Reiki Forbidden in Islam - Why?

Q: Is REIKI permissible in Islam?

A: According to our research the practice of Reiki contravene some basic Islamic principles and must be abstained from.

For e.g. the website www.reiki.org/reikipractice/practicehomepage.html reads "there are higher sources of help you can call on. Angels, beings of light, and reiki spirit guides as well as your own enlightened self are available to help you"

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Shafiq Jakhura

Iftaa Department, Darul Ihsan Islamic Services Centre

http://darulihsan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2322&Itemid=991

Title	Is Energy Therapy Permissible?
Topic	Medicine
Question	Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. A TV program hosted a specialist in the field of energy therapy. In the program, the specialist said that energy therapy is a Japanese exercise called (Reiki Jin-Kei-Do). According to her, it is not a new science, as it is practiced in Islam under the name of ruqyah, which can be considered a variety of energy therapy. The concept of energy therapy revolves around treating the electromagnetic field of the body. She also gave the address of a Web site that gives more information on this. How do you view this type of treatment? And what is the Islamic ruling on it? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Generally speaking, energy therapy involves two different branches. The first is offered in special hospitals with certain methods that are free of polytheist rituals and phrases. There is no harm, as far Islam concerned, in practicing and undergoing this type of therapy.

The other branch, however, includes prohibited practices. The type mentioned in the question belongs to this prohibited branch of energy therapy since it is composed of Buddhist rituals. The advocates of this kind of therapy try to deceive people by claiming that it is merely another form of Islamic ruqyah. This is a big lie. Islamic ruqyah depends only on the noble verses of the Qur’an and the authentic hadiths of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

In his response to your question, Dr. Abdullah Al-Faqih, Supervisor of Fatwa Center at Islamicweb.com, states:

The energy therapy mentioned in the question is definitely prohibited. Such kind of therapy is no more than polytheist rituals which are performed in East Asia. As the questioner said, it is a Japanese practice called Reiki Jin-Kei-Do.

Visiting the Healing Touch Web site, one realizes that it propagates Buddhism, a polytheist religion based on worshiping others than Allah. The site admits that one who seeks this kind of therapy must be a Buddhist to attain the highest level of benefit. If one wants to make use of this kind of therapy, one should swear allegiance to Buddha and his teachings. The apparent minor details of this therapy are available and attainable, but the principal facts and details are available only for Buddhists.

According to the Web site, this kind of therapy involves daily tasks that include practicing yoga exercises, reading Buddhist books, and repeating the oath of allegiance. Such acts, in fact, arekufr(disbelief in Allah), which must be denounced and rejected no matter what title or name they come under. The world today witnesses a wave of calls for Buddhism, especially in the areas of medication and sports. Thus, Muslims must be on the alert.

To claim that such therapy is known in Islam under the name of ruqyah is brazen lying. In Islam,ruqyah means reciting parts of the Qur’an or some supplications mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). They are based on belief in the Oneness of Allah, not in Buddha and his teachings. This fact draws a demarcation line between monotheism and polytheism, belief and disbelief.

So, we warn Muslims against such programs and new polytheist calls that corrupt the faith and damage Muslims creeds.

http://www.rawatansihir.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2020

Yoga is not simply a physical exercise, it is rather a form of worship to the sun instead of Allaah.

Collins defines yoga as: 'A Hindu system of philosophy aiming at the mystical union of the self with the Supreme Being:- a state of complete awareness and tranquility through certain physical and mental exercises'.

It is widespread and well known in India since early ages. The original name of this sport in Sanskrit is (Sastanga Soria Namaskar) which means "prostrating for the sun on eight places of the body". This sport has 10 known states among which the fifth stage where the person lays face down on earth touching the ground with his: both hands, the nose, the chest, both knees and the toes. By this one realizes prostrating for the sun on eight organs of the body.

The yoga exercises start with the first state which constitutes a bowing to the worshipped, i.e. the sun. These exercises must be accompanied by a number of words and phrases, which state clearly the worshipping of the sun and the orientation towards it. This is called (Mantra). It is said in a soft voice and regular tone and pitch. These expressions include the 12 names of the sun and here are some of the things they say:
1) Mitraya Nama which means: I bow my head for you O! Friend of everyone.
2) Rafayer Nama which means: I bow my head for you who is glorified by everybody.
3) Suria Nama meaning: I bow my head for you O! Guider of everyone.
4) Maritchay Nama meaning: I bow my head for you O! Forcer of the disease out.
5) Safitir Nama meaning: I bow my head for you O! Giver of life.
6) Bhasakaria Nama meaning: I bow my head for you O! Source of light.

Some of them add other expressions like:
Um Hram, Um Hraim, Um Hrum, …etc. This means: O! God.

