نحمده ونصلى على رسوله الكريم اما بعد لاَ تَثْرَيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ صدق الله العظيم

The enmity of the brothers of Hadrat Yusuf Alaihis Salaam

This is one little saying of Yusuf Alaihis Salaam in the Quraan. Very briefly, the brothers of Hadrat Yusuf Alaihis Salaam had great enmity and jealousy for him because of which he was thrown into a well and they intended to kill him. Allah Taála wanted to grant him great honour and put him onto the throne of Eygpt. When the family of Yusuf Alaihis Salaam were afflicted with difficulty they came to Yusuf Alaihis Salaam for wheat and he had assisted them. Finally, there came a time when they had realised that this is our brother Yusuf Alaihis Salaam whom we had hated and entertained jealousy for. At this juncture, Yusuf Alaihis Salaam had uttered these words and in this statement there are great lessons to learn in our day to day and practical life.

If we can learn this lesson and bring it into our lives, we will realise that half or perhaps more than half of our disillusion, depression and sadness will disappear. This will solve various problems that are affecting us. The incident of Yusuf Alaihis Salaam has been mentioned in the Quraan not to merely read the story but to actually derive the lessons from it and act upon it.

The brothers of Yusuf Alaihis Salaam were very much ashamed as they were senior in age.  They were supposed to be much more mature to do that to their younger brother, who was at such an age that he was unable to fend for himself. Coupled with that, they had caused severe pain and difficulty to the father as he loved Yusuf Alaihis Salaam greatly. In spite of all this, Yusuf Alaihis Salaam makes a single statement,

 لاَ تَثْرَيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ 

There is no blame upon you today

The forgiveness of Yusuf Alaihis Salaam

He did not mention or remind them of the manner that they had dealt with him, nor did he speak of his good character by saying, “I am overlooking what you have done.” All he uttered was the above statement. These were the same words uttered by Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam when Makkah Mukarrama was being conquered. The people of Makkah had caused a great deal of harm to the Muslims (i.e. the Sahaaba Radiallahu Anhuma), by persecuting them and insulting them etc.

Announcement of forgiveness at the time of the conquest of Makkah

When the army of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam were coming into Makkah Sharif, one Sahaabi called out,

اليوم يوم الملحمة

Today is the day of revenge.

We will defeat the people of Makkah and take revenge today. The normal procedure of any king and any army is that they destroy the place when they conquer it. Allah Taála states in the Quraan,

 إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوا أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَا أَذِلَّةً

Verily when the kings enter any town (as victors) they ruin it and humiliate its noble people.

The rulers cause great destruction to the place. What happens to the people of that place, their women, their property? The people of Makkah also feared such destruction when Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam came with the Muslim army. When Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was informed that a certain Sahaaabi mentioned this, he immediately called for that Sahaabi and reprimanded him. The flag of Islam which he was carrying was taken away from him and given to another Sahaabi. The announcement was then made,

اليوم يوم المرحمة

Today is the day of mercy

This is the day we will show kindness, forgiveness and tolerance. This is not just for storytelling, or for lectures or for listening. It is for us to bring into our lives. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Sahaaba knew how his daughter was martyred when the spear was put through the most delicate part of her body. In spite of all these hardships, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam says to them, “I will utter the same statement which Nabie Yusuf Alaihis Salaam said to his brothers, there is no blame upon you.” There isn’t any revenge which we will question you about. Whatever was done is a closed chapter and something of the past. We forgive you totally. This is a great lesson for us to learn.

Adopting the quality of humbleness

We are such that we end up having disputes on a daily basis with our family, brothers, businesses etc. We are not Muslims due to our Salaah, fasting, Haj, etc. but we are Muslims because of the character we bring into our lives. If this comes into us we will win the hearts of people.  In the Hadith, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said,

من تواضع لله رفعه الله

Whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah Taála will elevate him.

In our eyes respect is that we will not forgive the person that has wronged us and we will show him a point. These are Shaytaani acts which causes Shaytaan to laugh at us. On the other hand, if a person forgives and he lets go of thousands or hundreds of thousands of Rands to reach a settlement, then Allah Taála Who is the giver will bless him in this very world else that which Allah Taála will give him in the hereafter is much more greater and superior.

A palace in the middle of Jannat

It is mentioned in the Hadith that there are two people that are arguing, one person is on the right yet he forgoes his right for the other person then Allah Ta’ala will give him a palace in the middle of Jannat. Almost all of us sitting here have disputes with family members and others; we are not prepared to forgive small things. We not prepared to forgive someone that has insulted us. We go to the extent of saying that we will not go to their door even though it is one’s brother or sister. Is this the Akhlaaq of Islam and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam? We are not Muslims just to show our outward form as Muslims.

