USMANI DISCOURSES. English translation of talks by Mufti Taqi Usmani DB.

In a Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“I give the guarantee for getting that person a home in the middle of Jannah who gives up a dispute despite being in the right.”

In a Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, “If two Muslims draw swords at each other to fight and one of them kills the other, then both the killer and the one who was killed will go to Jahannam (Hell).”

The Sahabah asked, “O Prophet of Allah ﷺ. The killer will go to Jahannam because he unjustly killed another Muslim, but why would the person who was killed go to Jahannam?”

The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied, “Because he also intended to kill.”

The Holy Prophet ﷺ did not tolerate division between Muslims at any cost. He said, “O subjects of Allah! Become brothers to each other.”

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, لیس الکذاب الذی ینمی خیراً

It means that if a person says something which is on surface inaccurate, to increase love and affection between two Muslims and to remove enmity between them, then he won’t be considered a liar.

It is narrated in a Hadith that sometimes Iblees conducts his court over a sea and all his minions report their activities in that court. One satan comes and says that one person was going to perform Salah. I made him preoccupied with something as a result of which he could not go for his Salah and missed it. Iblees says well done. Then another satan comes and says that one person intended to fast. I made him change his mind and he did not fast. Iblees says well done. The third satan comes and says that a person wanted to give some money in Sadaqah. I changed his circumstances so that he refrained from giving it. Iblees says well done.

In the end a Satan comes and says, “There was a couple who were living happily with each other. I have created such great conflict between them that they have split up and now cannot even bear to look at each other’s faces.” Upon hearing this Iblees stands up from his throne and hugs him and says, “You are my true successor. You have done the kind of work that I truly want you all to do.”

Hazrat Abul Darda (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) has narrated that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“Should I tell you about a status which is even more exalted than Salah (Namaz), Sawm (fasting) and Sadaqah (charity)?”

The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them all) got intrigued and said, “O Prophet of Allah ﷺ! Do tell us about that act so that we perform it and as a result Allah Ta’ala grant us even more thawab (reward in the Hereafter) than these acts of worship.” After that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“That act is resolving disputes between people.”

In the next sentence, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“Interpersonal discord, hatred and conflicts shave things off.”

In another Hadith, while elaborating upon this, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“I do not say that these interpersonal conflicts shave off your hair. Rather, these conflicts shave off your Deen.”

MISSING JAMA’AT FOR RESOLVING A DISPUTE

The Holy Prophet ﷺ led the Salah in Masjid Nabvi his entire life. Obviously, who could lead the Salah in his presence, and who could be more punctual in coming for Jama’at (congregation for Salah) than the Holy Prophet ﷺ? In his entire life there was only one occasion when the Holy Prophet ﷺ could not come to Masjid Nabvi for Salahand Hazrat Abdul Rahman Ibn Auf (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) led the Salah. The reason for not being able to reach Masjid Nabvi for that particular Salah was that the Holy Prophet ﷺ had been informed that a dispute had arisen between two groups of Muslims in a tribe. The Holy Prophet ﷺ had gone to that tribe to resolve their dispute and to restore peace between them. This took so long that the time of next Salah came. When the Sahabah (companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ) saw that he was not present, then Hazrat Abdul Rehman Ibn Auf (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) led the prayer.

In his entire life this was the only occasion when the Holy Prophet ﷺ could not come to Masjid Nabvi at the time of Salah in times of health. And the reason for that was that he had gone to resolve disputes and end discord between Muslims. The Noble Quran and Hadith are full of commandments that disputes and discord between Muslims should not be tolerated at any cost, and as soon any conflict arises every effort should be made to resolve it because these conflicts destroy a person’s Deen.

Hazrat Farooq Azam (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) used to patrol the city at night to keep an eye on what people were doing. One day early morning he heard a mother and daughter talking. The mother was saying to her daughter, “Milk the cow, and then because our cow is not giving much milk these days add some water to it.” The daughter said, “But mother, the Amir (Caliph) of Muslims has issued a decree that no one should add water to milk.”

The mother said, “Yes I know that the Caliph has issued that edict but he is not here. If you add some water to the milk he won’t know about it.” The Daughter said, “Mother. You are right. He is not here and he will not learn about it. But the One who is above him is watching and He will know about it. How can I do it then?”

Hazrat Omar RAA listened to this whole exchange between mother and daughter. In the morning he found out who the girl was and got his son married to her. Hazrat Omar ibn Abdul Aziz (may Allah Ta’ala bless him) who is also known as Omar the 2nd was born from the lineage of this couple.

