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

Close Encounter of the Tabligh Jamaat: Part 7 - Sharing the Spark of Hidayah

"What are you saying?" I asked her. "You've changed." came a short answer from her sobbing voice. "In what way?" I asked. She kept quiet. "Do I go around seeking other women?" I asked. No answer and still sobbing. "Am I now frequenting pubs or clubs? Am I being harsher towards you? Am I neglecting you or our children?" I continued asking, trying to understand her. Silence. No reply. Wiping away her tears.

I now understand why most women (or most wives, to be more precise) feel threatened when their husbands are being approached or visited by tablighi brothers. The mere presence of strange heavily-bearded brothers talking to her husband could bother or haunt her, as if those strange tablighi brothers are going to grab her husband away from her.

It is natural for a wife to love her husband and vice versa. But sometimes a wife would go beyond the boundaries in such a way that she wants her husband all to herself. Whereas the obligations of a husband are firstly, towards Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul sallalaahu alayhi wassalam; secondly, towards his mother; thirdly, towards his father; fourthly, towards his mother-in-law; fifthly, towards his father-in-law; and then towards his wife. Often many wives failed to recognise these constraints of their husbands. She always want to be No. 1 in the sight of her husband, nothing less. It grieved me when I read in the newspapers or magazines or even on telly, how ignorant and moronic a wife can be when complaining of her mother-in-law (her husband's mother) intervention in their marriage. She would not be that mindless if she knows her proper place.

Stunningly, it is even easier for a wife to (unconsciously, I hope) place herself higher than Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul sallalaahu alayhi wassalam. For instance, at the sound of the calling of the adhaan, when her husband is getting ready to go to masjid for solah, the wife scowls, "You said that you would bring me for shopping (or to do this and that). It's getting late and now you're going to the masjid." Her frowning and sullen face stops her husband from going to the masjid and hurriedly perform solah at home instead. At that point of time, the wife is putting herself above Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul sallalaahu alayhi wassalam!

Having said that, I firmly believe that it is the fault of the husband if, void of any effort on his part, his wife fail to recognise her position. Did not our beloved Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam tell us that every one of us is a shepherd and and every one is answerable with regard to his flock...that a man is a guardian over the members of his family and shall be questioned about them? Every one of us is a guardian and every one of us shall be questioned with regard to his trust.

Thus, I consider the night when my wife suddenly broke into tears was the very moment she began to realise that her husband is not exclusively hers. And that her rights and demands upon her husband is limited. That the right towards Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul sallalaahu alayhi wassalam is second to none. All praise be to Almighty All-Knowing Allah for the swift first spark of hidayah in an episode that I foolishly feared would ruin our marriage.

The rest of the episodes could be read in the chapter "A Wonderful Initial Effect of Fadha'il Ta'leem" and "An Introduction to Masturat Jamaat".

Close Encounter of the Tabligh Jamaat: Part 6 - The Hidayah

In this day and age when materialistic prosperity is the principal aspiration, and which unfortunately surpasses Deen in terms of chief priority, live revolves entirely around carnal and sensual pleasures. Thus, the purpose of life itself has been forgotten and the gift of life wasted.

Imagine, believing that you are a Muslim and suddenly realising just the opposite. Though my parents had given me a noble Muslim name, I never lived a life of a Muslim. I never ate my food like a Muslim should. I never slept like a Muslim should. I never went to the bathroom like a Muslim should. I never dressed like a Muslim should. I did not even look like a Muslim. I never talked like a Muslim should. I never even thought and felt like a Muslim should.

I did not live a life of a Muslim. I did not have a mindset of a Muslim. I did not have a heartfelt of a Muslim. And if Allah Ta'ala take my soul away before the blessed 3 days, I do not know whether I'd die as a Muslim. I will continue to beg to Allah Ta'ala for His guidance to do righteous deeds and beg Him to grant us proper understanding. May Allah Ta'ala bestow upon us correct understanding and the light of reason.

The first thing that happened to me when I arrived home was the jolt and quiver that I felt whenever I heard the Adhaan. It never happened before that I rushed to Masaajid at the call of the Adhaan. I remember one brother said at a discourse during the 3 days, "How does a farmer get the chickens to return to his backyard chicken coop? Let the chickens roam, peck, sleep and eat in the chicken tractor within the chicken coop for three days. At the end of three days, even if the chickens are outside roaming, they will return back to their coop. Subhanallah! If Allah could do that to chickens, indeed it is not difficult for Allah to cause the hearts of His servants to be attached to Masaajid after spending 3 solid days in the Masjid." It was then that I felt the amazement and admiration to his simple yet deep simile.

