Cont'd from previous issue

How did Hazrat Abdullah Bin Mubarak (RA) receive comfort and contentment?
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubrarak (RA), is a renowned Muhaddis, Faqih as well as a sufi who has given the following account of his life: "I spent the early part of my life with the wealthy people (he was himself wealthy). I passed my days from morning till evening with the rich, but as long as 1 lived with the wealthy, I did not find a more gloomy person than myself. Wherever I happened to go I saw that these wealthy men possessed better houses, better means of conveyance and better garments than my own. This produced in my heart jealousy against these favoured men. Later on, I adopted the company of men in poorer classes. As a result, I found comfort and peace of mind, because I saw that I was more well-off than these men. My food, my garment my house. my conveyance, in fact everything I possessed was better than theirs. Praise be to Allah that this change of company brought me peace, comfort and contentment."

Contentment would never have been attained, but for this (advice)
This is a blessing of acting upon the advice of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Anyone may experience this formula for himself. It is impossible to attain contentment in this world as long as a man has an eye on those who are placed in a better position than he. He will always be obsessed by the thought of an inferiority complex and jealousy as mentioned by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam):
لو كان لابن آدم واديا من ذهب أحب أن يكون له واديان (صحيح البخاري كتاب الرقاق)
If man gets a valley of gold, he will like to have two valleys. If he gets this, he will desire to have three and so on. In this greed he will spend his entire life without attaining contentment. (Sahih Bukhari. Hadith No: 6439)

Peace and Prosperity cannot be purchased with money
What a nice point my respected father Hazrat Mufti Muhammad used to mention which needs to be carefully remembered. "Peace and Prosperity", said he, "are one thing and the means of peace and prosperity another. The means of peace and prosperity cannot necessarily procure real peace and prosperity which are a gift of Allah. Can large amounts of hoarded money be eaten to satisfy hunger, be put on like a garment to remove
nakedness, or can be worn to protect the body from heat; or can you purchase peace and prosperity, even by collecting around you all the means needed. Note carefully that the presence of all these means cannot guarantee the attainment of peace and prosperity. A rich man possesses all these means; He has an air-conditioned room, furnished with ultra-modern furniture and appliances; there are many servants to attend on him but he cannot sleep without taking sleeping pills. Did the means of comfort bring comfort? As against this, there is a man who lives under a roof of iron sheets and lies down on the floor with one of his arms under his head. Yet he falls into deep sleep and gets up in the morning having enjoyed about an eight hours' peaceful sleep. Now decide for yourself. Did this poor labourer get peace and prosperity or the millionaire in possession of untold means of peace and comfort? Note carefully that if you become obsessed with the idea of acquiring the worldly means of comfort and of surpassing others in this race, you may be able to collect all these means, yet with all these you cannot necessarily attain peace, comfort and contentment.

What is the use of that wealth on account of which the children cannot see their father's face?
In my father's time there was a very big mill-owner who owned mills not only in Pakistan but also in various foreign countries. One day my father asked him incidentally: How many children have you? He replied: One son is in Singapore, another son is in another country, in short, all are carrying on business in foreign countries. My father said: You might be meeting your children from time to time on their visits? He told my father that he could not see one of his sons for fifteen years. Look here! Father and son have not seen each other's face for fifteen years! What is the good of such wealth which stands in the way of father and son to see each other for such long periods? All this hustle and bustle is for acquiring means of peace and comfort but peace and comfort are hissing. Remember, peace and comfort cannot be purchased with money.

Everything cannot be purchased with money
It is not very long that a man was proceeding for Umrah in Ramadhan, and a very wealthy man was also going for Ummrah at the same time. The first man advised the second wealthy man to make advance arrangements for boarding and lodging and other necessaries, so that 'you may not have to face difficulties.' The latter, being proud of his wealth, replied; Never mind. I have enough money by the grace of Allah. All kinds of comforts and necessaries including boarding and lodging can be purchased with money. I am in a position to spend 20 Riyals where only 10 Riyals would suffice. After ten days the same wealthy man was seen sitting at the gate of the sacred Haram with his head down cast. On being asked he said: I got up at sihr time but there was no food available in the hotel and I had to go without it. Just note that Almighty Allah taught this wealthy man that with money in his pocket he had to fast without taking the sihr-food

