Surah At Tur

                                         

       بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

وَ الطُّوْرِۙ(۱) وَ كِتٰبٍ مَّسْطُوْرٍۙ(۲) فِیْ رَقٍّ مَّنْشُوْرٍۙ(۳) وَّ الْبَیْتِ الْمَعْمُوْرِۙ(۴) وَ السَّقْفِ الْمَرْفُوْعِۙ(۵) وَ الْبَحْرِ الْمَسْجُوْرِۙ(۶) اِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَاقِعٌۙ(۷) مَّا لَهٗ مِنْ دَافِعٍۙ(۸) یَّوْمَ تَمُوْرُ السَّمَآءُ مَوْرًاۙ(۹) وَّ تَسِیْرُ الْجِبَالُ سَیْرًاؕ(۱۰) فَوَیْلٌ یَّوْمَىٕذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِیْنَۙ(۱۱) الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ فِیْ خَوْضٍ یَّلْعَبُوْنَۘ(۱۲) یَوْمَ یُدَعُّوْنَ اِلٰى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّاؕ(۱۳) هٰذِهِ النَّارُ الَّتِیْ كُنْتُمْ بِهَا تُكَذِّبُوْنَ(۱۴) اَفَسِحْرٌ هٰذَاۤ اَمْ اَنْتُمْ لَا تُبْصِرُوْنَۚ(۱۵) اِصْلَوْهَا فَاصْبِرُوْۤا اَوْ لَا تَصْبِرُوْاۚ-سَوَآءٌ عَلَیْكُمْؕ-اِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ(۱۶) اِنَّ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ فِیْ جَنّٰتٍ وَّ نَعِیْمٍۙ(۱۷) فٰكِهِیْنَ بِمَاۤ اٰتٰىهُمْ رَبُّهُمْۚ-وَ وَقٰىهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِیْمِ(۱۸) كُلُوْا وَ اشْرَبُوْا هَنِیْٓــٴًـۢا بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَۙ(۱۹) مُتَّكِـٕیْنَ عَلٰى سُرُرٍ مَّصْفُوْفَةٍۚ-وَ زَوَّجْنٰهُمْ بِحُوْرٍ عِیْنٍ(۲۰) وَ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ اتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّیَّتُهُمْ بِاِیْمَانٍ اَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّیَّتَهُمْ وَ مَاۤ اَلَتْنٰهُمْ مِّنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِّنْ شَیْءٍؕ-كُلُّ امْرِئٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِیْنٌ(۲۱) وَ اَمْدَدْنٰهُمْ بِفَاكِهَةٍ وَّ لَحْمٍ مِّمَّا یَشْتَهُوْنَ(۲۲) یَتَنَازَعُوْنَ فِیْهَا كَاْسًا لَّا لَغْوٌ فِیْهَا وَ لَا تَاْثِیْمٌ(۲۳) وَ یَطُوْفُ عَلَیْهِمْ غِلْمَانٌ لَّهُمْ كَاَنَّهُمْ لُؤْلُؤٌ مَّكْنُوْنٌ(۲۴) وَ اَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ یَّتَسَآءَلُوْنَ(۲۵) قَالُوْۤا اِنَّا كُنَّا قَبْلُ فِیْۤ اَهْلِنَا مُشْفِقِیْنَ(۲۶) فَمَنَّ اللّٰهُ عَلَیْنَا وَ وَقٰىنَا عَذَابَ السَّمُوْمِ(۲۷) اِنَّا كُنَّا مِنْ قَبْلُ نَدْعُوْهُؕ-اِنَّهٗ هُوَ الْبَرُّ الرَّحِیْمُ۠(۲۸) فَذَكِّرْ فَمَاۤ اَنْتَ بِنِعْمَتِ رَبِّكَ بِكَاهِنٍ وَّ لَا مَجْنُوْنٍؕ(۲۹) 

اَمْ یَقُوْلُوْنَ شَاعِرٌ نَّتَرَبَّصُ بِهٖ رَیْبَ الْمَنُوْنِ(۳۰) قُلْ تَرَبَّصُوْا فَاِنِّیْ مَعَكُمْ مِّنَ الْمُتَرَبِّصِیْنَؕ(۳۱) اَمْ تَاْمُرُهُمْ اَحْلَامُهُمْ بِهٰذَاۤ اَمْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُوْنَۚ(۳۲) اَمْ یَقُوْلُوْنَ تَقَوَّلَهٗۚ-بَلْ لَّا یُؤْمِنُوْنَۚ(۳۳) فَلْیَاْتُوْا بِحَدِیْثٍ مِّثْلِهٖۤ اِنْ كَانُوْا صٰدِقِیْنَؕ(۳۴) اَمْ خُلِقُوْا مِنْ غَیْرِ شَیْءٍ اَمْ هُمُ الْخٰلِقُوْنَؕ(۳۵) اَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَۚ-بَلْ لَّا یُوْقِنُوْنَؕ(۳۶) اَمْ عِنْدَهُمْ خَزَآىٕنُ رَبِّكَ اَمْ هُمُ الْمُصَۜیْطِرُوْنَؕ(۳۷) اَمْ لَهُمْ سُلَّمٌ یَّسْتَمِعُوْنَ فِیْهِۚ-فَلْیَاْتِ مُسْتَمِعُهُمْ بِسُلْطٰنٍ مُّبِیْنٍؕ(۳۸) اَمْ لَهُ الْبَنٰتُ وَ لَكُمُ الْبَنُوْنَؕ(۳۹) اَمْ تَسْــٴَـلُهُمْ اَجْرًا فَهُمْ مِّنْ مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُوْنَؕ(۴۰) اَمْ عِنْدَهُمُ الْغَیْبُ فَهُمْ یَكْتُبُوْنَؕ(۴۱) اَمْ یُرِیْدُوْنَ كَیْدًاؕ-فَالَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا هُمُ الْمَكِیْدُوْنَؕ(۴۲) اَمْ لَهُمْ اِلٰهٌ غَیْرُ اللّٰهِؕ-سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ عَمَّا یُشْرِكُوْنَ(۴۳) وَ اِنْ یَّرَوْا كِسْفًا مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ سَاقِطًا یَّقُوْلُوْا سَحَابٌ مَّرْكُوْمٌ(۴۴) فَذَرْهُمْ حَتّٰى یُلٰقُوْا یَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِیْ فِیْهِ یُصْعَقُوْنَۙ(۴۵) یَوْمَ لَا یُغْنِیْ عَنْهُمْ كَیْدُهُمْ شَیْــٴًـا وَّ لَا هُمْ یُنْصَرُوْنَؕ(۴۶) وَ اِنَّ لِلَّذِیْنَ ظَلَمُوْا عَذَابًا دُوْنَ ذٰلِكَ وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ(۴۷) وَ اصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَاِنَّكَ بِاَعْیُنِنَا وَ سَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِیْنَ تَقُوْمُۙ(۴۸) وَ مِنَ الَّیْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَ اِدْبَارَ النُّجُوْمِ۠(۴۹)