When the Muslims were fighting Hindus, they used to say: Allaahu Akbar and the Hindus used to say: Um Hram (seeking Help from their idol). Longman dictionary defines "Mantra" as "a word or sound that is repeated as a prayer or to help people Meditate in the Hindu or Buddhist religion".

So, we conclude that yoga is not a kind of sport, it is rather an atheist form of worship that the Muslim should not indulge in under any circumstances. Some might wonder: what if the person practices the physical exercises without facing the sun or repeating the mentioned expressions?

The answer is: "If this sport becomes free of atheist expressions and free of facing the sun, bowing for it and greeting it, it is no longer yoga. It becomes some simple physical exercises practiced by all people and there is no harm to practice it provided two things are met:
First, re-ordering the exercises in a way different than the one in yoga and introducing some new situations in it to avoid similarity with yoga.
Second, avoiding practising these exercises in the times the Hindus observe it like at sunrise. The evidence for these two conditions is the narration in which the Prophet said: "Pray the morning prayer and then abstain from prayer until sunrise and the sun has completely risen, for it rises between the horns of Satan. That is when the unbelievers prostrate to it." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

So, since it is forbidden to perform the prayer at sunset or sunrise to avoid imitating the disbelievers, then doing some other practices that disbelievers devote themselves to do at fixed times is more entitled to be done in different times.

Know also that what some people advertise that yoga brings tranquility and calm is not peculiar to yoga. It is general to anyone who keeps on repeating innovative, polytheist expressions or words with the presence of mind and the concentration on something like a picture.

The scholars mention that the devils land on these people filling their minds and hearts with imaginations and illusions, making them feel a false tranquility which some followers of innovative ways and forms of worship, publicize.

In fact, the true tranquility of the soul and its purity are attained by following the Sunnah and adhering to it as well as remembering Allaah in the way He mentioned in His Book and in the books of Sunnah.

Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {… Verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest.}[13:28]. Allaah knows best.

IslamWeb has also issued a similar Fatwa on Reiki, the Japanese spiritual healing practice on the 21st of April 2005:

Reiki is similar to yoga, it is based on what they call 'Universal life force energy'. They claim that this force runs freely through every living thing when one is healthy, positive and well. However, during particularly stressful periods in our lives, the tension we experience slows down or restricts this energy flow in various parts of our body adversely affecting our health. The role of the practitioner is to direct the healing energy to the body in order to cure the patient.

In contrast, the cure is not certain at 100%. Furthermore, it is known that believing in this universal life force energy which runs through every living being and that it heals and affects our health is disbelief, because when believing so, one is attributing the dominion of this universe and life to other than Allaah. Allaah says (which means): {And whatever you have of favour, it is from Allaah.}[Qur'an 16:53]. Allaah further says speaking about the Prophet Ibraaheem (Abraham) (which means): {And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.}[Qur'an 26:80]. Allaah also says (which means): {And if Allaah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good — then He is over all things competent.}[Qur'an 6:17].

Another verse reads (which means): {Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allaah? If Allaah intended me harm, are they removers of His Harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His Mercy?"}[Qur'an 39:38].

In addition to this, it is certain that the practitioner is practicing pagan rites in order to make this 'Universal life force energy' run through the body of the patient, and the patient may be ordered to perform some of these rites. Therefore, it is forbidden to practice this or to go to one of its practitioners.

Allaah knows best.

http://malaywomen.blogspot.com/2008/11/yoga-reiki-islam-fatwas-opinions.html

Question

I have a question regarding people who practice Reiki. Is it permissible in Islam to marry someone who practices Reiki, which includes Chinese words chanting and drawing Chinese symbols on body? What should a husband do if he finds out that his wife practices and believes Reiki feverishly and does it even after she prays Salat?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We have already issued Fatwa 89819 clarifying that it is not permissible to practise this spiritual sport called ''Reiki'', and that it is based on disbelief. However, this does not mean that every person who does this sport goes out of the fold of Islam. Some Muslims may practise it while not knowing that it is linked to some un-Islamic ideologies, so one has to inform them about this, then if they stop practising it, they are Muslims, and they have the same rights and obligations like all other Muslims. In this case it is permissible to marry their women and marry off Muslim women to them. However, if they insist on this after the people who have enough knowledge clarify the truth to them and establish the evidence against them, then it is not permissible give Muslim women to them in marriage or marry their women. The same thing applies to the wife, if she believes in these un-Islamic ideologies which this spiritual sport involves, and did not repent from them after establishing the evidence against her, then it is not permissible to keep her as a wife. Allaah Says (what means): {Likewise, hold not the disbelieving women as wives.}[Quran 60:10].

