Reflections

6th waaz – 7th Moharramul Haraam, 1425 H – Dubai

Today was Jumoa.

Jumoa is derived from the Arabic word 'Jama'a', meaning 'to gather'. Jumoa is associated with Rasulallah (SA) because he gathered his ummah to the Kalemah of Tawheed (believing in the oneness of Allah) and called them to monotheism.

On this day Mumineen set aside business and gather for Jumoa Namaaz. The importance of this namaaz is related in a surat of the Quran. - Surat al-Jumoa, which is recited in the Jumoa namaaz. It is stated in this surah that when the azaan is given one should leave aside business and quickly go towards zikrullah.

The second surah prayed in this Namaaz is Surat al-Munafiqoon. Huzurala (TUS) explained that "nifaaq" is derived from the word 'nafaqaa' - a hole of a rodent. This hole has two exits so that if the rodent is pursued from one it escapes from the other. Similarly, munafiqeen are two faced. If one tries to catch their menace they will find another way out.

Within the surat it is written that the munafiqeen take oath that Mohammed is Rasulallah; Allah knows that Mohammed is Rasulallah but Allah bears witness that the munafiqeen are lying.

What they say with their mouths is not what they have in their hearts. Such people exist today as well. Those who say they believe in the Dai Mutlaq but then exhibit their inner opposition to the Dai in various ways. Their oath of believing in the Dai is actually a shield, which allows them to stay within the circle of Dawat. Once in, they spread their nefarious activities, which no one would pay attention to if they didn't claim to believe in the Dai.

Following on from the description of munafiqeen who try to lead us astray from Allah's path, Huzurala (TUS) then spoke of mumineen. Mumineen are like the honeybees described in the Quran; they follow the path of Allah and will not go astray unless nifaaq finds a place in their thoughts.

It is for this reason that bara'at is essential, a total severing of all ties with munafiqeen. Bara'at is a fundamental aspect of our faith and is nowhere better illustrated than in "A'uzobillahis samee'il aleem", which is to plea for protection against the shaitan. Before reciting Quran one should pray "A'uzobillah" first and then "Bismillah".

Huzurala (TUS) emphasized that Mumineen should regularly attend Namaaz in the masjid - especially on Jumoa. There are those who attend one Jumoa and then miss the next. Then they will miss Jumoa twice in a row and then three times. Remarkably there are people who are so negligent of attending the masjid that they never go there and the only time in their life they might see it is in the unfortunate incidence of a death. Likewise, attendance in the majalis of Dawat is incumbent for a Mumin, especially the nine days of Ashara. Some people do not attend the waaz until after the seventh and some not until Aashura itself. They will find themselves bereft of the abundant barakaat of Ashara Mubarakah.

Huzurala (TUS) spoke about the sawab of Tasbih-e-Fatema. It might be difficult to comprehend how there can be thousands of hasanaat in doing this simple Tasbih. Huzurala (TUS) illustrated the accumulation of hasanaat that is achieved by regularly doing this Tasbih by recalling an incident from Rasulallah's (SA) lifetime.

In a desert, Rasulallah (SA) instructed the people who were with him to gather twigs. It seemed unlikely that they would find any, but Rasulallah (SA) insisted they get whatever they could no matter how small. The collection of small twigs became a large pile and Rasulallah (SA) used it to illustrate how small acts of goodness can add up and, similarly, how small acts of sin could become a huge collection. The moral is that, no act of goodness however small and no sin however insignificant it appears should be disregarded.

When Molatena Fatema (AS) was married to Molana Ali (AS) in the heavens she asked as 'mehr' the salvation of Mumineen. This was given to her in the form of promissory notes that hang from Tooba (a tree in Jannat). Each note bears the name of a Mumin and the angels will hand these to each Mumin on the Day of Judgment.

Molatena Fatema's (AS) shahadat begins, in one sense, from the very day of Rasulallah's (SA) shahadat. On that day Rasulallah (SA) told her that she would meet him in just seventy days, which made Molatena Fatema (AS) very happy.

Seventy days later, following tortuous oppression, the day of Molatena Fatema's (AS) shahadat arrived. Molatena Fatema (AS) was emaciated by grief and illness. Barely able to stand, she rose to heat water and bathed, dressed and fed her sons Hasan and Husain (AS). These were to be her last acts of motherly love for her revered sons. She embraced them and they cried in each other's arms before she took their hands and placed them in Molana Ali's (AS). "These are both your sons, they were mine. Whatever rights I had to their nurturing I have now completed; now you must nurture them."

May Allah grant our beloved Aqamola (TUS), Fatemi Dai, a long and healthy life for the nurture of all Mumineen to come until qiyamat.

Ameen