In The Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our beloved master Prophet Muhammad, the last of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! Allah Almighty says:
“Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state themselves.” [Qur’an, 13:11]
This is an important Qur’anic verse which indicates that Allah Almighty, in His perfect justice and wisdom does not change the condition of the people from good to bad or from bad to good, from ease to hardship or from hardship to ease, unless they change their condition themselves. So if they are in a state of righteousness and goodness and they change, Allah will change things for them with punishment, calamities, hardship, drought, famine, hunger, poverty, insecurity, disunity and other kinds of punishments as appropriate requital. Allah the Most High says:
“And your Lord is not at all unjust to His servants.” [Qur’an, 41:46]
Or He may give them respite and give them time so that they might turn to the right path, but if they do not then they will be seized unexpectedly, as He says:
“So, when they forgot the warning with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them (in punishment), and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows.” [Qur’an, 6:44]
Meaning despairing of all goodness.
We seek refuge in Allah from His punishment and wrath.
Or they may be given respite until the Day of Resurrection, when their punishment will be more severe, as Allah Almighty says:
“Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the wrongdoers do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.” [Qur’an, 14:42]
Meaning that they are given respite until after death, and that will be a greater and more severe punishment.
Or they may be in a state of evil and sin, then they repent to Allah and turn back to Him, and they regret their sins and adhere to obedience, so Allah changes their state of wretchedness, hardship, poverty and hunger to ease, unity and righteousness because of their good deeds and their repentance to Allah Almighty. It says in another Qur’anic verse:
“That is so because Allah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change what is in their ownselves.” [Qur’an, 8:53]
Also this Qur’anic verse tells us that if they are in a state of ease, comfort and goodness, then they change and turn to sin, their situation will be changed — there is no power and no strength except with Allah. Or they may be given respite, as stated above. The opposite is also true: if they were in a state of evil and sin, or disbelief and misguidance, then they repent, regret their sin and adhere to obedience to Allah, Allah will change their situation from bad to good; He will change their disunity into unity and harmony; He will change their hardship to ease, well being and plenty; He will change their situation from draught, famine, lack of water and so on to rainfall, fertile land and other kinds of goodness.
Respected brothers and sisters! The Muslim Ummah is daily faced by a host of new problems and difficulties. Now and again, reports of untold oppression and barbarism against Muslims are received. Their lives, property and self-respect is trampled upon and worse than that, their religious matters are tampered and interfered with, their Mosques are under constant threat of being converted into temples and are disallowed proper implementation of their Islamic personal law.
Despite this, the Muslim considers these to be chance occurrences or mere coincidences, thus never pausing to even consider the actual cause and reason behind this suffering. At the most, a few concerned souls, who are momentarily stirred by this state of affairs, call up some fancy conference, pass a few vague resolutions and disappear back into oblivion, contented that they
have fulfilled their duties towards Islam.
A dire need exists for us to study the Qur’an and Hadith (Sunnah) and thereby realise the primary cause for our problems, disgrace and downfall. It is an undisputed axiom of reality that no incident occurs in this Universe accidentally. We as Muslims believe that every occurrence is directly by the command and doing of Almighty Allah. However, every occurrence has been assigned an outward cause, that apparently seems to control and govern it. Thus our difficulties are also governed by causes which Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) have explained to us in the Qur’an and Sunnah (Hadith). Allah the Most High says:
“And whatever calamity befalls you, it is due to your own doings and Allah forgives many of your shortcomings.” [Qur’an, 42:30]
And He Almighty says:
“Corruption has spread on water and land due to the doings of mankind. In order that Allah make them taste the penalty of some of their doings. Perhaps they may retract. (from their disobedience).” [Qur’an, 30:41]
And He says:
“Why would Allah punish you if you were grateful and believed. And Allah is Most appreciative, All-Knowing.” [Qur’an, 4:147]
All these Qur’anic verses indicate that the chastisement of Allah is the direct result of our sins, shortcomings, failings, disobedience, ungratefulness and transgression. On the other hand, if we are obedient and grateful, no punishment will overtake us.
