Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) foretold the coming of such a crucial time in the ummah where Muslims will be abundant in number, but those among them who will be proactive in working and striving for the cause of deen will be few.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “(Before Qiyaamah, a time will come where) people will be (abundant) like a hundred camels, but with difficulty you will find one camel which you will be able to ride on (i.e. the people who will bring benefit to the Muslims in deen will be few in number).” (Saheeh Bukhaari #6498)
From this Hadith, we understand that as we draw closer to Qiyaamah, the value system of the Muslims will be on the decline, and morals and good character will be gradually dwindling away. Currently, the degeneration of Islamic morals and values is being witnessed on account of the Muslims being exposed to Westernism in the form of Western media, Western culture and Western education.
Wherever Muslims reside or travel in the world, they are surrounded by a plethora of Western influences, whether in clothing, lifestyle, entertainment, or evil habits and vices. Hence, the outcome of this is that a Muslim child growing up in a kuffaar country (or even living in a Muslim country which is predominantly dictated by Western ideals and values) feels convinced that in order for him to be successful, he will need to acquire wealth and material possessions. Thereafter, pursuing degrees in a university for this purpose, even at the expense of sacrificing his Islamic identity and values, will become easy for him as he views this world as the ‘be-all-and-end-all’ of success.
It is in reference to such a critical time that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “(Before Qiyaamah, a time will come where) people will be (abundant) like a hundred camels, but with difficulty you will find one camel which you will be able to ride on (i.e. the people who will bring benefit to the Muslims in deen will be few in number).” (Saheeh Bukhaari #6498)
The Solution to the Crisis of the Ummah
The solution to such a crisis is that children should be moulded in the mould of deen through creating the correct deeni mindset, spirit and understanding within them so that they will be able to practice deen correctly in their lives and become proactive in guiding people towards deen.
One of the most effective ways for parents to create the correct Islamic mindset and outlook in their children is for the parents to relate to them incidents from the lives of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), the Taabi’een, the Tab’e-Taabi’een and the pious predecessors of the ummah.
On hearing the incidents of the pious, the correct mindset will be created, and they will be motivated to make sacrifices and tread on the path of deen in the manner our pious predecessors strove for deen. Below is an inspiring incident of the great sacrifice Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) made for deen after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):
The Sacrifice of Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) in Acquiring the Knowledge of Deen
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) says:
After the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I said to an Ansaari friend of mine, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is no longer with us, but a large number of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) are still present among us. Hence, let us go to them in the pursuit of Islamic knowledge.”
He said, “What is the need to acquire ilm whereas these eminent Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) are present? Who will approach you to enquire regarding any deeni mas’alah whilst these great men are amongst us?”
Despite my friend’s words, I was not in any way discouraged. Rather, I continued my quest for knowledge and began approaching every Sahaabi who had heard something from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). In this way, I managed to gather a substantial amount of ‘ilm from the Ansaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).
On my visit to any Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), if I found him resting, I spread my shawl at the entrance of his home and remained seated, awaiting his emergence. At times, my face and entire body would get covered with dust. However, this did not dissuade me from my endeavour and I continued to remain seated there, anxiously awaiting his emergence.
When the Sahaabi would come out from his home after resting and he would see me, he would say, “O cousin of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Why did you come to me? You should have sent a message calling me, then I would have come to you!” Hearing this, I would respond, “No! It is more right for me to come to you (as I am the student and you are the ustaad)!”
I thus continued my pursuits until there came a time when people began to flock to me for learning the knowledge of deen. My Ansaari friend then realised (and saw the fruit of my efforts) and remarked, “This person has surely proved himself to be more intelligent than myself.” (Mustadrak Haakim #363)
