Safety First!

Sayyidunā ‘Uqbah bin Āmir radiyallāhu ‘anhu narrates that he asked Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “What is the way to safety?”
Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied, “Take control of your tongue, Let your house be spacious for you (suffice you), and weep over your sins” [Tirmidhī 2406]

The holidays are now upon us and Fitnahs (trials) are on the increase. These words of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam are a means of safeguarding our Ῑmān and Dīn.

The Sahābah radiyallāhu ‘anhum were more worried about the safety of their Dīn than of their worldly possessions.

The first aspect mentioned by Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam to protect ourselves and our Dīn was controlling the tongue. A wrong word spoken in jest or without proper thought can be detrimental to our Ῑmān.

The tongue is small in size but the sins that it commits are severe.

Care should be taken to ensure it is not used for speaking lies, backbiting, false accusations, etc.
As far as possible it should be engaged in the Dhikr of Allāh Ta’ālā, recitation of the Qur’ān Sharīf, speaking about Allāh Ta’ālā etc.

The second aspect that will keep us safe is staying at home. Unfortunately, due to the environment we live in, we are expected to leave our homes in these times and go on “holiday”. A great amount of wealth is squandered on these outings and debts are often incurred. Under the pretext of a holiday, places of vice and shamelessness are frequented.

We are encouraged in this Hadīth to stay at home. For a few days of enjoyment let us not destroy our Dīn and dunyā.

To assist us in this, let us be particular in reciting the Du’ā during Wudū’:

اَللّٰهُمَ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِيْ وَوَسِّعْ لِيْ فِيْ دَارِيْ وَبَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْ رِزْقِيْ

Allāhummagh fir lī zhanbī wa was-si’ lī fī dārī wa bārik lī fī rizqī

O Allāh! Forgive my sins; Make my house spacious for me and bless me in my sustenance [Al-Adhkār 82)]

The last aspect mentioned by Nabī sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam in this Hadīth is ‘crying over our sins’. Regretting the sins we commit is the key to sincere Tawbah. The tears shed by a person in repentance are beloved to Allāh Ta’ālā.

Allāh Ta’ālā declares in the Qur’ān Sharīf, “Allāh will not punish them as long as they repent”. [Al-Anfāl, 33]

We should never be bold and commit sins openly. Furthermore, we should never publicize our sins on social media. One danger is committing the sin but the greater danger is to publicize it.

Nabī sallāllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam has mentioned in a Hadīth,
“My whole Ummah is safe except those who flagrantly commit sins. One way of flagrant sinning is that a person commits a sin at night (secretly) and he gets up in the morning in the condition that Allāh Ta’ālā has hidden his sin, but he says, “O so and so, I committed a certain sin last night”. He had passed the night under the veil that Allāh Ta’ālā had placed over him and in the morning he himself removes the veil!” [Bukhārī 6069]

We should try to totally abstain from sin. Let us never sin flagrantly; as if we are rebelling against Allāh Ta’ālā. How unfortunate are those who broadcast their sins on social media and not only incur the curse of flagrant sinning but also become the means of others following them in sin.

The free time that is available should be spent going out for Jamā’at in the path of Allāh Ta’ālā, sitting in the company of the pious, learning Dīn from the pious Ulamā, making I’tikāf in the Masjid, joining family ties, visiting the sick, attending janāzahs, helping the poor and needy or in any other effort of Dīn. More time should be spent in the Masjid and in the worship of Allāh Ta’ālā. Less time should be spent on the internet and social media.

May Allah Ta’ālā protect us from all the Fitnahs and grant us ‘Āfiyat (goodness) in both worlds. Āmīn

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18 Jumādal Ūla 1443 / 23 December 2021