A Short Conversation During Tashkili Ghusht (1)

Once we visited a retired elderly man in his 60's at his home. After a brief ta'aruf (getting to know each other), one of us explained to him the purpose and importance of the work of dakwah and tabligh and invited him to join the effort.

"Tabligh is well and good but I disapprove you people leaving behind your family without any means and provision."
"But we do make due provision for our family before we leave for 40 days or 4 months in the path of Allah. We store the kitchen with groceries and fill up the fridge with chickens and meat. There's plenty of provision lay in a stock for our family and plenty of money in support of the provision and other expenses. We even make arrangements for the wives of our close friends and our relatives to visit our family during our absence to ensure our family's needs and welfare are being taken care of."
"You're talking about the zaahir (apparent) provision, what about the baathin (inner) provision?"
"Haji, perhaps you get the wrong impression that baathin provision to mean sexual needs and desire. That is not baathin provision, rather that is nafs and syahwat. Nafs and syahwat should be supressed and trampled. Baathin is something that is unseen - life in the grave, Mashyar, Mizan, the bridge of Sirat, Jannah and Jahannam - all these are the unseen revelations that had reached us through Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam, and we will most definitely face them. It is because of these that we leave our homes, learning to make effort on building up our imaan and yakin (faith and conviction) to Allah Ta'ala and strive to live our lives in aamal (practices) in accordance to the Sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam, so that when we return we hope for the guidance and strenghth from Allah Ta'ala to be able to continue to practice what we learnt and practiced in the path of Allah in our daily lives and teach and encourage our family to do the same. This is what it means by providing baathin provision for our wives and families."
Alhamdulillah, the respected Haji eventually sit together with us and listen attentively to a bayaan delivered after Maghrib solah and even stated his intention to spend his time in the path of Allah for 3 days.
Notice how weak our steadfastness as compares to the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Sahabah and their family radiyalaahu anhum for the effort of Deen.

After her father and Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam left for hijrah (migration) to Madinah, Asma' binti Abu Bakr radiyalaahu anhuma was left with her blind and aged grandfather, Abu Quhafah, who was then still a musyrik. When he realised that his son had migrated he was sad. Then he was worried whether he had left any cash for expenses. They had about four or five thousand Dinars in the house and her father, Abu Bakr Siddiq radiyalaahu anhu, had taken it all for the expenses of the journey. But she comforted her grandfather saying there was plenty in the house and nothing was lacking. In order to convince him, she collected some pebbles that were the size of Dinars; these she put in a pot and spread a cloth over them. Then she guided his old hands over the cloth. Abu Quhafah was very pleased that his son had not neglected them. Asma' radiyalaahu anha had done this for the old man's peace of mind, but in truth Abu Bakr As-Siddiq radiyalaahu anhu with a strong faith in Allah, had taken his all to spend in the way of Allah and His Messenger sallalaahu alayhi wassalam. And thus it is narrated to us the extent of steadfastness and sacrifices of the noble Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum in the matter of Deen.

When love for his wife and new-born son grew in the heart of the husband, Allah Ta'ala commanded him to leave his wife and son at an uninhabited place where there was no water nor food, no animals to hunt nor any plant. What they have was only a little provision that they had brought along. Imagine the devastation and sadness of the husband when his wife who was holding their baby tucked his dress and persistently asked him why he was leaving them behind in the dessert where there was no sign of living creatures. When his wife asked him if it was the command of Allah Ta'ala, he could only nod his head. The wife then said, "If it is the command of Allah Ta'ala upon you, then surely Allah Ta'ala will take care of us." The husband slowly rode away and vanished from their sight.

