The days of Hajj begin from Shawwaal. If anyone keeps six fasts during this month, he receives the reward equivalent to fasting for the entire year. This month is connected to Ramadan so it contains blessings.
What should we do during these scared months?
We should value these days and be extremely cautious of how we are spending these days. We should refrain from committing any actions which will earn Allah ta'ala's displeasure. We should extract the love of the world from our hearts and implement the laws of Allah ta'ala which we are bound by.
Through Allah ta'ala's mercy, He grants us these blessed days so that we may be saved from the fire of Hell. If we repent during these days, we are saved from our sins. Shaytan drags us towards evil and sins, however, Allah ta'ala is aware of this and desires us to return to Him in repentance.
We hesitate to seek forgiveness from Allah ta'ala, although, if we were to repent, we will be granted success and ease in this world.
During these blessed days, we should take hold of dhikr in abundance and the dhikr gatherings. It is a high level worship to perform dhikr during the days of Hajj.
We should never consider these dhikr gatherings as insignificant and we should be reminded that we earn forgiveness each time we attend. We should never doubt being forgiven by Allah ta'ala and we should not be despondent over our sins. This is a great defect. Rather, we should be grateful upon Allah ta'alas blessings of allowing us to partake in these gatherings.
The dhikr kalimaat are the fruits of Paradise which our souls consume. These are our spiritual provisions which we receive. We are given according to our desires, so, those who are yearning to seek Allah ta'ala's nearness, are granted these gatherings. They consume the fruits and become satisfied.
Those who abandon the dhikr gatherings, their souls do not demand for such provision as the world has overtaken them. They do not receive enjoyment from these gatherings.
It is narrated in Mishkat Shareef by Hadhrat Anas رضي الله عنه that he who is greedy for the world and desires to accumulate more, will never be safe form sins. This is because the world is attached to sin and such a person cannot live without the world.
We should assess to see what our heart is attached to. Where do we receive enjoyment?
"But when he gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused." [9:76]
Allah ta'ala grants us through His grace. It is unfortunate that when we receive wealth, we prefer the dunya and we become miserly. We do not distribute the wealth which Allah ta'ala has granted us. Instead, we advance towards Allah ta'ala's disobedience.
There are two states a person is faced with whilst earning wealth. One is the wealth which is acquired through the bounty of Allah ta'ala and one is the wealth which a person believes he has earnt through his own effort.
Regarding the wealth given through His bounty, it refers to receiving what is in ones destiny and there is no limit to it.
Those actions which a person does out of his greed for the world, he will lie and be deceitful in order to earn. He will go to extreme lengths to earn wealth and this is not the grace of Allah ta'ala. The consequences of such actions are very severe.
The grace of Allah ta'ala refers to being content with whatever Allah ta'ala has bestowed upon you. When greed overtakes you, you begin chasing the world and are displeased with what you are given. You begin comparing with other people and you begin committing fraud and other unlawful actions in order to earn more. Such a person becomes stingy and he becomes disobedient to Allah ta'ala due to his greed of desiring to earn more.
A companion by the name of Tha’laba ibn Hatib repeatedly asked Nabi ﷺ to pray that Allah grants him wealth, and made an oath saying that were Allah to bestow him wealth, he would give everyone his rightful due. Nabi ﷺ prayed for him and Allah gave him much wealth. Tha'laba thereafter withdrew from Medina due to the numerous livestock and flock he now owned. He came less frequently to the prayer, and when it was time for zakat, he refused to pay it. Nabi ﷺ said, “Woe to Tha’laba."
Tha’laba then brought the zakat to Nabi ﷺ who said that Allah ta'ala forbade him from accepting it. Tha’laba regretted his actions. Later, he tried to present his Zakat to all the Khulafãh Raashideen and they rejected him. Consequently, he left this world in a state of hypocrisy.
This is an example of a person who loves the world.
This message is for all of us. If we have less, it is better for us. With less, we are able to show gratitude to Allah ta'ala and fulfil the rights of our wealth. If we chase a higher quantity of wealth, it may become detrimental for us.
We should be content with whatever Allah ta'ala has granted us out of His Grace as there are many blessings in His bestowal. When greed overtakes us, we become disobedient and we lose fear in Him.
When we have less, we are able to remember Allah ta'ala and attend the dhikr gatherings. When we become occupied in amassing wealth, then we compromise the laws of Allah ta'ala and we adopt wrongdoing in order to amass more. This is because greed multiplies.
