Benefits of Correcting Our Salaah
Transcribed from the Islaahi Majlis conducted on 09/02/2023
CORRECTING OUR SALAAH
Hadrat Mufti Mohammed Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah, who was the Grand Mufti of Pakistan, mentioned that, for approximately sixty years he served the Deen of Allah Ta’ala and wrote Fataawa. Despite spending all those years in Deeni work, whenever the Masaa’il of Salaah arose, he would still need to refer to the Kitaabs of Fiqh before issuing a Fatwa.
Hadrat Mufti Mohammed Shafi Saheb says that generally people are content with the quality of their Salaah, whereas the reality is, that many aspects of their Salaah need to be rectified. When it comes to Masaa’il pertaining to Salaah or Tahaarat, many times a comprehensive application of the mind has to take place before a Fatwa can be issued, yet we are complacent towards matters pertaining to our Salaah. We should look at the people above us in matters of Deen, and this will be a motivation for us to strive harder.
MAULANA AASHIQ ILAAHI TRAVELS WITH HADRAT MAULANA KHALIL AHMAD SAHEB SAHARANPURI
Molana Aashiq Ilaahi Saheb was once on Safr with Hadrat Maulana Khalil Ahmed Saharanpuri Saheb, when they boarded a train. Molana Aashiq Ilaahi always carried a jug of water with him, and he placed it under a bench in the train. However, the train was filled to capacity and Maulana was concerned as to how Hadrat will manage to perform Wudhu, let alone Salaah. He fell asleep and when he awoke a little later, he saw Hadrat Maulana Khalil Ahmed Saharanpuri Saheb making Wudhu with the jug. He immediately got up and assisted Hadrat. Maulana Aashiq Ilaahi Saheb was worried about where Hadrat would perform Salaah, but Allah Ta’ala opened a space for Hadrat on that train. Despite the apparent inconvenience, Hadrat still went on to perform eight Rakaats of Tahajjud.
Maulana Aashiq Ilaahi Saheb mentioned that Hadrat served the Deen for approximately fifty years, and as a result of the mental effort involved in teaching, writing Kitaabs, etc. Hadrat’s mind had weakened. The effect of this was seen when Hadrat would travel by ship, as he would become dizzy. Maulana Aashiq Ilaahi Saheb says that, when embarking on a journey, he would lay out Hadrat’s bed so that Hadrat could sleep. On one occasion Maulana woke up and found that Hadrat was missing, so he went in search of him. He found him pulling out water from the ocean using a bucket and making Wudhu. Hadrat then proceeded to read two and half Juz of Quraan Sharif in his Tahajjud despite his dizziness. These incidents of the pious elders and their dedication to Salaah should serve as an inspiration to us.
ADHERING TO THE SUNNAH AT ALL TIMES
When Hadrat Maulana Khalil Ahmed Saheb Saharanpuri performed Hajj, then on the morning of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, while still in Mina, he was performing Tahajjud Salaah. The carriages started to convene around him in preparation for the departure to Arafah. It didn’t distract Hadrat even for a moment. Just before Subh Saadiq, the guide approached Hadrat and summoned him to leave. Hadrat responded that he had told him before that he would do everything according to Sunnah. The Sunnah of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was to leave for Arafah after sunrise. The guide protested saying that they would be left behind if they didn’t take a carriage then, and by trying to fulfil a Sunnah, they would possibly miss a Fardh (as they wouldn’t reach Arafah). Hadrat became angry at the guide and told him that he didn’t hire him for these academic discussions, and he should proceed to Arafah without him. He will walk to Arafah as it is not too far. He also stated that he didn’t undergo great difficulties and spend his money to contradict the Sunnah.
The same carriages that departed earlier, came back to Mina at approximately 9:00am to fetch Hadrat. When we are sincere, Allah Ta’ala doesn’t leave us empty-handed. From here, we learn that if we prioritize our matters of Deen, then all aspects of our lives will be fulfilled.
RECOGNIZING ALLAH TA’ALA
Ibn abi Dunya Rahimahullah has mentioned in his Kitaab that, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said that during the days of Jaahiliyah, an old woman would take her goats to the mountain to graze. Her son would also accompany her. One day he asked her, ‘O my mother! Who created you?’ She replied, ‘Allah Ta’ala.’ He then asked, ‘Who created my father?’ Again, she replied, ‘Allah Ta’ala.’ He then asked, ‘Who created me?’ His mother replied, ‘Allah Ta’ala.’ Then he went on to ask who created the earth, the heavens, the mountains etc. Each time she replied that Allah Ta’ala created all of it. Then he asked, ‘Who created these goats?’ To which she replied, ‘Allah Ta’ala.’ Through continuously hearing about the Greatness of Allah, the boy began trembling, fell from the mountain and passed away.