Soon the little provision that they have with them depleted. There was no water left to drink and there was no food to eat. The little baby began to cry out of thirst and hunger. Even milk from her breasts had dried out. She climbed up a hill in search of caravan or journeymen on the other side of the hill that might passed by. Having found no one, she ran downhill and climbed another hill searching for lifeline for her starved athirst son who never stopped crying. Still she could not find anyone on the other side of the second hill. She then ran downhill and climb up again the first hill searching for salvation. She travelled back and forth between the hills seven times in the scorching heat before she lost all hope of any assistance of any man. Only then her imaan and yakeen to Allah Ta'ala was absolute that none but Allah Ta'ala could grant her and her child salvation. And only at this moment of time, the help from Allah Ta'ala descended upon them. When she returned to her son, she found that a spring had sprouted forth from the crying baby kicking at the sand with his feet. And thus Allah Ta'ala reveals to us in the Quran the lesson of imaan and yakeen that had been acquired by the family of Khalilullah Ibrahim alayhi salam, his wife Hajar radiyalaahu anha, and their son Ismail alayhi salam.

A Guide Named Dhiyab - Part 2

Although there were only two Palestinians and one Yemeni together with with eight local brothers, our jamaat attracted special attention of the locals wherever we went to during the ten days period (as usually is the case with foreign jamaat). Dhiyab and the two Palestinian brothers were always occupied attending to the locals that flocked them, though most of the time he merely listened to, observed and learned from the more experience and elderly Palestinian brothers' conversation, speeches and actions.

In the first ten days that we were together, my relationship with Dhiyab was more on ta'aruf basis (getting to know each other). I, sometimes would teased him, telling him that his American accent make me sick. He enjoyed talking about Yemen, its people, culture and heritage. He especially cherished the topic on historical Yemen and he was excellent explaining every single detail about it. I must say he is superb and exceptional as a tourist guide. You could feel the years and hard work that he had put in his work. It was hilarious when he once told me that he was fascinated by the "Malaysian method of dakwah" as he did not find it in America or Yemen. I have to explain to him that this particular work and effort of dakwah is very much in existence all over the world including America and Yemen except perhaps he was at a wrong place or at a wrong time.

At the end of the ten days khuruuj in the path of Allah, Dhiyab decided to use remaining time of his three months tourist visa in Malaysia to join us for another 30 days of dakwah and tabligh mission to Penanti, Bukit Mertajam in northern Malaysia, thus, completing the 40 days period. The two Palestinian brothers tearfully bid us farewell before continuing their blessed journey for another two months in Bangladesh.

It was during the later 30 days khuruuj in the path of Allah that Dhiyab and I were frequently paired together. And it was during this period that our relationship grew into a special bondship between us. Often when we visited the locals living in the surrounding area of the masjid that we stopped by, he would tell the people about the importance of making effort to acquire imaan (faith) and knowledge of Deen to practice. He would relate to them his own shortcomings before Allah gave him taufeeq and show him the way to struggle for Deen. As if I could still hear him said, "Come to the right environment of Deen in the masjid and spend some time for it. If I can give three months of my visa time for dakwah and tabligh, surely you can give just three days of your time. If you cannot give three days, then give two. If you cannot give two days, then give one. If you cannot even give one day, then give one hour of your time for dakwah and tabligh."

I realised that when a common person like me learns and reads the Holy Quran, the focus is directed more on perfecting the tajweed and makhraj in the recitation, deriving very little progress on tadabbur (reflecting on the meanings of the aayah). On the contrary, Dhiyab read the Holy Quran and ahadith deriving and gaining what he called "signals" from Allah Ta'ala that its entire content is based on dakwah. Verses that he read all could be related to dakwah. Once he developed an unbearable concern within himself resulting in him not being able to sleep for two nights and two days and losing appetite for food. As soon as we realised it, we urged and practically forced him to get plenty of sleep and rest and take plenty of food. Not only he developed deep concern for his parents and brothers who are living in America, he also has frenzied concern for the Arab Muslims - for he saw the blatant neglect of the effort of dakwah and tabligh as the cause of the Arab and Ajam (non-Arab) Muslims and the entire world to suffer as the consequences.