There is only one way of developing that preoccupation with the Hereafter, and that is that we adopt the companionship (Suhbat) of those who have already developed this worry about the Hereafter, this fear of having to account for all their own actions in this world in front of Allah Ta’ala one day.

It was this companionship (Suhbat) which had transformed the Holy Companions (Sahabah) of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. These were the same people who, before the advent of Islam, were killing each other for trivial matters. History reports about wars going on between tribes of Arabs before the dawn of Islam for decades, over chicken, cattle and water wells. But once they started benefitting from the companionship of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, their love of their material possessions subsided to such an extent that they left all their belongings, their possessions, their wealth, in Makkah Mukarramah to migrate to Medinah Munawwarah to be in the company of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.

When the Muslims migrated from Makkah Mukarramah to Medinah Munawwarah, the Ansar (original residents of Medinah) said to them, “you are our brothers. We will split our lands. You take half of it and we will keep the other half.’ The Muhajirin (migrants) said, “No! We won’ take your lands like that. However, we will work hard on your lands, and we will split the produce.” This shows how they had completely lost their love for material wealth.

Once the Sahabah (Holy Companions) (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with them) were engaged in Jihad. At that time someone recited a Hadith that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“If a person martyrs themselves in the way of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala grants them a high status in Paradise (Jannah).”

A Sahabi asked, “Did you hear this Hadith directly from the Holy Prophet ﷺ?” The other Sahabi said, “Yes I did, my ears heard it, and my heart remembered it.” The first Sahabi said, “Then it is Hara’am for me to stay away from Jihad.” He picked up his sword and entered the army of the enemy. He got shot in the chest with an arrow. The first words he said upon seeing blood flowing out of his chest were, “I swear by the Master of the Ka’abah. I succeeded today.”

In the Holy Quran Allah Ta’ala says;

“But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is much better and much more durable.” (87:16-17)

THE THREE KINDS OF WORLDS

Allah Ta’ala has created three kinds of worlds. The first is the one in which only happiness and joy exist. There is perfect bliss in this world. There is no worry or anxiety there. That world is Paradise (Jannah).

The second kind of world that Allah Ta’ala has created is a place for sadness and anxiety only. There is only suffering and sorrow in that world. There is no happiness there. That place is Hell (Jahannam). May Allah Ta’ala keep all of us safe from going there. Aameen

The third kind of world Allah Ta’ala has created is this world in which we are living now. In this world happiness and sorrow are intermixed. In it there are times when we experience distress, and there are times we experience happiness and joy. If a person wishes that they only experience joy and happiness, that they do not come across any distress any anxiety, in this world, then they do not understand the true nature of this world, as this is not possible here.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ said;

“Among people, the Prophets experience the most suffering, and then people who are closest to them.”

The Holy Prophet ﷺ said;

“Remember the thing that kills all pleasures, that is death, frequently.”

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophetﷺ  said,

“Whoever eats through hurting a Muslim, Allah Ta’alah will feed him fire from Hell

(Jahannam) equal to the weight of that food.”

This Hadith is referring to situations where a person earns their income by causing some sort of harm to another person. This includes, for example, making a living by taking bribes, or defrauding people, or forcing someone to hand their money over against their wishes.

In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that none of you should take possessions of your friends or acquaintances, either in jest or in seriousness. If an item belongs to another person we are not allowed to use it or take possession of it without their permission, or in fact without their ‘happiness of heart’(طیبِ خاطر). Even if that person is a close friend or relative we are not allowed to start using their stuff unless they happily allow us to do so.

In another Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“It is not Halal to take or use the property of a Muslim unless he permits it willingly.”

Once Imam Abu Hanifah advised his student Imam Abu Yusuf (may Allah have mercy on them),

“When you buy or rent something, pay more than what other people pay, so that ‘Ilm’ (knowledge) and Deen (religion) are not devalued because of your paying less.”

Similarly, when one is collecting donations for any noble cause one should be very mindful that it is not collected under pressure or duress. Even if this collection is for a religious cause, like for a Madrassah, a Masjid, or Jihad or Tableegh, if it is collected under even the least bit of pressure it becomes Haraam. Hazrat Thanvi Rehmatullah Elaih used to say that sometimes such institutions engage people of a high social status to collect donations on their behalf, so that potential donors would feel compelled to contribute. This is using one’s social status to put pressure, and if the person contributes because they feel pressured, rather than because they wanted to contribute happily, such donation becomes Haraam.

