cannot show my face to anybody any more, therefore my face is also covered with my kafan. I have covered my face with my kafan out of shame and nadaamat.”

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This is something which Allah Ta’ala loves. Humble ourselves! Seek for- giveness and acknowledge our mistakes and errors. Do not be proud and arrogant. Allah Ta’ala wants humility.

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Ba feze shafaa’at me maghfoor hoo(n)gaa

I have great hope that I will be forgiven through the Shafaa’at (interces- sion) of My Beloved Nabi-e-Kareem r

With this regret of mine, this remorse of mine, this tearing of mine, this acknowledgement of my sins and weaknesses, I am asking for the Shafaa’at and intercession of Nabi-e-Paak r, asking for Nabi-e-Kareem r to seek from Allah Ta’ala forgiveness because forgiveness comes from Allah Ta’ala. We are asking Nabi-e-Kareem r for his Shafaa’at. With the Barkat of the Shafaa’at of Nabi-e-Kareem r, I have great hope that I will be forgiven by Allah Ta’ala. Nabi-e-Kareem r was full of compassion, love, mercy, irre- spective of whatever type of person came to him.

“Oh Allah, your Beloved Rasool r is there for Shafaa’at of the sinful Um- matis like us. So being in Madeena Shareef I am very hopeful. I will seek from Nabi-e-Paak r at the Rodha Mubarak, Shafaa’at and intercession. I will seek from Him in spite of all my weaknesses, shortcomings and faults. I will say, “Ya NabiyAllah, Ya Rahmatallil Aalameen, Allah Ta’ala has made you Rahmatullil Aalameen. Therefore I seek from you Shafaa’at and I seek from you, from your Mubarak Hands, Jaame Kauther on the Day of Qi- yaamah, after which there will be no thirst. Don’t chase me away like how some people will be chased away on that day. The angels will tell Nabi- e-Kareem r, that you do not know what they did after you. It will be told to them (Go far away, go far away). Don’t let me be amongst all

9 VOLUME 4 • JUMAADAL UKHRA 1438 of them. In spite of all my weaknesses, shortcomings and sins, Oh Allah, make me amongst those who will get the Shafaa’at of Nabi-e-Kareem r and Jaame Kauther.”

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Uregi hawaa se jo khaake Madeena me aise ghubaaro me mastoor hoo(n)gaa

I will be covered completely with the dust and sand particles which fly about in Madeena Shareef

In the old days there was dust from whichever side a person walked in Madeena Shareef. There were no tarred roads. Nowadays, we hardly get any dust flying about in Madeena Shareef. However if we go a little out of Madeena Shareef, then even now one can still experience a dust storm or sand and dust flying around. Therefore, in the Ash’aar, poetry and Naath Shareef of the past, the gullies of Madeena Shareef were very famous. So the dust of Madeena Shareef itself is full of Shifa. Khaak-e-Shifa is not only one particular place in which Allah Ta’ala placed Shifa. A person says, “Oh Allah, just as you made this sand a means of Shifa for my physical ailments, so make it also a means of Shifa for my spiritual ailments. Make it a means of forgiveness for my sins. I will get covered completely with the dust and sand particles which fly about in Madeena Shareef. I will be enjoying the dust which will be covering me while I will be walking in the gullies of Madeena Shareef. I will enjoy the dust which will cover my hair, body and clothes. Just picture a person covered in the sand and dust of Madeena Sha- reef. It is as if the person has poured bottles of perfumes over himself. When he understands the value of the Khaak (dust and sand) of Madeena Shareef.

It is as if a person is hidden away in the dust of Madeena Shareef. If it is any other dust, then we will want to run far away from it. Off-course, it

10 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE does not mean that a person must remain covered in the dust of Madeena Shareef. This is Ishq and Muhabbat of Nabi-e-Kareem r and Madeena Sha- reef. It does not mean that the person must remain with his clothes dirty and soiled. Even if it is the dust and sand of Madeena Shareef, the person must go to the Musjid in a clean state. Sahaba (I) understood and knew what Nabi-e-Kareem r meant, when Nabi-e-Kareem r spoke about the dust and earth of Madeena Shareef. They were still told to have their clothes washed, cleaned and go in a state which is presentable. In this poetry it is an expression of Ishq and Muhabbat. Poetry expresses the Ishq and Muhabbat which is in the heart and this poetry is written by an Aarif Billah, Hazrat Shah Muhammad Hakeem Akhtar Sahib (RA). So there is no such thing as Mubaalagha and exaggeration in this poetry. It is a Haqeeqat and a reality.

11 VOLUME 4 • JUMAADAL UKHRA 1438 Halaal Sustenance

Transcribed Majlis of Hazrat Ml Hakeem Muhammed Mazhar sb (D.B)

Today, majority of our people involve themselves in banks and use interest.

When Nabi r mentioned Translation: That such a body will not enter Jannah whose nourishment is from haraam wealth.