Surah Qaf

                                    

                            بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

قٓ ۫ۚ-وَ الْقُرْاٰنِ الْمَجِیْدِۚ(۱) بَلْ عَجِبُوْۤا اَنْ جَآءَهُمْ مُّنْذِرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَقَالَ الْكٰفِرُوْنَ هٰذَا  الرَّحِیْمِشَیْءٌ عَجِیْبٌۚ(۲) ءَاِذَا مِتْنَا وَ كُنَّا تُرَابًاۚ-ذٰلِكَ رَجْعٌۢ بَعِیْدٌ(۳) قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنْقُصُ الْاَرْضُ مِنْهُمْۚ-وَ عِنْدَنَا كِتٰبٌ حَفِیْظٌ(۴) بَلْ كَذَّبُوْا بِالْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ فَهُمْ فِیْۤ اَمْرٍ مَّرِیْجٍ(۵) اَفَلَمْ یَنْظُرُوْۤا اِلَى السَّمَآءِ فَوْقَهُمْ كَیْفَ بَنَیْنٰهَا وَ زَیَّنّٰهَا وَ مَا لَهَا مِنْ فُرُوْجٍ(۶) وَ الْاَرْضَ مَدَدْنٰهَا وَ اَلْقَیْنَا فِیْهَا رَوَاسِیَ وَ اَنْۢبَتْنَا فِیْهَا مِنْ كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِیْجٍۙ(۷) تَبْصِرَةً وَّ ذِكْرٰى لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِیْبٍ(۸) وَ نَزَّلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً مُّبٰرَكًا فَاَنْۢبَتْنَا بِهٖ جَنّٰتٍ وَّ حَبَّ الْحَصِیْدِۙ(۹) وَ النَّخْلَ بٰسِقٰتٍ لَّهَا طَلْعٌ نَّضِیْدٌۙ(۱۰) رِّزْقًا لِّلْعِبَادِۙ-وَ اَحْیَیْنَا بِهٖ بَلْدَةً مَّیْتًاؕ- كَذٰلِكَ الْخُرُوْجُ(۱۱) كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوْحٍ وَّ اَصْحٰبُ الرَّسِّ وَ ثَمُوْدُۙ(۱۲) وَ عَادٌ وَّ فِرْعَوْنُ وَ اِخْوَانُ لُوْطٍۙ(۱۳) وَّ اَصْحٰبُ الْاَیْكَةِ وَ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍؕ-كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ الرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِیْدِ(۱۴) اَفَعَیِیْنَا بِالْخَلْقِ الْاَوَّلِؕ-بَلْ هُمْ فِیْ لَبْسٍ مِّنْ خَلْقٍ جَدِیْدٍ۠(۱۵) وَ لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ وَ نَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهٖ نَفْسُهٗ ۚۖ-وَ نَحْنُ اَقْرَبُ اِلَیْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِیْدِ(۱۶) اِذْ یَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّیٰنِ عَنِ الْیَمِیْنِ وَ عَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِیْدٌ(۱۷) مَا یَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ اِلَّا لَدَیْهِ رَقِیْبٌ عَتِیْدٌ(۱۸) وَ جَآءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّؕ-ذٰلِكَ مَا كُنْتَ مِنْهُ تَحِیْدُ(۱۹) وَ نُفِخَ فِی الصُّوْرِؕ-ذٰلِكَ یَوْمُ الْوَعِیْدِ(۲۰) وَ جَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآىٕقٌ وَّ شَهِیْدٌ(۲۱) لَقَدْ كُنْتَ فِیْ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنْكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْیَوْمَ حَدِیْدٌ(۲۲) وَ قَالَ قَرِیْنُهٗ هٰذَا مَا لَدَیَّ عَتِیْدٌؕ(۲۳) اَلْقِیَا فِیْ جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِیْدٍۙ(۲۴) مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَیْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِیْبِۙﹰ(۲۵) الَّذِیْ جَعَلَ مَعَ اللّٰهِ اِلٰهًا اٰخَرَ فَاَلْقِیٰهُ فِی الْعَذَابِ الشَّدِیْدِ(۲۶) قَالَ قَرِیْنُهٗ رَبَّنَا مَاۤ اَطْغَیْتُهٗ وَ لٰكِنْ كَانَ فِیْ ضَلٰلٍۭ بَعِیْدٍ(۲۷) قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوْا لَدَیَّ وَ قَدْ قَدَّمْتُ اِلَیْكُمْ بِالْوَعِیْدِ(۲۸) مَا یُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَیَّ وَ مَاۤ اَنَا بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِیْدِ۠(۲۹) 

