Allah ta'ala created us and set us a task. Our duty in this world is to pass the test and attain Paradise. In order to attain our objective, we face hurdles along the way. The ones who overcome the hurdles, are successful and have passed the test. If one engages in worship, but does not attain his objective, then he has not attained anything. However, if he attains his true objective, then even his worldly actions, like working, loving his children and family, will become a form of worship for him.
These gatherings are useless if we fail to analyse ourselves and fail to work on what is lacking within us.
"And I did not create the Jinns and the human beings except that they should worship Me." [51:56]
The Awliyah Allah explain that لیعبدون refers to creating a strong connection with Allah ta'ala.
In our lives, many obstacles will come in the way of our connection with Allah ta'ala. Shaytan tries to deviate us. He allows us to worship but he won't allow our worship to connect us with Allah ta'ala. He contaminates our deeds and our acts of worship and prevents our deeds from bringing us closer to Allah ta'ala. True worship is that which makes us closer to Allah ta'ala. Any worship that does not establish a connection with Allah ta'ala, holds no value. Rather, it is a tradition and a habit.
Worship is not the purpose. It is a means for us to have our connection strengthened with Allah ta'ala, although there is no guarantee that through worship, one has formed his connection.
The pious predecessors worshipped Allah ta'ala like we did, but they had the connection with Allah ta'ala. They understood their objective of life. We become complacent with our worship and consider ourselves successful. We fail to assess whether we have passed the test due to the deception of Shaytan.
We become distracted by worldly things and do not strive to attain our main objective. We become more needy and greedy. Our needs and desires keep increasing. We forget our real objective in life and we forget that the world will become dust. Soon we will die, and if we die without attaining the true purpose, we will advance towards Hellfire. We must wake up as death is very near. We shouldn’t waste time playing and in jest.
Who has a connection with Allah ta'ala?
One who acknowledges that Allah ta'ala is with him wherever he is. This is the mind-set we should develop. If you have established this belief that Allah ta'ala is watching you, you are successful and you possess a strong connection with Allah ta'ala. As believers, it is our duty to develop this type of connection with Allah ta'ala. If we have developed this type of mind-set, then our entire lifestyles becomes worship for us and we will be given Paradise. This is because such a person spent his life as though Allah ta'ala is watching him.
We try to attain peace in our countries today through politics and wealth, trade and transactions. However, the true method of attaining peace, is to form a strong connection with Allah ta'ala just like our pious predecessors did. They attained their objective, so there was no fighting, nor corruption.
If we developed the belief that Allah ta'ala is watching us, we would never disobey Him. If we truly believed that Allah ta'ala is closer to us than our jugular vein, we would not commit sin and fraud. We wouldn’t consume the unlawful, nor would we discard Salah and the Sunnah. The pious predecessors mention that if a person dislikes sins and he abandons sins, then his Dhikr is successful, otherwise his Dhikr is not successful, even if he possesses miracles.
"Oh you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance.." [33:41]
The Quran is addressing us here. The cure is to engage in Dhikr abundantly. This is a big gift given to us by Allah ta'ala due to our Imaan.
We make our children Huffadh in order to gain titles and respect. If we teach our children in order to enable them to connect with Allah ta'ala, then Allah ta'ala assists such people and the Quran will have an effect on the child and his heart will open up.
Dhikr is not the objective. Dhikr is a means which allows us to reach our destination - the connection with Allah ta'ala. Thus, the Dhikr which does not take you towards Allah ta'ala is futile. If you wish to pass the test of the world, then shun the sins. The one who abstains from sins whilst he is given the opportunity, receives Paradise in return. The one who fears Allah will be given two Paradise.
Allah ta'ala has commanded us to engage in Dhikr in abundance because there are severe tests in the world which will prevent one from his purpose. There is a Hadith in Tirmidhi Sharif, that the greatest action is the Dhikr of Allah ta'ala. This is a worship which creates awareness within an individual. Through this action, one's worship is accepted and he receives the high ranks. We see the effects of Dhikr upon the Awliyah Allah. They are selected by Allah ta'ala although they consider themselves to be nothing. The more they hide their deeds and the more they demote themselves in this world, the more Allah ta'ala increases their status.
One can only attain success through Dhikr and one cannot receive Dhikr until he is connected with a Wali Allah. The Wali Allah will prescribe Dhikr for you. Dhikr of Allah is the worship which helps to develop the emotion that Allah ta'ala is close to a person and watching him.
We should not worry about the work of Shaytan. We must be courageous in the midst of tests. We should not retreat. Rather, we should focus on becoming closer to Allah ta'ala. We should assign our affairs to Allah ta'ala and as a result, we will not have any concerns.
The Dhaakir is granted his supplication without even supplicating to Allah ta'ala. Allah ta'ala knows what we need and He will grant us more than we need. This because we have made our connection with Him.
We should be concerned of our inner states. We should repent and know that Allah ta'ala is watching us. If we depart this world without attaining this, then we will become ruined.
May Allah ta'ala grant us the ability to implement.
