Hujjatul Islam Ustad Syed Jawad Naqvi
(Principal Jamia Orwatul Wuthqa – Lahore)
Delivered at: Masjid Baitul ul Ateeq
Lahore – Pakistan
Friday Sermon – 10th March, 2023
Sermon 1: Taqwa in inheritance to treat orphans as same
Allah has established Taqwa for protection of human life as a divine plan from creator of human beings for every segment of life where there is specific Taqwa. The arrangement for guidance is religion and for protection is Taqwa. One field of Taqwa where Quran has expressed in Surah Nisa , verse 8 and 9
وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ أُولُو الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينُ فَارْزُقُوهُمْ مِنْهُ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا {8}
And when there are present at the division the relatives and the orphans and the needy, give them (something) out of it and speak to them kind words.
وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعَافًا خَافُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا {9}
And let those fear who, should they leave behind them weakly offspring, would fear on their account, so let them be careful of (their duty to) Allah, and let them speak right words.
When someone passes away from the world and his inheritance is distributed then relatives, orphans and poor should also be considered at the time of inheritance. Inheritance is the left-over assets at the time of death and there are various Fiqh rulings related to this in Quran as well as tradition. Till the time man is alive his assets are not considered as inheritance. This is incorrect norm present in believers in our society. Like a person works for whole life and made property, assets and cash which he has earned and saved. Now when he becomes old the children demand forcibly inheritance from him and at times this old person prior to death distributes the wealth as per inheritance laws. The division between boys and girls is distribution after death and there is no law to distribute the assets in life. When man is alive he is the owner of the assets and can divide, spend whichever way he wants. Those children who are dependent on him has some rights and that too upto the level of basic essentials. He has the rights to give by his own will to anyone or not give anyone but instead spend in the way of Allah. The inheritance is only on the assets after he has died that too after removing the will. He can also do the will for 1/3rd of his assets , he cannot do for all. Till the time father is alive the children cannot do the division. Father can give by his own will whatever he wants to do but this won’t be considered as inheritance. It is only after death that inheritance laws apply. There are many laws related to inheritance which we have to study. At times the dead person has debts that should be cleared first, the religious obligations should be delivered and then division can be done on inheritance. Like Khums, Hajj , Zakat was remaining first all these should be settled. After paying of all these and any debts then whatever is left would be considered as inheritance after death.
One order of Quran is about those who are relatives , orphans and poor if they are present at the time of inheritance division then the inheritors should not distribute all amongst themselves but should give these three category as well. it is upto them how much they should give as per their needs. To explain this order Quran has clarified.
You assume that if instead of these orphans they are your children from whom you have not left anything and they have no means of living. So think what you are leaving behind for them. Man is most concerned about his deeds at the time of death and is more concerned about his children as to what would happen to them. They don’t have house, essentials and are not educated hence he is worried. The Quran has aroused this feeling amongst those who are distributing inheritance. It says think as if these orphans are your children , so what do you think how your children should be dealt by people. This is a basic concern by everyone. Those who leave a lot for children might not be concerned. Those who have not left anything for their children, they are concerned about their financially , socially weak children as to what would happen to their means of life. If the children are too small then Quran says what do you think people should behave with them? Should they ignore them? No one thinks like this. We think that if we cannot do anything for our children then at least those who have blessings from Allah should take care of them. If you have this feeling for your children then you should have the same feeling for them. When a person looks at orphans from this view then he does not act miserly, then he takes them under his custody and fulfills their needs.
Quran has emphasized at lot for orphan and not just financial needs but to give respect, dignity to orphans. If you give charity to orphans publicly and not give the same respect to them as your own children, then this would not be honoring children. In our country people have sympathy towards orphans and religious people make orphanages for orphans. They give the title of orphanage and all orphans are kept there. They spread it all over and to fulfill the needs of orphanage people do charity. But there is an atmosphere that gets created that in the name orphans people make money and use the orphans just as tool and begging bowl to collect in their names for their own pockets. These Sufi’s who for the sake of killing their self they beg on street as part of their nurturing. To break your ego they are asked to beg which is not accepted in our holy shariah. You cannot break yourself with humiliation. They make a bowl of metal or bone, hang in neck and move around begging. This Dervish at the end of day gives all what is collected to his sage. This is the system in Dervish. Then there were fraud dervish as well who eat all collected. In Rawalpindi one Imam e Jamaat who was getting salary of 20,000 Rs salary per month from mosque and he left Imamat and became Eunuch. He put on attire of woman by shaving , he was begging on bus station and his followers identified him. They caught him and asked you had so much respect from people. They have written that he read our nikah and funerals which created anxiety in the area. This work has more income and pleasure that he started to beg as eunuch and definitely the earning was more. Those who beg earn more. Some people make organizations to beg from people. They make some institute, mosque and collect money in the name of that place which never gets constructed. This plot and place is a begging bowl and it never gets made.