In the next sentence the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“Even if you have borrowed a walking stick from someone, you should return it.”

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar Razi Allah Anhu has narrated that the Holy Prophet ﷺ has said;

“One of the actions liked by Allah Ta’alah is making a Muslim happy.”

Even though this is a weak Hadith in terms of its authenticity, but the subject of this Hadith is supported by other Ahadith and evidences. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has made it clear in many Ahadith and through his own behaviour that making any Muslim happy greatly pleases Allah Ta’alah.

In a Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ has described several types of Sadaqah (charity). In this Hadith he has also described a number of actions as being Sadaqah too, meaning that a person will get the same thawab (merits) on performing those actions as they would have on giving charity. In the end of that Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ said;

“It is also a Sadaqah that you meet your brother with a smile on your face.”

PREACH SOFTLY

It is hugely important that when a person does Tableegh (peaching), they take care that they do not hurt anyone’s feelings deliberately and do not cause any offence. They talk to people politely, with sympathy, love, affection, and care for them. They should do so purely with an intention to please Allah Ta’alah. The purpose should not be to vent one’s anger against someone. However, if a person refrains from preaching even in a soft and polite manner for the fear that it will hurt other people’s feelings, that thinking is not correct. Because trying to please Allah Ta’alah takes precedence over trying to please all of His creations.

In the third sentence, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said,

“On the Day of Qiyamah (Doomsday) Allah Ta’ala will hide the mistakes of the Muslim, who hid the mistakes of other people.”

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said;

“if a person shames his brother for a sin he had repented from, he will not die till he commits that sin himself.”

In the fourth sentence, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said;

“if a person travels or covers some distance with the purpose of learning about Deen (religion), then Allah Ta’ala will make the pathway to Jannah (Paradise) easy for him because of that travel.”

In the next sentence the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said;

“Allah Ta’ala mentions these people who have gathered for his Zikr (remembrance), in His own gathering that these people have gathered solely for the purpose of remembering Me, talking about Me, and to listen about My Deen, and mentions that gathering in front of the angels around Him.”

In a Hadith-e-Qudsi the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Allah Ta’ala says, “The person who does My Zikr(Remembrance) in isolation, I do his Zikr in isolation, the person who does My Zikr in a gathering I do his Zikr in a better gathering (meaning if he does My Zikr in front of a group of human beings I do his Zikr in front of a group of angels).”

In the last sentence of this Hadith the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said;

“pedigree alone cannot take a person forward who has been left behind because of his actions.”

The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  was sent as a blessing for the whole world. There was a time when the non-Muslims were throwing stones at him and his feet were bleeding. Even then he kept reciting,

“O’ Allah! Please give guidance to my people. They are not aware. They do not know me. They are ignorant and they are doing this in ignorance. O’ Allah! Please provide them with guidance.”

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said that once a person was presented in Allah Ta’ala’s Court. (Eventually all people will be presented in Allah Ta’ala’s Court on the Day of Judgment but may be some people are shown some small sample of that sooner.) Anyways, when he was presented before Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala told the angels to check what good deeds he had performed. When the angels checked his balance sheet of good and bad acts it was found that his balance sheet was almost completely empty of good deeds. He did not perform any Salah, he did not fast, he just spent all his time in conducting his business. However, the angels further said that there was one good deed in his balance sheet, which was that he had advised his employees that if you ever sell something to a person who is poor, then deal with him with compassionately. If you have given him a loan then don’t be too harsh in demanding that loan back, and when it is appropriate just forgo that loan. So, his entire life his practice in business was to give extension to the poor in returning loans, or if appropriate, to forgive that loan completely. Allah Ta’ala will then say that if he dealt with kindness and forgiveness with My people, then I am more deserving of being forgiving to him. Allah Ta’ala will then order angels to send him to Jannah (paradise).

In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said that among the people who have passed before you there was a person who, when selling something, would deal kindly with people. He would tell a price to a prospective buyer. If the buyer then asked him to reduce the price somewhat then he would agree to sell that item on that reduced price, even if that meant a lower profit for him. Similarly, when he bought something he dealt softly with the seller. When the shopkeeper told him a price he would gently ask the shopkeeper once to reduce the price. He didn’t enter into arguments or wouldn’t fight with the shopkeeper over it, and didn’t force him to reduce the price. After asking gently once he would then buy the item without any further argument. Similarly, when he had to collect money from someone, for example, taking loaned money back, or recovering the price of a sold item, he would deal softly and would tell the borrower to pay back the loan later if he didn’t have the money right then, and would give them an extension. When he died, and was presented before Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala said that because he dealt kindly with my created beings in the world, therefore, I will deal kindly with him now and I forgive him.

This Hadith has been narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah RAA, and in it he has narrated a number of sayings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.

The very first sentence in this Hadith is that the person who relieves one of the hardships being faced by a Muslim in this world, either through his actions, or through getting him help from someone else, this act will earn so much eternal reward for him that in return Allah Ta’ala will remove one of the distresses of the Day of Judgment from him.

In the second sentence the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said that if a person provides relief to a poor person, then Allah Ta’ala will provide relief for him both in this world and the Hereafter.

In Quran Karim Allah Ta’ala has said,

“If there is one in misery, then (the creditor should allow) deferment till (his) ease, and that you forgo it as alms is much better for you, if you really know.” (2: 280)

It means if a borrower is unable to repay the loan on time then the lender should give him extension till his circumstances change and he can easily repay the loan. And if the lender foregoes his loan due to a poor borrower completely, then Allah Ta’ala will count it as charity.

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said that for as long as a person remains busy fulfilling his brother’s needs, Allah Ta’ala will keep fulfilling his needs. (Abu Daud, Kitab al-Adab)

In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said that on the day of Qiyamah (Day of Doom) Allah Ta’ala will relieve misery and suffering of whoever has removed the suffering of another Muslim in this world.

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said that Rahman (one of Allah’s names) is kind to those who are kind to other human beings. If you are kind to those who live on this earth, the One who owns the skies (meaning Allah Ta’ala) will be kind to you.

A person cannot claim to love Allah Ta’ala, and not love His creations. That is the meaning of this verse about Tasawuf;

ز تسبیح و سجاده و دلق نیست

طریقت بجز خدمتِ خلق نیست

meaning that people believe that Tasawuf means always carrying a tasbeeh in one’s hand, always sitting on a prayer mat, wearing a certain kind of dress, but that is not true Tasawuf or Tareeqat. Tasawuf and Tareeqat is nothing but serving and helping Allah’s creations. Allah Ta’ala says that if you claim to love Me, then love My creations and serve them.

Hazrat Mufti Muhamad Shafi (may Allah Ta’ala bless him) used to say that it is not always in a person’s control to increase his income, but it is always in a person’s control to reduce his expenses. If one is being bothered by the mismatch between his income and expenditure, then he should reduce his expenditure to bring it within his means, and be content with what he has. Then all his financial worries would subside.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ has taught us a prayer;

“O’ Allah! Please make me become content with the sustenance you have granted me, and please grant me Barakah (blessing, برکت) in that sustenance”.

Barakah means that a small amount or income goes a long way in fulfilling a person’s needs. It doesn’t just mean an increase in numbers. For example, a person may not earn as much but his family remains healthy, and he does not have overhead expenses, against another person who earns a lot more but his child contracts a serious illness and most of his income gets spent on doctors and medicines. Even though the second person earned more, less of his income was spent on gaining comfort for him. This is what Barakah, or lack of it, means.

In the third sentence the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“O’ Allah! In place of the things I prayed for but didn’t get, please grant me better things which are better for me in Your knowledge.”

So, there are three prayers in this one prayer, please give me contentment, please grant me Barakah, and in place of things I prayed for but didn’t get, please give me things that are better for me in Your knowledge.

In a Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that the true Ghani (غنی) (a person who is carefree with regards to material wealth) is not the person who has lots of money and material possessions. The Ghani of heart is the person whose heart is free of love for material wealth, who does not ask anyone for anything, who does not express his needs in front of other people, and who does not try to accrue wealth through unfair means. He is happy and satisfied with what he has been given, and he is contented that what hasn’t been given to him must not be good for him in Allah’s knowledge, if it was Allah Ta’ala would have given it to him.

Once an angel presented before the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said,

“If you command, the whole of Uhud mountain will be turned into gold, and it will all be your property.”

The Holy Prophet ﷺ declined the offer and said,

“I want to live life this way that if I get something to eat, I eat it after doing Shukr (شکر) (saying thanks to Allah Ta’ala), and if I don’t get something to eat then I do Sabr (صبر) ) (patience), so that I get the blessings of both Shukr and Sabr. And I do not want excess of wealth. I want that Ghina (غنا) that makes me turns towards Allah Ta’ala.”

He, therefore, made the following prayer;

“O’ Allah! I seek refuge from such wealth that shall make me disobedient.”