MERCY OCEANS, Book 01 (Shaykh Nazim, 208 pages, 11/12)
https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=5771
ur reward for good actions will be more and more.” Easy work, . . . easy. But, for difficult worship – endless rewards for those who do. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, “In this time, for one sunnah, a person is given the reward of one hundred martyrs!”
A brother commented, “So, it’s a good idea to always carry a turban!”
“Yes!” said Shaykh Nazim.
* * * * * * *
Love is best. This is the way of all Prophets and Awliya. They love Allah Almighty, and for His sake they love all His creatures. Real love is to love all things belonging to the beloved.
There is a story about Layla and Majnun: He became crazy (majnun) for her love. Everything belonging to Layla was lovely to Majnun, even stones and trees! It must be this way with love for Allah Almighty. Everything belonging to Him must be lovely to one who loves or his love will not be true.
Therefore, every Prophet was ready to sacrifice his soul for the servants of his Creator. All Awliya are also following that way. They are looking to servants of Allah with mercy. Not one of the Saints bears any hatred for his fellow servants even though they may be sinners. This way will win victory.
Now we are living in a time when enmity and hatred are reaching their highest degree. People are in need of love. Not the sexual kind; this may be found in animals even more than in people. Love is a grant from Allah Almighty. Some keep it in a precious place, and some put it in a dirty place. Some keep that love for Allah Almighty and some for this dirty life. Some people are keeping their honour; they have families, and honourable wives. They are giving their love to their honourable wives. But some people put that precious love in dirty places.
Now, all people are in need of love for their Lord alone, and we must ask our Lord to give us love – more love. When love comes, so does mercy. The attribute of souls is love. Souls are living in love-oceans.
The attribute of ego is enmity, hatred. Divine armies are coming to fight egos, to fight enmity and hatred. All people are waiting for this Divine Help to reach them so that they may save themselves from the enmity and hatred of egos. This hatred is an endless ocean; we must stop it here!
If anyone claims he is a man from the sons of Adam (peace be upon him), he must understand this lecture and fight for love among all people, and to defeat enmity and hatred among all nations, and among all servants of Allah Almighty.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying that people may be in one of two conditions:
One, the expanded person has an open face, smiling, not solemn or angry.
The second condition is contrary to this. He who is in this condition is angry, sorrowful, and solemn.
Which is lovely for Allah Almighty? The first. Allah likes His servants to be open, expanded, always pleased. If a man is not complaining, if he is smiling under all conditions and carrying only goodness in his heart for others, Allah is pleased with him.
It is the greatest sin, before Allah, to condemn a man without knowledge, without proof, without witnesses. It is ‘su uz-zan’ – a wrong or bad assumption. You must think all people are good. Then, even if your own sins are great, Allah may forgive you easily. No harm for smiling, expanded persons. All badness coming from stern, angry people.
In dark places, you may find poisonous insects. Though a stern, angry person may do as much worship as all people combined, it is not acceptable. He who has a stern face, he who is not thinking goodness for other people, that person is refused from the Divine Presence.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “If a man has troubles from illness, from courts, from poverty, from government – so many troubles – these are punishment for his actions.
“There are two kinds of troubles:
“One kind comes to Prophets and Awliya. It may be of any kind, but it is not the result of their bad actions. They haven’t any bad actions; those troubles come to give them higher degrees.
“The other kind of trouble comes to people for their bad actions, and for the purpose of making them clean. When they have been
punished in this world, there is no punishment in the next world for them.”
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh spoke about the hadith, “The value of actions is according to their difficulties.” He said, “The more difficult an action, the more valuable it is. In our times, one who asks to walk on the straight way may find a very heavy load on his shoulders. Therefore, when one walks the straight way under these conditions, under this heavy load, Allah rewards him accordingly.”
In these times, for keeping one sunnah, Allah gives the reward of one hundred martyrs. Nowadays, people may stay awake in theatres, in discotheques, in cinemas, and in bars and other such places – very enthusiastic, with such power to stay awake all night! But, if anyone will awaken after midnight to pray two rak’ats, he will feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. So difficult will it be for him to awaken! We can feel this heavy load over our bodies. It is the result of living in a time of darkness among people.
‘Futur’ is a kind of tiredness. If a man is walking on the straight way, he always feels tired. But, if he is going on the devil’s way, he is always finding pleasure, not tired. Understand? As much as you are tired for your worship, you have been given more rewards by Allah Almighty.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “If a man is coming into association with Shaykh, or dhikr, or for praying in the masjid, or for a sunnah meeting (jamaat), those persons will be under Divine Protection. Allah’s hand is over a Jamaat (assembly); if they are meeting for a worship, there will be Divine assistance for those people. Even if a man is ready once in a day for such an assembly, Allah will forgive him, and not leave him with any sins on the Judgment Day.
“There will be Divine Protection from everything, even from wars and bombs, for those who are ready for Jamaat, even once in a day. If a man is going to a group that is worshipping according to the advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him), then he will be under the guard of the
Prophet (peace be upon him). If they are going to do something according to our Lord’s order, they will be under the guard of Allah Almighty.”
Our Grandshaykh is giving us good tidings in our time, because we are, nowadays, so weak in our worshipping. So many people are even leaving worship. As much as we are weak, Allah is giving more mercy according to His most beautiful name (known only to Him, and to those who have been given this secret). This mercy is open for us now in our times; whereas it never was before. Therefore, if during twenty-four hours anyone is ready for an assembly (jamaat), even one, Allah promises to keep that servant from all cruelties, badness, and accidents.
* * * * * * *
Rabi’a (may Allah be pleased with her), a great Waliyya, advised us always to ask forgiveness (Astaghfirullah). She said our ‘istighfar’ is always in need of another ‘istighfar,’ and our Grandshaykh tells us about the reality of ‘istighfar’:
“Whenever and wherever a prohibited thing meets you and your nafs want to go after it, you must keep it far away. This is ‘istighfar,’ this is the power of ‘istighfar.’ When a servant asks pardon from his Lord, his Lord not only cleans him, but gives him power to stand firmly against prohibited things. All things for the protection of the ummah.”
* * * * * * *
It is not enough to say, “I am a Muslim.” It is not enough to say ‘shahada’ (the Testimony of Faith). You must keep your organs on the way of lman. You must try and keep your organs far from all actions that are not Muslim; far from haram; far from prohibited things.
