Delivered by Mowlana Syed Aftab Haider on 13 June 2016 at Ahlul Bait (a.s) Islamic Centre, Ottery, Cape Town
The discussion of the scene of the Day of Judgement continues.
Previously we identified that the reason why people reject the Hereafter was:
- Being over indulged in the wealth of this world;
- Being arrogant
The next verses identifies the third reason for rejecting the Hereafter.
The background to these verses were that there were 2 friends called Uqbah and Ubay who lived at the time of the Prophet (sawa) but they were not Muslim. They lived a distance from each other. When Ubay visited Uqbah, Uqbah used to make a feast and invite high ranking people from his tribe to join in the feast.
It appears that Uqbah by nature was a hospitable person. One day when Ubay was visiting, Uqbah gave a feast and also invited Prophet Muhammad (sawa) as he had great respect for the Prophet (sawa).
Prophet (sawa) accepted the invitation but said he will not eat his food until he accepts Islam. So he did accept Islam and the Prophet (sawa) ate his food.
Ubay came to know about this incident it and took issue with Uqbah for leaving the religion of his forefathers.
Uqbah said he felt embarrassed that the Prophet (sawa) did not eat his food and thus accepted Islam. Ubay pressurized him and gave him an ultimatum that he should leave Islam if he still wants to be his friend.
So Uqbah became murtad! And he was killed in the Battle of Badr while Ubay was killed in the Battle of Uhud.
What a sad story!
Now in reference to this story as well as to set a principle, Verse 27 says:
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا
“And on the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands, saying: ‘Oh! Would that I had taken a way alone with the Messenger’!”
“Biting your hands” is as a result of blaming yourself. Sometimes this reaches a point of committing suicide.
The day of Judgement is also called a Day of Regret for this reason – that one had access to guidance and still did not take the opportunity to follow it.
Surah Maryam Verse 39 says:
وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْحَسْرَةِ
“And warn them of the Day of Regret.”
This regret refers not only to the regret of those who did not believe who will surely be filled with regret, but it includes the Believers who will have a different form of regret – the regret for not having done more good in their life than they already had performed for which they see what they are missing out on.
Verse 28 says:
يَا وَيْلَتَى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلاَنًا خَلِيلًا
“Oh woe is me! Would that I had not taken such a one for a friend!”
He was on the right path, and his friend misled him!
Verse 29 says:
لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءنِي وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولًا
“He indeed led me astray from the Message after it had come to me, and the Satan fails to aid man.”
This regret is worse as he was close to guidance and then remained misguided.
Satan is one who appears as a friend but then leaves you deserted. That is the meaning of the use of the word of “khathulan.”
In the dua of Prophet (sawa) on the Day of Ghadier when Imam Ali (a.s) was appointed to be his successor, Prophet (sawa) says:
O Allah, love those who love Ali
And hate those hate Ali
And assist those who assist Ali
And leave/desert (wakhthul) those who desert Ali
Here that same word is used in reference to one who appears to be your friend but deserts you when you need him the most.
In our society, the disease we face in the form of alcohol, drugs, etc. all starts with parents having little interest in the company that their children keep.
That’s why we insist on children attending madressa as one of the benefits is that they get to make decent and potentially religious friends.
This issue is so important that a whole chapter is dedicated in the books of Ahadith on the issue of friendship. That chapter is called:
MANNERS OF ASSOCIATION
A long list of topics are covered in this chapter which include:
– How to chose a friend
– Who can be your friend
– What are the rights of your friend
– Etc
In a Hadith of the Prophet (sawa), he relates from Sulayman (a.s):
“Don’t judge anyone about anything until you look at his company. Indeed man is recognized by his types, those around him and those who he is affiliated to.”
Imam Ali (a.s) says: “If you are confused about someone and whether he is religious, then look at those he mixes with whether they are people of Religion, then he can be considered to be on the Religion of Allah, and if they are not people of Religion, then he cannot be considered to be on the Religion of Allah.”
Imam Baqir says “A bad friend is like a sharp sword which is shining to the eye but in effect it cuts deep.”
Prophet (sawa) also says “There are four things that causes your heart to die. Committing sin after sin. Keeping the company of dead people.” At this point he was asked “Who are the dead people?” He replied: “Every wealthy person who is drunk in their wealth.”
Thus I highly encourage parents to be sensitive regarding who your children take to be their friends.
To be continued………
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