Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Refraining from all Bid’aat (Innovated Practices in Deen)
Some of the pious people have mentioned that during the time of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), Shaitaan sent his armies to the four corners of the world. They all roamed the world and returned extremely frustrated and exhausted.
Shaitaan asked them, “How did you fare?” They replied, “These people (the Sahaabah) have frustrated us (and spoilt all our plans). We are unable to influence them towards evil in any way. They have made our task very hard.” Shaitaan said, “Don’t worry! These people are the companions of the Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). You cannot mislead them. But soon, such people will come in the world who will do as you please.”
Thereafter, in the time of the Taabi’een (the followers of the Sahaabah), Shaitaan again sent his armies to the four corners of the world. Shaitaan’s armies again came back frustrated. When he asked them how they had fared, they said, “They frustrated us a lot. Certainly, they are strange people. During the day, we do succeed a little in making them do some sins, but as soon as the evening comes, they make taubah so sincerely that all our effort is lost.”
Shaitaan again said, “Don’t worry! A time is soon to come when people will behave in a way that you will like. They will follow their desires, thinking it to be part of deen, and hence they will not even think of making taubah. They will regard innovated practices to be part of deen.”
Accordingly, that is what transpired. After some time, Shaitaan innovated such bid’aat for people which they began to regard as being part of deen. How could they then possibly make taubah from such sins (when they believed themselves to be on the right path)?
This is a short summary of the twelve qualities of the true Ulama of the Aakhirah which have been discussed in detail by Imaam Ghazaali (rahimahullah). It is therefore necessary for the Ulama to fear the Day of their Reckoning, as their reckoning will be more severe than that of the general Muslims, on account of their responsibility being greater.
The Day of Qiyaamah, when the reckoning will take place, will be a most difficult day. May Allah Ta‘ala, out of His infinite Grace and Mercy, protect us all from the difficulty of that day – aameen.
(Fazaa’il-e-Sadaqaat [English] pg.451-452, [Urdu] pg. 495-496)
