Elaboration concerning the Divine Orders

Maulana Shaykh Nazim’s Suhbah

Elaboration concerning the Divine Orders

11th April 2011

A’uzubillah himinash shaitan nirrajeem

Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem

Assalamu’alaikum wrh wbkt

(After the information contained in the last Suhbah was disseminated, there was some confusion as to whether all sorts of night activities had to be stopped, especially those who worked at night eg as nurses in hospitals, emergency staff, airport personnel, military personnel etc many of which are running 24/7. This is what Maulana had to say.)

• It is the Muslims who are working in Western countries, who are caught in this bind, as their employers are not following the Holy Shariah, hence they may have to work at night and they may be working in an environment of free-mixing of men and ladies at their workplaces. Many Muslims are in this predicament, says Maulana, because they migrated from Muslim countries to work in Western countries. Why did they do so? Maulana said that they had wrongly believed that by earning more money from employment in Western countries, they would have happier lives and taste more pleasure. “It is never going to be so, never!” said Maulana vehemently. He said that so many rich ones today, have yet to taste the contentment and satisfaction they have been seeking all their lives.

• Still, there are those who are willing to compromise their religious beliefs by working in Western countries. For these people, they have no choice but to work in places where Shariah is not obeyed. These working adults, who are obliged to work at night, due to the nature of their appointment, may continue to do so.

• Maulana used this example to illustrate a beautiful argument – that the religion of Islam is as powerful as the first day it was brought to us, but it is the Muslims who are weak; they are weak in understanding the religion, and weak in practising the Shariah. If Muslims had faith that Allah would provide their provisions even back in their homelands, they would return happily, but their beliefs are now so weak, that they believe they will get better provisions, if they abandon the Shariah, and work in Western lands.

• This instruction to stay home at night, is primarily targeted at young people. In a hadees, the Prophet (saw) advised parents to keep their children at home at maghrib, as it is at that time that the devils are given freedom to roam as they like, and they then spread evil amongst the children of Adam (as), particularly amongst the vulnerable youngsters.

• On the matter of ladies working outside their homes (eg as nurses), Maulana said that he was unable to change what he had already said on that matter, except that since they had no choice but to do so, Maulana prayed for their forgiveness.

• Maulana said, as much as possible, be at home by maghrib. As for attending Khatam/Zikir at night it is allowed, but any night outing for entertainment or enjoyment, is strictly forbidden.

• These orders are to prevent the spread of a shaitanic lifestyle, that exposes one to the tricks and traps of shaitan. These shaitanic rules of life leads one into traps, until one discards one’s beliefs, and becomes an unhappy one in dunia, and a hell-bound one in akherat. Maulana said that 21st Century Man has followed the ways of Shaitan completely. In order to combat this terrible disease, Maulana said that he would have preferred for all believers to return to their homelands, even if it meant eating dried bread back home, just to save the multitudes of humans, who have fallen headlong into shaitan’s crafty poisoned trap. (Read this earlier Suhbah, where Maulana urged Muslims to return to their homelands).

This advice is dispensed with love, yet some fail to understand, and feel that Maulana is restricting their freedom.

Commentary

What is meant by Maulana’s statement that ‘Islam is strong, but the Muslims are weak’?

• The nobility and high principles of Islam is as perfect as the Day it was perfected, just as Allah said,

ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ

Today I have perfected for you, your religion (Quran 5:3)

• Concerning our provisions, Hajjah Amina Hatun (q) wrote in Volume 1 of the Lore of Light:

“Allah Almighty created the Souls of Mankind, 40 000 years before He created the children of Adam (as). And he created our Provisions (sustenance/rizqi/bounties) 40 000 years before He even created the Souls. As it is written in the Holy Quran:

وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزۡقُكُمۡ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

“And in heaven is your provision, and that you are promised.” (Quran 51:22)”

• Hence, if Man has unwavering faith that sustenance is from Allah, and that it has been set 80 000 years before Sayyidina Adam (as) was created, they would be willing to return to their Islamic homelands without fear of loss of livelihood, and in doing so, they would be able to work in a blessed Shariah-compliant environment (eg segregation of sexes, working only in the day etc), hence reaping the benefits of obeying Allah and His Rasul (saw). But the weak faith in us, makes us doubt this, and we are willing to compromise on our Islamic principles because we have doubt that He can provide for us.