Nonetheless, it appears that this description does not apply to the wife in question as she performs the prayer, because she might be from the first category of people who do not know that this sport involves disbelief. So, one should explain to her the matter, then if she is not convinced with what her husband tells her, she may ask the scholars whom she trusts to rid her misconceptions.

For more benefit on a Muslim who does some acts of disbelief, please refer to Fatwa84943.

Allaah Knows best.

http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=91311

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Important Note:

For those interested in delving further into this research regarding this parallel energy etc, you can read below and visit the provided link. Though I feel compelled to warn that when reading this material and content, in a certain way one is attracting this creepy energy towards oneself, and it can leave you feeling spiritually drained and affect you adversely. Thus, if you must satisfy your curiosity etc, then kindly do yourself a favour, continue to recite the Ayat-al-kursi before and after and seek Allah-SWT’s protection from all that is evil. Ameen!

JazakAllah Khair:

Dangers of Eastern & New Age Spiritualism :- Chi, Ki, Prana, Mana, Kaa, Shiatsu, Orgone, Kundalini, Yoga, Meditation, Healing, Psi balls, Reiki, tantra

Meditators whose experience could be described in this manner were to check this item. Significantly, it received the highest "loading score" of all 16 items in the category of "Intensification and Change of Consciousness." Ibid., p. 127. The method used was the Verimax Orthogonal Factor Analysis: the loading score was .66

Experiencing a "great surge of energy" was therefore a dominant characteristic of meditative experience. cf. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, "Energy," Sannyas, no. 1, January/February 1978 and the kundalini issue (no. 2, 1976), Rajneesh International Foundation.

The authors related this to the spiritistic mana of Polynesian shamanism and the occult prana, or kundalini, of Hinduism. Osis, et al., "Dimensions of the Meditative Experience," pp. 132-133

Consider other characteristic descriptions: "The force went through and through my body…. It was absolutely wild and intense…. I felt possessed by the energy." This and dozens of similar reports are given in Bubba Free John, Garbage and the Goddess (Lower Lake, DA: Dawn Horse Press, 1974), pp. 69-100 and passim.

One woman described the supernatural power as "entering me and taking over my being.... I was completely possessed…. [It was] taking me over completely…. There was nothing left of the person I thought to be Marie." Ibid., p. 76.

The experience of a surge of energy or power is also related to the cultivation of altered states of consciousness.Osis, et al., "Dimensions of the Meditative Experience," pp. 132-133.

We are convinced that the mysterious, dramatic energy experienced in New Age meditation is characteristically the result of spiritistic influence. That meditation produces energy manifestations clearly associated with primitive shamanism, the occult, and Eastern or Western spiritism, is undeniable. Meditation-induced "energy manifestations" are so often associated with spiritism, that we have no doubt that this energy is not human, and certainly not divine, but demonic. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, "Energy," Sannyas, no. 1, January/February, 1978; see the kundalini issues, Sannyas, no. 2, 1976; also Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, "Suicide or Sannyas," Sannyas, no. 2, 1978; Tal Brooke, Riders of the Cosmic Circuit: Rajneesh, Sai Baba, Muktananda… Gods of the New Age (Batavia, IL: Lion, 1986). (1039/1040/249).

What is called "intensification," or possession by energy, is a core experience in the historical literature of meditation and many occult practices. This "energizing" is experiences as a dramatic and even overwhelming influx of spiritual power. It can be wild or uncontrollable, even deadly. And, irrespective of the interpretation placed on it, it shares characteristics with spirit possession. Abundant literature illustrates this, such as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh’s The Book of the SecretsBhagwan Shree Rajneesh, The Book of the Secrets, Volume 1: Discourses on Vigyana Bhairava Tantra (New York: Harper Colophon, 1977.;

http://dangerofchi.org/

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The above was taken from the following website: http://www.moizhussain.com/reiki-the-healing-touch.html. On reading simply these few paragraphs, coming to the last one, which read "While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it." the question that instantly arose was, "Which God?" ... who do these people consider God? ... If it is the same Allah-SWT we are talking about, and this is supposedly spiritual healing we are receiving from Allah-SWT, then why did the Prophet-SAAW not teach this to the Sahabah-RAU and why was it never mentioned in the Quran? ...

The Sunnah Attire - Equally Important for both Muslim; Men and Women

I have lately been a victim to the typical hum drum and chanting of slogans by the Muslim men harping about proper pardah, hijab or attire for the Muslim women. And although I had no disagreement with what they said or stated, albeit I still have yet to do much in order to fall into the category of the proper attire for Muslim women as such. What perturbed me the most is that somehow they don't feel the same need to go around preaching to other Muslim brothers regarding what the proper attire is, for Muslim men.