Hadhrat Maulana Inamul Hassan rahmatullah alayhi said, "A person's death puts and end to all his sentiments. It is therefore, better that he gives a right direction to his sentiments in his life time so that they may be useful after his death." Once he said, "One's life is spent in accordance with his sentiments. Whose sentiments are aligned towards deen will follow deen and he, whose sentiments are aligned towards material world, will run after the world. But all the sentiments come to an end with death. The death is inevitable and all the sentiments will be left behind. Whatever work of Deen is done it will be useful after death and it is to be done only with this intention. No worldly thing will accompany a person after his death. The only accompanists are his deeds."

The last night that were together as one jamaat before returning back to the Kuala Lumpur markaz, Dhiyab cried uncontrollably. The thought of parting company, going our own separate ways, were too much for him to bear. And all of us shared his sadness. But whilst we were glad and eager to return back to our family, wives and children, Dhiyab decided that it was just the beginning for his quest for the work of Deen. When we returned hugging our wives and children and family, he immediately continued his struggle in the path of Allah to Bangladesh.

He sought to be at the grave of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam

Instead Almighty Allah gives him the effort and work of nubuwwah

For it befit not the tiny Yemeni just as a tourist guide

The entire world is open for him for the effort on guidance and hidayah

May Allah accept our effort and his continuous effort and struggle and make it as a source of hidayah to the entire humanity. Aameen.

A Guide Named Dhiyab - Part 1

On 8th November 2011, I ventured into a 40 days tour of dakwah and tabligh. We were initially instructed to make effort for 10 days in Paya Jaras and Sungai Buloh area, just outside Klang Valley, together with 7 other local brothers, 2 Palestinians, and a Yemeni young man named Dhiyab. I first saw him at Masjid Jame' Sri Petaling, the markaz of dakwah and tabligh in Malaysia.

Dhiyab was raised in USA, having migrated there with his parents at the age of 4. When he was 19 years old, he returned to Yemen to find his roots and learned Arabic and Quran. He was then an Arab youth who was an ummi, illeterate and knew nothing of Arabic - he could not speak his own language, let alone read and write. At the time when we were together in the jamaat, he eventually could read and understand the Quran but when you listen to him reciting the Quran, it sounds weird and incomprehensible.

According to him, by the time he was 19, he had an urge to return to Yemen to learn Arabic and Islam since he was deprived of the opportunity all the time when he was living in USA. He was like many of American Muslim youths who pass their lives void of any teaching of Islam in the godless environment, except of course, knowing that he is a Muslim.

Upon his return to Yemen, he begin to learn and speak a local Arabic dialect but having difficulties in the learning of Islam due to his encounters with Ahmadiyah Shi'ahs and Salafis that clouded and messed up his mind even towards the upright madzhabs (the righteous different school of jurisprudence) of Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah. Consequently, his fervour and devotion for knowledge slowly faded away.

Meanwhile, as he is able to speak English very well, he began to see an opportunity for him to make money in Yemen in tourism industry. All those foreign, European and American tourists that flooded the ancient civilisation-riched Yemen had turned him craving for worldly wealth. In a short span of time, he mastered the tourism trade and eventually got married to a local lady.

After 5 years of stay in Yemen, immersed in the lucrative tourism trade, Dhiyab then realised that he had lost his way by abandoning the very purpose that he returned to Yemen in the first place, that is to learn and practice Islam. He then tried to make an umrah trip to Makkah and Madinah for he developed a sensation to visit the grave of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam in Madinah. However, he had to abandon the plan when he faced hurdles and hardship in obtaining travelling visa to Saudi Arabia. Generally it is very difficult, for a Yemeni below the age of 40, to get a hajj or umrah visa. The strict requirement of having a Saudi sponsor and clashes and fights close to the Saudi-Yemen border made it almost impossible for him to perform umrah. He lived the remaining time in Yemen feeling anxious and disturbed.

One day, he was astonished when he saw a promotional tourism pamphlet that spotted a photo of a scenery that resembled the place he saw in his dream recently. It was a Visit Malaysia pamphlet published by the Malaysia Tourism Board. Somehow he perceived it as a way out from his anguish. It did not take him a long time to embark onto a journey to Malaysia.

