Lectures Text

Rectification of Ethics & Morality

اَلْحَمْدُ ِﷲِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنِ۔اَلصَّلوٰۃُ وَ السَّلاَم ُ عَلیٰ خَاتَمَ النَّبِیینِ۔
اَمَّا بَعْدُ فَاَعُوذُ بِاﷲِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْمِ۔
بِسْمِ اﷲِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ۔
انک لعلیٰ خلقٍ عظیم
Allah Almighty declares that ethics of the Prophet (PBUH) are undoubtedly of a very high order.
My elders and Friends
The holy Quran and Hadith have explicitly laid down the ways to spend one’s life. Our Prophet (PBUH) was chosen to serve as a living example for all of us to emulate. Allah Almighty says:-
لَقَدْ کَانَ لَكُمْ فِیۡ رَسُوۡلِ اللہِ اُسْوَۃٌ حَسَنَۃٌ
(Life of the Prophet of Almighty Allah PBUH is the best example for you)
Allah Almighty has vividly ordained that we must spend our lives as was spent by His beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The holy Quran was revealed to make the point understood. We must not only recite it but also understand its message. Recitation shall bring rewards and its understanding shall show us the path of righteousness. It is a book of guidance; the more we understand it easier it becomes to tread the right path. Allah Almighty says:-
قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنۡ زَکّٰىہَا ۪ۙ﴿۹﴾ وَ قَدْ خَابَ مَنۡ دَسّٰىہَا
(Surely blissful is he who has cleansed his soul, and he fails that corrupts it! Ash-Shams, 9-10)
Anyone who can purify his self is certainly successful and one who fails to do so is wretched and miserable. Allah Almighty has proclaimed
اِنَّکَ لَعَلٰی خُلُقٍ عَظِیۡمٍ
, undoubtedly the ethics and morals of the Prophet (PBUH) are of a very high order. When the life history of the Prophet (PBUH) is analyzed it becomes amply clear that his (PBUH) ethics and manners were above everyone else. Its reason is that he (PBUH) was sent as an example and a beacon light for the entire humanity. There have been occasions in life of the Prophet (PBUH) when his morality and ethics became prominently visible. The Prophet (PBUH) had said that on the Day of Judgment morals of a pious Muslim shall weigh the heaviest in the Divine Scale (meezan). Allah Almighty dislikes ill mannered, absurd and immoral people. The best thing is to cultivate high morals; immorality being the worst.
I have often said that a bit of faith is sufficient for worship which can then be easily performed. Human dealings/affairs on the other hand involve monetary transactions which need a very strong faith and belief. There are many people who excel in worship be it optional pilgrimage or optional fasting or the late night worship of Tuhaju’d but their dealings are shaky thereby indicating weak faith. Social affairs require even a higher degree of faith. It’s often seen that in marriage ceremonies many good and religious persons ignoring the Sunnah succumb to the prevalent rituals and traditions. They totally forget the dictates for a good Islamic society. One day Hazrat Sufi Iqbal (RA) of our Sufi order told Major Mahmud that people willingly spend and spare anything for a cause but seldom devote their children to it. He respected him for devoting his children in the service of Islam. Social responsibilities take a very heavy toll. It is only those with a strong faith who can measure up to optimum level. Ethics and morality are even tougher than the social responsibilities. They thus need the ultimate degree of faith and belief (e’maan). The best action/deed is to have a high standard of morality and disposition. A person with good manners can easily do anything else. Ethics are needed at every step of life, when we talk, listen to others, meet them and tolerate their mischief. All these actions reflect mannerism. A person failing to exhibit good manners displays his lack of faith. Allah Almighty is highly pleased with an attempt to rectify ethics and morality. The holy Prophet (PBUH) had said that a pious Muslim by virtue of his higher morals earns the dividends of a daylong fast and worship of a whole night. The dividends that I am referring to are those of the optional (nafli) worship and not those of the obligatory chores (far’z). Dividends for an obligatory worship cannot be earned in any other way than its actual performance. So with higher morals one can earn the dividends equating those of optional rituals of worship. A person may not be offering optional late night prayer (tahaju’d) or the optional prayer at sunrise (ishra’q) or even fasting (optional) during the day; will still be rewarded and elevated provided he is well mannered and morally correct. He is even better than those who are consistent in their optional chores. But if one can do the both than there is nothing like it. The poor Companions (RH) of the Prophet (PBUH) once complained to him (PBUH) about the rich who could earn dividends by paying elms, helping the poor and redemption of mortgages. While being poor they were deprived of it. The Prophet (PBUH) taught them something to recite to offset the disadvantage. They returned after sometime and told him (PBUH) that the rich had learnt those recitations from them and were benefiting more. The Prophet (PBUH) showed his inability to help saying that if Allah Almighty was rewarding someone how he (PBUH) could snatch it from them. No one can match a person who is regular in worship and also possesses high moral values. May Allah Almighty bless us all with a high moral fibre. Amen. The Prophet (PBUH) had said that a Muslim living amicably with others and tolerating their distress and torture is better than the one who does not do so. A person capable of retaliation and revenge if exercises restraint and does not pay back in the same coin and keep a grudge is definitely a person of very high moral values. Those incapable of retaliation but showing patience and not harbouring ill feelings shall be rewarded for their patience. To avoid causing physical distress while being capable of it and exercise restraint is a great character quality. In one’s life there can be many occasions when he is put into distress by others. It can be in the office, residential area, during travel or in the market place. Despite being capable of effectively responding; one bearing it with patience will be rewarded by Allah Almighty – for He is always with those who are patient and show restraint َ.
