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

In Surah Taubah (Repentance) Allah Ta’ala says,

“So, their wealth and their children should not attract you. In fact, Allah intends to punish them with these in this lowly life and that their souls should depart while they are disbelievers.” (9:55)

In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said,

“On waking up in the morning, if a person has these three things, that he is unafraid in his abode (meaning he is safe in his home and has no fear of any enemies or cruel people in power), that there is nothing wrong with his body (in that he has no illnesses and is healthy), and that he has enough food to sustain him for one day, then it is as if he has been blessed with the whole world with all its material wealth.”

In this Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  has advised us to do two things, to keep doing Shukr (thanks) to Allah Ta’ala, and to avoid being ungrateful.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah RAA that once when he came out of his home in the afternoon, he saw Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with them) walking. When he asked where they were going, they said that they were hungry but there was nothing to eat at home. Therefore, they thought they will do some manual labour and earn some money to buy food with. In a short while the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  also came out of his home. When he asked them what had brought them put of their homes, they replied that “O’ Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, hunger has brought us out of our homes”. The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said, “I have come out for the same reason”. Then the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  suggested that they go to one of his Ansari friend’s orchard. The Ansari Sahabiwasn’t there but his wife was. When she learnt that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and Hazrat Abu Bakr and Umar RAA had come, she was greatly pleased. She slaughtered a goat, and served the meat of that goat, and fresh dates and cold water to her guests.

Once they had all finished eating, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  said, “These great blessings that Allah Ta’ala granted us today; such good food, good water, the excellent shadow of the dates trees we are sitting under, these are the blessings that Allah Ta’ala has talked about in the Holy Quran that We will ask you in the Aakhirah (Hereafter) that We gave you so many blessings, how did you utilize them?”

Once the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  was going somewhere. He saw a Sahabi repairing his hut. When he got near he asked, “What are you doing?” The sahabi said, “My hut had become damaged. I am repairing it.” The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم  didn’t tell him not to do it, he just said,

"ما اری الامر ا ّلا اعجل من ذلک"

that the time of death is going to come even sooner than that.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RAA) that the Holy Prophetﷺ  said that look at people who are financially less well off than you and do not look at people who are richer than you, and who are financially better off than you.

In a Hadith Qudsi Allah Ta’ala says;

“If son of Adam gets a valley full of gold, then he would want to get another such valley. When he would get two valleys, he would want another one.” Then Allah Ta’ala further said, “Nothing will fill the tummy of son of Adam except the soil of the grave.”

In another Hadith, this saying of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has been narrated as “in matters of Dunya (material possessions) look at the person who is less well off than you, that you have been given many blessings that he hasn’t been given, and thank Allah Ta’ala for those blessings, and do not look at the person who is materially better off than you. However, in the matters of Deen (religion) look at people who are ahead of you, and feel envious of them that they have made so much progress on the path of religion which I haven’t. This way you will get motivation to make progress in religion. So, in matters of Deen look at the person above you, and in the matters of Dunya (worldly matters) look at the person below you. This way you will improve your lot both in this world and the Hereafter.

In the Holy Quran Allah Ta’ala says;

“Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good counsel. And argue with them in the best of manners…” (16:125)

When Allah Ta’ala commanded Hazrat Musa (Moses) AS to go to Pharaoh’s court, He advised Hazrat Musa and Hazrat Haroon AS;

“So speak to him in soft words. May be, he accepts the advice or fears (Allah)…” (20:44)

Once the Holy Prophet ﷺ was sitting in Masjid Nabvi with the Holy Companions when a Bedouin came. He prayed two Raka’at and then made a supplication, “O Allah! Show your mercy towards me and the Holy Prophet ﷺ, and do not show mercy towards anyone else.” The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, “You have narrowed Allah Ta’ala’s great mercy.”

