Bismillaahir Rah’maanir Rah’eem. All praise to Allah. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved unlettered Prophet, his family, and his noble companions. I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, and I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1.1 Be Attentive of the Benefits of The Deed
Many people are deprived of the blessings of dhikr because they lack the intention for advancement and blessings from it. Take salah as an example; the Quran states that salah is effective in preventing sins. However, we often do not intend to pray to save ourselves from sins. It is essential to start praying with the intention of seeking protection from sins through salah’s blessings, and the effect will become apparent. Allah ﷻ is truthful in His words, and offering Salah properly will eliminate sins from our lives. Salah and sins cannot coexist, just like fire and water. This requires us to pray with the intention of seeking refuge from sins.
We do not abandon Salah because we are well aware that if we neglect it, we will face difficulties and challenges. Our faith may be weak, and we may continue to engage in sins, thinking that lying is necessary to conduct business, maintain family life, and survive in this world. We have mistakenly believed that sins will protect us from problems. However, Allah ﷻ says, “Give up sins, and you will be saved from all problems.” We must acknowledge the truthfulness of Allah’s statement. Our thinking contradicts Allah’s words. Allah ﷻ does not merely promise ease in our problems but guarantees delivery from them.
Similarly, people often miss out on the blessings of dhikr because they perform it as a mere customary practice without intending for advancement and blessings. Dhikr should be done with a sincere intention and a deep understanding of its benefits.
A pious elder once said, “A Muslim does not engage in righteous deeds with a bad intention, but rather, they simply lack intention.” It is certain that one will benefit by engaging in dhikr or reciting the Quran with the intention of seeking its blessings, benefits, and radiance. When performing ablution, contemplate the words of the Prophet ﷺ, “Ablution washes away the outer and inner sins,” and observe the radiance you attain. Notice the difference between performing ablution, offering Salah, and leaving the masjid without reflecting on their benefits and blessings. The love of Allah ﷻ is not achieved through mere actions if His love is not intended. Merely performing deeds as a customary practice will not earn us the love of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Voluntary worship brings one closer to Allah ﷻ.” This necessitates that we first strive for Allah’s closeness. Praying inattentively without seeking Allah’s closeness will not bring us closer to Him. This principle applies to every aspect of worship.
1.2 Be Consistent in Your Daily Activities
Hazrat advises us to diligently perform our daily religious activities (maamul) regardless of our state, whether we are in a state of ablution or while sitting or walking. Abandoning these practices after establishing them will deprive us of their blessings. Therefore, strive to perform the maamul to the best of your ability. By maintaining perseverance, mindfulness of Allah ﷻ, and adhering to proper etiquettes, you will attain the blessings of these practices. Even if one has a valid excuse such as illness and is unable to perform ablution, they should continue with the maamul in any state. It should not be discontinued. An incident is narrated about Hazrat Sirri (RA) who was sitting under a tree when he heard a voice emanating from it. The voice said, “O Sirri! Be like me. People pelt stones at me, and in turn, I give them fruits.” Hazrat Sirri (RA) responded mockingly, questioning why people throw the tree in the fire if it claims to be a great saint. The tree replied, “One weakness outweighs all my good characteristics. I sway in whichever direction the wind blows, and I am not stable.” Therefore, we should continue with the maamul by any means necessary. Even if we feel lazy, lack concentration, or have limited time, we should strive to perform these practices. By not abandoning the maamul, everything will eventually fall into place, by the will of Allah ﷻ.
The Prophet ﷺ advised us to consistently perform acts of worship, even if they are small in scale. This is more desirable than engaging in righteous acts while staying awake throughout the entire night. It is not necessary to stay awake for three-quarters of the night, half of the night, or even a quarter of the night. Simply offer four units of voluntary Salah during the night but do so consistently for the sake of Allah ﷻ. At times, when sleep overpowers you and it becomes challenging to wake up, and there is limited time remaining, offer Salah with the intention of praying tahajjud before going to bed. Do not abandon this practice. May Allah ﷻ grant us all divine help and blessings. Ameen.
