May 31, 2013

Vacate When Visa Expires

Excerpt from Mufti Muhammad Mustafa Miftahi book
Published in Muslim Murasu, May 2013

Man goes after immediate gains and misses the eternal life. Surah Qiyaamat, 75, verse 20 – ‘bal tuhibboonal aajilata watazaroonal akhirata’.
A person visiting foreign country works hard and sends home money. If he spends lavishly, he will have to return home and suffer. Enduring, lasting pleasures should not be traded for ephemeral luxuries. Fools will do so. Smart people will put the limited time available to best use. Daarul amal. Earth is farming land for the hereafter. Till here and you can see the harvest there.
People have to leave when their visa expires. We will have to leave this earth after death. Those who aspire for honor, respect and peace should bear the training and efforts that are demanded of them. Approach towards education and work will be lax when there is no firm belief in future. It will show in callous attitude.
People educate their children expecting a good future. They don’t allow them to while away time in wasteful ways. People select frugal, simple, cheap methods to live in visiting places and focus on returning home. Man is given an opportunity in this world to make his hereafter pleasant. He won’t get another chance to return to earth after this.
Surah Baqara, 2, verse 28 – ‘kaifa takfuroona billahi wakuntum amwaatan fa ahyaakum shumma yumeetukum shumma yuhyeekum shumma ilaihi turjaoon’. You were dead. Allah gave you life, He will cause you to die, and again will bring you to life. You will return to Him.
Man has a long life. It doesn’t start with his birth in this world nor does it end with his death here. A long life awaits him.
This verse first mentions death and then turns towards life. Understanding this will get us rid of worldly obsessions. Surah Mulk, 67, verse 2 – ‘khalaqal mauta wal hayaata’. In man’s version, death comes after life. The Quran establishes death-first-life-later idea.
Birth is one door and death is another door. Man comes to earth through first death and enters another world through his second death.
Man does not know of the events that took place before his birth. His life after death is not in front of his eyes. The life here continuously deludes him. The teaching of the Quran is to remind him of death. That will mend his actions. People thinking of life first will forget death. Those focused on death will spend every day as the last day and every night as the last night. Life is given to examine and learn. Freedom will be tested. Every action is being recorded. Death is doorstep to the hereafter.
Kalipha Umar bin Abdul Ajeez requested for a loan from state treasury. “Death can come anytime”. His request for loan was rejected. The events man witnesses in this cause-and-effect world confuses him. Things in the hereafter will be different from what we see here. There process is completely different and incomprehensible.

May 28, 2013

Role Played By Marriage Brokers

Muslim Murasu, May 2013

Islam is an international religion. All Muslims in the world are brothers. Situation is different in the marriage market. Generally one Muslim does not trust another Muslim.
Tamilnadu Muslims are not prepared to look beyond the nation for marriage alliances. Those who have spent forty years in Arab land also make a scramble to their native land for wedding arrangements. There is no fraternal bonding between families beyond national border.
One can travel throughout India without passport or Visa. But people seldom cross their state boundary. Even those well educated in English don’t extend their family ties beyond state limits. Merchant marriages also fall within Mohalla limits.
People move out of villages, settle in cities and enjoy economic prosperity. Arranging marriage for son or daughter has become a huge hassle. Family planning is being followed since 1975. Contact and intimacy with relations has dwindled. Self-centered life has become an epidemic.
Marriage is not possible without help by brokers. Alliances are searched through newspapers and websites. Brokers doing rounds in the district should be careful.
Brokers play their role until photo and biodata are exchanged between bride and groom. Appearance in the photograph and in reality differ widely. Families are on their own to ascertain character, background, behavior and income. No one comes forward to bridge the gap. Marriages conducted in haste can end in divorce within six months. No one takes ownership. Muslim Jamaat will be a mere onlooker. Dog eats dog and the mighty prevails.
Mutual trust should blossom among Muslims. Every Mohalla should host a computer based information center for marriage. Details of already married people, men and women looking for marriages should be available for ten rupees. Muslim community morbidly watches the misdeeds in marriages. Every member should participate to protect discipline and decency. It is better to act before it is too late.