Nowadays, people are least concerned about earning a halaal wealth. Everyone aspires to become wealthier day by day, and we will do anything to gain this wealth even if it means going against one’s own religion. Once Nabi r went to the market place in Medinah where a person was selling wheat, so Nabi r put his hand into the heap of wheat and he felt that the bottom portion of the wheat was wet, whilst the top portion was of a good quality grain. Nabi r enquired about the grain. The merchant mentioned that some of his wheat had become bad because of the rain so he put it at the bottom. This was logical since, customers would not purchase spoiled grain. Nabi r mentioned:

Translation: That person who deceives has no relation with us It is deception to place the good grain on top, thereby hiding the bad grain under. On visiting any vegetable market of today, one would find the freshest vegetables arranged beautifully at the front but on purchasing the vegetables, the shop owner would sell second grade vegetables at a higher

12 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE price. This is un Islamic. If a shop owner desires Halaal sustenance, he should separate the lower grade goods from the higher grade and sell both for profit at different prices.

Many of us are proud to say that we are Hanafi. Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) was a great trader. Once a piece of cloth; which Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) was selling; had a blemish on it. So he asked his servant to point out the blemish to possible customers, so that the customer is well aware of the item that he was purchasing. It so happened that this worker forgot about this and sold the cloth without pointing out its blemish. After a while, when Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) asked his servant about the cloth; it was discovered that it was sold mistakenly without the blemish being pointed out.

Would the following occurrence ever take place in our time?

Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) mentioned, “This can never happen.” So an announcement was made in the town to find the purchaser of the cloth. When this person was found he was informed about the blemish and given an option to either keep the cloth or return it and be refunded.

Allah Y has kept everything in its natural disposition. If you eat something hot then heat will be created. If you eat something dry, dryness will be created. If you eat something wet, wetness will be created. If you eat haraam wealth then you will have an inclination towards haraam. You will be frightened of the pious people and you will also pay no attention to your life after death.

In the period of Hajaaj bin Yusuf there were a group of (friends of Allah Y) who would curse oppressive rulers and as a result of their curses, the ruler ship of these oppressive rulers would be lost. Hajaaj ibn Yusuf invited these pious people and after they had eaten Hajaaj said On enquiring the reason for this he then said that he had put haraam food

13 VOLUME 4 • JUMAADAL UKHRA 1438 in the pious peoples’ stomachs, now he did not fear their curses because through the haraam food their duaas would not be accepted.

Therefore, if halaal food enters into your stomach you will perceive noor in your heart. You will perceive happiness in your zikr. You will experience easiness in every facet of deen. You will find it easy to go out in jihaad and you will not fear anyone. Haraam wealth would make you frightened of death. Through Haraam wealth, you will love the world and this would destroy you.

So in everything Allah Ta’ala has placed its specialty. The speciality of halaal sustenance is that there is such enjoyment in it which is not found in anything else. In Halaal sustenance there are numerous blessings. The definition of blessings is; little but a lot of benefit.

For example near Darul Uloom Deoband, there lived a pious person who was well known as “ghaas waale buzrug” (pious person who sells grass). His occupation was that every day he used to cut grass and thereafter used to bring it and sell it in the town. In that period he used to get six paisa (a copper coin equal to one quarter of an anna) every day. He used to keep two paisa for his spending, give two paisa to his widowed paternal aunt for her spending and he would keep the remaining two paisa to feed the Ulama e kiraam the friends of ALLAH Y and note: two paisa of that time can be understood to be one hundred rupees of our times.

Therefore after one week, he would gather the paisas, buy fat rice and he would cook it for his guests. These great ‘ulamaa being: Shiekhul Hind Moulana Mahmood Hasan (R.A), Qutub ul ‘aalam Hadhrat Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi (R.A), Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi (R.A) and Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Ya’qub Sahib (R.A) would wait for this pious man’s invitation.

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People were curious to know as to what enjoyment Hadhrat Gangohi (R.A) found in molasses and rice? When he even refused the invitations of great governors! In reply Hadhrat mentioned that the pious man invited them sincerely and ih his halaal sustenance they perceive a strange type of noor (light) in their hearts and a condition of Ihsaan comes over them. We become aware that ALLAH Y is always watching us. In their zikr (remembrance of ALLAH Y ) they obtained a strange feeling; when they used to say in Salaah, a strange condition was felt in their hearts and because of this they did not mind waiting an entire week for the rice that he would prepare for them.

To illustrate the point of his piety, once this pious man, (Ghaaz Wale Buzrug) was selling grass. A servant of the government passed by and on seeing the commotion, he enquired about the gathering. He was told that a person was selling grass, and immediately pushed his way forward asking the man about the cost of the grass. In reply, the pious man said six paisa. This man took the grass to his master without paying. He then told his master that he had received the grass for free. This grass was fed to his master’s horse, which remained hungry the entire night as he refused to eat it. The master was a friend of ALLAH Y . He said you have definitely done some oppression on someone and brought this grass and the servant confessed to stealing the grass. The master immediately sought forgiveness from the pious person. The master offered the pious man one hundred rupees as a gift, but the pious person insisted on receiving six paisa. Eventually the master paid the pious man six paisa. On receiving the money the pious man passed his hand over the horses head and requested the horse to eat. The horse was very hungry so it began to eat immediately.