In fact what I found even more disturbing was that I myself did not know exactly what was required of them, other than wearing a head covering and sporting a beard. This realization hit me hard, a Muslim woman must know the proper Sunnah attire for both men and women alike as the Muslim Ummah is raised in her lap.

I went around searching for all the possible details and images I could find, though unfortunately I did not come across to much in this connection. But I felt it imperative to collect what all I did come across and compile it in my blog for my own growth and knowledge, along with attempting to help others like myself acquiring the same. So here goes:

Praise be to Allaah. There follows a summary of the rulings on dress for men. We ask Allaah to make it sufficient and beneficial.

1. The basic principle concerning everything that is worn is that it is halaal and permissible, except for that concerning which there is a text to state that it is haraam, such as silk for males, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “These two [gold and silk] are forbidden for the males of my ummah and permissible for the females.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 3640; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah. Similarly it is not permissible to wear the skin of a dead animal (one that has died of natural causes) unless it has been tanned. With regard to wearing clothes made of wool, goat hair and camel hair, these are pure and permissible. For more information on the use of the skin of dead animals after tanning, please see question no. 1695 and 9022.

2. It is not permissible to wear thin or see-through clothing that does not conceal the ‘awrah.

3. It is haraam to imitate the mushrikeen and kuffaar in their manner of dress, so it is not permissible to wear clothing that is unique to the kuffaar.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw ‘Ali wearing two garments dyed with safflower and said: “These are garments of the kuffaar; do not wear them.” Narrated by Muslim, 2077.

4. It is haraam for women to imitate men and men to imitate women in the way they dress, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5546.

5. It is Sunnah for a Muslim to start with the right when dressing, and to say, Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah), and to start with the left when taking clothes off.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you get dressed and when you do wudoo’, start on the right.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4141; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 787.

6. It is Sunnah for the one who is putting on a new garment to thank Allaah and make du’aa’.

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) put on a new garment, he would call it by its name, whether it was a turban, a shirt or a cloak, then he would say: “Allaahumma laka al-hamd anta kasawtanihi as’aluka khayrahu wa khayri ma suni’a lah wa a’oodhu bika min sharrihi wa sharri ma suni’a lah (O Allaah, to You be all praise. You have clothed me with it. I ask You for the good of it and the good for which it was made, and I seek refuge with You from the evil of it and the evil for which it was made).” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1767; Abu Dawood, 4020; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4664.

7. It is Sunnah to pay attention to keeping one's clothes clean, without feeling arrogant or exaggerating about that. 

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood that the Prophet (peace

and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one will enter Paradise in whose heart is a mustard-seed of arrogance.” A man said: “What if a man likes his clothes to look nice and his shoes to look nice?” He said: “Allaah is Beautiful and loves beauty; arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” Narrated by Muslim, 91.

8. It is mustahabb to wear white clothes

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Wear white clothes, for they are the best of your clothes, and shroud your dead in them.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 994, hasan saheeh. This is what the scholars regarded as mustahabb. Also narrated by Abu Dawood, 4061; Ibn Maajah, 1472.

9. It is haraam for the Muslim man to let any garment he wears hang down beneath his ankles (an action known as isbaal); the limit for any garment is the ankles.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said; “Whatever of the lower garment is beneath the ankles is in the Fire.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5450.

It was narrated from Abu Dharr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are three to whom Allaah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection and will not look at them or praise them, and theirs will be a painful torment.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) repeated it three times. Abu Dharr said: “May they be doomed and lost; who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said: “The one who lets his garment hang beneath his ankles, the one who reminds others of favours he has done, and the one who sells his product by means of false oaths.”

Narrated by Muslim, 106.

10. It is haraam to wear garments of fame and vanity, which means a garment that stands out from others so that people will look at the wearer and he will become known for it.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever wears a garment of fame and vanity, Allaah will dress him in a garment like it on the Day of Resurrection.”

According to another version, “…then set it ablaze.” And according to a third version, “will dress him in a garment of humiliation.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4029; Ibn Maajah, 3606 and 3607; classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 2089.

The brother may also refer to the section on Dress in this website, where there is more information.

And Allaah knows best.
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It is not uncommon for non-Muslims and even many Muslims to associate the Islamic commandments on Hijab with females, even though Islam has ordained Hijab for both men and women. In fact, many of us would be surprised to note that Allah[God] Almighty states in the Holy Qur'an:

"Tell the believing men to cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof...."
^{(translation of 24:30-31)}

Indeed, before addressing women and telling them to conceal their bodies, Allah first addresses the believing men and tells them to lower their gaze!