When we have less, it does not disturb our deen. Rather, it saves one from sin. It is through the grace of Allah ta'ala that a person is content with less. A person may work less hours but he doesn't abandon his prayers. He prioritises prayer in congregation and doesn't lie and commit oppression in order to earn more. This is the biggest success. When he tries to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, his dunya becomes better for him. He progresses in his deen and becomes close to Allah. This refers to the grace of Allah ta'ala.
If we try to earn according to our own unlawful means, it will not be the grace of Allah ta'ala and we will never be satisfied.
The person who is greedy for the world, mixes the dunya with his deen. This is how he earns and gains worldly progression. On the other hand, when a person practices deen, he will never face poverty. In fact, through practicing deen, he will gain worldly progression.
The most foolish person is he who makes this world his home. Undoubtedly, we must earn to in order to fufil our expenses, however, we should earn according to Allah ta'ala's grace, which means earning lawfully to fulfil our worldly requirements. An earning which is free from deceit, fraud and lying. In this, we will earn benefit. Where there is Allah ta'ala's blessing and grace, they will always increase for a person.
If our aim is this world, we will lose. If our target is the Hereafter, we must end our greed for the world and be content with what we have. We must pray five times prayer in the congregation.
Furthermore, if we are given worldly promotion, we must fulfil our daily routine and our dhikr without chasing the world.
"The believers, both men and women, are guardians of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil, establish prayer and pay alms-tax, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they who will be shown Allah’s mercy. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise." [9:71]
The sign of the believers is that they prefer to perform those deeds which nourish their souls. They love those who perform dhikr. They love each other for the sake of Allah ta'ala and this is true friendship for His sake.
They save themselves from sins. They chase good deeds and they forbid evil. This refers to having modesty. We should make friends like this for the sake of Allah ta'ala and this is made possible by sitting in the company of the AwliyahAllah.
We should not worry if we cannot perform Hajj. However, we must go for Hajj if it is Fard upon us. If a person has no excuse, he has wealth and health and his dependents are taken care of, he must go for Hajj otherwise, he may die as a Christian or a Jew according to Ahadith.
He should apply for his passport, however, if he is rejected, then that is from Allah ta'ala. He must try to go otherwise, the warning of the Hadith applies to him.
The days of Hajj begin from Shawwaal. If anyone keeps six fasts during this month, he receives the reward equivalent to fasting for the entire year. This month is connected to Ramadan so it contains blessings.
What should we do during these scared months?
We should value these days and be extremely cautious of how we are spending these days. We should refrain from committing any actions which will earn Allah ta'ala's displeasure. We should extract the love of the world from our hearts and implement the laws of Allah ta'ala which we are bound by.
Through Allah ta'ala's mercy, He grants us these blessed days so that we may be saved from the fire of Hell. If we repent during these days, we are saved from our sins. Shaytan drags us towards evil and sins, however, Allah ta'ala is aware of this and desires us to return to Him in repentance.
We hesitate to seek forgiveness from Allah ta'ala, although, if we were to repent, we will be granted success and ease in this world.
During these blessed days, we should take hold of dhikr in abundance and the dhikr gatherings. It is a high level worship to perform dhikr during the days of Hajj.
We should never consider these dhikr gatherings as insignificant and we should be reminded that we earn forgiveness each time we attend. We should never doubt being forgiven by Allah ta'ala and we should not be despondent over our sins. This is a great defect. Rather, we should be grateful upon Allah ta'alas blessings of allowing us to partake in these gatherings.
The dhikr kalimaat are the fruits of Paradise which our souls consume. These are our spiritual provisions which we receive. We are given according to our desires, so, those who are yearning to seek Allah ta'ala's nearness, are granted these gatherings. They consume the fruits and become satisfied.
Those who abandon the dhikr gatherings, their souls do not demand for such provision as the world has overtaken them. They do not receive enjoyment from these gatherings.
It is narrated in Mishkat Shareef by Hadhrat Anas رضي الله عنه that he who is greedy for the world and desires to accumulate more, will never be safe form sins. This is because the world is attached to sin and such a person cannot live without the world.
We should assess to see what our heart is attached to. Where do we receive enjoyment?
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
"But when he gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused." [9:76]
Allah ta'ala grants us through His grace. It is unfortunate that when we receive wealth, we prefer the dunya and we become miserly. We do not distribute the wealth which Allah ta'ala has granted us. Instead, we advance towards Allah ta'ala's disobedience.
There are two states a person is faced with whilst earning wealth. One is the wealth which is acquired through the bounty of Allah ta'ala and one is the wealth which a person believes he has earnt through his own effort.
Regarding the wealth given through His bounty, it refers to receiving what is in ones destiny and there is no limit to it.
Those actions which a person does out of his greed for the world, he will lie and be deceitful in order to earn. He will go to extreme lengths to earn wealth and this is not the grace of Allah ta'ala. The consequences of such actions are very severe.
The grace of Allah ta'ala refers to being content with whatever Allah ta'ala has bestowed upon you. When greed overtakes you, you begin chasing the world and are displeased with what you are given. You begin comparing with other people and you begin committing fraud and other unlawful actions in order to earn more. Such a person becomes stingy and he becomes disobedient to Allah ta'ala due to his greed of desiring to earn more.
A companion by the name of Tha’laba ibn Hatib repeatedly asked Nabi ﷺ to pray that Allah grants him wealth, and made an oath saying that were Allah to bestow him wealth, he would give everyone his rightful due. Nabi ﷺ prayed for him and Allah gave him much wealth. Tha'laba thereafter withdrew from Medina due to the numerous livestock and flock he now owned. He came less frequently to the prayer, and when it was time for zakat, he refused to pay it. Nabi ﷺ said, “Woe to Tha’laba."
Tha’laba then brought the zakat to Nabi ﷺ who said that Allah ta'ala forbade him from accepting it. Tha’laba regretted his actions. Later, he tried to present his Zakat to all the Khulafãh Raashideen and they rejected him. Consequently, he left this world in a state of hypocrisy.
This is an example of a person who loves the world.
This message is for all of us. If we have less, it is better for us. With less, we are able to show gratitude to Allah ta'ala and fulfil the rights of our wealth. If we chase a higher quantity of wealth, it may become detrimental for us.
We should be content with whatever Allah ta'ala has granted us out of His Grace as there are many blessings in His bestowal. When greed overtakes us, we become disobedient and we lose fear in Him.
When we have less, we are able to remember Allah ta'ala and attend the dhikr gatherings. When we become occupied in amassing wealth, then we compromise the laws of Allah ta'ala and we adopt wrongdoing in order to amass more. This is because greed multiplies.
When we have less, it does not disturb our deen. Rather, it saves one from sin. It is through the grace of Allah ta'ala that a person is content with less. A person may work less hours but he doesn't abandon his prayers. He prioritises prayer in congregation and doesn't lie and commit oppression in order to earn more. This is the biggest success. When he tries to attain Allah ta'ala's nearness, his dunya becomes better for him. He progresses in his deen and becomes close to Allah. This refers to the grace of Allah ta'ala.
If we try to earn according to our own unlawful means, it will not be the grace of Allah ta'ala and we will never be satisfied.
The person who is greedy for the world, mixes the dunya with his deen. This is how he earns and gains worldly progression. On the other hand, when a person practices deen, he will never face poverty. In fact, through practicing deen, he will gain worldly progression.
The most foolish person is he who makes this world his home. Undoubtedly, we must earn to in order to fufil our expenses, however, we should earn according to Allah ta'ala's grace, which means earning lawfully to fulfil our worldly requirements. An earning which is free from deceit, fraud and lying. In this, we will earn benefit. Where there is Allah ta'ala's blessing and grace, they will always increase for a person.
If our aim is this world, we will lose. If our target is the Hereafter, we must end our greed for the world and be content with what we have. We must pray five times prayer in the congregation.
Furthermore, if we are given worldly promotion, we must fulfil our daily routine and our dhikr without chasing the world.
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
"The believers, both men and women, are guardians of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil, establish prayer and pay alms-tax, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they who will be shown Allah’s mercy. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise." [9:71]
The sign of the believers is that they prefer to perform those deeds which nourish their souls. They love those who perform dhikr. They love each other for the sake of Allah ta'ala and this is true friendship for His sake.
They save themselves from sins. They chase good deeds and they forbid evil. This refers to having modesty. We should make friends like this for the sake of Allah ta'ala and this is made possible by sitting in the company of the AwliyahAllah.
We should not worry if we cannot perform Hajj. However, we must go for Hajj if it is Fard upon us. If a person has no excuse, he has wealth and health and his dependents are taken care of, he must go for Hajj otherwise, he may die as a Christian or a Jew according to Ahadith.
He should apply for his passport, however, if he is rejected, then that is from Allah ta'ala. He must try to go otherwise, the warning of the Hadith applies to him.
May Allah ta'ala allow us to implement. Ameen.