• Islam is not at fault, it is our weak faith and lack of certainty, that leads to us becoming easily manipulated into abandoning our beliefs. Maulana says that those who are firm about wanting to practice Islam and live by its rules, would not find it necessary to move to Western countries; they have an unshakeable belief that Allah, Ar-Razzaq, is their provider.

• But those who do decide to migrate – they are responsible for their actions and decisions. They will be unable to follow Islamic rules (at their own loss), and they will have to abide by Western rules of employment (at their own risk). The final statement of the entire Suhbah, where Maulana said ‘it is better to return home, even if you had just dried bread to eat’, warrants deep thought and special attention. He must be seeing such a grave danger ahead that he is giving such drastic advice! This danger, is the shaitanic lifestyle we have begun to adopt as our own…..

How does a shaitanic lifestyle lead to greater susceptible to falling into shaitan’s trick and traps?

• It always starts off with a good intention. “We should have staff working around the clock to man the hospital. It is good for the Community.” True, that sounds noble enough. But when men and women, working in close proximity for long hours, often through the night, have such frequent and intimate contact with each other, less noble intentions take root, which give rise to secret liaisons, illicit affairs, one night stands, wrecked marriages, latchkey children and broken families – eventually.

• There is Divine Wisdom in every Shariah ruling that Allah has decreed, so even if shaitan gives us ‘noble reasons’ to bend these rules, the result in the end, is always detrimental, which is why the rule was decreed, in the first place!

The significance in the release of devils at sundown

• The release of the devils at sunset is very a symbolic and significant study for Man. It is in the darkness of night that the most secret, sinful acts are done. Sunset is the beginning of nightfall, and it is with the spread of darkness, that the devils have freedom to move, unlike in the day, when the presence of light prevents their presence.

• Similarly, in a heart that is filled with light, shaitan cannot enter or spread within. But if we sin, then a dark spot appears on the heart (Hadees), and it is within this spot of darkness that shaitan is free to move, and to vomit his evil whisperings into our heart. The more our heart is filled with dark spots, the greater the space and freedom given to shaitan to move and do his worst.

• Just as an Angel will not enter a house containing a dog (Hadees), a dark heart, filled with devils, will never be approached by Angels or Divine inspirations; instead, as the devils dive and dance into the spreading darkness of the heart, they whisper a constant barrage of dirty thoughts and perverse suggestions, that may ultimately become realised once you are influenced. A heaviness to perform prayer, and distractions during prayer, stem from the presence of these devils who hound us.

• Similarly, eating haram food (either bought with unethical earnings, or food that is not slaughtered according to Shariah), is to spread darkness within our flesh and meat, it means a greater pasture for shaitan to place his cursed footsteps to bring disease, disturbances and imbalances, into our physical bodies.

• So that is why Islam is cleanliness (Hadees). A clean heart and body means that shaitan has no turf to be on, so keep the heart clean with recitation (of Quran), remembrance (of Allah), repentance and realization, and keep the body clean with halal food, honey and ablution. Maulana gave a beautiful Suhbah on this matter in the past.

Why did Allah create the night?

• Holy Shariah does not allow the night to be spent in seeking sustenance; it is a time when dunia disappears from view (into the darkness) and when akherat comes into view, since sleep is the cousin of death. So night time, is a time of rest and recuperation, and a time to draw close to Allah, just as secret lovers meet in the dark of night.

• There are blessed periods like the last third of the night, where Allah’s Mercy descends to the lowest Heavens, and when Allah sends down a select group of Angels to write down the names of those who are up at that time, seeking Allah’s pleasure. So special is this group of Angels, that they do not come down ever again, each group is created for only one night’s vigil, and they bring the names of those who are seeking Allah’s pleasure in tahajjud, up to the Divine Presence (read this lovely past Suhbah here).