Similarly orphan is a topic which melts and softens the heart of people very easily and people become sympathetic and merciful. Hence many make this subject as a begging bowl , make orphanage, keep 20 orphans and start to beg for charity. Everything for orphans remains the same but the custodian’s personal life changes to big cars, travels etc. One custodian came to us for asking some money, we told him how can you ask from madrassah. Then he said at least give me petrol expenses for my car. Similarly another orphanage which believers made from foreign income. They asked me do opening and I said first change the name from Orphanage to Hostel. They changed the name to Imam Raza Hostel. I went there and spent day as well. Then after some months they change the board again to Orphanage because the donors were not ready to donate to hostel even though orphans were staying inside.
Hence there is order for giving respect to orphans and those who do not give social respect to orphans they are condemned. Quran is saying that at the time of distribution of inheritance if some orphan is nearby then giving him some share as well in the same way as if they are your children who are at the mercy of society. The society should give them the same lifestyle and not discriminate by placing titles of orphanage on them. On a foreign travel I went to some city mosque where there were pictures of Pakistani widows and orphans with names and cities to get donations to them. I felt very sad as to what is happening in the name of orphans of Pakistani. If all that is being collected in the name of orphans gets distributed amongst orphans they would be living a very good life. But the mafia that usurps the money of orphans is present.
Quran has given us the order of Taqwa. When orphans are present and inheritance is distributed then you need Taqwa here to protect yourself, your inheritance and give protection to the orphans. This is an important place where Quran has given the order for Taqwa. The inheritance that is distributed amongst brothers and sisters and they cheat each other. They don’t give inheritance to sisters. They make an extremist atmosphere that if daughter takes inheritance then it is considered as crime by society. They are all against Quran and religion. You should give inheritance to daughter and brothers, but along with them there are rights of poor, orphans and relatives. You have to give them but with dignity and honor. It is not that you donate and take pictures. This is not the way to help orphans to publish their pictures in media. These orphans will grow up into personalities and this should not disturb them , or they are taunted that he was grown up in orphanage. This filthy society would speak out hence we should not give opportunity for character assassination of orphan. We have to deliver this social act with Taqwa and the rights of poor, orphans and weal relatives should get delivered.
SECOND SERMON
Best companion is Husn-e-Akhlaq
In saying number 113, Imam Ali presents a beautiful system for believers.
وقال عليه السلام : لاَ مَالَ أَعْوَدُ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ، وَلاَ وَحْدَةَ أَوْحَشُ مِنَ الْعُجْب، وَلاَ عَقْلَ كَالتَّدْبِيرِ، وَلاَ كَرَمَ كَالتَّقْوَى، وَلاَ قَرين كَحُسنِ الخُلْقِ، وَلاَ مِيرَاثَ كَالاْدَبِ، وَلاَ قَائِدَ كَالتَّوْفِيقِ، وَلاَ تِجَارَةَ كَالْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ، وَلاَ رِبْحَ كَالثَّوَابِ، وَلاَ وَرَعَ كالْوُقُوفِ عِنْدَ الشُّبْهَةِ، وَلاَ زُهْدَ كَالزُّهْدِ فِي الْحَرَامِ، ولاَ عِلْمَ كَالتَّفَكُّرِ، وَلاَ عِبَادَةَ كَأَدَاءِ الْفَرائِضِ، وَلاَ إِيمَانَ كَالْحَيَاءِ وَالصَّبْرِ، وَلاَ حَسَبَ كَالتَّوَاضُعِ، وَلاَ شَرَفَ كَالْعِلْمِ، وَلاَ مُظَاهَرَةَ أَوْثَقُ مِن مُشَاوَرَةٍ
113. Amir al-mu’minin, peace be upon him, said: No wealth is more profitable than wisdom, no loneliness is more estranging than vanity, no wisdom is as good as tact, no honor is like Taqwa, no companion is like the goodness of moral character, no inheritance is like civility, no guide is like promptitude, no trade is like virtuous acts, no profit is like Divine reward, no self- control is like inaction in time of doubt, no abstention is like that (which is) from prohibitions, no knowledge is like thinking, no worship is like the discharge of obligation, no belief is like modesty and endurance, no attainment is like humility, no honor is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation.
وَلاَ قَرين كَحُسنِ الخُلْقِ، وَلاَ مِيرَاثَ كَالاْدَبِ
There is no companion like good character and there is no inheritance like Adab
Qareen (قَرين) means that thing along which something else is joined. Qarn is that thing to which something is connected. Like Zawj is a pair, Qareen means two things together which can be from some essence or other. If they are connected to each other or related they are known as Qareena. In literature the Qareena are the words or rules that given meaning to other word. The two horns of animal are also termed as Qarn. The word Zulqarnain from Quran has become very popular and lot of commentaries are done on who he was. One thing about the king Zulqarnain was his two horns on his war attire. His crown had two horns is considered as one reason for his name. the other reason told is that he had two Sultanates which were separate but he was the king. One was the sultanate of Iran and around, and second was the middle east and far off. Both these reasons are mentioned, and in case if was related to two things associated.
