17/10/2014
JUM'UAH LECTURE
Friday,17th October 2014 -22nd Dhul Hijjah 1435
Unity - resolving differences
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ ط وَالصَّلوٰةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَليٰ سَيِّدِ الْمُرسَلِيْنَ طاَمّابَعدُ! فَاَ عُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْم ط بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّ حِيْم
All praise is due to Allah Sub’haanahu Wataála, The Forgiver and concealer of faults, The one who guide to Shukr (thankfulness) and Taubah (repentance), The one who responds to Duáh (prayers).
‘Salawaat (salutations) and Salaam (peace,blessings) upon the Noble Messenger, leader of all Anbiyaáh (Prophets),Mursaleen (Messengers) and guide of the believers, Sayyidina Muhammad Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam)
Our beloved Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam had given the title of “the wise man of the Ummah” to Sayyiduna Abu Darda (RadhyAllahu Anhu). He commanded much respect for his intelligence, foresight, understanding, wisdom and upright conduct. He relates that once Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam asked his companions:
“Shouldn’t I tell you a virtue which excels Salat, [prayer] Sadaqah [charity] and Saum [fast]?”
The Sahaba knew well the reward for the Salat and that of Sadaqah, for which reward is multiplied a hundred times. The also knew the virtue of the Saum for which Allah Azzawajal says that “Fast is for me and I Myself will give its reward”, and according to another narration, “Allah Azzawajal will Himself be its reward.” The companions were all curious to know the excellence of the act, which surpasses the Salat, Sadaqah and Fasting, so they fondly submitted.
“Please advise us Yaa Rasul Allah.” Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “It is through bringing mutual reconciliation between two estranged Muslims.” Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam meant that if differences have ruptured the relations between two brothers, then bringing them closer and creating harmony and peace between them is a virtuous act, which excels the supererogatory (Nawaafil) prayers and the fasts. In yet another tradition, Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “Mutual discords and differences are shavers.” Explaining it further, he Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam added: “I don’t mean that it shaves your hair, but it shaves of your faith, because the environment of hatred gives birth to other sins like anger, backbiting, and accusations. These sins extinguish the light of Faith and darken the heart. Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam has advised us to be safe and away from differences, quarrels and disputes.
This is an important advice of our beloved Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam with regards to our social life. We should be very careful and should not let the peace and harmony of our individual and collective life be tarnished by discord. If we see that there exists an estrangement between two individuals, two families, or two groups, then we should sincerely work for reconciliation between them.
Every one of us knows that Our beloved Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam is Imaam ul Ambia, the leader of all Prophets. He used to lead the prayers and in his presence no one could do that. How fortunate it was for his Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam’s Sahaba to pray behind him and under his Imaamat. You will be surprised to know that once he Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam couldn’t go to the Masjid on time to lead the Salah and the prayer was led by SayyidunaAbdul Rahman bin Auf (RadhyAllahu Anhu). Do you know the reason? It was because that Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam had learned about a discord between two groups of Muslims, so he Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam spent his time in bringing back the lost love between them and that is why he was late for Salah. What can be said more to emphasize the importance of peace and reconciliation between two brothers or groups!
Allah Azzawajal says in the Holy Qur’an in Aayah 114 of Surah Nisa:
“There is no good in most of their secret talk, only in commanding charity, or good, or reconciliation between people. To anyone who does these things, seeking to please Allah, We shall give [him] a rich reward…”
and Aayah 10 of Surah al-Hujuarat:
“The believers are brothers, so make peace between your two brothers and be mindful of Allah, so that you may be given mercy.”
