Bismillsahir Rahmanir Raheem. Niyyah, pride and man.... We often wonder that we pray, fast and do good deeds and yet why are we inflicted by trials. The problem is that we live our lives in self deceptions. We think and convince ourselves that we do everything for the sake of Allaah. Yet if someone criticizes the hijaab we get mad, or if someone says something unpleasant about us we get annoyed. Our honor gets hurt very easily. We adjust and forgive and lead lives with our kith and kins because deep down we want to be know as the one who did it while others couldnt. We take pride in our lives and actions. And, we keep telling ourselves and we brag about it to others that we live our lives for the sake of Allaah. Wallaahi, the arrogance that we feel against others, we will not die till He makes it clear to us that we are worse than those whom we felt superior to. And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy, they rejoice therein, but when some evil afflicts them because of (evil deeds and sins) that their (own) hands have sent forth, lo! They are in despair! (Ar-Rum - Surah no. 30 : Ayah no. 36) But if they turn away (O Muhammad SAW from the Islamic Monotheism, which you have brought to them). We have not sent you (O Muhammad SAW) as a Hafiz (protector) over them (i.e. to take care of their deeds and to recompense them). Your duty is to convey (the Message). And verily, when We cause man to taste of Mercy from Us, he rejoices thereat, but when some ill befalls them because of the deeds which their hands have sent forth, then verily, man (becomes) ingrate! (Ash-Shurah - Surah no. 42 : Ayah no. 48) Intention is something which is very difficult to control. It is something hidden in the heart and it is so discreet that it even hides from our believes about us. Like those who spend from their wealth to be seen by men, and they do not believe in Allah and the Last Day. Their example is like the example of a hard rock on which is a little soil, then on it falls heavy rain which flows off it and they will not be able to do anything with whatever they have earned and Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. [Al-Baqarah - Surah no. 2 : Ayah no. 264] The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: What I fear for you the most is the minor shirk, that is ar-riya. Allah will say on the Day of Judgement when He is rewarding the people for their actions: Go to those for whom you did riya for in the world then see if you find the reward with them. [Related by Ahmad (5/428, 429) and al-Baghawi in Sharh as-Sunnah (4135) from the hadith of Mahmud bin Lubayd, radiallahu anhu, with an authentic chain upon the conditions of Muslim] The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: Shall I not inform you of what I fear for you more than the Masih ad-Dajjal? It is the hidden shirk. It is when a man stands up for prayer, then beautifies his prayer for another to look at. [Related by Ibn Majah (2604) from the hadith of Abu Said al-Khudri, radiallahu anhu. The hadith is hasan] Wallaahi well be exposed, our back broken and our pride torn into pieces in front of the very people whom we felt superior to, or whom we wanted to show that we were better than. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever has pride in his heart equal to the weight of a mustard seed shall not enter Paradise.” Someone asked, “A person likes to wear beautiful clothes and fine shoes.” He replied, “Allah is beautiful and likes beauty. Pride means rejecting the truth and looking down on other people.” [Sahih Muslim] We are proud of our ibadaat, we are arrogant of our Islaam and although we may think that we are pious but we are busy thinking that we are better than others who cannot do what we do. We do not realize but we actually do things to prove our superiority over others. We may be doing the most sacrificing acts in the eyes of people, yet it is our intentions which will ruin us completely. And we will deny and fight this truth viciously when someone present it to us. So, as I see from where I stand, we will repent and go over board in our worship because we have ulterior motives and because we want something desperately fulfilled by Allaah. And how often it is that once our wish is granted we become worse than we ever were. And, we attribute all our achievement to our religiosity and our character. If we spend hours and days trying to analyze our own intentions wallaahi well never find time to see the flaws of others. We are all weak and lowly creatures, who have needs and wants beyond what is necessary. And, we are selfish because we do not see anything beyond ourselves. Even the love that we hold for our children, spouses, parents and friends is all for ourselves. We would never give them up even if we knew that they had a better life beyond us, whether in Jannaah or even in this world. We love them the way we want and we want them to love us the way we want. Then where is the question of loving them for the sake of Allaah. May Allaah rectify our hearts and turn it towards His obedience. May He fix our intentions and may He grant us our desires in ways that we use them to worship Him better. May He humble us and keep our hearts broken and humiliated in front of Him, so we are able to see our true worth at all times. Aameen. Allahumma ya Muqallib al Quloob thabbit qalbi ‘alaa Deenik, ” “O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your Religion.” Aameen
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 11:28:16 +0000
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