Focus On Education Works

Muslim Murasu, May 2013

Serious debates are being conducted on education sector in India. Silicon valley in America is at the heart of IT developments. Many Indians have been working there and have earned wealth and reputation. They have risen to important positions even in advanced space researches.
But still, not a single university from India has been listed among top two hundred universities in the world. Prime Minister and President also have joined the elite circle in lamenting this.
International quality, national quality, developed nation, developing nation, backward community, these notions have their roots in arrogance. They serve in permeating untouchability in the modern world. It is a ploy to create inferiority complex among competing candidates.
Sixty five years earlier, India had thirty universities and 695 colleges. Now India has 695 universities and 33000 colleges. According to guidelines given by Right to Education commission, 90 percent of schools are unfit. Justice J.S. Verma report says that, of the thirteen lakh schools, eleven lakh schools are of poor quality. Seventy lakh teachers have to be trained in the next five years.
Thirty lakh teachers have to be recruited in two years. Eighty fiver percent of teacher training institutes are in private hands. Educationist Dr. Vinod Raina sadly informs us.
Ninety thousand teachers graduate every year in Maharashtra alone. Minister of Education in the state, Rajendra Darda, is clear that there are only ten thousand vacancies. He warns us that tuition fee has been exorbitantly raised in one lakh schools.
Rahman Khan laments that ‘minority’ is defined in a casual, narrow-minded and doomed-to-fail way by the states. Report by central education commission has brought to light the scams in education sector.
One educated family should help one uneducated family. This will improve the situation. Additional government fund will foster corruption and apathy.

May 25, 2013

Reassess Your Plan

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan speech
Published in Muslim Murasu, May 2013

Man has been given freedom. He acts as he wishes. But Allah decides the course of history. This is His Power. He maintains and protects the conditions for testing. Allah involves all people and creations in this divine process.
Surah Baqara, 2, verse 251 – ‘walawlaa daf’ullahinnaasa ba’dahum biba’din lafasadatil ardu’. If Allah does not check one people with another, earth would be full of mischief.
This change largely occurs with the participation of those in political power. Communism came to rule in Russia. Rulers hated religion, outlawed it. Following religion was deemed a crime. This was against Allah’s design. Allah developed America and controlled Russia.
Kings used to rule in earlier times. Democracy was introduced during Prophet’s period. It flourished fully in Europe. Secular forces also helped in this transition.
Surah Saff, 61, verse 14 – ‘koonoo ansarallahi kama kaala eesabnu maryama’. This is a strange verse. Allah commands the Ummat of our Prophet (s.a.w.s) to follow another Ummat (community). Following their ideology is not the point. Their method can be emulated.
A time will come when Christianity will be the most followed religion. They followed a particular method. They had a clear idea and precisely put it to practice.
Hawariyoon, disciples of Jesus, were severely tortured. But they did not harbor any hateful thought. They carried out their missionary work without fuss. They did not give place to negative ideas. Situation was completely against them. But they did not involve in any evil plotting. They spread in areas around Palestine and did preaching.
The king accepted Christianity. It spread in entire Europe. This is the exemplary preaching model. Peaceful methods can be followed however bad the situation is. There should not be any vengeful preaching. Missionary activities should be kept above politics and carried out in a non-political way.
Crusade between Christians and Muslims went on for two hundred years. Christian rulers were unable to win back their holy lands. They couldn’t regain Syria, Palestine. They failed and despaired. They reassessed their position and focused their energy in other directions. They withdrew from direct warfare. They started spiritual and scientific crusade.
They exhaustively explored the nature and brought forward an era of scientific advancements. This verse is categorical in its message. Peaceful activities can be undertaken.
Scientific advancements gave new energy, impetus to Christians. They reentered Muslim lands and pushed Muslims to the back. They gained upper hand. Muslims started counter attack. This is now going on for two hundred years. Muslims are continuously losing opportunities. Muslims should reassess their way forward. They should leave battlefield and focus on missionary works. Muslims are backward in preaching. Islamic ideology is strong. Muslims will succeed if they realize this.
Missionary activities are well organized and coordinated in Christian world. In Muslim world, missionary works operate as isolated islands. Results can be thousand times more if technology, opportunities and methods are harmonized. Galileo gazed at the sky. He saw a vast universe open in front of him to be conquered. Leave violence. Missionary works are open for everyone. If you fail in one domain, focus your efforts in another domain and dimension.