THE ARSH OF ALLAH TA’ALA
This is what the work of Tassawuf is centred around and that is, the love of Allah Ta’ala entering the heart. One way of achieving this is through performing a correct Salaah. In a narration of Abu Dawud Sharif, Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “The Arsh of Allah Ta’ala is like a dome.” Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam also said that everything that is contained in the seven heavens and the seven earths, in comparison to the Kursi of Allah Ta’ala, is like a huge field in which a ring has fallen into.
Our Akaabireen (pious predecessors) used to say that, in order to travel from one pole of the Arsh to the other, it will take fifty thousand years, and to travel from the seventh Heaven to the Arsh of Allah Ta’ala will take another fifty thousand years. If the Arsh of Allah Ta’ala is so great, it is impossible for us to imagine the Greatness of Allah Ta’ala.
HONOURING THOSE THAT STRIVE FOR DEEN
For those who make a concerted effort and change for the sake of their Deen, Allah Ta’ala will honour them and elevate them. When Hadrat Maulana Umar Saheb Palanpuri passed away, his Janaazah was placed on the ground. A person present there was able to see the Maalaikah being instructed by Allah Ta’ala to go to the Raudah Mubaarak and remove the carpets from there and place it in the Qabr of Hadrat Maulana Palanpuri Saheb Rahimahullah. They were then instructed to replace the carpets of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam with carpets from Jannah.
Hadrat Abdullah Bin Mubaarak, through the Duas of his parents, became the Imaam of Hadith in the East and West. It is said that in one of his gatherings, there were 1100 Mukabbirs. A Mukabbir is a person who transmits what the speaker is saying, in the absence of a mic, to the crowds so that they may hear. In those days, the audience would write down the Ahaadeeth with the use of ink pots. At one time, 40 000 ink pots were found after a gathering of Hadrat Abdullah Bin Mubarak Rahimahullah. He gave his life for Deen, and at the time of his death, he requested his students to put him on the ground. When his head touched the ground, he supplicated: “O Allah! Have mercy on the old age of Abdullah Bin Mubaarak.” In that position of Sajdah, his soul was extracted.
INCIDENT OF HAKIM TIRMIDHI R.A.
It is of utmost importance that we keep in the company of the pious people. Hakeem Tirmidhi Rahmatullahi Alaih was a great scholar of Hadith and an excellent Hakeem. Allah Ta’ala had blessed him with external beauty, as well as internal beauty. Once, a beautiful lady visited him seeking treatment. She removed her Purdah and expressed her love for Hakeem Saheb. Further, she expressed her happiness for the moment of privacy with him. She requested for him to fulfil her need, but Hakeem Saheb became filled with the Fear of Allah Ta’ala that he was beside himself crying. He cried so profusely that the woman left. Many years passed and one day, Hakeem Saheb, in an old and fragile state, was sitting on his Musallah when the thought of that day flashed in his mind. Hakeem Saheb thought that had he fulfilled her desire, he could have made Taubah and Allah Ta’ala would have forgiven him. At the thought of this, Hakeem Saheb started crying profusely. He supplicated to Allah Ta’ala that the incident took place in his youth while he had strength and vigor, yet he resisted, and now in his old age, his heart has become so filthy. In this state he fell off to sleep and had a dream in which he saw Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam asks him why he is crying? He replies that in his young days, he cried and the woman left as a result of it. Now in his old age, his heart has become so black, that he is thinking to himself that he should have fulfilled her need and made Taubah. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam consoled Hakeem Saheb and said that he shouldn’t worry. The first time the woman approached him, he was closer to the time of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Now, many years have passed and Hakeem Saheb is further away from the era of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam hence, darkness has set in his heart. So we can only imagine what our condition must be like being over 1400 years away from the era of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Nowadays, our condition is such that we take sins lightly, but do we know whether we will live to gain the Taufeeq of making Taubah? Therefore, we should stay in the company of the Ahlullah and correct out Salaah. Once our Salaah is corrected, we will establish a connection with Allah Ta’ala and, thereby, be in His Protection. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq. Ameen!