MUHAMMADAN COVENANT - 10

IMAM AL-SHA'RANI'S LAWAQIH AL-ANWAR AL-QUDSIYYAH FI BAYAN AL-'UHUD AL-MUHAMMADIYYAH
COMMANDMENT NO. 10	MUHAMMADAN COVENANT	pp. 32-33

HONORING MASJID BY NOT RELIEVING ONESELF NEAR IT

A general oath of allegiance was taken from us by the Messenger of Allah (ص) that we shall honor the masjid and we will not relieve ourselves near its doors other than the in places specifically allotted for that, as a mark of respect and honor for Allah (ت). This covenant has been ignored by many people whose dwellings are near to the doors of the masjid, thus inconveniencing the entrance to the masjid, if the entrance to his place of cleansing is adjacent to it, due to taking the off the shoes when they entered the masjid or it being routine for them. This action is the worst of what can be. Let any one of them ponder if he wants to enter the palace of the king, he will never be able to urinate on the door of the palace as a mark of [preserving the] prestige of the king and fearing from his servants. But Allah (ت) is more deserving than that. 

More on this will be discussed in the 13^th covenant after this, therefore refer to it.

My master ‘Ali al-Khawwas (رح) if he intends to enter the masjid he would purify himself outside it or in his house, and he will never enter in a state of impurity to perform ablution in the water tank inside the masjid fearing that he would enter in a state of impurity. And when he entered the masjid he begins to shudder out of reverence until he completes the salat then quickly exit by saying: الحمد لله الذى أطلعنا من المسجد على سلامة [praise be to Allah who informed us leave the masjid safely].

Then I said to him: “you are by the grace of Allah in the state of (ever) presence with Allah (both) inside the masjid and outside it”. Then he replied: “O, my son, the Truth (ت) has indeed sought from us to (observe) mannerism in the masjid which he did not seek from us outside it and look at his (ص) prohibition of sitting inside the masjid by interlocking the fingers (تشبيك الأصابع) and/or from (playing) with stones (تقليب الحصى), and their likes than you will understand what we have mentioned. For the shari‘ (ص) did not prohibit us from that in places other than the masjid.

He (رض) once saw a person among the fuqara’ (الفقراء) walking with a clean slipper (تاسومة)[1] in the centre of the masjid then he shouted at him and forbade him from doing it by saying “being scrupulous in respect of a morsel (of food) is more prudent for you”.

Once a man stood up for him in the masjid, but he scolded him severely by saying: “certainly the servant if he is ennobled in the presence of Allah (ت) he will melt just like the dissolving of lead out of shyness from Allah (ت) that he associates partners to him in the form of veneration and pride. He, if he came to the masjid, did not dare to enter alone, but he will wait patiently at the door till someone comes, then he enters behind him following him by saying: “the masjid is the precinct of Allah (ت) and do not start sitting before the Allah before others except those who are proximate [to Him] (المقربون) who has no mistake on them, nor their limbs were ever polluted with sin, nor did they fall into it nor did they repent from it with sincere repentance, like the awliya’ for whom the divine care (العناية الربانية) was granted earlier through the greatest spiritual power (الولاية الكبرى) in ab nihilio and they knew through sound Divine unveiling that Allah (ت) accepted their repentance and replaced their bad deeds with good deeds such that there remained with them any bad deed with which they seek His precinct. And when they seek to bring them before His precinct they will know that their repentance is unsound because they (the bad deeds) did not replace their bad deeds with good ones, for if that has been replaced then there would remain no form in the existence nor in their mind nor outside”. He said: “ I do not have anyone of these two legs, so what is there for me to enter before others”.

 And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful [9(al-Tawbah):91]

Abu Dawud narrated from Makhul through a Mursal hadith, as saying:

نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يبال بأبواب المسجد

[The Messenger of Allah (ت) prohibited (us) to urinate at the door of the masjid]

Allah knows best!

---

[1]  A kind of slipper or shoe used in Makkah (in Hijazi dialect) that resembles that of the Moroccan Bulghah. For instance it is used as  أي يافلان اصمت والا ضربتك بالحذاء اسكت والا اعطيك بالتاسومة [keep quiet if not I will give you a slipper].

THE (UN)ISLAMIC STATE

What we are witnessing in the Middle East is a war of revenge where Islam is being abused by criminal Muslims. The killing of the two innocent Japanese men and the burning alive of a captured Jordanian Muslim pilot and not to mention the score of many other innocent people who lost their heads and lives speak volumes on the rage-cum-madness that is ruining the reputation of Islam and the world sympathy for Muslims. Before I join the chorus that condemns this barbarity and brutality, which Islam categorically prohibits, I am trying to understand the root of this mad rage.

