Correspondence of Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahimahullah)

Letter:

Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

Respected Moulana

Where can I find an environment of Deen to live in? My imaan is so weak that I really need a Deeni environment to survive. Do you know of a good place that a Muslim can migrate to? Jazakallah

Was-Salaam

Reply:

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Respected Sister

Wa ‘alaikumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

1. No doubt, wherever we turn, we find fitnah surrounding us and engulfing us. However, there are fitnahs everywhere in the world. Despite the odds that seem to be against us, the solution is to create the environment of Deen, wherever we may be in the world. “Where there’s a will, there is a way.”

For us, who are so weak in our imaan, the effort is to change our home environment. After all, our home environment is created by us. So if we make a firm intention to please Allah Ta‘ala, to practise upon the teachings of sharee‘ah and rid our homes and lives of evils such as the television, musical instruments, filthy literature, etc.; and replace with salaah five times a day, daily ta’leem, tilaawah, and other good, righteous deeds, we have created a wonderful Islamic environment, full of noor and barakah. This, in turn, will be a means of sustaining our imaan and keeping us spiritually alive. Of course, for the men, salaah must be read in jamaat, in the musjid.

Together with these efforts, we should endeavour to attend the programmes of our Mashaayikh and ‘Ulama; otherwise listen to their talks and read their books, to assist us in developing the quality of taqwa. When there is taqwa, Allah Ta‘ala’s protection is with us; Allah Ta‘ala’s nusrah (help) is with us.

Complaining of the environment and our weakness will not get us anywhere. It is for us to take the initiative and make some change in the right direction. May Allah Ta‘ala  grant us all the taufeeq.

2. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: “A (true) emigrant is he who abandons all wrongs and sins.” (Musnad Ahmad #6814). The true muhaajir is that person who gives up that which Allah Ta‘ala has prohibited. His hijrah is from what has been declared as haraam – whether adultery and fornication, drugs and other intoxicants, interest taking and giving, music and dance or any other haraam. This is the true hijrah and is obligatory upon all of us.

3. Where a Muslim is not allowed to practise on Deen and is being oppressed and persecuted because of his Deen; now, for the sake of Deen and for the protection of his Deen, hijrah should be made. If we are able to easily practise on Deen, without any fear of cruelty and tyranny, we are not required to make hijrah.

4. That Allah Ta‘ala has given us freedom of religion in this country is a priceless bounty. Moreover, Allah Ta‘ala has established so many masaajid, madaaris and various works of Deen in South Africa. From our side, we should appreciate by frequenting them, learning Deen, dressing as Muslims, practising on Deen, emulating the sunnah, and inviting others to our beautiful Deen. If not, all of these blessings and bounties will be evidence against us on the Day of Judgment.

May Allah Ta‘ala protect us from fitnahs, guide us, forgive us and keep us firm on the straight path.

Was salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

Yunus Patel (Moulana)