A person may bribe, lie and cheat just to pass an examination of this world but there is no possibility for the same in the Qabr. To fly through the examination of the Qabr, we need to develop our Imaan in Allah Ta’ala, adorn our hearts with His Love and Ma’rifat (Recognition) and grace our lives with a practical expression of Islam by following the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

There is no other way to pass this most crucial examination of life. And we should always keep in mind that there is no re-testing and no re-marking. A person either passes or he fails.

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding of the greatness of this test, and the effort to work in the direction of preparation for the questioning of the grave, that we may pass without any difficulty and with distinction.

(Malfoozaat of Hazrath Maulana Yunus Patel Saahib (رحمة الله عليه)

Avoiding the forbidden hand-shake

by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh)

In the business field, men and women are often found offering their hand for a handshake. It is formality and considered part of good business dealings and interaction. Many brothers enquire as to how to deal with such situations.

As Muslims, we keep before us the Command of Allah Ta’ala: That it is Haraam (forbidden) for us to touch, let alone shake the hand of a strange woman (or vice versa).

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “It is better for an iron rod (nail) to be driven into the head of a man, than for him to touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”[Tabrani]

Moreover, Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure comes before any form of social etiquette – when it contravenes Shari’ah.

In such a circumstance, where a woman extends her hands, then averting the gaze, politely tell her:“It should not be taken as an insult that I do not shake your hand. It is from my religious teachings that Muslim men are not allowed to shake the hands of those females who are not related to him. It is also out of respect for you and it is out of loyalty to my wife, that I do not touch a strange woman.”

Simple. There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of; nor is there a need to be apologetic. There is also no need for a lengthy speech. It is evident that such a teaching is full of wisdom and protection, and directs towards modest conduct and respect for others.

Similarly, we should lower our gazes and avoid looking at strange women. These are Commandments, which if practiced upon, will truly impress and attract those who are non-Muslims. Many have accepted Islam, observing such high levels of respect, modesty, purity and noble character.

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The True Wealth of Madina Munawwarah

by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh)

My respected Shaikh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum), has mentioned, in his poetry, that our value is dependent on our Nisbat with Madina Munawwarah.

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When anything is purchased and brought from Madina Munawwarah, then a lover of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) will naturally appreciate and value it – no matter how small or how cheap. Why ? …Because it has a connection with the city of the Beloved (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). It has been touched by the air of Madina Sharief, or it has been produced from the blessed land of Madina Sharief – and this is what has made it special.

The residents of Madina Sharief are the neighbours of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and they are the envy of the heavens, because they have such extreme physical closeness to Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). They are the envy of all of us as well – for we too desire the honour of being in such proximity to Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) at all times.

Allah Ta’ala, in His infinite Mercy and Grace, does not want to deprive anyone of us of this blessing of being close to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), so He has given us a simple recourse to always being near to our Beloved Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). This nearness is attained via our nisbat (connection) with the ‘A`maal’ of Madina Munawwarah – i.e. the Sunnah (way of life) of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Our value, in the sight of Allah Ta’ala, is dependent on our relationship with His beloved Rasul (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Allah Ta’ala has informed us of this in the Qur`aan Sharief :

“Say [O Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)]: If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins; And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” [Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 31]

And my Shaykh has presented the same message is poetry form :

“The footprints of the Beloved of Allah,
Nabi Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam),
is the road to Jannat;
The Sunnats of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
connect one with Allah Ta’ala.”

It is a misconception that a person’s repeated performance of Haj and Umrah and repeated visits to Madina Munawwarah is to be taken as the yardstick of piety. The yardstick of piety is not how many umrahs or Haj, a person has made.

The present day scenario is saddening to say the least, since Umrah and Haj have become a holiday, a shopping spree, and a “tour” for the majority. …The deficit is in “sincerity of intention”. As has been said, the visitors are many, but the pilgrims are scarce.

For many, these trips are now for business and trade. And for others, each trip is another “feather” in their caps – which must be made known and announced to the world. There are those that boast of their yearly trips, whether for Haj or ‘Umra, or both, updating us on the number of visits they make to Makkah Mukarramah and Madina Munawwarah. We have heard people say : “I have made Umrah for the past 20 or 30 years and have never missed out one.” …Yet, the reality is that we cannot count our umrahs and haj. We cannot say how many have been performed, because we do not know how many have been accepted. Those umrahs and Haj that are accepted are the only ones that we can count. And we will only come to know of their acceptance on the Day of Judgement.

