Correspondence of Hazrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (rahimahullah)
Condition:
After taking bay‘ah (pledging allegiance) to Hazrat and attending the Friday majlis, I started observing the shar‘ee purdah. I am making much effort in abstaining from sins.
Answer:
All praise is due to Allah Ta‘ala. I am most pleased.
Condition:
Hazrat, I have one matter which I would like to ask about. Previously I used to attend weddings without observing any purdah. However, through your blessings, I now completely abstain from attending weddings because of the evils which are prevalent there.
Answer:
Masha-Allah. Congratulations. I am most pleased.
Condition:
Hazrat, my nephew is to be engaged. My sister and nephew insist that I attend. They are saying to me that I may remain in my purdah, no one will disturb me and no one will take my photograph. It is only the groom’s photograph which will be taken. Only a few men, i.e. my brother-in-law and his uncle, will come to the ladies section.
Answer:
It is not permissible to attend a gathering in which Allah Ta‘ala is disobeyed.
Condition:
Hazrat, I told them that I will attend one day before and go away.
Answer:
This is what you ought to do. Also give them more gifts than others so that they may be pleased with you.
Condition:
When I said this, my nephew said that I will have to attend the function even if it is for a short while. And I may remain in my purdah.
Answer:
You may also lay down a condition saying, “I will come on condition that there will be no disobedience to Allah Ta‘ala, such as taking photographs and intermingling of men and women.”
Condition:
When I refused, my nephew said to my sister, “You must also not attend any function of your aunt.” Hazrat, my brother-in-law is also saying many things which are causing great pain to my heart.
Answer:
Keep the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala before you and do not bother about anyone. A hadeeth states that the person who does not bother about the creation in order to please Allah Ta‘ala, then Allah Ta‘ala suffices that person. The person who displeases Allah Ta‘ala for the pleasure of the creation, Allah Ta‘ala hands him over to the creation (he then becomes a play thing at the hands of the creation).
Condition:
I have heard from our elders that it is unlawful to attend such functions where sins are openly committed.
Answer:
This is not just a statement of the elders, it is the ruling of the sharee‘ah. It is haraam to attend such functions.
Condition:
Hazrat, these people say that we are too strict in Islam whereas Islam is not so strict.
Answer:
Say to them: “There is also not so much ease in Islam whereby a person displeases Allah Ta‘ala. You can have such ease; we do not want such ease.”
Condition:
They say: “We also have to move with the world [i.e. with the times].”
Answer:
Say to them: “You consider it necessary to move with the world (times), we consider it necessary to move with Islam.”
Condition:
They say: “Those who become hostesses in Saudi Arabia during the hajj days, why do they become hostesses [if it is not permissible]?” Hazrat, I am unable to provide answers to these questions to these people. Kindly guide and rectify me.
Answer:
Whether it is Saudi Arabia or any other country, everyone has to follow the teachings of Islam. Islam does not have to follow anyone. The person who acts against the teachings of Islam will himself have to answer. What does it have to do with us? We merely have to follow the orders of Allah Ta‘ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
(Solutions to Spiritual Maladies for the Lovers of Allah Ta‘ala, pg. 281)