MAWAIZ-E-ASHRAFIA
Khutbaat-e-Hakeemul Ummat:
Aadaab-e-Insaaniat
--Aadaab-e-Insaaniat--
Islam in the Disguise of Desires
(a verse from the Qur'an has been recited)
The translation of this verse is,
“Oh Da’wood (David) alayhis salaam (Peace be upon Him), Undoubtedly! We made you the Guide on the land; So decide amongst the people with truth and justice and do not follow your base desires. They will misguide you from the path of Allah. Undoubtedly! Those people who have gone astray from the path of Allah await a very severe punishment due to their forgetfulness of the Day of Judgment.”
ISLAM IN THE DISGUISE OF DESIRES
In this verse, although the only individual addressed is Prophet Da’wood (David) alayhis salaam (Peace be Upon Him), the subject matter is general for all. There is no particularity to Prophet Da’wood (alayhis salaam) in that respect. In fact, the specific address to Prophet Da’wood (alayhis salaam) makes the counsel of this verse even vaster. Because when those of a higher position are addressed, sustaining their merit and respect, and warned on a particular matter, then those under them are automatically addressed.
If a doctor, for example, orders a person of good health to refrain from eating a particular food because it is detrimental for his health, then it is understood that a patient of poor health needs to abstain from this food as well. Prophet Da’wood (alayhis salaam) is addressed here in the same manner. When Prophet Da’wood (alayhis salaam), despite being a Prophet, must take heed of this command, and since the matter holds no particularity to Prophethood, others should automatically consider this command applicable to them. The command which Prophet Da’wood alayhis salaam has been cautioned of in this verse is to control your desires and not to act upon whatever your base desires pull you towards.
It is obvious that Da’wood (alayhis salaam) is a Prophet and additionally, he is a Prophet who was bestowed a Heavenly Book. The Heavenly Book Zaboor was revealed to him. Prophets, with those Respected Prophets in particular who were revealed a Heavenly Book, are very pure and chaste in their dealings and all their actions are civilized and well mannered. Despite this, they are still cautioned to refrain from following their desires even though their Nafs is completely well behaved. Even if there are desires in them, they are not evil desires. Then we, who are head to toe, divulged in filth, if we follow our base desires, we will indeed reach the highest level of destruction. (May Allah save of from this condition. Amin)
The reason for confronting this matter today is that only that matter is worthy of lecture and explanation which is critical. Although all commands in Shari’at are critical, as the times and condition of the society change, certain commands become more dignified and vital as compared to others. Just as if a doctor told his patient not to eat sour mangoes outside of the mango season (where mangoes are not even available). This order is indeed suited for the patient’s condition, but at this time, to order such a restriction is redundant altogether. At this time, that thing should be restricted which is harmful and also present at the time.
In the same way, an Advisor has the Right to lecture towards the reformation of a spiritual disease which he finds present within the society at the time. And if there are several spiritual diseases, then he should give precedence to that matter which is most crucial amongst them. And the time to lecture in complete detail on these laws would be when there is a student seeking this knowledge present before him. For example, while reading Hidaayah*, one reaches to the chapter of Hajj in the month of Rabi Uthaaani, the need for this at this time would not be questioned because the sequence in the book is aimed to give knowledge of the entire Islamic Law. But if there is someone who is specifically going on Hajj, and only at this time, this specific chapter and detailed lecture on Hajj would be vital. If someone is going on Hajj the aim would be to master this particular subject matter of Hajj as opposed to the general lecture, where the universal aim (to get general knowledge of Islam) is focused upon. The goal of this audience here is not to master any particular topic nor is it to become a scholar. Rather, fundamental spiritual reformation and improvement in Islam (Deen) is sought.
On the basis of this consideration and rule I always find such a topic worthy of lecture which is crucial at this present time for all. Foremost, I had the thought that of all spiritual diseases in which there is a universal ordeal, the compliance to our desires is also present. And this is the reality and cause of all spiritual diseases and in which the uninformed society as well as the scholars are equally involved. In other words, not only the average individual but also those scholars who are considered saintly and devout are engaged in this disease. If we search deep in our hearts, I swear to Allah that you will find a very small portion within yourself that is compliant to Shari’at (Islamic Law). You will primarily see yourself following your desires. Because things on which we argue with Shari’at, are really stimulated and often caused by our desires. Following Shari’at is merely a deception.
Nafs (pl. Anfus or Nufus) lexically means soul, the ego, self, life, person, heart or mind. By its very nature it directs its mankind towards every wrong action.
© Mawaiz-e-Ashrafia.com - - - 1427 Hijri
Email: aster1sk@msn.com
-Last updated Jun 18 2006-