Despite the frequent visits to the Haramayn Sharifayn, there is generally not much improvement in our spirituality. If we have not brought a reformation in our lifestyles : If we have not fulfilled the rights of people, if we have not returned to people that which is their due, if we have not asked forgiveness from those whom we have wronged, if we are not punctual with Salaah, and if our zaahir (external condition) and our baatin (internal condition) does not reflect the purity and spirituality that come with visits to the Haramayn Sharifayn, then we should truly be concerned as to the quality and acceptance of our Haj and Umrah.

I have mentioned many times that the “maal” (wealth/material goods) of Madina Munawwarah is not what is available in its market places, bazaars and shopping complexes. Unfortunately, when we visit Madina Munawwarah, then more often than not, the objective is the “maal” of Madina Sharief.

The majority of those visiting Madina Munawwarah forget the purpose of their visit once their gazes fall on the commercial centres of Madina Sharief. Many who do know about the material commodities being sold, plan in advance – that there will be an exchange or purchase of gold, there will be this commodity and that commodity bought. …Whilst in Madina Sharief, the talk is the latest technology, the cellphones, the best gold shops, cloak shops, and so forth.

The intention and pursuit becomes the “maal” of Madina and not the ‘a`maal’ of Madina Munawwarah. And this is how our stay of 7 or 8 days passes : “mauled by the malls” . Our imaan, our love for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), our time, our energy, our money are “mauled” in the obsession we have of shopping. We forget, and sometimes we do not even care to give any kind of attention or express any kind of appreciation to our host, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) because we are so caught up in material purchases.

Instead of filling up the pockets of our hearts with the wealth of Love for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and with the wealth of his noble characteristics, we fill up suitcases and suitcases – many a time, even purchasing more suitcases – for filling up the material commodoties of Madina Sharief.

I am not saying that it is Haraam to shop there. It will be meritorious if a person makes purchases with the intention to support the businessmen and traders of Madina Munawwarah. The Hadith also makes mention that when we are on a journey, we should make some effort to bring back gifts for our families no matter how small or how cheap –because there is always an expectation from those who remain behind, at home, that the person on a journey will remember his loved ones and bring back something for them – but this should not be misconstrued. Shopping is not meant to be the “be all and end all” – especially of our visit to the Haramayn Sharifayn. The person should purchase a few gift items a day or two before departure. And the gifts that we should be appreciating most are the duas of the Haramayn Sharifayn, Salaam at the Raudha Mubarak, the Zam Zam of Makkah Mukarramah and the Kajur (dates) of Madina Munawwarah.

Almost everything else is made in China, Taiwan and Japan and can be purchased anywhere else in the world, including our own country, or city or town. However, the Haramayn Sharifayn offer a different “market” where such spiritual bounties are obtained, which cannot be obtained anywhere else in the world.

The true lovers of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) make this trip to fill their hearts and lives with the ‘A`maal’ of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) – with his beautiful seerat and soorat, with his kindness, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, generosity, abstinence and the treasure trove that we know of his noble life.

The visit should be purely to visit Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), to make Salaam to our Beloved Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), to spend time in his Mubarak city and glean from our visit, those virtues, those qualities that will be the medium of bonding with him and being the means of our own value increasing in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.

If all the visitors to Madina Sharief were to return home with the true “maal” and wealth of Madina Sharief – i.e. the akhlaaq (character) and a`maal of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), then the value of the entire Ummah will increase.

The Sahabah were the “stars” of mankind – guides and leaders for all nations and people. They had to thus make the great sacrifice of leaving Madina Sharief to spread the religion of Islam. Despite them being distanced from their beloved Madina Sharief, they traveled with the “nisbat” of Madina Sharief. This was the key to their success. Wherever they went, there was progress and success.

On the other hand, we put price tags on ourselves by looking at our material possessions. What are material possessions ? …Fanaa (annihilation and destruction) will come over them.

Let us introspect and consider our value in the light of the nisbat that we have with Madina Sharief. …The reality is that we have discarded our nisbat with Madina Sharief, and as such our value has decreased. Today, the Ummah as a whole is being sold very cheaply in the markets of the kuffaar. This is our own doing and downfall.

If we have to re-connect with the way of life, the actions and characteristics of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), then most definitely, we will fetch a high price in Allah Ta’ala’s esteem, and we will be successful in both worlds.