Abandoning established practices will deprive us of their blessings. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said, “O Abdullah! Do not be like the man who used to pray during the night and then left it.” Do not give up a deed after making it a habit. It is similar to a person who frequently visits a ruler and establishes a good relationship, only to abruptly terminate their visits. The ruler would be displeased, wouldn’t they? There would be no complaints against someone who does not establish any relationship in the first place. However, if you have established a relationship with Allah ﷻ, do not abandon it. Worship Allah ﷻ in private. This relationship is of utmost importance.
1.3 Keep the Islahi Talluq Intact
Hazrat advises that even if you don’t act upon the counseling in the spiritual connection with a Sheikh, it is important to maintain the contact. He doesn’t prescribe additional daily activities to avoid making it difficult, but the reformation of actions is crucial. This contact is blessed, so continue seeking guidance from the Sheikh. Satan tries to sever the connection and instill doubt, while the nafs (lower self) and mood influence the seeker. However, when one’s faith in the Sheikh surpasses suspicions, they will seek guidance on everything. Thus, there is a blessing in this connection.
A disciple once wrote to his Sheikh expressing the difficulty of controlling his eyes and requested a solution to permanently despise this distressing act. The Sheikh replied that there is no solution except for taking courage and putting in diligent effort. However, two acts can assist in this matter: 1) Focusing on mindful remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and 2) Reflecting on the consequences of the sin, such as the punishment, the loss incurred, the blessings it would snatch away, and the deprivation caused by Allah’s anger. These two acts can aid, but one must genuinely gather courage and put in the effort. It is necessary to exert control over the nafs.
Allah ﷻ warns of the punishment for sins if we do not repent. It may come today, tomorrow, in old age, or later, but the punishment is certain. We receive countless blessings from Allah ﷻ, and we never know which blessings we have lost or the doors of blessings that have been closed due to our sins. Allah ﷻ plans to elevate us, but due to our sins, He ﷻ keeps us at a lower level. The sinner often fails to realize this. Reflecting on the punishment and the losses incurred by sins can provide courage through its blessings. A habitual sinner becomes entangled in problems, but when Allah ﷻ grants piety and a life free from sins, their affairs are set right. When Allah ﷻ decrees something, His power is unstoppable, and no one can prevent it.
1.4 Develop Conviction in Allah, the Exalted through Aamaal
A saalik (seeker) once inquired about the means of attaining yaqeen (conviction) in Allah ﷻ. The response he received emphasized the significance of righteous deeds (aamal) as the only path to developing yaqeen. Yaqeen is forged through action. When an individual receives from Allah ﷻ and makes decisions with His assistance through their deeds, they cultivate yaqeen in Allah ﷻ. If we desire something from Allah ﷻ, our beloved Prophet ﷺ advised us to perform the salah of haajat (prayer of need). If one’s needs are not fulfilled after offering two units of haajat salah, and they persistently continue praying without giving up, eventually developing yaqeen, then inshaaAllah their objective will be accomplished merely with those two units of salah. Yaqeen can only be obtained through aamal. As the Prophet ﷺ stated, “Charity stands in the way of calamity,” a person continues to give charity until their yaqeen is strengthened by the blessings it carries. Eventually, they will have more confidence in giving to charity than in seeking medical treatment, finding greater peace in giving to charity as if paying a doctor’s fee. Our Prophet ﷺ said, “Treat the sick with charity.” How many believe in this today? Yaqeen increases only through righteous deeds. There is no other way. Often, people are unaware of the true nature of mashwara (consultation). When they perceive the outcome of consultation as either beneficial or detrimental, they solely blame the advisor. However, seeking counsel from a trustworthy, righteous, and pious individual makes decision-making easier, and the faithful person is content with whatever Allah ﷻ decrees. There will undoubtedly be blessings in the outcome. May Allah ﷻ grant us the tawfeeq (divine help) for righteous deeds and a true understanding of the deen. Ameen.
-Sheikh Maulana Abdus Sattar (DB)
Morning Tarbiati Majlis (23.12.2016)
The heart opener 