By the same token, I then had impression that all the while my usual sitting position at home was improper since my feet were pointing towards the Qiblah. Similarly, I abruptly changed my sleeping position as it too cause my feet to be pointing towards the direction of the Qiblah. I would not start eating my meals without first washing both my hands and cover my head. When I entered the bathroom to ease myself, I would cover my head and sometimes I would stepped back outside whenever I forgot to enter it first with my left foot. I began to direct my attention to the daily Sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam, whatever that I learned and practice during the 3-days period, with the hope that I would eventually changed my erroneous routines to the blessed Sunnah routines.

For a couple of weeks, my quest for practising the daily Sunnah continued. I regard it as something basic for me to do with just a little effort. After all, who would be so foolish not to grab the opportunity of obtaining the promise of a hundred rewards of martyrdom by Allah by just reviving a Sunnah? It turned out that what I regarded as something basic and easily done has actually had a tremendous effect on other people. One night, to my puzzlement, my wife suddenly shed tears, and I was dumbfounded as she wept, "I want my husband back."

Close Encounter of the Tablighi Jamaat: Part 5 - The First 3 Days

The hijrah (migration) of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum highlights how they left their dearly loved homelands, an act that is extremely difficult for a person. They also left with the intention of never returning until their deaths. The hijrah was more beloved to them than the world and all its pleasures and that they gave preference to the Deen above mundane pleasures and were not concerned when these pleasures were lost. The Sahabah travelled from place to place to protect the Deen from evil, as if they were specially created for the Aakhirah and were its sons. It therefore appeared as if this world was created for them.

In February 1997, I finally had the sense and courage to take a leave on Friday to join my brother in a 3 days jamaat when I took a flight from Kuala Lumpur to join the jamaat in Johor Bharu. It was an experience beyond descriptions. Suffice to say that on the third day, I burst into tears with unexplainable emotions. I, for instance, could attempt to explain to you the taste of durian (a local exotic fruit) but you will not be able to appreciate it until you yourself tasted it. Verily, at the end of the 3 days, Islam had entered into me. I recalled a conversation that my brother had with my mother years ago when she asked him how he felt after his first 'going out for dakwah' for 3 days. My brother said, "I just became a Muslim." Indeed, I too just became a Muslim after my first 3 days in dakwah and tabligh effort.

Everything immediately changed for me right after the 3 days in the path of Allah. On the return flight, I saw a couple of monks with large beads in their hands. I thought, "O Allah! They are in the baathil belief, but yet they make effort to please whatever that they worship." I felt deed sympathy to the monks and at the same time I could not remember the last time that I made wird or zikr of Allah before the 3 days that I spent in absolute deeni environment. How I had wasted much of my time and age. The one disturbing question that always buried deep into my heart which, for ages, remained unanswered, "Did Allah create me only to live my daily routines of life like the non-believers - wake up, eat, work, eat, sleep?" 

Alhamdulillah, all praise belongs only to Allah, within that blessed 3 days short time frame, Allah Ta'ala had given me a crystal clear answer for it. We are engrossed in businesses, occupations, farming and so many other engagements. It is only in these pursuits that all our time is spent. We have begun to serve the things that ought to be our servants. It is therefore necessary that we make the object the purpose of our lives which Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam was sent for and which was placed on the shoulders of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum. We should make this concern as our concern. Our mindset should be that we have been sent to this world for the responsibility of dakwah and tabligh and although we may engage in business, the business is the servant while Deen is to be served and is the true objective.

Close Encounter of the Tabligh Jamaat: Part 4 - Wealth & Wife

Right about the time when I first received my 'tablighis' guests at home, I had been offered a new job in another public listed company. Higher position, better pay and a posh comfortable office room with a great lake view. The job was another phase of trial that I had to endure.

Whenever tasykeel was being made that required me to take a few days off from office work, the first thing that came to my mind was how on earth could I take a leave when it was just a few days I had started on the new job. Those tablighis brothers ought to be more sensitive of my awkward situation. How could I possibly justify my leave after only a few days on board the new company? The excuses dragged from days to weeks, and from weeks to months. Even when months passed by, I still thought the excuse not to take leave was justifiable. The truth is I had put the importance to go out in the path of Allah for only three days as priority number 100. But as time passed by I began to feel more and more guilty about it. There were many times when the weekends were coincided with public holidays on either Monday or Friday, but I was still not serious enough to use the long weekend for the purpose of dakwah and self-rectification, even without having to apply for leave. Other things seemed more important that giving time for dakwah and tabligh effort. When you put ten cent coins right in front your eyes, you would not be able to see the millions of money in front of you.