May 21, 2013

Preaching With One's Own Money

Maulana Muhammad Ilyas (rah) Malfuzat compiled by Maulana Muhammad Manzoor Nuhmani (rah)
Published in Muslim Murasu, May 2013

‘manra’aa minkum munkiran falyugayyirahu biyadihi fainlam yastati’ fabilisaanihi fainlam yastati’ fabi qalbihi’. Whoever sees a wrong thing should stop it with his hand or tongue. If that is not possible for him, he should stop it with his heart.
Courage, intention, willpower are strengths of heart. They should be employed to stop evil. Imam Abdul Wahhaab Shi’rani writes – “When you see good things disappear on earth, think deeply about it in heart to bring it back alive and pray for it. When you see evil spreading, think about it with pain and pray to stop it”. This is a way for ‘Maqame Qutubiyat’.
Allah should be remembered in every situation and His commands should be appropriately followed. This is the proper Zikr for that situation. Surah Munafiqoon, 63, verse 9 – ‘laa tulhikum amwalukum walaa awladukum an zikrillahi’. Let not your wealth and offspring distract you from remembering Allah.
One who follows Allah’s commands in his dealings and in the upbringing of his offspring is a Zaakir. He is involved in Zikr. He has not ignored Allah’s Zikr even while carrying out his tasks.
A person even with little Kibr, haughtiness, in his heart will go to hell. After treatment he will enter heaven. No one can enter heaven with Kibr. Without attaining Tarbiyat, disciplinary reformation, from Sheykh one should not read Sufi books. Tarbiyat is prerequisite for reading Sufi books.
An Ijtima was organized in Lucknow. Maulana told to an Aalim who gave speech in that program. “Speeches have only limited place in our mission. You will not be able to understand our works from your surroundings and while doing your routine works. You won’t get opportunity to pay attention. The purpose of this tour is to bring you out of your usual surroundings and works. Now you can peacefully listen to me. You can pay attention to the Jamaat works. Seeing it directly can give you new perspective”.
One should take care of his expenditures on his own while coming out of house to learn and preach the religion. If he is not prepared to that level, then arrangements should be made from his own Mohalla to maximum extent possible. If even that is not possible, then help can be sought from other Mohallas.

May 12, 2013

Skill Development For Prophet

Darse Quran by Maulana Muhammad Mustafa Shareef Naqshbandhi
Published in Muslim Murasu, May 2013