When he reached Kuala Lumpur, he has no clue where to go or who to meet. Eventually at a masjid in the city centre, the figure of a man making earnest du'a had caught his attention. He was captivated by the sight. He approached the man, asking him where he could get Islamic education or lessons in Malaysia. The man told him that there are two ways that he might be able to fulfill his needs; one way is to get himself enrolled in an Islamic university or madrasa, another way is to go to the Jame' Masjid at Sri Petaling (the markaz of dakwah and tabligh) just at the outskirt of the city. He chose the latter simpler and faster way.

It was at the Markaz that he met the two Palestinian brothers who were in the midst of spending their time in a 4 months journey of dakwah and tabligh (2 months in Malaysia and 2 months in Bangladesh). Since the Palestinian brothers have ten more days of their time in Malaysia before heading for Bangladesh, they made tasykil for Dhiyab to join them for the ten days short tour of dakwah and tabligh. At first Dhiyab was adamant, refusing the invitation and insisting that he was trying to find a sheikh to teach him Deen - unshakable on his view that Deen may only be acquired through lesson from a sheikh or an ustaad and learning from kitaabs. After much persuasion, he agreed to give only one hour of his time to be in the company of the Palestinian brothers. Then one hour became two, three and one whole day and he then set to spend his time for ten days in dakwah and tabligh jamaat...and that was the time when I first met him.

A Report On Tablighi Jamaat Ijtema in Pakistan 1407H (1986)

THIS IS A TRANSLATED REPORT ON TABLIGHI IJTEMA IN PAKISTAN IN THE YEAR 1407H (1986) BY SYEIKH SALEH BIN ALY ASY-SYUWAIMAN - EXCERPT FROM THE MALAY TRANSLATED BOOKLET ENTITLED "MENYINGKAP TABIR KESALAHFAHAMAN TERHADAP JEMAAH TABLIGH" (LIFTING UP THE VEIL OF MISCONCEPTION AGAINST TABLIGHI JAMAAT)

Bismillahirohmanirrohim

Our respected elder Syeikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, Head of the Board of Fatwa, Dakwah and Islamic Guidance May Allah protect him from all evil and gives him taufeeq in his actions. Ameen.

Assalamu'alaykum warohmatullahi wabarokatuhu

My leave started on 01/03/1407H (04/11/1986) and I began a journey to Pakistan on 03/03/1407H (06/11/1986) together with a delegation of ulama and students from various universities including University Islam, Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, King Saud University, etc. We had really witnessed a miracle. As soon as we reached Lahore (Pakistan), we were met by a group of righteous young men, whom the light if Ilm (knowledge) and Imaan (faith) were visible from their beard and faces. We headed to the airport masjid and performed our sunnah prayer there. Then we sat together with delegations from various other countries. Thus a man from among them delivered wonderful words in a bayaan (speech) that really touched our hearts.

Then we were taken to the Ijtema (gathering) place in Raiwind. A beautiful gathering that caused devotions of hearts, tears flowing down from happiness and fear of Allah. This was a gathering which resembled the gathering of jannatis (people of Paradise). There was no shouting, no repulsive feeling, no vain speeches, no trouble, and no lies.

Very clean indeed! There was no stench and no trash. It was very well organised, without the presence of police or security forces, without police patrols or guards, whereas the gathering attracted more than one million people.

The global and natural living surrounded by zikrullah, ilm, discources, circles of ta'leem (learning), and zikir day and night. By Allah! This was the gathering that revived the hearts, lighted and raised the level of faith. How beautiful and wonderful it was, for it gave us the living examples of the lives of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum, the tabi'ins and tabi'ittabi'ins rahmatullah alayhim - steadfast, ilm, zikr, good speeches, good actions, wonderful Islamic movements, faces lit by the light of imaan and ilm.

