Through Dhikr, a person recognises his purpose of life. We have a great task in life and that is to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness and pleasure. A person who attains this, will depart from this world successfully. Thus, instead of chasing after this temporary life, we should seek Allah ta'ala's love and pleasure with every passing moment.
"As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah is certainly with the good-doers." [29:69]
We must exercise hard work and effort in Allah ta'ala's path. Without this, one cannot attain his objective. When an individual works hard to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, Allah ta'ala creates light, insight and wisdom within that person and the path become easy for him to follow. Allah ta'ala shows him the path which leads to Him and also makes it clear for him. Allah ta'ala grants him total conviction in that path and method. Then, he attains more paths which is the path of the Sunnah and the love for Nabi ﷺ.
We tread the path to attain Allah ta'ala's closeness, but we fail to work hard. We visit a Sheikh and request prayers, but we don't work hard ourselves. The Sheikh will assist, but it is our duty to put the hard work in otherwise the student fails.
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
"..And Allah is certainly with the good-doers." [29:69]
Allah ta'ala has given a great title to those who work hard. When someone treads the path to Allah ta'ala, it is not an easy journey. It will be difficult to practice the Sunnah. Shaytan and Nafs will not allow you to practice. However, when the student tries hard and is genuine, then Allah ta'ala is with him and assisting him all the way.
A sincere person who wishes to follow the path of Allah ta'ala, has love for the Sunnah, otherwise he is a hypocrite. This is because a hypocrite will never accept the Sunnah and doesn't wish to attain Allah ta'ala's path. He makes excuses in order to avoid the path. We must assess whether we have the passion to implement the Sunnah within us or are we hypocrites?
Those who want to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, do not concern themselves with materialistic things. Rather, they strive to ensure that a second does not pass by in their life without attaining Allah ta'ala's nearness.
What is our understanding of Mujaahadah?
We consider optional prayers and abundant fasting to be 'Mujaahadah' in Allah ta'ala's path. In reality this is a habit and not hard work. Worship becomes a habit unlike Mujaahadah. Acts of worship are beneficial and rewarding and they do not render futile. However, worship doesn't equate to hard work and does not necessarily result in Allah ta'ala's pleasure and nearness. To attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, you will need to work hard.
Mujaahadah is something that does not become a habit, nor does it cause enjoyment. Rather, it causes difficulties and pain. It is an action which makes you disobey your Nafs. This is why Allah ta'ala assists such an undertaker and encourages him to keep going without being fearful.
Mujaahadah refers to steadfastness and adhering to the path of Allah ta'alas pleasure with firmness. Allah ta'ala sends angels to witness such a person. Glad tidings is given for this person in the heavens.
Doing dhikr and having the company of the Sheikh is not enough because this is only the means. The one who is steadfast and regular, is the one making hard work. This is where we tend to fail and crumble.
We need consistency alongside our Imaan. It is difficult to become regular and steadfast whilst we have the attractions of the world around us. The only way for it to become easy, is to plead with Allah ta'ala to grant us steadfastness.
The student fails when he has no consistency in his life. Being steadfast in connection with your teacher, is to obey him. Such a student becomes successful and has adopted the path of steadfastness. The student who sits with the teacher and does Dhikr with his teacher, yet doesn't obey his teacher, he will never become successful as he hasn't adopted steadfastness. Such a student is following his desires. A person who obeys his Nafs can never acquire Mujaahadah by working hard, unless he takes Bay'ah with his teacher and follows his instructions. This is why it is compulsory to take a Sheikh.
When you arrive to your Sheikh, solidify your belief in him that he will demonstrate and guide you upon the path. If the student criticises and complains against the teacher, then he is a hypocrite and is not sincere in acquiring Allah ta'ala's nearness.
A sincere student has love for his teacher and readily accepts his Sheikh's instructions. This is for his own benefit. If you oppose the Sheikh's principles, you cannot acquire Allah ta'ala's nearness. Be steadfast in your Sheikh's instructions and you will be successful.
When a student is in the company of a Sheikh and has belief and love for him and works hard upon the principles, he is attacked by Shaytan. He injects whispers in the students hearts so that he feels disappointment at the miracles and visions not been granted to him. This is when the student loses out.
In reality, steadfastness is many times superior to possessing miracles. This is because Allah ta'ala demands steadfastness and the nafs demands miracles and what Allah ta'ala demands, is greater.
True steadfastness is that you are consistent upon an action until the day you depart this world.
The Sheikh are the guide and the means which take you towards Allah ta'ala. Your actions are not performed for his sake. We obey our Sheikhs commands so that we can attain Allah ta'ala's nearness. Without this, we cannot attain Allah ta'ala's pleasure. We should never dare to abandon a prescription of instruction given to us by our Sheikh. We should never abandon it all lifelong.
You should sell yourselves in the name of Allah ta'ala at the hands of your Sheikh. You are fortunate if he purchases you, (accepts you as a student.) This is because he will command you to perform such actions through which you may acquire Allah ta'ala. He will eliminate your desires and when your nafs is eliminated then you become close to Allah ta'ala. You will have to fulfil his orders as his slave. One day you will achieve the result. If you follow your desires, you won't attain success.
May Allah ta'ala grant us the ability to implement.
