DARS 47
Which Sin did Bani Israeel Commit?
{يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ}
Surah al-Baqarah v40
Alhamdulillah, with His tremendous Fadhl, grace and mercy, Allah ta’ala has allowed us to read a few verses from the Qur’an and to have the opportunity to generate concern and awareness. This is a great Ni’mah and gift from Allah, and we should value and appreciate this favour. As soon a human being reads the Qur’an, Allah subhana wa ta'ala increases his knowledge. Ilm al-Ludni, inner knowledge, starts to come into him, depending on the manner in which a person recites, approaches and reads the Qur’an.
There is a Hadith in Mishkat where the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has defined the essence of the Qur’an and has made it so easy for us. May it not happen that shaytan makes us occupied to the extent that we fail to give due respect to this Kitab that we all accept is great and incomparable. Nothing can compare, whichever way you pick it up and read it and look at it. What is there in the world about which we cannot get guidance from the Qur’an? This Qur’an is a treasure, a massive treasure, the treasure of the heavens, the treasure of Paradise – SubhanAllah. Allah, ar-Rabb ul-Karim, sent this Qur’an, Gibril alayhi salam brought it, and it was revealed upon the honourable chest of an-Nabi al-Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
How fortunate is this Ummah! My brothers, pay attention – how fortunate we are. We are in such an enviable situation in that we have Qur’an in our hands. But true appreciation for something is only shown if it is utilized properly. If you have a very precious diamond and you throw it into the mud, it will stay there. However, if somebody picks it up and polishes it and puts it into his crown, the value of his crown will increase. People will see his crown and the jewel it contains when he wears it on his head, and they will be envious! So if we understand this Qur’an correctly and do Amal on it, then it is extremely valuable.
So what is the right meaning to take from the Qur’an? My brothers, as I have mentioned, there are many secondary links one can make with it – reading it, looking at it, kissing it, touching it, putting it in a high place, respecting it and so on. There is no angle from which a link to the Qur’an cannot be made; there is no debate about this. Just touching the Qur’an brings great blessings; looking at the Qur’an brings great blessings; kissing the Qur’an brings blessings. To look at the Qur’an every day brings success – the Qur’an is wonderful and unique. But we need to pay attention to the real objective of the Qur’an – that is what brings true success. What is the real objective of the Qur’an? What is its meaning? Why has it come to us? There is such a great Ni’mah for those men and women who have memorised the Qur’an, but we don’t implement the Qur’an.
Allah ta’ala has made such a great statement: {وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ۬ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ} – This Qur’an is a healing and a mercy, but you must have Iman to attain this. The stronger one’s Iman, the more a person can take from the Qur’an, and the more he can benefit from the Qur’an. Allah’s Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam has explained that there are five specific elements to the revelation of the Qur’an. SubhanAllah – this is for you. Understand this point; if you understand this point, then you have understood everything. If your focus is other than this, over here or over there or anywhere else, there is no benefit. As I said before, there are unlimited treasures that we can obtain from the Qur’an, but Allah’s Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us to understand the purpose for which the Qur’an was revealed; the objective of the Qur’an is what a person needs to obtain. SubhanAllah.
“Khamsatin” – There are five things that you will learn from the Qur’an, five treasures, fantastic treasures: Halal, Haram, Muhkamat, Mutashabihat, and Amthal. Five things. SubhanAllah, what great guidance Allah subhana wa ta'ala has given to us. What are they? First is Halal – what is lawful; then Haram – what is unlawful; then Muhkamat - the orders; Mutashabihat – metaphorical verses; Amthal – the examples. Five things. In other words, Allah ta’ala has explained clearly what is lawful for us, and we should accept these things as lawful – that’s it. They are pure, clean and permissible, so we need to practice upon and do those things. We need to implement the orders about Halal. As for Haram, whatever the Qur’an has defined as unlawful, impermissible, immodest, wasteful, then consider it as such. That’s it – that is the meaning of the Qur’an. Then the Muhkamat are Allah’s orders and instructions. The Muhkam are very solid, clear instructions. There is nothing hidden or doubtful or unclear about them, so implement them accordingly. In other words, Allah has clearly given us guidance about Halal and Haram, and the Muhkam, the orders of Allah, are also very clear and transparent, as when Allah says {وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ}. There is nothing to argue about here. In the same way, if something is Halal then it is good for you, so do it; and if it is Haram, it is unlawful, so don’t do it.
And then there are the Mutashabihat. Some verses have hidden meanings; they are metaphorical, not clear. This is Allah’s Hikmah. In His Wisdom, He has hidden or concealed the meaning, and we just have to believe in those verses with a strong and solid, heart. That is enough. If we read about them and try to understand them, shaytan tries to play a game by taking away the real objective and meaning of the Qur’an. Debates, Tafseers, and lengthy explanations arise, and people start calling each other disbelievers. People spend all night looking for proofs in the Qur’an to present in debates and at conferences, spending long hours in order to demote and denigrate others, searching for references and proofs from the Qur’an, quoting from this Tafseer and that scholar to disprove someone else. This has no benefit to us – how much time is wasted in this way! What is the real objective of the Qur’an? We have forgotten totally. We shouldn’t delve into those things that Allah doesn’t want us to. We ask ‘Why is this here? What is the reason for this?’ These are Mutashabihat, so leave them. Allah is telling us ‘The meaning and wisdom of this is for Me. You just have to believe in it.’ That is enough for us.
And the next thing, the fifth category, has been defined as the Amthal, the examples. This is a very valuable part of the Qur’an, but we have made them into mere stories of events. ‘How interesting that this happened to Firawn. What a great story it is of Hadhrat Yusuf alahyi salam.’ In other words, we treat it like a stock of interesting stories. Allah ta’ala says ‘This is not why I have given you these historical events. I have delivered these Amthal to you so that you can learn from them and take warnings from them.’ These historical events detailed in the Qur’an are given to us so that we can take warnings and lessons from them. There are lessons and warnings in the story of Hadhrat Yusuf alayhi salam, that of Hadhrat Musa alayhi salam, and the events of Hadhrat Hud alayhi salam. What are the lessons contained? What is the warning and Hikmah in the events of Hadhrat Nuh alayhi salam? Allah ta’ala hasn’t collected these to be used in story-time to entertain each other in the evenings about Hadhrat Yusuf alayhi salam and Zuleikha and so on – no, no, no. This is not the way. These Amthal are very valuable examples which Allah a’ala has presented to us so that we can learn from them and derive the correct understanding from them. This is the fantastic style of the Qur’an in the points or events that Allah ta’ala presents. Allah ta’ala gives an order, and then to explain that order, Allah ta’ala gives examples of nations who were also given orders as we have been given orders, such as the people of Hadhrat Lut alayhi salam or Hadhrat Nuh alayhi salam or other nations of previous Prophets who didn’t accept. Their disobedience and the consequence of that disobedience is laid out. These are the Amthal, events, the incidents, the examples. They are not stories or tales.
Allah ta’ala is telling us that this is what we need to practice from the Qur’an. Before this verse, up to verse 39, Allah ta’ala has comprehensively given us the understanding of the Qur’an. From the outset, Allah ta’ala has so clearly given us the truthful knowledge and message. All those who have been listening with love will not find they have left empty-handed. We are all weak, no doubt, but we have taken hold of the Qur’an and will seek strength from the Qur’an to overcome our weakness. We must try to grasp the message of the Qur’an with strength and do Amal upon this in the way that Allah ta’ala has ordered and explained to us inshaAllah. We should sit with pencil and pad and make notes, because we will derive very valuable things from the Qur’an. Ask for help from Allah and consider that this is a personal discussion that we are having with Allah. This is not a gathering where I am giving a Dars of Qur’an to you; no lengthy Tafseer will be presented, nothing of the sort. My Hadhrat Sahib gave an order: ‘Explain the Deen to the people.’ This is Barakah - I am speaking to those people. Why would I speak otherwise? He insisted – I could show you the letters that he wrote to me to this effect. He said ‘You must sit with people and explain to them’, and he knew best what would come onto my tongue and what would affect the hearts. The devotees among the men and womenfolk, they won’t leave empty-handed with the Fahdl of Allah. Listen to these words; listen to the Nasiha and advice every day.
