Suhbah before Maghrib
December 2009 UK Tour
A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani ‘r-rajeem. Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmaani ‘r-Raheem.
Nawaytu ‘l-arba`een, nawaytu ‘l-`itikaaf, nawaytu ‘l-khalwah, nawaytu ‘l-`uzlah, nawaytu ‘r-riyaadah, nawaytu ‘s-sulook, lillahi ta`ala fee haadha ‘l-masjid.
Ati`oollaha wa ati`oo ‘r-Rasoola wa ooli ‘l-amri minkum.
Obey Allah, obey the Prophet, and obey those in authority among you. (4:59)
Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmaani ‘r-Raheem. Alhamdulillahi Rabbi ‘l-`alameen. w 'as-salaat w 'as-salaamu `alayka ashrafi 'l-mursaleen, Sayyidina wa Nabiyyina Muhammadin wa `ala aalihi wa saahbihi ajma`een.
It’s a great pleasure and honor that today is the urs (death anniversary) of the grandshaykh, the father of Sufi Riaz Ahmad. I didn’t know, I was not aware of it until just now. I am so surprised that it is the first day here in Manchester and it is the urs. So, it is a great pleasure for me because awliyaaullah, like Grandshaykh (q), attract the hearts of people, and from his place where he is, for sure with Prophet (s), attracted all of you and me at the same time. I give you the greetings of my shaykh and the greetings of our grandshaykh (q). I address Sufi Riaz Ahmed, may Allah (swt) bless him and give him long life, to keep the message of his father. I thank you for inviting us today.
It is written on your taj, your turban, Allah Hu, meaning Hu Allah. Allah (swt) said in the Holy Qur’an, “Yaa Muhammad (s)!” Whenever his name is mentioned, praise him! I don’t want to say stand up, but it is better to stand up when we say Muhammad (s)! Stand up! (People stand and Mawlana makes salawat.) Allah (swt) said, “Yaa Muhammad (s), say to them Huw Allahu Ahad.” Huwa, means “the Unknown”. No one knows Allah’s Reality, His Essence. We cannot say, like they use an English term today, “Divine Presence.” No one can speak about the Divine Presence. “Presence” means His Reality, His Essence. No one can be with the Creator; the Creator is by Himself.
Qul, Huw Allahu Ahad! You cannot say, “I am with Him in His Presence;” you cannot be in His Presence. His Presence is for Himself. But you can say, “I am in the Heavenly Presence, in the Presence of Asma al-Sifaat, I am in the Presence of His Beautiful Names and Attributes,” because Allah (swt) gave human beings such light. He dressed Prophet (s) with these Beautiful Names and Attributes. Do you think when Prophet (s) went into `Israa wa’l-Mi`raaj (The Night Journey), Allah (swt) didn’t give him medallions or dresses? If you go to a general’s presence, he gives you presents. What do you think about al-Kareem, the Most Generous? When human beings give, it is like crumbs. But when Allah gives, He gives without limits. That’s why He gave Sayyidina Muhammad (s) without limits! Allah (swt) gave Sayyidina Muhammad (s) what an eye was not able to see, what an ear was not able to understand, and what a heart cannot accept. The only one in His Presence was Sayyidina Muhammad (s), at qaaba qawsayni aw adna (two bows’ length or nearer).
O Muslims! Don’t be like those who imitate unbelievers, running on the corner of every street trying to recruit people against the love of Prophet (s). Don’t give an ear or let your children listen to that! Teach your children muhabbatu 'n-Nabi (s) (Love for Prophet [s]), or else we are lost. We will be losers and we will lose our identity. Our identity without Prophet (s) has no meaning. If we cannot say we are lovers of Prophet (s), we have no identity, then our identity is with Shaytan at that time. Anyone who does not accept the identity of Prophet (s) as the highest to whom Allah (swt) gave authority in dunya and akhirah, and to be happy with Prophet’s birthday, Allah (swt) will send that person to Iblees (Shaytan).
