Ramadan Reflections 2016: Day 6-10

“But the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of Allah and His beloved.” Say, “Then why does He punish you for your sins?” Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the final destination.” [5: 18]

Nobody has monopoly over Allah and His Love. He does as He pleases and looks to Him He wishes. It’s easy for us to point fingers and state boldly that so-and-so is a beloved of Allah, or this is someone far from Allah. We judge with our own measures and sometimes make outlandish claims that we have little right to make. Yes, we can judge by the apparent, and at times we have no choice but to do so. However the love of Allah is not something to be claimed or denied from people, or distributed or limited according to our views. He loves whom He wishes because He is the most knowledgeable of His slaves.

It’s said that Ali ibn Abi Talib once said, “Allah has hidden two things in two things; He has hidden His Pleasure in righteous deeds so you don’t know which deed will bring you His Pleasure, and He has hidden His awliya’ (close friends) in His slaves, so you don’t know which slave of Allah is His wali.”

It’s all hidden… it doesn’t matter how famous a person is, how many followers they have, how eloquent or active they are, no-one truly knows – not even the person themselves. It’s hidden in the treasures of the Unseen that will be unfolded on the Day when all is revealed. For this reason none of the righteous before us ever claimed piety for themselves. No-one ever claimed to be a wali or allowed others to call them that. They worshipped Allah, suspended between love, hope, and fear until they passed this world. In one striking story narrated by Ibn Jawzi, it reports that ‘Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak said, ‘I was in Makkah when the people were afflicted with a drought. So they all came out to Masjid al-Haram for Istisqaa’ (prayer for rain) but they were not granted rain, and to my side was a black slave. He said, ‘O Allah, O Allah. They have surely called You but You did not respond. I swear to You and take an oath by You that You will indeed provide water for us.’ Ibn al-Mubarak said, ‘By Allah, it was only a short moment before we were granted rain.‘

Subhan’Allah, Allah sent them rain because of the du’a of a poor black slave; someone looked down upon by society, with little freedom and of low societal rank. ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak was struck with awe and so he secretly followed him until he reached his home. In the morning, he approached the house and asked to purchase this slave in order to free him. The owner was more than happy to sell him because he was a sick and ailing slave who was of no use! As they were walking, the slave said, ‘O master, what could you want with me when I am ill?’ Ibn al-Mubarak said to him, ‘It’s because of what I saw yesterday evening (during the istisqaa’).’ The boy was shaken to the core and leaned against the wall saying, ‘O Allah! Do not cause me to become famous but take me back to You instead!’ At that point, he fell down dead and the people of Makkah began to surround him… [Sifat al-Safwah]

Allahu Akbar. This is deep piety, hidden within the hearts of people. It’s a power so strong that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “How many of a weak and frail one is there, who possesses only two garments but were he to take an oath by Allah `azza wa jall, He will surely fulfill it…” [al-Hakim, sahih]

“And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day…” [6: 60]

When people die, the soul first leaves the feet – so there is no running away, no fleeing from death. Then it departs the legs and torso, and finally leaves through the mouth – as a mercy for us to either declare faith or give our final farewell. In this verse, Allah says that he causes us to ‘die’ by night – because sleep has many similar traits with death. But subhan’Allah, the word Allah uses is ‘yatawaffa’ (and not ‘yumitukum’ (to die) like in other verses) and this has its roots in a term meaning ‘to fulfill a promise’ or ‘live up to an agreement’… Because it’s a promise that Allah made. So we shouldn’t view death as an injustice or a wrongdoing; it’s actually integrity and fulfillment of a Divine level and Allah is true to His Word.

Now here comes a stunner. He says that He knows what we have committed by day, but He says ‘jarahtum‘ in Arabic – which actually also means to hurt and to wound others. So after our soul goes through a process strikingly similar to death and returns to us in the morning as yet *another chance*, there are sadly some who proceed to create wounds in the world wherever they go.

But just as we all rise after sleeping, so too will we rise after the greater death that finally takes us out permanently because Allah continues in the verse saying: “…Then He revives you therein so that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do.”

I don’t know about you, but I love the days when I wake up from sleep feeling revived and rejuvenated; ready for a new day. So I ask Allah to make me and all of you from those who feel revived on the Day of Resurrection, ready to receive rewards of untold magnificence. O Allah, revive us with faith at all times, and grant us from Your mercy because our deeds have fallen short, ameen.

“O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to cover yourselves and as adornment. But the clothing of taqwa (righteousness) – that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.” [7: 26]

When your taqwa (righteousness) covers you like your clothes do, you know you’re doing it right. Just as a shirt shields your skin, or a dress falls over your body, or a cloak drapes over you, so should righteousness enclose all around you. And what’s really nice to note here is that even if you think you’re a terrible person or you’re not ‘pious’ enough, just having some righteousness is enough to shield your faults because one piece of garment can cover you quite well.

“O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” [7: 31]

There’s nothing wrong in looking good and elegant, eating and drinking from nice dishes etc – in fact, this verse commands it! The only thing is, don’t get too ahead of yourself; don’t be excessive or look down on others in arrogance. As the verse highlights, this is where Allah `azza wa jall has drawn the line. Trespassing it only brings about the loss of Allah’s Love.

Looking at history, it’s easy for believers (from all faiths) to equate righteousness with looking rough and ‘otherworldly’ and it’s become common to equate piety with being poor and looking lowly. But going out of your way to look a certain way will not bring about taqwa – that’s cultivated only in the heart. Abu al-Ahwas once passed the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), whilst wearing old & tattered clothing and the Prophet (s) said to him, “Do you have any wealth?” When he said ‘Yes‘, the Prophet (s) instructed him to ‘show the blessings of Allah on him’ [Ahmad, sahih]. And in another narration, he (s) said, “Allah is beautiful, and He loves beauty.” [Muslim] – in all things from our character, our surroundings, our words, and the way we carry ourselves.

…Taqwa is like a piece of garment gifted from Allah – it will cover you no doubt. But take care, because it’s up to you what colour to dye it, how long to make it, how beautifully you design it and ultimately, how you decide to wear it.