یَوْمَ نَقُوْلُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَاْتِ وَ تَقُوْلُ هَلْ مِنْ مَّزِیْدٍ(۳۰) وَ اُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِیْنَ غَیْرَ بَعِیْدٍ(۳۱) هٰذَا مَا تُوْعَدُوْنَ لِكُلِّ اَوَّابٍ حَفِیْظٍۚ(۳۲) مَنْ خَشِیَ الرَّحْمٰنَ بِالْغَیْبِ وَ جَآءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِیْبِۙﹰ(۳۳) ادْخُلُوْهَا بِسَلٰمٍؕ-ذٰلِكَ یَوْمُ الْخُلُوْدِ(۳۴) لَهُمْ مَّا یَشَآءُوْنَ فِیْهَا وَ لَدَیْنَا مَزِیْدٌ(۳۵) وَ كَمْ اَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِّنْ قَرْنٍ هُمْ اَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوْا فِی الْبِلَادِؕ-هَلْ مِنْ مَّحِیْصٍ(۳۶) اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَذِكْرٰى لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهٗ قَلْبٌ اَوْ اَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَ هُوَ شَهِیْدٌ(۳۷) وَ لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ وَ مَا بَیْنَهُمَا فِیْ سِتَّةِ اَیَّامٍ ﳓ وَّ مَا مَسَّنَا مِنْ لُّغُوْبٍ(۳۸) فَاصْبِرْ عَلٰى مَا یَقُوْلُوْنَ وَ سَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوْعِ الشَّمْسِ وَ قَبْلَ الْغُرُوْبِۚ(۳۹) وَ مِنَ الَّیْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَ اَدْبَارَ السُّجُوْدِ(۴۰) وَ اسْتَمِعْ یَوْمَ یُنَادِ الْمُنَادِ مِنْ مَّكَانٍ قَرِیْبٍۙ(۴۱) یَّوْمَ یَسْمَعُوْنَ الصَّیْحَةَ بِالْحَقِّؕ-ذٰلِكَ یَوْمُ الْخُرُوْجِ(۴۲) اِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْیٖ وَ نُمِیْتُ وَ اِلَیْنَا الْمَصِیْرُۙ(۴۳) یَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ الْاَرْضُ عَنْهُمْ سِرَاعًاؕ-ذٰلِكَ حَشْرٌ عَلَیْنَا یَسِیْرٌ(۴۴) نَحْنُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا یَقُوْلُوْنَ وَ مَاۤ اَنْتَ عَلَیْهِمْ بِجَبَّارٍ۫- فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْاٰنِ مَنْ یَّخَافُ وَعِیْدِ۠(۴۵)

History of islam

  

  Islam could become another. It’s concise (under 200 pages), sympathetic, and clear. Or as clear as a book can be that tries to explain the differences between Umayyads and Abbasids, ulama and mujdadid, Shiis and Sunnis, Sutis known as Whirling Dervishes and Sutis who just sit still and breathe deeply.

Confusion is almost the point. Confronted by Islam in all its dizzying diversity, readers may begin to feel like Whirling Dervishes themselves as old stereotypes suddenly fly from their grasp. Armstrong’s theme is that centuries of conflict between the West and Islam (not to mention centuries of entertainment from Mozart operas to Hollywood movies that feature fiendish Saracens and narrow escapes from cruel sultans) have produced an archetypal Muslim in Western minds. He’s at once intolerant and indolent, despotic and submissive, puritanical and sensual, crafty and primitive, capricious and fatalistic. Above all, he’s a religious fanatic. Any progress in overcoming this image was presumably set back years on Sept. 11 — which is why a book like this is suddenly essential.

In Armstrong’s brisk narrative, the clichés evaporate fast. Islam advocates the enslavement of women? The Prophet Muhammad, as was customary, took numerous wives, but he broke with the harsh treatment of women that prevailed in seventh-century Arabia by giving them considerable respect and freedom. And the Koran — the Islamic scriptures — gave women rights to divorce and inheritance long before Christian Europe did. Jihad? Armstrong says it’s properly translated as ”effort” or ”struggle,” not ”holy war.” And, she adds, the Koran justifies defensive war but ”does not sanctify warfare.” The Arab conquests that created an Islamic empire from Spain to Afghanistan after Muhammad’s death in 632 were not primarily driven by religious motives, the author insists, and the Koran insists ”there shall be no coercion in matters of faith.”