Together with that there is another great lesson to learn as well. When an argument is taking place between two people. For example, We are sitting in our lounge and one person says that a certain thing happened or he had seen a certain thing happen. The other person says the complete opposite. The both parties now start arguing with each other and each party want to present their proofs. Indeed very wise is the person that says, “Perhaps I had seen incorrectly and you are correct.” The argument that would have lasted half an hour causing tempers to flare, resulting in swearing and abusing, would now be settled.

Admitting to one’s fault

Many people may know Maulana Iqbal Chotia who is in Rustenburg. When we were studying in Mia’s farm I had learnt a great lesson from him. As students we would always argue. I had learnt from him that we should say, “Perhaps I read wrong or perhaps I had seen wrong.” What you have seen is correct and this causes the entire argument to subside. However, we are not prepared to do so due to our pride. We want to prove ourselves right. Certain times the other side brings clear proof but our pride is such that we cannot accept, as pride will not allow us to accept that we have been proven wrong. We then start looking for other loopholes. We will try and insult or defame that person in some way because of the pride that is within us. So, this is a very great lesson.

The harm of arguing

Once we had undertaken a journey with Hadrat Hakim Saheb R.A to Nairobi and then we went for Umrah. We travelled from Nairobi to Mombasa for a day. We were travelling by plane and the plane was quite empty. The seats in front were quite close as it was a small aircraft. There wasn’t enough room space for the legs. We pushed the front seats down which made it much more comfortable. The crew members did not object. The next night we left Mombasa. The flight was delayed. We were supposed to depart at ten o’ clock but we departed at twelve. Again the aircraft was almost empty and we did the same thing again. The crew objected this time claiming that it is against regulations and the seats should be put up at all times. One person that was with us began arguing with the crew and this argument lasted until we reached Nairobi. Hadrat Hakim Saheb taught us a great lesson. When the argument was taking place, many things were being said from both sides. When we landed, the aircraft had communicated via the two way radio and the police were waiting in the terminal. They said that there was a drunk passenger that was fighting on the aircraft. The police took this person and began interrogating him. We lost another hour waiting for him. By the time we reached our place it was three o’ clock and it was Ramdaan. Hadrat Hakim Saheb didn’t say anything but the next day he said that if a person learns to forgo an argument there is a lot of goodness in it.

Sometimes four of five people are travelling in a car and whilst travelling one person might start an argument which continues, then tempers fly, a person cannot control his fist. Sometimes a person hits another person and the police come to the scene and arrest the person for assault. Sometimes a person may not be guilty but he is jailed till Monday morning as he was arrested on a Friday. So, a person has to undergo so much of inconvenience as he wanted to prove his point. However, if a person learns to forgive, forgo and not fall into arguments then he is saved from all such problems. The next day Hadrat Hakim Saheb also taught us that Hadrat Thanwi R.A said, “When one does not fall into the arguments of mankind he will be free for the Ibaadat of Allah Taála.” Many times we fall into arguments, after the argument, a person’s mind works for weeks or even months and one thinks that I should have told him this or that. I should have done this or that to him. The Namaaz of a person is also occupied in that argument. Whilst reciting Quraan, his mind is occupied in the argument. A person’s mind is working all the time and one’s enmity is growing. If a person forgoes his right even though he is entitled to such a right, he will enjoy peace of mind in his Ibaadat, with his family, etc. A person should learn to forgive and forget when arguments take place between husband and wife, between brothers, or between parents and children. We should take the lesson of the Quraan Sharif and forgive as Yusuf Alaihis Salaam had done. By doing so, he proved to be a very honourable person. The very brothers that hated him now began to love him.

The benefit of displaying good character

The people of Makkah had told Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam that you are the most hated person in our eyes, and Islam is the worst thing in our eyes. However, the character of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was such that the very same people came and said that you are the most lovable person in our eyes, and Islam is the best Deen and the best religion. We should not merely suffice on speaking of the character of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Quraan rather we should implement it into our lives. To the degree we implement these teachings in our lives accordingly our lives will become peaceful. Our minds will be much more free for the Ibaadat of Allah Taála. So, this is a great lesson given to us in one little phrase of the Quraan. This phrase deals with us in our domestic lives, our business lives, social lives with friends and broader family, etc.

Let us think to ourselves. We have arguments and fights with other people, and not just other people but family people. The sin is absolutely intense when one cuts relations with one’s family. How many people have taken Qasm that they will not go to their families, and not speak to them? In certain cases the sons have taken Qasm that they will not go to their fathers. They will not put their legs in their father’s home. How can it be possible for a Muslim to say that? On the other hand if we learn to forgive and humble ourselves then Allah Taála will raise such a person.

