Living With Water And Dates

Weekly speech at Tableeghi Markaz, Tolichowki, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, July 2013

Firm faith is essential to practice religion in our day to day activities. People who lack in faith cannot do good deeds. Allah illustrates its importance throughout the entire Quran.
Surah Ala Imra, 3, verse 154 – ‘qul innal amra kullahu lillahi’. God disposes all affairs.
Surah Maaida, 5, verse 19 – ‘yakhluqu maa yashaau’. Allah creates what He desires.
Surah Baqara, 2, verse 212 – ‘yarzuqu manyashaau bigairi hisaab’. Allah bestows without measure on whom He pleases.
Surah Haj, 22, verse 14 – ‘innallaha yaf’alu maa yureed’. Allah does what He wishes.
Surah Nahl, 16, verse 93 – ‘yudillu manyashaau wayahdi manyashaau’. He leaves straying whom He pleases and He guides whom He pleases.
We have to work and build the faith that will propel good actions.
Surah Baqara, 2, verse 259 – ‘qaala a’lamu annallaha alaa kulli shaiyin qadeer’. I have learnt that Allah has power over all things.
Prophet Uzair was once passing through a hamlet that was in utter ruins. A question crossed his mind as to how God will bring it to life after this condition. Allah made him die. He thought that he was asleep only for a day or a part of a day. He was asked to see his food that was kept intact, but his donkey had completely decomposed. Its bones were again brought together and the donkey was brought alive. Now he understood the power of God.
Prophet Ibrahim questioned about dead people. Surah Baqara, 2, verse 260 – ‘rabbi arinee kaifa tuhyil mawtaa’. My Lord! Show me how you give life to the dead. ‘qaala awalam toomin’. Don’t you believe it. He replied, ‘qaala balaa walaakin liyatmainna qalbee’. I do believe, but I need satisfaction.
He was asked to domesticate four birds, kill them, mix their meet and put them on four hills. Now call by their names and they will fly and come to you alive.
Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail both desired to fulfill the sacrifice. But the knife did not cut. Even our desires are under the sway of Allah’s desires.
Surah Dahr, 76, verse 30 – ‘wamaa tashaaoona illa anyashaa allahu’. You will not wish except as God wishes. Prophet worked hard to build faith among his companions. They understood the ideology.
Prophet prayed for complete faith. ‘inni as’aluka imaanan qaamilaa’. Only unwavering faith can breath religion into our life. It is duty on each of us to pray for firm belief.
Salaat, fasting and Haj are not sufficient. Entire life should be spent in the remembrance of Allah.
Traveling in those days in desert terrain was extremely difficult. Abu Rahana (rali) came home at night from his journey. He wanted to pray two Raqaat. Fajr dawned by the time he ended his prayer.
Sahabas asked directly from the treasure of Allah. Their prayers helped. It was easy for them to sacrifice and suffer. Numerous wounds were found on the body of a Sahaba while dressing his corpse.
Allah’s promises are for those who have perfected their faith. Surah Baqara, 2, verse 208 – ‘udkhuloo fissilmi qaaffa’. Enter into Islam whole-heartedly.
Prophet said, ‘Thirty, thirty days have passed without anything to eat in my house or Bilal’s house’. Ayisha (rali) said, “We saw first crescent, second crescent , third crescent. There was no cooking in any of the houses of Prophet. We lived with water and dates”.
Surah Kahf, 18, verse 6 – ‘fala’allaka baakhiun nafsaka’. Prophet worked extremely hard. It looked he may destruct himself.