So Allah ta’ala has given us up to verse 39. Do you remember where the discussions began? Allah ta’ala explained to us what {ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٲطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ} means, and the full description of that has been given in verse 39 with the example of Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam and what happened. The full message was given, showing the objective of being sent to this world. And what was that objective? La ilaha illa’llah, Muhammadur-Rasoolullah. Allah ta’ala gave the reference of this Kalimah, and with the Barakah of this Kalimah, Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam achieved his Tawbah and made true repentance. He saw the Kalimah and he saw the name of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and he understood that the person whose name is next to Allah’s Name is not a minor name, and so he sought forgiveness via the Waseelah of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. He took hold of that Waseelah, that reference, and so we too have that to save ourselves from Jahannam, to get Allah’s forgiveness and to get to Paradise. How can we pass the tests of every stage that is to come, cross the bridge of Siraat and get directly into Jannah? Allah said {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ} – Take hold of the Deen of Allah’s Habeeb sallallahu alayhi wasallam firmly.
This is the whole message of the Qur’an that Allah ta’ala has explained in different ways in different places, using different styles and different examples and different conditions. Allah ta’ala has given us this complete message prior to today, and so now we see by means of Amthal that we should take a warning, for the Qur’an has been revealed to us. There are no Jewish or Christian people listening - the Qur’an has been revealed for Muslims. The Qur’an is in their hands, so principally the Qur’an is addressing them.
{يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ} SubhanAllah – what is Allah ta’ala stating here? Allah ta’ala says {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ}. Here, for the first time in the Qur’an, Allah ta’ala is presenting an example, a big example of the nation of Bani Isra’eel, a very great nation historically that had honour, dignity and respect as a nation. Allah ta’ala gave them great status and rank, and Allah ta’ala addressed them as Bani Isra’eel. Bani Isra’eel came from Hadhrat Ishaq alayhi salam, who was the son of Hadhrat Ibrahim alayhi salam, via Hadhrat Ishaq’s son Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam, who was also a Prophet. He was named Abdullah and also Isra’eel, and from this name, this nation was addressed. All the Jews, and also the Christians, stemmed from this nation. All the Jews and Christians have connection with Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam and his offspring, SubhanAllah. He had twelve children, and Bani Isra’eel spread from there. Through Hadhrat Yusuf alayhi salam they also lived in Egypt, and imagine, from Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam to Hadhrat Isa alayhi salam, four thousand Prophets came alayhimus-Salam. SubhanAllah, what a great Jama’ah! Four thousand Ambiya came to Bani Isra’eel over that period of time.
So this was the nation of Bani Isra’eel, and Allah ta’ala is giving us an example of this people, of the progeny of Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam, from whom Allah ta’ala sent four thousand Prophets to the world to do Islah, to rectify. Allah ta’ala promised that He would send Prophets to us, Allahu Akbar. So Allah ta’ala is stating here ‘Oh Children of Isra’eel’, He is addressing Bani Isra’eel, but right now Allah ta’ala is explaining this to us. It is us who are being given the warning and the explanation.
What did Allah say? {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ} SubhanAllah, Allahu Akbar. You cannot imagine how many Ni’mahs and favours that Allah ta’ala gave to Bani Isra’eel, SubhanAllah. Throughout the Qur’an Allah has mentioned this, and due to those favours, they considered that they were special and that they were the beloveds of Allah. Even now they say this: ‘We are the beloveds of Allah!’ Allah is telling us that He gave so many rewards and favours and gifts; He showered them with favours and blessings. Think: they were freed from Firawn, who was a harsh emperor and king who subjected them to so much oppression. In addition, they were given food from the heavens in the form of Manna and Salwa, food both salty and sweet for them to eat. It would come down in the night and was ready for them to eat in the morning, in the form of this special cooked bird and the sweet dish as well. Also, Allah a’ala caused water to gush from the earth in beautiful, clean, sparkling springs for each of their twelve tribes – such great rewards they were given! And Allah ta’ala gave them guidance in form of signs which would lead and guide them. On top of that, they were given many miracles, and good fortune was bestowed upon them by Allah ta’ala. In other words, they were extremely favoured by Allah ta’ala. Many times they are mentioned, and Allah ta’ala tells us ‘This was the nation to whom I gave everything, all of My favours, Mercies, rewards and gifts.’
‘Do not forget these favours that I gave to you’, Allah says. {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} – ‘Remember My Ni’mah with which I favoured you.’ SubhanAllah! Why? What is the real right that Allah is highlighting here with {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}? How do you fulfil a favour bestowed by Allah? If Allah ta’ala gives a favour, then it is compulsory for a person to be grateful for that favour, to do Shukr for that Ni’mah. {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} - Allah is saying ‘You have to be grateful for the Ni’mahs that I gave you. And how should you be grateful? {ٱذۡكُرُواْ}’ SubhanAllah. In other words, if you do the Dhikr of Allah, then you will be grateful for that Ni’mah from Allah. Bani Isra’eel are told; they have the matter explained here. Allah ta’ala says ‘I have given you many favours, unlimited favours, but remember, after you have obtained a blessing or a gift, be grateful.’
For example, our Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave us a Sunnah with every footstep that he trod, so what does this tell us? That we should be grateful to Allah for all these great Sunnahs. Alhamdulillah, if we look at the blessed habit of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, in every word the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was grateful to Allah. In every condition, in every situation or circumstance, he would be grateful to Allah. And he never neglected to guide us towards this. ‘Allahumma laka-l-hamd’ – he would always praise Allah. He would say ‘Oh Allah, I am grateful to You that You have given me this beautiful attire.’ He would be grateful for the clothing he was given, and in addition would ask Allah for goodness, for Khair, in his clothing, and to be saved from any Sharr or evil in it. Look at the Ni’mahs Allah ta’ala has given to us. This Dua we make when we put on clothes “الحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذِي كَسَانِي هَذَا” has come to my mind as an example. In other words, there was no circumstance in which Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam failed to demonstrate that he was grateful to Allah.
So Allah ta’ala said to Bani Isra’eel ‘You should be grateful for the many, many favours that I have given you. How can you be grateful for My favours and blessings? {ٱذۡكُرُواْ} Do My Dhikr! When you remember Me, you will be grateful for My favours.’ SubhanAllah – Allahu Akbar! Shukr and Dhikr are two things that Allah ta’ala has joined with each other. Shukr and Dhikr. Allah is saying ‘I have given you many rewards, so many rewards, and I have told you what to do when you get My rewards and favours: be grateful for them.’ SubhanAllah.
So we need to see that Allah ta’ala is addressing us here. That is the first thing that we need to recognize. And then Allah ta’ala says {وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ } – ‘Fulfill your part of the promise that I am taking from you; and then {أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} – SubhanAllah. Just as Allah says {فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ} – ‘Remember Me, I will remember you’, with {أَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} Allah says ‘You fulfil your covenant, I will fulfill My part.’ Allah ta’ala is telling us that this great nation of Bani Isra’eel with its four thousand Nabis was promised everything if they did these actions in this way. SubhanAllah. And further, Allah a’ala says {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} – ‘And you must fear Me!’ {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} – ‘Do not lose fear in Me’, Allah says. ‘Don’t become bold!’ Look at this verse – Allah has given us a comprehensive message in this verse via Bani Isra’eel, whom He addresses in this verse.
So what was their condition? They would ignore all of Allah’s instructions. Such great Nabis, four thousand Nabis came, along with great favours and rewards, so Allah ta’ala says ‘Four thousand times I explained to you and repeated, but you rejected all of this.’ So what did they become? {ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ} – They incurred Allah’s wrath, and become like apes and swine, and great punishments descended upon them. Allah ta’ala has given this as an example. Allah ta’ala is addressing us: ‘Have you seen what happened to them when they were ungrateful for my Ni’mahs? I said to them {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ} so when they rejected that and were not grateful, what consequence befell them?’