Rasulullah Taála is reported to have said that a person that initiates the Salaam is more closer to Allah Taála. We normally wait for the next person to come to us to make Salaam. If we lower ourselves for the sake of Allah Taála, then Allah Taála will raise us. May Allah Taála grant us the understanding. By Allah, if this little lesson can come into our lives, our lives will become much more peaceful. I say without exaggeration that if we practise upon this one fundamental of Deen then perhaps 80% of the problems that are still to come will be easily averted.

Deen is not only restricted to Ibaadat

We should keep in mind that Deen is not only Ibaadat (i.e. performing Salaah, Saum, Zakaat, Haj, etc.). The verses in the Quraan add up to approximately 6000 Aayat. Of them 500 or so are devoted to Ibaadaat. The remainder of the Quraan is in regards to building our character. Another point that we should consider is that Islam does not spread with our Salaah. We perform Salaah in the Masajid where the non-Muslims are unable to see us. Islam does not spread by our Zakaat as Zakaat is only for Muslims and not for non-Muslims. Islam will not spread with our fasting and Haj, but Islam will spread by our character. If we can learn to forgive the people in  our business places and homes, even if it is related to some monetary things, or we have been insulted, then we should forgive for the sake of Allah Taála and not for our respect. This is another great difference we are required to make.

Practising upon Deen for the pleasure of Allah Taála

One person had read in the Hadith that if a person keeps quiet for a period of forty days then Allah Taála will cause the fountain of wisdom to gush from his tongue. This is the extent to which Allah Taála will fill wisdom and knowledge in him. It was impressive to him so he kept silent for forty days and waited for words of wisdom to come onto his tongue but there wasn’t any such wisdom. After some time he heard a voice from the unseen which said that this was not done for the pleasure of Allah Taála, rather it was done so that wisdom comes onto the tongue. This is sincerity in actual fact. We should do these things for Allah Taála and not for what we have been promised.

In the Hadith we are promised that poverty will never befall a person who recites Surah Waaqiah after Maghrib Salaah every night. If a person reads it so that poverty does not befall him, it indicates that he is not sincere. He should do it solely for the pleasure of Allah Taála and poverty not befalling him is the by-products.

A practical example to understand this is that a person purchases a cow for the dung. His mentality is very low as he has spent 15000 or so just for cow dung. If he purchases the cow for the milk, then the fertilizer will be acquired by the way, then his object is much more greater and he will get the fertilizer as well. Similarly, if a person recites Surah Waaqiah for the pleasure of Allah, then he will also receive the benefit of poverty not affecting him. So, when we forgive somebody, overlook, show kindness, for the pleasure of Allah Taála then we will turn out to be the better person. However, if we do it to show our character to people and to show that we can forgive and forget, then we will not get any praises nor will we get any reward from Allah Taála.

Few years ago a person that was coming from Roodepoort met up in an accident. We stopped to find out what had happened but things were almost sorted out by then. The person that came to assist the one whose car was damaged, was distributing his business cards. We are such businessmen. Alhamdulillah, nobody was hurt, but instead of giving Dawat towards Deen and Islam he was distributing business cards. When we help any person we should give the credit to Islam. We should acknowledge and realise that we have not stopped to help anyone because we are good people but because it is a teaching of Islam.

The impact of practising upon the true Deen

In India a Hindu had rushed to the station to board a train. When he reaches the station, the train is about to leave and neither does he have reservation. He asks the conductor if he will get reservation if he gets on as one requires reservation on a lengthy journey else it is almost impossible to undertake such a journey. The conductor told him to get on and he will sort things out. He gets onto the train and the conductor gives him a place and makes out the receipt. He pays the conductor but he gives the conductor a little extra money as a bribe. The conductor did not ask for a bribe but he understood that he should give something extra as well as it is the common practise in India. The conductor refused to take it and asked, “What is this money for?” The Hindu said, “It’s a gift as you were kind to me and assisted me.” The conductor said, “My religion teaches me that it is Haraam to take anything extra, I have taken the amount you were supposed to pay for the reservation.” The Hindu asked, “What religion do you belong to?” He said, “My religion is Islam and my Nabie forbids us from taking bribes.” The Hindu was impressed and he was the leader of a party that were opposition to the Muslims and always tried causing harm to the Muslims. He went to his people and explained the reality of Islam. We do not understand how effective these trivial acts may be in the propagation of Islam. May Allah Taála grant such character and morals and May Allah Taála make it such that we don’t ascribe it to ourselves, and not for our benefit but because the Quraan and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has taught us to do so. These things are absolutely essential for our living which will make our day to day living a pleasure in our social gatherings, business places, etc. If we get Islam in us then people will also see what Islam is. It should not be that we are busy quarrelling for a few Rands, and we have taken Qasm not to go to the homes of family members. This is definitely not Islam, so we should ensure that we purify ourselves in this regard as well.