What is to proceed:
To any Muslim this letter may reach,
Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaah
May you find this letter in the state of good Imaan and health, and Ramadhaan and Eid Mubaraak to you and your loved ones.
It has been reported that the Prophet sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam said: (which is translated as) “Verily the Deen began in an estranged state, and it will return to the state in which it began. So Tooba (glad tidings) for the strangers. They are those who will reform the corruption caused in my Sunnah by people after me.” (Tirmidhi)
And thus is the case that the Muslims are strangers amongst the disbelievers. And the people of the hadith and Sunnah are strangers amongst the People of the innovation and heresies on the Deen. They are those who stand firm upon Tawheed when the people around them fall down to Shirk. They are those who hold on the Sunnah when the People waver in doubts. They are those who remember Allaah much when the People are lost in their heedlessness.
It is to them that I remind of the story of Musa alayhi salaam and Bani Isra’eel – who were the strangers amongst the disbelievers of Egypt under the tyrant Pharoah. Allaah azza wa jal has related to us the stories of the Past Messengers so that they may Strengthen the resolve of the Believers and Provide guidance and serve as reminders in out trials and tribulations.
In Surah Younus Allaah mentions to us their story as such: (translation of the meaning) “But none believed in Moses except some Children from his People because of the fear of Pharaoh and his Chiefs, lest they should persecute them; and certainly Pharaoh was haughty on earth he was certainly one who transgressed all bounds” (Younus: 83)
And similar is the case now that the youth of this Ummah are coming to the Deen in far greater numbers than that of the generations preceding them. And these youth, under the guidance and leadership of the scholars of the Sunnah, form the vanguard of the revival of this Deen and this Ummah. And it is these scholars of the truth and these youth – the Lions of Tawheed – who are feared the most by the tyrants of this era. And thus they are the ones who are most persecuted by these tyrants and Pharaohs.
And while we are going through our trials and tribulations, we should consider what Musa alayhi salaam and his people said during their own trials and persecutions. Allaah relates to us their words as such: (trans. Of the meaning : “Musa said: O my People! If you do believe in Allaah, then in Him put your trust if you are Muslims.” (Younus 84)
And in another place, Allaah relates it as: (trans. Of the meaning) “Musa said to his People: Seek help with Allaah and Patiently persevere: for the earth is Allaah’s, to give as a heritage to such of His Servants as He pleases; and the End is for The Righteous.” (Al A’raaf:128)
And the Believers amongst the Children of Isra’eel replied (as is revealed in the Quran): “They said: In Allaah do we put our trust. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the Unjust oppressors; and deliver us by Your Mercy from the disbelieving people.” (Younus: 85-86)
Instead of granting them what they were seeking, Allaah’s reply to their Du’a was a new set of Commandments, which the Qur’an relates to us as: (trans.) “We inspired Musa and his brother that you provide dwellings as Qiblah and establish the prayer. And give glad-tidings to the Believers.” (Younus: 87)
Thus Bani Isra’eel were to live amongst the disbelieving oppressive people for a while more, as long as Allaah willed. Yet during their state, they were to take their dwellings as a Qiblah.
It is reported by Al-Faryaabee, Ibn Jareer, Ibn al Nubdhir, Ibn Abi Haatim, Abu as Sheikh and Ibn Marduwih on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas radhiyallaahu anhu that he said regarding the verse: They were commanded that they take their houses as Masaajid.
While in another narration by Ibn Abi Haatim from Ibn ‘Abbaas radhiyallaahu anhu: he said, Some of them facing some others.
[Tafseer Fath ul Qadeer by Imam Al-Shawkaanee]
Applying the lessons from this verse, it may be said that Muslims who are living in lands of disbelievers should live in proximity to each other. So to form a close-knit and cohesive community. And to provide a safe haven for them and their children to live in an Islamic environment even in the midst of the sea of disbelief around them.
Since the individual homes are the basic unit of the community, for the community to become a bastion of Islam in this onslaught of Kufr, the individual homes will need to become houses of worship of Allaah alone and be purified of all evil as we would purify the true Qiblah – the Ka’abah.
Allaah took a covenant from our forefathers for the purification of the Qiblah.