After a short while the Bedouin sat down on the floor of Masjid Nabvi and started passing urine. When the holy Companions saw him doing this they ran to stop him and started telling him off. The Holy Prophet ﷺ stopped his companions from doing so and said, “don’t stop him now, let him finish”. When he had finished, the Holy Prophet ﷺtold the Holy Companions to wash and clean the Mosque. Then he gently told the Bedouin that the Mosque is not meant for this purpose, it is Allah Ta’ala’s home so we should keep it clean. Thus he taught him gently and with affection. Today if someone passes urine in the mosque, people would most likely get physically violent towards him. On the other hand, the Holy Prophet ﷺ did not even scold him.

Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (RAA) has narrated that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said;

“If a person amongst you sees some bad deed being done, then he should change that bad deed with his hand, meaning that he should not just stop that bad deed but change it into a good deed. If he does not have the power and the authority to stop that bad deed, then the second degree is that he should change it with his tongue. It means that he should say to whoever is committing that bad deed that ‘please, what are you doing is not good. Please come towards doing good deeds.’ And if a person does not even have the power to say so, then he should change that bad deed with his heart, meaning he should believe in his heart that what is being done is a bad deed. About this third stage, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that this the weakest stage of Iman (faith).”

In Surah Al-Asr, Allah Ta’ala has set out a general principle;

“…man is in a state of loss indeed, except those who believed and did righteous deeds, and exhorted each other to follow truth, and exhorted each other to observe patience.” (103:2-3)

In a Hadith while narrating the story of a people, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that because those people were engaged in all sorts of sins, Allah Ta’ala decided to punish them. Allah Ta’ala ordered the angels to turn their town upside down to destroy them. Hazrat Jibra’il (Gabriel) (peace be upon him) asked, “O Allah. You have ordered to destroy this nation and You have not exempted any of its residents from that destruction. However, there is one person in that town who I know has never disobeyed You even for one moment. He has spent his entire life in obedience and Ibadah (acts of worship), and has never committed a sin. Should that person be killed too?” Allah Ta’ala replied, “Yes, destroy the whole town and kill him too. It is because he kept committing good deeds, and remained busy in Ibadah. However, when sins were committed by others, he never raised an eyebrow seeing those sins being committed. He never considered any of those sins wrong. He never took any actions to stop any of those sins from being committed. Therefore, destroy him with his people.”

In another verse of the Holy Qur’an Allah Ta’ala says;

“And beware of a scourge that shall not fall only on the wrongdoers from among you…” (8:25)

What this verse refers to is that the punishment will not be for sinners only. It will also fall on those people, as referred in other verses and Ahadith, who were not sinners themselves, but they kept watching other people commit sins but did not feel bad about it, and did not say a word, or raise a finger, to try to persuade others to refrain from sins.

In the days of Hazrat Omar Farooq RAA a preacher used to give sermons in Masjid-e-Nabvi. Hazrat Aisha’s house was adjacent to Masjid-e-Nabvi. Even though there was no loud speaker in those days but that person used to deliver sermons in a very loud voice which disturbed Hazrat Aisha RAA when she did her Zikr, recitation of the Quran, or was busy in her other household chores. Hazrat Aisha RAA requested Hazrat Omar Farooq RAA to ask this preacher not to give sermons with such a loud voice so close to her house. Hazrat Omar RAA advised that person not to give his sermons at that particular place as it disturbed Hazrat Aisha RAA. The preacher stopped, but as he was very fond of giving sermons he restarted after a few days. When Hazrat Omar RAA heard about this, he called that preacher and said, “I am forbidding you for the last time. If I hear again that you have given a sermon at this spot I will break my cane on your back.”

In a Hadith, it has been narrated that the Holy Prophet ﷺ was asked about a woman who fasted whole day, prayed whole night, but caused a lot of distress and suffering to her neighbours. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said that she will go to Hell. While explaining this Hadith، Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi RE used to say that this Hadith strictly forbids causing harm and distress to other people, and clarifies that not causing harm to other people takes precedence over Ibadah (acts of worship).