Our beloved Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “I guarantee a house in the middle of Jannah for him, who quits a quarrel in spite being on the Haq”, i.e. being right and justified on his stand and yet giving up the argument to prove himself right. Our beloved Rasulullah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam had taught us that for bringing two estranged brothers back together in love and for resolving their dispute, if one says a thing which is not true, than the person wouldn’t be considered a liar. The fact further underscores the importance of reconciliation. [Bukhari & Muslim]
Our religion has clear instructions to resolve problems arising out of disputes and differences among individuals and groups. These instructions can protect us from many evils. Our Ulamah have diagnosed our ailment and prescribed the medicine. They have said that we don’t get tired calling for unity and preaching others to get united, but are ignorant ourselves about unity’s very root and basic requirement. We fail to do what we preach. He recommended us to inculcate two essential characteristics, namely Tawwadh [humility] and Eesaar [sacrifice and consideration for others]. The main cause of our differences, disputes and quarrels is lack of Tawwadh and over consciousness of “self pride”. Unknowingly we suffer from ‘superiority complex’. We think that we have rights over others, but at the same time disregard the fact that others have rights over us too. We expect others to be dutiful to us, but forget that we owe duties towards others also. We have a frail ego and keep feeding it with over sensitivity about our own importance. We think that we have all the wisdom that there is, and others are less intelligent and so less important. The second flaw in us is the lack of Eesaar, [consideration for others] i.e. the lack of the spirit of sacrifice for a brother by giving him more importance over the self and preferring his need over our own need.
Reconciliation and peaceful conduct of our affairs is very essential for the good of our society. It is a great sin to further the breach and widen the gap of differences between two brothers or two groups. Such a sin generates more sins causing the sinner to sink deeper and deeper into sins. Our faith dictates us to act as a bridge between two estranged brothers, work to ease the tension between them, and help resolve their dispute, bring them closer to each other in peace and harmony, and strengthen the bonds of love.
We should clean our hearts of anger, envy, jealousy, pride, prejudice, rancor, self importance, selfishness, and showmanship. We should evaluate our words, examine our actions and interactions, pay attention to our verbal and non-verbal communication, i.e. body language and continue to be our own unbiased judge. We should build our character on healthy lines, be vigilant to guard our own conduct and continue to purify the heart. We should learn to be polite and humble. We better correct ourselves before jumping to correct others. If we are sure that our brother needs to be corrected, we should then learn the tact and wisdom; choose the right time, the right method and the right words, otherwise our act is bound to be counter productive. Forgetting and forgiving are virtues and we can find these attributes only in a Momin, who is always considerate, generous, gracious, large-hearted, noble and forgiving.
Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an by Haafidh Ibne-Kathir (Rahmahullah) mentions an incident related by Sayyiduna Anas (RadhyAllahu anhu). He says that he once saw Our beloved Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam smiling. Sayyidina Umar (RadhyAllahu Anhu) submitted: “Yaa Rasul Allah, what brought smile to your blessed lips?” He Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam replied: “I saw two people of my Ummah kneeling before Allah Azzawajal.
One person said: “Yaa Allah, I want revenge because this person has oppressed me, i.e. has done wrong to me.”
Allah Azzawajal commands the oppressor to pay the grieved person his due.”
The oppressor submits; “My Lord, I have no single good deed left in my account, to give him exchange for the wrong I did to him.”
Listening to this excuse, the oppressed person requests Allah Azzawajal to have his bad deeds transferred to the account of the oppressor.”
Allah Azzawajal commands the oppressed to look up and see the Paradise.
The oppressed looks up and exclaims: “Yaa Allah, to whom belong these palaces of gold and mansions of silver; they must be for the prophets, the exalted truthful believers, and the martyrs?”
Allah Azzawajal says: “They belong to whoever pays their price.”
The oppressed submits again: “My Lord, who can afford their price?”
Allah Azzawajal responds: “You can pay its price.”
The oppressed submits: “How my Exalted Lord, how?”
Allah Azzawajal replies: “By forgiving your brother.”
Stunned and amazed by the answer, the oppressed submits: “I forgive him my Lord, I forgive him.”
Allah (Azzawajal) commands: “Then hold on to the hand of your brother and both of you enter Paradise.”
Having narrated the incident Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasalla added: “O, People fear Allah; keep reconciled with each other, Allah (SWT) will also reconcile people on the Day of Judgment. [Tafseer ibn Kathir. Vol. 2 p. 269].
May Allah Azzawajal enable us to realize the importance of the gift of life and the countless blessings we have been bestowed with and utilize our time prudently and wisely and the way it pleases Allah Azzawajal and His beloved Messenger Rasulullah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Aameen