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

When discussing the issue of Hijab for men, it is essential to keep in mind the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A man once came to the Prophet Mohammed -peace be upon him- and told him he wished to commit fornication. As some of the companions of the prophet got up to strike him, he -peace be upon him- restrained them and then said to the man, "My son, how would you feel if someone wished to do the same thing with your mother or sister or wife or daughter?" The man replied that naturally he would want to kill the person. The Prophet -peace be upon him- then said, "If you do not wish for someone to do such an act with your mother or sister or wife or daughter, then why entertain such a thought about someone else's mother or sister or wife or daughter?!"

In the context of dressing code, The conditions of a man's Hijab differs from a woman's due to the biological, physiological and physical differences between the genders. Islam dictates that a Muslim man's basic Hijab is the covering of his body from belly-button to below the knee. Though this sounds like a rather sparse and loose definition of modesty, there are pertinent reasons as to this ruling. Men are required to work in Islam, unlike women, who are given the choice to earn their own income or not. Men are required to support their families financially regardless of their level of education or background.

With this ruling, it is inevitable that most of those who find employment as construction workers, farmers... would be men. In some cases, these workers spend most of their time under the hot sun or in extremely dry weather. This provision, the covering of the abdomen to the knee, is the basic requirement that they should observe – this serves as Hijab between themselves.

Ideally women should not be exposed to harsh terrains in search of employment. Should they be in the presence of the opposite gender while working outdoors, Muslim men should remember to observe the basic Hijab requirement in front of marriageable women, and preferably to cover up more.

However, in a social setting or if both men and women work indoors, the definition of Hijab for men becomes wider to endorse and fortify the concept of modesty. Just like women, men should wear loose, long and non-transparent clothing so as not to attract attention from the opposite gender to their physical appearance. Men are not required to cover their hair, but many Muslim men do, with turbans or keffiyahs.

Popular attire worn by Muslim men around the world include thobes or dishdashs; these are long shirts that sometimes reach down to the ankles. Bishts or abayas are robe-like apparel that cover the whole body. Sirwal or sokoto are baggy trousers usually worn under a thobe.

These are apparel that are influenced by culture and are not ordained by Islam.

The religion itself allows both Muslim men and women to wear clothes of their choice provided they comply with the tenets of modesty.

Complete ‘hijaab’ also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijaab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’ of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and ‘hijaab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.

Read more: ♥-i hijabi-♥: Hijab for Men http://ihijabi.blogspot.com/2011/12/hijab-for-men.html#ixzz1kTcr01dU

(1) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said "I have no connection with one who shaves, shouts and tears his clothing eg. in grief or affication." - Reported by Abu Darda (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 501

(2) The teachings of Hadhrat Ammar Bin Yaasir, Abdullah Ibn Umar, Sayyidina Umar, Abu Hurairah and Jaabir (R.A.), indicate that ALL used to keep beards that were one fist length or more. Hadhrat Jaabir (R.A.) had said: "We used to grow long beards and only during Hajj and Umrah did we trim them to the required length (i.e. fist length)."

(3) Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (R.A.) relates that: "He who imitates the kuffar (non-believers) and dies in that state, he will be raised up with them on the Day of Qiyamat (Judgement)."

(4) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) says: "Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard flow (Grow)." - Narrated Ibn Umar (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 498

(5) "Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) ordered us to trim the moustache closely and spare the beard" says Ibn Umar. - Muslim, Hadith no. 449

(6) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)said: "Act against contrary to the polythesists, trim closely the moustache and grow the beard." - Reported by Ibn Umar (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 500

(7) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said "Trim closely the moustache and grow the beard." - Reported by Abu Hurairah (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 501

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The Purity of the Relationship

Translated Speech of His Eminence Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan - Shaikh Silsilah Naqshbandiah Owaisiah.

We show Our ways to those who strive for Us.

This Quranic verse is apparently a simple sentence, but it points to the most difficult course of human life. It is human nature that man wants some invisible power to respond to him, protect him and help him in the time of need. In fact, this is an echo of our long­ing for Allah, placed within our subconscious by Him, because mankind is not any insig­nificant unit of creation. The whole universe, the Realm of Creation and the Realm of Command, all remain attentive towards this single entity. The revolution of the sun, moon and stars, and the attention of the whole universe is focused towards this tiny star known as earth. All of them cast their effects on it and cause changes on it. In reality, the earth is the focus of all activity taking place in the whole universe. The Almighty says while mentioning about this earth: All that is in the earth has been created for you. Earth is the centre of attention of the whole universe; Allah says, ‘I have made for you all that grows on the earth as a result of the movement of the universe, the heat of the sun and the changing of the seasons.’ There is a principle of philosophy that, if a person meditates in soli­tude that he is the only person living on this earth, he would realize that the sun continues to rise, clouds shower rain and the earth keeps spreading its benefits only for him – the lone dweller. This whole range of blessings is the lot of every single human being.

