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therefrom, then before death Allah Ta’aala will involve that (whole) community in some
punishment.”
According to another Hadeeth, Allah Ta’aala once despatched SayyidinaJibreel Alayhis
Salaam to destroy a certain community. Jibreel Alayhis Salaam said: “There lives among
them such a saintly being who has not sinned against Thee even once in his whole life.
(How can I destroy them all)?” The reply came from Allah: “That is indeed true, but
never did a frown appear on his forehead for My sake, and on My behalf.”
This means: He never once, on seeing evil committed and disobedience to My
commands, exhibit any sorrow or anger. And that was the least that he could have done.
(Mishkat).
It is not easy to mention all the numerous Ahaadeeth with similar themes, namely; that
grave warning of punishment is expressed against those who see evil being committed
and do not even show any form of displeasure, anger or sorrow. When one is incapable or
too cowardly to stop such acts, the least that is expected of him as a Muslim is to show
his sorrow and grief.
Now let us examine our own condition in the light of the abovementioned statements,
(namely that evil befalls us through our sins and that for failure to stop evil, calamities
overtake us.) How numerous are the sins we commit and in view of the theme of the
verse and Hadeeth quoted, how much should the punishment and calamities that should
fall upon us be? Then let us ask ourselves. How numerous are the sins we see being
committed before our very eyes and how much are we perturbed and troubled at these
iniquitous deeds? When such is the situation in which we find ourselves, how can our
prayers to Allah be answered? How can our problems be solved and our anxieties be
eliminated? It is only through Allah Ta’aala’s Mercy and through the connection we have
with Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and his duaas for us that we are not all
destroyed and completely annihilated.
So bad has it become that we are proud of our evil deeds and we look upon irreligious
acts as a form of progress. Such are we that he who blasphemes against Allah Ta’aala,
uttering words of Kufr, is considered an enlightened person. When anyone so much as try
to stop him or object to his utterances, he is called a bigoted fool, an ignorant narrowminded
opponent, standing in the way of progress - unaware and ignorant of the urgent
needs of the times, a spoke in the wheel of progress. Yes, all that for trying to stop the
spread of Kufr. How indeed things have changed!
What we have stated above is a general observation. Now by way of elucidation let us
illustrate with an example. In this religion of Islam our Salaah is of the utmost importance
after faith (Imaan). In numerous Ahaadeeth the discarding of Salaah and negligence in its
observance is stated to be leading almost to Kufr. It has also been mentioned that it is the
distinguishing factor between Islam and Kufr. In my previous book - Virtues of Salaah - I
have already mentioned in short all the deeni and worldly harm that comes as a result of
forsaking Salaah. There is no need to repeat all that here. Now, how many are the
Muslims who diligently discharge this obligation? Has anyone the guts to admonish those
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 53