My Three Favorites

Weekly speech at Tableeghi Markaz, Masjide Amina, Tolichowki, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, January 2013

Meditating about the religion for a short while is better than sixty years of Nafil prayers. Contemplate about propagating religion in the world. Saying ‘Subhanallah’ just once will earn us a reward as huge as Uhud mountain. What will be the rewards if we continuously say this for sixty years. Understanding religion is loftier than this.
Listen with intent. Mobiles can distract you. Listen with the intention to follow. A Sahabi did Hijrat (migration) from Mecca with the intention to marry a lady. Prophet said, ‘innamal a’maal binniyaat’. Rewards will be based on intention. You won’t receive proper benefits if you listen with doubts in your mind.
Shaitan will create confusion. He brought Adam down from heaven to earth. We can’t say where he can take you from here. It is essential to seek refuge with Allah all the time. Maulana Ilyas (rah) said that once a person develops doubt, it is impossible to convince him. Pay attention. It will improve the speech. Speaker and listener, both should be focused.
Prophet once asked Ubay bin Kaab. Which is the most bountiful (Barakat) verse in Quran. He replied that Allah and Prophet will know better. Prophet asked for the second time and the reply was same. Prophet insisted the third time. Ubay said ‘Ayat Kursi’. Prophet expressed his pleasure and prayed Allah to increase Ubay in knowledge. Ubay was a very good scholar. Once Prophet told him, “Allah told me to recite Quran to you”. He asked if Allah mentioned his name. Prophet affirmed. Ubay was such a blessed scholar. But he answers with humility. He did not speak out of line.
Hear about religion with respect and humility. Allah will enable you to follow it. No one now remembers the Surahs that Imam recited during Magrib. How will Allah stay in your hearts. Allah will improve you if you show involvement in following the religion. Imam recited ‘alhaakumu takassur’ in first Rakaat. Reciting this Surah before sleeping is as good as reciting thousand verses. Surah Asr was recited in the second Rakaat. The importance of missionary work, the patience that it needs and the victory that is promised is elucidated in this Surah.
A knee surgery can cost you fifteen lakh rupees. Realize the blessings bestowed on you. Surah Ibrahim, 14, verse 34 – ‘in tauddoo ni’matallahi laa tuhsoohaa’. You cannot count Allah’s blessings. Surah Ibrahim, verse 7 – ‘la in shakartum la azeedannakum’. You will be granted more if you are grateful.
Natural calamities ravage even the most developed countries. They couldn’t stop them. Once a forest fire spread and came close to Medina during the rule of Umar (rali). Umar called a companion and asked him to put this fire back into forest. He treated this fire like cattle and herded it back into forest. We are not even prepared to believe in such things. Sahabas saw Prophet in person. But we have been given the same Quran. We have to follow it. We don’t have another option.
Imaan of grain-size can fetch us paradise that is ten times this world. If we go after this material world, fear and respect for Islam will go away from the hearts of the people. Barakat of Wahi will stop if we don’t preach goodness and forbid evil. If you chide among yourselves, you will fall in the sight of Allah. Those who don’t desire afterlife will be disgraced in this world. Surah Bani Israel, 17, verse 19 – ‘man araadal aakhira’. Desire afterlife.
Tallest, largest, biggest buildings are being constructed in Dubai. Muslim money is being lavishly spent for food, dress and luxurious houses. Umar (rali) gave warning. “Allah will disgrace those who seek respect through dress. Make clear note of this”.
Prophet listed the things that he liked the most as
1.    Good fragrance
2.    His wives
3.    Namaz
There is a huge difference between what we wish and the wishes of Prophet. He used to pray until his legs get swollen. A Sahabi was once praying and he started seeing paradise and fruits in it. He nearly reached for them before remembering that he is in Namaz. He narrated this incident to Prophet. Prophet told that he would have got fruit from paradise had he gone for it.
Abubakkar told his wishlist. 1. Seeing Prophet. 2. Giving his daughters in marriage to Prophet 3. Spending in the cause of Prophet. Abubakkar was ready to spend everything, all his money and all his belongings. We are using words like ‘Mashwara’ and ‘Insha Allah’ and finding ways out.
Umar (rali) listed his wishes. 1. Preaching goodness 2. Forbidding evil 3. Wearing old dress.
Allah has raised us for missionary work. Surah Ala Imran, 3, verse 104 – ‘yadwoona ilal khairi wa ya’maroona bil ma’roof wayanhawna anil munkari’. Let there be a group who propagates goodness and stop evil. ‘ulaaika humul muflihoon’. They will succeed.
A horse was being sold for 800 Dirham. The servant haggled and brought the price down to 300 Dirham. It was fag end of the day and the horse was last one. Sahabi saw the horse before buying. He inquired the reason why it is being sold very cheap. The seller explained the situation. Sahabi gave him 800 Dirham. The servant was surprised. Sahabi explained. “I had promised in the hand of Prophet that I will always wish good for this Ummat till my last breath. “