Armstrong doesn’t neglect the dark side of Islamic history, which she notes contains about as many massacres as the dark side of Christian history. But what makes the book so appealing is that it doesn’t reduce Islam to its dark side or any other side. And she finds that Islamic fundamentalism has more in common with other fundamentalisms, including Christian and Jewish, than with Islamic traditions. All, she argues, are modern ideologies born of hatred and fear of modernity — science, individualism, the independence of women. All invent purified versions of the faith that have little to do with authentic origins and practices. Armstrong ascribes the particularly virulent form fundamentalism has taken in the Islamic world to the desperation aroused by the combination of Western secular culture and oppressive Middle Eastern dictatorships. And she points out that Islam’s deepest precepts mix up God and history (and God and politics) more than any other world religion, which can be a formula for fanaticism. But all religions have their demons to overcome, and her history shows that Islam is capable of overcoming its own, even now, when it finds itself with an ungodly number of them.   Islam could become another. It’s concise (under 200 pages), sympathetic, and clear. Or as clear as a book can be that tries to explain the differences between Umayyads and Abbasids, ulama and mujdadid, Shiis and Sunnis, Sutis known as Whirling Dervishes and Sutis who just sit still and breathe deeply.

Confusion is almost the point. Confronted by Islam in all its dizzying diversity, readers may begin to feel like Whirling Dervishes themselves as old stereotypes suddenly fly from their grasp. Armstrong’s theme is that centuries of conflict between the West and Islam (not to mention centuries of entertainment from Mozart operas to Hollywood movies that feature fiendish Saracens and narrow escapes from cruel sultans) have produced an archetypal Muslim in Western minds. He’s at once intolerant and indolent, despotic and submissive, puritanical and sensual, crafty and primitive, capricious and fatalistic. Above all, he’s a religious fanatic. Any progress in overcoming this image was presumably set back years on Sept. 11 — which is why a book like this is suddenly essential.

In Armstrong’s brisk narrative, the clichés evaporate fast. Islam advocates the enslavement of women? The Prophet Muhammad, as was customary, took numerous wives, but he broke with the harsh treatment of women that prevailed in seventh-century Arabia by giving them considerable respect and freedom. And the Koran — the Islamic scriptures — gave women rights to divorce and inheritance long before Christian Europe did. Jihad? Armstrong says it’s properly translated as ”effort” or ”struggle,” not ”holy war.” And, she adds, the Koran justifies defensive war but ”does not sanctify warfare.” The Arab conquests that created an Islamic empire from Spain to Afghanistan after Muhammad’s death in 632 were not primarily driven by religious motives, the author insists, and the Koran insists ”there shall be no coercion in matters of faith.”

Armstrong doesn’t neglect the dark side of Islamic history, which she notes contains about as many massacres as the dark side of Christian history. But what makes the book so appealing is that it doesn’t reduce Islam to its dark side or any other side. And she finds that Islamic fundamentalism has more in common with other fundamentalisms, including Christian and Jewish, than with Islamic traditions. All, she argues, are modern ideologies born of hatred and fear of modernity — science, individualism, the independence of women. All invent purified versions of the faith that have little to do with authentic origins and practices. Armstrong ascribes the particularly virulent form fundamentalism has taken in the Islamic world to the desperation aroused by the combination of Western secular culture and oppressive Middle Eastern dictatorships. And she points out that Islam’s deepest precepts mix up God and history (and God and politics) more than any other world religion, which can be a formula for fanaticism. But all religions have their demons to overcome, and her history shows that Islam is capable of overcoming its own, even now, when it finds itself with an ungodly number of them.

Squandering and Miserliness

 

Our desires and requisites

Allah says: Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord. Surah Al-Isra, Ayat 27. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ forbade us from squandering. What is squandering? Squandering is to spend money or buy things unnecessarily. The needs are of two types: genuine and fake. The genuine needs are those without which the deeni or worldly work gets ceased or entailed with many difficulties. If the difficulties of the concerned work are eased, to spend money in such cases is clearly allowed for these are genuine needs and can be assessed. Now the fake needs also called as Hirs (whims and desires) cannot be assessed. Today most of our desires have entered the list of requisites. As the desires have no bounds and so is this list that will keep increasing with time and whatever is spent in the world will lead to devastation with never ending expenses because the aspirations do not end. Certainly the income is limited but not the desires that have become our needs and the result is the man will remain grieved that his expenses are not met. But yes there is a hope if spent on essential things. If the needs are indefinite when the income is fixed, then how will it suffice? One will remain only distressed. The income may not be in our control for it is not necessary that we would earn ten lakhs per month but the expenses are in our control. So utilize that which is in your control and inshaaAllah Allah ﷻ will put barakah in it.

Squandering leaves our deen in danger

When squandering in itself is sinful and will bring a definite ruin in the hereafter, the effect can also be seen in this world where families after families have collapsed. When they raised their expenses and status, they faced the outcome. Increasing the expenses with income is not wise. The wise thing is to lead a simple life peculiar to one’s style, to control his desire and to save the excess money that Allah ﷻ gave him and spend it for some other good cause. It is not wise to finish off all the money in a month or a year taking vocational trips twice a year so determined to spend all the money like planning for a European tour when the income increases. When you accustom your children with this habit and they reach your stage with their income not up to your level, then what will they do? They will try to maintain their status even if it demands haram earnings and their deen will become flat. Today the deen of how many people is in danger all concerned about the expenditure concluding how the expenses will be met if such and such ways are not adopted. How many people’s deen has been spoiled with the worry of expenses? They prolonged their expenses to such an extent that they get compelled to meet their expenses by any means irrespective of being halal or haram and there remains a constant fear about the expenses in them. It has got difficult for the man to ride a motorcycle in place of a car.