Even the animals of that time could distinguish between halaal and haraam. Today man being the best of creation is eating haraam wealth and this causes no sorrow or grief in one’s heart. It is mentioned in the ahaadeeth amongst the signs of qiyaamah that man will earn such wealth wherein

15 VOLUME 4 • JUMAADAL UKHRA 1438 there will be no distinction between halaal and haraam. Once Hadhrat Maulana Muzaffar Sahib (R.A), whilst on a journey stayed at a musjid. In the evening a person gave Hadhrat Maulana three rotis, Moulana then mentions that he had seen Nabi three times that night. On the second night that person gave Moulana two rotis and on that night, Hadhrat saw Nabi r twice. On the third day he brought only one roti and thereafter he requested Moulana not to stay for another day. Hadhrat Maulana seated him down and told him about his dreams on the previous nights. Hazrat also asked this man if he knew the reason for this. The man replied by telling Moulana that he is a poor person who sells sticks at the market through which he gets three roti’s. On the first day his family was fasting so he was only bringing his roti but his wife and son also gave their roti’s. The family then fasted the following day without food. Unfortunately, on this day his son fell ill in the evening so he brought only two roti’s. On the third day, his wife also fell ill, so he brought only his roti. The man explained that he did not know what his condition would be the following day so he requested the Moulana not to stay for another day. Moulana mentioned that it was because of the blessings of this man’s halaal earnings that he got the honour of seeing Nabi r in his dream

In the era of Ameer Abdur Rahman (the king of Afghanistan), an enemy contingent attacked the frontier. His eldest son was sent to confront the enemy. After a few days news arrived that he was returning defeated. Ameer Abdur Rahman, in a very disturbed state entered his house. His wife on noticing his sorrowful state asked him if there was a problem. The Ameer informed his wife that his son was coming back defeated. His wife objected to the validity of the claim. The Ameer then informed his wife that a servant of the government had brought the information; but his wife still insisted that the information was incorrect.

The Ameer then became concerned over what his wife was saying so, he

16 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE asked his soldiers, who confirmed that his son was returning defeated. After three days, another servant reported that the Ameer’s son was not returning defeated but victorious. The Ameer immediately went to his wife and asked her as to how she knew that her son was not defeated.

The Ameer’s wife replied by saying; “For nine months, as long as he was in my womb, leave alone haraam food, I did not even allow doubtful food to enter my stomach and in the period of breastfeeding, I did not give him milk except in the state of Wudhu. How can I believe that my son, to whom I have paid so much of attention towards Halaal, be defeated. He can attain martyrdom, but he can never leave the battlefield and run away.” In the previous times, soldiers used to consume halaal food, in order to gain an advantage over their enemies. So much so, that mothers were extremely cautious concerning halaal food, when upbringing their children.

To be continued Insha Allah

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There are signs outside the Haram in Makkah Shareef and Madina Shareef, which clearly instruct that there should be no begging. Outside our Masjid also, we have a sign, which reads, “No Begging.”

But this is outside the Masjid. There is no begging outside the Masjid and, indeed, Shariah discourages begging. The Hadith also tells us: “The upper [giving] hand is superior to the lower [taking] hand.”[1]

So on this level, begging is not at all encouraged. It is disliked in Islam,

18 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE unless the person is destitute and in dire need. However, on another level, a Muslim must beg – but a Muslim must beg of only Allah Ta’ala. This is something beloved to Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “There is nothing dearer to Allah than a servant making Dua to Him.”

Allah Ta’ala’s treasures are unlimited. So, inside the Masjid, we beg of Allah Ta’ala.

Furthermore, we find that beggars teach us how to beg of Allah Ta’ala – especially in Makkah Shareef. We see how beggars follow us, and they will persist and insist in asking from us, to the extent of even catching the person’s garment. They even cry for something, for anything. …They just refuse to leave until something is given. They have that Yaqeen that the person they are begging from has something and will give if they persist. These beggars outside the Haram Shareef are teaching us a lesson of how to beg of Allah Ta’ala, inside the Haram Shareef or whenever we are making Dua.

…Sadly, we do not consider who we are asking when we make Dua. As such, we make Dua casually, in a relaxed manner: legs are stretched out, leaning against a wall, and no effort is even made to raise the begging bowls of the hands. And we make a Dua in this laid-back, careless manner – and we say webegged of Allah Ta’ala. And we sometimes do not even have conviction that Allah Ta’ala will give and will do and will provide. …A far cry from the beggars who beg from human beings.

These beggars teach us to keep begging – to persist in asking, and to ask of Allah Ta’ala with full Yaqeen: ‘O Allah, there is no shortage in Your Treasures… You have unlimited treasures. Everything is in Your control… Grant us complete forgiveness…’

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Nothing is difficult for Allah Ta’ala to do and Allah Ta’ala will do, when we ask sincerely. May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the Taufeeq of raising our hands and asking of Him, with sincerity and with conviction.

[1] Sahih Bukhari / Sahih Muslim

“Strange is theVISA When any difficulty (e.g. Sickness) of life...it can be cancelled comes upon a person do 4 things: at anytime. The duration 1. Adopt the means (eg. Take medication). of its validity is unknown, 2. Give sadaqah (charity). and its Extension too 3. Make Istighfar (seek forgiveness). 4. Make dua. is impossible." -Hazrat Maulana Some have also added: Hakeem Muhammed Akhtar Saheb 5. Ask those who you regard as pious to make dua for you

20 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE                 Do Jahaa(n) ka mazaa us ko haasil nahee – Aah jo dil tere gham ka haamil nahee.