For this itself Qareen is also referred to friend. Everyone has some friend, a businessman would have some similar friend, a scholar would have scholar friend. We can even say companion because friendship has the element of love also inside. Companionship also comes for the sake of benefits or same vision or some commonality. When two such persons gather they are Qareen and at times they are not two but many. And man gets recognized by his Qareen. If the companions are bad people he would also be considered as bad. If they are good , disciplined he is also considered as good. When we select companions who becomes our identity and stands with us as well, for him Amirul Momineen (a) says that the best companion is Husne Khulq.
This word Akhlaq e Hasana is dubious and a clear picture does not come in our mind, and it has lost its meaning. This is a very precise interpretation. Akhlaq is the plural of Khulq and Khalq, Khulq originate from the same root. The Prophet is been told that your Khulq is esteemed in Quran. Allah is Khaliq and the meaning of Khalq and khulq is to make something as per measure. If we measure and make things then this is Khalq. Allah made earth and other things all with proper measure and this is Khalq. And the same thing for creating things is being handed over to man as well. But your work is not giving existence to creation. Man himself is a creation created by Allah. The order to man for creation is not to create things on earth. Man cannot give existence to anything outside his self, but can create many things inside his self. Man can connect things outside his self, understand, use things like he an make bricks from sand, then houses and cities. But this is not creation it is creativity or industrialization. Creating something into existence is specific to Allah only. The task of creation given to them is inside his self and these are the attributes and habits which man can create inside his self. These attributes, traits are of two types; that is good or bad. If you develop bad attributes inside your self then this is also creation and Khulq. But this is Khulq e Saiyyaat. You have made bad personality. But if the same are good, beautiful then these are perfect traits is Akhlaq. These attributes, habits develop the third thing which is personality. The personality is the name of same attributes and habits. It is possible that your body is very balanced and many people try to keep their bodies fit in Gyms with exercise. Similarly for the soul man has to nurture himself. In this balanced and fit body the personality should also be balanced. Personality is made from thinking, orientation, ethics, habits, attributes and etiquettes. Like miserliness is part of personality and the one made with miserliness is a very defamed personality. If man is timid, foolishness, stealing etc. are evil unbalanced personality, similarly sincerity , nobility etc. are traits of balanced personality.
If you want to make a companion then first of all he can never be permanent as he can separate from you anytime. He can leave you in hardship, difficulties hence he cannot be a best companion. The best companion is one who never leaves you. He is present everywhere where I am and that is something which is present inside myself. The one outside will separate one day and at least death will separate you from your companions outside. They separate you at night and go to their own homes. The companions who remain with us till Qayamat is the best companion and it is the Akhlaq that we have created in our personality, that is the perfect traits which will never leave you. It will go with you after death as well into the state of grave and hereafter and helps you everywhere
Then Husn is translated as beautiful which is not correct. It means balance (tawazun) where everything is appropriate. The human Fitrat likes and accepts anything that is balanced and appropriate. Any tree, bird, mountain, picture wherever you see something balanced and suitable is liked by man. Tawazun means it should remain on its fundamental Fitrat essence and not change has come in it. Husn means entire existence is balanced. If this balance comes in Akhlaq and personality then this is the best companion. Ali says if you want a companion, then make high, perfectly balanced traits as companion. Once this becomes companion it will never leave you. Hence this is the best Qareen.
The second sentence is similar wherever there is no inheritance like Adab. The Khulq are those perfect traits present in personality. The Adab are those traits that are present in action which makes the actions beautiful. The best definition of Adab is by Allama Tabatabai. He says they are those rules, ways of doing acts which makes it beautiful and make it reach its purpose. Like you walk to Friday prayers , Adab are those balanced ways of walking which makes it attractive and easy to reach the Friday prayers. Like speaking is an act, the Adab are those things which makes it beautiful and reach the purpose. The way we do worship. In Salat the Adab is the way you do the Salaat. The dress you wear, make ranks, remain silent, pay attention are the Adab. If there are action but Adab are not there then purpose is not reached. Some people sit in Friday prayers and look at time, mobile. They are doing the act but there is no Adab hence the purpose is also not achieved. One is there is no beauty in the action and second the purpose is not achieved. Hence Adab are the traits of act and Akhlaq are the traits of personality. We have been ordered to develop both Akhlaq and Adab. If the personality has Husn then there would be Adab in acts. If there is no Adab means there is a problem in personality. Ali says that best inheritance is Adab and the best companion is Husn Akhlaq.