Allah is saying ‘How many favours have I given to you, to this Ummah?’ – and He is speaking to us now. There are so many Ni’mahs! We have the Qur’an, and if we start to count them, we could collect all of the Ni’mahs ever given to the other Ummahs on one side, and on the other, just one that has been given to us would overwhelm all of their Ni’mahs. And what is that? It is such a great Ni’mah, such a great favour. The greatest Ni’mah that Allah ta’ala has given to us is that our connection and link is with the final Prophet, with the Seal of the Prophets sallallahu alayhi wasallam. We are in the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam; we have born into this Ummah. Imagine! Just think about it. This is so great that the Ambiya themselves wished that they had been included in this Ummah. We are in such a great Ummah, and Allah ta’ala is reminding us of this: ‘If you put all the Ni’mahs of the previous nations together on one side, this one Ni’mah of yours is greater than all of that. What will your status in the Hereafter be compared to that of the other nations? You will be the highest, oh Muslims, because your link is with the greatest Nabi, the greatest Prophet. Your intercession will take place first; you will be first into Paradise – and why? Because he is the greatest Prophet; he is higher than the rest. He will be given the seat next to the ‘Arsh, and he will wear the Libaas of Jannah. He will be given the standard by Allah, and also the Hukm for Shifa’, for intercession – SubhanAllah. Allah ta’ala will say ‘Intercede for them.’ We are in his Ummah, the Ummah of the greatest Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
The examples of previous nations are given, in this case of Bani Isra’eel, and we are being told ‘Just count the Ni’mahs that have been given to you.’ Just consider the Ni’mah of the Qur’an. There were previous Kitabs, like the Torah and the Injeel, but what do we have in our hands right now? What are we reading? Look carefully at this Kitab that Allah ta’ala has given to us. Every word of the Qur’an opens the doors to Paradise! So what should we do? Allah says {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ} – ‘Don’t be like the previous nations’, Allah says. ‘You should explain and discuss Allah’s Ni’mahs; you should be grateful for Allah’s Ni’mahs, for His gifts and favours.’ How? As I said, how does a person become a Shakir? By doing Dhikr. When a person does Dhikr, he is showing gratitude to Allah. Allah says {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}, so do Dhikr, because when a person remembers Allah, then he is grateful to Allah directly. There is no better technique or method of being grateful to Allah than doing Dhikr. What a beautiful method and practice Allah ta’ala has given to us in the form of Dhikr, in the form of His Remembrance. That is how we are grateful to Him.
It is narrated that on one occasion, the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam “خَرَجَ عَلَى حَلْقَةٍ” came upon a circle of his Companions, and he asked them ‘Why are you sat here? What are you doing?’ They replied “جَلَسْنَا نَدْعُو اللَّهَ ” – ‘Oh Prophet of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, we are sat here doing the Dhikr of Allah.’ And they said “وَنَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى مَا هَدَانَا لِدِينِهِ وَمَنَّ عَلَيْنَا بِكَ” – ‘We are doing Dhikr for this reason, namely that Allah ta’ala has given us great Ni’mahs, and the greatest Ni’mah is you, through whom we have attained the wealth of Islam. Such a great favour of Allah is upon us, so we are seated here together remembering Allah.’ SubhanAllah! ‘We have received the Ni’mah of Islam and have been included in your nation – we are your Sahabis. What should we do to show gratitude for this Ni’mah? In order to show gratitude, we are remembering Allah.’ What a beautiful method of being grateful! This is a Hadith that I have presented to you. They said ‘We are doing the Hamd of Allah, the praise of Allah, for the favours that Allah ta’ala has given to us.’
When a person does Dhikr of Allah until sunrise while the rest of the world is asleep, he shows gratitude for the favour of all three hundred and sixty joints of the body. It is sad if a person says ‘Teach me Dhikr and make me a Mureed’ and then he doesn’t come in the morning. These are all games that you are playing. Allah ta’ala has given us an example here in the Qur’an of the Ni’mahs of Bani Isra’eel, and they are told {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}. Allah is saying ‘Look at their state when they were ungrateful for the favours that I gave them.’ Allah ta’ala has given you the way of doing Dhikr, the method has been explained to you, Allah ta’ala has taken you to the Mashaaikh, to His Walis - and you don’t care? You don’t even think about this; it doesn’t even come into your mind, and you come and sit in the Dhikr of Allah with difficulty. Will Allah ta’ala not grab us for this?
The Qur’an is telling us this. {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ} – Allah is saying ‘Look at Bani Isra’eel, how they rejected after I gave them all the Ni’mahs. Why? Because they didn’t do Dhikr; they didn’t remember the Ni’mahs.’ If you are not grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah, if you do not do Dhikr, then there will be no Ni’mah. There will be no Shukr, no gratefulness, so how can you continue? If you obtain a Ni’mah from Allah, how can you stop doing Dhikr of Allah and stop remembering Allah? For example, when you have a child, you distribute sweets and do an Aqiqah, and then to show people in the world, you will book out a banquet suite in a hotel to show that this Aqiqah is for your son, for your child, and other parties are held. This is a Ni’mah of Allah, isn’t it? If Allah gives you two, three or four sons or daughters, I swear by Allah that if you had done Dhikr of Allah at that time, Allah ta’ala would have made them Sadaqah Jariya for you. But as soon as they were born, your Niyyah was ‘I will make her this, I will make him that, I will do this for her’, and we start planning schooling for her through which she will become a person without Iman, with no belief. Iman gets cut off, finished. Allah will question us about this afterwards, on the Day of Judgment. We modern people have spoiled our children with our own hands by sending them to such places. We don’t send them to Madrasah or teach them Qur’an; we didn’t sacrifice for Deen. We say ‘No, no, we have come to this country, so let us make them accountants or engineers or doctors’ or this, that and the other. We even turf them out of the house! So are you being grateful for the Ni’mahs Allah ta’ala has given you?
Children are a great Ni’mah, a great reward and gift from Allah, so what should we do? The Qur’an says: {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} – you should be grateful for that Ni’mah that Allah ta’ala gives you. I have seen such people, alhamdulillah, who were poor when their children were born – they didn’t have food and it was difficult. For example, I remember one such brother who lived with many children, and when there was food at his house, seventeen or eighteen people would be there eating at his house. He himself was a compounder – a pharmacist; Ghafur was his name, Ghafur the compounder - I remember him from when we were young. There were seventeen children - his uncle’s children, this relative’s children, these children whose father had passed away, orphans and so on. He was a compounder, a pharmacist, so he used to bring them all up and give them Tarbiyya and assist and guide them. MashaAllah, he was generous, and people saw how generous he was. But us? When a child is born, people say ‘You must give Adhan into the ears and then set him up for some career in the world. We want you to do this career, and we will send you into that world from childhood. Forget about Deen; give them that style of clothing and send them into the world like this.’
If a Wali of Allah comes with the Karam and blessing of Allah, and he changes the world around us, we are not even grateful for that. Allah ta’ala does not distinguish here. Wherever His Wali is sent, it is the responsibility of those who have come onto the right line to implement that. How then do we treat our children? What is taught to them and what is their condition? They don’t pray Salah, they don’t do Dhikr – nothing. They are totally empty and hollow. We just make them count money and print money. Allah ta’ala has mentioned the scolding and severe punishment that we will get for this in the Qur’an.
What is Allah saying? {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}. The Sahaba al-Kiram said ‘Oh Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, we are being grateful for Islam and for your company. We have sat here for this reason and are doing the remembrance of Allah and are grateful for the Deen that we have been given.’ SubhanAllah. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked, with some surprise, “آللَّهِ مَا أَجْلَسَكُمْ إِلاَّ ذَلِكَ” – ‘Is this the reason you are sat here?’ He was surprised and asked ‘By Allah, is this the reason you are sat here?’ They replied ‘Yes, this is why we are sitting here’, and they were a little afraid, repeating ‘Yes, we have no other objective. That is it.’ Allahu Akbar, Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam then said ‘I am not asking you to swear by Allah out of any suspicion, it is just that I am surprised because just now Gibreel alayhi salam came to me and gave me this news that Allah jalla jalalahu is boasting about you among the angels!’ SubhanAllah – how fortunate they were. And especially today, how fortunate are those who have made a habit and pastime of doing the Dhikr of Allah in the company of the Wali of Allah, and they too remember Allah sitting in a Halaqah. We are being grateful for all the Ni’mahs of Allah by doing this, as are those womenfolk who sit at home and join us. They too are grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah.
If we have difficulties, problems and burdens, don’t think that Allah is not happy with us. Whatever action comes in Qur’an and Hadith that is said to please Allah, have total Yaqeen that Allah is happy due to that action. If we sit in Dhikr, and still experience some difficulty or barrier or obstacle, then shaytan comes and attacks with thoughts of ‘Oh look at this – we heard that through Dhikr we would get positive effects, so why has this negative effect happened to us?’ The reason is that Allah subhana wa ta'ala wants to take you to high Darajat, to the high levels that you cannot attain via your Ibadah. Allah is so happy with you that He wants to give you a high Maqam in Paradise by means of that little difficulty – SubhanAllah. So if shaytan comes and gives you the suggestion ‘Leave Dhikr – it is too hard for you. You have got these problems and issues now’, and he puts thousands of negative thoughts and nonsensical advice in your head, telling you that you are doing enough of Allah’s orders and so on, in order that suddenly he will make you slip and fall.