He is not blessed with joys of both the worlds… who carries not your pain (love) in his heart.     €‚ƒ„­        Aap chaahe hame ye karam aap kaa – Warna ham chaahne ke to qaabil nahee.

We desire You, this is Your Grace upon us. Otherwise we are not worthy of Your Love (since we are polluted with sins).         ‡ˆ‰‹ŒŽŠ  † Suhbate ahle dil jis ne payee na ho – Uska gham gham nahee, uska dil dil nahee.

One who has not acquired the Suhbat (company) of the Ahle Dil (Lovers of Allah), his pain is no pain and his heart is no heart.

 •–  —˜•„‡ ‡‘’ “”Ž Jis Jagaa aap ka Qurb milta na ho - Ho ke manzil bhi wo meri manzil nahee.

Any place where your nearness is not acquired, though it is a destination yet it is not worthy a destination.     „¡–  ¢ ™š‰‹›œž Ÿ Ghaire haq se lagaata he jo apna dil – Teri ulfat ke gham ka wo haamil nahee

Whoever attached his heart to other than Allah, he carries not the pain of Your Love in his heart.    §¨© ªˆ  ¦   ˆ £ ¤  ¥ ‡ Aap ka hoo(n) me bas aur kisee ka nahee – Koi layla nahee koi mahmil nahee

I am Yours and no one else’s. I have no Layla nor the Mahmil (tent of Layla). (This means my love is exclusively for You, no one or no object of this world has a place in my heart)   ³´˜  ˆ¡² «¬®¯š° ± Keh rahaa he ye Akhtar babaange duhul – Bahre ulfat ka koi bhi saahil nahee.

Akhtar announces this openly, The oceans of Allah’s Love and Nearness have no shore (i.e. there is no limit/end to Allah’s Love and Nearness).

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The Story of the Grammarian and the Sailor In the Mathnawi, Maulana (Rahmatullah Alaihe) tells the story of a grammarian.

A certain man noted for his knowledge of grammar once boarded a boat for a voyage.

The captain of the boat asked him, “Sir, in which subject are you an expert?” He replied, “I am an expert in the knowledge of grammar. It is a great pity that you have spent your whole life learning to sail a boat but did not learn anything about grammar”. At this reply, the boatman remained silent. It so happened that according to the decree of Allah Ta’ala, the boat was caught up in a storm in the middle of the ocean. The captain told the grammarian: “Sir, make use of your knowledge of grammar and save yourself from drowning. The boat is in danger of sinking”.

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The grammarian remained silent. Of what use was grammar in such a situation? The sailor also said, “This is not a time for grammar. It is time to be a swimmer. There is, at this time, no use of expert knowledge of grammar. It is time to swim your way out of trouble.

“The water of the ocean carries a corpse on its head while living ones it drowns”

In other words, by annihilating your ‘self’ the road to Allah Ta’ala is discovered. Those who act proudly and arrogantly are destroyed.

Hence, in the path of Allah Ta’ala, self-annihilation is most useful. It is of no great benefit to become involved with arguments and debates. Sometimes these debates create arrogance, which prevents one from building a close contact with the saintly ones. May Allah Ta’ala protect us against such deprivation and grant us perfect annihilation of the self, Ameen!

I, once, asked my Shaikh and Murshid, “What is annihilation?” He replied, “The meaning of the term ‘destruction of the self’, and to ‘annihilate yourself’ and to become ‘annihilated to Allah Ta’ala’ means that a person will discard all his pleasures and desires which are against the commands of Allah Ta’ala, that is called ‘annihilation of the self’. When a person initially takes the first steps on the path of sulook, this annihilation is accomplished through strenuous spiritual exercises and great difficulty. But in the end, the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and the acquisition thereof becomes like second nature to a person - much easier to attain.”

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{ : } Alhamdulillah with the fazal and karam of Allah and all your duaas we have been granted the taufeeq to move on to our next volume of An Noor. We make dua that Allah Ta’ala grants us ikhlaas and istiqaamat and make it a means of Sadqa e jaariya for our parents , teachers and all our akaabireen (elders).

Allah Ta’ala states that there are those who have accepted realities and believed and those who say,

“ Our Rabb is only Allah” our Nourisher and Sustainer is only Allah. Allah is the Controller of everything .Our nurturing , benefit and harm , honour and disgrace , health and sickness , life and death is totally in his hands.

After believing , they remained steadfast on this.

Many of you must have heard from our elders requesting one another for

24 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE duas in this manner: “Make dua that Allah Ta’ala grants us istiqaamat.” What does Istiqaamat mean ? To fulfill the commands of Allah Ta’ala and to continuously abstain from Allah ta’alas disobedience. What is the sign of istiqaamat in this era ?

When any beauty appears before one , and one does not look at her or him , then understand that one has attained istiqaamat.

A person that follows the commands of Allah , but does not abstain from Allahs disobedience is deprived of the bounty of istiqaamat. One should have concern over this. Do not lose hope but try to fulfill the right of fikr (concern).

Some people say , “ We are concerned , but we cannot do anything. What can I do? I cannot control my gaze. I look at these beautiful woman and I become mad. “

Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Maulana said , “ If this girl’s father stands there holding a big stick , then where will the strength to control the gaze suddenly come from ? “

It shows that you are afraid of being beaten, and it is as if there is no honour in you. If someone removes his shoes and at that moment (whilst enjoying that haraam gaze) hits you three or four times on your head , then will your gaze immediately be lowered or not ?