اِنَّ اللہَ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ
In life one keeps coming across these situations but we waste them by over reacting and responding harshly, consoling ourselves not to have initiated the scuffle. A tit for tat is the order of the day. You must remember that in these moments of test those who succeed are amply rewarded by Allah Almighty. He is pleased with them. A lady doctor who would frequently remember Allah Almighty (zik’r) was practicing ‘Latiaf’. After a little squable with her father in law she decided to exercise restraint and not retaliate. She was rewarded immediately with the zik’r of the whole body (sultan ul. azkar). I told her that it was the reward of her patience. Such opportunities keep arising in life. Anyone who is steadfast and can control himself is blessed with Divine laurels.
Hazrat Ali Hajveeri (RA) has narrated a personal anecdote in his book ‘Kashf ul Majub’. Once he was fixated in a spiritual ecstasy (haa’l) and was unable to come out of this state. He went to a place where the mendicants/saints did not know him. One day after eating bananas those saints started throwing the peel on him. He tolerated them patiently without any remorse or retaliation. Because of his patience, writes Hazrat Hajveeri (RA) Allah Almighty took him out of state of trance. Sometimes Allah Almighty helps in circumventing very difficult spiritual conditions provided anger is controlled and patience exercised with a display of high moral standards.
The holy Prophet (PBUH) once asked his Companions (RH) to define a wrestler. They all described a classical wrestler who could beat another one in a fight. The Prophet (PBUH) in turn told them that a real wrestler was the one who could control his anger and subdue his passion (naf’s). Let me ask you here, who is more difficult to control; an opponent inside your home or one outside it? Certainly it is more difficult to control some family member opposing you. He can make your life miserable. Similar is the situation with your passions/self (naf’s). Being very close and always there; it is very difficult to control it. Real success lies in defeating one’s self. One can find out his true worth by checking his desires especially when no one is watching him except Allah Almighty. If he can still manage to control it only then can he be sure of his spiritual emancipation. Once I inquired from my accomplice; was it easier to preach abroad than in your own country? Was it easier to preach in another city than you own? Did preaching in own locality more difficult than any other part of your city? Preaching inside your home was more difficult than the locality? On their affirmative answers to all my questions, I told them that the most difficult thing was to preach and control one’s own self. This is what mysticism (tasawuf) is all about? To convince and preach own self is tasawuf. Rest comes later; which is then relatively easier. May Allah Almighty grant us the strength to correct ourselves. Amen. In a big gathering pandemonium erupted with a big uproar and chaos. It is always difficult to control such a situation. The only announcement being made from the stage was to seat one’s own self rather than bothering about others. Participants started settling down and in five minutes everyone was seated. What was it? This was a good example of self control. This episode shows that personal restraint ensured restoration of order quicker than urging others to sit down. So the real thing is self discipline and control. Religious scholars have defined ethics as a plural of civility (khul’q). Being soft spoken is a part of good manners whereas to exercise patience on being distressed is civility. To sacrifice for others and not to trouble them is also civility. There is a long list of such deeds which together form ethics and morality. Let us define civility? It is the inner nature/character of a human being. Every action has two facets; one is visible and the other hidden. Whereas the visible part is obvious; hidden is unknown except to Allah Almighty. I can impress you by offering my prayers correctly but if it lacks focus and concentration and is devoid of humbleness than what good is it? People may be impressed but Allah Almighty is not pleased. To beautify the hidden portion of an act or worship is khul’q. The outer beauty lies in proportion. An overly white or a jet black person cannot be termed beautiful. Too tall or a very small person or too fat or very thin cannot be called beautiful. True beauty lies in proportion. Poets often exaggerate things. Picture of a very beautiful person made according to their inflated standards will become the image of a horrible demon; certainly not a beauty. In deeds and worship exaggeration does not work. It has to be a balanced affair. Allah Almighty created this universe according to proportion and balance.