The way to get peace and contentment.
This money, these means and luxuries of life and these riches which you are collecting are not, in themselves, a source of ease and comfort. Comforts cannot be purchased with money which are only a divine gift, you can never attain peace, unless you believe that you are getting along with your life with whatever Allah grants you with lawful means. How many men there are who possess unlimited monetary resources but they are not able to enjoy a moment's peace. They have no rest, no sleep and no hunger. This is all due to the race for worldly gains. That is why the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has very kindly advised not to look at a man placed in a better and higher position than you. Look at one who is at a lower level than you to realise how much more Allah has given you than this man. Such thinking will bring you tranquility and contentment. As for the faith, you have been advised to look at one who is at a higher level than you. This will urge you to surpass him in righteousness. The anxiety to earn worldly benefits is pinching and painful, as it disturbs sleep and kills hunger. On the other hand, the anxiety for the faith is very comforting and soothing. A man who is fortunate enough to be inflicted with this anxiety will pass his entire life in peace, comfort and contentment. But the condition of these hankering after the gains of the world is just the opposite. In their case the wheel of existence is revolving in the other direction. May Allah reform our thinking and feelings and set our hearts right and help us to walk on the path which His Messenger has shown us. Consider the following Ahadith on this topic:

The age of trials is about to overtake us
This first Hadith has been narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah:
عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَمْ قَالَ بَادِرُوا بِالأَعْمَالِ فِتَنًا كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِنًا وَيُمْسِى كَافِرًا أَوْ يُمْسِى مُؤْمِنًا وَيُصْبِحُ كَافِرًا يَبِيعُ دِينَهُ بِعَرَضٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا (مسلم كتاب الإيمان)
(Sahih Muslim-Hadith no 186)
This means that the people should be prompt in doing good deeds. They should value the time at their disposal. This is because horrible ordeals are about to crop up - ordeals like sections of a dark night. When the dark night sets in and a part of it has passed the remaining part is also a part of the same night in which the darkness deepens until the third part is still darker. In such a situation if a man thinks that it is the Maghrib time which is not so dark and he will do his work when there is more light with the advance of the night, that man is a fool, because the darkness will increase with the advance of the night.
That is why the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has advised that the time to come is still darker. Every ordeal shall be followed by an ordeal more severe than the previous one. It is like the parts of the pitch dark night. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) further said that the ordeal would be so devastating that a believer in the morning would turn an unbeliever in the evening and vice versa. Thus, the faith will be changing in short intervals. This will happen because a man will become fascinated so much by the worldly gains that he will sell his faith for small amounts of money. For changing his faith he will be offered charming returns in kind and money. Since he was used to postpone his work and avoid serious thought about his ultimate gains he will readily succumb to the temptation of this immediate gains and accept in exchange for his faith and the ultimate loss in the Hereafter. May Allah protect us all from the vices of such times.

To think that one is still in the prime of youth is Satan's deception
If you want to do some good deeds like a Muslim, what are you waiting for? Do whatever you want to do promptly. We should all look into our conduct to see if we are acting upon the injunctions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). We are in the habit of deferring work by deceiving ourselves that life is long and there is ample time to work for the Hereafter. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), being wise and well aware of the secrets and trends of our nature and Satan's seduction, has exhorted us to do good deeds without losing time and putting off things till tomorrow, because we do not know what ordeals the future has in store for us and where it shall lead us. May Allah protect us all. Aameen

Seduce and cajole your souls to work.
My Pir (spiritual guide) Dr. Abdul Hai, used to advise us to cajole our souls to work. Relating his own story, he told us that he was regular in his Tahajjud (mid night) prayers. During his old age and weakness one night when he got up at the Tahajjud time, he felt weak and depressed. He thought that the Tahajjud prayer was neither obligatory nor compulsory, there was no harm in missing it one night. Yet as the Tahajjud time is very auspicious and blessed in which Almighty Allah has promised to accept calls of those who call Him at this time, Dr. Sahib decided to make his supplications (Dua). When he got up and was going to start his Dua he felt inclined to purify himself and perform the ablution. After doing all this he returned to his bed and started his Dua but at the same time he cajoled his soul to go to the place fixed for Dua. Thus he beguiled his soul somehow to go to the prayer carpet and then he formed the Niyat (intention) to offer two Rak'ats of Tahajjud prayer. Then Dr. Sahib explained that our self has some times to be beguiled to action. Just as your soul tries to divert you from good deeds, you should also try to incline it towards good deeds by clever tricks and cajoles. It is hoped that in this way Almighty Allah will grant you consistency in doing good deeds.