O Muslims! I’m sorry to say that awliyaaullah are passing and leaving us, and you cannot find replacements. There are very few replacements like Mawlana Sufi Riaz, who is a replacement. If he studied or not, the shaykh will pour in his heart what is needed for the mureeds. Even if someone is a big `alim (scholar), it doesn’t mean he knows everything. No, the one who is supported by awliyaaullah knows everything! Because he has the medicine for every disease, and for every spiritual disease he can clean it, fix it and cure it. `Ulama don’t have anything except books. In universities, `alims are taught fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and `ilm al-hadeeth (knowledge of hadith). They learn from books. If they want to give a presentation, they take from whatever has been written. Do you think that is where Islamic knowledge stands?
Allah (swt) gave Mi`raaj (ascension) to Sayyidina Muhammad (s). Not one mi`raaj, every moment Sayyidina Muhammad (s) has a mi`raaj or else, his knowledge becomes old, not fresh. There is a fresh knowledge Prophet (s) is giving to the ummah. That’s why Abu Hurayrah (r) said, “I learned, memorized, or Prophet (s) poured in my heart two kinds of knowledge. One kind I disseminated, I shared it with everyone. The other knowledge, if I say it they will cut my neck.” Who will cut his neck? Sahaaba (r) will cut his neck. It means what Prophet (s) gave to his Sahaaba was according to their capacity.
So Grandshaykh saw that Sufi Riaz Ahmed is able to carry that responsibility and he didn’t give it to anyone else. Although I know there are many conflicts, don’t listen! If you listen it will be like Adam (a) listened to Iblees. Don’t listen; keep the engine of the train moving. Don’t look behind you! Your goal is Sayyidina Muhammad (s), nothing else.
Today no one is teaching about the Last Days. No one is thinking about it and it is so important, especially for the youth. Tell them to be careful, as the ummah will not last forever. A day is coming. “They will ask you, Yaa Muhammad (s) about the Day of Judgment, when is it going to happen?” The Prophet (s) gave us signs and predictions that this is going to happen. So our youth have to learn this in the masaajid (mosques) so they can be ready for what is coming. Don’t think this dunya is going to last forever. It is going to end, because what Prophet (s) predicted 1400 years ago is opening up now. Go to the books of ahadeeth, most of what Prophet (s) predicted about the Last Days has already happened.
I will mention one hadeeth that Abu Hurayrah (r) reported that Prophet (s) said, “I am giving an oath by the One who has my soul in His hand. This dunya will not go until the one who killed does not know why he killed.” I don’t want to give you a bad example, but we are seeing bad examples in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and all over the Muslim world. Muslims are killing Muslims, under the name of what? The Prophet (s) predicted that. This never happened before, we never saw it. (Continuing the hadeeth,) “And the one who died, doesn’t know why he died.” Do they know why they killed them? No one knows. They are killing `ulama (scholars). They are killing Ahlu ‘l Sunnah wa’l-Jama`ah (The People of Sunnah and the Majority). Why? Because they say, “We love you, yaa Muhammad (s).” We will continue to say it until the Day of Judgment! We are your lovers, yaa Muhammad (s)! Nuhibuka yaa Rasulullah (we love you, O Rasoolullah)!
And there are good tidings for us from Prophet (s): “My ummah (nation) is an ummah upon which Allah (swt) sent mercy. They will not find any hisaab (account); they are going to Paradise and for them there is no punishment.” Why? Because the punishment is going to happen in dunya. Because Prophet (s) asked, “Yaa Rabbee, don’t punish my ummah on the Day of Judgment and in dunya.” For dunya Allah (swt) said, “No, but on the Day of Judgment I will not.” What is the punishment in dunya? Punishment by earthquakes, killings, and confusions, narrated by Imam Ahmad. Then Abu Hurayrah (r) related that Prophet (s) said, “The Day of Judgment will not come until my ummah imitates the unbelievers in everything they do.” Hands-by-hands, arms-by-arms, they follow everything—their dresses, their actions and their activities.
Today I was surprised, a strong Muslim who prays five prayers is giving permission to drink vodka or champagne, and he is well-regarded in this country. He said that is not mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, what is mentioned is khamar.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Ya ayyuha 'Lladheena aamanoo innama al-khamru w 'al-maysiru w 'al-ansaabu wal-azlaamu rijsun min `aamali 'sh-Shaytani f 'ajtaniboohu la`allakum tuflihoon.
O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination of Satan’s handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. (5:90)
“Leave khamar”, that is clearly mentioned. This stupid `alim doesn’t know that khamar means “anything fermented.”
May Allah (swt) forgive us and bless us!