Such people should have a second look at their sense and honour. Are we the honourable servants of Allah Ta’ala or are we unworthy and without honour ?

Where one sees that there is a fear of being beaten up, he lowers his gaze,

25 Volume 4 • Jumaadal Ukhra 1438 and where he possesses no such fear, he looks around fearlessly. This shows that the love of Allah Ta’ala in the heart of this person is extremely low. My Sheikh Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Akhtar Saheb mentioned that the love of Allah Ta’ala has two rights;

1) To fulfill those actions which Allah Ta’ala has commanded eg. The commands of Salaah , Fasting , Zakaat , Hajj , Qurbaani etc. 2) To abstain from those acts which Allah Ta’ala has prohibited. A person who does not abstain from Allah Ta’alas prohibitions is a slave of his desires. He has, due to his excessive sinning , set fire of his dignity and his honour. This is similar to a person setting fire to his beautiful tree.

No matter how much water and manure one uses thereafter, it’s leaves will remain burnt. Thereafter for many days if it is kept away from the fire and it is watered properly and fertilized, then only will the leaves eventually become green and lush.

A person who is determined to commit sin, it is as though he has lit a fire on his lush garden of imaan. One who does not protect the gaze, does not abstain from lies, causes harm and inconvenience to others, backbites and destroys the honour of Muslims; all of these are sins which causes harm to this green and lush garden of Imaan.

We make dua tha Allah Ta’ala, due to his infinite mercy, forgive all our sins and may he grant us the ability and the courage to abstain from all such dishonourable actions. Aameen.

Think my beloved friends! What is the position of a servant in the sight of Allah Ta’ala when he is involved in any sin? Allah Ta’ala is watching at all times what His servant is doing.

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Contemplate for a while that Allah Ta’ala is watching whatever we are doing , and every single moment is photographed by our limbs and those limbs will testify against us on the of judgement (qiyaamat). Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Noble Quraan

Allah mentions it clear in another verse of the Quraan e Kareem

Allah Ta’ala is aware my dear friends of every action. Actions that we do daily and have become accustomed to it such as , looking at haraam on the net , backbiting , doing fraudulent deals etc , or actions which people cannot see like entertaining haraam thoughts or playing back in the mind past sins and taking full enjoyment of it in the mind , or whether we are harbouring jealousy for our friends and family or whether we have pride etc are all in the knowledge of Allah Ta’ala.

How will Allah Ta’ala deal with us when we are inviting the wrath of Allah Ta’ala on ourselves ?

In this world we can bribe authorities and probably get away but when our eyes close then there is no bribery and corruption in the qabr and on the day of qiyaamat all our actions will be opened out and every person will be for himself.

There is no escape from that but there is hope for forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala , provided we seek sincere forgiveness from him and make that change in our lives for the better.

May Allah Ta’ala grant me first the taufeeq to make amal and may he make it easy for all of us to make genuine tawba and turn towards him. Aameen

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May Allah Ta’ala grant me first the taufeeq to make amal and may he make it easy for all of us to make genuine tawba and turn towards him. Aameen. Article adabted from Hazrat Ml Hakeem Akhtar ra advices .

Mohammed Yunus Patel

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It was the practice of Hazrat Shaikh Zakariyya Saheb (rah); during his stay in Stanger; to recite practically every night this muraqabah –e-maut for the entire month of Ramadhaan. Infact his very close Khadim1, Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hafeez Maki Saheb (db) mentioned that on his departure in Johannesburg people asked him for nasihat2. Lengthy nasihat was expected from such a great Shaikul Hadeeth of the time, upon whose hands great Ulama, Muftis, Muhadditheen3, Mufassireen4 were bay’at5 and having such a large crowd gathered. However the concise advice given was: ‘Remember your maut6 in abundance and stay occupied in zikrullah’. Zikrullah at all times does not mean that a person reads Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah continuously. What it means, as I explain frequently in my zikr majaalis is that a person is conscious of Allah Ta’aala’s presence at all times and he fulfils the ahkaam and the laws of Allah Ta’aala, which are focused upon him at that moment.

A Muslim is Ibnul Waqt- This means that he/she fulfils whatever is the requirement and need of that moment. For example, when it is time for salaah then he performs salaah. When it is time for recitation of Quraan Sharif then he is reciting Quraan Sharif. He has got a kind of timetable.

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When it is time to make khidmat8 of one’s parents then he/she makes khidmat of the parents, when it is time to fulfil the rights of the wives and the children then he does that, when it is time to make zikrullah then he makes zikrullah, when it is time to help the poor, the needy, the destitute then he does that- whatever is the requirement of that time- whatever hukm9 of Allah Ta’aala is focused on him at that time, he fulfils that hukm and that order. That is a Muslim. That is the true meaning of Zikrullah.

