al_etidaal_gn

Allama Kirinani (Rahinatullah Alayh) says: “In our times it is preferable to seclude
yourself, and to remain in solitude, because (nowadays) it is very seldom that any
gathering is devoid of sinful acts.”
Allama Amy (Rahmatullah Alayh) says: “I am also in agreement with Kirmani
because in these times nothing is derived from gathering except sin.”
Irnam Nawawi (Rahmatullah Alayh) passed away in the year 676 Hijri and Allama
Kirmani (Rhmatullah Alayh) died in 786 Hijri. In a period of merely one hundred
years times had changed so much that Imam Nawawi prefers mixing with people to
be better and Allama Kirmani, 100 years later says that seclusion and solitude is
better. Aliama Amy died in 755 Hijri and he concurs whole-heartedly with Kirmani
while explaining the upsurge in evil all round.
We are now in the second half of the 14th Century and one can only imagine how
many more evils have arisen around us. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
said: “Every era that dawns will exceed the era before it in evil.”
He is also reported to have said: “You shall continue to enjoin the doing of good and
continue to prohibit the doing of evil. However when you see stinginess being
obeyed, and carnal desires being followed, and the world being preferred (over deed),
and every man becomes infatuated with his own opinion, and you see such a state of
affairs that there is no other way (except silence), then guard yourself (to avoid being
involved in trouble) and cut of intercourse with the people. Soon a time will come
when to hold onto your religion will be like holding onto live burning coals.”
(Mishkat)
A time will come when just as difficult as it is to hold live burning coals in your hand
with patience, so difficult will it be to remain steadfast on your deen. Now, every
religious minded person, every religiously conscious one knows how difficult it is to
spread true religious teachings, to draw attention to deen and even to act according to
deen.
Look at the most important tenet of Islam, which, after Imaan, is the most weighty
thing - Salaah. See how difficult it has become to command those high ranking nobles
among the Muslims, the wealthy ones, those people who are looked upon as the
standard-bearers of Islam and its leaders - to perform Salaah! See how difficult it has
become to persuade them to attend the Mosque for Salaah and to observe the prayer
with Jamaat. It is more difficult than to tell the ordinary Muslim in the street. It
almost seems that he who does the preaching and persuading to induce others to
attend the prayers is doing so for his own good, for some vested interest. And it seems
as if those who are preached to, are deriving no benefit therefrom.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “My example is like that of a person
who lighted a fire. Moths flock to the light and fall upon it and he chases them away
so that they do not become unnecessarily burnt. But they do not go away and burn in
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 186