Evidently, the Aayat A-Laisallahu Bi-Kaafin 'Abdah? was not enough for them. Allah was not a sufficient reason for them to stay and work for him till their death.
Most likely, many of them loved themselves more than they loved Allah and his Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, all claims to the contrary.
This created in many of them a discipline deficit when it came to Working for Allah on a sustained basis. So, they began doing things their own way. Not being accountable to the leadership, or to the Jama’at.
And they began dropping out of Working for Allah at one stage or another as suited them.
Some, soon after they joined the work, while some others hung around till it was time for them to go.
Or till someone or something finally came along to embrace and claim them and dangle in front of them what they had always been quietly – quite possibly even unconsciously – hankering after.
The Qur’an provides a very graphic and detailed portrait of these people. Here is just one of those many Aayaat in the Qur’an:
Wa Maa Aktharunnaasi wa Lau Harasta B-Mumineen.
Paraphrase:
“When it comes to Iman, most people will not make the Final Cut, no matter how much it may bother you.”
514
Me and My Namaz
Iqbal was one of the greatest poets the world has ever known – in any language, culture, time or place.
Just like Ghalib before him.
And just like Khosroe centuries before both of them.
Just like the other two, Iqbal too wrote not in one language, but in two languages: Urdu and Farsi.
All three of them did: Khosroe, Ghalib and Iqbal.
Here is something Iqbal once wrote – my paraphrase:
“Sometimes,
When I fell to the ground,
To do a Sajdah before God Almighty,
A voice from the earth cried out to me.
It said:
Your heart brimful of the idols you adore.
What will you get out of Namaz?”
513
Me and My Astaghfirullah
An occasional Astaghfirullah rolls out of my tongue. And it falls flat to the ground.
For, nothing ever changes in my life. No matter how many Astaghfirullahs I mumble.
My evil intentions; my sinful speech; my wicked ways; my furtive glances; my confused conduct; they all remain the same.
Day after day; night after night; and place after place.
Nothing ever changes.
Maybe that is why my Astaghfirullah doesn’t seem to go anywhere.
Because Astaghfirullah means:
“I ask God to forgive me!”
Because Astaghfirullah means:
“Almighty God!
You know, just as I know, in fact even more and better than I do or will ever know, all the terrible things I have done – and I am continuing to do.
So, please God, forgive me!”
Because Astaghfirullah means:
“God Almighty!
I give you my solemn word, and I make to you a most serious and sacred commitment, that I shall never again repeat the terrible things I have done in the past – or I am doing now.
I promise you I will change.
I promise!”
Because Astaghfirullah means:
“I promise, Oh God, I will go and make amends, I will make restitution, for all the wrongs I have done, and for all the injustices I have committed, against you and your creation whose keeper and protector you are.”
Because Astaghfirullah means:
“I promise, right in front of you, Dear Beloved God, and right now, that I shall never return to my dubious days of the past and my questionable practices of the present.
And that I shall work very, very hard to purify my motives and my intentions.
And that I shall work tirelessly to modify my behavior.”
And because Astaghfirullah means:
“You be my witness, Oh God, that I shall change my ways and my behavior and my conduct.
No matter what price I have to pay.
No matter what it costs.
No matter how hard I have to work.
And no matter what sacrifices I have to make.”
So, these are some of the things that Astaghfirullah means.
I don’t know how well I have internalized these things. Maybe not very well.
But I have a feeling that, maybe, that is why my Astaghfirullah appears to fall flat. And does not seem to go anywhere.
Otherwise, one Astaghfirullah should have the power to transform a life.
And to remake the world in which one lives.
512
Loving God Means What?
To love God means to love God's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
To love God's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, means to love the family, the household, of God's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
You can fight all you want, you can quibble all you want, but the fact is you cannot love one without loving the other two at the same time.
How much of a Rocket Science is this for people to figure out?
511
Love of Ahl-e-Bait
It is as simple as one, two, three. You love Allah, you love his Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
You say you love Rasulullah, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam? Very well, then go and fall in love with the family of Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
Along with his work.
And the Glorious Book, the Qur'an, that he brought from Allah.
And the Noble Companions who helped and supported him.
How to fall in love with the family of Rasulullah, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam?
You are serious, right? You are not joking, correct? And you don't know how to fall in love? And you want me to tell you that?
Maybe you are one of those who never had a mother. Or, maybe, had a monster for a mother.
Or maybe you never had any children of your own.