A person who makes Muraqah of maut and remembers his maut/death, he will not be negligent- he will not be ghafil10- he will not be in a dream world. We are receiving funeral messages daily of the jaanaazah of so and so, especially in these months of Shabaan and Ramadhaan. You will always notice funerals in these months, of people whom Allah Ta’aala wishes to bless due to some good deed or action of theirs, which they may have done in secrecy or sometimes even in public but solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’aala. That is the condition: not for show business and riya11. That is where we lose out totally as I was explaining yesterday that people of the past, our pious and righteous ancestors, made a lot of mehnat/effort on this Ikhlaas/sincerity. That is a different subject……

Muraqabah –e-maut (tubare bandage……chanda….)’tubare…’ we have been created for bandagee (ayat) Allah Ta’aala has created jin and ins for no other purpose except for His ibaadat/obedience of Allah Ta’aala, whatever is the hukm of Allah Ta’aala like slaves they fulfil those ahkaam. Khwaja Hasan Basri (rah) once bought a slave since in those days slavery was prevalent. It is Islam that came and brought so many different laws which slowly freed all slaves.

Nevertheless, being a Wali of Allah , he asked the slave –what are you going to eat? The slave said: whatever you will give me to eat. The slave was also a very pious as was common in those days –

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He enquired, “What will you wear?” He replied: “Whatever you will give me to wear.”

“Where will you sleep?” –“Wherever you give me place to sleep…” so he said, “Don’t you have any desire of your own!?” he responded, “If I had any desire of my own, why should I have been a slave. If I could have decided for myself, would I have decided to be in your slavery? In that case I would have chosen freedom and eaten what I wished to…”

Upon this response Hazrat Khwaja Hasan Basri (rah) freed that slave immediately and said: “What a lesson he has taught... This slave is saying , ‘Whatever you give me to eat.. Wherever you make me sleep... Whatever you give me to drink… Whatever clothes you give me to wear I will wear...” Being bandaas of Allah Ta’aala should we not be like this slave: Whatever is the hukm of Allah Ta’aala we will fulfil it. If Allah Ta’aala says that certain foods are halaal for you, we will eat. If He says it is Haraam for us, we will not eat - certain clothing are halaal then we will wear it - if it is haraam for us to wear we will not wear it, certain drinks are halaal for us then we will drink. If Allah Ta’aala declares alcohol, wine and brandy as forbidden then we will not drink it. Similarly whatever Allah Ta’aala says in all other matters we will comply. Hazrat Khwaja Hasan Basri (rah) says that this slave taught us all a lesson that we too are the bandaas of Allah Ta’aala. Why should we be questioning His commands? Whatever Allah Ta’aala is pleased with we must accept, whatever is His hukm as declared in the Quraan Sharif we must obey.

(ayat- ma aatakumur Rasool fa khuzoo…) whatever Nabi  gives you, meaning whatever he orders and whatever ahkaam he gives you, accept it. Whatever he prohibits you from/asks you to stay away from, then stay away from it. Somebody asked a great buzoorg that where is it mentioned in the Quraan Sharif that you must keep a beard? Is it the law of Allah directly

31 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE from the Quraan Sharif. The response given was that Allah Ta’aala says that whatever Nabi  says/orders we must do, so hasn’t he ordered that we must keep a beard? So all the Ahkaam that are mentioned in the Quraan Sharif , one will find in the life of Nabi  a demonstration of it. If a person is a bandaa of Allah Ta’aala he will also accept everything that Nabi  has ordered. (Jamu ma jaa …) Whatever Nabi  brought he has to accept as a Mu’min and Muslim. Somebody said that when we were born, we didn’t have a beard so why must we keep a beard. The response given was: “Bring one hammer and let me knock all your teeth out because when you were born, you were without teeth!”

( tubare…) that means to bow down-put the head down before Allah Ta’aala= submit oneself

(warda pir…) life is just for a few days, it is melting away like a block of ice, day by day we are going closer and closer to our graves and death. We say our child is 5 years then 20, 35, 45 years old... we say he is growing older.. As the person is growing older, that lifespan that Allah Ta’aala has destined for the person, that time is expiring... you are coming closer and closer to the expiry date and no one knows when is that expiry date. When we go to the supermarkets or to the chemist, we look at the expiry date on the medication, on the biscuits, on the milk bottles. Atleast we know that there is some kind of expiry date and what is that date. When a person is travelling out, he has got a visa for some country and there is an expiry date on that visa, every person keeps on looking at that date properly for he knows that if that date has expired and he does not leave that country then he is liable to be arrested, but atleast he knows that there is an expiry date.. how many times we have heard now, those beautiful couplets of my Sheikh Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb(db) which is on his letter pad as well.

(zindagi ka ajeeb he visa kab bulale kuda he ma’loom, us me………)

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The visa of life is strange, when it is cancelled nobody knows. A person is walking and it is cancelled- a person is talking and it is cancelled- the person is eating and it is cancelled- the person is wearing his clothes and it is cancelled- the person is taking a shower and it is cancelled- he is going to his business or driving and it is cancelled...Look at the number of people that die in Tsunamis and other disasters. Were they aware of their death? Extension is impossible. If a person has to possess all the gold and silver of the world, all the diamonds, all the jewels, all the gems and all the oil of the world and all the platinum and uranium, and then he offers it to the angel of death as a bribe, will it work?

(As I say in our country and many other countries of the world, even one pocket of potato is sufficient for extension of visa)

When it Is time for that visa to be cancelled, it will be cancelled. Our cars will remain where they are, huge buildings will remain where they are, our children will remain and the person has to go. (iza maatal insane qamat qiyamatahu)

We waiting for Qiyaamat yet it is still far...still Imam Mahdi has to come, Isa (A.S), Dajjal and all the other fitnas that are mentioned and the sun will rise from the west, all those things will still happen then Qiyamat will come… that will come when it will come but what about that person whose death has come!!

