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To the ‘observer’ all these rules might seem very harsh, but it is our duty to seek knowledge, for there are reasons and answers to everything in Islam. Hazrat Inayat Khan (may Allah be pleased with him), Imam Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah be well pleased with him) and many other great Saints and scholars have written extensively on the inner and outer aspects of Islam. Our Master Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah be well pleased with him), may Allah be pleased with him, who most clearly defined the Path gives a Sufi explanation of the fundamental duties of Islam – prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and almsgiving.
[1]
We must stand firm in our religion of Ahle Sunnah Wa Jamaah, the religion of our Saints and our elders. Those who are against true spiritual enlightenment and the Truth such as the Deobandis, Ahmadis (Lahore, Qadiani and others), Wahabis, Shias, Moududis, Nadwis and ‘other’ movements should be avoided at all times. Let us not live with them; let us consider them our enemies. Neither must we listen to them nor sit in their company. Abhor their publications, for; the devil is quick to change our hearts and cause confusion. A person will never venture to go to a place where his wealth will be in danger or his honor at stake. Our religion and our faith must be treasured, so it is incumbent for us to make all efforts to protect the Truth. Worldly honor and wealth lasts only as long as life exists, while complete faith, on the contrary, lasts for eternity. It is obligatory on every Muslim to safeguard this zealously.
Continually, hadis and the words of the Imams [here, the founders of the 4 Sunni law schools] have indicated, saying that it is forbidden to mingle with bad-mazhabs and that it is imperative to stay away from them…The beloved Prophet said, "Stay away from them, lest they lead you astray, and cause turmoil (fitna) [among you]"…[The beloved Prophet also said,] "If they fall ill, don’t ask about them, if they die, don’t join their funerals." [And,] "When you meet them, don’t marry them." "Don’t read the namaaz (prayers) with them."
More positively, they were to be openly denounced and rebutted, and their wrongdoing and false belief made known, particularly by the ulema.
When bad-mazhab things are being published, by the ijma (consensus of the Scholars which, with Quran, sunna, and qiyas constitutes one of the 4 basis of the Law) of the ummat-e din (the religious community), it is one of the important duties [of the ulema] to rebut them, and to make their bareness apparent.
If the ulema did not do so, people would begin to respect them, they would listen to what they had to say, and soon they would be misled. "Then the work of din would fall into the hands of those who have broken their faith into many pieces…and become a separate group."
[2]
Be steadfast in your daily prayers, and it is incumbent (waajib) on men to perform their prayers in congregation in the Mosque. A Muslim who does not offer his prayers to Almighty Allah is but the caricature (cartoon) of a Muslim. He resembles a human being externally, but his existence, as a human is meaningless. Whether self-employed, in another’s employment or for some other reason one neglects prayers, he is one who lacks gratitude towards his Creator and is but childish. An employer has no right to deny his employee the obligation to perform prayers. If such employee refuses his/her employee time out for prayers, it is haraam (forbidden) to continue in such employment. Any form of self-employment is devoid of blessing if one does not perform prayers. Is it not Almighty Allah who provides us with our livelihood and is it not Himself who made prayer obligatory, even amongst the Saints and Prophets.
According to one traditional report [khabar], the beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said: While a man is sleeping, the devil [shaytaan] ties knots on his head, 3 knots in all. If the sleeper sits up and remembers Almighty Allah (Exalted is He), one knot will be undone. If he performs the minor ritual ablution [wudu], a second knot will be untied, and if he performs 2 cycles of ritual prayer, all the knots will be loosened. In that case, when morning comes, he will be fresh and in a cheerful mood; otherwise, however, the morning will find him sluggish and bad-tempered. [Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth, Vol4, page 12 - Sayyiduna Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah be pleased with him]
[3]
Those prayers that have become Qaza (gone by default) should be prayed later on. If the prayers one performs now exceed what has already been missed, then there is no harm done. Whatever prayers have become Qaza should be so arranged to be prayed later on so none prayers would be left over. Phase them out to facilitate easy redemption, do not postpone, for death comes suddenly. As long as Fard/Farz prayers are left out, Nafl prayers will not be accepted. The prayers we have left out should be offered in the manner described hereunder:
If, for example, we have 100 Fajr prayers to complete, every time we replace any, we must do so with the intention that we are performing the first Fajr prayer, which we have missed. The same conditions apply to Zuhr, Asr and others. While offering the Qaza prayers, we have only to perform the Farz and the Witr, that is, 20 Rakats for every days prayer left un-performed.
[4]
Observe all the days of fasting, which were left undone. This should be done before the approach of Ramadaan. In the Holy Traditions (Hadith Shareef), it is mentioned that our fasts are not taken into account so long as the fasting days of the previous Ramadaan remain un-observed.
[5]
Wealthy people have to pay their Zakaat. Make a calculation of the amount that has not yet been paid and pay it immediately. The Zakaat of each year should be paid before the end of the respective year. If the amount due has been paid before the end of the year, good, if it is found that there is still some money to be paid, then it should be settled at once. And, in case of more than the amount actually due has been distributed, the excess should be deducted from the Zakaat money due the following year. Our good deeds never pass unnoticed by the Glorious Almighty Allah.
[6]
Haj is a duty cast upon everyone who can afford the necessary expenditure. No doubts whatsoever should be entertained in regard to the performance of this obligatory function. Having made it compulsory, Almighty Allah has said: "But if any is ungrateful, verily Allah is free of all wants, independent." The Prophet (SAW) has said that people, who, in spite of their capacity do not perform Haj, may die a Jew or even a Christian. Do not let the occasion pass in mere reflection.
[7]
Protect yourself from evil and miserliness, backbiting, discrediting others, prostitution, and misappropriation of trusts, etc is acts that are abominable. Pride, shaving of the beard or having it trimmed to suit one’s taste, fastidious dressing and other undesirable acts stand condemned. Those who avoid these bad habits and follow the ‘good ones’ will certainly find peace of mind and will, in addition, be loved by Almighty Allah. Almighty Allah and the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) have promised Paradise to those who keep steadfast in those advices. May His Mercy spring forth forever? Amin!