Allah has assigned much importance to a human being. He has put something differ­ent in him, than His remaining creation. There are two realms in the universe, the Realm of Creation (Alam-e Khalq) and the Realm of Command (Alam-e Amar). The Realm of Command starts from where the Realm of Creation ends. The Realm of Creation is ephemeral and temporary, and is destined to an end and destruction. Command is a Divine Attribute; the Divine Being is Eternal and so are all His Attributes, they are time­less and endless! Therefore, the Realm of Command exists from the immemorial to eter­nity, it is everlasting. The Supreme Lord created man as a mixture; He created his body from the Realm of Creation and infused a Rooh into it from the Realm of Command. How was the Rooh created? This is beyond the scope of your knowledge. It is sufficient for you to know that it is from the Realm of Command and is thus eternal. Once established, the Rooh-body connection assumes such strength that the body becomes useless without its Rooh, and, the Rooh is equally helpless without its body; it can’t operate independ­ently in this world of cause and effect. Due to this connection, the human body will con­tinue to exist forever alongwith its Rooh. When the Rooh of a person separates from his body, he is absolved of all religious and worldly obligations, but the Rooh retains its con­nection with each cell of the body, in whatever condition and wherever it might be, even if the body is burnt or eaten by a beast. The body may be reduced to any form; its parti­cles continue to exist. If the Rooh is in Illiyin (a high station of Divine Bliss), each cell of the body enjoys the bliss of those Lights and Blessings that keep descending on the Rooh. But, if the Rooh strays from its path and is lost in the wilderness, each cell of the body experiences, through their relationship, the effects of all of the troubles that the Rooh faces and all of the difficulties that it encounters.

On the Day of Resurrection, the body will be restored and the Rooh will flow into it. The holy Prophet^-SAWS said the twain would quarrel in front of Allah. The Rooh will complain, ‘O Allah! I am from the Realm of Command, I am pure in essence as well as in nature. The fault is because of this body; when it joined me, it dragged me (under its physical impulses) to Your disobedience, and thus abased me also.’ The body would wail on its own, ‘O Allah! I was a collection of mere dust particles, I had no knowledge of any good or bad, each of my particles performed Your Zikr. The fault is because of this Rooh.’ Almighty Allah will ask them to watch what unfolds before them. They will see a beautiful, fruit-laden garden with two men in it, one disabled and the other blind. The disabled man will tell the blind man, “All of the trees in this beautiful garden are laden with ripe fruit, but I can neither climb nor pick them. You should pick them.” The blind man will reply, “How can I pick fruit, when I can’t see anything?” Then they will sit down to devise a plan. The disabled man will ask the blind man, “If you climb onto my shoulders, will you pick some fruit?” “Of course” whispers the blind man. The blind man then climbs onto the disabled man’s shoulder and together they pick the fruit. Almighty Allah will now ask the Rooh and its body, “Which of these two is blameworthy?” They will submit, “O Lord! They both are rascals of the same grade.” Almighty Allah will say, “This is exactly your relationship. The Rooh couldn’t have done anything independently without its physical body; similarly, the body would have been lifeless without its Rooh. Whatever you did, you did it together and were lost in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. I granted this blessing to man and illuminated his dust particles with Refulgence from the Realm of Command, because Iwanted his heart to be My home. He should not only know Me, but recognise and love Me. He should not only love Me, but crave after Me passionately, to the extent of madness! He may lose his life but shouldn’t forsake his love for Me. If it goes that far, he has defeated even death!”

Don’t call those slain in the cause of Allah, as dead. Not only calling them dead is prohibited, but also thinking of them as dead is also forbidden. Your rationale for life is that you eat and move around: they also eat. Whatever you eat of grain, fruit or meat is a product of dust; you consume dust, they consume Noor (Divine light). The acme of hu­man excellence lies in the acquisition of a passionate longing for Allah. Man should be willing to forsake both worlds, but should never forsake the love of Allah and the love of His holy Prophet^-SAWS: and the name for all love is Muhammad^-SAWS! If you take this name out, then there is nothing but hate in the whole universe. There is no concept of love outside of this blessed man; there has never been, nor shall there ever be any love without him! Every Prophet, from Prophet Adam^-ASto Prophet Isa^-AS was in the Ummah (followers) of the holy Prophet^-SAWS. They had taken from him^-SAWS all of the love that they had distributed, and when he^-SAWS himself arrived, there remained no requirement for another Prophet. That is what is meant by ‘The Seal of Prophethood’. Suns have risen before him also; they shed their light, illuminated their environment and set finally. But, our sun shall never set after its rising, it shall remain on the horizon forever. There remained no requirement of any other Prophet after the advent of the holy Prophet^-SAWS, because when the sun rises, all other lights are extinguished. The holy Prophet^-SAWS said, “Allah made a very beautiful building of Prophethood; it was complete except for one brick, and I am that brick. The building has been completed with my advent.”