If a person does not have Yaqeen, and he thinks that what Allah ta’ala has told us in the Qur’an is wrong, then he cannot be a Muslim. Allah’s Nabi is swearing by Allah, promising, and the noble Companions also swore and promised by Allah, and then the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said ‘Just now, Gibreel alayhi salam came and said that Allah is expressing pride for these people in the heavens!’ Is this a minor thing? What a great piece of news. Allah is saying ‘I have accepted all of their deeds and have promised Jannah for them.’ Just for this action, Allah is proud of those people! Allah Himself is proud - how amazing!
{يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} If Bani Isra’eel were grateful for Allah’s Ni’mahs, they would not be Magdhoob today, and they wouldn’t be wretched. Allah is telling us ‘If you are not grateful for My Ni’mahs today, then this will be your condition tomorrow.’ And this is our condition today. Look at the state of the Ummah today. We can see the consequences, and the one reason for this, the reason that we are being given punishment today is that we have rejected the Dhikr of Allah. That was our Waseelah to be grateful. All methods we adopt other than this to show gratitude are a waste of time. Lengthy conferences are staged, and people say ‘We are being grateful to Allah’ – no. The action that Allah ta’ala has told us about is the way to show gratitude, and that is the only method that will be accepted. It is the only way to be grateful to Allah. We can read hundreds of millions of Tafseers, study, write, give speeches and do as much as we want with our utmost effort, but no, you cannot be grateful that way. You can only be grateful when in the morning, you sit until sunrise and do Dhikr of Allah in the heart, when you are connected to Dhikr. Go to the people of Dhikr, the Awliyallah, the teachers. I am not saying this – I have explained this to you from both the Qur’an and Hadith. Tell me.
So here, Allah has told us that this is the greatest thing that we need to learn, that thing which was lacking in Bani Isra’eel. What was that? That they were not grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah. And then: { وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} - Allah is saying that they made Him a promise. So what was the promise that they made? They promised – SubhanAllah - so what was their promise? Allah has also taken a promise from us? What is the promise? We have read this in the previous verses, haven’t we? What is that promise that Allah ta’ala has taken from us? Bani Isra’eel promised, and we also promised that the Nabis that would be sent, that would come to us, must be obeyed and followed. This was the promise that they made. The Tawrah would come and the Injeel would come – whichever Nabi comes, believe in him and obey him; imitate him and follow him. This was the promise that Allah ta’ala took from Bani Isra’eel, and they have broken that promise.
And what have we done? SubhanAllah. What have we done today? Ibn Abbas radhiAllahu anh narrates a Hadith about this Ayah that this promise that Allah ta’ala took, this covenant that was agreed, means that a believer must obey and follow the Prophet that is sent. This is the meaning conveyed by Hadhrat Ibn Abbas radhiAllahu anh. SubhanAllah. Allah ta’ala told Bani Isra’eel and took a promise, literally. And today that message has been given to the Jews as well – it is revealed to us in the Qur’an, but the message is for them as well. Allah is saying to Bani Isra’eel as well ‘I took a promise from you. I made a covenant with you that I would send you a Nabi, so then you have to obey him and follow him. Whoever is physically near him must accept him; the Noor that he has must be accepted.’ So now, we have the Qur’an; we have to accept it and believe in it. If you do this, Allah says { أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} – ‘Then I will fulfill My promise, my side of the covenant. I will forgive your sins, I will allow you to enter into Paradise and I will give you the highest ranks.’ SubhanAllah. So did Bani Isra’eel fulfill their promise? No. {وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} - Allah is saying ‘They broke their covenant, so how can I fulfill My promise?’
Now if you break your promise of {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ}, what do you think will happen? How will you be treated then? Has the Qur’an not told us? Allah ta’ala has told us the standard – ‘Whatever My Rasool sallallahu alayhi wasallam gives you, take it. Whatever he tells you to leave, leave it. That’s it – that is your duty.’ Are we doing that today? Our lives are completely upside down. Whatever Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us to do, we leave it, and whatever he has told us to refrain from, we want to do that. We are the very opposite! We want to do the actions that Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to leave, and we want to leave the actions that he told us to do. We want to pray Salah when we want, to fast when we want, to follow our desires – we do not live our lives in obedience to the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. There is a beautiful point about this in the next verse, Allahu Akbar.
Further, Allah says in this verse {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ}. Allah is saying ‘Why have you done this?’ Allah is explaining ‘Don’t do this. They did this, and why is it that they were not grateful to Allah and were disobedient?’ {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} Because they ceased to fear Allah; they didn’t fear Allah. The fear came out of them, and due to not having fear, they started to complain and reject. Allah says ‘Fear Me’ – but they took the fear out of themselves. So what we have to realise is that the Nasiha Allah ta’ala has given us directly is what? Beware! Allah is saying ‘Beware – don’t become leaders of yourselves. Keep Allah’s fear inside your hearts – how?’ {يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ} Allah ta’ala has given Nasiha here that fear is connected to the heart. It cannot be learned from books. You can read ten Qur’ans or fifteen Qur’ans, but the fear of Allah will not come into you like this. Unless the fear of Allah comes into you, you will do oppression, you will lie, and you will do injustice to people. You will be unjust to your wife and children, and there will be no mercy in your heart for either the wife or the children. You will be unjust and commit oppression in your life, and will have no mercy for oppressed people, whether you read ten Qur’ans or fifteen Qur’ans. What is the method? Allah is saying ‘If you want to follow My order to {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ} and keep the promises that you made, then the Qur’an tells you the method: {فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} - Have fear of Me!’
The Qur’an says {يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ} – When you go into the company of a person who has fear of Allah, when you attach yourself to him and keep his company, then fear will start to come into you as well. As soon as you become distant from his company, even if you do Tafseer of the Qur’an and go to Egypt or Syria to learn Qur’an, this will give you status in the Dunya, but your aims will be worldly. All of this is running after the world. Every Amal of ours will only be a correct deed if it is done for the sake of Allah, for the sake of Allah’s Pleasure. That’s it. Only such a deed will be accepted and no other, not actions to make money or to elevate oneself. This is the Qur’an that is telling us this and giving us Nasiha.
The real, genuine message that we need to derive from the Qur’an relates to the two matters that come from the example of Bani Isra’eel. What did they start doing? Allah says that they turned away from the promise that they made to Him, firstly by stopping doing Dhikr for the Ni’mahs of Allah, by stopping being grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah; and secondly by losing fear of Allah. Why? Because they associated with criminals and sinful, bad people, and so all of fear of Allah came out of their lives. Allah says ‘Don’t do this!’ – Allah ta’ala gave Nasiha to them just as He is giving Nasiha to us. Allah says ‘Remember the promise you made: {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ}. Revise this promise by doing two things: firstly, be grateful of Allah for the Ni’mahs you have been given, and how should you be grateful? By doing Dhikr of Allah, SubhanAllah. And secondly, remember that fear came out of Bani Isra’eel, so we need to keep fear established, existent and maintained inside us. For this we need to attach ourselves and adhere to the company of a person who has fear of Allah. When we sit in his company, fear will come into us, and we will leave talking, gossiping, telling stories and speaking about money. When you sit with him, fear comes into your heart; when you meet him, fear comes into your heart. That is how honourable this company is – Allah’s Noor comes from his heart, from his being.
This is not difficult. Allah ta’ala is telling each point to us, so if we don’t do these two actions, there is no way that we can be steadfast on our promise to Allah of {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ}. As I explained in the previous verses, if we are steadfast on this, then good; but if not, then Allah ta’ala says be ready for Jahannam and for punishment. Today we need to look at our homes and scan ourselves. Where are we in respect of these matters? We have nothing at all. Allah says ‘Tell Me – where is this action that My Rasool sallallahu alayhi wasallam has given to you? You must take it and do this action and never leave it.’ But we have left those things. Whatever he has told you to do, then do it, and whatever he has told you to leave, then leave it. Beware! Don’t send your women and daughters out; don’t take the Hijab and Purdah from them; don’t throw them into the career path of earning money or make them immodest. But that is what we do. They are walking around in the streets – and what do we say? ‘Oh we are strong Muslims!’ Allah has given us an example here, and what was their condition?
Allah ta’ala says {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} – ‘They broke their covenant, so I left My covenant.’ Allah says {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ}. May Alla ta’ala give us the Tawfeeq to practice upon this Qur’an, and may Allah ta’ala allow us to practice upon the Nasiha and the orders of the Qur’an. My brothers, make your Akhirah, make your Hereafter – this life is very short and temporary.
وأخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين
12th Oct, 2020
Beautiful explanation
Jazakallah Khair
19th Aug, 2020
SubhanAllah
19th Aug, 2020
مولا تیری نعمتوں کا کیسے میں شکر کروں
تیرا بس ذکر کروں صبح و شام کروں
Which Sin did Bani Israeel Commit?
{يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ}
Surah al-Baqarah v40
Alhamdulillah, with His tremendous Fadhl, grace and mercy, Allah ta’ala has allowed us to read a few verses from the Qur’an and to have the opportunity to generate concern and awareness. This is a great Ni’mah and gift from Allah, and we should value and appreciate this favour. As soon a human being reads the Qur’an, Allah subhana wa ta'ala increases his knowledge. Ilm al-Ludni, inner knowledge, starts to come into him, depending on the manner in which a person recites, approaches and reads the Qur’an.
There is a Hadith in Mishkat where the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has defined the essence of the Qur’an and has made it so easy for us. May it not happen that shaytan makes us occupied to the extent that we fail to give due respect to this Kitab that we all accept is great and incomparable. Nothing can compare, whichever way you pick it up and read it and look at it. What is there in the world about which we cannot get guidance from the Qur’an? This Qur’an is a treasure, a massive treasure, the treasure of the heavens, the treasure of Paradise – SubhanAllah. Allah, ar-Rabb ul-Karim, sent this Qur’an, Gibril alayhi salam brought it, and it was revealed upon the honourable chest of an-Nabi al-Karim sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
How fortunate is this Ummah! My brothers, pay attention – how fortunate we are. We are in such an enviable situation in that we have Qur’an in our hands. But true appreciation for something is only shown if it is utilized properly. If you have a very precious diamond and you throw it into the mud, it will stay there. However, if somebody picks it up and polishes it and puts it into his crown, the value of his crown will increase. People will see his crown and the jewel it contains when he wears it on his head, and they will be envious! So if we understand this Qur’an correctly and do Amal on it, then it is extremely valuable.
So what is the right meaning to take from the Qur’an? My brothers, as I have mentioned, there are many secondary links one can make with it – reading it, looking at it, kissing it, touching it, putting it in a high place, respecting it and so on. There is no angle from which a link to the Qur’an cannot be made; there is no debate about this. Just touching the Qur’an brings great blessings; looking at the Qur’an brings great blessings; kissing the Qur’an brings blessings. To look at the Qur’an every day brings success – the Qur’an is wonderful and unique. But we need to pay attention to the real objective of the Qur’an – that is what brings true success. What is the real objective of the Qur’an? What is its meaning? Why has it come to us? There is such a great Ni’mah for those men and women who have memorised the Qur’an, but we don’t implement the Qur’an.
Allah ta’ala has made such a great statement: {وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ۬ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ} – This Qur’an is a healing and a mercy, but you must have Iman to attain this. The stronger one’s Iman, the more a person can take from the Qur’an, and the more he can benefit from the Qur’an. Allah’s Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam has explained that there are five specific elements to the revelation of the Qur’an. SubhanAllah – this is for you. Understand this point; if you understand this point, then you have understood everything. If your focus is other than this, over here or over there or anywhere else, there is no benefit. As I said before, there are unlimited treasures that we can obtain from the Qur’an, but Allah’s Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us to understand the purpose for which the Qur’an was revealed; the objective of the Qur’an is what a person needs to obtain. SubhanAllah.
“Khamsatin” – There are five things that you will learn from the Qur’an, five treasures, fantastic treasures: Halal, Haram, Muhkamat, Mutashabihat, and Amthal. Five things. SubhanAllah, what great guidance Allah subhana wa ta'ala has given to us. What are they? First is Halal – what is lawful; then Haram – what is unlawful; then Muhkamat - the orders; Mutashabihat – metaphorical verses; Amthal – the examples. Five things. In other words, Allah ta’ala has explained clearly what is lawful for us, and we should accept these things as lawful – that’s it. They are pure, clean and permissible, so we need to practice upon and do those things. We need to implement the orders about Halal. As for Haram, whatever the Qur’an has defined as unlawful, impermissible, immodest, wasteful, then consider it as such. That’s it – that is the meaning of the Qur’an. Then the Muhkamat are Allah’s orders and instructions. The Muhkam are very solid, clear instructions. There is nothing hidden or doubtful or unclear about them, so implement them accordingly. In other words, Allah has clearly given us guidance about Halal and Haram, and the Muhkam, the orders of Allah, are also very clear and transparent, as when Allah says {وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ}. There is nothing to argue about here. In the same way, if something is Halal then it is good for you, so do it; and if it is Haram, it is unlawful, so don’t do it.
And then there are the Mutashabihat. Some verses have hidden meanings; they are metaphorical, not clear. This is Allah’s Hikmah. In His Wisdom, He has hidden or concealed the meaning, and we just have to believe in those verses with a strong and solid, heart. That is enough. If we read about them and try to understand them, shaytan tries to play a game by taking away the real objective and meaning of the Qur’an. Debates, Tafseers, and lengthy explanations arise, and people start calling each other disbelievers. People spend all night looking for proofs in the Qur’an to present in debates and at conferences, spending long hours in order to demote and denigrate others, searching for references and proofs from the Qur’an, quoting from this Tafseer and that scholar to disprove someone else. This has no benefit to us – how much time is wasted in this way! What is the real objective of the Qur’an? We have forgotten totally. We shouldn’t delve into those things that Allah doesn’t want us to. We ask ‘Why is this here? What is the reason for this?’ These are Mutashabihat, so leave them. Allah is telling us ‘The meaning and wisdom of this is for Me. You just have to believe in it.’ That is enough for us.
And the next thing, the fifth category, has been defined as the Amthal, the examples. This is a very valuable part of the Qur’an, but we have made them into mere stories of events. ‘How interesting that this happened to Firawn. What a great story it is of Hadhrat Yusuf alahyi salam.’ In other words, we treat it like a stock of interesting stories. Allah ta’ala says ‘This is not why I have given you these historical events. I have delivered these Amthal to you so that you can learn from them and take warnings from them.’ These historical events detailed in the Qur’an are given to us so that we can take warnings and lessons from them. There are lessons and warnings in the story of Hadhrat Yusuf alayhi salam, that of Hadhrat Musa alayhi salam, and the events of Hadhrat Hud alayhi salam. What are the lessons contained? What is the warning and Hikmah in the events of Hadhrat Nuh alayhi salam? Allah ta’ala hasn’t collected these to be used in story-time to entertain each other in the evenings about Hadhrat Yusuf alayhi salam and Zuleikha and so on – no, no, no. This is not the way. These Amthal are very valuable examples which Allah a’ala has presented to us so that we can learn from them and derive the correct understanding from them. This is the fantastic style of the Qur’an in the points or events that Allah ta’ala presents. Allah ta’ala gives an order, and then to explain that order, Allah ta’ala gives examples of nations who were also given orders as we have been given orders, such as the people of Hadhrat Lut alayhi salam or Hadhrat Nuh alayhi salam or other nations of previous Prophets who didn’t accept. Their disobedience and the consequence of that disobedience is laid out. These are the Amthal, events, the incidents, the examples. They are not stories or tales.
Allah ta’ala is telling us that this is what we need to practice from the Qur’an. Before this verse, up to verse 39, Allah ta’ala has comprehensively given us the understanding of the Qur’an. From the outset, Allah ta’ala has so clearly given us the truthful knowledge and message. All those who have been listening with love will not find they have left empty-handed. We are all weak, no doubt, but we have taken hold of the Qur’an and will seek strength from the Qur’an to overcome our weakness. We must try to grasp the message of the Qur’an with strength and do Amal upon this in the way that Allah ta’ala has ordered and explained to us inshaAllah. We should sit with pencil and pad and make notes, because we will derive very valuable things from the Qur’an. Ask for help from Allah and consider that this is a personal discussion that we are having with Allah. This is not a gathering where I am giving a Dars of Qur’an to you; no lengthy Tafseer will be presented, nothing of the sort. My Hadhrat Sahib gave an order: ‘Explain the Deen to the people.’ This is Barakah - I am speaking to those people. Why would I speak otherwise? He insisted – I could show you the letters that he wrote to me to this effect. He said ‘You must sit with people and explain to them’, and he knew best what would come onto my tongue and what would affect the hearts. The devotees among the men and womenfolk, they won’t leave empty-handed with the Fahdl of Allah. Listen to these words; listen to the Nasiha and advice every day.