When you are looking to a prohibited thing, you are leaving faith. You must quickly ask pardon from your Lord, so that you may return to Islam once again. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) says, “Our eyes make zina (adultery).” We have been ordered to carry our organs into the way of Islam. If a man uses his organs in the way of Allah Almighty, he will have real faith, real Islam.
* * * * * * *
‘Ma la yani’ means, ‘that which does not concern you.’ You must not speak of or act on that which does not concern you. This is the order of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and it is very important in Islam. You must be careful with this point.
Our Grandshaykh told this story to me:
“Once, there was a Wali who had been given the power to listen to the angels’ speaking. One day, that Wali was traveling on his horse when he came to a fountain. He stopped there for a rest, and to renew his wudhu and make prayers.
“When he dismounted, he removed the reins from his horse and said to it, ‘Go, O my fellow! You may enjoy this fine grass here!’
“Suddenly, that Wali heard two angels in discussion. The first angel (the angel on the right-hand side, who writes our good deeds and speech) was saying, ‘I will write those words he spoke to his horse, and credit them to his good deeds.’
“‘No!’ said the angel on the left (responsible For recording our bad deeds and speech), ‘You can’t write this! I must do it.’
“’Why?’ said the angel on the right, ‘Is it a sin, what he said? He spoke only good words to his horse!’
“The angel on the left replied, ‘That is true, but you must know that he spoke about a thing that did not concern him. Is there any horse that needs to be told to enjoy grass? Why did he speak? Allah gave him that tongue. He may use it for useless things (ma la yani) or not. But he has been ordered to speak good, or hold his tongue. Is that horse waiting for his words to eat? I must write this deed as a sin!’
“All the while the Wali had been listening to their conversation. When he heard the words of the angel on the left, he immediately threw himself into sajdah, crying, ‘O my Lord! Forgive me!’
“When Allah Almighty heard his servant asking like that He said to the left-hand angel, ‘Don’t write! Leave it for the other angel because My servant is asking forgiveness, and I accept!’”
Now, for what are these conditions placed upon us? If a man takes care with his speech, Allah Almighty gives Divine Wisdoms to his tongue. That person, who keeps his tongue, will speak only truth and right. He cannot say wrong things at that point.
This may seem a simple thing, to take care with one’s speaking, but it has such strong wisdom. It is so powerful! To him who intends to keep his tongue only for goodness, and not to speak on that which does not concern him, Allah Almighty promises to give Divine Wisdoms to speak. Then you are not in need to read books to learn. Allah gives you, on your tongue, so many Divine Wisdoms. To speak of that which doesn’t concern you makes your Iman weak. When you leave this bad habit, your faith takes more power. You cannot know what concerns you or not, save through your inspirations. Then you may know well what is yours or not.
A murid asked Shaykh Nazim, “How can we know what is true inspiration and what is nafs?”
Mawlana answered, “If it is an inspiration, there is never going to be a doubt in your heart. You will find exact satisfaction. But, if it is from your ego, your conscience will not be at rest.
“Also, when something is from Divine Inspiration, it is not going to leave you until you do it. It will come back again and again. Badness and wrong suggestions from nafs and devils will come for a while, and then go away.”
“Often, maybe, you have the right inspiration. But then you say, ‘Ah, but if l do it, then such and such may happen; so I’d better not do it,’” the murid continued.
“That is wrong, also,” said the Shaykh.
“Also not inspiration?” asked our brother.
“Not inspiration,” repeated Mawlana, . ..That is, the first is inspiration, ordering you to do something. The second one, coming to destroy it, is from your nafs, from Satan; just from Satan.”
* * * * * * * This is an important lesson:
Our Grandshaykh was speaking about good character. He asks,
“What is the attribute of one who has a good character?”
He is also answering for us: “If a man gives you one thousand dollars, and then another one comes and takes it away; if you act differently in front of each then you haven’t good character!
“If you are glad from the first one, and sorry with the second one, it is a sign that you haven’t yet reached good character. If a man has good character, it means he has a strong faith in Allah. He believes that everything that comes to him is coming from Allah.
“He is the Giver, and He Almighty is also the Taker. This is a stronger faith; you must believe this. Allah is the giver, and Allah is the taker. You must know this, and you must believe this. It is the sixth pillar of lman, and it must be with you.
“Also, our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “In the sight of Allah Almighty, the whole world and its treasure is worth only as much as the wing of a mosquito!” So, what about one thousand dollars! If someone gives you the wing of a mosquito is it pleasure for you? And, if someone should take it away are you sorry?
“If a man goes to court against another, it means that the love of this life is yet in his heart, and our Prophet (peace be upon him) says, ‘The worst thing for a person is to like this world and its life.’
“How can we love this life?! We are imprisoned in this world. We may eat, we may drink, but death is waiting for us. If a man is sentenced to death, how can he have enjoyment? He must be crazy to like a life that has death as its end! A man can take everything in this life – endless treasures, money, palaces, everything – but he has been judged for
death. Nothing from this world’s treasures can save him from death. You can be like Alexander the Great, but in the end even he surrendered to death.
“Therefore, if a man has good characters, he cannot like this life. His sight must be on eternal life, not this temporary life. If he is given all the treasures of this world, he is not going to be pleased. If whole treasures are taken from him, he will not be sorry.”
* * * * * * *
My Grandshaykh was describing to me how a real believer must
be:
“His hand must be open. If your hand is open, maybe someone may put something there. Or, maybe someone who is in need may take from there. Don’t have a closed hand. Then, no one may put anything there, nor may anyone take anything. Good character is to have an open hand; something may be put in, something may be taken.
“All problems, all cases in courts, are for this dunya. Good character people are not fighting, or making cases for the treasures of this life. This is because they know that all things in this life are temporary; nothing is permanent. In real faith, this dunya is not a goal, or target.
“Real Islam shows believers the real target – love for Allah. And real Islam is never fought for dunya, never for the treasures of this world, never for this life’s dragon. Because this life is a real dragon, eating all people and never becoming full.
“This dragon doesn’t know kings, presidents, ministers, lords, governors, rich men, commoners; it eats them all, swallows them up! And yet, all people are running after this terrible dragon. Thousands of years have not dulled the hunger of this dragon. It will eat millions of people and ask, ‘What? No more? Give me more! More!’ All people work for it, and in the end it eats them.