Proper appreciation of Allah’s bounties is the correct utilisation of these favours. To utilise life, health, faculties of sight, hearing, feeling, thinking, locomotion, finances, status and position, all for the pleasure of Allah and in accordance with His commandments is true appreciation of Allah’s bounties. The anti-thesis of this is ungratefulness, which invites the wrath, punishment and displeasure of Allah.
Adopting a life of taqwa (piety) i.e. fulfilling all the commands of Shari’ah and abstaining from the prohibitions (Haram) is the cause of blessings descending from the heavens. Allah the Most High says:
“If the people of the locality had believed and adopted taqwa (piety), We would have opened upon them the blessings of the heavens and the earth, but they denied and falsified, thus We seized them due to their actions.” [Qur’an, 7:96]
Respected servants of Allah! With regards to the following Qur’anic verse:
“And whatever calamity befalls you, it is due to your own doings.” [Qur’an, 42:30]
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) explained the tafsir of this verse to Ali (RA) thus:
“0 Ali! whatever calamity befalls you; illness, afflication or any worldly calamity; it is the earning of your own hands.”
Hasan (R) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“By Him in whose control is my life! Any scratch, twitching of veins, slipping of the foot or a flying stone suddenly striking the body; all are due to the committing of sins.”
Abu Musa (RA) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“A wound or any slighter calamity is due to the commission of sins.”
Imran Bin Husain (RA) once felt ill. People came to pay him a visit and expressed their condolences. He replied:
“What is achieved by condolences? This is due to some sin I have committed.”
Dahhak (RA) reports that:
“A person who forgets the Qur’an after learning it is due to committing sins.”
Thereafter he recited this Qur’anic verse and said:
“What could be a greater calamity than forgetting the Qur’an?”
Once Asma Bint Abubakar (RA) experienced a headache. She exclaimed:
“This is due to my sins.” [Durr Manthur and Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
Fellow servants of Allah! Let us now examine our lifestyles. Salat (prayer) which has been described as the criterion between Iman and Kufr (disbelief) how much does it feature in the life of the Muslims? How many are there who are punctual with their obligatory prayer (Salat)? How many adhere to the other basic requirements of Islam such as Fasting, Zakat and Hajj? On the other hand, consider the prohibitions of Islam; those actions that Shari’ah has declared prohibited (Haram) and a source of Divine punishments and curses and harsh reprisals. Homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, fornication, adultery, cheating between husbands and wives etc. How many Muslims are engrossed in these, day and night? How many have adopted these as part of their lifestyle?
Dear brothers and sisters! Let us consider liquor/beer/alcohol for example. The Qur’an has repeatedly forbidden the intake of beer/liquor/alcohol.
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) has cursed anyone associated with liquor/beer/alcohol in anyway. He has cursed the consumer, the stockist, the manufacturer, the marketer, the buyer, the seller, the transporter, the receiver and those that derived any income from it. In one Hadith it has been titled as:
“The root to all evil.”
Also the Qur’an has declared the prohibition of interest (riba). The Qur’an has equated the usage of interest (riba) tantamount to declaring war upon Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him).
The Hadith has classified interest (riba) a conglomeration of 73 sins; the slightest of these being equal to fornicating with one’s own mother (incest).
One Hadith warns that the consumer of interest (riba) will rise as a lunatic on the Day of Qiyamah. Another Hadith warns that the part of the humanbody that was nourished by prohibited (haram) income, will not enter Paradise (Jannah).
One Hadith states that the nation that has taken to fornication (zina) and interest (riba) should await the chastisement of Allah.
Fellow brothers and sisters! Let us now consider how clear our dealings and transactions are! Interest (riba) forms an integral part of our business dealings. Worse than that, desperate attempts are being made to even legalise it or turn it into halal.