“Remember we made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take you the station of Ibraaheem as a place of Prayer, and We covenanted with Ibraaheem and Isma’eel, they they should Purify My House for those who compass it round , or use it as a retreat, or bow or fall down in Sujud (in Prayer).” (Al-Baqarah 125)
Imam Ibn Katheer narrates in his tafseer from Mujaahid, ‘Ataa’ and Qataadah: That Purification of the house means through “Laa ilaaha illallah” from Shirk (taking partners with Allaah). While he narrates from Ibn Jareer that purification from the idols and the worship of the statues and from (all) Shirk.
And Imaan Ibn Katheer mentions another meaning of the Purification of the House to mean Purification form idols, obscenity, evil and false speech and impurity.
Thus we should purify our houses from all forms of shirk, obscenity, evil speech and impurity of every kind. Let us remove all statues or idols or pictures from our houses as they prevent the entry of angels of mercy from entering. As it has been reported by both Bukhari and Muslim that Abu Talhah reported that the Prophet sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam said: The angels do not enter a house in which there are dogs and pictures.
Let us remove all sources of obscentity and immorality from our homes. Let us hld off our tongues from evil and false speech and instead keep it busy in the remembrance of our lord. And let us build and maintain our homes with pure wealth, free from any usury income from sales of alcohol, gambling and other vices, because impurity of sustenance is one of the major factors in the dua’s not being responded to.
Imaam Ahmed and Imaam Muslim narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah radhiyallaahu anhu that he said, the Prophet of Allaah sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam said: (translation) “O you people, indeed Allaah is Tayyib (Pure), He does not accept except Tayyib (Pure). And indeed Allaah has commanded the Believers with what He commanded the Messengers. Thus He said {O you Messengers, eat from the Tayyibaat (Pure things) and act righteously. Certainly I am aware of what you do} (Al Mominoon: 51) And He said: {O you Believers, consume from the Tayyibaat of what We have Provided you with} (Al Baqarah: 176). Then he mentioned a man of a long journey, dishevelled hair and dust laden – while his food is haraam, his drink is haraam, his dress is haraam and he feeds with haraam – raising his hands to the sky (saying): O Lord, O Lord, So how can one like that be responded to?”
And thus when we purify our dwellings and wealth from all major impurities, then our prayers – both the ritual salat and invocations are more likely to be accepted and responded to. This is what we see in the set of Verses from Surah Younus that deal with the story of Bani Isra’eel. After Allaah commanded Prophets Musa & Haaroon alahyi salaam to convey the commands of taking the dwelling places as a Qiblah and of establishment of the salah, Allaah commanded them to convey glad-tidings to the Believers.
And the first good news that is mentioned in the surah is the acceptance of the Du’a as Allaah revealed: (trans)
“He said Answered is the Du’a of you both. So stand both of you straight and follow not the path of those who know not” (Younus: 89)
Then came the miraculous delivery of the Believers from their persecutors and the destruction of their enemies. And finally the granting of a land of their own. As Allaah said, (translation of the meaning)
“We settled the Children of Isra’eel in a Truthful dwelling Place and Provided for them sustenance of the Pure and best…” (Younus: 93)
So if we too act upon the Commandments of Allaah as He orded Bani Isa’eel with when they were being persecuted in the land of disbelief by the tyrant Pharaoh, we can hope in the similar response from Allaah as Bani Isra’eel received, since the Sunnah of Allaah is unchanging.
If we want deliverance from tribulations, destruction of our enemies, establishment of a Land upon which the Law of Allaah is Supreme and pure sustenance in amplitude, we should purify ourselves, our dwellings, wealth, and all belongings from disobediences to Allaah and bow down with those who bow down to Allaah in congregational salah.
And I end this message with the following verses from the Book of Allaah, the Mighty, the Sublime,
“Say: Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance. The Messenger’s duty is only to preach clear illuminating message. Allaah has Promised to those among you who Believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of Power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their Deen – the one that He will change (their state), after their fear to one of security and peace. ‘They will worship Me and not associate aught with Me.’ If any do reject faith after that, they are rebellious and wicked. So establish prayer, and give regular charity and obey the Messenger that you may receive Mercy.” (An Nur: 54-56)
May this Ramadhaan be a purification for us. I do not desire except Islaah as much as is in my power. And my success is not except from Allaah, upon Him do I place my trust and towards Him do I turn in penitence. May Peace and Blessings be on Allaah’s Messenger.
Your brother in Islaam,
Syed Harith Ahmed
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ 
Leave a Reply