Moulviyat and Zuhd(Asceticism)

Eternal existence and survival belongs only to Allah, everyone is bound to die.  Human beings witness this law of nature every day, rather every moment, "ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والاكرام"(55:27), but still man is heedless and negligent.  He ignores what remains for all eternity, and goes after the world that is short-lived.  That's why Allah Ta'ala called them as "لا يعلمون" (do not know) (6:37) "لا يفقهون" (do not understand) (7:179) and "إن هم إلا كا الأنعام". (They are just like animals)(25:44).  These are the people who are materialistic and greedy.  Soon they will see the truth themselves. “لقد كنت في غفلة من هذا فكشفنا عنك غطاءك فبصرك اليوم حديد". )Certainly you were heedless of it, but now We have removed from you your veil, so your sight today is sharp(.(50:22)

It is the law of nature that kingship, money and power can only rule the bodies; while spirituality, knowledge, godliness, and selflessness rule the hearts.

Politicians and kings need an army to subdue the people; whereas dervishes, rishis, monks and saints practice only their simplicity, piety, modesty, benevolence and asceticism to rule the hearts! 

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was offered kingship, but he preferred poverty.  He reigned with poverty; and his kingship will keep ruling the hearts forever!!  The same was the case with Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them), and the same is the case with our scholars and reformers. Despite the lack of resources, our senior scholars and reformers were honored in the past, are revered today, and will continue to be venerated in the future because they belonged to Allah, the Everlasting, by having a strong connection with Him, and they had no attachment to this fleeting world!

Even a stone that is associated with Allah gains a lofty position!  There are many stones in the world, but the stone that was placed in the Kaabah became exalted; the bird that remained in the land of Allah is protected, and the grass that grows in the Haram cannot be uprooted, and the fortune of the dog that stayed with honored men of the cave (seven sleepers of Ephesus) became enviable. Likewise, the mention of camels, mules, and swords used by the Prophet became eternal. Even a slight commitment to the Word of Allah, through service, memorization or recitation will never go in vain.

Despite constantly being in the shadow of death, the Prophet's life was preserved because he had to convey the message of Allah, and his words will always be preserved because they represent the explanation of the words of Allah.  During the time of Imam Malik (May Allah’s mercy be on him), many books of hadith were written, but only the ‘Muwatta of Imam Malik' remained.  People said to him that many Muwattas are being written.  He replied, “Whatever is written for the sake of Allah will remain”. And even after twelve hundred years it has remained.  The palaces, forts, and treasures of the oppressors got destroyed, but the mosques built under their patronage still remain. Both Muslims and non-Muslims are aware of this natural law.

Those who renounce the world and abandon family life are the ones who are eligible to become religious leaders in Christianity. Similarly, in Hinduism those who forsake luxuries, give up domesticity and don simple attire become Rishis, Gurus and Mahatmas.  Gandhiji was a foreign educated barrister from a well-to-do family, but he gradually adopted simplicity for the sake of assuming leadership, thereby ruling over the hearts of all Indians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.  The magnitude of services rendered to Islam in India by the Scholars, Moulvis, Maulanas, and the poor cannot be rivalled by the kings, sultans and wealthy people.

Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (may Allah have mercy on him) authored numerous books.  He wrote in one of his last books, named Hayat ul-Muslimeen “I have thought a lot about how Muslims can get out of their plight and finally I have come to the conclusion that Muslims are not like others, and the secret of their progress lies only in living like the Sahaba lived.”

Unfortunately, of late, the slogan of taking religion and the world together has fascinated the Moulvis too. They are being taught that there should be some worldly aspirations also, otherwise what would be the value of a dervish? That's why the Moulvis now want to first earn handsomely, make a status, and then do the work of Dawah. Citing that simplicity and Dawah; necessity and Dawah; poverty and Dawah need not necessarily go hand in hand. First settle down and then do Dawah! 

The law of nature, the history of Islam, and the lives of the Scholars and the ones who strove for the cause of Allah testify that the more we keep ourselves away from the worldly cravings, the more we free ourselves from the evilness of the soul.  Ever since the Moulvis stopped competing in spirituality, which they were encouraged towards as Allah says: وفي ذلك فليتنافس المتنافسون (so for this, let the competitors compete)(83:26) and got involved in superficial religiosity, they became worthless and lost their credibility. 

Sheikh Abdus Salam Madani

Founder,

Aspire College of Excellence (Chennai and Bangalore)