Allah ta'ala created us and set us a task. Our duty in this world is to pass the test and attain Paradise. In order to attain our objective, we face hurdles along the way. The ones who overcome the hurdles, are successful and have passed the test. If one engages in worship, but does not attain his objective, then he has not attained anything. However, if he attains his true objective, then even his worldly actions, like working, loving his children and family, will become a form of worship for him.
These gatherings are useless if we fail to analyse ourselves and fail to work on what is lacking within us.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I did not create the Jinns and the human beings except that they should worship Me." [51:56]
The Awliyah Allah explain that لیعبدون refers to creating a strong connection with Allah ta'ala.
In our lives, many obstacles will come in the way of our connection with Allah ta'ala. Shaytan tries to deviate us. He allows us to worship but he won't allow our worship to connect us with Allah ta'ala. He contaminates our deeds and our acts of worship and prevents our deeds from bringing us closer to Allah ta'ala. True worship is that which makes us closer to Allah ta'ala. Any worship that does not establish a connection with Allah ta'ala, holds no value. Rather, it is a tradition and a habit.
Worship is not the purpose. It is a means for us to have our connection strengthened with Allah ta'ala, although there is no guarantee that through worship, one has formed his connection.
The pious predecessors worshipped Allah ta'ala like we did, but they had the connection with Allah ta'ala. They understood their objective of life. We become complacent with our worship and consider ourselves successful. We fail to assess whether we have passed the test due to the deception of Shaytan.
We become distracted by worldly things and do not strive to attain our main objective. We become more needy and greedy. Our needs and desires keep increasing. We forget our real objective in life and we forget that the world will become dust. Soon we will die, and if we die without attaining the true purpose, we will advance towards Hellfire. We must wake up as death is very near. We shouldn’t waste time playing and in jest.
Who has a connection with Allah ta'ala?
One who acknowledges that Allah ta'ala is with him wherever he is. This is the mind-set we should develop. If you have established this belief that Allah ta'ala is watching you, you are successful and you possess a strong connection with Allah ta'ala. As believers, it is our duty to develop this type of connection with Allah ta'ala. If we have developed this type of mind-set, then our entire lifestyles becomes worship for us and we will be given Paradise. This is because such a person spent his life as though Allah ta'ala is watching him.
We try to attain peace in our countries today through politics and wealth, trade and transactions. However, the true method of attaining peace, is to form a strong connection with Allah ta'ala just like our pious predecessors did. They attained their objective, so there was no fighting, nor corruption.
If we developed the belief that Allah ta'ala is watching us, we would never disobey Him. If we truly believed that Allah ta'ala is closer to us than our jugular vein, we would not commit sin and fraud. We wouldn’t consume the unlawful, nor would we discard Salah and the Sunnah. The pious predecessors mention that if a person dislikes sins and he abandons sins, then his Dhikr is successful, otherwise his Dhikr is not successful, even if he possesses miracles.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا
"Oh you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance.." [33:41]
The Quran is addressing us here. The cure is to engage in Dhikr abundantly. This is a big gift given to us by Allah ta'ala due to our Imaan.
We make our children Huffadh in order to gain titles and respect. If we teach our children in order to enable them to connect with Allah ta'ala, then Allah ta'ala assists such people and the Quran will have an effect on the child and his heart will open up.
Dhikr is not the objective. Dhikr is a means which allows us to reach our destination - the connection with Allah ta'ala. Thus, the Dhikr which does not take you towards Allah ta'ala is futile. If you wish to pass the test of the world, then shun the sins. The one who abstains from sins whilst he is given the opportunity, receives Paradise in return. The one who fears Allah will be given two Paradise.
Allah ta'ala has commanded us to engage in Dhikr in abundance because there are severe tests in the world which will prevent one from his purpose. There is a Hadith in Tirmidhi Sharif, that the greatest action is the Dhikr of Allah ta'ala. This is a worship which creates awareness within an individual. Through this action, one's worship is accepted and he receives the high ranks. We see the effects of Dhikr upon the Awliyah Allah. They are selected by Allah ta'ala although they consider themselves to be nothing. The more they hide their deeds and the more they demote themselves in this world, the more Allah ta'ala increases their status.
One can only attain success through Dhikr and one cannot receive Dhikr until he is connected with a Wali Allah. The Wali Allah will prescribe Dhikr for you. Dhikr of Allah is the worship which helps to develop the emotion that Allah ta'ala is close to a person and watching him.
We should not worry about the work of Shaytan. We must be courageous in the midst of tests. We should not retreat. Rather, we should focus on becoming closer to Allah ta'ala. We should assign our affairs to Allah ta'ala and as a result, we will not have any concerns.
The Dhaakir is granted his supplication without even supplicating to Allah ta'ala. Allah ta'ala knows what we need and He will grant us more than we need. This because we have made our connection with Him.
We should be concerned of our inner states. We should repent and know that Allah ta'ala is watching us. If we depart this world without attaining this, then we will become ruined.
May Allah ta'ala grant us the ability to implement.