Deception- if I tell you to turn right then there is no need for me to tell you not to turn left after that. The very first chapter of the Holy Quran does just this – repeating itself. It’s a warning, alerting us of danger – it’s a prayer to God to save us from those that deceive. This chapter contains a few articles discussing this issue. You will learn that those that deceive are so crafty that we do not stand a chance against them on our own. It is only God’s help that can save us from them.
With the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful,
Beware – all is not what it appears to be…
“As a rich man fulfills his desire by being the owner of gold and silver, so the (fake) ‘possessor of power’ fulfills his desire by keeping the minds of the public subdued in such a manner that he gets them to do whatever he wishes them to do” ihya Uloom ud deen.
When Hazrath Musa (Moses) AS was away for forty days, Samiri misled ‘believing people’ into worshipping a golden calf. He did this in just forty days. Al Quran 20:87.
There will always be such people out there purposely plotting to control our minds so that they could be our leaders. This is a problem right from the inception of mankind and even before.
Shaitaan wanted this position of leadership and he contended for it. At present we are being targeted in this way from all sides – the materialistic powers, the non-believers and worst of all, even some ‘so called Muslims’ (hypocrites) – they are all trying to get us to follow them.
“The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him said: I fear for this people every hypocrite who will speak with wisdom but will act unjustly” Al Hadis 1:4:9:140
We have to be realistic. We have so many different sects in Islam and there is only one that can be right. The mere fact that there are so many sects shows just how powerful such people are. They’ve mislead so many.
Then, we need to ask ourselves; Are we following the right group led by the right person?
The people that control minds can be very convincing and we see this in the above case – Samiri managed to influence the people even while Haroon AS was trying to warn them.
So these people that are hunting us down and dividing us into sects are like the Samiri; they are very convincing and we have to wary of this and take steps to make sure we get it right.
This is so important that Allah Subhanahu wa ta’alha has chosen to mention this is the essence of the Holy Quran, Sura Al Fatiha.
The first step to being rightly guided is to pray our ‘salaah’ sincerely and with understanding. In Surah Al Fatiha, we are taught by Allah Subhanahu wa ta’alha to pray to be guided to the right path which is by following His righteous people and He further teaches us to pray to be saved from those that misguide.
“Guide us on the straight path, the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace and not the path of those who go astray.”
Let’s not make our ‘salaah’ (prayer) into a meaningless ritual; lets understand what we read, especially Surah Al Fatiha, and lets read it consciously by making our prayer into a conversation with Allah Subhanahu wa ta’alha where we plead with Him to guide us to His chosen people and to save us from those that mislead.
“Hear one of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the Chief (the Prophet (peace be upon him)): No prayer is complete without ‘presence’ (concentration of the mind on God)” Matnawi 1:381
If we sincerely pray to Allah Subhanahu wa ta’alha in this way, with understanding and sincerity, then we are depending on Him for guidance and He will most certainly help us.
“O you who believe! If you take Allah as a shield He would grant you discrimination and rid you of all your evil thoughts and deeds, and will protect you, for Allah is possessor of great Bounties.” Al Quran 8:29.
Side by side with prayer, we also have to make an effort to inculcate and imbibe truth within our very beings. Being saved from such people therefore starts from within us.
“O soul, in the first place avoid the mischief of the mouse (carnal desires) and then show zeal in gathering the corn.” matnawi 1:380.
We have an inbuilt conscience that can discriminate between right and wrong in everything we do. By heeding this conscience we will be keeping Allah Subhanahu wa ta’alha in mind.
We must always strive to do the right thing, we must always search for the truth and strive to do what is right and when we find the right way, we have to give it our best shot by putting everything into it. We must not get stuck in a rut but be able to accept when we are wrong and change.
Learning and making ourselves better people is a lifelong striving. If at times we do give in to doing wrong then we must never condone it, but instead seek pardon and try to get it right the next time round.
Remember, birds of a feather will flock together and if we are people seeking truth then we will find it, Inshallah, but if we are seeking name, fame and glory, we going to end up on the wrong side.
“…..and Allah never guides a people who cannot discriminate between right and wrong.” Al Quran 3:86
The third step; We must never think and have pride in thinking that we are capable of finding guidance on our own or that we are good people because we do certain things. This is an attitude that will stagnate our growth.
There is always room for improvement. We have to find a spiritual guide as Surah Al Fatiha teaches and humbly follow him. This is so important that Molana Rumie RA choses to address this in the second chapter of the Matnavi, right after love.
“Do not measure the actions of holy men by (the analogy of) yourself, though ‘sher’ (lion) and ‘shir’ (milk) are similar in writing. On this account the whole world is gone astray: scarcely anyone is cognisant of God’s Abdal (substitute). They set up a claim of equality with the Prophets: they suppose the saints to be like themselves. Behold they said, we are men, they are men; both we and they are bondage to sleep and food….. Both species of deer ate grass and drank water: from this one came dung, and from that one pure musk.” Matnawi bk 1, verse 264
A more recent example of how a person can influence others wrongly is that of Joseph Di Mambro who was the founder of the order of the Solar Temple and Heaven’s Gate. His followers were made to believe that he would lead humanity to a different planet, a better one. Between 1994 and 1997, seventy four of his followers committed mass suicide in Switzerland, Canada and France by his instruction.
In another incident in 1978, more than 900 people died in a mass suicide by drinking cyanide laced punch at the order of leader Rev. Jim Jones. His church was called the Peoples Temple.
A journalist Tim Reiteman writes that these people were not sinister brain washed idiots but many of them were “decent, hardworking, socially conscious people and some were even highly educated who wanted to help their fellow man and serve God.” Basically these people were wanting to be good and this person used this to mislead them.
Of a certainty, in our present time, there are such people that mislead in our community using our religion and if we are religiously inclined we need to be careful. Let’s take heed. Let’s pray properly with understanding and sincerity, seeking Allah’s protection and guidance.
Some brief notes on some of the common techniques people and organisations use to attract and subjugate others:
1. They would stress on popular, obviously important, outer aspects of our religion such as prayer, dress and so forth so as to attract followers. They are fooling us with their display of piety. We must not be blinded by this outer show but look deeper. We have to be critical and alert at all times. These outer aspects of our religion are important but faith and good pure intentions are more important.
2. They would entice us to accept their way by giving us a position, or garment such as a hat, shawl or a turban. Basically they are trying to work on our egos by praising us and making us feel special. Our ego’s likes this kind of thing so we will want to join in.
3. They might try to intimidate us with their manner of speech, their knowledge, their attitude, the way they shake hands, their dress, the way they look at us. Sometimes they would use the opposite, a humble sweet approach.
4. They will pick faults on the way others practice their religion so as to make themselves out to be people that are better.
Summary:
1. we must know what Surah Fatiha means and we must consciously pray to be guided to the right path by following the right people and to be saved from those that mislead.
2. we must strive to do the right thing by keeping our conscience clean.
3. We must find a Spiritual Guide while being wary of fakes. End.
Peace and salutations be upon Allah’s Messengers who are responsible for guiding humanity throughout time. Ameen.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi
Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saab RA)
Author: Mohamed Hassan Gaffoor WhatsApp +27849101486