In the present era, It is really being felt that people must get aware of the
Value of Iman and to know what Iman really is? Especially when the Thieves and
Robbers of Iman are everywhere putting the garb (attire) of the Scholars of
Islam, Aalim, Mufti, Hafiz, Teacher, Imam, Doctor, Professor etc. Who are
continuously cropping the deviations and confusions in the minds of a common
Muslims who in their ignorance get deceived by the Insolent and Corrupt Creeds.
May ALLAH Guide us on the Straight Path!
Following are Golden Words by the Great Mujaddid AlaHadrat Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad
Rida Khan al-Qadiri that will surely help us to understand the True meaning of
Iman inshaALLAH!
What is Imaan?
Iman is to accept every word of Sayyiduna RasoolAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa
Sallam as absolute and nothing else but truth and to testify whole-heartedly the
reality and truth of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
One who observes the above would be called a Muslim, that is, if any of his
words, actions or conditions does not reject, insult or falsify Almighty Allah
and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. His relationship with Almighty Allah
and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam must be above all other
relationships. He must love and respect all those who are the beloved of
Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam even though that
person may be his enemy. He must disrespect and hate all those who disrespect
and hate Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam even if that
person may be his beloved son. Whatever he gives should be for Almighty Allah
and whatever he abstains from must be for Almighty Allah. Such a persons Iman is
known as "Kamil" or "Complete".
Sayyiduna RasoolAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam states:
من أحب لله وأبغض لله وأعطى لله ومنع لله فقد استكمل الإيمان
"One who loves for Allah, hates anyone because of Allah, spends for Allah and holds back for Allah, then, indeed, he has completed his Iman." [Sunan Abi Dawood, Vol 2, Page 632 - Hadith 4681]
The Value of Iman
Until such a time a person does not love and respect the exalted Nabi SallAllahu
Alaihi wa Sallam, even though that person worships all his life, his worship is
fruitless and rejected. Numerous Jogees, Monks and Hermits take to seclusion and
spend their lives in the Remembrance of Almighty Allah. Some of them even
indulge in the Zikr of "La ilaha illal lah" (There is no god but Allah), but
they do not respect and love Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. What
benefit is such Ibadah? Almighty Allah states in the Holy Quran:
وقدمنا الى ما عملوا من عمل فجعلناه هباء منثورا
"And We turned all the deeds they had performed into scattered floating specks of dust." [Furqan 25:23]
In another verse concerning such worshipers, Almighty Allah states:
عاملة ناصبة ۔ تصلى نارا حامية
"Laboring, striving hard. (Yet) Going into the blazing fire." [Ghashiyah 88:3/4]
Say, O Muslims! Does the dependence of Iman, serenity, survival and acceptance
of deeds depends on the love and respect for the glorious Prophet of Allah
SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam or not? Say "YES" and certainly, YES!
The Validity of Iman on Two Important Points
(A) Respect for Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, and
(B) To love him above all creation within the universe.
The correct method to put this to test is to see that all those whom you love
and respect, for example, Father, Teacher, Children, Brother, Murshid, Molvi,
Mufti, Hafiz, Lecturer, Imam, or Friends, etc., if they at any time show the
slightest disrespect for the Station of Sayyiduna Muhammadur Rasoolullah
SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, then there must not remain an atom of love and
respect for that person in your heart. Such an insolent person should be totally
severed from family and community. His name should cause great discomfort to
you. His knowledge or status should be absolutely rejected and discarded. After
all, your respect and connection with him was due to his respect for Rasoolullah
SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. Now that he insults the very reason of respect what
more is left to have any reasons to respect such an audacious person.
On the other hand, if you accepted or observed silence to his insult to
Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, kept good friends with him, did not
regard him as wretched, shameless and mean-spirited and liked his condemnation,
the, by Allah, with great justice, analyze where do you stand in the test of
Iman!
Dear Muslims! Is it
possible that the heart that contains the love and honour of the master of the
universe, Sayyiduna Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, could ever tolerate
insults to him, though it may be his Ustaz, Murshid or father? Would the heart
that extremely loves the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam above all
creation, ever respect or love one who belittles the unique and faultless
Prophet of Allah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, even though it may be his own
child or intimate friend?
Brothers and Sisters in Islam! The reason for showing respect to a learned
scholar or Alim is that he is a Waris (Inheritor) to the Knowledge of
Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. Is that person the Waris of Rasoolullah
SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam or is that person a Shaitan who goes astray from the
path of righteousness? In the former, his respect was the respect of Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, and, in the latter, his respect was for
Shaitan. This is the case when an alim goes astray, like the Ulema of un-Islamic
belief. Then, what can be said about that person who commits Kufr? To regard
such a person as Alim-e-Deen is Kufr itself!
A million regrets on him who claims to be a Muslim but respects and regards his
Ustaz greater than Almighty Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. O
Allah! With the true respect and mercy of your beloved Habeeb SallAllahu Alaihi
wa Sallam, grant us true Iman. Ameen!
Steadfastness in Belief
Salvation depends on the fact that every single belief of the Ahle Sunnah Wa
Jamah be so firm that one will remain firm even is the sky and the earth
vanishes. One must have great fear for his belief at all times. The Ulama of
Islam state that:
"One who does not fear that his Iman may be taken away, would be stripped of his Iman at the time of death."
Sayyiduna Umar Faruq (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) states:
"If a voice calls out from the sky that all the people of the earth are forgiven but one, I would fear that the one would be me, and if the voice calls out that all the people on earth are dwellers of Hell but one, I will hope that the one be me."
The status of "Khouf" (Fear) and "Raja" (Hope) must have a balance as displayed
by Sayyiduna Umar Faruq (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu).
— — —
All good is from Allah
Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless
all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu Alaihi
wa Sallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be
good and do good. May we live in this World with extreme protection of Iman
and leave this world having our Iman safe and sound. May ALLAH keep us away
from the tricks and hypocrisy of hypocrites; May ALLAH guide us to the path
of those whom HE have favored. Keep us safe and away from those who have
earned HIS anger and of those who have gone astray... Aameen!!