If you receive a message from the head of the state!
Dr. Sahib once said that it was his regular programme to spend two hours after the Fajr prayer in reciting the Quran , remembrance, counting over the rosary (Tasbeeh) etc. One day he felt inclined to miss this programme on account of weakness and dejection. On this occasion he asked himself this question: Suppose the Head of the state invites you to receive a prize; will you turn down his invitation because of this weakness and dejection? His 'Self replied: No, the weakness will vanish at once and you will hasten to the Head of state to receive the prize. Thereafter, addressing himself he said: This too is the time to be present before Almighty Allah and to receive a prize from Him. Thus arguing I forgot weakness and laziness and busied myself with my daily usual programmes. Satan and this human self are busy in beguiling man. You should also try to beguile them and take care to act upon your set programme of good deeds .

The genuine claimant to Paradise.
The third Hadith has been narrated by Hazrat Jabir. He says: It is the battle of Uhud between the Muslims and the unbelievers. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is the commander of the Muslims. The unbelievers are larger in number, better equipped and armed than the Muslims. The battle is very furious in all respects. At such a critical time, a Bedouin was eating dates. He asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) about his fate if killed in the battle. He replied that the fate of the martyr would be direct entry into Paradise. Hazrat Jabir relates that when the man heard the glad tidings he threw away the dates and plunged himself into the war and fought until he attained martyrdom. He did not like to waste a single minute in earning this honour by completing his meal of the dates. He got admission into Paradise, by the Grace of Allah, by seizing the opportunity when it arrived, without giving way to any hesitation or slackness.

Reaction of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) on hearing the Prayer-call (Azan)
Once a Companion put this question to Hazrat Ayeshah (RA) the mother of the believers: O mother of the believers! We see what the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) does and we hear what he says when he is outdoor among us, but kindly tell us what he does indoors among his family. (The companion might have thought that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) of Allah might be offering prayers and be busy with remembrance of Allah, etc.) In reply to this question Hazrat Ayeshah (RA) said: while in the house with us, he helps us in the household affairs and listens to our problems, and intimately mixes with us in a jolly and pleasant mood. However, when, he hears the prayer-call, he at once leaves us as if he does not know us: In the fourth Hadith Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA), has narrated:
جاء الرجل إلى النبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال يا رسول الله! أي صدقة أعظم أجرا؟ قال إن تصدق وأنت صحصح (شحيح) تخشى الفقراء ونأمل الغنى و لا تحمل حتى إذا بلغت الحلقوم قلت: لفلان كذا ولفلان كذا وقد كان لفلان (صحيح البخاري كتاب الوصايا)

The Best Charity
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) says: A man called upon the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and asked: Which item of charity is the best in reward? He said: That charity is the best which you give when you are in good health and at a time when there is love in your heart for wealth, you are afraid of poverty and are thinking about becoming rich and that wealth is not something to be squandered in this way, you are also feeling pain in spending money and that after giving money in charity you may become poor and face uncertain situations later on. The money spent in such a situation will be of great value and reward. Thereafter he said that if an urge arises for charity, it should be fulfilled at once.
There is a religious ruling (Injunction) that if a man draws up a will during his illness regarding the distribution of his wealth and dies in that illness, his Will, will be valid only to the one-third of the amount willed, the rest two-thirds will be shared by the legal heirs. It should be noted that the rights of the heirs become due for execution before death during the illness.
If a man plans that he will invest towards, the end of his life his money in some charitable work of perennial reward and recompense, he should know that such charity is charity under compulsion. Charity carrying perennial reward is that which is given during the period of good health when the giver himself needs the money, has love for it and is trying to save it for his own needs.
To be concluded