11 April 2001 Lefke, Cyprus
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham: (This is the) last question, but requesting answer in English, if you please. You mentioned it yesterday about those who are working at night, and now you mentioned it last night, and people are afraid to go out.
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim: There is misunderstanding from western countries’ people, from muslimeen, they are surprising or astonishing over what we have said about young people. First we are warning young people, that Seal of Prophets, Sayyidina Rasoolullah (s), said:
احبسوا اولدكم عند عروب الشمس
ahbisoo awlaadakum `inda ghuroobi ’sh-shams.
At Maghrib, don't leave your children to be out of their homes.
Why? He (s) is giving a reason: because that is the time when shayateen are spreading everywhere, getting their freedom to be everywhere, to make every badness for the Children of Adam, particularly for youngsters. That is a holy command from Rasoolullah (s)! People who are working outside must be at least 25, 30, or forty years old, and their jobs are essential, so they are not going out just for enjoyment, as that is clearly forbidden.
(Non-Muslim) territories, European and western countries, are not following Holy Shari`ah. People are working in the day or night, men and women, which is against the holy orders of Heavens. But they bring much more money and they think more money brings more pleasure, but is never going to be that, never! You meet so many people rich ones, but they are not happy and they haven't reached (true) pleasure in their lives.
We can't use that as an excuse. Everyone in western countries must follow their rules. Islam by itself is as strong as it was the first day of Islam, but people are weak in understanding how to practice Islamic rules. Whoever is asking to practice Islamic rules, it is not necessary for them to go to unbelievers' countries, non-Muslim countries, no. If they go, they will carry the responsibility. If I am saying that, how we are going to work at nighttime? What we shall do? As the holy words of the Seal of Prophets (s), you must be (in the home) after `Isha, all men and youngsters must in their homes.
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham: What if there are nighttime jobs in hospitals, or with the police?
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim: Leave that. I am saying to you, if you are not understanding. European rules you must follow. You can't follow Islamic rules (in the west). But as much as possible you must keep (the order) not to be outside after Maghrib. We say only those who have responsibilities may work, but for women, we can't say anything. We are saying...
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham: There are nurses, Sayyidee; most hospitals have nurses...?
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim: They are not going to dancing places! Work is there. May Allah forgive us. All that we are attacking is Satanic life rules that are making people fall more and more into the traps of Shaytan, and leaving their beliefs, and (they are) going to be people of Hellfire! I can't give any fatwa to those people. We may say, Allah is giving to you people residing in western countries, and He may give you your provisions in your homeland, also. But people's faith is so weak that they think Allah is only giving provision in western countries.
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham: There are some people who go to dhikr after 9 o'clock, at night.
Mawlana Shaykh Nazim: They are not going to dancing places, a`oodhu billah min ash-Shaytani 'r-rajeem!
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
zhahara ’l-fasad fi ’l-barri wa 'l-bahr bimaa kasaabat aydin-naass li-yadheeqahum ba`d alladhee `amiloo la`alahum yarji`oon.
Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of the evil that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds in order that they may turn back (from evil). (Surat ar-Rum, 30:41)
You understand this ayatu ’l-kareemah. Twenty-first century people are going 100% to the ways of Shaytan or a shaytanic life system. Nahnu mush raadeen bi (we are not accepting this) shaytanic life system, thinking, “There is no we may say eat (earn lawfully) in our homeland!” Don’t follow unbelievers' rules!
Fatihah.