Thursday, 24 July 2014

Bahaar-e-Shariat Volume 2 Blog Page 2

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْم
الحمد للہ الواحد الاحد الصمد۔ المتفرد فی ذاتہ و صفاتہ فلا مثل لہ ولا ضد لہ ولم یکن لہ کفوا احد۔ والصلوۃ والسلام الاتمان الاکملان علی رسولہ و حبیبہ سید الانس و الجان۔ الذی انزل علیہ القراٰن۔ ھدی للناس و بینات من الھدیٰ والفرقان وعلٰی اٰلہ وصحبہ ما تعاقب الملوان۔ وعلٰی من تبعھم باحسان الٰی یوم الدین. لاسیما الائمۃ المجتھدین خصوصا علٰی افضلھم و اعلٰھم الامام الاعظم۔ والھمام الافخم۔ الذی سبق فی مضمار الاجتھاد کل فارس۔ وصدق علیہ لو کان العلم عند الثریا لنالہ رجل من ابناء فارس۔ سیدنا ابی حنیفۃ النعمان بن ثابت۔ ثبتنا اللہ بہ بالقول الثابت. فی الحیوۃ الدنیا وفی الاخرۃ. واعطانا الحسنٰی وزیادۃ فاخرۃ. وعلینا لھم و بھم یا ارحم الرٰحمین. والحمد للہ رب العلمین۔

There was a time when every Muslim possessed essential knowledge regarding the necessities of Deen. Through the Grace of Allah, there were also many Ulama present in that time and the people simply enquired from them in regards to that which they did not understand, as Hazrat Farooq-e-Azam رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ had commanded, ‘Only one who is a Faqih should be allowed to trade in our market place.’ [Reported in Tirmizi from Alaa bin Abdur Rahmaan bin Ya’qub who reported from his father, who reported from his father]
Then, the further the time moved away from the magnificent era of the Beloved Prophetصلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم, the less the knowledge became. Now, we have entered such an era, wherein not only the laymen, but even some of the Ulama are not familiar with the necessary daily issues, whilst some are not even familiar with the Faraa’id and Waajibaat. On the one hand, there are those who possess knowledge, but make no attempt to perform it (their Faraa’id and Waajibaat) correctly, in turn depriving the laymen from practicing correctly by following their correct example. It is due to this weakness in their knowledge that they (the laymen) reject many essential laws (masa’il), as they have no experience in finding solutions to them.
There are those who neither possess any knowledge nor do they have the zest to learn and acquire this knowledge from the truly learned. Such people do not even attempt to keep the company of the Ulama. Keeping the companionship of the Ulama is a means of attaining great blessing. This is also a means of learning many important laws.

Till date, no book has been published in the Urdu language which is simple, yet concise and easy to understand. Many of the books which have been published either lack the appropriate clarification in regards to the necessary daily laws, or they have too many errors in them. There is thus a definite need for a book which will allow even those with the least knowledge to benefit from it. Bearing this and the plight of the Muslims in mind, and on the basis of الدین النصح لکل مسلم۔ ‘The Deen is the guidance to every Muslim’, this humble servant (Sadrush Shariah) has placed his trust in Almighty Allah, and has taken a firm resolve to prepare a book which will fulfill the needs of the Muslims; whereas I know very well, that this is not my position and neither am I worthy of such a service, nor do I have the amount of time required for this task, but:

وحسبنا اللہ ونعم الوکیل ولا حول ولا قوۃ الا باللہ العلی العظیم.

(1) I will attempt to the best of my ability, to keep the text in this book as simple as possible, so that it does not take one too much time to grasp and understand the theories, also so that those with minimal knowledge and women and children may attain benefit from it as well. However, it must be noted that knowledge is something which is very complicated. There is no guarantee that one will not find any difficulty in understanding the knowledgeable discussions that are being presented herein.

There will surely be such instances where one will find the need for assistance and the need to present oneself before the people of knowledge (i.e. the true Ulama) will arise; in order to better comprehend any complications that one may encounter. Studying the Bahaar-e-Shariat will at least make one more cautious, encouraging those with little knowledge to present themselves before the Ulama; so that they may assist them in understanding the relevant issues.

(2) Evidence and proof relating to the laws which are being presented (in this book) will not be provided in this book. Firstly, not every person has the capability of understanding these intricate proofs and substantiations. Secondly, presenting the proofs in this book will make it difficult to grasp the actual laws. Thus, only the clear rulings will be presented in this book. If someone has the enthusiasm to view the proof and references then he should peruse Fatawa Razvia Shareef, as every law has been so thoroughly researched and explained in it that there is no other book in its rank equivalent to it in the world today. One will even find in it such indepth explanations of laws which even some Ulama have not heard of.