You would not hear but the words of tauhid and zikr, tasbih, tahmid, tahlil, takbir, recitation of the Holy Quran, salam, replying to salam, echoes of jazakallahu khairan, etc. You would not see other than what pleases you and inspires your heart, explicitly actions on reviving the sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam with novelty for you to take pleasure in every second. Truly this was a great gathering, magnificent and sweet!

Comprehensively it was the practical and actions applying the Quran and the Sunnah. How the Sunnah brought about noble life and exhilaration. And how I dearly wish such gathering could be held in Saudi Arabia since the country is appropriate for every goodness, and always surpassing other countries in every goodness since the reign of King Abdul Aziz, may Allah pardon him and sanctified his soul in Jannatun Na'im and gather us all in Jannatul Firdaus.

Individuals and personalities from these jamaat came from all over the world. They have one form, one appeal, one idiom, and one purpose. As if they were offspring from one person, or as if Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala creates one heart and share out amongst them. They have no aspiration except desire to hold fast onto the principles of Deen and making effort of rectification between Muslims, paving guidance for the non-Muslims towards the path of Allah. How could the confused and ignorant people dare to abuse and revile these righteous people?

Syeikh Abdul Majid Az-Zindany's statement about them, "They are the denizens of heaven that walk on the earth."

Which foul hearts that dare cursing and accusing them of things that are not there in them?

I reckon that the object of this jamaat is similar to the desire of the Government of Saudi Arabia in making improvements on people around the world, spreading peace and security in every corners of the country. From which angle could they be assaulted?

On the completion of discourses after Isha', when you direct your eyes to the right and left, you see ilmiyah halqah (wisdom groups) that you may join or follow whichever you prefer. Whichever halqah that you sit, you will get enlightenment of knowledge. When the nightfall is quiet and eyes are sleeping, you notice them standing in qiyam like pillars. At the later part of the night, you hear their weeping sound like beehives, begging and beseeching Allah Ta'ala for forgiveness of their sins and the sins of fellow Muslimeen, to guard and protect them and fellow Muslims against Jahannam, and pleading and praying for hidayah (guidance) to all mankind for the revival of the Sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam.

In short, verily this gathering is indeed befitting to be attended by scholars and students of knowledge, even every Muslims who fear Allah and hope for happiness in the Aakhirah. May Allah give rewards to its promoters, firm them up, assist them and grant their effort as beneficial to the Muslims. Verily He is All-Hearing and All-Granting of prayers.

Those who serve or doing khidmat are all huffaz of the Quran. Wheat grinders grind with bismillah, takbir, tasbih and tahmid. Bakers work with bismillah, takbir, tasbih and tahmid. We have observed and heard them without them realizing it. All praise to Allah who had opened their hearts, granting them taufeeq to always making zikr to Him and guiding them towards the Right Path, a thing desire by every Muslims.

And in truth, O' noble syeikh, whosoever participate and join them will certainly become da'ie ilallah through pratice and training and long-lasting companionship. Would it be better if I know them since I was a student at the University before, indeed I would have become "allamah" in da'wah work and all knowledge. This is, by Allah, what I declare to Him. And He, the Almighty, will certainly hold me responsible on this on the the Day where no wealth, nor kinship, nor help from anyone is of any use.

It would be nice if all the da'ie under your board could combine and mix in the gatherings and go out with them in jamaah to learn ikhlas, da'wah system, akhlak of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum, tabi'in and tabi'ittabi'in rahmatullah alayhim. May Allah be pleased with them all.

In conclusion, I pray to Allah to show that the haq is haq and give us the strength to follow it. May He revealed to us the righteousness in our affairs, granting us ikhlas and integrity, protecting us from self-deceit, nafs and shaytaan, assisting His Deen, raising His Words, honouring us with Islam and honouring Islam through us. Verily, He is the Owner and Sustainer of all things.

May Allah's mercy and peace be upon our prophet Muhammad sallalaahu alayi wassalam, his family and all his Companions radiyalaahu anhum.

Written by Student Pupil Syeikh Saleh bin Aly Asy-Syuwaiman,

Delegation of Da'wah and Islamic Guidance of Unaizah