“Therefore, clever is he who is working for his Lord’s service. It is he, only, who will be happy and satisfied. Our Prophet (peace be upon
him) called people to their Lord and not after that dragon. But people don’t like to hear this, and run instead after that dragon. They are tired. No rest for them.
“Therefore, none of the Prophets are fighting for this life. They are fighting to save people from this life’s dragon.”
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “There is a method which is necessary for everyone to keep. What is that method?
“First, everyone must know where he is looking, and for what he is looking. Is he looking for his ego’s pleasure, or looking for his Lord’s pleasure? He must distinguish between the two. If he is looking for his Lord’s pleasure, he may look. If he is looking for his ego ‘s pleasure, no permission, no good.
“Second, you must know, when you are speaking, if it is for your ego’s pleasure or for your Lord’s pleasure. You must know what you are going to speak. If you don’t know, don’t speak! You must know that when you speak it will be written by either the angel on the right or the angel on the left. Lf you know that what you say will be written by the angel on the right (good), you may speak or not. If a man is in court, he will be very careful with his words. One word may cause judgment against him, or one word may save him. We must be careful like this.
“Third, we must be careful with our listening. We must know to whom we are listening. If he is going to speak for his Lord’s pleasure, we must listen to him. But, if he is going to speak on his ego’s behalf, it is not good to listen. Perhaps you may hear some words, along your life, that will stay in your memory and give you harm, and it may be that you cannot forget them. Some words are dangerous for listening. You may eat something that is no good for you; yet, you can put your finger in your mouth and take it out. But, you cannot remove bad words from your ears. Therefore, you must be very careful listening.”
* * * * * * *
“What is the biggest dragon, swallowing all our good actions?” asks our Grandshaykh. “What is the biggest dragon, eating all our worshipping?”
He is answering for us: “Everyone, when he is a baby, takes the breast of his mother. Also, there is the pacifier given to babies to keep them from putting their thumb in their mouth. This is a bad habit.
“And so, from childhood up to fifteen years he may take many bad habits. Unfortunately, if he cannot stop them when he reaches the age of maturity, those bad habits will destroy all the goodness he may do. This is the worst terrible dragon for everyone.
“Therefore, we must fight to leave our childhood’s bad habits. You may be ninety-years-old, and yet, if you cannot leave those bad habits, you will be a child. Before reaching maturity, we are too much like animals, because we haven’t responsibility. When we reach the age of our mind’s perfection, we become responsible. It is the first level of perfection for people. Then, you must become perfect in your actions also.”
* * * * * * *
If a man asks to keep deep knowledge and Divine Wisdom (Hikma), he must do three things:
First, he must not walk without wudhu, nor must he touch any book without wudhu.
Second, he must use a miswak (tooth stick); and,
third, he must keep the midnight salat (Tahajjud).
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “What is the biggest sin in the sight of Allah? Allah Almighty created mankind so honourable, and respectful, and lovely to Him Almighty. And then He gave all mankind to Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a trust. All nations have been given to Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the Day of Promise. Therefore, the greatest sin in the sight of Allah is to search out everyone’s faults.
“Our Prophet (peace be Upon him) says, ‘Happiness is for him who is occupied with correcting his own faults, for it keeps him from looking to another’s faults.’ Clear? It is a very big sin to look to others’ faults, and to try to harm people. All troubles, all unsolvable problems, come after looking to another’s faults. A bad habit, indeed!
“He who forgets his own faults,” continues our Grandshaykh, “and looks after other people’s faults, is like a man who says, ‘I am God!’ To be without fault is only for God, not man. All people must have some faults, some more than others.”
“Even Prophets?” asked a brother.
Mawlana answered, “They have been protected (Ma’sum).”
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says that each person, each servant of Allah Almighty, has two positions or duties: One toward their Lord, and one toward other people.
Toward Allah Almighty, his duty is to be Allah’s sincere servant, without asking any reward in this world, or in the next world.
Toward other people we shall, first, love all Allah’s servants. We must keep, in our hearts, love for them without making any difference between them. Allah created His servants clean; they are originally lovely.
You like your children, for example, even if they do wrong things. Allah Almighty created all people originally clean from all badness and evils, and from all kufr. Their essence is clean always. Like a ring that falls into the toilet. You may take it out and wash it, and it will be clean again. The essence of mankind is endlessly precious – the most precious thing in the sight of Allah. Therefore, we like all people because they are the servants of our Lord, and they are our Lord’s creation. That is our first obligation to other people.
Our second obligation, or duty, to people is to help them as much as we can. We must help everyone, according to our Prophet’s Hadith, ‘Help all people, both oppressor and oppressed!’
When our Prophet (peace be upon him) said that, his Sahaba asked, “How can we help Oppressors!”
Replied the Prophet (peace be upon him), “By catching his hand to prevent him from oppressing!
Our third obligation toward other people is to think good of everyone. We must not think bad thoughts about people.
These three characters or attitudes toward others, to love them, to help them, and to think good of them, are wanted from all believers, in fact from all people. They are the sign of high character. Acceptable in the sight of our Lord. Without them, no one can be acceptable in the sight of his Lord. When a person keeps these obligations, he will be rewarded by his Lord in that all people will love him, help him, and respect him. This is the secret of success in our lives, and the meaning of the hadith, “A malukum um malukum” (You will be dealt with according to your actions). So many sins may be forgiven by keeping this. Never harm anyone with your hand or with your tongue!
All non-Muslims living within Islamic communities have the same rights as Muslims. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “Anyone harming a protected servant is harming me!” As we understand this saying so we must keep it. Our Lord’s pleasure is with this character.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says, “We must be careful to take knowledge from everything.” If a man can take wisdom from every event, then he will be most strong in his faith in his Lord. It gives him more power for Divine Knowledge. He may take knowledge even from a donkey’s braying!
You must look to take a secret wisdom from all things. You can find, in each thing, such knowledge as you won’t find in another thing. Islam says, “Look deeply for all things.” It is an order from Allah.
We are not animals. Sheep look – but, if we see the way sheep do, then we are sheep also! Therefore, Allah orders us to look deeply into each thing, into each event, to find a secret wisdom that gives it value. And, our Grandshaykh says, “If you look deeply, you will taste!”