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“When my Ummah will be involved in fifteen activities, then calamities will descend upon them: 1. When public finances will be regarded as personal property. 2. When amanah (trust) will be abused. 3. When zakat will be considered a tax (burden). 4. When wives will be obeyed. 5. When mothers will be disobeyed. 6. When friends will be well-treated. 7. When parents will be ill-treated. 8. When noise and commotion will be common in our Mosques. 9. When unqualified persons will occupy positions of responsibility (leadership). 10. When respect will be shown to some people merely to escape their tyranny. 11. When liquor/beer/alcohol will be consumed openly. 12. When men will do silk garments. 13. When singing girls will be available (for entertainment). 14. When musical instruments will be rampant. 15. When the pious predecessors will be reviled and vituperated; The Ummah should then await hurricanes, earthquakes and transformation of some people (into animals).”
Abdullah Bin Abbas (RA) states:
“The nation that is involved in misappropriation of amanah (trust), in looting and embezzlement, Allah will fill their hearts with terror for their enemies. The nation that is engaged in fornication (zina), will experience great numbers of death. The nation that cheats in measure, will have their sustenance curtailed. The nation that legislates against the truth and justice, will experience great bloodshed and the nation that breaks it’s contracts, will be subdued by the enemy.” [Mishkaat]
Now let’s ask ourselves. Which of these sins are not the daily life – style of most Muslims today? It is no cause of surprise if we are now afflicted by various calamities and punishments from Allah.
Abdullah Bin Umar (RA) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“O Muhajirin! Five things are such that if you are involved in them, may Allah not cause you to be involved in them, then the punishment of Allah will descend upon you. The nation that is openly involved in zina (fornication) will become afflicted by plague and other such diseases
that were never heard of before. Those that cheat in measuring, will be afflicted by poverty, hardship, injustice and oppression. Those that default in the paying of zakat, will be afflicted by drought. Had it not been for the animals, not a drop of rain would have fallen. Those that transgress the bounds of Allah and His Messenger, will be overcome by the enemy. As for those that legislate unjustly, they will be involved in internicine fighting.”
It is also reported in a Hadith that fornication and adultery causes poverty and hunger in the land.
And many Hadiths report curses upon the briber and the accepter of bribes and even upon the intermediary in such dealings.
In one Hadith, it is reported that the nation that breaks it’s promises will be involved in internal strife and conflicts.
In one Hadith it is reported that those accustomed to dealings in bribery and corruption will become greatly awe-struck and fearful (of everyone).
It is reported in one Hadith that the sin that is extremely swift in inviting the punishment of Allah is oppression and false oaths. This causes wealth to be destroyed and women to become barren (that such people have no off-spring) and annihilates entire populations (by high death rates).
In one Hadith it is reported that Allah withholds punishments until He desires, but disobedience to parents brings instant chastisement and the punishment is meted out before even death.
In one Hadith it is narrated that:
“Remain chaste, your wives will also remain chaste and be obedient towards your parents, your children will be obedient to you.”
It is reported in one Hadith that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“By Him in whose control is my life! You should continue to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, else Allah will descend such a punishment upon you, that you will make Du’a unto Him and He will not accept your Du’as.”
In one Hadith it is reported that:
“Allah does not punish a whole Ummah on the sins of a small group of people, until these people transgress openly, before such people who have the power of preventing them and yet do not do so. The punishment of Allah then overtakes all. The Du’as of the pious will then be of no avail to anyone.”
Dear brothers and sisters! Wallahi, it is due to overlooking such rules and regulations that day by day, we are observing greater calamities, disasters, destruction, insecurity, killings, bloodshed, violence, diseases, accidents involving planes, trains, ships and cars. Now that the regulations of enjoining right and forbidding evil have been almost totally discarded, there is no hope of even acceptance of our
Du’as.
It is reported in one Hadith that:
“Do not oppress else your Du’as will be rejected.”
In one Hadith:
“Allah grants respite to the oppressor; but when He seizes him, he cannot escape punishment.”
In one narration:
“The Du’a of the oppressed is accepted even though he be a sinner or even a disbeliever.”