As soon as his death has come, his Qiyaamat has commenced yet we are waiting for that Qiyaamat? Our Qiyaamat is just behind us, like a shadow following us. As soon as those few breaths of our life are completed, a person will fall down flat on the ground even if he is a few tons in weight… That does not mean that a person will not be able to live in this world, and cannot eat, read, run a business. Infact he will live a perfectly normal

33 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE and balanced life because of this realization that the visa of life can be cancelled suddenly. Due to this concern he will not engage in Zina, will stay away from the Discos, Cinemas, Theatres and Gambling dens. He will not be cheating, deceiving or lying to anyone because he knows that death is absolutely sudden! So what is the purpose of being greedy since death is going to strike suddenly. Rather be content and have Qanaa’at with what Allah Ta’aala has given you, be good to everyone and fulfil the rights of all.. (wardaman pir…..) That is exactly what the disbelievers, the kuffar and mushrikeen, all say as I explained in the bayaan on the Night of Bar’aat. The kuffar, mushrikeen, yahood also say the same thing-(karle jo karna he aakir maut he) do whatever you have to do because you are going to die one day. However what they mean is drink, gamble, commit adultery, fornication, engage yourself in Haraam pleasures because for them, there is no question of Haraam and Halaal. Therefore thay say: ‘Drink… do whatever you want to do…do it now because one day you are going to die and turn into dust. When a Mu’min says that, he means do as much as you can do in ibaadat, zikr, tilaawat, good deeds and actions.. namaaz, roza, zakaat, hajj, fasting.. all those types of things- pleasing Allah Ta’aala – do as much as you can do now because after death the book will be closed. There will not be an opportunity thereafter to do any good deeds. Very recently a minister was giving a talk in parliament and he suddenly collapsed and was gone! People where wondering what happened that whist speaking he collapsed.. This has happened in so many places.

So let us appreciate these mubaarak days and nights. May Allah Ta’aala give us the tawfeeq of Amal. Aameen

***End of Talk#1 on Muraqabah-e-Maut 2010***

34 VOLUME 3 • JUMAD-AL-ULA 1436 The Aadaab of Salaam - Part 2 By Hz Ml Ashraf Ali Thanwi R.A

8. It is waajib (obligatory) to reply to the Salaam which is written in a letter. This reply may be in writing or verbally. 9. The Fuqaha have said that in reply to the Salaam which is written in a letter, one may say ALAIKUMUS SALAAM or even ASSALAMU ALAIKUM. 10. In a letter in which a Dua is written, the Salaam should be written first since this is the Sunnat method. 11. Instead of writing or saying the Salaam, to say any other term or to adopt the greeting of any other community is bid’ah. Such an alien greeting is in fact alteration of the Shariah. 12. A person who is engrossed in a conversation or in some I work should not be greeted. The newcomer should not intrude with his hand-shaking. Such an act is uncultured and causes distress to others. 13. It is Makrooh to greet a person involved in Deeni or natural activity. Thus, to make Salaam to a person eating is Makrooh while it is not Makrooh to engage in conversation while eating. 14. It is not permissible to bow and make Salaam. 15. Before entering a house or any place of privacy it is necessary to seek permission. Do not enter without permission. 16. Stand outside and proclaim the Salaam, then ask permission in any language. Use such terms which convey the full meaning. However, as far as the Salaam itself is concerned only the terms of the Shariah should be used. 17. When answering the call of nature neither reply to anyone’s Salaam nor offer Salaam. 18. On promising to convey a person’s Salaam, it becomes waajib to do so, otherwise not. 19. When making Salaam to elders adopt a low voice. Do not express yourself in such terms which convey arrogance or disrespect.

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Dua When Leaving The Home 1. When leaving home for the Masjid or for any other place, recite this Dua: (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibne Maajah)

Trans: I emerge with the name of Allah. I have placed my trust in Allah. The strength to abstain from sins and to carry out righteous deeds, is only from Allah (Shami , Vol.1 pg. 85)

2. Proceed with dignity. Do not run. (This pertains to going to the Masjid only). (Ibne Majah)

Dua When Entering The Home 1. When returning home, upon entering, first greet those in the home with Salaam. Thereafter recite this Dua:

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(Abu Dawood) Trans: O Allah, I ask of you a good entering and a noble leaving. With the name of Allah have we entered and with the name of Allah do we leave and upon Allah have we placed our trust.

Sunnats Upon Entering The Masjid 1. To enter with the right foot. (Bukhari-Chapter on Salaah pg.61) 2. To recite (Ibne Majah pg. 56) 3. To recite Durood Sharief e.g.

(Ibne Majah, Faydhul Qadeer Vol. 1, pg. 336) 4. To recite the dua eg

(Ibne Majah) Trans: “O Allah, open the doors of your mercy for me” 5. Make intention for I’tikaaf. (Shami- Vol.2, pg. 442)

Sunnats Of Leaving The Masjid 1. To leave the Masjid with the left foot. (Bukhari-Chapter on Salaah pg.61) 2. To recite (Ibne Majah pg. 56) 3. To recite Durood Sharief eg.