Allah Almighty will give a reward to European people for the discoveries and inventions they have made from looking deeply into things.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says, “Everything that is going to happen in this life has a fixed time. There is, for every event that will happen in this life, an appointed hour. If you ask for an event to happen before its appointed time, you cannot find it. If you ask for it to be delayed, it is impossible also. Not before – not after. Everything must be at that appointed time.”
What is the benefit to know this point? If we know that all events will come in their appointed time, we will be at rest, patient; and patience shows the perfection of man. As much as you are patient, you are perfect; you have strong Iman.
* * * * * * *
Consultation has been ordered. it is not right to do something without consultation. If you are going to consult, it must be with a man in whom you have trust.
It is not consultation to come to a man and say, “I am doing something now, I am going somewhere now; what do you say?” It is not right for a man to come to a person and say, “O my Shaykh! O my Master! I intend to travel, I’ve got my ticket. What do you say about my traveling?” This is not consultation. I shall tell you, “Very good. No worry.”
Before doing anything, you will ask, “O my Master! I intend traveling. How do you see it? Is it all right or not?”Then, as you are advised you must do, you must listen. This is consultation.
You must bring the whole cloth to the master saying, “Please cut as you like.” This is consultation. Then he cuts. You must not bring cut cloth. So many people say, “We consulted!” but, in the end, finally coming no good. “How can this be? I consulted with my Shaykh, and I went. What happened to me?”
You must be careful, especially about three things: marriage, divorce, and traveling. You must ask your Shaykh about these three important points!
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says, “Good is in that which happens. A servant must be thankful to his Lord for His favours.
“Allah Almighty sometimes gives good tidings to people, promising Paradise to people, and sometimes He makes them fear His punishment. You will not give thanks to your Lord until you believe that whatever happens is a favour from Allah Almighty. If you don’t know that it is a favour from Allah Almighty, you are not thanking your Lord.”
This recognition is the beginning of thanks to Allah Almighty. No recognition, no thanking Allah. For example, you have a wife. You must say, “O my Lord! Thanks to You for my wife. You gave me a queen of beauty! I am so pleased! I am so proud of my wife, O my Lord!” Can you say this? This is recognition of a favour from Allah Almighty. If a man complains about his wife, how can he be thankful to his Lord for His favour?
Again, recognition is the first step for thanking Allah Almighty. If a man complains of anything, how can he be thankful to his Lord? It is impossible. Therefore, you must say, “My wife is the most excellent one among all ladies! She is sweeter to me than anyone!” This is because halal is sweet. Haram is poison. Other ladies, they are haram; but your wife is halal to you. Therefore, she is sweet to you and others are bitter to you.
If a man does not recognize a favour, then Allah takes it from him. If this happens to you, then you will understand! Then you will know it was a favour!
Once upon a time, some people were on board a ship. The servant of that ship was new to the job. It was the first time he was on a ship, and the first time, also, that he had seen the ocean. As soon as the ship set sail that servant became seized with fear and began to cry out in a very loud voice. He kept screaming at the top of his lungs and no one could make him stop.
There was also on board a certain wise man. When he heard that servant crying, he said to some of the other passengers, “Take that man and throw him overboard!” So, they pushed him into the sea.
Immediately the servant swam back to the ship and climbed up the side. The passengers pulled him back on board. Now that servant sat in silence. He had learned that the ship was a favour!
Therefore, so many favours may go unrecognized by people. But, when it is taken away, they will cry, “Ooooh!” If a man doesn’t give thanks for favours, favours will go, and troubles will come in their place.
Our Grandshaykh says that among the biggest favours from Allah is that when two brothers (ikhwan), friends, are sitting together, in association for the sake of Allah. All the worship they could make individually for two thousand years would not equal the reward that Allah Almighty gives for that association! Because, through that association Divine Care will come. Also, one of the greatest favours from Allah Almighty to His servants is for them to be witnesses to His Unity. To say, “La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah!” is one of the greatest favours from Allah to His servants. If a man speaks this, Allah cleans him of all his sins up to that time!
This secret word “La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah” keeps whoever speaks it from humiliation, here and hereafter. No humiliation for those who are saying, “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illAllah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘Abduhu wa Rasuluh!” also. Therefore, to speak with this Holy word is the biggest favour from Allah to His servants. If a man knows “La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah” exactly, then it is impossible for him to waste his time without benefit, without saying that Holy word.
* * * * * * *
On the verse, “No one is to be forced for anything in Islam”: Allah says after this, “Goodness and badness are clear. They are not secret. They are known by everyone. You cannot find a man who has even an average mind who cannot separate the two. Therefore, Allah says, “Leave them! No need to force a man into goodness. He can distinguish it for himself.”
If a man hasn’t the mind to be able to distinguish good from bad, he has no responsibility. But, if a man knows goodness and badness, he has the responsibility to choose goodness and to leave badness.
A brother asked, “How does this relate to fard in lslam?”
Mawlana answered, “lslam came to make goodness all over the world, and also to take badness from the world.”
“Allah could do that if He wanted,” the disciple insisted.
“Yes,” answered the Shaykh. “He has that power. But, He doesn’t force people. He asks them to do good with their own wills, as they grow in understanding. It does not mean that you force a man if he has rabies, for example, when you catch him and restrain him for an injection. We use that force for his own good. If we leave him free, he will die or he may be dangerous to others. Therefore, when we use that force on him, it does not mean that we are using that force on him to make his will useless. No, we are using that force for his own good.
“Therefore, when Allah says no people should be forced to do anything because they can distinguish between good and bad for themselves, it doesn’t mean that we cannot sometimes use force to restrain them from doing badness, from causing harm to themselves and others. For their own benefit, we are doing it. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘You must help people – cruel people also.’ How shall we help a cruel person? By catching his hand, to prevent him from harming others. This is not using force to make goodness; this is using force to prevent badness only.
“If we have a field for keeping sheep, or for making a garden, we must kill the snakes and poisonous insects first. Shariah always uses
force to prevent badness. Not all people have the same level of willpower. Some people can control themselves to prevent their falling into bad ways, while others are weak. They need help. They cannot, by themselves, protect themselves against falling into bad ways. We must help them, and help needs force sometimes. We are using force to help people.
