…this world’s life is naught but means of deception. (Al-Hadid, 57:20)
Thoughts stemming from the comments from the last post about the new Aliat Al-Madinah shopping complex have been occupying some of my time….
I looked up the statistics concerning the area that Masjid Nabawi, including the courtyard, covered and found that it is 300,400 square meters, while the complex is 300,000. Interesting. A shopping centre covers the same area as our second most holy site! Our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alahi wasallam would say that market places are the places of Shaytan, and that was the description given to the humble makeshift market places then. The Ulema say that wherever we seek nearness to Allah Ta’ala, Shaytan will endevour to erode that effort with equal strength. Insha’Allah may we all be mindful of saying the Du’a as we enter shopping areas.
There is a clear distinction between what the necessities in life are and what commodities are based on our desires. We will be asked to account for each and every aspect of our existence here, including all items we have purchased out of desire, the money spent on them, the time used to obtain them, the places we have frequented to acquire them. Consumerism and materialism are the latest toys thrown to us by Shaytan, may we be awake to his deception, but more importantly, be strong enough to resist his offers! As brother Irving alluded to, Shaytan’s Machinations could be the name of a new disco in the “fun zone” of this new “landmark”!
Our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alahi wasallam said after some of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum thought that they would be receiving money that had just arrived to Madinah from Jizya: “By Allah, I am not afraid of your poverty but I am afraid that you will lead a life of luxury as past nations did, whereupon you will compete with each other for it, as they competed for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them."
How is our luxury compared to then?
When a scene can change from this:
to this?
We are surrounded; a stealthy enemy stalks, silently creeping into our lives, uninvited, but also not shoved aside.
What are they awaiting but for the Hour to come upon them suddenly? Its signs have already come. What good will their reminder be to them when it does arrive? (Muhammad 47:18)
[as I was typing this in the afternoon, an explosive thunder clap shook the house, the sky blackened and there was a light rain fall, Ajeeb! Then later nearer Maghrib the sky became an intense yellow as a violent dust storm swept across the City, Ajeeb. Signs]
….yet still they turn away from Our Signs…(Al-Anbiya’ 21:32)
What are we waiting for?
Signs following one another like the pieces of a necklace falling one after the other when its string is cut; a Hadith from Tirmidhi.
Allamah Barzanji Rahmatullah alaihi lists numerous events in Al-Ish’ah al-Ashrat al-Sa’ah. The minor signs of the Last Hour have become manifest, but have not yet taken a complete shape, however with each passing day they become more and more intensified, which will continue until the major signs appear. Here are some, falling one after the other:
· The man who is steadfast on his religion will be like one who holds a live coal in his fist.
· Market places will be so prolific, side by side in a continuous line.
· There will be many leaders but very few trustworthy people.
· The chiefs and nobles of markets will be sinners.
· High offices will go to the undeserving, young boys will rule.
· Trade and commerce will spread rapidly.
· Short measure will be given.
· The habit and custom of writing would increase, but the objective of receiving an education would be to further worldly ends.
· The Qur’an will be turned into a means of making songs and music.
· There will be an abundance of those who recite the Qur’an in a singing way to show off, gain fame and earn wealth.
· There would be a scarcity of jurists.
· The Ulema would be killed.
· They will face very trying times and hardship and they would prefer death to pure gold.
· The latter people of this Ummah would curse the former.
· The trustworthy will be treated as a cheat and the treacherous shall be called trustworthy. Goodness and piety will be considered bad and evil will be regarded as good.
· Strangers will be treated well but the rights of relatives will be neglected.
· The wife will be obeyed but the parents disobeyed.
· There will be noise and commotion in the masaajid and people will discuss worldly affairs there.
· Only those who are known will be greeted with Salam, even though the Hadith tells us to offer Salam to every Muslim if we know them or not.
· Divorce will be very common.
· The pious people will keep themselves away while the lowly will abound and be in the lime light.
· People will take pride in erecting tall buildings and in competing with each other in these projects.
· Wine will be called nabeez, interest will be called trade and bribery will be termed a gift, making these things lawful due to their new terminology.
· Immodesty and shameless conduct will be very common, with a plethora of illegitimate births.
· Invitations would be extended to enjoy the company of women along with food and drink.
· Unexpected and sudden deaths will be common.
· People will ride on thick cushions to the doors of the masjid.
· Women will wear garments but they will be naked, due to thin fabric and tight fitting styles.
· A believer will watch all this but be unable to stop them as a result of which his heart will pine away, unseen to an observer.
· The best generation is the generation of the Messenger SallAllahu alahi wasallam, then those who come next, then those who come next, and thereafter corruption will spread…and fatness will become prevalent amongst them.
There are many more signs, all told by our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam, at a time when one could not even perceive them, but today we see them with our own eyes.
Killing murdering, violence, bloodshed, massacre, terror….the very word “terror” and the way it has become so repetitive is terror itself….natural disasters…earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes…the poor will increase…wealth will be shared amongst the rich, with no benefit to the poor….. one can be a believer in the morning, an unbeliever by evening…..munkar will become ma’ruf, and vice versa, until there is will be no recognition of what is right and no objection to what is wrong.
What are we waiting for?
Islam began strange and it will return strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers, who will put aright the corruption made after me.
Are we brave enough to be a stranger? Are we willing to fight deception? Are we courageous enough to avoid places of Shaytan unless due to extreme necessity?
He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. Your Lord is not unaware of what you do. (An-Naml 27:93)
I also found brother Ikramuddin’s comment about the brother who had embraced Islam thinking that our Holy Sites would be less “commercialized” and less modern. I can relate to that, and know many who share the same shock when visiting now. The changes have been incredibly rapid over the past decade or so, and what we see now is happening at an even far greater rate of acceleration. One needs to make a huge leap in faith to look beyond the external realities, allowing the eyes of the heart to “see”, but more importantly to FEEL the beauty and richness in our history, through an impassioned connection and love of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.
From a Hadith related by Mu’ath RadhiAllahu anhu:
“O Allah, I ask You to guide me to the doing of good deeds; I ask You to forgive me and have mercy on me. And if You wish a trial for a people, then take me to You with death, without me being put to trial. O Allah, I ask You to grant me Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of every deed that brings me closer to Your love.” Ameen.
May Allah Ta’ala preserve us from every trial and mischief, May He deliver us to the grave with secure and guaranteed faith and belief. Ameen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