In one Hadith:
“He that does not show mercy upon the creation, Allah will not show mercy upon him.”
Sufyan Thauri (R) reports that:
“Once the Banu Israel were terribly afflicted by famine for seven years. They eventually began to consume the meat of dead animals and finally human corpses. Out of sheer desperation they climbed upon mountain tops and cried out in anguish. Allah Almighty revealed to one of their Prophets that had they to raise their hands right into the sky and had their tongues dried out, I will not accept their Du’as until they do not return the rights of the oppressed amongst them.”
Dear brothers and sisters! Let us now consider the present condition of oppression and injustice throughout the world and understand the extent of Allah’s displeasure with us.
It is reported in one Hadith that:
“Charity does not decrease wealth, forgiveness increase’s ones respect and begging opens the door of poverty.”
It is reported in one Hadith that:
“When my Ummah will despise their Islamic scholars (Ulama), be extravagant in beautifying their businesses and will consider marriage proposals on the basis of wealth, then Allah will afflict them with four punishments: drought, oppression, misappropriation of their wealth by their leaders and enemy – attacks.”
Ali (RA) reports that the worldly chastisement for committing sins is:
“Lethargy in worship, restriction in sustenance and decrease in pleasure.”
Anas (RA) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“Be meticulous in performing ablution (with all it’s ettiquettes), your lifespan will increase and your protecting angels will love you; observe your (nafilah) prayers in your home, it will enhance the blessings of your home and make salam to your family when you enter your home, the blessings of it will
permeate you and your family.”
Where we constantly complain about “hard times” insecurity, hunger and poverty, have we ever pondered on what Allah Almighty has to say:
“O son of Adam! Free yourself for My Ibadah, I will fill your heart with contentment and independence, and I will remove your poverty. If you do not do so, I will engross you in your occupations and (yet) I will not remove your poverty.”
In one Hadith it is narrated that:
“If my servants obey me dutifully, I will send rain at night and sunshine during the day (that they be not frightened by the lightning and thunder).”
Respected brothers and sisters! How cruel have we been upon ourselves that due to our sins we are constantly involving ourselves in disasters and calamities? At the same time, we continuously lament, wail and complaint away at our pathetic condition. Our example is like that of a person suffering from diahorrea and yet continues to take laxatives, complaining all the time of diahorrea. What could be said to such a fool person?
In a similar way, today we complain about the oppression and injustice of our leaders and our politicians, whereas these leaders and politicians have been appointed over us due to our transgressions. Remember, we have collected their indomie, spaghetti, clothes, money, soap etc, to vote for them. Now the only salvation from them is through repentance and perfect obedience to Allah’s commands.
Some of our pious predecessors said:
“Just as you are (your actions are) so will your leaders be.”
In another Hadith, it is reported that, Allah Almighty said:
“I am Allah, there is no deity besides Me, I am the King of Kings and the Master of Kings, the heart of Kings are within My control; when My servants are obedient to me, I make their leaders kind-hearted towards them; when they disobey Me, I turn their leaders against them with anger and tyranny, they then oppress them severly. Therefore, instead of cursing them, turn towards me in remembrance and submission, I will protect you against their tyranny.”
In the Noble Qur’an, Allah the Most High states:
“And thus We subjugate some oppressors to other oppressors due to their doings.” [Qur’an, 6:129]
There are various views to this Qur’anic verse as follows:
A’amash’s view is that:
“When people’s actions become corrupt, then Allah appoints the most oppressive people as leaders over them.”
In one Hadith it is reported that:
“When Allah desires the felicity of a nation; He makes the tolerant amongst them their leaders, the Islamic scholars (Ulama) their arbitrators and the generous their wealthy and on the other hand, when He desires the torment and punishment of a nation; He appoints their foolish as their leaders, the ignorant as arbitrators and the miserly as their wealthy.”
In one Hadith it is reported that:
“Do not engross yourselves in cursing and abusing your leaders; in fact you should gain the proximity of Allah (through obedience) and make
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