(Ibne Majah, Faydhul Qadeer) 4. To recite the Dua. eg:

(Ibne Majah) Trans: “O Allah, I ask you for your grace”

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LETTER THREE Relating to Marrying a non-Muslim QUESTION I am in my 20s and still not married. The Muslim boys that I know are of dubious and doubtful character, womanisers or into drugs and drink and other Haraam. Their character also leaves little to be liked. I am working with a man who is very good-natured and very kind-hearted. He also respects me and is very keen on marrying me but he is Christian. I consider him better than hundreds of Muslim men, so I would like to know if it is permissible to marry him. He will not force me to give up my faith. I am worried about what the community will say and I think this decision will hurt my parents. I also want to bring up my children in a religious environment but he is offering me what I want in a husband also. Please advise.

REPLY

Bismihi Ta’ala

Respected Sister in Islam,

Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu

Respected Sister in Islam, Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatum 1.) Whilst the character of many Muslims is far from being described as “admirable” or “noble” … their acknowledgment, recognition and belief in the Oneness of Allah Ta’ala and the Prophethood of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), is evidence of them being better in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.

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As an example : A person steals a car or is involved in fraud. The government will punish him according to his crimes. However, if he betrays his Government, he engages in high treason, then this will incur a punishment which will be, by far, much more severe – because of the magnitude of his crime.

The same with the Muslim and non-Muslim : The Muslim who is sinful will be punished according to his sins, but inevitably, his Imaan will be a means of securing him salvation. He will enter Jannah.

The non-Muslim, on the other hand, can seemingly have the most noble character and deeds, but because he is committing high treason against his Creator and Nourisher, by rejecting Him (even though Allah Ta’ala’s signs are evident everywhere), or by associating partners to Him, then no matter how good a character he has or how much of service he renders to others, it will not be valid in the sight of Allah Ta’ala – because the “High Treason” – the Kufr and Shirk, by far, exceed all limits of disobedience, for which there can be no bail or parole (if the person dies in that condition of Kufr / Shirk).

The condition of the Believer and that of the disbeliever can be likened to money. We have money which is genuine and money which is counterfeit. If someone has a R100 note which is old, crumpled and even torn, but it is genuine – so it will be valid for use.

If a person has a brand-new, clean, crisp, R100 note but it is counterfeit, the government will reject it. Similarly, the Muslim can be ‘torn and crumpled’ in his character and in regards to good deeds, but due to his Imaan, he is accepted by Allah Ta’ala. The Non- Muslim can have the best of character and can be engaged in good deeds, but he is like that counterfeit note – and will be rejected by Allah Ta’ala.

2.) No one is saying that this man will not accept Islam. We make dua that Allah Ta’ala guide him to Islam, but presently, he has no intention to do so. As such,

39 Volume 4 • Jumaadal Ukhra 1438 marriage will not be valid to him.

3.) Allah Ta’ala advises us with that which is in our best interests : “And do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters) until they believe; and a slave woman who believes (i.e. in Tauheed) is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she may attract you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes (i.e. in Tauheed) is better than an unbeliever, even though he may attract you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness…’ [Surah Baqarah 2 : 221]

4.) You mention his level of respect for you, but he has no respect for Allah Ta’ala. Which is more important? Would you prefer to live with a man who does not recognise Allah Ta’ala, does not respect Allah Ta’ala, does not love Allah Ta’ala ?

5.) It is not a matter of worrying about society. It is matter of worrying about what Allah Ta’ala likes and dislikes for us and whether our actions will please Him or displease Him. Also, worry about the consequences that will inevitably follow in respect to living together - different religions, different cultures, living in a relationship that will not be valid, bringing up children in confusion of beliefs, influenced by different families and so forth. You have to think long term.

6.) Yes, you should also consider your parents : You would cause them tremendous hurt by doing this. Consider the disgrace and embarrassment they will feel. …Then you will be deprived of their duas and blessings. How then will you enjoy any kind of happiness?

7.) If he is sincerely interested in accepting Islam – that is, he believes with all his heart that this is the true religion, and not so that he can marry you, then it

40 AN-NOOR MAGAZINE would be a different matter altogether and also rewarding for you.

8.) Make dua for his hidayat. Send him suitable literature on Islam, but terminate contact with him. Do not communicate with him. If he wishes to find out more about Islam, refer him to an Aalim.

9.) You say that you want to “form an Islamic home” – How do you expect to do this by living with a Christian man ?

10.) Trust, trust, trust in Allah Ta’ala. Insha-Allah, He will open doors for you to fulfill your desire to settle, form an Islamic home and please your parents. There is a time and place for everything and everyone.

11.) May Allah Ta’ala grant you a most suitable Muslim husband, with noble character, and a husband that will offer you happiness and contentment.

12.) For a marriage proposal : Read daily before sleep : 111 times ‘YaJaami’u and your mother can read ‘YaLateefu’ 111 times. Read Durud Shareef 11 times before and after. Make dua. You can also read Surah Dahr every night (29th juz, 2nd last Surah).

Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu Yunus Patel (Maulana)

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The Quran Sharif is not given (to the Hafiz) through election, But rather through Allah Ta‘aala’s selection. -Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb

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