“Fo
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ur reward for good actions will be more and more.” Easy work, . . . easy. But, for difficult worship – endless rewards for those who do. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, “In this time, for one sunnah, a person is given the reward of one hundred martyrs!”
A brother commented, “So, it’s a good idea to always carry a turban!”
“Yes!” said Shaykh Nazim.
* * * * * * *
Love is best. This is the way of all Prophets and Awliya. They love Allah Almighty, and for His sake they love all His creatures. Real love is to love all things belonging to the beloved.
There is a story about Layla and Majnun: He became crazy (majnun) for her love. Everything belonging to Layla was lovely to Majnun, even stones and trees! It must be this way with love for Allah Almighty. Everything belonging to Him must be lovely to one who loves or his love will not be true.
Therefore, every Prophet was ready to sacrifice his soul for the servants of his Creator. All Awliya are also following that way. They are looking to servants of Allah with mercy. Not one of the Saints bears any hatred for his fellow servants even though they may be sinners. This way will win victory.
Now we are living in a time when enmity and hatred are reaching their highest degree. People are in need of love. Not the sexual kind; this may be found in animals even more than in people. Love is a grant from Allah Almighty. Some keep it in a precious place, and some put it in a dirty place. Some keep that love for Allah Almighty and some for this dirty life. Some people are keeping their honour; they have families, and honourable wives. They are giving their love to their honourable wives. But some people put that precious love in dirty places.
Now, all people are in need of love for their Lord alone, and we must ask our Lord to give us love – more love. When love comes, so does mercy. The attribute of souls is love. Souls are living in love-oceans.
The attribute of ego is enmity, hatred. Divine armies are coming to fight egos, to fight enmity and hatred. All people are waiting for this Divine Help to reach them so that they may save themselves from the enmity and hatred of egos. This hatred is an endless ocean; we must stop it here!
If anyone claims he is a man from the sons of Adam (peace be upon him), he must understand this lecture and fight for love among all people, and to defeat enmity and hatred among all nations, and among all servants of Allah Almighty.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying that people may be in one of two conditions:
One, the expanded person has an open face, smiling, not solemn or angry.
The second condition is contrary to this. He who is in this condition is angry, sorrowful, and solemn.
Which is lovely for Allah Almighty? The first. Allah likes His servants to be open, expanded, always pleased. If a man is not complaining, if he is smiling under all conditions and carrying only goodness in his heart for others, Allah is pleased with him.
It is the greatest sin, before Allah, to condemn a man without knowledge, without proof, without witnesses. It is ‘su uz-zan’ – a wrong or bad assumption. You must think all people are good. Then, even if your own sins are great, Allah may forgive you easily. No harm for smiling, expanded persons. All badness coming from stern, angry people.
In dark places, you may find poisonous insects. Though a stern, angry person may do as much worship as all people combined, it is not acceptable. He who has a stern face, he who is not thinking goodness for other people, that person is refused from the Divine Presence.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “If a man has troubles from illness, from courts, from poverty, from government – so many troubles – these are punishment for his actions.
“There are two kinds of troubles:
“One kind comes to Prophets and Awliya. It may be of any kind, but it is not the result of their bad actions. They haven’t any bad actions; those troubles come to give them higher degrees.
“The other kind of trouble comes to people for their bad actions, and for the purpose of making them clean. When they have been
punished in this world, there is no punishment in the next world for them.”
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh spoke about the hadith, “The value of actions is according to their difficulties.” He said, “The more difficult an action, the more valuable it is. In our times, one who asks to walk on the straight way may find a very heavy load on his shoulders. Therefore, when one walks the straight way under these conditions, under this heavy load, Allah rewards him accordingly.”
In these times, for keeping one sunnah, Allah gives the reward of one hundred martyrs. Nowadays, people may stay awake in theatres, in discotheques, in cinemas, and in bars and other such places – very enthusiastic, with such power to stay awake all night! But, if anyone will awaken after midnight to pray two rak’ats, he will feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. So difficult will it be for him to awaken! We can feel this heavy load over our bodies. It is the result of living in a time of darkness among people.
‘Futur’ is a kind of tiredness. If a man is walking on the straight way, he always feels tired. But, if he is going on the devil’s way, he is always finding pleasure, not tired. Understand? As much as you are tired for your worship, you have been given more rewards by Allah Almighty.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “If a man is coming into association with Shaykh, or dhikr, or for praying in the masjid, or for a sunnah meeting (jamaat), those persons will be under Divine Protection. Allah’s hand is over a Jamaat (assembly); if they are meeting for a worship, there will be Divine assistance for those people. Even if a man is ready once in a day for such an assembly, Allah will forgive him, and not leave him with any sins on the Judgment Day.
“There will be Divine Protection from everything, even from wars and bombs, for those who are ready for Jamaat, even once in a day. If a man is going to a group that is worshipping according to the advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him), then he will be under the guard of the
Prophet (peace be upon him). If they are going to do something according to our Lord’s order, they will be under the guard of Allah Almighty.”
Our Grandshaykh is giving us good tidings in our time, because we are, nowadays, so weak in our worshipping. So many people are even leaving worship. As much as we are weak, Allah is giving more mercy according to His most beautiful name (known only to Him, and to those who have been given this secret). This mercy is open for us now in our times; whereas it never was before. Therefore, if during twenty-four hours anyone is ready for an assembly (jamaat), even one, Allah promises to keep that servant from all cruelties, badness, and accidents.
* * * * * * *
Rabi’a (may Allah be pleased with her), a great Waliyya, advised us always to ask forgiveness (Astaghfirullah). She said our ‘istighfar’ is always in need of another ‘istighfar,’ and our Grandshaykh tells us about the reality of ‘istighfar’:
“Whenever and wherever a prohibited thing meets you and your nafs want to go after it, you must keep it far away. This is ‘istighfar,’ this is the power of ‘istighfar.’ When a servant asks pardon from his Lord, his Lord not only cleans him, but gives him power to stand firmly against prohibited things. All things for the protection of the ummah.”
* * * * * * *
It is not enough to say, “I am a Muslim.” It is not enough to say ‘shahada’ (the Testimony of Faith). You must keep your organs on the way of lman. You must try and keep your organs far from all actions that are not Muslim; far from haram; far from prohibited things.