• That is why we have our special najat prayers done at that time, where it is said that the prostration after that prayer is actually done under the Divine Throne where no do’as are rejected. So it is a pity to spend the night seeking our worldly sustenance, when Allah created the Daytime, precisely for that.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيۡلَ لِتَسۡڪُنُواْ فِيهِ وَٱلنَّهَارَ مُبۡصِرًا‌ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَسۡمَعُونَ

He it is that hath made you the night that ye may rest therein, and the Day to make things visible (to you). Verily in this are Signs for those who listen (to His Message). (Quran 10:67)

وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّہَارَ ءَايَتَيۡنِ‌ۖ فَمَحَوۡنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَجَعَلۡنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلنَّہَارِ مُبۡصِرَةً۬ لِّتَبۡتَغُواْ فَضۡلاً۬ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَلِتَعۡلَمُواْ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلۡحِسَابَ‌ۚ وَڪُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬ فَصَّلۡنَـٰهُ تَفۡصِيلاً۬

We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years: all things have We explained in detail. (Quran 17:12)

• In Volume 1 of Hajjah Amina Hatun’s (q) fascinating Book, Lore of Light, she wrote:

“Allah Almighty created the Sun from the Light of the Throne, and from the Veil around the Throne, He created the Moon. In the beginning, the light of the Sun and Moon were equal, there was no distinction between Day and Night. However, the Lord wished that His servants might find rest and repose during their sleep in the Night, so He bade the Angel Gabriel (as) to brush the face of the Moon with his wing, and when he did so, he added the Moon’s light, to the light of the Sun. When we look at the full Moon now, we can clearly see the valleys, marshes and craters of the Moon – those are the traces of the Angel’s wing.”

• So night is for rest, and daytime is to seek Allah’s bounty (sustenance/rizqi). If the Prophet (saw) never even liked to speak (unnecessarily) after isha’ prayer, what do you think he would say about his Ummah going to work after isha’?

Going to masjid (mosque) is allowed after Maghrib

• Maulana said, that we could go to the masjid. The word masjid in Arabic, means place of sujud (prostration). Hence any gathering that guides Man be in submission (prostration) to Allah, is pleasing to Allah, and therefore one is allowed and encouraged to go to religious gatherings, even if they are held after Maghrib.

Summary

• Ideally, Muslims should return to work in a Shariah-compliant environment, that allows segregation of sexes and working only in the daytime. Consider returning to homelands.
• If that is not possible, then they may continue to work in the Western-styled companies they are in, even if it means working after maghrib or through the night. They must make every endeavour to be home after maghrib on nights where there is no work, and they must return home promptly without lingering around if they work late into the night.
• Those allowed to continue working at night, refer to working adults with responsibilities, it is not applicable to teenagers seeking casual employment for extra cash, usually used to sustain a secret smoking/drinking/drug habit.
• All forms of night entertainment and enjoyment is strictly forbidden, including eating out or going to the cinema. This applies across the board.
• Should women be forced to work at night, they must mix with the opposite sex with the appropriate adab and modesty. A constant recitation of istighfar (do’a of repentance) is highly recommended.
• Leaving the house after maghrib for worship is permissable. eg attending Khatam Khwajagan, Zikir, Suhbah, Maulud, congregational prayers, religious lessons etc.
• These orders are issued to curb the rapid spread of a shaitanic lifestyle, that in turn exposes one to the tricks and traps of shaitan. The orders are designed to save humans from misery in this world, and from becoming fuel for the Fire, in the hereafter.

This 10 minute Suhbah in English can be viewed at www.Saltanat.org, Click here to watch the Suhbah. There is a Subtitle button next to the Volume control at the bottom of the screen to choose from eleven languages – Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia/Melayu, German, English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Mandarin, Dutch, Italian and Turkish. Click the Audio button for a live translation into the different languages. Should the video no longer be there, please look for it under the video archives of the Saltanat TV site.

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