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّکَ الْاَعْلَی ۙ﴿۱﴾ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ فَسَوّٰی ۪ۙ﴿۲﴾ وَ الَّذِیۡ قَدَّرَ فَہَدٰی
(Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High, Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it; And Who has measured; and then guided.
Al Ala, 1-3)
Everything has been designed according to a pattern. The moment proportions diminish beauty also fades. Human character too has parts and organs. These body parts are lust, desire, anger, wisdom and knowledge. Lust commonly understood by people is a just one of its many forms. Basically lust is a desire to possess everything that is precious and beautiful. Desire to have more and more money is unending. Man tries to possess anything that can give him pleasure. He also wants authority for self aggrandisement. Desires and wishes translate into urge and insatiability. Lack of desire is also harmful and it needs to be treated by doctors. Which means desire in itself is not a bad sentiment. It only becomes bad when limits are crossed. Again below the limits it is equally bad. The moment it accedes limits it turns into cruelty. Two contestants wanting the same thing are likely quarrel with each other. Root cause of most of the scuffles women, wealth or land. All of them are desirable objects. A desire with moderation is not bad. It is the urge to grab everything for your self which is bad. Two persons attempting to reach a single point simultaneously will surely cause an accident. When more people want to possess the same object, it would cause conflict and problems. One the other hand lack of desire/urge can make a person useless and a burden on the society. Lack of desire will force a person not to work; which is the driving force. So this is how a person not working at all becomes a drag and a burden. Therefore both extremes of desire are bad. Only moderation is recommended which makes a person balanced and a useful member of the society. Piety, chastity and truthfulness collectively create the balance in life. Wrath or rage is similarly a desire or an instinct .One wants to repulse the unwanted. For example, I will try to kill a mosquito if sits on my hand or a snake if it comes my way. I will fight the adversary to the hilt if my country is invaded by them. Jihad shall become obligatory (far’z). So you see that violence and wrath are not bad traits provided kept in check and balance. Extremes of anger can turn a person into a bloody animal. Let’s take the example of a person who is snoring in the mosque. Despite being repeatedly woken up he does not stop snoring. Feeling frustrated a starts beating him and ultimately kills him in rage. Now this extreme of wrath cannot be allowed and tolerated. Another incident happened immediately after the independence of Pakistan. A person was circling a stone in a rope sling. It hit someone on his nose. Ignoring his protest the culprit said that he could now do anything because of independence. The other person’s reply is worth quoting,” Your independence ends where my nose starts”. One cannot intrude into the privacy of others. I will like to recall a famous quotation of Hazrat Omar (RH),” You are no body to enslave those born of free mothers.” This means that power and authority bestowed on you by Allah Almighty has been given to others also and you cannot usurp it. What actually happens is that authority and wealth corrupt and people tend to do anything they like. Our policemen can tell any person to deliver a thing anywhere. They can alight any vehicle or bus and no one can refuse them lest they create a problem for them. There is a popular Pashto proverb,
صندوق مے خپل دے قدر یے پہ بل دے
“(It’s my box and others care for it). A cousin of mine went to England to do his MRCP. Initially he flunked in his examinations. On my inquiring the reason, he told me that he had failed because of his peculiar Pakistani habits. To check a patient there you have to first take his permission. You cannot simply roll up his sleeves and start checking his blood pressure. He may be there for a check up; you still have to ask his consent. “May I take your blood pressure please” or “Can I place the thermometer in your mouth” etc etc. His mannerism was being watched by the examiners. He was used to the Pakistani practices where even to floor a person no permissions are asked. My cousin told me further that because of our bad attitude towards the patients they were failed. Undoubtedly our temperaments are spoiled. We treat everyone as a personal slave. Any person who was born free cannot be made a slave. Islam abolished slavery gradually. Freeing all the slaves with one stroke of pen could have created social problems. Therefore setting a slave free was fixed as the first condition to atone for a sin. Fast and feeding for the poor were subsequent options. Freeing slaves was made very easy. Inadvertently telling him that he was free was enough. The decision became irreversible. A maid became free when she bore a child. In this way slavery was abolished in a systematic and prudent fashion. Hazrat Ali (RH) had said that a country can last with infidelity but with tyranny and oppression it shall vanquish.