When you are looking to a prohibited thing, you are leaving faith. You must quickly ask pardon from your Lord, so that you may return to Islam once again. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) says, “Our eyes make zina (adultery).” We have been ordered to carry our organs into the way of Islam. If a man uses his organs in the way of Allah Almighty, he will have real faith, real Islam.
* * * * * * *
‘Ma la yani’ means, ‘that which does not concern you.’ You must not speak of or act on that which does not concern you. This is the order of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and it is very important in Islam. You must be careful with this point.
Our Grandshaykh told this story to me:
“Once, there was a Wali who had been given the power to listen to the angels’ speaking. One day, that Wali was traveling on his horse when he came to a fountain. He stopped there for a rest, and to renew his wudhu and make prayers.
“When he dismounted, he removed the reins from his horse and said to it, ‘Go, O my fellow! You may enjoy this fine grass here!’
“Suddenly, that Wali heard two angels in discussion. The first angel (the angel on the right-hand side, who writes our good deeds and speech) was saying, ‘I will write those words he spoke to his horse, and credit them to his good deeds.’
“‘No!’ said the angel on the left (responsible For recording our bad deeds and speech), ‘You can’t write this! I must do it.’
“’Why?’ said the angel on the right, ‘Is it a sin, what he said? He spoke only good words to his horse!’
“The angel on the left replied, ‘That is true, but you must know that he spoke about a thing that did not concern him. Is there any horse that needs to be told to enjoy grass? Why did he speak? Allah gave him that tongue. He may use it for useless things (ma la yani) or not. But he has been ordered to speak good, or hold his tongue. Is that horse waiting for his words to eat? I must write this deed as a sin!’
“All the while the Wali had been listening to their conversation. When he heard the words of the angel on the left, he immediately threw himself into sajdah, crying, ‘O my Lord! Forgive me!’
“When Allah Almighty heard his servant asking like that He said to the left-hand angel, ‘Don’t write! Leave it for the other angel because My servant is asking forgiveness, and I accept!’”
Now, for what are these conditions placed upon us? If a man takes care with his speech, Allah Almighty gives Divine Wisdoms to his tongue. That person, who keeps his tongue, will speak only truth and right. He cannot say wrong things at that point.
This may seem a simple thing, to take care with one’s speaking, but it has such strong wisdom. It is so powerful! To him who intends to keep his tongue only for goodness, and not to speak on that which does not concern him, Allah Almighty promises to give Divine Wisdoms to speak. Then you are not in need to read books to learn. Allah gives you, on your tongue, so many Divine Wisdoms. To speak of that which doesn’t concern you makes your Iman weak. When you leave this bad habit, your faith takes more power. You cannot know what concerns you or not, save through your inspirations. Then you may know well what is yours or not.
A murid asked Shaykh Nazim, “How can we know what is true inspiration and what is nafs?”
Mawlana answered, “If it is an inspiration, there is never going to be a doubt in your heart. You will find exact satisfaction. But, if it is from your ego, your conscience will not be at rest.
“Also, when something is from Divine Inspiration, it is not going to leave you until you do it. It will come back again and again. Badness and wrong suggestions from nafs and devils will come for a while, and then go away.”
“Often, maybe, you have the right inspiration. But then you say, ‘Ah, but if l do it, then such and such may happen; so I’d better not do it,’” the murid continued.
“That is wrong, also,” said the Shaykh.
“Also not inspiration?” asked our brother.
“Not inspiration,” repeated Mawlana, . ..That is, the first is inspiration, ordering you to do something. The second one, coming to destroy it, is from your nafs, from Satan; just from Satan.”
* * * * * * * This is an important lesson:
Our Grandshaykh was speaking about good character. He asks,
“What is the attribute of one who has a good character?”
He is also answering for us: “If a man gives you one thousand dollars, and then another one comes and takes it away; if you act differently in front of each then you haven’t good character!
“If you are glad from the first one, and sorry with the second one, it is a sign that you haven’t yet reached good character. If a man has good character, it means he has a strong faith in Allah. He believes that everything that comes to him is coming from Allah.
“He is the Giver, and He Almighty is also the Taker. This is a stronger faith; you must believe this. Allah is the giver, and Allah is the taker. You must know this, and you must believe this. It is the sixth pillar of lman, and it must be with you.
“Also, our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “In the sight of Allah Almighty, the whole world and its treasure is worth only as much as the wing of a mosquito!” So, what about one thousand dollars! If someone gives you the wing of a mosquito is it pleasure for you? And, if someone should take it away are you sorry?
“If a man goes to court against another, it means that the love of this life is yet in his heart, and our Prophet (peace be upon him) says, ‘The worst thing for a person is to like this world and its life.’
“How can we love this life?! We are imprisoned in this world. We may eat, we may drink, but death is waiting for us. If a man is sentenced to death, how can he have enjoyment? He must be crazy to like a life that has death as its end! A man can take everything in this life – endless treasures, money, palaces, everything – but he has been judged for
death. Nothing from this world’s treasures can save him from death. You can be like Alexander the Great, but in the end even he surrendered to death.
“Therefore, if a man has good characters, he cannot like this life. His sight must be on eternal life, not this temporary life. If he is given all the treasures of this world, he is not going to be pleased. If whole treasures are taken from him, he will not be sorry.”
* * * * * * *
My Grandshaykh was describing to me how a real believer must
be:
“His hand must be open. If your hand is open, maybe someone may put something there. Or, maybe someone who is in need may take from there. Don’t have a closed hand. Then, no one may put anything there, nor may anyone take anything. Good character is to have an open hand; something may be put in, something may be taken.
“All problems, all cases in courts, are for this dunya. Good character people are not fighting, or making cases for the treasures of this life. This is because they know that all things in this life are temporary; nothing is permanent. In real faith, this dunya is not a goal, or target.
“Real Islam shows believers the real target – love for Allah. And real Islam is never fought for dunya, never for the treasures of this world, never for this life’s dragon. Because this life is a real dragon, eating all people and never becoming full.
“This dragon doesn’t know kings, presidents, ministers, lords, governors, rich men, commoners; it eats them all, swallows them up! And yet, all people are running after this terrible dragon. Thousands of years have not dulled the hunger of this dragon. It will eat millions of people and ask, ‘What? No more? Give me more! More!’ All people work for it, and in the end it eats them.