The duration in prison was lengthened for Prophet Yusuf (alai). He interpreted dream for a fellow prisoner. Surah Yusuf, 12, verse 42 – ‘uzkurni inda rabbika’. ‘mention me to your king’.
Allah did not approve of this request. Your requests should be submitted only to Allah. Allah will take care of all affairs. There is no need for a prisoner’s recommendation.
Auliya Baayazid Bustami drank milk. He got stomach pain. He told his friends that he got stomach ache from drinking milk. Allah asked him. Is this your Tawakkal? No pain or trouble can come without Allah’s leave. Milk cannot give pain. Pain comes from the wish of God. Medication should be taken with supplication to God. ‘Anta Shaafi’. ‘You are the One who cures’. When you attain Tawakkal (complete trust in God), your life here will be pleasant and you will succeed in hereafter.
Prophet Yusuf realized his mistake. Allah made arrangements to bring him out of prison. Allah brings all affairs to fruition. We should put our efforts in right direction. Sometimes we work for losses. We should celebrate if our efforts don’t bear fruit. Allah has not rejected your supplication.
Parents will sometimes forcefully feed bitter food to infants. It is for their wellbeing. You will go mad if Allah gives everything that you ask for. Parents will not provide everything that a kid cries for.
Ali (rali) says – ‘araftu rabbi bi faskil azaaim’. ‘I learnt more about God each time I failed’. Put efforts but don’t lose hope. Surah Zumar, 39, verse 53 – ‘laa taqnatu min rahmatillahi’. ‘Despair not of the Mercy of God’.
Unbelievers will pray to God when situation is dire. Once the ship reaches shore, they will appoint different deities. A Believer should have trust only in God regardless of the situation.
We will want to recite the Quran more when people appreciate our speech. Our recital of Quran should not be impaired whatever be the reaction of the people. Our actions should be unaffected by good and bad times. Prophets will see splendid good times and intense bad times. It will be comparatively less in the lives of Auliya. Every man will see ups and downs. Saying ‘innalillahi’ in bad times will bring God’s Mercy. They are the rightly guided.
Surah Inshiraah, 94, verse 5 – ‘fa inna ma’al usri yusraa inna ma’al usri yusraa’. There is relief certainly with trouble. ‘Al Usri’ is definite, difficulty will be limited. ‘Yusraa’ is indefinite, relief will be open and vast.
Sheykh will test his students. He will weigh their desire for money. Once they succeed, he will grant them in abundance. Arabs will pose complete trust in someone once he gains their confidence. Any backbiting will not affect after that. This is the quality of Arabs.
‘Na’budu’ is Allah’s share. ‘Nastaeen’ is our share. You pay what is due to Allah. He will give you what you need. Surah Hijr, 15, verse 21 – ‘wa in min shaiyin illa indanaa khazainuhu’. ‘There is not a thing but its treasures are with Us’. Allah has abundant treasures. We should know the way to ask.
Dream can come true in one day. It can take forty years. Mehndi has to grind well to give color and shine. It took forty years for Prophet Yusuf and he went through lot of tribulations in between.
Intelligent people will speak less, eat less and sleep less. Foolish ones will be extravagant in speaking, eating and sleeping. It is not wrong to talk what is needed. Irrelevant, useless talks should be avoided.
Surah Yusuf, 12, verse 45 – ‘waddakara ba’da ummatin’. Here ‘ummat’ refers period of time. He came back after quite some time. Prophet Yusuf did not show any irritation. This time he did not ask for recommendation. He only listened to what he said and remained silent.
Allah’s plan was to bring Prophet Yusuf out of prison with dignity. When man lends himself to Allah, Allah lends Himself to man. Allah decorates whole sky when a single person repents. We waste our time in useless things. This will stop Allah’s Mercy.
Unbelievers were struggling to throw Ibrahim (alai) in fire. Angels were holding him tightly. Liquor and dance was arranged. Angels left that place. Angels will not stay where evil deeds are done.
There is a Hadees in Ibn Maajaa. Seventy thousand angels will come and pray for you if you recite this. Say ‘Auzubillahi sami’al aleem minas shaitan irrajeem’ thrice. Then say ‘Bismillahi rrahmani rraheem’. Then recite verses 22, 23 and 24 in Surah Hashr, 59.
Troubles will come your way. You should come within Allah’s security. Troubles will be warded off. There will be instances when it will appear that death was only an inch away from you. Angels will protect you. I once slipped from a bus. There was no major injury or I was not run over by another vehicle.
There will be trials when your position rises. People ascending the throne will indiscriminately send others to prison. Prophet Yusuf understood the tortures in prison. He understood the life of prisoners before he ascended the throne.
Emperor Akbar had only one son Saleem. He sent Saleem to fight a battle in the border. He was criticized for sending his only son to hardship. He replied that he cannot handle throne if he does not learn battle situation.
Every prophet herded sheep. There was no exception. Sheep will run in different directions. The society that prophets face will be worse than this. Herding is not ignominy. It is a skill development course, a good ground to learn.
I saw an industrialist who will do even humble jobs himself. If we do our jobs ourselves, workers won’t trouble us. They won’t threaten us. They know that factory will run without their help.
Prophet Yusuf saw the life of deprived section in the prison. Nowadays problems of poor people are discussed in five star hotels. Prison life was not an ignominy for Prophet Yusuf. He learnt difficulties. Every prophet mingled with their people and gained experience.
Rain will make fruits tastier. Production will improve and people will prosper. Allah has made rain as ‘Rahmat’. Barakat will stop in an atmosphere of obscenity and indecency. This applies equally to family, nation and world.
Verse 49 – ‘Yugaashunnaasu wa fihi ya’siroon’. It will rain and people will squeeze fruits. It is miracle of the Quran. It says more in less words.