Do you know what is love and what is the effect of love? Love is a relationship that binds the lover helpless and overwhelms his personal likes and dislikes. Since the Begin­ning, members of the human race have developed all types of relationships with one an­other, including those of love and affection, and will continue to build such relations till the End. Why is it that some of them are famous in the whole world and are known inter­nationally, even in foreign folklore. Such numbered people were men and women like others, with nothing special about them. However, their mutual relationship had con­sumed them to the extent that they lost all consideration for their respect, comfort or family. And what is that love which doesn’t drive a lover crazy; how can soundness of mind co-exist with any claim of love?

The most difficult task undertaken by the Prophets (which no one else could accom­plish) was that they joined man with God. They salvaged him from the darkness of Kufr, brought him before Allah, and taught him to communicate directly with the Lord of the universe. The holy Prophet^-SAWS retrieved people from idol-worship, polytheism, Kufr, wine, theft, mugging and every possible vice, and joined them withAllah. He^-SAWS never bade them to worship his person, but said, ‘I worship Allah; so should you, alongwith me.’ This taste of Divine gnosis so charged that handful of nomads that they rose from the desert and spread the Light of Allah’s Name to every corner of the globe. Don’t for­get that superpowers existed even at that time; there were mighty empires, huge armies, strong nations with specific civilizations and customs. But Allah’s love spread like a wave creatingHis lovers in the whole world. Each lighted candle kindled the next and their light illuminated each corner of the globe. It generated such continuity that the call for prayers is resounding at some place on the globe at every moment. There is not a sin­gle moment when the Azan is not being called somewhere on the surface of earth. Out of the five calls for prayers, one is being called somewhere. If you survey their timings through a computer, you will discover a perfect harmony; from somewhere on the globe a crier will be calling people to Allah, at every moment. How strange! The holy Prophet^-SAWS had called to mankind, ‘Where are you straying? Why are you sad or wor­ried? Just takeAllah’s love and forget all worries.’ The poets have interpreted love in their own words and ways, but the central point is that, let anything happen, let the great­est calamities befall, let the greatest loss be met, let prestige, power, respect even life be sacrificed, but the fervour to meet the beloved should never slake. This feeling was in­spired by the holy Prophet^-SAWS and the Mu’azzin (the caller of the Azan) who invites everyone to it. I was myself amazed when I discovered that there is not a single moment in which the Azan is not being called somewhere on earth…Allah-o-Akbar, Allah-o Akbar (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest). But, if the caller of the Greatest Being, Who has created all blessings and has reserved a place for Himself in human na­ture, is calling us every moment and we have no time to listen to his call, then what type of Islam is this and what type of Muslims are we? It is not claim but conduct that matters. Nobody will care for superficial Islam on the Day of Resurrection. The whole world, not only us but even the previous Ummah, look towards intercession by the holy Prophet^-SAWS. When people rise on the Day of Resurrection, everyone will want to reach the holy Prophet^-SAWS and come under his flag. Everybody who claims to be a Muslim would run towards him, creating a great rush and hassle. The holy Prophet^-SAWS would stop them and submit in the Divine Presence, ‘O Allah, take these people out of my sight. My whole life was spent in implementation of the Quran while this is a crowd of people, who had expelled the Quran from their lives. They have nothing to do with me. Don’t let them come near me. Drive them away to wherever You like.’ Can anyone imagine the bitter regrets of such rejected people?

So the demand of love is that one’s whole life should be spent according to the Quran. It is not the type of love that flourishes in solitude or under cover or in abstinence from all worldly business. This love demands that every business of life should be conducted according to the instruction of Allah and His holy Prophet^-SAWS. Such love denotes eternal life and raises man to an acme where his daily routine is made in the Divine Presence. What a level of greatness for man that even his timings of rest and work are decided by AlmightyAllah…you can eat this, but can’t eat that; you can put on this dress, you can’t put on that dress; you should say this, but shouldn’t say that; talk to this person politely, but chop that fellow’s head off. At one place, his action of restraint is liked; at another place his act of killing someone is liked, and at yet another place his act of self sacrifice is appreciated. So, the important point is not what he did, but who ordered that act and how sincerely he could accomplish it. What a great honour for man that he sleeps and wakes according to Divine Command, thinks according to Divine Will and acts according to Divine Pleasure! However, if someone leaves everything and just sits tight, he is doing something ludicrous. Earning Halal Rizq is as obligatory as any other worship like Salah, Saum, Zakat or Hajj. One only gets that which He gives, but it is worship to make this effort. Likewise, it is man’s responsibility to strive to establish the truth; of course, it is He, Who will make things happen: that is decreed!