Squandering and ostentation

O honorable ones! Our beloved Prophet ﷺ led a very beautiful and comfortable life. Adopt a unique lifestyle and do not increase your expenditure. If at all you need furniture, it is not necessary to spend around 1.5 crores. Generally why do people buy expensive furniture? They want people to see and in fact they display things very cheerfully all by themselves. This is ostentation, a sin in itself which is haram. This showing off that he got the furniture from such and such place is very prominent. This style of life is very dangerous and may be this is why no other ayat of Quran is this harsh in manner when describing squandering: Inna almubaththireena kaanoo ikhwaana alshshayaateen. Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils. How harsh are these words! This sin has so enrooted that we never repented.  If one steals he repents, if he loots he repents and he repents for many sins but not for squandering. This got so established that he doesn’t even realize when it is the base for many evils. Make your lifestyle in such a way that it becomes a standard for your children so when they grow up and have low income, it will become easy for them inshaaAllah to lead a life within the halal means. If the expense increases more than the income, then the doors of haram will open and the eemaan is also of not that good level that one will remain hungry instead of consuming haram. When this is the state of eemaani tarbiat (upbringing) and the doors of squandering is opened on the other side, then think what will happen? So do not squander.

Reflect and consult

Reflect and ponder on Allah’s ﷻ ayat of squandering and pay attention to two things before you spend. The first thing is to think if you do not spend money in the particular case, will there be loss or no loss. If there is no loss related to this world or akhirat, then do not spend. Today we have made all our fake needs as obligatory. People think if they do not raise and maintain the status, how their daughters will get married or establish a name in the society. These needs are indeed false and have no relation with the real needs. And in fact the praise and honor being sought is also false. If the loss is apparent when not spending the money, then consult a qualified person if spending will be against your interest or even necessary and act per his advice. If one makes judgment on his own about his spending, it might result in loss. So let him consult the one whom he trusts in all his affairs and act on his opinion. inshaaAllah his money will then be spent for Allah’s ﷻ pleasure for his own opinion falls here. Keep your lifestyle like the pious ones and do not have slightest adherence to customs and practices. First and foremost choose your house. Leaving behind all the beneficial things, remove the useless ones, sell them or donate to the poor and if you are not courageous enough to give it as nafil sadaqaat (voluntary or optional charity), then give it as zakaat. You can estimate the value of these things and deduct it from your zakaat but never keep useless things in your homes. For example, if the value is about ten lakhs rupees and your zakaat is about twenty lakhs, then deduct ten lakhs from it.  If you have junk items, you would need worthless time and people for its maintenance.

Miserliness and a clarification

The second thing is bukhl (miserliness). Miserliness in extravagance won’t be called as bukhl in Islamic shari’at. wamai yabkhal fainnama yabkhalu an nafsihi- But among you are some that are miserly. But any who are miserly are so at the expense of their own souls.Al-Quran: 47:38. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said, “A miser is away from Allah ﷻ, jannah and people, and very near to jahannam.” Even the people keep away from a miser. Bukhl is being miserly in spending on those obligated by shari’at like taking care of wife’s expenses, children’s expenses and even your body has the right on you. Bukhl is also to do with those acts demanded by any decency or benevolence like helping a neighbor or a travelling companion when he asks for a tissue paper and so on. Failing to give them will class you as a miser. There are two levels in spending:  1) Spending things against the shari’at which is obviously sinful and 2) Spending to maintain decency which is not sinful. The excellence is in resisting such spending but if no courage, there is nothing to worry. It comes in a hadeeth that the money by which a man protects his honor is also a charity. If a man fears the evil of a beggar or a hermaphrodite and hence deliberates to give him something to shut his mouth, he should do so and this is in spite of the fact that he would be called a miser if he didn’t bother to spend to save his honor. So it is also important to save one’s honor and if saving one’s honor and respect demands giving, then give it.

The punishment of the miser

Allah ﷻ says: Wala yahsabanna allatheena yabkhaloona bima atahummu Allahu min fadlihi huwa khayran lahum bal huwa sharrun lahum sayutawwaqoona ma bakhiloo bihi yawma alqiyamah. And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah Hath given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks Like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment. Al Quran: 3:180. The worst miser is the one who doesn’t even pay the zakaat. Once the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.’ “. Then the Prophet ﷺ recited the above verse. Though the hadeeth speaks only about zakaat, it is not restricted to zakaat which was just given as an example because the hadeeth was explained related to this ayat and hence every miser will also be punished who is miserly in spending as per the command of the shari’at. In another hadeeth, a similar warning has been given to the merciless like being miserly to one’s relatives, needy and poor because it is not mustahab (recommended) but waajib (obligatory) to help them. Spending on them not just from zakaat money but also from normal money is waajib.

The evil consequence of bukhl

Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said because of bukhl, people make haram as halal, the mischief spreads and He ﷺ continued that there is nothing that can erase Islam more than bukhl. When squandering is the base for many evils on one side, bukhl is another base. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ warned us to save ourselves from bukhl because it destroyed our previous nations. It is not the glory of Muslims to be misers and head towards jahannam because the root of bukhl is love for this dunya and the love of dunya turns one towards this dunya weakening Allah’s ﷻ love. The miser has intense love for wealth even while dying with his eyes fixed at his safety deposit box and his soul stuck in his bank account and dollar. We can then think of his worst state when the angel of death comes to seize his soul. When the miser dies, he looks at his beloved wealth with jealousy and journeys to akhirat willy-nilly, gets lashed and his soul is taken away forcefully because it doesn’t like to come out. That is why the miser won’t love to meet the Creator ﷻ and it comes in a hadeeth that the one who doesn’t love to meet Allah ﷻ is the dweller of hell.