So Allah ta’ala has given us up to verse 39. Do you remember where the discussions began? Allah ta’ala explained to us what {ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٲطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ} means, and the full description of that has been given in verse 39 with the example of Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam and what happened. The full message was given, showing the objective of being sent to this world. And what was that objective? La ilaha illa’llah, Muhammadur-Rasoolullah. Allah ta’ala gave the reference of this Kalimah, and with the Barakah of this Kalimah, Hadhrat Adam alayhi salam achieved his Tawbah and made true repentance. He saw the Kalimah and he saw the name of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and he understood that the person whose name is next to Allah’s Name is not a minor name, and so he sought forgiveness via the Waseelah of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. He took hold of that Waseelah, that reference, and so we too have that to save ourselves from Jahannam, to get Allah’s forgiveness and to get to Paradise. How can we pass the tests of every stage that is to come, cross the bridge of Siraat and get directly into Jannah? Allah said {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ} – Take hold of the Deen of Allah’s Habeeb sallallahu alayhi wasallam firmly.
This is the whole message of the Qur’an that Allah ta’ala has explained in different ways in different places, using different styles and different examples and different conditions. Allah ta’ala has given us this complete message prior to today, and so now we see by means of Amthal that we should take a warning, for the Qur’an has been revealed to us. There are no Jewish or Christian people listening - the Qur’an has been revealed for Muslims. The Qur’an is in their hands, so principally the Qur’an is addressing them.
{يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ} SubhanAllah – what is Allah ta’ala stating here? Allah ta’ala says {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ}. Here, for the first time in the Qur’an, Allah ta’ala is presenting an example, a big example of the nation of Bani Isra’eel, a very great nation historically that had honour, dignity and respect as a nation. Allah ta’ala gave them great status and rank, and Allah ta’ala addressed them as Bani Isra’eel. Bani Isra’eel came from Hadhrat Ishaq alayhi salam, who was the son of Hadhrat Ibrahim alayhi salam, via Hadhrat Ishaq’s son Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam, who was also a Prophet. He was named Abdullah and also Isra’eel, and from this name, this nation was addressed. All the Jews, and also the Christians, stemmed from this nation. All the Jews and Christians have connection with Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam and his offspring, SubhanAllah. He had twelve children, and Bani Isra’eel spread from there. Through Hadhrat Yusuf alayhi salam they also lived in Egypt, and imagine, from Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam to Hadhrat Isa alayhi salam, four thousand Prophets came alayhimus-Salam. SubhanAllah, what a great Jama’ah! Four thousand Ambiya came to Bani Isra’eel over that period of time.
So this was the nation of Bani Isra’eel, and Allah ta’ala is giving us an example of this people, of the progeny of Hadhrat Ya’qub alayhi salam, from whom Allah ta’ala sent four thousand Prophets to the world to do Islah, to rectify. Allah ta’ala promised that He would send Prophets to us, Allahu Akbar. So Allah ta’ala is stating here ‘Oh Children of Isra’eel’, He is addressing Bani Isra’eel, but right now Allah ta’ala is explaining this to us. It is us who are being given the warning and the explanation.
What did Allah say? {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ} SubhanAllah, Allahu Akbar. You cannot imagine how many Ni’mahs and favours that Allah ta’ala gave to Bani Isra’eel, SubhanAllah. Throughout the Qur’an Allah has mentioned this, and due to those favours, they considered that they were special and that they were the beloveds of Allah. Even now they say this: ‘We are the beloveds of Allah!’ Allah is telling us that He gave so many rewards and favours and gifts; He showered them with favours and blessings. Think: they were freed from Firawn, who was a harsh emperor and king who subjected them to so much oppression. In addition, they were given food from the heavens in the form of Manna and Salwa, food both salty and sweet for them to eat. It would come down in the night and was ready for them to eat in the morning, in the form of this special cooked bird and the sweet dish as well. Also, Allah a’ala caused water to gush from the earth in beautiful, clean, sparkling springs for each of their twelve tribes – such great rewards they were given! And Allah ta’ala gave them guidance in form of signs which would lead and guide them. On top of that, they were given many miracles, and good fortune was bestowed upon them by Allah ta’ala. In other words, they were extremely favoured by Allah ta’ala. Many times they are mentioned, and Allah ta’ala tells us ‘This was the nation to whom I gave everything, all of My favours, Mercies, rewards and gifts.’
‘Do not forget these favours that I gave to you’, Allah says. {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} – ‘Remember My Ni’mah with which I favoured you.’ SubhanAllah! Why? What is the real right that Allah is highlighting here with {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}? How do you fulfil a favour bestowed by Allah? If Allah ta’ala gives a favour, then it is compulsory for a person to be grateful for that favour, to do Shukr for that Ni’mah. {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} - Allah is saying ‘You have to be grateful for the Ni’mahs that I gave you. And how should you be grateful? {ٱذۡكُرُواْ}’ SubhanAllah. In other words, if you do the Dhikr of Allah, then you will be grateful for that Ni’mah from Allah. Bani Isra’eel are told; they have the matter explained here. Allah ta’ala says ‘I have given you many favours, unlimited favours, but remember, after you have obtained a blessing or a gift, be grateful.’
For example, our Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam gave us a Sunnah with every footstep that he trod, so what does this tell us? That we should be grateful to Allah for all these great Sunnahs. Alhamdulillah, if we look at the blessed habit of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, in every word the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was grateful to Allah. In every condition, in every situation or circumstance, he would be grateful to Allah. And he never neglected to guide us towards this. ‘Allahumma laka-l-hamd’ – he would always praise Allah. He would say ‘Oh Allah, I am grateful to You that You have given me this beautiful attire.’ He would be grateful for the clothing he was given, and in addition would ask Allah for goodness, for Khair, in his clothing, and to be saved from any Sharr or evil in it. Look at the Ni’mahs Allah ta’ala has given to us. This Dua we make when we put on clothes “الحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذِي كَسَانِي هَذَا” has come to my mind as an example. In other words, there was no circumstance in which Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam failed to demonstrate that he was grateful to Allah.
So Allah ta’ala said to Bani Isra’eel ‘You should be grateful for the many, many favours that I have given you. How can you be grateful for My favours and blessings? {ٱذۡكُرُواْ} Do My Dhikr! When you remember Me, you will be grateful for My favours.’ SubhanAllah – Allahu Akbar! Shukr and Dhikr are two things that Allah ta’ala has joined with each other. Shukr and Dhikr. Allah is saying ‘I have given you many rewards, so many rewards, and I have told you what to do when you get My rewards and favours: be grateful for them.’ SubhanAllah.
So we need to see that Allah ta’ala is addressing us here. That is the first thing that we need to recognize. And then Allah ta’ala says {وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ } – ‘Fulfill your part of the promise that I am taking from you; and then {أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} – SubhanAllah. Just as Allah says {فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ} – ‘Remember Me, I will remember you’, with {أَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} Allah says ‘You fulfil your covenant, I will fulfill My part.’ Allah ta’ala is telling us that this great nation of Bani Isra’eel with its four thousand Nabis was promised everything if they did these actions in this way. SubhanAllah. And further, Allah a’ala says {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} – ‘And you must fear Me!’ {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} – ‘Do not lose fear in Me’, Allah says. ‘Don’t become bold!’ Look at this verse – Allah has given us a comprehensive message in this verse via Bani Isra’eel, whom He addresses in this verse.
So what was their condition? They would ignore all of Allah’s instructions. Such great Nabis, four thousand Nabis came, along with great favours and rewards, so Allah ta’ala says ‘Four thousand times I explained to you and repeated, but you rejected all of this.’ So what did they become? {ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ} – They incurred Allah’s wrath, and become like apes and swine, and great punishments descended upon them. Allah ta’ala has given this as an example. Allah ta’ala is addressing us: ‘Have you seen what happened to them when they were ungrateful for my Ni’mahs? I said to them {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ} so when they rejected that and were not grateful, what consequence befell them?’