As the world press would have made us know that the self-appointed Caliph al-Baghdadi was indeed a victim of American barbarity against innocent Iraqis in the infamous Abu Gharib torture centre. The current madness has its genesis in the treatment meted out to these people in the so-called rendition camps which were illegally constituted to degrade the morale of Muslims and to insult their religious values and sensitivities. There is no point in appealing to appease the taste buds of Muslims by speaking from the high moral ground of Washington that the notion that "West is against Islam is a lie" while letting a Huntington's disease to spread the false alarm of "clash of civilization" to maim the minds of the renegade world leaders to justify an illegal occupation and the desecration of the cradles of civilization in Iraq and Afghanistan on the pretext of searching for weapons of mass destruction based on blatant lies manufactured by those who sold their souls to the zionist-infested American congress. Now what we see is the result of their malicious attempts to reshape the region according to their insatiable greed to grab the wealth and resources of these lands and to keep others from accessing these resources.

Certainly those who were affected by these sustained campaign of lies are up in arms against those perpetrators, collaborators and coordinators of these lies who have spilled the blood of the innocents and created a wound that is deep and painful. I am sure the repercussion of their evil actions will have far reaching impacts on many just people who will continue fighting for justice and bring those criminals to justice.

What this so-called Islamic State has done is that it has even attracted the imaginations of three UK-born and bred Muslim teenage girls to dupe their parents and find their ways through the European security to enter Syria at ease. Many similar adventurists will work their ways through their own security apparatuses to achieve even greater popularity. What is so attractive in the IS that it blinds the wits of the youngsters to leave their studies and happiness to experience a rough life? Are the news coming up from the land of the Caliphate truly convincing? or the news coverages of the Western media not accurate? There must be something in the IS that is attractive.

I was sitting in a Starbucks near my place sipping some fine tea listening to a conversation between friends near my table. The parents were trying to answer their son on the terrible things perpetrated by IS and advising him not to fall for their cause. The son was blunt in his answer. He feels that IS is doing what the Muslim governments have failed to do. He sees every where Muslims are insulted and their religion is ridiculed while none of their leaders could stand up to the West, instead they themselves became the spokes persons for the West. In return the West keep them in power and allow them and their children to succeed at the expense of their security.Listening to their conversation I felt that there is certainly a generational gap in respect of their understanding of the conflicts afflicting the Muslim society.

I think the best way to rescue these unimpressionable youngsters is to settle them in jobs and keep them occupied. Since most of these people are frustrated with not finding jobs even after graduating has led them to find "job" for themselves by venturing into such destructive activities. It is my ardent appeal to the world leaders and to the Muslim leaders in particular to focus on the employability of these frustrated young people so that they will find meaning in life and will look forward to positive involvement in shaping their own future.

My request to the learned scholars is that they also must play their religious duty to give hope to these frustrated people and guide them to build nations and not to destroy them. What we are seeing in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Nigeria and not to forget Afghanistan is sheer madness to undo what has been done since centuries ago. The total impunity with which historical sites are destroyed and desecrated clearly depict the level of anger. This fire needs to be put off with proper guidance and not to fan it further. Here the responsible 'ulama's and Muslim leaders must take the lead in showing the young people to build their heaven in this world, so that they can have even greater happiness in the actual heaven to come!

READ: CLERIC CONDEMNS THE TORCHING OF THE PILOT
             MALAYSIA CONDEMNS ISIL KILLING
             OBAMA PLAYING TO THE THEATRE
             SOMBERING THOUGHTS FROM SOLANA
             TUN MAHATHIR HITS THE NAIL AGAIN
             SABTAI ROSENNE

WEE-WEE IT'S JOKOWI

Certainly the coming of Jokowi as the first elected President of Indonesia augurs well for his country and he has proven his critics wrong when he reinstated the execution order for drug offenders. Many mistook his unimposing demure for weakness, and some even saying that he is just a joker (taking a cue from his name). His approach to managing the country seems to be on an even keel when he is tempering toughness with kindness. However, the recent execution of the drug offenders whose crime was commuted to life imprisonment earlier, has drawn international condemnation and a veiled warning to Indonesia was given if the executions of the two Australians were to be carried out. Even Brazilian President has refused to accept the credential of the Indonesian envoy for executing a Brazilian man for drug offense earlier, despite strong pleading from her. Now the behavior of Australian leadership is worth commending. He has used persuasive pressure to get the Indonesian President talking about the impending execution by rehearsing the conversation on the aid Australia offered to Indonesia in its time of tsunami. No doubt it was a help and it is what every neighbor ought to do to one another.

If Abbott is sincere in his demand to save the lives of these two drug masterminds, he should have condemned their act to corrupt the people of Indonesia through drug. How many lives of Indonesians have been ruined or decimated because some individuals or the members of organised syndicates operating from countries that champion the rule of law and advocate human rights. It is important if the Australians were to surrender the real culprits behind this drugging of Indonesians. If Abbott had done that then Jokowi would have considered the merit of the case and released these tow reformed individuals.