Beautify your life of akhirat

O honorable ones! When the death approaches, you will love to meet Allah ﷻ only when you would have gathered something for Allah ﷻ and decorated your akhirat more than this dunya for you will desire more for the house where your investment and storage of treasure are large. If you have stored everything only here filling the money bag taking extra care and getting all happy counting the money checking how much you saved, then how will you desire for death? Allah ﷻ says, “He counts as if his money will keep him alive”. When this life is light there will be a pleasure in leaving this world and everyone has to leave one day. Let Allah ﷻ make it so that we beautify our life of the akhirat so our heart desires to leave and yearn to meet Allah ﷻ for this is the sign of a dweller of jannah and if one’s heart desires not to die, let God forbid our beloved Prophet ﷺ told he is the dweller of hell. The time of death is very delicate.

How to save from bukhl?

If one wants to save from bukhl, let him ponder on the evil consequence of the destruction it will bring in the akhirat and the humiliation in this world. Keep this firm in the mind that a miser cannot take his wealth to his grave because money was granted to the man only to take care of his needs in this world. When your wife is crying for basic needs, why do you keep the money safe when Allah ﷻ gave you to spend it? Sometimes a man so takes care of money that he doesn’t even spend on himself and he dies in the state leaving bundles of money. When squandering is wrong and so is miserliness for one has to spend where needed. Take more care of your body than that covers your body. Eat well and drink well for your body has a right. The irony today is people are keener in taking care of those things that others can see but do not bother about themselves. This is strange because it should be the other way. Eat healthy, feed your children good food that Allah ﷻ gave you and take care of the health. This is what you should do because so you are commanded. Do not be miserly in those needs that are commanded by Allah ﷻ. And whatever you have in excess, compel yourself to give it to someone needy or for some religious cause. Even if it is difficult for nafs, bear this with courage and continue doing so until the effect of miserliness is removed from your heart. Remove the love of wealth from your heart and inshaaAllah by its barakah, bukhl will also be removed. How nice it would be if squandering and bukhl gets removed from our lives! If one gets these beautiful characteristics, how much his life will get allurement, beauty and a balance! Let Allah ﷻ grant us all the tawfeeq to act on what we hear, write and read. Ameen

The Punishment of Being Sinful

 

 The Greatness of Allah 

Nothing in this universe happens by coincidence but per some code of divine law. When a leaf falls from a tree, when there is a slightest movement on the earth, when a drop of ocean advances forward, they all seek the permission of Allah ﷻ. The warm and cold wind you see blowing has the command of Allah ﷻ behind it. Nothing happens by coincidence be it the health, sudden sickness, constraint in the rizq, happy and sad moments, honor and humiliation, facing prosperity in the morning and poverty in the evening, being healthy in the morning and getting sick in the evening and so on and on. Every single event in this world follows the code of divine law of Allah ﷻ. Allah ﷻ not just created this universe but runs all its affairs and everything happens only by His ﷻ command and there is nothing out of His control. He ﷻ is so powerful and dominating that only His command works. He ﷻ does as He ﷻ wills, when and where He ﷻ wills and He ﷻ cannot be stopped by anyone from carrying out His command. He ﷻ is the dominion of all. When He ﷻ destines something, there is no creature in the heavens and the earth that can stop it. He is the one and only King of both the heavens and the earth.

A ruler is the mirror of his nation’s deeds

Allah ﷻ has set the law like He ﷻ says, “If you remember me, I will remember you”. “If you take care of My laws, I will take care of you.” Allah ﷻ is explaining His ﷻ law here. “If you displease me, I will make your condition displeasing to you.” Once, Musa AS asked Allah ﷻ, “Ya Rabb! You are in the heavens and I am on the earth. How will I know if you are angry with me?” Allah ﷻ replied, “When My righteous slaves become your rulers and take care of your affairs, know that I am pleased with you. And when the worst and tyrant slaves take care of your affairs, know that I am angry with you.” The ruler of the nation is the mirror of the deeds of that nation. If you want to see people’s deeds, just look at their rulers, their care takers for you can estimate how much their deeds have fallen from righteousness. You can see your life in the mirror of the person in charge of you.

Be warned Oh Muslims!

Events upon events are coming along your way with troubles and worries on one side and your honor is in danger on the other side. This is a notice from Allah ﷻ that His ﷻ mercy is turning away from you and the Rabb is depriving you of His help. Nothing is coincidence. A hadith says when Allah ﷻ wishes good for a nation; He ﷻ grants them a righteous ruler and will give the wealth to the most generous of them. And if He ﷻ wishes evil for the nation, then the rule goes in the hands of foolish and the wealth to the misers. Whatever happens is the work of Allah ﷻ and only His ﷻ is the rule. Hazrat Fuzail bin Ayaz (RA) relates that Allah ﷻ sent wahi (revelation) to some Prophets (AS), “When people who recognize Me and believe in Me start disobeying Me, I will so punish that I will subject them to such tyrant rulers who do not even know me.” Allah ﷻ has an established rule on which this world runs. It is very certain that if we touch the ember, it will burn our hand and if we hold the ice cube, our hands will get cold. There is always a cause and reason. Similarly when there is disobedience of Allah ﷻ, there will be an effect. When the shameful acts become a norm, there will be rise in calamities. The killing of people by bomb blasts or people killed in bus accidents or any news we hear doesn’t happen just like that. When Allah’s mercy turns away from us, we will start getting news of destruction from all the directions.