CAUSING DISTRESS TO ONE’S FAMILY MEMBERS

These days we have become very careless about the rights and feelings of our close family members. Even those people who are polite to their acquaintances, take their close family members for granted and think that if any of my behaviours is causing distress to my wife, or my child, or my brother or sister, then so what. Because they are my close family members, therefore, I somehow have a right to hurt their feelings or cause them distress. This is a great misperception and mistake. The Holy Prophet  ﷺused to be so careful about it that at the time of Tahajjud he did everything very quietly so as not to wake up Hazrat Aisha RAA. Please remember that just like it is a major sin to cause distress to or harm strangers, similarly, it is a major sin to cause distress to or harm one’s close family members.

CAUSING MENTAL DISTRESS TO OTHERS

Hazrat Thanvi RE used to say that in this Hadith causing harm through bodily actions of hand and tongue has been mentioned. However, if one does something through one’s hand or tongue which causes psychological or mental distress to someone, then that is included within the meaning of this Hadith. For example, a person takes a loan from someone and promises that I will return this loan to you at this time or within this duration. If he is then unable to repay the loan within this duration then he should let the lender know clearly that he will be unable to repay the loan within the promised timeframe, and give the lender a clear idea of when he would be able to return it. It is not permissible to keep making vague promises, or to not let him know that you are unable to return it. The poor lender keeps waiting that he will get his money back today or tomorrow, and the borrower neither returns his loan, nor lets him know when he will return it. This way the borrower is causing the lender mental anguish as he cannot make any plans about using that money because he has no idea when, or even if, he will get his money back. Such behaviour is as Haraam as causing physical harm to someone.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said;

“Like for others what you would like for yourself.”

In a Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ said, 

“the thing that will most commonly make people fall face down in Jahannam (Hell) is their tongue”.

HURTING NON-MUSLIMS IS EQUALLY WRONG

In this Hadith, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said that a true Muslim is one whose hands and tongue other Muslims are safe from. Because of that wording sometimes people misunderstand that in this Hadith Muslims have been prohibited from harming other Muslims only, and that this Hadith does not prohibit them from causing harm to non-Muslims. This is not correct. In this Hadith only Muslims have been mentioned because in most places where Muslims lived then, they generally came across other Muslims only. Otherwise, this commandment applies equally to Muslims and non-Muslims, that in conditions of peace it is as strictly prohibited to cause harm to a non-Muslim as it is to another Muslim. If there is a declared Jihad between a Muslim state and a non-Muslim state that is a separate matter, but hurting non-Muslims from nations who are not at war with a Muslim government is also prohibited under this Hadith.

It is narrated in the Holy Quran that when Hazrat Musa AS (Moses) lived in Egypt under the reign of Pharaoh, and the whole nation besides Hazrat Musa AS was involved in disbelief (Kufr), there was a fight between an Israelite and an Egyptian. Hazrat Musa AS punched that Egyptian which unintentionally resulted in his death. Even though that Egyptian was a non- believer Hazrat Musa deemed his death a sin for himself and said,

“Moreover, they have (levelled) a charge of offence against me, and I fear they will kill me;” ]26:14[

The question is that the Egyptian was a non-believer, and killing a non-believer is part of Jihad. Then why did Hazrat Musa AS deem it a sin for himself and did Istighfar (asking Allah Ta’alah for forgiveness)?

Hazrat Thanvi RE said that the reason was that even though that Egyptian was a non-believer but at that time the Israelites and the Egyptians were living in peace with each other. If Muslims and non-Muslims are living with each other and there is peace between them, then non-Muslims have all the same rights under Shariah for their worldly affairs as do Muslims. Just like it is unlawful under Shariah to cause any sort of harm to a Muslim, similarly it is unlawful under Shariah to cause any sort of harm to a non-Muslim, as it is their basic right as a human being. The first duty of a person is to become a good human being. Becoming a Muslim and a Sufi comes next, and it is a basic rule of humanity that a human being should not cause harm to another human being. The rights of Muslims and non-Muslims are no different in this regard.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ said;

“A true Muslim is one whose actions and words other Muslims are safe from.”

