Book: At-Taqarrub Ila Allah - Drawing Close to Allah

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Introduction:

All Praise is due to Allah the Lord of the Worlds who said in His Kitaab Al-Kareem:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Indeed, those who have said "Our Lord is Allah" and then remained on a right course, there will be no fear upon them, nor will they grieve (Al-Ahqaaf 13).

And He (swt) said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ

Verily those who believe and act righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures (Al-Bayyinah 7).

May blessings and peace be upon his Messenger Al-Ameen and the leader of the Muttaqeen. He purified the Muslims; he taught them the Kitaab and Al-Hikmah (wisdom) whilst before that they had been upon clear and manifest error. One day Sufyaan Bin ‘Abdillah Ath-Thaqafi approached him and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Inform me of a matter that I can hold on to firmly’. He (saw) said:

قُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَقِمْ

Say: I have believed in Allah, then stand firm (upon that) (Muslim).

Indeed the thoughts of Islaam are concepts and they are not merely information to improve one’s knowledge but rather they represent that which regulates human behaviour in the life of this world. These thoughts have come as a guidance, mercy and exhortation, and as solutions for the human’s actions whilst also specifying the way in which he conducts himself and his behaviour. For this reason, it is necessary for the Muslim to fully perceive and comprehend that the Sharee’ah texts have come to be acted upon and that they have come specifically in relation to his behaviour within life. Therefore it is obligatory for the Muslim to comprehend that Islaam has come with concepts (Mafaaheem) to regulate his behaviour in the life of this world, so that he adopts every thought as a law and his conduct is regulated within the remits of this law. For this reason the practical aspect manifests in him and not the educational aspect. It must be clear, that if he was to approach the Islamic thoughts and concepts from an educational angle alone, then he would have lost and strayed from their original purpose, which is to discipline and regulate the conduct. These thoughts would then become knowledge like History and Geography and therefore they would lose the vitality that exists within them, in addition to losing the reality of being a complete and comprehensive ideology (Mabda’). In other words it would lose its description as an intellectual belief (Aqeedah) from which a detailed and complete system emanates. It would just become Islamic knowledge which the Muslim will strive to encompass and delve in to. His concern would be to increase his information and knowledge base whilst being driven by a taste for academia. He will proceed along this path without it crossing his mind that he should be taking these thoughts and concepts for the purpose of disciplining and regulating his behaviour within life.

For this reason the previous ‘Ulamaa from amongst the righteous predecessors paid attention to the characteristics and attributes reflecting the view that one should act in accordance to his knowledge and that his speech should not contradict his actions.

Allah (swt) said:

أَتَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبِرِّ وَتَنْسَوْنَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Do you order the people upon righteousness and forget yourselves whilst you are reciting the scripture? Will you then not reason? (Al-Baqarah 44).

They would pay careful attention and ardently avoid falling within the category that Allah (swt) described when He ‘Azza Wa ‘Jalla said:

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا

The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it onboard is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books] (Al-Jumu’ah 5).

It has been narrated from the Nabi (saw) that he said: <>. Those meant here are those who hear the speech but do not act upon it. Similarly the Nabi (saw) said:

أَهْلَكَ أُمَّتِي رَجُلانِ: عَالِمٌ فَاجِرٌ وَجَاهِلٌ مُتَعَبِّدٌ

Two types of men have destroyed my Ummah. The sinful corrupted scholar and the ignorant worshipper.

It was then asked: ‘Which of these two is of greater evil?’
He (saw) said:

العُلَمَاءُ إِذَا فَسَدُوا

The scholars when they are corrupted.

(Note: I could not find the reference for the exact wording of this Hadeeth apart from the last part stating ‘the ‘Ulamaa when they are corrupted’ which came in a Hadeeth in which the Messenger (saw) was asked: ‘Who are the worst of people?’. I did find a number of narrations with a similar meaning such as: ‘The destruction of my Ummah is in the sinful corrupted (Faajir) scholar and the rational ignorant person and the worst of the worst are the bad Ulamaa and the best of the best are the best Ulamaa’. The Hadeeth has been narrated by As-Sibky in the ‘Tabaqaat Ash-Shaafi’iyyah and very similar have been related by others however it appears that the Isnaad for all of these narrations have weaknesses in them).

It is narrated that Abu Ad-Dardaa’ (ra) said: The matter that I am most fearful of when I fall before Allah is that He (swt) will say to me:

قَدْ عَلِمْتَ ... فَمَاذَا عَمِلْتَ

You have learnt ... so what then, have you acted upon?

Based upon this, gaining knowledge of the Islamic thoughts and Shar’iyah rulings, without paying attention to the fact that they represent the regulation of the human’s conduct, is a knowledge that is rotten and it results in these thoughts and rules having no real affect upon the conduct of many people. This is in addition to the great sin that is earned and a severe punishment on the Day of Judgment, a Day in which no amount of wealth or number of sons and offspring can bring any benefit, with the exception of the one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.

يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ (88) إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ

A day in which wealth and children will not bring benefit. Except for the one who comes to Allah with a sound heart (Ash-Shu-araa 88-89).

Islaam took special care to shape and form the Islamic personality (Ash-Shakhsiyyah Al-Islaamiyyah) by the Islamic Aqeedah, as the personality’s ‘Aqliyah (mentality) and Nafsiyah (disposition)is shaped by it. The Islamic ‘Aqliyah is the mentality that thinks upon the basis of Islaam by making Islaam alone the general measure for all thoughts about life. The Islamic Nafsiyah (disposition) is that which makes all of its Muyool (inclinations) accord to the basis of Islaam, by making Islaam alone the general measure for all of its satisfactions (in terms of organic needs and instincts). Similarly Islaam has also commanded the increase of the Islamic culture, to develop the ‘Aqliyah so that it becomes capable of measuring every thought. It has likewise commanded the performance of the Waajibaat (obligations) and to perform the Mandoobaat and Mustahabbaat (recommended acts) a lot and regularly. It has also forbidden the Muharramaat (prohibitions), the Makroohaat (disliked acts) and the Shubuhaat (doubtful/suspicious acts) so that the Nafsiyah is strengthened and becomes capable of deterring every inclination that is in opposition to Islaam. All of this is for the purpose of elevating the Shakhsiyah (personality), so that it proceeds upon the high and elevated path, whilst attaining the pleasure of Allah Tabaarak Wa Ta’Aalaa in this life and the next.

The entire Dunyaa is hostile towards Islaam and the Muslims. The disbelievers are Awliyaa’ (friends, helpers and protectors) to one another. All of their schools of thought possess a strong and unified resolve in regards to plotting against Islaam day and night, secretly and openly. Their minds cannot rest, their eyes cannot sleep and they cannot find peace until the light of Allah has been extinguished. At the same time, they exert all of their efforts to prevent the establishment of the Islamic Khilafah State and to prevent Islaam from returning to the reality of life.

This is the true state and condition of the disbelievers and their people. So how is it possible to confront and stand in the face of this great plot and clear trial? Indeed the Nahdah (revival) that we desire and the resumption of the Islamic way of life that we hope for, requires and necessitates a bitter struggle with the weapon of enlightened thought. It is essential to stand against the Kufr (disbelief) and its agents from amongst the rulers and those smitten by the Kufr civilisation. This work requires Nafsiyahs that are unrivalled and elevated, formidable and purified. There is no way to achieve this except by strengthening the connection and relationship to Allah Ta’Aalaa the Lord of the worlds and all creation. He Subhaanahu must be relied upon alone for help and full Tawakkul must be placed upon Him alone, whilst the attainment of His pleasure must be made the highest aim of this life. It was necessary to reawaken the Nufoos (hearts) with Taqwaa of Allah and obedience to Him, with the fear of His punishment and yearning for His gardens of paradise. The one who carries the Da’wah is in the greatest need of being obedient to Allah and to stand firmly upon His Deen. If he was to do that then the Dunyaa would become insignificant in front of his eyes, the affair of the disbelievers would be diminished before him and the difficult matters would become easier. He will burden the torture and those who attempt to stand in the way of Allah’s path, he will flout and brush aside the threats of the disbelievers whilst embracing the promise of Allah and he would be able to see the victory of Allah coming in which he would have no doubt.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ (7) وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَتَعْسًا لَهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ (8) ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ (9) أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ دَمَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ أَمْثَالُهَا (10) ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَى الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَأَنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ لَا مَوْلَى لَهُمْ

O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant your feet firmly.
But those who disbelieve, for them is misery, and their actions are wasted.
That is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds worthless.
Have they not travelled through the land and seen the end of those before them? Allah destroyed [everything] over them, and for the disbelievers is something comparable.
That is because Allah is the protector of those who have believed and because the disbelievers have no protector for them.
(Muhammad 7-11).

The following are some of the Qurabaat (Acts of gaining closeness to Allah) and Taa’aat (Acts of obedience pleasing to Allah), which generate the Jaw Al-Imaani (Atmosphere of Imaan) within the Da’wah carrier and increase the realisation of his relationship and connection to Allah Ta’Aalaa. This atmosphere then strengthens the Nafsiyah of the Da’wah carrier and causes him to regulate all of his inclinations in line with the commands and prohibitions of Allah. In this way the binding between the ‘Aqliyah and the Nafsiyah is completed and the personality of the Da’wah carrier would become a distinguished personality. This personality’s ‘Aqliyah and Nafsiyah would be of one and the same type and based on a single basic principle; the Islamic Aqueedah.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدَكُمْ حتَّى يَكُونَ هَواهُ تِبْعأً لِمَا جَئْتُ بِهِ

None of you believes until his desires are in accordance to that which I have come with.
(An-Nawawi Hasan Saheeh).

Fawzi Sanqart

Rajab 1411h
January 1991.