Evil upon evil

Once Prophet ﷺ told about the causes that when such and such acts become prevalent in the society, then the calamities will break down from Allah ﷻ just like how a chain of beads gets cut off. The destruction will befall the society and the countries just like the beads. This will happen when people will misuse the public money for personal reasons, they will keep hands on others money as if their own and spend as they wish, the zakaat will be felt as a tax or burden, the wife will be obeyed and the mother abandoned, the friends will be loved and taken as well wishers and the fathers will be hated and considered as enemies. Which of these doesn’t happen in our society?  The conditions do not become worst as such. When the societies turn filthy with filthy sins, when music is heard from houses and when roads and markets are filled with animated pictures, Allah ﷻ turns away His mercy from that society. When haram income enters homes and when people start taking pride in usury, Rabb turns away His mercy. When filthiness and taking interest becomes rampant in a society, Allah ﷻ destines destruction for them. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ clearly mentioned the causes for the destruction that if we do such and such acts; we will face such and such destruction. If our life has still the same face, our condition will worsen more. The hadith continues about voices being raised in masajid, that is when people will lose the azmat of Allah ﷻ. We hear the scary news about death of many people in an accident but how many of us have purified our houses from music, sins and how many of us have shed the tears regretting and repenting for the sins? Definitely the condition will become worse day by day. When the music is heard everywhere, men and women work together in offices, markets and factories, how will Allah’s ﷻ mercy turn towards us?

The excellence of having azmat of Allah ﷻ

When the whole society is guilty of sins, oppressors upon oppressors will become dominant. There won’t be any hope of goodness. Allah ﷻ will screen one’s heart and he will elect the same individual, whose principle will become his and he will become his guide and leader.  From every direction there is only state of fear. Neither one’s life is secured nor his wealth and honor but no one is ready to remove sins from their lives and protect himself. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ told us to protect our wealth by paying zakaat and we are asked to embrace taqwa, so Allah ﷻ brings us out of every calamity. wamay yattaqillaha yaj’Aal lahu min amrihi yusraa.And for those who fear Allah, He will make their path easy. Remove all the disobedience of Allah ﷻ from your life, Allah ﷻ will ease your way. The Prophet ﷺ continued that people will consume more alcohol. The new generation has such a great pleasure in intoxicants. There are many habits of intoxication like cigarette, the masticator made of the betel leaf and so many other things and the worst addiction is of alcohol which is very difficult to give up. Having alcohol was so deeply ingrained in the Arabs that in Arabic language, there were about 200 names just for alcohol. If it is consumed in the morning, it has a different name, if drunk in the evening it has a different name, if it is mixed with water, it has a different name and if mixed with something else has a different name and has about 200 names. When a child becomes adult, the first thing he was taught was to drink alcohol. But the Prophet ﷺ so put the fikr of akhirat and azmat of Allah ﷻ in the hearts of Muslims that when it was announced that alcohol has been made haram, the pots of alcohol got broken, the glass of alcohol which was taken to the mouth was thrown away and the alcohol was flowing in the streets of madinah like the rain water and they didn’t dare to consume alcohol again.

Have the courage

O honorable ones! When you have courage, you can give up any sin. I swear on Allah ﷻ if you do not have the strength to give up sins, Allah ﷻ wouldn’t have commanded to give up sins. We have lost the courage. During the time of Khalifa Harun Rashid, a man came to his court to show his skill so he can get some prize. The man pinned the needle on the ground and from a distance, he threw the thread that came out of the needle’s eye. He would have practiced with great efforts as it is not an easy thing. Khalifa Harun Rasheed was very amazed and told him that he has never seen such a skill and ordered to give him ten gold coins and also to hit his head with shoes ten times. The man said he can understand about gold coins but why the beatings. Khalifa replied that indeed you had a great skill for which I gave you ten gold coins and as far as the beating had you worked hard for something else, you would have benefitted in both the worlds. The truth is when man takes courage he can do very strange things. He has made way out of air, sea, mountains and Allah ﷻ has placed so many abilities in him and the only thing he needs is courage. It is only the lack of courage that one finds it impossible to give up sins and if he takes courage his house would be purified from sins.

The wretched state of men and women

The Prophet ﷺ told that the most wretched and malicious person will become the leader of the nation. The woman will imitate the man and the man will imitate the woman. It is getting difficult to differentiate a woman from the man. Her dress is getting tighter and tighter. Even the man is not allowed to wear tight clothes that will show the shape of his body and unfortunately today the woman has started wearing it. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ told once that a time will come when a woman will wear dress but still be naked. Such a scenario couldn’t be imagined during the Prophet’s ﷺ time but a Prophet ﷺ looks through the eyes of nubuwwat. Women wear very light and tight dresses that her body gets revealed through it. Such a woman will be filthy on her own and she will turn others attention towards her filthiness and her hair will be tied like a lump on her head. She will be deprived of even the scent of jannah when it will reach miles and miles. O the honorable ones! The worst condition of our houses, society and country didn’t happen by coincidence but there is a divine rule behind it. What you sow, you reap. The man is wearing earrings and bangles in his hands that one gets confused if he is a man or a woman. People will consume usury. How is it possible that you adopt the trade of usury and you also want peace? Can anyone live peacefully waging war against Allah ﷻ? If you do not give up usury, then come to the battlefield to fight against Allah ﷻ. You are very daring to proclaim war against Allah ﷻ. When Allah ﷻ proclaims war against anyone, how can he be saved from destruction?