Allah is saying ‘How many favours have I given to you, to this Ummah?’ – and He is speaking to us now. There are so many Ni’mahs! We have the Qur’an, and if we start to count them, we could collect all of the Ni’mahs ever given to the other Ummahs on one side, and on the other, just one that has been given to us would overwhelm all of their Ni’mahs. And what is that? It is such a great Ni’mah, such a great favour. The greatest Ni’mah that Allah ta’ala has given to us is that our connection and link is with the final Prophet, with the Seal of the Prophets sallallahu alayhi wasallam. We are in the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam; we have born into this Ummah. Imagine! Just think about it. This is so great that the Ambiya themselves wished that they had been included in this Ummah. We are in such a great Ummah, and Allah ta’ala is reminding us of this: ‘If you put all the Ni’mahs of the previous nations together on one side, this one Ni’mah of yours is greater than all of that. What will your status in the Hereafter be compared to that of the other nations? You will be the highest, oh Muslims, because your link is with the greatest Nabi, the greatest Prophet. Your intercession will take place first; you will be first into Paradise – and why? Because he is the greatest Prophet; he is higher than the rest. He will be given the seat next to the ‘Arsh, and he will wear the Libaas of Jannah. He will be given the standard by Allah, and also the Hukm for Shifa’, for intercession – SubhanAllah. Allah ta’ala will say ‘Intercede for them.’ We are in his Ummah, the Ummah of the greatest Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
The examples of previous nations are given, in this case of Bani Isra’eel, and we are being told ‘Just count the Ni’mahs that have been given to you.’ Just consider the Ni’mah of the Qur’an. There were previous Kitabs, like the Torah and the Injeel, but what do we have in our hands right now? What are we reading? Look carefully at this Kitab that Allah ta’ala has given to us. Every word of the Qur’an opens the doors to Paradise! So what should we do? Allah says {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ} – ‘Don’t be like the previous nations’, Allah says. ‘You should explain and discuss Allah’s Ni’mahs; you should be grateful for Allah’s Ni’mahs, for His gifts and favours.’ How? As I said, how does a person become a Shakir? By doing Dhikr. When a person does Dhikr, he is showing gratitude to Allah. Allah says {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}, so do Dhikr, because when a person remembers Allah, then he is grateful to Allah directly. There is no better technique or method of being grateful to Allah than doing Dhikr. What a beautiful method and practice Allah ta’ala has given to us in the form of Dhikr, in the form of His Remembrance. That is how we are grateful to Him.
It is narrated that on one occasion, the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam “خَرَجَ عَلَى حَلْقَةٍ” came upon a circle of his Companions, and he asked them ‘Why are you sat here? What are you doing?’ They replied “جَلَسْنَا نَدْعُو اللَّهَ ” – ‘Oh Prophet of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, we are sat here doing the Dhikr of Allah.’ And they said “وَنَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى مَا هَدَانَا لِدِينِهِ وَمَنَّ عَلَيْنَا بِكَ” – ‘We are doing Dhikr for this reason, namely that Allah ta’ala has given us great Ni’mahs, and the greatest Ni’mah is you, through whom we have attained the wealth of Islam. Such a great favour of Allah is upon us, so we are seated here together remembering Allah.’ SubhanAllah! ‘We have received the Ni’mah of Islam and have been included in your nation – we are your Sahabis. What should we do to show gratitude for this Ni’mah? In order to show gratitude, we are remembering Allah.’ What a beautiful method of being grateful! This is a Hadith that I have presented to you. They said ‘We are doing the Hamd of Allah, the praise of Allah, for the favours that Allah ta’ala has given to us.’
When a person does Dhikr of Allah until sunrise while the rest of the world is asleep, he shows gratitude for the favour of all three hundred and sixty joints of the body. It is sad if a person says ‘Teach me Dhikr and make me a Mureed’ and then he doesn’t come in the morning. These are all games that you are playing. Allah ta’ala has given us an example here in the Qur’an of the Ni’mahs of Bani Isra’eel, and they are told {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}. Allah is saying ‘Look at their state when they were ungrateful for the favours that I gave them.’ Allah ta’ala has given you the way of doing Dhikr, the method has been explained to you, Allah ta’ala has taken you to the Mashaaikh, to His Walis - and you don’t care? You don’t even think about this; it doesn’t even come into your mind, and you come and sit in the Dhikr of Allah with difficulty. Will Allah ta’ala not grab us for this?
The Qur’an is telling us this. {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ} – Allah is saying ‘Look at Bani Isra’eel, how they rejected after I gave them all the Ni’mahs. Why? Because they didn’t do Dhikr; they didn’t remember the Ni’mahs.’ If you are not grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah, if you do not do Dhikr, then there will be no Ni’mah. There will be no Shukr, no gratefulness, so how can you continue? If you obtain a Ni’mah from Allah, how can you stop doing Dhikr of Allah and stop remembering Allah? For example, when you have a child, you distribute sweets and do an Aqiqah, and then to show people in the world, you will book out a banquet suite in a hotel to show that this Aqiqah is for your son, for your child, and other parties are held. This is a Ni’mah of Allah, isn’t it? If Allah gives you two, three or four sons or daughters, I swear by Allah that if you had done Dhikr of Allah at that time, Allah ta’ala would have made them Sadaqah Jariya for you. But as soon as they were born, your Niyyah was ‘I will make her this, I will make him that, I will do this for her’, and we start planning schooling for her through which she will become a person without Iman, with no belief. Iman gets cut off, finished. Allah will question us about this afterwards, on the Day of Judgment. We modern people have spoiled our children with our own hands by sending them to such places. We don’t send them to Madrasah or teach them Qur’an; we didn’t sacrifice for Deen. We say ‘No, no, we have come to this country, so let us make them accountants or engineers or doctors’ or this, that and the other. We even turf them out of the house! So are you being grateful for the Ni’mahs Allah ta’ala has given you?
Children are a great Ni’mah, a great reward and gift from Allah, so what should we do? The Qur’an says: {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} – you should be grateful for that Ni’mah that Allah ta’ala gives you. I have seen such people, alhamdulillah, who were poor when their children were born – they didn’t have food and it was difficult. For example, I remember one such brother who lived with many children, and when there was food at his house, seventeen or eighteen people would be there eating at his house. He himself was a compounder – a pharmacist; Ghafur was his name, Ghafur the compounder - I remember him from when we were young. There were seventeen children - his uncle’s children, this relative’s children, these children whose father had passed away, orphans and so on. He was a compounder, a pharmacist, so he used to bring them all up and give them Tarbiyya and assist and guide them. MashaAllah, he was generous, and people saw how generous he was. But us? When a child is born, people say ‘You must give Adhan into the ears and then set him up for some career in the world. We want you to do this career, and we will send you into that world from childhood. Forget about Deen; give them that style of clothing and send them into the world like this.’
If a Wali of Allah comes with the Karam and blessing of Allah, and he changes the world around us, we are not even grateful for that. Allah ta’ala does not distinguish here. Wherever His Wali is sent, it is the responsibility of those who have come onto the right line to implement that. How then do we treat our children? What is taught to them and what is their condition? They don’t pray Salah, they don’t do Dhikr – nothing. They are totally empty and hollow. We just make them count money and print money. Allah ta’ala has mentioned the scolding and severe punishment that we will get for this in the Qur’an.
What is Allah saying? {ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ}. The Sahaba al-Kiram said ‘Oh Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, we are being grateful for Islam and for your company. We have sat here for this reason and are doing the remembrance of Allah and are grateful for the Deen that we have been given.’ SubhanAllah. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam asked, with some surprise, “آللَّهِ مَا أَجْلَسَكُمْ إِلاَّ ذَلِكَ” – ‘Is this the reason you are sat here?’ He was surprised and asked ‘By Allah, is this the reason you are sat here?’ They replied ‘Yes, this is why we are sitting here’, and they were a little afraid, repeating ‘Yes, we have no other objective. That is it.’ Allahu Akbar, Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam then said ‘I am not asking you to swear by Allah out of any suspicion, it is just that I am surprised because just now Gibreel alayhi salam came to me and gave me this news that Allah jalla jalalahu is boasting about you among the angels!’ SubhanAllah – how fortunate they were. And especially today, how fortunate are those who have made a habit and pastime of doing the Dhikr of Allah in the company of the Wali of Allah, and they too remember Allah sitting in a Halaqah. We are being grateful for all the Ni’mahs of Allah by doing this, as are those womenfolk who sit at home and join us. They too are grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah.
If we have difficulties, problems and burdens, don’t think that Allah is not happy with us. Whatever action comes in Qur’an and Hadith that is said to please Allah, have total Yaqeen that Allah is happy due to that action. If we sit in Dhikr, and still experience some difficulty or barrier or obstacle, then shaytan comes and attacks with thoughts of ‘Oh look at this – we heard that through Dhikr we would get positive effects, so why has this negative effect happened to us?’ The reason is that Allah subhana wa ta'ala wants to take you to high Darajat, to the high levels that you cannot attain via your Ibadah. Allah is so happy with you that He wants to give you a high Maqam in Paradise by means of that little difficulty – SubhanAllah. So if shaytan comes and gives you the suggestion ‘Leave Dhikr – it is too hard for you. You have got these problems and issues now’, and he puts thousands of negative thoughts and nonsensical advice in your head, telling you that you are doing enough of Allah’s orders and so on, in order that suddenly he will make you slip and fall.
