Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:
On account of my extreme illness and weakness, the Ulama and doctors have decided and prescribed that I should not speak at all – to the extent that I should not even make salaam and musaafahah with anyone who comes to meet me.
The only reason for me not complying with this decision of the Ulama and doctors is due to the deeni need and responsibility (that has been placed upon me of inviting people to deen and reforming their lives), as I know that if I do not personally take part in this effort at this time, then this deeni need and responsibility may not be revived (and fulfilled). I have understood this from the following verse of Surah Taubah:
مَا کَانَ لِاَہۡلِ الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ وَ مَنۡ حَوۡلَہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ اَنۡ یَّتَخَلَّفُوۡا عَنۡ رَّسُوۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا یَرۡغَبُوۡا بِاَنۡفُسِہِمۡ عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ ؕ
It is not (right) for the people of Madinah and all those who are (living) around them of the Bedouins to remain behind from (joining) the Messenger of Allah (when he comes out in the path of Allah), and nor is it (right) for them to prefer their lives over his life (by trying to save their lives by not coming out in jihaad with him). (Surah Taubah v. 120)
From this verse, it is understood that at any time, if the work of deen is placed upon certain individuals and is dependent upon them, then it will not be permissible for those individuals to give preference to their own lives over the work of deen (by not participating in the work for some worldly reason).
(Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 96)