There are five facets or components of Islam;

(1) Aqa’id (beliefs), for example, Allah Ta’alah is the one and only God, and Muhammad ﷺ is His last Prophet and Messenger

(2) Ibadat (acts of worship), for example, Namaz (Salah), Fasting (Saum), Zakat and Hajj,

(3) Ma’amlat (financial transactions), this includes all buying, borrowing and selling,

(4) Ma’ashrat (how we should interact with people we come across in our daily lives), and

(5) Akhlaq (purification of internal attributes), meaning we are required to acquire certain positive internal or spiritual attributes like Tawazu (humility), Ikhlas (purity of intention) and Zuhud (not having love of material wealth), and get rid of certain negative internal attributes like Takabbur (believing one to be superior to others), Riya (ریا impurity of intention), and Hasad (حسد jealousy) etc.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ said that if a person forgives another person, then Allah Ta’ala will forgive him on the day he will need forgiveness most (the Day of Qiyamah).

In Quran Karim Allah Ta’ala says;

“And if one observes patience and forgives, it is, of course, one of the courageous conducts.” (42:43)

In another verse the Holy Quran says;

“Repel (evil) with what is best, and you will see that the one you had mutual enmity with will turn as if he were a close friend.” (41:34)

And in the very next verse adds,

“And no one is blessed with this (attitude) but those who observe patience, and no one is blessed with this (attitude) but a man of great luck.” (41:35)

Once Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) became angry with his slave. He uttered some words cursing that slave under the influence of that anger. The Holy Prophet ﷺ who was coming from behind, heard that curse. He said,

“You are a Siddiq and you curse too. I swear upon the God of Ka’abah that this can’t be.”

As soon as Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq RAA heard the Holy Prophet ﷺ say that a Siddiq does not curse, he immediately said, “O Prophet of Allah ﷺ. I grant this slave his freedom.”

In a Hadith, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said to Hazrat Aisha (may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with her),

“Softness makes everything beautiful, while if softness is taken out of something this makes it flawed.”

In the characteristics of the Holy Prophet ﷺ mentioned in Torah and Inji’l, one of the sentences is,

“He will neither be vulgar, nor will he use foul language, he won’t be one of those who raise their voices in the Bazar, rather he will be forgiving and forbearing.”

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Masud RAA has narrated that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“A Momin does not taunt, does not wish others bad luck, does not use vulgar language, and does not speak harshly.”

While giving a sermon at the time of his last Hajj, the Holy Prophet ﷺ asked the Sahabah (Holy Companions), “What day is it in which I am talking to you?” The Sahabah said, “O Rasool Allah ﷺ! This is the Day of Arafah.” Then he asked, “What is this place where I am standing?” The Sahabah said, “This is the Holy Haram.” Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ asked, “Which. Month is it in which I am delivering this sermon?” The Sahabah replied, “This is the Holy month of Zul Hijjah.” Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ said,

“O Muslims! Your lives, your property and your honour are as Haraam for each other as this day, this place and this month is Haraam.”

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar RAA narrates that once the Holy Prophet ﷺ was doing Tawaaf (طواف) of Ka’abah. While doing the Tawaaf he said addressing the Ka’abah, “O Baitullah! You are so sacrosanct, so holy, so exalted.” Then, addressing Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar RAA he asked, “Do you know of something that is even holier, even more exalted, than Baitullah?” Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar RAA replied, as the Sahabah always replied, “Allah Ta’ala and his Messenger know best.” The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, “I will tell you about one thing that is even holier than the Ka’abah. It is a Muslim’s life, his property, and his honour. If a person unduly harms any of these it is like he is demolishing the Ka’abah.”