| Who are the True Intellectuals? To perform dhikr is a very great blessing. I would like to thank Allah , before we commence the dhikr, for bestowing us with the opportunity to recite His name and remember Him. Its blessings are mentioned in many places in the Qur�?�an. In fact one who truly understands will find that throughout the Qur�?�an Allah has in many ways and to various extents mentioned the virtues and rewards of performing His dhikr. At one place in the Qur�?�an Allah , in praise of His devotees, has spoken of them in a beautiful manner; Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the difference of night and day are tokens (of His Sovereignty) for men of understanding (Al Imran:190) Allah asks �?�Who are those people who are intellectual, who are the people who are intelligent?�?? These are the words of Allah , and no ones word has any value or carries any weight in contest to these, no matter who the person is. In the dunya we can make our judgments on whatever grounds as to who the intelligent one is, but Allah has ordained that verily the intelligent ones are those who perform Allah�?�s dhikr. Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire. (Al Imran:191) Now tell me if Allah labels a person as intelligent, then whatever people may say regarding this person, that he is mad, he is insane or foolish, or that he wastes his time, their words are baseless for the true Sustainer has ordained that the intelligent ones are those who remember Allah . How Allah praises the people who perform his dhikr in this ayah. Firstly it is stated that all of the dunya�?�s intelligent people, scientists etc. can be put on one side of the scale, and a dhaakir (person who remembers Allah ) performing dhikr within his Hujra can be put on the other, for his understanding and intellect cannot be matched. Allah further describes in this ayat the way in which these people perform dhikr: "Kayamow wa kaoodow...". It is said regarding these people that they perform dhikr whilst they are standing, sitting or lying down. For they have understood and have had the intelligence to realise that in reality anything and everything that exists within the universe has a connection with Allah . Now the way to establish that connection is the aim of dhikr. This is the way to perform dhikr - it is not a matter of merely counting 2 or 4 tasbeeh. The habits of such people completely change. When they are seated they are busy in Allah�?�s dhikr, when they are standing they are absorbed in dhikr and when they lie down for sleep they do so too whilst being occupied in dhikr. And it is further stated that when these people reach this state of being, their approach and way of thinking, their reflection upon the heavens and the earth and its Creator lead them to the conclusion that �?�Subhaanak�?� the creation of this entire universe is all for a purpose and not without meaning. The Qur�?�an explains that they understand that this world is not merely for eating and drinking, nor for huge mansions and buildings, nor for expensive cars, for all of these things are temporary and in reality the essence of this world is �?�Subhaanaka�?�, that all of this is created for the purpose of Allah�?�s dhikr. Allah further says �?�Wa aqina za banaar�?�: their understanding, their manner, all of this will save them from the punishment. My friends, just look at the greatness, virtuousness and love with which Allah has praised His dhaakirs who are intoxicated with His remembrance. And how Allah has described the method of attaining this status. The meaning of standing, sitting and lying down is that Allah�?�s dhikr becomes part of one's nature and that one remembers Allah without effort. This happens to such an extent that, without knowing, one�?�s heart is busy in Allah�?�s dhikr. This is a clear declaration from the Qur�?�an that such people are very intelligent and wise. Abu Darda narrates that of course such people are intelligent for a person becomes intelligent after he has demonstrated that he has achieved something. I will give you an example; You have the opportunity to buy a shop that has a weekly sale of ten thousand pounds. Now you would be foolish not to buy the shop, but would be wise to take advantage of the opportunity. This would be seen as a demonstration of intelligence. Abu Darda states that one who keeps his tongue busy with the dhikr of Allah will laugh his way into Jannah. Tell me, is this not a golden opportunity, is there not great benefit in remembering Allah? Then why should we leave Allah�?�s dhikr? Verily foolish people are those who are negligent of this. Just one reward for performing Allah�?�s dhikr is that a person will go laughing into Jannah. If one was to understand this benefit one would make every effort to attend the gatherings of dhikr. For one should understand that this dunya is filled with darkness and deception and that we were all created for a reason, that the essential purpose of existence is for His closeness and for His love. However much effort we make for this is insufficient, for its benefits are endless. My friends, by performing Allah�?�s dhikr we are only benefiting ourselves and should therefore make a routine of it. In fact we should thank Allah for giving us the opportunity to gather and remember Him. These days it is very difficult to attract people, one has to go through much persuasion to bring people towards dhikr. Yet it is a favour of Allah that he rewards us for performing dhikr, for it is sufficient that he has merely given us the permission to remember Him. My friends we should make effort to invite people towards dhikr Allah is very pleased if someone, out of his love, makes an effort to invite others towards His remembrance. The objective for inviting you all here is not to beg of you, not to rob you of your money or to raise funds. On the contrary the one and only objective is that creation becomes attached with the Creator. All we need to do is invite towards the dhikr, and then watch how Allah brings about changes in the hearts of the people. We should want for our brothers that which we want for ourselves, for remember once upon a time we too were invited in this way. This is how the flame spreads, from candle to candle. We should love our Muslim brothers, for this is a Sunnah. Rasoolallah loved their Ummah to such an extent that has no comparison or measure. So if we too show love towards an Ummati with the intention that he may turn to Allah , then no matter how sinful or unrighteous he may be, whether he accepts our kindness or not, this action in itself could be a means for our success. What could be better than to gather here to remember Allah , saving ourselves from obscene language, and from doing sin? We are merely human beings, with many worries and anxieties. How great a thing that we break away from all of this to gather and remember Allah for an hour or so. Then there are all the attractions and amusements of the dunya, all the wild and crazy activities that the kufaar occupy themselves with, yet how great a gift it is from Allah that we have the strength to fight against these evil forces and turn towards Him. My friends this is truly a great blessing from Allah that we are performing dhikr, we should not take these things for granted for who knows, tomorrow we may no longer be here, or for some reason these gatherings may cease to take place. These are all Allah�?�s favours upon us. And Allah Himself decides how He distributes His favours, for no man has any power over these things. Look how for the last 10 years, a single day has not gone past that we have not gathered for dhikr after the Fajr Salah. For what Allah has ordained is sure to happen, and these gatherings will never cease to take place, although faces may change and the location may change. Today in the same way that we are gathered here in Manchester, similarly a group of people are gathered for Allah�?�s remembrance in London and Birmingham We should sincerely thank Allah for this gift He has bestowed us with, and pray that he continues to bless us with these opportunities, for these are truly the gatherings of Jannah. My friends we should promise that we shall never be negligent of these opportunities. |