An Unsuccessful Mindset

A person once approached Hazrat Ml. Zakariyya رحمة الله عليه to seek his advice. He told Hazrat رحمة الله عليه that for the past two months when I return home from work, I ask my wife, “Is there anything to eat?” The couple were experiencing severe poverty at the time. When she replies that there is nothing, I opt to spend the day fasting. Hazrat رحمة الله عليه replied, “Alhamdulillah. You are acting upon the Sunnah.”

In other words, Just as Nabi ﷺ had fasted during times of poverty, this person would also be emulating Nabiﷺ. Therefore, although the situation is difficult, it is close to the Sunnah and reaps rewards. This was the mindset of Hazrat رحمة الله عليه. Hazrat would notice the Sunnah more than the difficulty. In contrast, our mindset has drifted far away from the Sunnah.

For example, if a man happily announces that he bought a spacious home in a posh suburb with a loan from his bank, what would our response be? Parents would gleefully remark, “Son, you have done well!” His new purchase would become talk of the town. Now his parents would want to purchase items for his new home, like a frame with the Kabah on it. The son would be hailed a success.

Yet in reality, what has the son done by taking an interest loan? He has waged war with Allah (Qur’an, 2:278-279). He has incurred his wrath and anger. Yet we are too drunk and intoxicated in the love of this world to notice or care. Considering him successful for indulging in haram shows that our mindset is more materialistic than Islamic.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an that Jannah is being prepared as we speak for the righteous. Righteousness is the criteria. It is the ticket we need to enter the gardens of Jannah, but what does it mean to be righteous? It means to tread carefully and cautiously on earth thereby avoiding displeasure of Allah as far as possible. This is success. Success is not the indulgence in interest and sins. No matter how common it becomes always remember, a sin is a sin. There is no good outcome for it in the hereafter even if its worldly state appears beautiful in our eyes.

May Allah align our mindset with Islam and save us from sins that tempt us to displease Him, Aameen.

— Hazrat Ml. Dawood Seedat حفظه الله