My brother, I am talking fiction. Where can you find such people during this time? Nowadays, people love Allah for their own benefits; they have made it into a business. Man wants to establish a relationship with Allah on equal terms: I will offer Your Salah, You provide for my children; I shall offer Your Salah, You make me profitable in my business; I shall offer Your Salah, You cure my disease: this is pure trading! Man has placed himself on a footing equal to his Lord, because trading is done on equal basis! In any case, this is our responsibility and duty. We weren’t men of that calibre, but once assigned, the duty has to be carried out. We have to say these things. What happens then is between Him and His slaves. Our wish is thatHe grants sincerity and pure long­ing to everyone; once the desire is present, the doors start opening automatically. How many letters have I receive that say: I can’t perform Zikr, I experience a stream of stray thoughts during Zikr; I miss Salah; this happens to me, that happens to me…how can I answer such questions? It is not that you can’t perform Zikr, but the fact is that He doesn’t allow you to perform Zikr. Now what can be done? You could have done some hanky-panky; He didn’t like it and said, ‘OK, remain without Zikr’. You don’t feel like offering Salah; probably you tried to do some trading with Him during Salah, and He said, ‘OK, you can leave it, My Arsh is not going to fall, if you don’t prostrate before Me’. It is His promise that anyone who loves Him purely, those who strive in Our way…I open My ways for the one, who craves for Me. Then, why is your way closed, why do your and my ways get closed? When He says, ‘I open the ways for him, he who yearns for Me’…He has not specified any number, it can be a thousand ways, it can be millions of ways, it can be innumerable ways. But why does our way get blocked? Sometime, it is Shaitan who is whispering evil thoughts, sometime we feel lazy, now we don’t want to do Wudhu, now we don’t want to pray Salah. Why? Probably we made a mistake about ‘…for Us’; at some place we tried to trade with Him. But why should He trade with us? Why should the Creator care for His creatures? He is not dependent on us; it is we who are dependent onHim, but we have forgotten our place. Allah is Independent, while you are depend­ents. He is Absolute and Independent, while you are ever needy and dependent. Need and dependence is your nature.

When one starts slackening in Zikr, misses Salah, errs in his dealings and commits sins, this indicates a decrease in the longing for Allah. Whenever that happens, turn to Allah, repent and pray, ‘O Allah! I am stupid. I don’t understand the importance of longing for You. Grant me that longing for You, the desire of longing for You and the ­awareness and comprehension of longing for You.’ If you ask me, what will I do? If you request someone else, what can he do? All are alike; all are dependent and all have to make a request there. What He likes most is when some servant of His takes his prob­lems and difficulties to Him directly. He wants…every slave should come to Me di­rectly; talk to Me, establish a relationship with Me and share his problems with Me. Then, it is between Me and My slave! When a relationship is established with Him, problems remain problems no more; who cares about problems? You know, doctors in­ject or spray anaesthesia and then operate; they slit, tear and cut but there is no feeling of pain. If a medicine can have so much effect, how would a bearer of Allah’s love feel any pain of problems? All problems eventually fall back without causing event the slightest pain. The greater the degree of nearness, the more delicate this relationship becomes.

I pray, but I am not happy; I feel this is my failing and the failing of all of us that we are doing nothing. Our existence has no bearing on the history of humanity; it has no ef­fect on national life. A whole world acknowledges the love relationship of Majnoon with another mortal; and here we are, in the thousands, who claim a relationship of love with Allah, but nobody knows us. And we continue to complain: I slacken in Zikr, I miss Salah, I can’t do this, I can’t do that. What is this love and which type of fondness is this? It indicates that something is lacking somewhere!

My brother, I want…may it happen that His love is found in every home, street and city. May the hearts of Muslims nurture His love once again! A revolution is initiated and a change is brought purely for Allah, His Messenger^-SAWS and Islam. Otherwise, just visit­ing places or writing in newspapers is of no consequence, whatsoever. This change depends on the sincerity of our intentions and the purity of our longing. I wish I can infuse this in your hearts. May Allah grant my wish; every heart acquires this love-pain, takes it along and distributes it far and wide! May it create a world of people, whose every action is for the good pleasure of Allah and in adherence to His Messenger^-SAWS, those who don’t care for anybody else! Such are the people who keep the thrones of mighty emperors on their tip-toes.