Recognising Truth and Falsehood

by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) was the teacher of Haq and from whom we received our Imaan and Islam. And it is from him that we learnt how to differentiate between Haq and Baatil (Truth and Falsehood), how to preserve, nourish and strengthen our Imaan, how to love Allah Taala and establish a beautiful Friendship with Allah Taala, such that we return to and meet Him in a condition, where He is pleased to meet us and we are pleased to meet Him. Amongst thousands of beautiful Masnoon Duas, the following Dua has also been taught by our Beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), whereby we ask Allah Taala to make apparent to us, what is Haq and Baatil, and grant us the Taufeeq and ability to follow what is Haq and stay away and refrain from whatever is Baatil. The Dua is as follows: O Allah! Enable us to see the Truth as Truth and give us the ability to follow it. And show us the falsehood as false and give us the ability to refrain from it. There was no question of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) considering Haq as Baatil or Baatil as Haq. Everything said and done by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) was inspiration from Allah Taala:

And he does not speak out of (his own) desire. It is not but revelation revealed (to him)
[Surah An-Najm 53 : 2 /3] This Dua was made as a lesson for the Ummah. It was to teach the Ummah especially people like us, living in these times of great Fitnah, where for many, Baatil is no longer regarded as Baatil and Haq is no longer regarded as Haq Looking at these times, we see people from all walks of life, research Islam, and come to conclusions which are in conflict with what Islam truly is. We see Muslims who speak about the need for Haraam to be Halaal, such as interest taking and giving. We see Muslims, influenced by the different isms, misinterpret Islam, and clamour for changes in Shariah, or call for a modern approach, living in modern times - Na uzu Billahi min zaalik. There is such an onslaught of Baatil and so many, so many are caught up in that assault, in that ambush. Placed in this present day and age, living in these times, we now truly appreciate this Dua. We see that in whatever Nabi (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) taught us, cautioned us with regard to, or informed us of - every statement of that is true to the letter.

,In this Dua

O Allah! Enable us to see the Truth as Truth and give us the ability to follow it. We learn that knowing Haq is not sufficient. Because there are many who know Haq, but do not practice on it. Who does not know that pornography is Haraam? Who does not know that adultery is Haraam? That to gamble, take or give interest, miss Salaah, speak lies, commit fraud, etc. is Haraam? Generally, Muslims are acquainted with Halaal and Haraam. However, despite knowing, many of us do not practice. There is no Salaah, Zakaah, Fasting and other Deeni obligations being fulfilled. Accordingly, the Dua continues, asking for the Taufeeq of Ittiba the ability to practise on it;

because Amal (practice) is necessary. Thereafter, Dua is made: And show us the falsehood as false and give us the ability to refrain from it. We are asking of Allah Taala, that He make known to us, apparent to us, clear to us, whatever is Haraam, sinful, detested and disliked by Him. Often, a person sees the Haq as Baatil and vice versa. So Dua is made that we know what is Haq and what is Baatil, without any confusion and uncertainty, that we are easily able to differentiate between the two.

Like a tsunami; sin and falsehood are sweeping through the Muslim Ummah. All around us we find
that Baatil is widespread. It has become the norm; it is in vogue, and the majority accepts it and engages in it. It is not even considered Haraam. Take the example of photography[1] - the good and the bad, the ignorant and even the learned ones, are caught up in this vice. No one really speaks out against it, and if a person does, he is labeled as orthodox and out-dated. The same with television[2] If someone has to advise against viewing television, not only will people argue, they will present the Fazaa`il (virtues) of television despite 80% of those programmes being clearly immoral and Haraam. But nafs and shaytaan blind the person to Haraam and to the great harms, and the person sees only benefit The sad condition and plight of the Ummah is gauged when we see the extent of Baatil in our personal lives, and we see how the culture and customs of the Kuffaar have become dominant and have replaced practical implementation of Islam and everyone is quite content and comfortable living with that.

When the Sahaba (RA) accepted Islam, despite the majority of them coming out of Kufr and
Shirk, there was no sign of Kufr in their lives thereafter. We were born and brought up in Islam. We have Islam, but the culture of the Kuffaar is found in all dimensions of our lives our homes, our businesses, our Nikahs and Walimas, our dressing Sometimes there is no trace of Islam. Inna Lillahi wa-inna ilayhi rajioon. In this Dua, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used the word warzuqna. My respected Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi alayh) beautifully explained that just as we search for our Rizq, we look forward to it, we enjoy it so Haq should become like our Rizq. Like how we seek sustenance, in the same way, we should seek good deeds with eagerness and enthusiasm. From the early hours of the morning, millions of people are on the move, traveling by car, bus, train, plane active in the effort of sustenance, and there seems to be no satisfaction when it comes to wanting more and more of the material world. Even if a person is multi-rich, we find the person is still seeking for more. There is just no contentment even in sufficiency. In this Dua, we are asking that we are not content except pursuing the Rizq of Haq, the Rizq of Ibaadah, the Rizq of Sawaab. Ittiba of Haq must become our spiritual Rizq and this Haq includes both the rights of Allah Taala and the rights of creation of parents, of wife (or husband), of children, neighbours, and others. Furthermore, we all know that we require food for our survival. When a person has not eaten in many days, his hearing is affected, his sight is affected, his speech is affected. Weakness sets in. Similarly, without the spiritual nourishment of Haq knowing it and practicing on it, Imaan

will weaken and will deteriorate, on all fronts. Added to this, the Hadeeth informs us: No soul will die until it completes its sustenance. - a person does not die until he is eaten the last grain of food which is destined for him. In a similar vein, we are asking for Allah Taala that Haq be the same to us, that we complete our lives on the Rizq of Haq, that our lives end on Haq, on Imaan. We are also asking for Taufeeq to stay away from sin, with the same kind of happiness as when we seek our Rizq; that we look forward torestraining ourselves from all Haraam. Just as a Muslim does not go out in search of pigs for his Rizq; rather he keeps clear of pigs and pork so too, should he stay away from Baatil. Just as pigs are Haraam, so too everything else, classified as sin. Unfortunately, we find that many seek out Haraam, they plan and make arrangements for indulgence in Haraam - going to the cinemas, casinos, visiting porn sites, taking and giving interest, etc. May Allah Taala protect us all. Both, abstinence from sins and doing good deeds must be as we find our sustenance enjoyable. This, in turn, will bring happiness and Sukoon. If this becomes the condition of a person: He pursues good deeds with that kind of eagerness and abstains from sins, with that kind of happiness, as sustenance is enjoyed, the person becomes a Waliullah. We should learn this Dua, teach it to others and frequently recite it. May Allah Ta'ala grant us Taufeeq.

[1] Read Hazrat Maulanas (RA) discussion on The Prohibition of Photography here [2] Read Hazrat Maulanas (RA) article, The Influence of Television here