If a person does not have Yaqeen, and he thinks that what Allah ta’ala has told us in the Qur’an is wrong, then he cannot be a Muslim. Allah’s Nabi is swearing by Allah, promising, and the noble Companions also swore and promised by Allah, and then the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said ‘Just now, Gibreel alayhi salam came and said that Allah is expressing pride for these people in the heavens!’ Is this a minor thing? What a great piece of news. Allah is saying ‘I have accepted all of their deeds and have promised Jannah for them.’ Just for this action, Allah is proud of those people! Allah Himself is proud - how amazing!
{يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ} If Bani Isra’eel were grateful for Allah’s Ni’mahs, they would not be Magdhoob today, and they wouldn’t be wretched. Allah is telling us ‘If you are not grateful for My Ni’mahs today, then this will be your condition tomorrow.’ And this is our condition today. Look at the state of the Ummah today. We can see the consequences, and the one reason for this, the reason that we are being given punishment today is that we have rejected the Dhikr of Allah. That was our Waseelah to be grateful. All methods we adopt other than this to show gratitude are a waste of time. Lengthy conferences are staged, and people say ‘We are being grateful to Allah’ – no. The action that Allah ta’ala has told us about is the way to show gratitude, and that is the only method that will be accepted. It is the only way to be grateful to Allah. We can read hundreds of millions of Tafseers, study, write, give speeches and do as much as we want with our utmost effort, but no, you cannot be grateful that way. You can only be grateful when in the morning, you sit until sunrise and do Dhikr of Allah in the heart, when you are connected to Dhikr. Go to the people of Dhikr, the Awliyallah, the teachers. I am not saying this – I have explained this to you from both the Qur’an and Hadith. Tell me.
So here, Allah has told us that this is the greatest thing that we need to learn, that thing which was lacking in Bani Isra’eel. What was that? That they were not grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah. And then: { وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} - Allah is saying that they made Him a promise. So what was the promise that they made? They promised – SubhanAllah - so what was their promise? Allah has also taken a promise from us? What is the promise? We have read this in the previous verses, haven’t we? What is that promise that Allah ta’ala has taken from us? Bani Isra’eel promised, and we also promised that the Nabis that would be sent, that would come to us, must be obeyed and followed. This was the promise that they made. The Tawrah would come and the Injeel would come – whichever Nabi comes, believe in him and obey him; imitate him and follow him. This was the promise that Allah ta’ala took from Bani Isra’eel, and they have broken that promise.
And what have we done? SubhanAllah. What have we done today? Ibn Abbas radhiAllahu anh narrates a Hadith about this Ayah that this promise that Allah ta’ala took, this covenant that was agreed, means that a believer must obey and follow the Prophet that is sent. This is the meaning conveyed by Hadhrat Ibn Abbas radhiAllahu anh. SubhanAllah. Allah ta’ala told Bani Isra’eel and took a promise, literally. And today that message has been given to the Jews as well – it is revealed to us in the Qur’an, but the message is for them as well. Allah is saying to Bani Isra’eel as well ‘I took a promise from you. I made a covenant with you that I would send you a Nabi, so then you have to obey him and follow him. Whoever is physically near him must accept him; the Noor that he has must be accepted.’ So now, we have the Qur’an; we have to accept it and believe in it. If you do this, Allah says { أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} – ‘Then I will fulfill My promise, my side of the covenant. I will forgive your sins, I will allow you to enter into Paradise and I will give you the highest ranks.’ SubhanAllah. So did Bani Isra’eel fulfill their promise? No. {وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} - Allah is saying ‘They broke their covenant, so how can I fulfill My promise?’
Now if you break your promise of {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ}, what do you think will happen? How will you be treated then? Has the Qur’an not told us? Allah ta’ala has told us the standard – ‘Whatever My Rasool sallallahu alayhi wasallam gives you, take it. Whatever he tells you to leave, leave it. That’s it – that is your duty.’ Are we doing that today? Our lives are completely upside down. Whatever Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has told us to do, we leave it, and whatever he has told us to refrain from, we want to do that. We are the very opposite! We want to do the actions that Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to leave, and we want to leave the actions that he told us to do. We want to pray Salah when we want, to fast when we want, to follow our desires – we do not live our lives in obedience to the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. There is a beautiful point about this in the next verse, Allahu Akbar.
Further, Allah says in this verse {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ}. Allah is saying ‘Why have you done this?’ Allah is explaining ‘Don’t do this. They did this, and why is it that they were not grateful to Allah and were disobedient?’ {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} Because they ceased to fear Allah; they didn’t fear Allah. The fear came out of them, and due to not having fear, they started to complain and reject. Allah says ‘Fear Me’ – but they took the fear out of themselves. So what we have to realise is that the Nasiha Allah ta’ala has given us directly is what? Beware! Allah is saying ‘Beware – don’t become leaders of yourselves. Keep Allah’s fear inside your hearts – how?’ {يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ} Allah ta’ala has given Nasiha here that fear is connected to the heart. It cannot be learned from books. You can read ten Qur’ans or fifteen Qur’ans, but the fear of Allah will not come into you like this. Unless the fear of Allah comes into you, you will do oppression, you will lie, and you will do injustice to people. You will be unjust to your wife and children, and there will be no mercy in your heart for either the wife or the children. You will be unjust and commit oppression in your life, and will have no mercy for oppressed people, whether you read ten Qur’ans or fifteen Qur’ans. What is the method? Allah is saying ‘If you want to follow My order to {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ} and keep the promises that you made, then the Qur’an tells you the method: {فَٱرۡهَبُونِ} - Have fear of Me!’
The Qur’an says {يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ} – When you go into the company of a person who has fear of Allah, when you attach yourself to him and keep his company, then fear will start to come into you as well. As soon as you become distant from his company, even if you do Tafseer of the Qur’an and go to Egypt or Syria to learn Qur’an, this will give you status in the Dunya, but your aims will be worldly. All of this is running after the world. Every Amal of ours will only be a correct deed if it is done for the sake of Allah, for the sake of Allah’s Pleasure. That’s it. Only such a deed will be accepted and no other, not actions to make money or to elevate oneself. This is the Qur’an that is telling us this and giving us Nasiha.
The real, genuine message that we need to derive from the Qur’an relates to the two matters that come from the example of Bani Isra’eel. What did they start doing? Allah says that they turned away from the promise that they made to Him, firstly by stopping doing Dhikr for the Ni’mahs of Allah, by stopping being grateful for the Ni’mahs of Allah; and secondly by losing fear of Allah. Why? Because they associated with criminals and sinful, bad people, and so all of fear of Allah came out of their lives. Allah says ‘Don’t do this!’ – Allah ta’ala gave Nasiha to them just as He is giving Nasiha to us. Allah says ‘Remember the promise you made: {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ}. Revise this promise by doing two things: firstly, be grateful of Allah for the Ni’mahs you have been given, and how should you be grateful? By doing Dhikr of Allah, SubhanAllah. And secondly, remember that fear came out of Bani Isra’eel, so we need to keep fear established, existent and maintained inside us. For this we need to attach ourselves and adhere to the company of a person who has fear of Allah. When we sit in his company, fear will come into us, and we will leave talking, gossiping, telling stories and speaking about money. When you sit with him, fear comes into your heart; when you meet him, fear comes into your heart. That is how honourable this company is – Allah’s Noor comes from his heart, from his being.
This is not difficult. Allah ta’ala is telling each point to us, so if we don’t do these two actions, there is no way that we can be steadfast on our promise to Allah of {أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ}. As I explained in the previous verses, if we are steadfast on this, then good; but if not, then Allah ta’ala says be ready for Jahannam and for punishment. Today we need to look at our homes and scan ourselves. Where are we in respect of these matters? We have nothing at all. Allah says ‘Tell Me – where is this action that My Rasool sallallahu alayhi wasallam has given to you? You must take it and do this action and never leave it.’ But we have left those things. Whatever he has told you to do, then do it, and whatever he has told you to leave, then leave it. Beware! Don’t send your women and daughters out; don’t take the Hijab and Purdah from them; don’t throw them into the career path of earning money or make them immodest. But that is what we do. They are walking around in the streets – and what do we say? ‘Oh we are strong Muslims!’ Allah has given us an example here, and what was their condition?
Allah ta’ala says {يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَأَوۡفُواْ بِعَہۡدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهۡدِكُمۡ} – ‘They broke their covenant, so I left My covenant.’ Allah says {وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ}. May Alla ta’ala give us the Tawfeeq to practice upon this Qur’an, and may Allah ta’ala allow us to practice upon the Nasiha and the orders of the Qur’an. My brothers, make your Akhirah, make your Hereafter – this life is very short and temporary.
وأخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين