Get Rid Of Materialistic Craving

Maulavi Muhammad Ilyas (rah) Malfuzat, compiled by Maulavi Muhammad Manzoor Nuhmani (rah)
Published in Muslim Murasu, September 2012

One day Maulana was very sick and bedridden. He spoke in feeble voice from bed. Field workers of Tableeghi Jamaat had gathered in Hazrat Nizamuddin mosque. Maulana called me and said in my ears. Ilme Deen (religious knowledge) and Zikrullah (Allah’s remembrance), if you don’t show importance to these two aspects, all your tours, hard work and efforts will be in vain. They will only bring new Fitna (chaos) and Zalalat (ignorance). Without knowledge, Islam will become a mere ritual and get reduced to just a name. If knowledge is there, but Zikr is not there, then that cannot be construed as knowledge. This is dangerous. Only Zikr can bring glitter in knowledge. There won’t be Barakat (blessings) in Zikr that is devoid of knowledge. Shaitan will take such Sufis in his side. Don’t forget the importance of knowledge and God’s remembrance in our Silsila (lineage). Pay special attention to this. Otherwise, your Tableeghi movement will become mere roaming. You will be losers. Let Allah save us.
One day I gave Juma speech in Delhi Assembly mosque. Next day I went to Nizamuddin and expressed my apology to Maulana for not coming the previous day. Field workers need not be concerned for it, its OK. Did you give speech? I said yes. He was happy. They will not willingly invite us. They don’t have time from their material affairs. We have to go on our own and preach them. This is their expectation. What did you say there? ‘inna fi qalqis samaawaati wal arli waktilafil laili wannahaari la aayaatin li ulil albab allazina yazkurunallaha qiaman waqu’udan waala junubihim’. (3 : 190,191). Wise men don’t stop with creations. They should realize the Creator behind them. They should always remember Him and spend all their time in His remembrance. I told about the importance of Allah’s remembrance and explained them the importance of missionary work. Maulana listened and then replied. This is a very lofty, vast, deep subject. This won’t fit that gathering. People apt for this message are assembled here. That subject should be dwelt on here. Ayath (verse) for them is different. ‘wallazina ijtanabu taguta anyahbuduha wa anabu ilallahi lahumul bushra fabashir ibadillazina yastamiunal qawla fayattabiuna ahsanahu ulaikallazina hadahumullahu wa ulaikahum ulul albab’. (39 : 17,18). First they should receive guidance. ‘Hadahumullahu’. They belong to a lower status. Let them first rise.