al_etidaal_gn

had been created as a result of friendship with the kaafirs. This will not be dispelled by
spiritual attention. It will only be removed by the fire of hell.” (Maktoob vol. par V)
What a frightening lesson! It shows that some impurities cannot even be removed
through the focus of spiritual attention of the saints of Allah!
In a “weak” Hadeeth it is said: “Acquire nearness to Allah through hatred for sinners.
Meet them roughly and seek the pleasure of Allah by being displeased with them and
attain nearness to Allah by remaining aloof from them.” (Jami — us — Sagheer)
This Hadeeth is supposedly weak as far as its chain of narrators is concerned. But the
contents are corroborated by other Hadeeth. Azeezi wrote that it means that one should
hate the sin and not the person of the sinner. This is also the meaning of all those Hadeeth
wherein the contents are similar to this one. One should hate and resent the sin so that
because of the love we have for someone or our special relationship with him; one does
not look upon his evil deed as being something light and minor. On the other hand the sin
that is committed by him should not make us disregard the quality of Islam which lies in
him. In this way there is a medium way between the two extremes (hatred for him and
unqualified love). This alone is the way in which we can keep all that we have been
commanded to do, in its proper place.
In truth the teachings of Islam were such that it brought about a picture, true to the
description of the Quran:
“And you will see them entering the fold of Allah’s religion in groups.” (CX v 2)
But we have turned our faces away from it. And apart from not only acting upon them,
we are not even enthusiastic enough to learn those teachings. It is the punishment for
these shortcomings which we are suffering nowadays.
Our example is like that of an ostrich. When it is asked to fly, it says that it is a camel.
How can a camel be asked to fly? And when it is asked to carry loads, it says that it is a
bird. How can a bird be expected to carry loads?
So are we. When we are called upon to carry out the orders of religion and act upon it, we
say: “We are people living in this 14th Century. We are weak and ineffective. How can it
be expected of us to emulate the .deeds of the noble Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum)? They
were strong and sturdy people. They were people of the good early days of Islam who
were fortunate to have sat at the feet of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and
enjoyed his blessed company. How can we ever come near to them in action?”
But when mention is made of their grand accomplishments, their conquests of lands and
kingdoms, their progress and advances on all fronts, and when mention is made of the
respect honour and high rank they enjoyed, we exclaim: “We too are Muslims, followers
of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), successors to the Sahabah (Radiallahu
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 189