Two things which will save this ummah

O honorable ones! Do not look just at the worldly causes that lead to the destruction but look at those mentioned by Allah’s ﷻ Prophet ﷺ. The hadith says that the later generation of this Muslim ummah will speak badly of the earlier generations. Today the honor and respect of the Companions is not saved and the honor and respect of even the Prophets (AS) are not saved. Whatever one wishes he blabbers and writes down and there is none to question him. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said when our state reaches to this worst level, then the signs of Allah ﷻ will manifest and lashes upon lashes will shower from Allah ﷻ that we will know only the worst from east, west and from every single place. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said as long as there are two things in my ummah, they will be protected. One is the presence of Prophet ﷺ that is as long as he ﷺ is alive calamities will not befall Muslims and the second thing is as long as people keep seeking Allah’s ﷻ forgiveness, the calamities will not befall. Committing sins by itself is bad and taking pride in sins is worst as you are openly proclaiming your enmity. If you give a torn currency note to the bank, you might be replaced with a new note and what will happen if you tear the note in front of the bank officer? Will he give you a new one? No but he will register a case against you. Feeling guilty before court is something and standing with pride is dishonoring the court.

Committing sins openly and our crying

Today sins are not committed in secret but an open invitation is made and proclaimed. Our Prophet ﷺ told his ﷺ ummat will be forgiven for sins done in secrecy but if done in open then one will be away from Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. Well you lead a sinful life but now regret and turn to Allah ﷻ in repentance. When we see all the causes for our destruction as mentioned by our beloved Prophet ﷺ in our houses, marriage ceremonies, deaths, markets and in the whole of our society, what right do we have to say there is only ruin? You adopt all the means of your destruction and then you shout you are getting destroyed. This is like one is having dysentery and instead of taking medicine to stop that, he is taking medicine to stimulate it more and he keeps crying that he got dysentery. Won’t one think him as mad who lost the sense? Neither he is ready to give up lying nor usury, remove filth from his home or to offer fajr salah. He won’t give up anything but he will keep crying about his condition.

The three great blessings of seeking forgiveness

Allah ﷻ won’t snatch away the bounties or blessings from the bounties from His ﷻ slave until he misuses those blessings to disobey Him ﷻ. We definitely need protection and our beloved Prophet ﷺ has asked us to make the habit of seeking forgiveness. Regret on your sinful life. In fact Prophet ﷺ said that the one who seeks forgiveness will get three great blessings right in this world. Know that istighfaar (seeking forgiveness) is not merely to do with the words but there should be regret in the heart. The first blessing of istighfaar is Allah ﷻ will remove us from every single difficulty; the second blessing is Allah ﷻ will pave way to get out of our grief and the third blessing is Allah ﷻ will so open the doors of provisions that we would have never ever imagined. This was said by the most truthful Prophet ﷺ of Allah ﷻ. Are we not worried about the affairs of our family, our children, business, the security of our honor and life? Now how easily we got the tip to achieve peace and that too from the Prophet ﷺ of Allah ﷻ who says only what Allah ﷻ inspires him ﷺ. And know that when Allah ﷻ says something, His ﷻ qudrat (power) is behind Him ﷻ. There is no deficiency in the treasure of Allah ﷻ and even today there is peace, tranquility, provisions, love in between family members and everything in His ﷻ treasure.

He ﷻ has the treasure of both the worlds and it is only we who failed to receive it from Him ﷻ.  We do not know the way to get the treasure when there is no deficiency in Allah’s ﷻ treasure. It is we who have closed the doors of Allah’s ﷻ mercy. Our behavior has turned away Allah’s ﷻ mercy. Nothing happens coincidentally but as per the divine law of Allah ﷻ. I wish all our men, women, the rich and the poor come to the terms of istighfaar when we will get the peace for this is the way of peace. If you want to feel secured, do more istighfaar. Once the Companions asked the Prophet ﷺ if Allah ﷻ would send the calamities even on the righteous people. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Yes when the sinners exceed in number, then Allah ﷻ will send down punishment to all the people but as far as the righteous people are concerned, Allah ﷻ would recompense them in the akhirat.”

Have courage and continuously seek Allah’s ﷻ help

If a big assembly of people seeks forgiveness of Allah ﷻ, there is a possibility that Allah’s ﷻ anger would quench and His ﷻ mercy would turn towards us. Two things are needed, the courage and turning towards Allah ﷻ. Use whatever courage you have to purify from sins. Keep seeking Allah’s help and make earnest duaa like, “O Allah! I am very weak and I always fail before my nafs and shaitaan. Help me O Allah! Iyyaka nabudu wa iyyaka nasta’een.Ya Allah! I claim to worship only You but without Your help nothing can be done. If You help me, I will be able to worship You and if You do not help me, I will be helpless. He ﷻ is very beneficent and if anyone turns towards Him, then His mercy will turn towards him zealously and He ﷻ will take care of him. The toddler keeps struggling and keeps falling often but with great courage, he tries to reach his mom and a time comes, when the mother advances by herself and takes him on her lap. Even if we try to reach Allah ﷻ with true determination falling often, inshaaAllah Allah’s ﷻ mercy will embrace us and take care of us. Proceed towards Allah ﷻ with great courage.

O honorable ones! Everyone is worried and restless with trials and tribulations. For Allah’s ﷻ sake adopt the tip for peace given by the Prophet ﷺ. Don’t waste time in reading news reports because we will get more worried from what we see and read. Just do what the Prophet ﷺ told us to do. Turn towards righteous deeds. The Companions said about the Prophet ﷺ that whenever a slightest change is seen in the environment like when wind blows fierce fully or when there is severe rainfall, he ﷺ used to run immediately to Masjid and turn to Allah ﷻ and get stuck to the doorstep of Allah ﷻ. This is the glory of a believer that whenever his condition troubles him, he gets close to Allah ﷻ and his condition in turn will become a rahmat (mercy) for him. If we embrace such a life, then there is a hope that Allah ﷻ would make our condition better, make our path easy and bring us out of every single difficulty. Let Allah ﷻ help us all to act on what we hear, write and read. Ameen