May 10, 2013

Allah's Rule Won't Change

Weekly Bayaan at Tableeghi Markaz, Tolichowki, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, May 2013

Allah has no need from any created thing. Every activity depends on Him. He created the world from nothing.
Surah Muhammad, 47, verse 38 – ‘wallahul ganiyyu wa antumul fuqaraau’. ‘God is free of all wants, it is you that are needy’.
Every creation helps in fulfilling the needs of man. They serve him when he surrenders to God. Man should honor God’s Will. Otherwise creations will threaten him. Their fear will enter his hearts. Everything will be beneficial if you have fear of God. Otherwise they will trouble you.
Abdullah ibn Umar (rali) made a lion to escort him in a jungle. He had God’s fear in his heart. Lion did not scare him. Once he drove a lion away from a congregation of people. Sahabas had Allah’s fear, respect and majesty in their hearts. Everything served them. This is Allah’s Sunnat, practice. It will never change.
Surah Fath, 48, verse 23 – ‘walan tajida lisunnatillahi tabdeelaa’. You will not find any change in the practice of God.
Mountain, river and land obeyed the command of Umar (rali). River Nile once became dry. It started flowing again after Umar (rali) gave a command. Once earth trembled. He flogged it. Tremor stopped and loss was averted. Now our own children and siblings don’t heed our advice.
The Quran teaches us the way. Allah talks to us when we read the Quran.
Surah Yusuf, 12, verse 108 – ‘haazihi sabeeli adwoo ilallahi alaa baseeratin anaa wa manittaba’ani’. This is my way. I call unto God. We are on wisdom.
There are two words in Arabic to denote ‘way’ – Tareeq and Sabeel. The word ‘Sabeel’ is used in this verse.
The root word is ‘Sabal’. It refers to the rainwater from sky before it reaches land. It will be pure and fast. It gives life to earth. It will come straight without any diversion like a highway. It is the purest water after Zamzam water. Missionary workers should resemble rainwater. They should be fast in their mission, clean and pure from sins. Rain gives life to dead earth and brings forth vegetation. People will benefit. People’s conscience is dead. It will get life if Daawat (missionary) comes as rain.
The preaching by Ibrahim (alai) had remained in Mecca in some form. But people were dead to its message. Prophet did Daawat among them. Gems like Abubakr, Umar, Usman and Ali (rali) emerged from the same people. They became exemplary missionaries.
Blessings like Irfaan (enlightenment), Sabr (patience) will come from Daawat. Rain will bring rainbow and air will become cool. Daawat will bring guidance and color in the society.
When a brother asks his sister to bring some water, she will chide him. I am not your servant. But when the same girl grows and gives birth to a child, now she wakes all night long and takes care of her child. Love was incumbent in her heart. But it emanates only after pain. Missionary work appears painful for us. We are happy to discuss worldly affairs for hours together.
Prophet inspired missionary passion among his companions. They became ready for all sacrifices. They did not ask questions. Religion and striving are intertwined. We have forgotten toiling for the religion and on top of it we have become negligent of this loss of memory as well. A bird raised in a cage cannot fly long distance. We are hesitant to spend three days for religious cause. Another three days appear strenuous for us.
Sahabas will go out. Days will accumulate. They will return only when Prophet calls them back. Maulana Ilyas (rah) was deeply concerned. He did Daawat. Strength came from concern. He toiled day and night. Our intention is to bring back Islamic feeling among Muslims.