“Therefore, clever is he who is working for his Lord’s service. It is he, only, who will be happy and satisfied. Our Prophet (peace be upon
him) called people to their Lord and not after that dragon. But people don’t like to hear this, and run instead after that dragon. They are tired. No rest for them.
“Therefore, none of the Prophets are fighting for this life. They are fighting to save people from this life’s dragon.”
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “There is a method which is necessary for everyone to keep. What is that method?
“First, everyone must know where he is looking, and for what he is looking. Is he looking for his ego’s pleasure, or looking for his Lord’s pleasure? He must distinguish between the two. If he is looking for his Lord’s pleasure, he may look. If he is looking for his ego ‘s pleasure, no permission, no good.
“Second, you must know, when you are speaking, if it is for your ego’s pleasure or for your Lord’s pleasure. You must know what you are going to speak. If you don’t know, don’t speak! You must know that when you speak it will be written by either the angel on the right or the angel on the left. Lf you know that what you say will be written by the angel on the right (good), you may speak or not. If a man is in court, he will be very careful with his words. One word may cause judgment against him, or one word may save him. We must be careful like this.
“Third, we must be careful with our listening. We must know to whom we are listening. If he is going to speak for his Lord’s pleasure, we must listen to him. But, if he is going to speak on his ego’s behalf, it is not good to listen. Perhaps you may hear some words, along your life, that will stay in your memory and give you harm, and it may be that you cannot forget them. Some words are dangerous for listening. You may eat something that is no good for you; yet, you can put your finger in your mouth and take it out. But, you cannot remove bad words from your ears. Therefore, you must be very careful listening.”
* * * * * * *
“What is the biggest dragon, swallowing all our good actions?” asks our Grandshaykh. “What is the biggest dragon, eating all our worshipping?”
He is answering for us: “Everyone, when he is a baby, takes the breast of his mother. Also, there is the pacifier given to babies to keep them from putting their thumb in their mouth. This is a bad habit.
“And so, from childhood up to fifteen years he may take many bad habits. Unfortunately, if he cannot stop them when he reaches the age of maturity, those bad habits will destroy all the goodness he may do. This is the worst terrible dragon for everyone.
“Therefore, we must fight to leave our childhood’s bad habits. You may be ninety-years-old, and yet, if you cannot leave those bad habits, you will be a child. Before reaching maturity, we are too much like animals, because we haven’t responsibility. When we reach the age of our mind’s perfection, we become responsible. It is the first level of perfection for people. Then, you must become perfect in your actions also.”
* * * * * * *
If a man asks to keep deep knowledge and Divine Wisdom (Hikma), he must do three things:
First, he must not walk without wudhu, nor must he touch any book without wudhu.
Second, he must use a miswak (tooth stick); and,
third, he must keep the midnight salat (Tahajjud).
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh was saying, “What is the biggest sin in the sight of Allah? Allah Almighty created mankind so honourable, and respectful, and lovely to Him Almighty. And then He gave all mankind to Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a trust. All nations have been given to Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the Day of Promise. Therefore, the greatest sin in the sight of Allah is to search out everyone’s faults.
“Our Prophet (peace be Upon him) says, ‘Happiness is for him who is occupied with correcting his own faults, for it keeps him from looking to another’s faults.’ Clear? It is a very big sin to look to others’ faults, and to try to harm people. All troubles, all unsolvable problems, come after looking to another’s faults. A bad habit, indeed!
“He who forgets his own faults,” continues our Grandshaykh, “and looks after other people’s faults, is like a man who says, ‘I am God!’ To be without fault is only for God, not man. All people must have some faults, some more than others.”
“Even Prophets?” asked a brother.
Mawlana answered, “They have been protected (Ma’sum).”
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says that each person, each servant of Allah Almighty, has two positions or duties: One toward their Lord, and one toward other people.
Toward Allah Almighty, his duty is to be Allah’s sincere servant, without asking any reward in this world, or in the next world.
Toward other people we shall, first, love all Allah’s servants. We must keep, in our hearts, love for them without making any difference between them. Allah created His servants clean; they are originally lovely.
You like your children, for example, even if they do wrong things. Allah Almighty created all people originally clean from all badness and evils, and from all kufr. Their essence is clean always. Like a ring that falls into the toilet. You may take it out and wash it, and it will be clean again. The essence of mankind is endlessly precious – the most precious thing in the sight of Allah. Therefore, we like all people because they are the servants of our Lord, and they are our Lord’s creation. That is our first obligation to other people.
Our second obligation, or duty, to people is to help them as much as we can. We must help everyone, according to our Prophet’s Hadith, ‘Help all people, both oppressor and oppressed!’
When our Prophet (peace be upon him) said that, his Sahaba asked, “How can we help Oppressors!”
Replied the Prophet (peace be upon him), “By catching his hand to prevent him from oppressing!
Our third obligation toward other people is to think good of everyone. We must not think bad thoughts about people.
These three characters or attitudes toward others, to love them, to help them, and to think good of them, are wanted from all believers, in fact from all people. They are the sign of high character. Acceptable in the sight of our Lord. Without them, no one can be acceptable in the sight of his Lord. When a person keeps these obligations, he will be rewarded by his Lord in that all people will love him, help him, and respect him. This is the secret of success in our lives, and the meaning of the hadith, “A malukum um malukum” (You will be dealt with according to your actions). So many sins may be forgiven by keeping this. Never harm anyone with your hand or with your tongue!
All non-Muslims living within Islamic communities have the same rights as Muslims. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “Anyone harming a protected servant is harming me!” As we understand this saying so we must keep it. Our Lord’s pleasure is with this character.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says, “We must be careful to take knowledge from everything.” If a man can take wisdom from every event, then he will be most strong in his faith in his Lord. It gives him more power for Divine Knowledge. He may take knowledge even from a donkey’s braying!
You must look to take a secret wisdom from all things. You can find, in each thing, such knowledge as you won’t find in another thing. Islam says, “Look deeply for all things.” It is an order from Allah.
We are not animals. Sheep look – but, if we see the way sheep do, then we are sheep also! Therefore, Allah orders us to look deeply into each thing, into each event, to find a secret wisdom that gives it value. And, our Grandshaykh says, “If you look deeply, you will taste!”