Through Dhikr, a person recognises his purpose of life. We have a great task in life and that is to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness and pleasure. A person who attains this, will depart from this world successfully. Thus, instead of chasing after this temporary life, we should seek Allah ta'ala's love and pleasure with every passing moment.
How can we achieve this?
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
"As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah is certainly with the good-doers." [29:69]
We must exercise hard work and effort in Allah ta'ala's path. Without this, one cannot attain his objective. When an individual works hard to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, Allah ta'ala creates light, insight and wisdom within that person and the path become easy for him to follow. Allah ta'ala shows him the path which leads to Him and also makes it clear for him. Allah ta'ala grants him total conviction in that path and method. Then, he attains more paths which is the path of the Sunnah and the love for Nabi ﷺ.
We tread the path to attain Allah ta'ala's closeness, but we fail to work hard. We visit a Sheikh and request prayers, but we don't work hard ourselves. The Sheikh will assist, but it is our duty to put the hard work in otherwise the student fails.
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
"..And Allah is certainly with the good-doers." [29:69]
Allah ta'ala has given a great title to those who work hard. When someone treads the path to Allah ta'ala, it is not an easy journey. It will be difficult to practice the Sunnah. Shaytan and Nafs will not allow you to practice. However, when the student tries hard and is genuine, then Allah ta'ala is with him and assisting him all the way.
A sincere person who wishes to follow the path of Allah ta'ala, has love for the Sunnah, otherwise he is a hypocrite. This is because a hypocrite will never accept the Sunnah and doesn't wish to attain Allah ta'ala's path. He makes excuses in order to avoid the path. We must assess whether we have the passion to implement the Sunnah within us or are we hypocrites?
Those who want to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, do not concern themselves with materialistic things. Rather, they strive to ensure that a second does not pass by in their life without attaining Allah ta'ala's nearness.
What is our understanding of Mujaahadah?
We consider optional prayers and abundant fasting to be 'Mujaahadah' in Allah ta'ala's path. In reality this is a habit and not hard work. Worship becomes a habit unlike Mujaahadah. Acts of worship are beneficial and rewarding and they do not render futile. However, worship doesn't equate to hard work and does not necessarily result in Allah ta'ala's pleasure and nearness. To attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, you will need to work hard.
Mujaahadah is something that does not become a habit, nor does it cause enjoyment. Rather, it causes difficulties and pain. It is an action which makes you disobey your Nafs. This is why Allah ta'ala assists such an undertaker and encourages him to keep going without being fearful.
Mujaahadah refers to steadfastness and adhering to the path of Allah ta'alas pleasure with firmness. Allah ta'ala sends angels to witness such a person. Glad tidings is given for this person in the heavens.
Doing dhikr and having the company of the Sheikh is not enough because this is only the means. The one who is steadfast and regular, is the one making hard work. This is where we tend to fail and crumble.
We need consistency alongside our Imaan. It is difficult to become regular and steadfast whilst we have the attractions of the world around us. The only way for it to become easy, is to plead with Allah ta'ala to grant us steadfastness.
The student fails when he has no consistency in his life. Being steadfast in connection with your teacher, is to obey him. Such a student becomes successful and has adopted the path of steadfastness. The student who sits with the teacher and does Dhikr with his teacher, yet doesn't obey his teacher, he will never become successful as he hasn't adopted steadfastness. Such a student is following his desires. A person who obeys his Nafs can never acquire Mujaahadah by working hard, unless he takes Bay'ah with his teacher and follows his instructions. This is why it is compulsory to take a Sheikh.
When you arrive to your Sheikh, solidify your belief in him that he will demonstrate and guide you upon the path. If the student criticises and complains against the teacher, then he is a hypocrite and is not sincere in acquiring Allah ta'ala's nearness.
A sincere student has love for his teacher and readily accepts his Sheikh's instructions. This is for his own benefit. If you oppose the Sheikh's principles, you cannot acquire Allah ta'ala's nearness. Be steadfast in your Sheikh's instructions and you will be successful.
When a student is in the company of a Sheikh and has belief and love for him and works hard upon the principles, he is attacked by Shaytan. He injects whispers in the students hearts so that he feels disappointment at the miracles and visions not been granted to him. This is when the student loses out.
In reality, steadfastness is many times superior to possessing miracles. This is because Allah ta'ala demands steadfastness and the nafs demands miracles and what Allah ta'ala demands, is greater.
True steadfastness is that you are consistent upon an action until the day you depart this world.
The Sheikh are the guide and the means which take you towards Allah ta'ala. Your actions are not performed for his sake. We obey our Sheikhs commands so that we can attain Allah ta'ala's nearness. Without this, we cannot attain Allah ta'ala's pleasure. We should never dare to abandon a prescription of instruction given to us by our Sheikh. We should never abandon it all lifelong.
You should sell yourselves in the name of Allah ta'ala at the hands of your Sheikh. You are fortunate if he purchases you, (accepts you as a student.) This is because he will command you to perform such actions through which you may acquire Allah ta'ala. He will eliminate your desires and when your nafs is eliminated then you become close to Allah ta'ala. You will have to fulfil his orders as his slave. One day you will achieve the result. If you follow your desires, you won't attain success.
May Allah ta'ala grant us the ability to implement.