May 08, 2013

Let Us Reduce Meat Intake

Muslim Murasu, May 2013

Briyani has become synonymous with the words ‘Muslim’ or ‘Sahib’. The highlight of Muslim wedding is lavish Briyani. This is the resolute idea of Tamil society. Many days have passed in the house of Prophet without cooking. Hearth has remained unused for days on end. Austere life with humble food has been the practice of good servants of God. Islamic history bears witness for this.
Muslim Women wearing Burqa and briskly walking in parks at morning 5’o clock has become a normal scene. Obese population is on the rise.
Briyani works against the missionary culture. At once labeled as backward community and taking pride in Briyani fetish will not help in social upliftment. Need of the hour is to earn titles for honesty, hard work and intelligence. Vegetable food is antagonistic to hospitality. Briyani fanatics float such detestable arguments.
Minimum two lakh is spent for Briyani feasts on wedding occasions. There is no need to revisit Halaal, Haraam concept. The Quran allows meat intake. Thrusting it is not needed. Doctors proscribe fish, dry fish and egg for many diseases. Further they discourage mutton, beef and chicken for healthy heart condition. Believer should live a long life. Strength in body is important parameter for health. Briyani alone can’t guarantee a pleasant life. Meat expenditure per week for a population of fifty lakh is five crore rupees. Annually it crosses five hundred crore rupees. Ten weddings in each of the six thousand Mohallas amount to 1200 crore rupees for Briyani. Six special days in a year costs another thousand crore rupees for Briyani.
Briyani was introduced unilaterally during Nawab rule. It is unnecessary to take pride even today in Briyani. It is better for Tamilnadu Muslims to reduce Briyani celebrations. It will improve spirituality and social life.

New Action Item For Muslims

Muslim Murasu, May 2013

People still consider submitting pleas to government as a democratic responsibility. Solutions are not so simple in an atmosphere of privatization.
First and foremost, funds reported for expense and income in the financial budget should be considered. Deficits and lapses, if any, should be identified. There should be efforts to scrutinize the financial report submitted by the government. Ten people per district shall show interest in this job. Mere allocation of funds will not solve the problems. It is a puzzle how funds can reach the beneficiary after bureaucrats, staff and middlemen politicians.
National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) allowed for 4.5 percent sub-quota on 01.01.2012. Vacancies in central government will be filled on this basis. There was no activity from Muslim community to monitor the list.
Ministry for Minority proudly claims that one crore educational scholarships have been given to minorities in four years. Of these, fifty lakh beneficiaries are women. 29 lakh scholarships have been given for completion of school education in last year alone. Girls form half of it. 128 crore rupees has reached 33,337 beneficiaries. 30000 from good students have been given money. The activities of the ministry was discussed in Upper House for two days. Additional two days detailed discussion was also allowed. Acceptance from Finance Commission was also tabled in Rajya Sabha. This was published in internet too.
State and Central governments have been transparent in their approach for the scheme. Internet has been helpful in casting light on the use of the fund.
Has the earmarked fund reached the intended beneficiary? Muslim organizations, political parties and movement should avoid raising slogans and instead monitor the developments. Otherwise governments will change, but funds won’t reach right candidates.