(3) I will attempt to the best of my ability, to avoid discussing any differences of opinion in this book as when Ikhtilafaat (differences of opinion) or two are presented to the common folk, it causes them confusion and they become unsure in regards to which ruling to act upon. On the other hand there are also some slaves of desire, who search for laws which suit them and it is that which they act upon. They do not do this because the ruling is a righteous one but merely because it suits them well to act according to that particular ruling. When (such people) find that they can achieve their whims by latching on to some other ruling, they leave the first one and lunge towards the next. This is not permissible, as it is not regarded as obeying the Shariah but it is really obedience of one’s desires (Nafs). Thus, in all cases, the law and ruling presented will be the relied upon (Muftah Bihi), authentic, most correct and predominant ruling, so that every person may be able to act upon it without any difficulty. I pray that Almighty Allah affords us the blessed opportunity to be righteous, and I pray that the Muslims may attain benefit through this. I also pray for Allah to accept the humble efforts of this servant who has no resources.

وما توفیقی الا باللہ علیہ توکلت والیہ انیب و صلی اللہ تعالیٰ علٰی حبیبہ المختار. والہ الاطھار. وصحبہ المھاجرین والانصار۔ وخلفائہ الاختان منھم والاصھار۔ والحمد للہ العزیز الغفار۔ وھا انا اشرع فی المقصود بتوفیق الملک المعبود۔
Allah Almighty says

( وَمَاخَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِیَعْبُدُوْنِ ) ـ1ـ
‘And I have created not jinn and man, but so that they should worship Me’
[Surah 51 Verse 56]

Even the person with the very least understanding of things, knows that anything which is made for a specific purpose is only useful if it fulfils its purpose for being made (created); otherwise it is regarded as useless; so a human being who does not recognise his Creator and who does not fulfil his obligation to worship his Creator, is in reality not a true human but he is merely a human by name. He is actually regarded as useless. It has thus been understood that man truly becomes man through Ibaadat (worshipping Allah) and it is through this, that he attains true deliverance in the world and salvation in the hereafter.

It is thus necessary upon every human being to know and understand the categories, methods, manners, conditions and regulations pertaining to Ibaadat; for without knowledge it is impossible for one to practice correctly. It is for this reason that it is Fard (obligatory) to acquire knowledge.

The foundation of Ibaadat (Worship) is based on Imaan (True Faith). Ibaadat without Imaan is of no use, for if there is no foundation then how will the results be attained. A tree only blooms and bears fruit if its roots are well established. When a tree is separated from its roots, it becomes the fuel for fire. Likewise, no matter how much Ibaadat an unbeliever performs, it is all useless and he becomes fuel for the fire of hell. Allah Almighty says

( وَ قَدِمْنَاۤ اِلٰی مَا عَمِلُوۡا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنٰہُ ہَبَآءً مَّنۡثُوۡرًا ﴿۲۳﴾ ) ـ1ـ

‘And to whatever (deeds) the infidels did, We treated it in such a manner, that we caused them to become scattered like particles of dust” [Surah 25 Verse 23]

When a human becomes a Muslim, there are two categories of Ibaadat that become obligatory (Fard) upon him; one is that which has to do with the physical body and the other is that which has to do with the heart. The laws and the issues regarding the second category are discussed in Ilm-e-Sulook (Knowledge of Spiritualism / Tasawwuf) and the first category is discussed in Fiqh (Jurisprudence/Islamic law). I currently intend to discuss the laws of the first category in this book. That which is related to the physical body is also divided into two categories, the first being that which is related to the physical body, in other words, it is that which is only between the servant and his Creator and the servant has no right of making any changes in it.

In simple terms, it means that every person needs to be continuously dutiful regarding this; such as the five daily Salaahs and fasting, as it is such an action that can be fulfilled without others, even if there be a need for others in a particular case, such as in Namaaz with Jama’at or Jummah or the two Eid Prayers. In other words, these cannot be correctly fulfilled without Jama’at (congregation). However, all these in reality are related to the Ibaadat of Allah and is not something that has to do with one another or some personal issue. The second category is that which is related to the rectification of the mutual affairs of the servants, such as Nikah or issues related to Purchases and sales etc. The first category is known as ‘Ibaadaat’ and the second is known as ‘Mu’amilat’ (day to day Affairs/dealings). Even though there does not seem to be any (apparent) materialistic benefit associated to the first category, yet in Mu’amilat there is undoubtedly worldly benefit present and it is this section which is more predominant; but (it must be noted) both are Ibaadat, because if Mu’amilat is also performed in accordance with the commands of Almighty Allah and His Rasool صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم, then it is deserving of reward; otherwise it will be sinful and a means of punishment.

The first category, Ibaadaat has 4 parts; Namaaz (Five daily prayer), Rauza/Saum (Fasting in the month of Ramadan), Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah) and Zakaat (Poor-Due). The most important and most exalted amongst them is Namaaz (Salaah), and Almighty Allah loves this Ibaadat dearly. It is thus befitting for us to discuss this Ibaadat before any other discussion. However, before performing Salaah, a Namaazi (worshipper) must be pure and clean, since ‘Purification (Tahaarat) is the key to Salaah’. In light of this, the laws and rules pertaining to Tahaarat will first be discussed, followed by the laws and rules pertaining to Salaah (Namaaz)

Sadrush Shariah Qadi Amjad Ali Aazmi Razvi

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