During the Second World War when Germany invaded Britain, their Premier Winston Churchill was asked about their chances of victory. He said that if the British courts were dispensing justice then nobody could conquer them. Presently the US- NATO forces in Afghanistan have the same problem. They cannot win the war if the masses do not support them. Even today people cherish the memories of the justice and equality practised in the Taliban era. Fair play and equity bind people together and then it becomes everlasting.
Muhammad bin Qasim after the conquest of Sind was ordered to return by Salman bin Abdul Malik. Local people were crying and begging him to stay back. This is a historical fact. In another incident, the Companions (RH) were surrounded by enemy in a captured territory. As soon as it happened, they ceased collecting the protection poll tax from the local populace because of their inability to defend them. The locals were crying and praying for their return while the refund was being made to them. Justice really distinguishes a person and inculcates love and respect. A hadith describes that only an amiable person can have perfect faith (e’maan). That is why civility and high morals need strenuous effort to inculcate.
Likewise wrath is also a sentiment which needs to be controlled and not curbed. A vehicle with a powerful engine meets an accident because of lack of control. To prevent future accidents will its engine be damaged? No. One will have to learn to control it and put it to a positive usage. The Prophet (PBUH) had said those who excelled in something in days of ignorance would remain good after embracing Islam.
Hazrat Omar (RH) was a very hot tempered person. One day he embarked upon killing (God forbid) the Prophet (PBUH). While moving with a naked sword in his hand he was informed that his sister had also embraced Islam. So he turned back and reached her house. When he arrived there she was reciting Quran. He started beating her. When her husband tried to save her; he too was beaten harshly. She told him that she would prefer to die than to refute Islam. After cooling down a bit he asked her as to what was she reciting? It was Quran, she replied. He told her to recite it to him. She told him point blank she would not do it because he was defiled and unclean. Hazrat Omar (RH) took a bath and then listened to Quran.He so over powered by emotions that he started crying and requested to be taken before the Prophet (PBUH). The situation had changed now. His head was bowed when moving to the Prophet’s (PBUH) residence. On his knocking the door, the Companions (RH) got worried about his intentions. Hazrat Amir Hamza (RH) who had already embraced Islam told them to let him in. He said that if his intentions were bad he would slay his head with the same sword. Once inside the door the Prophet (PBUH) himself bravely came forward, held his lap and then inquired the reason for the visit. Hazrat Omar (RH) replied that he had come to accept/embrace Islam. There was a jubilant uproar of ‘Allah O Akbar’ by the Companions (RH). His rage and enmity which was for Muslims earlier had changed course. He straight went to the Holy Kabba and announced his decision. Non believers rushed to beat him up. He floored one of their leaders and started beating him while himself being beaten by others. To save their leader the infidels were forced to let go. That was the beginning of a series of his bold and daring initiatives. He came to Kabba fully armed before migrating to Madina. After the customary circumambulation/ making the circuit of Kabba (tau’f), he announced that anyone who wanted to make his wife a widow or his mother weep could dare to stop him. His personality was so awe inspiring that nobody could dare to step forward. He also transferred the Caliphate boldly. In those difficult times a committee of six notables was constituted who included Hazrat Abdul Rehman bin Auff (RH), Hazrat Usman (RH), Hazrat Ali (RH) and Hazrat Abdullah bin Omar (RH). His instruction were that if four were on one side and the remaining on the other side ; accept the decision of those four and behead the remaining two. If it was an even tie then agree to those who had Hazrat Abdul Rehman bin Auff (RH) on their side. His son Hazrat Abdullah bin Omar (RH) could vote but was forbidden to be nominated as a Caliph. In the wake of such tough conditions the only choice was to make a quick and unanimous decision. The committee comprised of all notable Companions who could be considered for Caliphate. They all quit in favour of each other. Hazrat Abdul Rehman bin Auff refused to become the Caliph. So ultimately the decision was left to him. He kept on deliberating and consulting for three days without a wink of sleep. After a little point of difference bothHazrat Usman (RH) and Hazrat Ali (RH) consented to his decision which was in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. So you see who boldly Hazrat Omar (RH) conducted all his affairs. He kept a hunter’s whip with him and often used it even against the notables. Once sitting on the pulpit he asked the audience that what they would do if his decisions went against the Divine Commands and Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). A Companion (RH) got up from the crowd, took out his sword and said that he would be corrected with the sword. Hazrat Omar (RH) was pleased and thanked Allah Almighty that there were some people to save him from the evil. He once met a delegation in his capacity as the Caliph. Immediately after their departure he started working to help others in their daily chores like bringing water from a well etc. On being inquired the reason, he explained that it was to teach his self (naf’s) humility. You are aware of that well known story of the poor woman. She was boiling stones in a cooking pot to pacify her children suffering from pangs of hunger. Immediately on learning about it, he personally carried to her a sack of flour and other necessities on his own shoulders. He refused the help from the servants telling them that he would himself be carrying his load on The Day of Judgment. He made the children eat in his presence. While retuning he commented that when he came the kids were crying and he wanted to see them happy and laughing when he returned.