Allah Almighty will give a reward to European people for the discoveries and inventions they have made from looking deeply into things.
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says, “Everything that is going to happen in this life has a fixed time. There is, for every event that will happen in this life, an appointed hour. If you ask for an event to happen before its appointed time, you cannot find it. If you ask for it to be delayed, it is impossible also. Not before – not after. Everything must be at that appointed time.”
What is the benefit to know this point? If we know that all events will come in their appointed time, we will be at rest, patient; and patience shows the perfection of man. As much as you are patient, you are perfect; you have strong Iman.
* * * * * * *
Consultation has been ordered. it is not right to do something without consultation. If you are going to consult, it must be with a man in whom you have trust.
It is not consultation to come to a man and say, “I am doing something now, I am going somewhere now; what do you say?” It is not right for a man to come to a person and say, “O my Shaykh! O my Master! I intend to travel, I’ve got my ticket. What do you say about my traveling?” This is not consultation. I shall tell you, “Very good. No worry.”
Before doing anything, you will ask, “O my Master! I intend traveling. How do you see it? Is it all right or not?”Then, as you are advised you must do, you must listen. This is consultation.
You must bring the whole cloth to the master saying, “Please cut as you like.” This is consultation. Then he cuts. You must not bring cut cloth. So many people say, “We consulted!” but, in the end, finally coming no good. “How can this be? I consulted with my Shaykh, and I went. What happened to me?”
You must be careful, especially about three things: marriage, divorce, and traveling. You must ask your Shaykh about these three important points!
* * * * * * *
Our Grandshaykh says, “Good is in that which happens. A servant must be thankful to his Lord for His favours.
“Allah Almighty sometimes gives good tidings to people, promising Paradise to people, and sometimes He makes them fear His punishment. You will not give thanks to your Lord until you believe that whatever happens is a favour from Allah Almighty. If you don’t know that it is a favour from Allah Almighty, you are not thanking your Lord.”
This recognition is the beginning of thanks to Allah Almighty. No recognition, no thanking Allah. For example, you have a wife. You must say, “O my Lord! Thanks to You for my wife. You gave me a queen of beauty! I am so pleased! I am so proud of my wife, O my Lord!” Can you say this? This is recognition of a favour from Allah Almighty. If a man complains about his wife, how can he be thankful to his Lord for His favour?
Again, recognition is the first step for thanking Allah Almighty. If a man complains of anything, how can he be thankful to his Lord? It is impossible. Therefore, you must say, “My wife is the most excellent one among all ladies! She is sweeter to me than anyone!” This is because halal is sweet. Haram is poison. Other ladies, they are haram; but your wife is halal to you. Therefore, she is sweet to you and others are bitter to you.
If a man does not recognize a favour, then Allah takes it from him. If this happens to you, then you will understand! Then you will know it was a favour!
Once upon a time, some people were on board a ship. The servant of that ship was new to the job. It was the first time he was on a ship, and the first time, also, that he had seen the ocean. As soon as the ship set sail that servant became seized with fear and began to cry out in a very loud voice. He kept screaming at the top of his lungs and no one could make him stop.
There was also on board a certain wise man. When he heard that servant crying, he said to some of the other passengers, “Take that man and throw him overboard!” So, they pushed him into the sea.
Immediately the servant swam back to the ship and climbed up the side. The passengers pulled him back on board. Now that servant sat in silence. He had learned that the ship was a favour!
Therefore, so many favours may go unrecognized by people. But, when it is taken away, they will cry, “Ooooh!” If a man doesn’t give thanks for favours, favours will go, and troubles will come in their place.
Our Grandshaykh says that among the biggest favours from Allah is that when two brothers (ikhwan), friends, are sitting together, in association for the sake of Allah. All the worship they could make individually for two thousand years would not equal the reward that Allah Almighty gives for that association! Because, through that association Divine Care will come. Also, one of the greatest favours from Allah Almighty to His servants is for them to be witnesses to His Unity. To say, “La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah!” is one of the greatest favours from Allah to His servants. If a man speaks this, Allah cleans him of all his sins up to that time!
This secret word “La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah” keeps whoever speaks it from humiliation, here and hereafter. No humiliation for those who are saying, “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illAllah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘Abduhu wa Rasuluh!” also. Therefore, to speak with this Holy word is the biggest favour from Allah to His servants. If a man knows “La ilaha illAllah Muhammadun Rasulullah” exactly, then it is impossible for him to waste his time without benefit, without saying that Holy word.
* * * * * * *
On the verse, “No one is to be forced for anything in Islam”: Allah says after this, “Goodness and badness are clear. They are not secret. They are known by everyone. You cannot find a man who has even an average mind who cannot separate the two. Therefore, Allah says, “Leave them! No need to force a man into goodness. He can distinguish it for himself.”
If a man hasn’t the mind to be able to distinguish good from bad, he has no responsibility. But, if a man knows goodness and badness, he has the responsibility to choose goodness and to leave badness.
A brother asked, “How does this relate to fard in lslam?”
Mawlana answered, “lslam came to make goodness all over the world, and also to take badness from the world.”
“Allah could do that if He wanted,” the disciple insisted.
“Yes,” answered the Shaykh. “He has that power. But, He doesn’t force people. He asks them to do good with their own wills, as they grow in understanding. It does not mean that you force a man if he has rabies, for example, when you catch him and restrain him for an injection. We use that force for his own good. If we leave him free, he will die or he may be dangerous to others. Therefore, when we use that force on him, it does not mean that we are using that force on him to make his will useless. No, we are using that force for his own good.
“Therefore, when Allah says no people should be forced to do anything because they can distinguish between good and bad for themselves, it doesn’t mean that we cannot sometimes use force to restrain them from doing badness, from causing harm to themselves and others. For their own benefit, we are doing it. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘You must help people – cruel people also.’ How shall we help a cruel person? By catching his hand, to prevent him from harming others. This is not using force to make goodness; this is using force to prevent badness only.
“If we have a field for keeping sheep, or for making a garden, we must kill the snakes and poisonous insects first. Shariah always uses
force to prevent badness. Not all people have the same level of willpower. Some people can control themselves to prevent their falling into bad ways, while others are weak. They need help. They cannot, by themselves, protect themselves against falling into bad ways. We must help them, and help needs force sometimes. We are using force to help people.
“Fo
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