When I were able to somehow painstakingly subdued the ordeals mentioned, I had yet to face another trial. This time the tribulation came from the person closest to me - my wife. My first initial contact with tablighi jamaat had invited averse and dissenting treatment from my wife. I could understand the rejecting attitude of my wife since the foremost thing that she saw from all those visits was to lure her husband away from her, away from home and away from family. But I could not understand the rather irritating controlling attitude that overcame her which I had never seen coming from her before. I know now that Shaytaan could have made special efforts to get our life companion to call in question, take issue, disapprove, defy and protest against the central and paramount effort that Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam had left to be continuously carried out by his Ummah after him. Let other people do it, but leave my husband alone! He is all mine, and mine alone. The most obedient wives could turned rebellious and unmanageable against her husband when it concern dakwah and tabligh. Mark my word in bold. You will never truthfully and faithfully know your wife until you experience this. The brief turmoil relationship of Adam alayhis salam and Hawa radiyalaahu anha came to mind.

"Say: If it be that your fathers' your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline; or the dwellings in which ye delight - are dearer to you that Allah or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause; - then wait until Allah brings about His Decision; and Allah guides not the rebellious." (At-taubah 9:24)

Man's heart clings to his own kith and kin-parents, children, brothers and sisters, husbands or wives, or other relatives, wealth and prosperity, commerce or means of profit and gain, or noble buildings, for dignity or comfort. If these are a hindrance in Allah's cause, we have to choose which we love most. We must love Allah even if it involves the sacrifice of all else. If we love our worldly ties and comforts, profits and pleasures, more than we love Allah, and therefore fail to respond to Allah's cause, it is not Allah's cause which will suffer. Allah's purpose will be accomplished, with or without us. But our failure to respond to His will must leave us bereft of grace and guidance, "for Allah guides not the rebellious."

Close Encounter of the Tabligh Jamaat: Part 3 - Afraid of Change

Throughout the 6-months period of constant tasykeel being put on me urging me to spend my time for three days in the path of Allah on dakwah and tabligh mission, I had to withstand several phases of trials.

Initially I was unenthusiastic and averse to the idea of changing my appearance and lifestyles. More often than not I was fighting with my inner self. I was pleased and delighted with the way that I looked, the fashion that I wore, the manner of my characters, the system that I followed, the scheme that I planned, plot that I designed, and the measure of my lifestyle. I then asked myself, why should I bother to change them and be incline towards the appearance and lifestyle of these 'tablighis'? I thought everything seemed perfect and in order with the way they were.

All those hysterical thoughts were constantly in my turbulent mind when the fact is that not even once I was told by anyone to change the way that I looked, the fashion that I wore, the manner of my characters, the system that I followed, the scheme that I planned, plot that I designed, and the measure of my lifestyle. The truth is that I had known nothing about Sunnah of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wassalam, let alone loving the Sunnah. The reality is I let myself to indulge in those crappy thoughts, formulating reasons not to give my time to go out in the path of Allah.

The love for music and movies had been one of the contributory cause of a dilemma within myself not to immediately embrace the effort of dakwah and tabligh. I loved movies and musics. Yes, it was then a big deal to me. I thought what would I do with all those precious collection of hundreds of CDs and movies? No - I was not willing to part with the grungy songs of Nirvana, the trashy sound of Metallica and the rocking voice of Bon Jovi. But the silly thought really came as lame reasons for me not to join the noble and divine effort to strengthen my own imaan against shaytaan and my own evil desires. To some extent I still watch movies and listen to music. But I am now also aware of their evil nature. The pious and learned men say that music is the gate of munafeeq (hypocrisy). What more to say about films and movies that combine a cocktail of evils to sight, hearing and corrupting the mind. What we see, hear, say and think will definitely affect our heart - just like contaminated streams polluting a lake, so does music and movies affect a Muslim's heart. May Allah grant us all strength to totally be free from those evils.

Looking back at my younger self, I understand better the story of a skin tanner who had been all the time involved with the tanning of animal skins and had become used to the bad smell of the skins. He had been used to living in a bad smelling environment and bad smells had become second nature to him. In the meantime, the fragrant scents of perfume shops had made him sick. Really, those who become perplexed and agitated at the sweet-smell of Allah's and His Rasul sallalaahu alayhi wassalam's obedience and those who are not inclined to a life of following the Sunnah, should be considered as having the same sickness as the tanner. In our dirty way of life and the dirty environment of sinful living, we spent a whole lifetime, so that our hearts and brains become familiar with those things and are inclined towards them.

The treatment of getting us to change that life is to slowly, step by step, to get us out of that environment of sin and to make us wander around the fragrant gardens. We should be brought to the gatherings of the pious and saintly ones and into their company. After frequenting these places for several days, we will realise, "In what dirty environment were we?" Then thinking about the life of the past, perhaps we would cry and sigh and will be very grateful for the company of the righteous ones. Gradually our noses will become used to the fragrant scents (i.e. in the love and service of Allah).