These examples from the life of Hazrat Omar (RH) clearly illustrate that rage does not need to be eliminated; it rather has to be put on a positive course. The saints also do the same. They do not curb love and anger but give it a useful direction. Some people claim to completely annihilate their self (naf’s). Simply put it cannot be done and should not be even attempted. This is vehicle or medium for the spiritual growth and reform. Let me explain here in simple words as to what self (naf’s) is? Eyes are there to see and observe. One can watch good things yet a desire to watch forbidden materials also exists in the eyes. So this is the naf’s of eyes. Ears too long to hear bad things. This is its naf’s. Take the brain or for that matter all our body organs have their desires (naf’s). You cannot disable your eyes. So long as the eyes are there the desire will stay. Instead of totally eliminating the source of desires one has to tame and train it. A spoiled child is not killed. He is educated to become good. To make an animal useful it is tamed and not killed. It is only proverbial that self is annihilated, it cannot be. This only means that all the bad desires and passions have been successfully controlled. Now they no longer distract the person rather they act according to his will. This is what is called ‘the Satisfied Self (naf’s e mutmainya). Too much of wrath is cruelty, too less is cowardice and in between lies chivalry. A brave person fights his enemy but becomes soft before a weak man. A brave person never fights a weakling. It is only a mean person who will hit a weak and tremble before the strong. Intellect or wisdom is a gift of Allah Almighty. Mind is there to comprehend and understand things. Then there is the super mind which controls the rest of the brain. A right super mind ensures that rest of the mind works correctly. Einstein, the famous scientist is reputed to be very intelligent because of his inventions. This is a fallacy. Children playing in the sand often complain about damaging each other’s house. Their parents simply ignore them for fighting over a petty thing which will barely last for five minutes or so. Look at your life in the same way. First day of resurrection shall have duration of fifty thousand years. Compare with it a hundred year spell of life here which is just equivalent to three minutes of the time there (working on the basis of 24 hours day). Are you not surprised as to what all is done to spend these three minutes of time. Isn’t it childish? A man is busy writing book after a book but is ignorant of the life hereafter. Can he be called a wise person or a fool? Einstein is therefore worse than an ordinary Muslim worker, who cannot even count his wages but is sure of being answerable to Allah Almighty one day. Einstein forgot his real objective and failed to achieve success. Any numbers of achievements in this life are insignificant and short lived. They will last at best till the death comes. One must learn to know where to apply his brains. Islamic jurists applied their minds to please Allah Almighty and Einstein used it for the worldly gains. There is no comparison between the two. Now do not take me wrong here. I am not at all against science and its applications. Those scientists working to please Allah Almighty may even surpass the status of the jurist. Intellect /wisdom itself is a tool. It should only be used for things desired by Allah Almighty and not for what has been forbidden by Him. Let’s take the example of two people who want to introduce Islamic way of life in their home. One does it crudely without applying his mind. Whereas the other does it gradually in a systematic fashion applying his wisdom and ultimately succeeds in his aim. He is wise because he used his intellect positively. He wants to educate his children and groom them. This is a perfect application of mind. It all depends on where and what for intellect is being applied. If it is against the Sharia then it is an access (Ifra’t), but if not used where Sharia demands then it is a deficiency (tafree’t). We should always be mindful of the excessive or limited application of wisdom. Its correct application is inquiry (fiqqahat). That is why it has been said that those favoured by Allah Almighty are blessed with understanding of the religion.
Next stage is knowledge which means to know things. It is a light to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong. This again is gift of Allah Almighty. It will be very foolish to use it for worldly gains; but if used to please Allah Almighty then it is very prudent application.
علم کر پر تن زن مارے بود
علم گر بر دل زنی یارے بود
If you use knowledge for your body then it shall turn into a serpent but used for heart it shall befriend you.
Knowledge is a blessing provided applied correctly, else it becomes dangerous if used to exhibit pride and arrogance. The Prophet (PBUH) had said that scholars are the descendents of the prophets but those who misuse their knowledge for the worldly gains are the worst of the lot. May Allah Almighty grant us the true understanding and strength to act correctly. Amin
وآخر دعوانا ان الحمد اللہ رب العالمین۔