My heart goes to these two individuals who have gone through the reformation process in the prison, yet they are awaiting their execution for the crime they had committed. Given the situation and the gravity of the matter, the decision taken by the government of Indonesia is in the best interest of the country and to drive home the message that Indonesia does not show sympathy on drug dealer. Perhaps the size or the quantity of the drug involved would have met with some sympathetic consideration. But the quantity involving these two Australians of Asian origin has breached all levels of leniency. Even prisoner swap will not be wise. Perhaps the Australians might attempt to do the drug dealings through elderly couples who don't mind dying for a cause no matter the cause is lacking in legal or moral aspects. Indonesia must be vigilant from now on to ensure that drug is not dealt through elders or even children (the two vulnerable ones).

I sincerely hope that Australia and other countries will continue to help Indonesia and other countries with strict drug laws by preventing their own citizens to engage in such activities aimed at corrupting and destroying the people of the countries they visit.

READ: ABBOTT MAKES JOKOWI TO ABOUT TURN   
             ABBOTT SUGGESTS PRISONER SWAPPING

The fact that Australia has made use of its Grand Mufti to plead with the Indonesia authorities suggests that it is insincere in the welfare of the Indonesians who have some 4.5 million drug addicts influenced by this foreign-past time. The Mufti must have used his brain to say no to this request since he has let his good office to be abused by politicians who are working to defend criminals. It reminds me of the effort by the famous Qaradawi who made representation to the Taliban over the destruction of the Buddha statue in Bamiyan who questioned as to why he came to defend the stone and not to defend the bombing of poor Afghans. Muftis must not be in the wrong side of justice, otherwise they lose their respect.

READ: AUSTRALIAN MISUSE OF THE MUFTI 

Now it is learned that some in Australia are trying to make use of the eldest son of President Jokowi to stop the impending execution of the two Australians, just because Gibran (sounds like Khalil Gibran) studied in Australia and has been programmed by them. It is in the best interest of Indonesia Jokowi should keep his family out of his decision-making process. Children can be a challenge to those who want to serve the nation and often they are the soft targets through whom many can get their intended outcome fulfilled. It is a veiled warning to Joko, that is his son will be targeted for some drug-related activities should he proceed with the execution. My advise is execute the drug offenders in the presence of Gibran so that he can communicate the feelings of the 4.5 million drug abusers in Indonesia whose parents are living dying everyday hoping that those who let their children into this vice are brought to justice. Can Canberra stop supporting its drug-maniacs to spoil poor Indonesians? Can Tony Abbott compensate the affected Indonesian for the damage done by his fellow citizens or at least give Australian citizenship to the 4.5. million Indonesian drug users? This would be the step in the right direction. If he can do that than there is merit in his demand for the reversal of Joko's decision. It is no point in delaying the execution any longer. It is time for Jokowi to put his leg down firmly and not to be dissuaded by family or business, otherwise he will be called a Joker instead.

READ: AUSTRALIA HITS JOKOWI'S SOFT BELLY.

MUHAMMADAN COVENANT - 3

IMAM AL-SHA'RANI'S LAWAQIH AL-ANWAR AL-QUDSIYYAH FI BAYAN AL-'UHUD AL-MUHAMMADIYYAH
COMMANDMENT NO. 3	MUHAMMADAN COVENANT	pp. 19-22

PERFORMING GOOD DEEDS BEFORE OTHERS

A general oath of allegiance was taken from us by the Messenger of Allah (ص) that we will be foremost in performing good deeds by beginning with ourselves before others in hastening to do the good and to be a pattern for others, and that is just like if we see a person seeking [help] from people and none of them give him anything so we give him in front of the people [thereby] provoking them to give and we will not give in secret. Likewise we endeavor to keep vigil to witness the early occurrence of Divine effusion [as mentioned in the famous hadith qudsi]

وينادي الحق تعالى هل من سائل فأعطيه سؤله  ، هل من مستغفر فأغفر له  ، هل من مبتلي فأعافيه 

The Truthful (ت) calls out "is there any seeker so that I can grant him his request, is there any seeker of forgiveness so that I can forgive him, is there any one who is in distress so that I can relieve him [from his distress] to the end of what has been narrated in respect of that from the beginning of the last one-third of the night in respect of the [occurrence of] most of the Divine effusions which he (ص) used to [receive] when he does the tahajjud in its time, as it has been indicated in His (ت) saying: 

  [Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it...] [73(al-Muzzammil):20]

And that is done to let our brothers and neighbours follow our example, for perchance one of them might may perform his tahajjud when he sees us thereby we and him will have reward written. 

In this category as well is the display of patience over the test and tribulation in this time so as to make people follow us in respect of patience and non-resentment, for when we see the patience reaches its limit we display the weakness such that it rises [in magnitude] just as it has occurred to [Prophet] Ayyub (ع), then he knew that it is incumbent on each and every doer (عامل) to hide his actions as far as possible except in place where it is emulated (either) through its performance or the manner of doing it. Allah (ت) is Most Knowing.

I heard my master 'Ali al-Khawwas (رض) as saying: it is not a must to demonstrate (the performance of an) act except for the greater personalities among the 'Ulama' and the pious ones who are immersed in plotting against the self (دسائس النفوس), while as far our likes, perhaps one among us may demonstrate his action as a show-off and credit-seeking, whereas his self deceives him by saying to him "You are, by the Praise of Allah, among the sincere ones". Certainly these 'ibadah is demonstrated to make people emulate you, therefore it is pertinent for this kind (of people) to examine his self according to what if anyone performs that goodness and people emulate him likewise or more than it, then if that (act of goodness) is openly accepted then he is sincere,  but if it affords dissatisfaction then he is a hypocrite (مراء - mura'in) with clear proclamation. If he had been sincere he would have certainly felt extremely happy about it which Allah (ت) has foreordained to him in exchange of adequate provision. Thereafter if his self said to him, "indeed you have confused to let go of the greatest goodness which you were about to acquire by virtue of it being good", then let him say to it (i.e. the self) "indeed I depend on the grace of Allah (and) not on the actions, therefore, if I enter the heaven then it is because it being the mercy of Allah (and) not through my action". Therefore, it is important for the servant not to pay attention to the (false) claim of his self in respect of sincerity and let him examine the shaykh or the mudarris (teacher) himself so that if a group in its entirety ran away from him to a person among his contemporaries and he remains alone without finding anyone to make him function as a shaykh (yatamashayyakha) for him and he accepts it then he is a sincere one even if he acquires in his self hatred then it is obligatory on him to make use of a shaykh who will extricate him out of the darkness of eyeservice (riya'), if not he will die a sinner and will go to the hereafter with hand empty of any goodness, for certainly Allah did not accept his action.

I heard him also saying: "it is a must for the 'alim if he teaches in institutions like al-Azhar university to clear up his intention before that, even if he spent years without teaching till he finds for him a pious intention, and that is due to the increased meddling of the notables (akabir) who let their selves inclined towards seeking attention for them from the rulers and the rich to the university. (Imam) al-Nawawi, when he was teaching at the Madrasah al-Ashrafiyyah in Damascus, used to advise the students not to come at one go fearing from magnifying the studying circle (halaqah).And if he was teaching he used to sit in the blind alley (or dead end) of the masjid by saying: "certainly the self seeks delight in letting people see it while it is teaching in the centre of the masjid or its main area. and it has reached him one day, while he was teaching at the Banu Umayyah masjid that the King Zahir was determined to perform his salat in the masjid, so he left the teaching and did not attend the masjid on that day. therefore be careful, O, my brother in convening for you a session for seeking knowledge or reciting Dhikr of Allah, or reciting salawat on the Messenger of Allah (ص) in such a way that people see you, except that you being safe from (falling into) these defects and slips.

Once I was present (when) the learned and pious 'alim Shams al-Din al-Laqqani, the mufti of Maliki school at the university of al-Azhar saying to our master the learned Nur al-Din al-Shuni, the host (shaykh) of the salawat session: "By Allah, O, my brother, I am afraid of you in you (occupying) the centre (i.e.: the main part) of the masjid in (conducting) this session at the night of Friday, and its days, while the rulers and the notables seeing you, and they believe you and they say something to Allah for assistance, then perchance your self will incline towards love and its happiness over it. Thus your this worldly and the other worldly efforts will be lost.

I heard him in another occasion saying: "if the people finish performing the salat al-jumu'ah, be patient in reading the surat al-kahf until the people are dispersed, thereafter commence the recitation, for certainly the self seeks to enjoy people looking at it (particularly) during that great gathering. Therefore, know, O, my brother, that and act according to it and (may) the guidance of the Truthful one guide you (so) follow it, and Allah will take charge of your guidance.

(Imam) Muslim, al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and others narrated that a group of people from (the tribe of) Mudir came to the Messenger of Allah () cloaked in striped clothes: that is wearing the striped woolen long gown ('aba') and the face of the Messenger of Allah () became pale, when he saw from them poverty, then he entered and then came out commanding Bilal to call for salat and perfromed his salat and thereafter addressed (the people) by saying:

 

 "O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul" to His saying and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah , through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. "Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer". (4:1)

and the verse in (surah) al-Hashr

O you who have believed, fear Allah . And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allah . Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (59:8)

تصدق

[(let) a man give in charity (anything) from his dinar, dirham, cloth, handful of dates until he said even if it is half of a date]

من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها من بعده من غير أن ينقص من أجورهم شيئ 
[whosoever